Tonight's rugby news as Wales put themselves under 'siege' and crisis engulfs England
Here are the latest rugby headlines on the evening of Tuesday, January 21.
Gatland sends warning to rivals
Warren Gatland warned his Six Nations rivals to write Wales off at their peril after a winless 2024, as he creates a siege mentality with his squad.
Gatland's side have lost their last 12 Test matches and are the bookies' favourites to once again finish bottom of the table.
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However, Gatland believes his side can thrive from being written off so comprehensively when they take on France in Paris next Friday.
"It’s a challenge for us," he said. "As Fabien (Galthie) said, the expectation is all on them. Going to France at the start of the tournament is something we’re familiar with.
"We’ve been there a few times first up. We did the same in 2019 when we went to Paris first and then had Italy in Rome. We’re excited about that. We feel people are writing us off.
"I said before the World Cup – write us off at your peril – and I’ll say the same again now. We’ve got to build our confidence, both physical and mental, and prepare properly.
"We need to create a siege mentality going to Paris. It’s going to be a tough challenge. This is the best rugby tournament in the world. The games aren’t just games, they’re an occasion."
He added: "We lost so much experience after the World Cup and we had to bring young players through. It has been tough. But we’ve got some experience back in terms of Toby Faletau, Josh Adams and Liam Williams. Daf Jenkins as well.
"That’s got to be a real positive. We’re in a nice position. There is no expectation. People are writing us off. This is such a tough tournament to win. It’s so hard. It’s a tournament of momentum.
"If you win a couple of games early on, you can build on that confidence. What’s exciting about the Six Nations – and it’s taken a while – is that any team is capable of beating any other on the day.
"It’s the strongest I’ve ever seen the Six Nations in terms of the quality of the players and the teams. I remember when we used to talk about the Five or Six Nations and all the talk was about England and France and the rest were also rans fighting for the scraps."
England hit by crisis before Six Nations
By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent
England have been struck by an injury crisis less than a fortnight before the Guinness Six Nations with vice-captain Jamie George heading a significant list of withdrawals from Steve Borthwick’s squad.
Influential scrum-half Alex Mitchell is a doubt for the opener against Ireland on February 1 but his likely replacement Jack Van Poortvliet, second row Alex Coles and number eight Alex Dombrandt have joined George in being definitively ruled out.
George suffered a hamstring problem in Saracens’ defeat by Castres on Sunday, continuing a frustrating seven days for the 34-year-old that began when he was demoted as England captain with his club colleague Maro Itoje chosen as his successor.
He was picked on the bench for the European fixture in north London and watched as the in-form Theo Dan, a rival for hooker duties with England and Saracens, scored two tries in an all-action display.
And then having come on as a replacement in the third quarter, he was forced off by his damaged hamstring. His absence will see Dan and Luke Cowan-Dickie compete for the number two jersey.
Northampton scrum-half Mitchell sustained a knee problem against Munster on Saturday but could yet feature against Ireland after being taken to the squad’s pre-Championship training camp in Girona to continue his rehabilitation.
A neck problem ruled him out of the entire autumn series and his return is seen as key to hopes of causing an upset in Dublin as Borthwick plans for a demanding start to the Six Nations.
England are hopeful that Mitchell will recover in time to face Ireland and will give him every opportunity to prove his fitness, given his influence on the team as clear first-choice scrum-half.
Townsend confident Scotland can cope with huge loss
By Duncan Bech, PA
Gregor Townsend insists Scotland have the depth to overcome the devastating loss of Sione Tuipulotu to injury for the entire Guinness Six Nations.
Tuipulotu, Scotland’s captain and star centre, must undergo surgery to repair a pectoral muscle that was damaged in training with Glasgow Warriors last week and is not expected to return until later in the season.
While one of the game’s most influential players concentrates on recovering in time for the British and Irish Lions’ tour to Australia, Townsend is deciding how he fills the void in midfield.
Stafford McDowall is the leading contender to be paired alongside Huw Jones, but Rory Hutchinson and Tom Jordan are also options.
“It’s a real blow for Sione so close to the tournament and it’s a blow to the tournament and our supporters that they don’t get to see him playing,” head coach Townsend said at the Six Nations launch in Rome.
“But as a team you have to accept that injuries happen and that’s why you create depth over a longer period.
“We have some really good 12s in our squad that now have an opportunity they probably didn’t think was coming along. We’re backing them to go and grab that opportunity.”
Tuipulotu’s absence sees Rory Darge and Finn Russell take over as co-captains – roles they performed in last year’s Six Nations until the Australian-born 27-year-old was installed as skipper for the autumn.
First-choice second row Scott Cummings could also be sidelined for the whole competition because of a fractured arm.
Caelan Doris says Ireland must keep improving to retain Six Nations title
By Ed Elliot, PA
Captain Caelan Doris acknowledges back-to-back champions Ireland must improve and evolve in order to continue their recent domination of the Guinness Six Nations.
Ireland are bidding to become the first country to lift the title three years in a row since the tournament was expanded in 2000.
Interim boss Simon Easterby will oversee this year’s championship challenge after head coach Andy Farrell temporarily stepped aside to focus on leading this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.
Leinster back-rower Doris dismissed the significance of his team being installed as title favourites by bookmakers and is wary of the threat posed by rival nations ahead of a February 1 curtain-raiser at home to England.
“I hadn’t looked at the bookies actually,” the 26-year-old told reporters during Tuesday’s Six Nations launch event in Rome.
“We’re aware of how competitive it is and it’s (about) improving and preparing as best as possible. I don’t think we take that (betting odds) into account too much.
“It’s awareness that if we don’t keep improving then someone else will take the reins.
“From the very first meeting yesterday, it’s about our evolution and about improving. In each game you can’t take anything for granted and that’s the great thing about this competition.
“We’ve got England at home first up and it’s hard to look beyond that for now.
“In terms of our preparations and mindset generally, it’s one of needing to evolve and needing to improve individually and collectively. It’s an exciting prospect.”
