SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME

Scotland U20's beat their English counterparts 24 - 6 last night for the first time at this level.

SCORE PREDICTIONS FOR 6N WEEK 1

France by 10, England by 7, Wales by 5

All matches will be tight, and what odds on Italy sneaking a win against a poor France, and Scotland and Ireland using home advantage to beat England and Wales respectively.

CALCUTTA LINE UPS ANNOUNCED

England and Scotland have announced their starting XV's for Saturday's Calcutta Cup, the oldest international fixture. Both teams go for experience, with a sprinkling of youth on the bench.

England favour Marler over Vunipola in front row, and Care over Youngs at scrum half. Debutants, Paul Hill, Jack Clifford and Ollie Devoto should get their first cap off the bench. With Mike Brown, Danny Care, Owen Farrell, Dylan Hartley and James Haskell on the pitch, England will be feisty and not take a step backwards, but whether this is applied intelligently is another matter.

England: Mike Brown, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Owen Farrell, Jack Nowell, George Ford, Danny Care; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley (captain), Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, George Kruis, Chris Robshaw, James Haskell and Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Jamie George, Mako Vunipola, Paul Hill, Courtney Lawes, Jack Clifford, Ben Youngs, Alex Goode and Ollie Devoto.

Toulon flanker Steffon Armitage has questioned England's decision not to select Maro Itoje and Elliot Daly in the matchday squad, but there time will come, probably against Italy in next match.

Scotland have a settled look about them, with the front five, half backs and back three remaining from RWC 2016. They have replaced the injured, Peter Horne, with Matt Scott, who has over 30 caps, and John Barclay is back from the wilderness, replacing Blair Cowan. He was arguably the star of the Killer B's Scottish back row of a few years ago (Beattie, Brown, Barclay), and has been playing well for Scarlets in the Pro 12, but whether he can adapt to the step up in international rugby remains to be seen. On the bench, Zander Fagerson, the 20 year old prop, is set to win his first cap, with Duncan Taylor plus Stuart McNally, the converted hooker (from back row) returning from injury.

The old guy John Barclay returns ... okay he is only 29

Scotland: Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland, Mark Bennett, Matt Scott, Tommy Seymour, Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw (capt); Al Dickinson, Ross Ford, WP Nel, Richie Gray, Jonny Gray, John Barclay, John Hardie, David Denton.

Replacements: Stuart McInally, Gordon Reid, Zander Fagerson, Tim Swinson, Blair Cowan, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Duncan Weir, Duncan Taylor.

As ever, the battle will be decided up front, with two huge packs going at it tooth and nail. WP Nel had a great RWC, and helped Scotland gain parity with Australia up front in the QF, whereas England's scrum struggled (Marler especially) against both Wales and Australia. Each team has three jumpers in the lineout, and England, with Hartley, now have someone who can throw it straight.

WALES ANNOUNCE MATCHDAY SQUAD FOR IRELAND GAME

Wales include Rob Evans of Scarlets ahead of Gethin Jenkins in front row, and some old faces return in form of Tom James, who has not played for Wales for five years, and Jonathan Davies, who is reunited in the centre with Jame Roberts. Sam Warburton is also included, despite not having played much rugby since being injured in November 2015. And the bench is full of experience, including Jenkins, Dan Lydiate and Alex Cutherbert, with 300+ caps between them.

Wales team: Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues); George North (Northampton Saints), Jonathan Davies (ASM Clermont), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Tom James (Cardiff Blues); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Racing 92), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, Capt), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues).

AT LAST ... ROLLING MAUL LAW TO CHANGE

I hate the rolling maul, dull, tedious, impossible to stop and never legal with attacking players joining from offside positions and ball carrier truck and trailering. At last they are to change the law, immediately in the Southern Hemisphere for Rugby Championship, but not until 1st June over here, as email only went out on 23rd December 2015, leaving it too late for refs and teams to react ... great!?!

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/rugbyunion/article4680995.ece

WALES TO WIN SIX NATIONS BUT NO SLAM

At a Times Plus event tonight at the Stoop, home of Harlequins, all the rugby experts present, including Stephen Jones, Owen Slot, Conor O'Shea and Adam Jones predicted Wales to win the Six Nations, except Shane Horgan, who went for England - but no Grand Slam. Italy more than likely to get wooden spoon, France have to be better, and who know what Scotland will produce? This weekend is crucial as wins for Scotland and Ireland could upset the form guide and give teams momentum for the following week. Welcome back Six Nations, we love you!

Socialising with old friends over quality of rugby?

SIX NATIONS FITNESS UPDATE

Kieran Brookes is fit enough to make England's 23 man squad for Scotland game, so Saints prop ousts Henry Thomas who returns to Bath. Mark "Lazarus" Bennett maybe fit enough to play some part in the game at centre for Scotland, which is a boost for the home team. Sean Maitland, the Scotland wing, also proved his fitness over the weekend after emerging unscathed from the London Irish game. And Eddie "Miracle Worker" Jones has asked Dylan Hartley to play like Tarzan this Saturday. Not sure what he means but let's hope Bo Derek makes an appearance.