Express Sport keeps you up to date with the latest Six Nations news (Image: Getty)
A trio of enticing fixtures await this weekend after France thrashed , defeated Italy and got the better of in the first round of matches.
has made five changes to the England starting XV ahead of Saturday’s meeting with France, with Marcus Smith moved to full-back and Ollie Sleightholme, Fin Smith and Jack Willis among those introduced.
Meanwhile, Wales boss Warren Gatland has sought to temper expectations ahead of his side’s showdown with Italy at the Stadio Olimpico, which could bring them a 14th straight loss. Scotland host Ireland in Sunday’s mouth-watering match-up.
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Wales hero Biggar dismissed by Gatland
Warren Gatland has dismissed claims from Wales legend Dan Biggar that Saturday’s clash with Italy is ‘the biggest in Welsh rugby for 15 to 20 years’.
Head coach Gatland is already on the brink and many expect a 14th straight defeat to bring the curtain down on his time in charge.
Responding to Biggar, Gatland said: “It’s definitely not the biggest game in Wales in the last 20 years. It’s an important game for us.
“We’re well aware we’ve got some other tough games in this competition. We’re desperate to get a win. That’s the most important thing.”
Dan Biggar has built up the importance of Wales’ showdown with Italy (Image: Getty)
Steve Borthwick burned by ex-colleague
England head coach Steve Borthwick has been labelled a ‘tall Eddie Jones’ by Geordan Murphy, who worked with him at Leicester Tigers.
Murphy, 46, was director of rugby at Leicester during the early months of Borthwick’s spell in charge.
And it is fair to say the pair did not exactly hit it off.
“If they do think of getting rid of Steve, then the questions have to be asked, and fingers pointed elsewhere as well because he effectively is a tall Eddie Jones,” Murphy told Prime Casino.
“That’s what I’m hearing in camp, that his behaviour is very similar to Eddie. So why would you get rid of one bloke and replace him with an English clone?
“He can coach; I think he’s a good coach – that’s it. He’s certainly not a people person. That wouldn’t be something that would ever be said about him.
“We are certainly not friends. That’s all I know. When I briefly worked with Steve that was something that he made very apparent.”
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