Ulster Rugby vs Newport Dragons

penalised near the end, a forward pass resulted in a try which broke hearts, and skipper Greig Laidlaw insists it still hurts. “Scotland has some very decent players, and I like the way out-half Finn Russell has grown into that position, so all teams should be wary,” he insists. Of England Bowe says they have endless resources, some fine players, and it’s who, and how, new coach Eddie Jones decides to select that will be important, but England remains the side to beat. “We’re at Twickenham, and that’s going to be hard at any time, but the pressure is on the English to deliver. I think its most influential player could well be Billy Vunipola, someone we saw has such a destructive force against Ulster in the Champions Cup. “And in the backs they have so many to pick from. I really like Exeter’s Jack Nowell, and you have Anthony Watson, Jonny May, the list goes on, but this is a team which failed in its own World Cup, and it’ll be interesting. “Jones said recently that when he was in charge of Australia what he always feared was English forward power, and in appointing Dylan Hartley he’s signalling that he wants to see that gritty, in-your-face pack back. There’s been a lot of talk about Hartley’s appointment at skipper, but I was talking to Roger Wilson who played with him at Northampton and told me he’s a good guy, a good leader and that he’ll always bring ‘edge’. “Interesting to see how he, Jones and England go.” So what of France? Guy Noves has, at last, been tempted away from Toulouse to salvage pride and direction after a ramshackle four years under Philippe Saint Andre. “The truth is that you just don’t know with France, they are so unpredictable. They have, like England, such deep resources; look at Fofana, Fikou, Parra in the backs, at Picamoles, the new captain Guirado, Meastri in the pack. “Ireland outthought and outplayed the French in the World Cup, and I’d like to think we can do that again,” says Bowe. Italy can, as always, create an upset – or maybe two – but Bowe believes it will be the ‘founding five’ nations who will be chasing glory. As a player who will always be remembered for out-sprinting his then clubmate Shane Williams to clinch a Grand Slam in 2009, Bowe would love to be able to play a part this year, and though he appears to feel a repeat of the ‘Slam’ is unlikely, he does fancy Ireland to retain the Six Nations Championship and create history. “That would be so good after our disappointment at the World Cup when we were shaping up well until we just couldn’t take any more injuries. It’s an exciting time, Joe will possibly mix the side up a bit looking to the future, blood a few youngsters, Tadhg Furlong perhaps up front, Stu McCloskey possibly in the backs. “I want to join that group soon, but first my priority is Ulster and getting back into the team, healthy and fully fit. But, like everyone, I want Ireland to do well, and I’ll be cheering them on from what is a little too far away!” he jokes.

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