Springbok legend Bob Skinstad recently spoke to RugbyPass about the upcoming Six Nations, providing interesting thoughts about the 2024 competition. Hear what he had to say about the sides:
England:
“I think we’ll have a more settled series of performances from England, they’ll be more organised too.”
GIRONA, SPAIN – JANUARY 25: Marcus Smith and Fin Smith of England in action during a training session at Camiral Golf & Wellness on January 25, 2024 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Ireland:
“I expect a World Cup backlash from Ireland and they’ll be really good. Andy Farrell is a great coach and he’ll do a top job for the Lions.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 12: Andrew Conway of Ireland is tackled by Henry Slade (R), Jack Nowell and Elliot Daly (L) during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium on March 12, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Scotland:
“Gregor Townsend had a difficult World Cup with Scotland, but I think they’ll really build on this and could do something here.”
Scotland’s scrum-half Finn Russell (2nd L) runs with the ball chased by France’s hooker Julien Marchand (L) and France’s scrum-half Antoine Dupont (R) during the Six Nations rugby union tournament match between France and Scotland at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, northern Paris, on February 26, 2023. (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)
France:
“I’ve seen the French squad and I’m a bit surprised. Their team was going somewhere and it looks like they’ll be making wholesale changes and that’ll impact more than you think. Still, they might carry on their decent form.”
France’s outside centre Jonathan Danty (C/#12) celebrates with teammates after scoring a try during the pre-World Cup rugby union international Test match between France and Australia at Stade de France in Saint Denis, on the outskirts of Paris on August 27, 2023. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)
Wales:
“I love Welsh rugby but Wales just seem to be pottering on at the moment. It’s a tiny selection of players they’ve got, but they have good individual talent.”
CARDIFF, WALES – NOVEMBER 09: Wales Head coach Warren Gatland (l) reacts whilst talking to assistant Robert Howley during Wales Media access ahead of their game against the Australian Wallabies at the Hensol Castle on November 9, 2017 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Italy:
“Italy are going to be really good and hard to beat; there’s a lot of excitement around Italian rugby right now. They’ll be much more competitive than they have been and will be going for as many wins as possible, especially in their home games.”
Sergio Parisse of Italy during the Six Nations International Rugby Union match between Italy and France at Stadio Olimpico on March 16, 2019 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Danilo Di Giovanni/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
He was also asked what his thoughts were on the shock move over to the NFL by Rees-Zammit.
“This is great news for him to follow his own dream. I’ve always felt he’s been wasted when playing for Wales; he should be getting the ball in space at speed all the time because he’s that fast and big and strong.
“He’s had a lot of criticism for this move, but we should be telling these people that you don’t shine brighter by crushing out someone else’s light. Louis is on his own journey and even if he goes over there for a few years and it doesn’t work out, he comes back the biggest, fittest and fastest guy in his mid-20s in the world. Who loses?”
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