by Valerio Vecchiarelli
The Six Nations begins, edition number 25 of the Tournament, here is the calendar: France-Ireland tonight, Italy plays England tomorrow, Capuozzo ko misses the first
The Jubilee of the Six Nations begins with a bang, the 25th edition of the oldest team game tournament there is (first edition of the then Four Nations dated 1883), with Italy grappling with the obligation of not having to continue to feel invited to a party that doesn’t belong to her.
Today France makes its debut against Ireland
The baptism of the Tournament could already indicate the way and identify at the first step the possible master of the season: the Stade de France has been banned from the Olympic preparations, France goes away to the Velodrome in Marseille against Ireland (tonight, 2 February, 9pm ), for a match that will only wash away from one of the great rivals the disappointment of a World Cup that started to win and ended badly for both in the quarter-finals against the future finalists (All Blacks and South Africa). At the beginning of everything, as if by magic, destiny designed the most awaited match, the challenge that can direct the entire spring campaign, full of unknowns after the physiological upheavals, the farewells of those who have made history in the last decade , the restarts towards a new cycle.
It will be an edition of the Six Nations to be deciphered, always like this when you have to start again after a World Cup with the destination of a new four-year period of hopes and innovative architecture just sketched on paper.
Italy’s first match
It will be the same for Italy, with yet another restart, a cycle is closed and we hope to open that of awareness: once the era of the New Zealander Kieran Crowley and his attacking game, a lot of risk and few results, is over, we return at the Latin school with Gonzalo Quesada, an Argentinian with French technical infiltrations, pragmatic and obsessive in seeking perfection in every movement, in every phase, in every tactical evolution of the game. He didn’t have time for revolutions, he needed just one week together with the team to dictate new rules, study the details, but the basis was that of a group that emerged with broken bones from the last World Cup matches (with New Zealand and France) and with the unpleasant sensation of having to learn to win again.
Ready to go and for the Azzurri it will immediately be a challenge to the impossible, at the Olimpico (Saturday 3 February, 3.15 pm) England arrives, having rediscovered its own identity in the autumn world championship, having returned to respecting the fundamentals of the game, to the point of coming close a sensational final (defeated by one point in the semi-final by future world champions South Africa) to put a bronze medal of substance around their neck.
More than 22,000 people from across the Channel set out to ensure a Roman weekend of sun and excitement (the Olimpico was sold out), in which no outcome other than victory was contemplated, with bookmakers paying the success of the subjects of His Majesty the King and 8 times the victory of Italy. On the other hand, England remains (along with New Zealand) the only frontier ever explored by Italrugby, in the previous 30 years never a joy, within the Tournament only hard lessons to metabolize. It’s difficult to fly with the imagination, even if the coach Steve Borthwick presents himself with a team revolutionized by illustrious departures, injuries and personal choices (the national team is forbidden to English players who play abroad), their abrasive, unspectacular and very profitable, all about conquering ground and showing off muscles, which has always been a puzzle for Italian rugby. since 2013 Italy has not won at the Olimpico (22-15 against Ireland) and in the last 42 matches of the Tournament the only, isolated joy was given to them with the achievement in Cardiff in 2022. We start again from here , by the wisdom of Quesada and the unscrupulous approach of the youngest group among those at the start.
Italy, two pairs of brothers
Baptism of fire on the day of the brothers of Italy with the Venetians Paolo and Alessandro Garbisi who will have the keys of the direction in their hands and the Florentines Lorenzo and Niccol Cannone pillars of the fray. The game of the blue pairs, a small family record that is difficult to equal. Two changes in the lineup: Ange Capuozzo knocked out due to gastroenteritis, he will be replaced by Pani. Izekor instead plays in place of Iachizzi on the bench.
The Tournament of Others
The opening day will end in Cardiff (5.45pm) with a classic, the Celtic clash without favourites, between Wales and Scotland. The Dragons have had to deal with the crisis of vocations and budget, they have faced strike threats from their players and scandals from the federal leaders, but in Warren Gatland they have a coach who has been able to overlook the difficulties to give meaning to the tradition of a country that lives on rugby. Scotland at a crossroads, spectacular play, talented players, quality in industrial doses, the feeling of being able to compete with everyone, but the time has come to demonstrate that they know how to win something important. The opportunity within reach of thistle.
Where to watch the Six Nations on TV
All matches of the 2024 Six Nations will be broadcast live by Sky Sport, Italy’s matches also free-to-air on TV8. Total coverage on Sky Sport also for the parallel Under 20 Six Nations, with Italy always live.
The 2024 Six Nations calendar
First day Friday 2 February
France – Ireland, 9pm (in Marseille)
Saturday 3 February
Italy-England at 3.15pm
Wales-Scotland, 5.45pm
Second day Saturday 10 February
Scotland-France, 3.15pm
England v Wales, 5.45pm
Sunday 11 February
Ireland-Italy, 4pm
Third day Saturday 24 February
Ireland-Wales, 3.15pm
Scotland-England, 5.45pm
Sunday 25 February
France-Italy, 4pm (in Lille)
Fourth day Saturday 9 March
Italy-Scotland, 3.15pm
England v Ireland, 5.45pm
Sunday 10 March
Wales-France, 4pm
Fifth day Saturday 16 March
Wales-Italy, 3.15pm
Ireland-Scotland, 5.45pm
France-England, 9pm (in Lyon)
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February 2, 2024 (modified February 2, 2024 | 3:09 pm)
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