It Is less than a month until Europe’s six best countries face off in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations with reigning champions France aiming to defend their title and perhaps add a grand slam to the ones they won under Antoine Dupont’s captaincy in 2022.
It Is less than a month until Europe’s six best countries face off in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations with reigning champions France aiming to defend their title and perhaps add a grand slam to the ones they won under Antoine Dupont’s captaincy in 2022.
Each team have their own aims and priorities for the tournament, and while the Six Nations is not usually where coaches experiment with their line-ups, there is the possibility of seeing some new faces emerge ahead of a long year of international rugby.
Here’s who ATR thinks could make a big impression on the Six Nations…
Manuel Zuliani (Italy)
The Benetton openside has had to be patient for his chance, what with the man in front of him – Michele Lamaro – being his national and team captain. However, he was given the number seven shirt in the autumn and responded with some impressive displays.
Zuliani made his debut back in the 2022 Six Nations and has had to contend with the likes of Lamaro, Sebastian Negri, Lorenzo Cannone, Ross Vintcent, and Alessandro Izekor for a place in the backrow, which is quickly becoming Italy’s point of strength.
The 25-year-old played in all three November internationals – wins over Australia and Chile, and defeat to South Africa – and made 39 tackles in the three fixtures and averaged two turnovers per match.
Tom Jordan (Scotland)
Under Gregor Townsend, Scotland’s backline has a very familiar feel to it, but could Tom Jordan be about to give it a shake up? The Bristol man has been in exceptional form, primarily at flyhalf, and with his ability could he be the prod in the back that means they actually challenge for honours, rather than blow out after a strong start?
The New Zealand-born, 27-year-old has had to be patient, but Scottish fans know all about his quality after he helped Glasgow Warriors to the United Rugby Championship (URC) title in 2024, where he delivered classy performances at flyhalf, centre and fullback.
In November, he came off the bench late on against New Zealand and Argentina, with little chance to affect the match, and played the full 80 at fullback against Tonga, with another kilted Kiwi, Fergus Burke, at flyhalf. Fullback is his most likely position in navy blue, and while Blair Kinghorn has done little wrong, he was off the pace at times in the autumn, and his selection would be Townsend’s way of showing that it isn’t just the same old faces that get the call when the big matches come round.
Nicolas Depoortere (France)
France’s need to replenish their centre stocks in the light of Jonathan Danty’s injury and his and Gael Fickou’s advancing years, have been eased by the emergence of this 23-year-old Bordeaux-Begles dynamo.
Having made his Top 14 debut just under three years ago, he has become an important part of the Investec Champions Cup holders system, and he played the full 80 when Yannick Bru’s team won their maiden title in May 2025.
Depoortere was rewarded on a place in France’s squad that toured New Zealand and featured in two of the tests. He then kept his place for the November internationals and ran in two tries in matches against Fiji and Australia. He is a powerful runner who cuts exceptional lines and has enough pace to keep up with Louis Bielle-Biarrey. Defences beware.
Joshua Kenny (Ireland)
Talking of pace there has been a discernible lack of it in Ireland’s increasingly veteran backline, but could the former Ireland sevens player help relieve those issues? He has certainly shown a nose for the tryline in his few appearances for Leinster so far, including two on his Champions Cup debut against La Rochelle at Aviva Stadium.
This season was about Kenny developing his game in the Leinster Academy, but such was his experience after two seasons on the sevens circuit that Leo Cullen had no problem promoting him to the senior squad.
Kenny has played five URC matches and scored six tries. Andy Farrell is someone who likes a settled side, but Kenny appears determined not to leave him any choice.
Theo Dan (England)
Can someone with 20 caps, and three tries from four Rugby World Cup matches be considered a new face? Probably not, but that is more a reflection of England’s squad depth right now, where observers of Steve Borthwick’s squad have a good idea of the third, and fourth choice option for some positions.
That said, hooker is one position which is ripe for some new blood. Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie have continued their excellent performances, but they are both north of 30 and while you could see them running out at the 2027 World Cup, it would be useful to have a third, experienced option.
Dan last feature in an England shirt off the bench against Argentina in November and before them he played in the tour matches to Argentina in July. He played all England’s matches in the 2024 Six Nations, but only one in 2025, a sign of his progress stalling.
At the moment, Dan is recovering from a slight calf injury that forced him to sit out Saracens win over Toulouse in the Champions Cup. Injury aside, it is the sort of match he needs to feature and impress in if he wants to overtake George and Cowan-Dickie in Borthwick’s thoughts.
Tom Bowen (WALES)
Wing may not be the overriding priority on Steve Tandy’s list of problems to solve, especially with Louis Rees-Zammit back in the fold, but in Tom Bowen they have someone who has shown he can score tries at any level.
In fact, he didn’t hang around to show off that ability with a score on his Cardiff debut against the Cheetahs in last season’s EPCR Challenge Cup. He then followed up with two more on his URC debut against the Sharks.
This season the 20-year-old who feature in the U20 Six Nations and U20 World Championship, grabbed his first senior hattrick, against Munster in the URC and added two more to his tally against Connacht. He has also grabbed scores against Ulster and Racing 92 in the Challenge Cup.
Tandy is likely to favour Rees-Zammit and Tom Rogers, who scored a hattrick against New Zealand on his last Welsh appearance. Nonetheless, it would certainly be prudent of Tandy to get Bowen involved in some way.