Six Nations: Round Two predictions and teams for 10 – 11 February 2024

Fasten your seatbelts for round two of the 2024 Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship this weekend.

If it’s anything like the first trio of fixtures we’re in for quite a ride, kicking off with a fascinating contest between Scotland and France in Edinburgh.

England meet Wales at Twickenham in the second half of a Saturday double-header, before Ireland welcome Italy to the Aviva Stadium.

Scotland vs France – Saturday 10 February

We could be in for a humdinger on Saturday afternoon, as round two of the 2024 Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship kicks off with the game between Scotland and France.

A chilly trip to Edinburgh in February isn’t the idea of a great time for the French.

But they head north knowing only a win will do even at this early stage, having come up short in their opening night showdown with Ireland in Marseille.

Les Bleus remained in the contest as far as half time, but Paul Willemse’s red card on the half hour mark took its toll as the Irish ran in five tries for an eye-catching 38-17 success at the Stade Velodrome.

Their hosts have an opening win in their back pocket – but only just.

A cruise to the finish line almost turned into sporting disaster for Gregor Townsend’s men, who went from a 27-0 lead just after the break to edge past callow Wales by a single point in a nerve-shredding finale.

As it was, two tries from Duhan van der Merwe and another from fellow South Africa native Pierre Schoeman proved just enough for a first success in Cardiff in 22 years.

And they have the added boost this weekend of welcoming back co-captain Rory Darge, who returns from an injury picked up last December to bolster the flanks.

It helps mitigate the loss of Luke Crosbie and Richie Gray, who have both been ruled out for the rest of the competition.

Les Bleus have opted for continuity in the face of their opening defeat, with Cameron Woki an enforced replacement for the suspended Willemse, who is banned for this week and round three.

Young tyro Louis Bielle-Biarrey has done enough to earn the nod on the left wing ahead of Yoram Moefana.

Scotland Starting XV: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell (co-captain), 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge (co-captain), 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Pierre Schoeman.

Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Elliot Millar-Mills, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Andy Christie, 21 George Horne, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Cameron Redpath.

France Starting XV: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu, 8 Gregory Alldritt (captain), 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Paul Gabrillagues, 4 Cameron Woki, 3 Uini Antonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Cyril Baille.

Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Sebastien Taofifenua, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Posolo Tuilagi, 20 Alexandre Roumat, 21 Paul Boudehent, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Yoram Moefana.

England vs Wales – Saturday 10 February

England meet Wales at Twickenham on Saturday, in a match that could define both nations’ Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship campaigns.

Both were involved in heart-stopping round one contests, with the English coming home from Italy with an anxious, three-point win.

They had turned around an 8-17 deficit but coughed up their chance to extend a 27-24 margin, with tries from Elliot Daly and Tom Mitchell seeing them to a first opening round success since 2019 in Rome.

It was a heady blend of agony and optimism for the Welsh, meanwhile, who hauled themselves off the canvas at home to Scotland with their inexperienced new side showing no little heart.

From 0-27, Warren Gatland’s new generation roared back in the intensity of the Principality Stadium, pushing their visitors all the way in losing by a single point.

The selection axe has cut a swathe through the Welsh, including the return of George North, into the centres in place of Owen Watkin.

It’s all-change in the half backs as well, as Tomos Williams and Ioan Lloyd replace Gareth Davies and Sam Costelow respectively.

English boss Borthwick has done something not seen for more than four years – in that he’s done nothing at all.

His side remains entirely unchanged from the opening weekend, aside from the inclusion of Ellis Genge among the replacements.

England Starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Ethan Roots, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Jamie George (captain), 1 Joe Marler.

Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Danny Care, 22 Fin Smith, 23 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

Wales Starting XV: 15 Cameron Winnett, 14 Josh Adams, 13 George North, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Dafydd Jenkins (captain), 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Gareth Thomas.

Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Corey Domachowski, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Will Rowlands, 20 Taine Basham, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Cai Evans, 23 Mason Grady.

Ireland vs Italy – Sunday 11 February

Ireland will expect to continue their excellent start in the 2024 Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship on Sunday, as Italy make the trip to Dublin for round two.

It was a perfect opening night on the south coast of France last week, as Andy Farrell’s men pocketed a statement, 38-17 victory over their fellow favourites for the title.

Five tries and an impeccable kicking effort from Kieran Crowley, stepping into the massive boots of retired Johnny Sexton, put the men from the Emerald Isle well on their way.

But Italy are not without hope, having given England a bloody nose in their opening encounter in Rome.

The Azzurri led 17-8 at one stage and were still in front at half time, but continued their long losing run as the Red Rose ran out eventual 27-24 victors.

Caelan Doris takes on the role of captain for the first time in the Irish capital, as he targets two from two in front of an expectant home crowd.

James Ryan earns a start in the locks, while there’s also a cap at inside centre for Stuart McCloskey.

Gonzalo Quesada makes a quartet of changes to his Italian line up, including the return at full back of Ange Capuozzo.

Ireland Starting XV: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Caelan Doris, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter.

Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Jordan Larmour.

Italy Starting XV: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Lorenzo Pani, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Michele Lamaro (captain), 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Pietro Ceccarelli, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1 Danilo Fischetti.

Replacements: 16 Giacomo Nicotera, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Giosue Zilocchi, 19 Andrea Zambonin, 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 Martin Page-Relo, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Federico Mori.

Six Nations Predictions for 10 and 11 February 2024