Ben Kay: England and France squad depth could decide 2026 Six Nations

England World Cup winner Ben Kay believes the outcome of Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash could prove the defining moment in the 2026 Six Nations, ultimately shaping where the title lands.

Former Leicester Tigers second row Kay has tipped England and France as the two sides best placed to lift the trophy, citing squad depth and confidence as the key separating factors across the championship.

However, with the five rounds squeezed into six weeks this year, Kay feels the tournament may ultimately come down to depth rather than star power.

“I think France and England are probably the favourites,” Kay, below, told Betway. “England are in as good a shape as they’ve been for a long time – 12 wins on the bounce – so the confidence is there.

Grand Slam decider

“It’s not a given by any means, though. Going up to Murrayfield will be really tough, and obviously, they’ve got France on the last weekend.

“It’d be great if that was a Grand Slam decider.

“This is a tournament of squad depth and they’re probably the two teams with the biggest depth.

“They’ll be able to cope with players being away better than most. If the France game was at home, you might give England the edge, but bonus points could come into it.

“You could see it decided that way rather than a Grand Slam.”

Decision maker: England lock Alex Coles
PICTURES: Getty Images

Extra weight

Scotland‘s recent dominance in the fixture, with four wins in the last five and unbeaten in Murrayfield since 2020, adds extra weight to next weekend’s showdown.

Few fixtures, Kay says, compare to arriving at Murrayfield wearing the Red Rose.

“The drive in is always interesting — plenty of people waving, not always with all their fingers,” said Kay.

“But that’s what you want. Hostile atmospheres are brilliant if you’re confident.

“If there are any psychological cracks though, it’s a killer. A lot rides on it because it’s a springboard for the tournament.

“With most of Scotland’s wins, they were underdogs. England maybe weren’t in a great place psychologically then, but there’s been a mindset shift now.

“They’re talking about Grand Slams, saying second isn’t good enough. That feeds into wanting to lay down a marker.”

Footwork

Reflecting on his own position, Kay admits he would relish playing in today’s game, with the role of the second row expanding significantly.

He added: “I’d love to play in this era. The game has opened up much more. There are more opportunities to get your hands on the ball, offload and play.

“The lineout is still massive – most tries start from there – and defensively you’re still putting in big shots in midfield.

“But the short passing game of the front five has changed dramatically.”

He believes structured pod systems now dictate where locks operate, but the increase in ball-in-play time makes the role more dynamic.

Kay highlights England duo Alex Coles and Ollie Chessum, the latter above, as prime examples of the modern second row.

He said: “Alex Coles probably embodies it most. He has so many moments where he’s making decisions – whether he carries it himself, whether he shows a bit of footwork, or whether he offloads out the contact.

“The same with Ollie Chessum.”