SIX NATIONS PREDICTIONS WEEK 3

France v Scotland Saturday ko 1415hrs GMT

With Finn Russell mysteriously injured by the French last weekend, Peter Horne steps in at that key 10 position for the Scots. Although, as France has also picked a non fly half in the same position in 19 year old Romain Ntamack, the loss of Russell may not hurt Scotland as much as the absence of Stuart Hogg at fullback and WP Nel in front row.

Pete Horne picked at 10 for Scots on Saturday

Scotland are also forced to bring in Nick Grigg for Huw Jones at 13, also injured in the Ireland game, which means that on Saturday, in their backline, they will field only three players born in Scotland, with two players born in New Zealand, one born in Australia and the other in Nashville. In the pack, Magnus Bradbury makes a welcome return, especially as Ryan Wilson is injured, and the bench is strengthened by the return to fitness of Fraser Brown and Zander Fagerson in the front row. Josh Strauss has finally found his (South African) passport and Scotland will need him at his defensive best if they are to win in Paris for first time in 20 years.

France are seeking to avoid a third straight defeat in this year's tournament and an 11th loss in 14 games since Jacques Brunel was appointed in December 2017. Disappointingly for the Scots, despite changing both their half backs, they have decided to play key players in their specialist positions, with Yoann Huget returning to the wing after starting at full-back against England, and Gael Fickou also back in the centres after being on the wing. Brunel makes four changes in all to the England starting line up, with Racing 92's Wenceslas Lauret back on the flank, while Toulouse's Thomas Ramos makes his first start at full-back to earn only his second cap. 

Jacques Brunel, the French coach (this week anyway)

A must win game for both teams as they approach the halfway stage of the tournament, and avoid talk of a Wooden Spoon. Surely France cannot be as bad as they were last weekend? Surely Scotland have to fancy their chances against a disorganised, downbeat French team, who have never been easier to beat? I think Horne will fare better than his younger counterpart at 10, as he has a lot of familiar Glasgow faces outside him, but I think France will win ugly, in a tight game, edging the battle up front, especially in the loose. How Scotland miss Barclay and Watson in this area.

France by 7

Wales v England Saturday ko 1645hrs

England bring in Ben Moon in front row to cover for injured Mako Vunipola and also wing Jack Nowell for Chris Ashton. Ellie Genge, Joe Cokanasiga and Brad Shields come onto the bench. Wales, having made 10 starting changes the previous week against Italy, make a similar number for this cricual game. Gareth Anscombe edges out Dan Biggar at fly-half, Gareth Davies is back at 9, Cory Hill replaces Adam Beard at lock, Ken Owens and Rob Evans come back into the front row, George North and Hadleigh Parkes start out wide, and finally, Ross Moriarty and Justin Tipuric return to the back row.

Saturday will be the Great "Gats"by's last England battle

The hosts and visitors are the tournament's only two unbeaten teams and both can still win the Grand Slam. It is Warren Gatland's last game against England (will he replace Eddie?) so expect emotion. The roof of the Principality (allegedly) will be closed, Welsh fans may headbutt the English bus (on the way to the ground) and Max Boyce could make an appearance. It will be very patriotic, hostile and Welsh, but I think as England are playing rugby on a different planet at the moment, they will continue their good form and win convincingly. The difference may be the bench, where England can call on Launchbury, Shields, Robson, Ford and Cokanasiga, and Wales cannot, and they will miss Faletau and Halfpenny.

England by 12

UNNECESSARY INJURIES DEVALUE SIX NATIONS

Yes I am angry, and I have not even forked out for a ticket for any of the games this weekend. I do not understand how, rugby, as a sport, allows first pick international players, to play in the rest week between Six Nations games. This tournament is the biggest showcase for the game globally outside the RWC, so you want the best players competing against each other, not journeymen making games a foregone conclusion. Not only does it short change the armchair fans, many of whom prefer football, but always love joining in the patriotism of a Six Nations weekend, it is devaluing the proposition for the passionate travelling fan, who nowadays will fork out over £100 for a match ticket, plus travel, food and beverage (multiple).

Injuries are playing an increasingly important factor in match outcomes

And to add injury to insult, two of those players hurt playing for their clubs last weekend, Finn Russell (Scotland) and Dan Biggar (Wales) were playing against nationals from their international opposition this weekend. Yes, call it a conspiracy theory, but is it not a coincidence that two of the best fly halves the game has ever seen, did not get through their matches unscathed when playing French and English clubs respectively. Even, if these players escaped undamaged, the highly flaunted "player welfare" policy is thrown out of the window, expecting them to play two "Test" matches in less than a week. Fans want to see these players perform on the biggest stage, not an understudy. Scotland was especially impacted, with Greg Laidlaw, the captain of his country, also playing for his club, Clermont Auvergne, last weekend. as were Gary Graham, John Hardie (both Newcastle) and Josh Strauss, Byron McGuigan (both Sale). If Scotland fade in the last 20 minutes of the France game on Saturday, you will know why.

Finn Russell before his head injury last weekend

Yes, I am grumpy, but the game will not expand its global footprint, or penetrate new fans from other sports, if it does not do everything it can to look after its superstars, and ensure they participate in the big games. To progress, rugby needs more countries ranking outside the Top 4 to be able to compete with (and beat) the moneyed elite. As has been shown, injuries can affect even England, with 12 Premiership teams (and the biggest playing base of all), who only finished 5th in last year's Six Nations, but the other major Northern Hemisphere countries, Ireland & Wales (4 teams each) and Scotland & Italy (only 2 teams each) really feel the impact from the loss of key players in crucial positions.

With France in disarray, and with Russell pulling the strings at 10, Scotland had a real chance on Saturday of beating them away for the first time since 1999 - without him it will probably be business as usual. Disagree? Just think how England would cope without Farrell away from home, or Ireland without Sexton? And what of Wales? If Biggar is not fit to come off the bench against England to help close out a tight game, it could cost them a Grand Slam.

Rugby should wise up, and, like all great businesses, focus more on satisfying the needs of the supporter or fan, otherwise it will remain a minority sport for the rich, egotistical English or French club owner.