Farrell says conservative approach best for Six Nations title defence

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell said on Monday he was not a believer in the four-year World Cup cycle and a radical overhaul of his squad would be damaging to their Six Nations title defence.

Farrell has reflected that attitude in naming 34-year-old flanker Peter O'Mahony as captain in the wake of the retirement of Johnny Sexton following Ireland's World Cup quarter-final exit last October.

Sexton is one of several greats of the game who will not grace the Six Nations this year.

France's Antoine Dupont is taking time out to seek Olympic glory in the sevens, while Dan Biggar has retired from the Wales setup and England's Owen Farrell has taken time out for mental health reasons.

Only Italy's Michele Lamaro remains of the captains from the Six Nations last year.

Farrell, who since the World Cup has been named World Coach of the year and then British and Irish Lions coach for the 2025 tour of Australia, said he wants to grow the squad but not refresh it with a radical overhaul. 

"I want the squad to grow but you do not achieve that by cutting the legs off and go again," said Farrell at the Six Nations launch in Dublin.

"Competing for places is extremely important but I do not buy into the four-year cycle post World Cup as others do."

Farrell's former Saracens teammate Steve Borthwick enters his second Six Nations as England coach on the back of a surprising third-place finish in the World Cup.

Borthwick thinks having more experience in the head coach role -- he was named in December 2022 following the sacking of Eddie Jones -- will see an improvement on recent disappointing Six Nations campaigns. 

"I want us to hit the ground running, which we have not done in the past few years," he said.

- 'Passion and fire' -

Gonzalo Quesada expressed pride at the prospect of experiencing his first Six Nations as Italy head coach.

"For me I had the opportunity as an assistant with the French national team to experience the Six Nations," said Quesada.

"I grew up in Argentina watching the Six Nations in February with shutters down and anthems playing loud.

"To be the first Argentinian head coach of a Six Nations team is a real honour and great privilege.

"As I say there is a lot of emotion but I have to stay rational so as to analyse the matches coming up."

The 49-year-old former fly-half said he respected a lot of the work his predecessor Kieran Crowley had done, but he felt the team was lacking Latin passion.

"I am Latin but have an Anglo Saxon way of thinking," he said.

"However, I really value Latin emotions. For me they are very important, especially when we play rugby.

"I want a bit more passion and fire injected. I want to make the Latin side of Italian rugby stronger."

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend badly needs a good Six Nations after a disappointing first-round exit in the World Cup.

As a first step he has replaced Jamie Ritchie as skipper with a joint captaincy of playmaker Finn Russell and backrow forward Rory Darge.

Townsend said Ritchie needed to focus on ensuring he still makes the team as he faces competition "with players in really good form who put their hands up at the World Cup."

Townsend said Darge and Russell complemented each other.

Darge though is still carrying a knee injury but hopes to be back for one of the first two matches.

"They are key players in the squad and are leaders in different ways and people we think very highly of," said Townsend. 

"They will complement each other very well with Finn an experienced campaigner who has led the offence for many years and Rory is a great leader of defence.

"We hope this will add extra layers to their performances."