In Netflix’s Six Nations: Full Contact, we noticed the highs, lows, heartbreaks, and reward the world’s oldest rugby match can carry.
Ireland reached the pinnacle, England stuttered, Wales have been in disaster, France have been trying to really feel the highs of victory as soon as once more, Scotland have been on the seek for a maiden championship, and Italy have been enhancing as they hunted for victory.
Quite a bit has modified since the Six Nations 2023. Captains and coaches have come and gone and large stars have opted for the Olympics, the NFL, or retirement.
However, the ‘Lionel Messi’ of rugby stays, England are nonetheless adapting, Wales are in transition, Italy are on the up, France nonetheless have their aptitude, and Ireland will likely be going for glory as soon as once more.
So, let’s have a look at six storylines from Six Nations: Full Contact you can follow in 2024…
1) England adapt to life with out Owen Farrell
Heading into the Six Nations 2023, England have been in a world of turmoil after sacking Eddie Jones and bringing in head coach Steve Borthwick not lengthy earlier than the match began. We noticed them find out about one another as the match progressed, overcoming defeats and disappointment from followers to mould themselves into the staff they needed to be.
While Borthwick has been in his function for over a 12 months now, main the aspect to a World Cup semi-final, they’ll now have a brand new problem to adapt to – life with out captain and stalwart Owen Farrell.
Throughout the documentary, we noticed Farrell as the ever-present chief in the dressing room, giving rousing staff talks as his aspect tailored and developed.
This 12 months, new voices can have to come up in the dressing room, beginning with new captain Jamie George.
2) ‘Goldenballs’ Louis Rees-Zammit leaves Wales for NFL dream
Squad bulletins can carry shocks each match, however there was none larger than Louis Rees-Zammit leaving rugby on the eve of Wales’ Six Nations squad announcement to pursue his dream of taking part in in the NFL.
In Full Contact, Rees-Zammit is proven as considered one of the future stars of Welsh rugby as they undergo a interval of transition, head coach Warren Gatland hoping the younger winger, affectionally known as ‘Goldenballs’ by considered one of his pals, can overcome damage woes and begin to give him 80 minutes on the subject constantly.
Now, Wales will likely be with out their speedy star man and can flip to different kids to carry the torch ahead, particularly 21-year-old captain Dafydd Jenkins.
3) Ireland trying to keep on prime as life with out Johnny Sexton begins
It is truthful to say that Ireland are the staff to beat heading into the Six Nations 2024 after their Grand Slam victory in 2023. Full Contact reveals the camaraderie and professionalism in a aspect that’s touted as considered one of Ireland’s greatest ever, Johnny Sexton main them to glory on residence soil at the finish of the match.
Now, life with out Sexton begins. Big characters on the subject reminiscent of new captain Peter O’Mahony and Andrew Porter will likely be trying to proceed the siege mentality that has guided the aspect to latest success as they appear to consolidate their place as Europe’s prime aspect.
Plus, they’ll have the added factor of Andy Farrell wanting to briefly depart Ireland in the greatest place attainable as he turns his consideration to teaching the British and Irish Lions. Full Contact reveals Farrell’s ardour for his aspect and they’re going to need to reward their head coach in what may very well be many gamers’ final Six Nations beneath him.
4) The ‘Lionel Messi’ of rugby- Can Finn Russell information Scotland to glory?
If there may be one factor that Full Contact reveals about the newly named Scotland co-captain Finn Russell is that he’s an actual character of their aspect.
Russell’s rugby aptitude makes him a particular participant however that’s blended with a character that has led to tense relations with head coach Gregor Townsend in the previous.
Full Contact adopted Scotland in what was considered one of their greatest alternatives ever to declare Six Nations glory and though they in the end fell quick, a cohesion in the squad appeared evident by the finish of the match, Russell exhibiting his management expertise amongst a dressing room that clearly extremely revered him.
With a newly revitalised relationship, Russell and Townsend will need 2024 to be the 12 months they get even nearer to lastly being topped champions.
5) Italy enchancment? Can they keep away from the picket spoon
Full Contact explored the agony of Italy at the Six Nations 2023, coming shut to victories over prime nations, even France, however in the end falling quick every time.
The stress of coming so shut was proven by the agony felt in the teaching field by former head coach Kieran Crowley who was making each sort out and kicking each ball along with his gamers.
He needed his aspect to consider they might win and now we have now to see if new head coach Gonzalo Quesada can take them one step additional and really get some large victories.
We additionally noticed younger Welsh-born star Stephen Varney coming into his personal for Italy and rising in confidence as the match progressed.
A great pal of Rees-Zammit, Varney is as soon as once more considered one of the younger stars to maintain an eye fixed out for in 2024, particularly since Rees-Zammit’s departure to pastures new.
6) French aptitude with out Antoine Dupont – can France adapt with out their star man
If there may be one factor French rugby has, it’s a philosophy that rugby ought to be a spectacle; aptitude and finesse at all times taking precedent in the approach they play.
We noticed this persist in Full Contact however the man at the wheel was Antoine Dupont, who has now chosen to signify France in the Olympics and miss this 12 months’s Six Nations.
It is a really uncommon determination for a rugby participant of Dupont’s calibre to make such a call and now, France can have to depend on different stars to be the integral cog in the machine, taking part in with the French intuition that has introduced them a lot success over the previous few years.
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