Sam Warburton has made his Six Nations predictions (Image: Getty)
Welsh rugby icon Sam Warburton has made his bold predictions for the forthcoming Six Nations clash. The former British and Irish Lions skipper discarded the notion that autumn performances would sway Andy Farrell’s selection for the summer tour, plainly stating that a sterling Six Nations showing is your ticket to Australia.
But what fortunes does he foresee on this year’s tour?
Penning his thoughts in a Times column, Warburton laid bare his perspectives. Particular focus was given to Wales’ critical match against Italy in round two, a match which Warburton emphasizes must be a hunting ground, saying Wales “have to be smelling blood for that one”.
He further highlighted the strategic move by Warren Gatland’s team to remain in France post-game in order to maximise preparation time without losing a day to travel.
Warburton confessed his puzzlement at Max Llewellyn’s absence from the squad, echoing the sentiment of many fellow past players, and noted his concern regarding the lack of size in the backline. Despite these worries, Warburton remains optimistic about the impact of seasoned players, crediting Josh Adams and Liam Williams with the ability to steer the novices, while tipping his hat to Jac Morgan’s standout performance for Ospreys.
In his analysis, Warburton concludes by questioning whether an improved Welsh side will be up to scratch: “Wales will be better than they have been, but will that be good enough?”
He is confident that Ireland have the capability to triumph over Wales, Italy, and Scotland in away games, but acknowledges that facing England and France on home soil is a different ball game altogether. “I know that the Irish players will hate me for saying this, but it is always the same question mark with them: do they have the physicality up front against the biggest sides?” he penned.
Beyond raising doubts about the speed of Ireland’s back three, he’s keen to observe how Simon Easterby adapts to the head coach mantle, suggesting this stint could herald greater prospects for the ex-Scarlets figure. “Easterby is an excellent coach and you would think the next natural step for him is to be a head coach somewhere, so this will be a good audition for him too.”
With Scotland’s key player Sione Tuipulotu sidelined due to injury, he doesn’t see them as contenders against the top trio this season.
“It is an enormous blow. I never like to talk about a team missing one individual so much, but this is a rare occasion,” he asserted. Furthermore, he believes that Scotland’s ventures to France and England in Tuipulotu’s absence will pose substantial challenges.
Warburton remains optimistic about England’s chances, citing that “they have that ability to rise to the occasion” and even tips them as potential champions. The former Wales captain also praised the decision to make Maro Itoje the skipper, highlighting his considerable experience in high-pressure games.
“He turns up on the big occasions too. He has had all the experience of Lions tours, World Cup finals and Six Nations deciders and he is an exceptional professional,” Warburton remarked.
In a candid assessment of Italy v Wales, Warburton has coined it “the wooden spoon decider” proposing Italy might edge out as favourites when on home turf, marking it their prime opportunity for triumph. “Italy were a little bit underwhelming in the autumn but you look at Benetton’s win over La Rochelle in the Champions Cup and it bodes well,” he inferred, pointing to the absence of a Welsh team at such a high tier of European club rugby.
Warburton places his bets on France as the frontrunners for this year’s tournament, primarily due to the formidable stature of their pack. While acknowledging their impressive backline—specifically Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont—he considers the French to be in a separate class altogether.
“They have four or five genuine game-breakers capable of those X-factor moments that coaches so desire and crowds so enjoy. No other team have that many players capable of such brilliance,” he concludes in his analysis.
Despite urging them to snatch the Six Nations title, Warburton has flagged matches against England and Ireland on their home turf as potential “banana skin” scenarios, voicing his doubts over a grand slam win for the team in 2025.
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