by Ian Taplin Wasps RFC Strenth and Conditioning Coach

This weekends fixtures see Scotland travel to Rome to take on Italy in what to all-intense and purposes will be for the Wooden Spoon. Scotland I feel will have a bit too much attacking threat in the back filed and will win by 10 points.

Wales take on France on Friday night at the Principality Stadium with the roof closed and an atmosphere that will be electric. Wales with home support will have too much for the French and will get home by 7.

England faces their sternest test so far as they travel to Dublin to face Ireland. They will have to weather some periods of pressure but will have the defensive organisation to do so and will secure a valuable away win by 9 points.

This weekends fixtures will set the final rounds of the Championship up nicely and potentially a winner takes all showdown between Wales and England at Twickenham. There may not be the free flowing attacking rugby that we saw in the World Cup but the Six Nations is unmatched for passion and I am looking forward to all three games this weekend.