Here are the latest rugby news headlines on Friday, February 3.
Wood claims Wales 'too old'
Ireland legend Keith Wood has suggested Warren Gatland is repeating history by selecting a side that is "too old" to be starting the first match of a World Cup year.
Gatland has selected 12 players in his matchday 23 aged 30 or over to face Ireland on Saturday, starting the likes of Alun Wyn Jones, 37, and Ken Owens, 36.
Wood, who has previously infuriated Gatland with his criticism when he was Lions coach in 2013, says it reminds him of when Gatland did similar with Ireland in 2000 and was quickly forced to change approach after a 50-18 pummeling from England in the opening game.
"I just think it looks like history repeating itself in many respects," Wood told Off the Ball.
"If I went back to 23 years ago when Gatland [then Irish coach], after the World Cup, stuck with the old stagers - pretty much the whole team - for the first game against England and we got hockied. Then there was a huge raft of changes came in immediately after against Scotland. That seemed to be the change where the young blood got the opportunity.
"In many respects he has gone back to what he knows, he's gone back to a group of guys he trusts and who trust him. I will agree he knows how to get the best out of Wales and the players are very confident in the style he wants to play.
"[But] It does look like a too old team for the first match of a year going into the World Cup and whether a lot of those guys will be there for that. But he also has an idea that guys have to fight for the jersey so they are not giving it up too easily.
"I would go into this game, not with nerves, but with a level of excitement that Ireland are number one in the world. We have consistently reacted poorly to that title but we just have to go out and prove that we can play better than Wales can.
"I don't know how much of an influence he can have. He will get them focused but I have to believe Ireland have that confidence to back up the placing and skills that they have."
Wales try to restore pride after difficult week
Captain Ken Owens wants Wales to "put pride back in the shirt" when they launch this season's Guinness Six Nations Championship on Saturday.
Wales host world number one team Ireland following a miserable 12 months that delivered just three victories, while their defeats included humiliating home losses to Italy and Georgia.
And off the field, the Welsh Rugby Union has been rocked to its core by sexism and discrimination allegations in the organisation that are now set to be investigated by an independent taskforce.
The Principality Stadium will be packed to its 74,500 capacity as Wales aim to start head coach Warren Gatland's second stint in charge by shredding the form book.
"It is disappointing what has come out of the past fortnight," said Owens, who skippers his country for the first time.
"I would be lying if I said we hadn't been talking about it within the squad, but at the end of the day we are in our own bubble as a Wales squad.
"The only thing we can do is concentrate on the rugby and what is coming on Saturday. At the end of the day that is what we are here to do.
"For us, the only thing we can control tomorrow is a performance, to put pride back into the Welsh shirt after what has been a tough couple of years with consistency.
"The only way we can do that as players is by delivering a performance that is worthy for the red shirt."
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Former England player tips Wales for wooden spoon
Former England sevens captain Ollie Phillips believes Wales could finish rock bottom of the Six Nations despite the return of Warren Gatland.
Like many, he believes the first game against Ireland will be key to deciding the direction of Wales' tournament, although most believe Gatland will make Wales a real competitive force
“This year’s Six Nations is arguably both the most predictable and the least predictable in a long time – but I do think there is a good chance of Wales finishing rock bottom,” wrote Phillips, who previously played for Stade Francais and a number of English clubs, in his City AM column.
“Wales’s first game against Ireland in Cardiff has a make or break feel for returning head coach Warren Gatland.
“If they lose it I think there’s a real chance of them finishing bottom of the Six Nations table come the end of March.
“A loss at home in the opening round followed by Scotland away is a difficult task – they’ll either be facing a bunch of Scots who are on a high after beating England or a bunch of Scots who will want a reaction from losing to England. It is almost a lose-lose for the Welsh.
“So after the opening two rounds there’s a realistic prospect of Wales being two from two or none from two.”
Eddie Jones says Finn Russell is key
Former England head coach Eddie Jones insists containing Finn Russell holds the key to relieving Scotland of the Calcutta Cup at Twickenham on Saturday.
Jones was involved in seven editions of the Guinness Six Nations before being sacked in December in response to a dire 2022 and his overall record against Scotland reads three wins and a draw in seven meetings.
The 63-year-old is backing England to win by three points with Owen Farrell kicking the decisive penalty, but he believes the Scots' fate lies in the hands of their mercurial fly-half Russell.
Referencing the Lions playmaker's stormy relationship with his head coach Gregor Townsend, Jones views his presence as offering the potential for death or glory for Saturday's underdogs.
"Gregor Townsend was an older version of Finn Russell and that's probably why him and Finn Russell don't get on," recently appointed Australia boss Jones told the podcast 'EDDIE'.
"He sees Finn Russell in the mirror - doesn't want to listen to the coach, wants to do it his own way, 'what does he know, just let me play because I want to play'. They butt heads.
"If Finn Russell plays, he gives Scotland an outstanding chance to win. It also means that if England get on top, Scotland will probably get hammered because he will keep taking risks under pressure and will give England more opportunities to score."
Read more:
Gwyn Jones column: What Wales need to do to pull off 'astonishing' victory over Ireland
Wales v Ireland exact scoreline predicted as rugby writers agree what will happen
The stark financial future for Wales' four regions as full details of new WRU funding deal revealed
Piers Morgan ridicules Delilah ban as Wales legend describes WRU decision as 'crazy'
