51 / 64
49
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.