World Rugby

Five Talking Points Heading Into Round 3 Of The Six Nations

Five Talking Points Heading Into Round 3 Of The Six Nations

Take a look at the five biggest talking points heading into Round 3 of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations.

Feb 24, 2023
Five Talking Points Heading Into Round 3 Of The Six Nations

As the Six Nations enters its middle week, and fans embark on a pilgrimage to another packed arena, the story of the campaign is beginning to take shape.

Scotland and Ireland are the only two unbeaten sides left in the competition, the former being the hot favorite to claim its first Grand Slam since 2018.

But don’t count out Scotland. 

An impressive start has caused promise to sweep across the nation, the likes of which hasn’t been seen in decades, but standing in their way this weekend is France, which is coming off a tough loss to Ireland at Aviva Stadium.

Meanwhile, England lock horns with old rival Wales in a clash diluted by ongoing contract disputes for the hosts.

On the face of it, the third tie between Ireland and Italy is the easiest to call, but can Italy, spurred on by the return of its talismanic 10, lodge an upset for the ages?

Here are the five biggest talking points of the upcoming Six Nations weekend.

Potential Player Strike Overshadows Wales Preparation

Until late Wednesday evening, it remained unclear whether Wales would be able to field a team against England, after the players threatened to take strike action if certain demands weren’t met.

Those included the reduction of the 60-cap rule, which forces players with fewer than 60 caps to play their club rugby in Wales if they want to remain eligible for international selection, and the eradication of the new plan for basic pay.

Alun Wyn Jones and his cohort stood firm in their demands, and so, at the 11th hour, a deal was struck, the results of which have reduced the cap rule to 25 international appearances and brought new fixed-term contracts onto the table for provincial players, alongside an alternative variable deal.

Questions still are lingering, as no overarching contract agreement between the WRU and the four Welsh provinces has been signed, but the lack of strike action is a small step in the right direction. And, it saves the WRU losses of up to £10 million.


However, the disruption this has caused for the Welsh team is considerable and has no doubt severely impacted their preparations ahead of the England game at the Principality. 

They also are winless in the Six Nations this year, which puts added pressure on the shoulders of those gladiators in red.

Anthony Watson Returns To England Starting Lineup

It was not long ago that Anthony Watson was considered one of the best back three players in the world, but cruel injuries in the years since have derailed his international and club career. 

Thankfully, the Leicester Tigers winger has managed to fully recuperate and string together a run of form that has earned him a spot back in the England starting lineup.

He did come off the bench in the loss to Scotland in early February, but now he will start for the first time since 2021, replacing the injured Ollie Hassell-Collins.

Vice-captain Courtney Lawes also is returning to the fray after time out injured and slots onto the bench. 

Both Lawes and Watson bring valuable international nous, but the arrival of Watson is of particular note, as he has scored on three separate occasions against Wales in the Six Nations and will be eyeing up another try to add to his impressive collection.

Ross Byrne Eyes Opportunity To Become Heir Supreme

Ireland travels to Rome without the exploits of Johnny Sexton, who is suffering a leg injury. The Leinster fly-half picked up the knock in his side’s sublime win over France two weeks ago and is replaced by fellow clubman Ross Byrne.

For years Ireland has tethered on the edge of oblivion, success dependent almost entirely upon the health of Sexton. Though with the arrival of Byrne, a man who has experience orchestrating the style of attack favored by both Leinster and Irish head coach Andy Farrell, an heir to Sexton’s throne finally may have been found.


Ireland is the heavy favorite against Italy. And, of course, they must win, but of almost equal importance is Byrne’s performance. 

Should the fly-half light up the Stadio Olimpico in his first start in the Six Nations, he soon may be given the keys to the car on a permanent basis.

Garbisi Back At 10 For Italy

Fly-half Paolo Garbisi makes his international return this weekend, slotting straight back into the Italian starting lineup. 

Garbisi missed the beginning of the Six Nations through injury but has recovered and played 30 minutes last weekend for Montpellier.

He will link up with scrum half Stephen Varney, as Italy hopes for an unlikely win against the tournament favorites.

Tommaso Allan, who started against France and England, has lost his spot to Garbisi and will appear on the bench instead. Meanwhile, Pierre Bruno replaces Luca Morisi on the wing.

Garbisi’s arrival comes at an important time, giving the Italians a shred of hope heading into a challenging weekend of Six Nations rugby.

Scotland Chasing Improbable Grand Slam

Scotland has won its opening two Six Nations games for the first time since 1996. 

It has been a long, and at times painful wait, but Gregor Townsend and his history-makers have little interest in the past. They want to win games, but they could edge closer to immortality with a victory in Paris on Sunday.

They have fond memories of their last trip across the channel, having beaten France 27-23 in the dying moments back in 2021.


The scintillating form of Finn Russell gives them a genuine shot at doing a repeat of that result, but standing in their way is a bruised and angry French side, hellbent on returning to winning ways.

Their loss to Ireland in Round 2 ended a 14-game win streak – a national record that extended through the entirety of 2022. Following that disappointment, Fabien Galthié’s men are looking to bounce back against a red-hot Scotland.

Written by Stefan Frost