Curtain raiser in February

February will be a sort of Kick off locally as well as internationally for the game of rugby football. On the 2nd of February we will see the start of the Six Nations 2008, on a home and away basis. The annual games will be between England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Scotland and France and it will run until March 15th. The question is as to who will turnout to take the top spot. Who ever it will be at the end will not matter as there will be some good rugby to be seen during this time.

In Sri Lanka the club rugby is expected to kick off on the 2nd of February with the first of the Sevens played in Nuwara Eliya, once known as "Little England". The second sevens tournament is to be played in Kandy on the 16th and 17th of February and the third in Colombo on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of March. The expectation is that there will be three tournaments that will give more exposure before the Sri Lankan leave for the Hong Kong Sevens. It is expected that there will be 12 teams playing in the first tournament to be played in Nuwara Eliya and an equal number in the next leg to be played in Kandy. The third in Colombo will have more teams.

The SLRFU hopes to organize the event in Colombo in a carnival atmosphere beginning on a Friday evening. This I believe is a good idea for the promotion of the game considering the success of the Friday evening at the last Mercantile Sevens Tournament which concluded recently.

However it is reported that Kandy Sports Club will not be on show during the first of the games to be played on first and second of February. This begs me to ask the question why there seems to be no congruence in the thinking among the top club and the governors. It seems they are similar to a railway line. Both going in the same direction but never meeting. If Sri Lanka is to make their presence felt in Hong Kong they have to be at their best. The union has not left any stone unturned in getting the side into the Hong Kong Sevens. It is now left for the on field performance. More sevens games and with the best competing the selectors would have had more chances to see the best on play than having to depend on trials. Hopefully the other two tournaments will give an opportunity to look at those who have not been there on the first leg.

The six Nations will see new faces on the block with three new coaches due to take up position on the sidelines. All three are forwards. Marc Lievremont's was a flanker for France. Warren Gatland a hooker takes over Wales while Nick Mallet who is coaching Italy played as Number Eight. France coach Laporte left his coaching job to take up more responsibilities for sports in the French Government. The other two take over for reasons where the coaches did have to bid adieu after a not so good performance at the last world cup.

Will there be a change in the pattern of rugby with all three sides opting for forwards to coach their sides. One thing though is certain that Lievremont of France brings with him a history of handling a try scoring side that has won accolades for being a well behaved. The Les Bleus are considered 2.56 favourites to defend their crown according to bookmakers.

Warren Gatlan is to have a tough time on hand if Wales are to get anything out of their clash with World Cup finalists England. If you lose that fixture, the pressure will mount for their game against Scotland. The fact that Wales went on to beat England and France last year after losing to Ireland and Scotland is to something they could boast o f and look forward to this should be a reason why they should be hopeful of a good performance.

Nick Mallett the South African has a proven track record having guided South Africa. The Springboks had a record-breaking sequence of victories under Mallett, His stewardship saw the Springboks win their first ever Tri-Nations in 1998, a feat they did not repeat for six years. His record with the Springboks was 27 successes from 38 Tests supported well as Stade Francais won two domestic titles with him as coach, rising to become the best team in Europe.

Italy despite fielding one of their strongest squads performed way below expectations in the World Cup. It was a bitter disappointment that they didn't qualify for the quarter-finals. Mallet will have a baptism of fire though, because his first two matches in charge are against Ireland and England. Will the Mallet magic work as odds have given a chance to Italy? So rugby it will be again beginning February 2008.