Wales, England, Ireland, Scotland, France, and Italy are all putting their final preparations in place ahead of the 2023 Six Nations tournament.
Wales, once again managed by Warren Gatland, are the underdogs heading into the tournament, but can the Dragons cause a few upsets along the way?
Wales Rank Outsiders
Ireland won the Triple Crown to finish runners-up last year and are top of the current world rankings. Things are tight in the betting, but Andy Farrell’s Irish are the slight favourites heading into the 2023 event, with Paddy Power offering 5/4. France are available at 6/4, while England are priced at 9/2.
The Welsh head into the Six Nations tournament flying under the radar. According to the latest betting odds, Wales are the fourth favourite (12/1) behind Ireland, France, and England. They have a rich history in this annual competition, but the bookies are not giving them much hope in 2023, mainly down to the recent loss of form and ongoing injury concerns. While online betting tips may not be in their favour, there’s certainly no better occasion for Wales to come back fighting.
Wales have had a difficult time over the last year or so, though they have won two of the last four Six Nations tournaments. Can the returning Gatland guide the Dragons to glory against the odds this year?
Two new coaches have joined Warren Gatland's Wales staff ahead of the Six Nations 👀https://t.co/MrS07xksuC pic.twitter.com/nqv6T3aeMz
— Rugby World (@Rugbyworldmag) January 12, 2023
The Six Nations tournament gets underway when Wales host Ireland at the Principality Stadium. Gatland’s boys then travel to Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh to play Scotland before hosting old foes England in Cardiff in game three.
Wales make the trip to Rome in Round Four to face Italy looking to avenge last year’s shock defeat on home soil. Their tournament ends with an away game in Paris against the 2022 Grand Slam winners France at the Stade de France.
What Went Wrong Last Year?
Wales have so often been the team to beat in the Six Nations, but the Welsh had a tournament to forget last year. Wayne Pivac picked a solid squad of experience and youth, but his side struggled from the very first whistle.
Cardiff head coach Dai Young says the Welsh regions strong weekend in Europe is the perfect boost for Wales in the Six Nations 🏉#BBCRugby
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) January 16, 2023
Wales were involved in the opening game of the tournament, and a heavy 29-7 defeat to Ireland at the Aviva Stadium set the tone. They edged past Scotland in game two before narrowly losing to England and France.
They then suffered one of their worst results in Six Nations history, as Italy scored at the death to secure a memorable 22-21 victory at the Principality. It was Italy’s first win against Wales since 2007 and their first-ever away success over the Welsh. Wales lost four of five and only finished above the Italians on losing bonus points.
Can Gatland Rekindle The Magic?
Gatland had a terrific time during his spell as head coach from 2007 to 2019. The nation’s stunning victory in 2019 saw Gatland become the first coach to win three Grand Slams in the modern era.
He was supremely successful during his first reign, winning four Six Nations championships and securing runners-up medals in both 2016 and 2018.
It may take time for Gatland and Wales to reignite the flame, but the New Zealander is certainly capable of getting the Dragons back to their blistering best.
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