Paris (AFP)

A new wind is blowing on the Six Nations: for the first post-World Cup 2019 tournament, which opens on Saturday, four teams will be led by new coaches. Here are the challenges that await new and survivors alike.

Andy Farrell (Ireland)

Six nations rhyme with promotion for Andy Farrell, 44: assistant during the World Cup, the Englishman replaced Joe Schmidt as coach and the Tournament will be his first competition.

We have "a hell of a team", said the child of Wigan, former British glory of the 13th century, who also went through the supervision of the XV de la Rose. The most scrutinized match of XV of the Clover will be the trip to Twickenham, with the English of Captain Owen ... Farrell, his son!

Objective: recover from the defeat against Japan in the World Cup (19-12) and the quarterback against New Zealand (46-14), while renewing the sometimes stereotypical game of Ireland.

Wayne Pivac (Wales)

A change in continuity among the Welsh: Wayne Pivac, 57-year-old New Zealander, replaces Warren Gatland, 56-year-old New Zealander who has been in office since 2007.

The march is great for the former Fiji coach (2004-2007), who has the heavy task of succeeding the great architect of the XV of Leek in recent years, after a successful World Cup (semi-final lost against the southern champions -africans) and a last Grand Slam at the 2019 Tournament.

"I am very enthusiastic, like the whole group," said Pivac, a former police officer, who knows the country well for having trained the Scarlets (2014-2019) and intends to give the XV of Leek a more dynamic style.

Fabien Galthié (France)

Aged 50, the former scrum half (65 selections, 24 capitanats between 1991 and 2003) succeeds Jacques Brunel with the Blues with the ambition of bringing French rugby into modernity (expanded staff, enlarged group of players , use of data, etc.).

"We have a four-year vision (until the 2023 World Cup in France) and a shorter-term vision", repeats the meticulous Galthié, who has greatly rejuvenated his group, evoking a "form of natural renewal", and will start with a Crunch against England on Sunday.

"He is the person who knows perhaps the best rugby on the technical and tactical aspect. And on the human, it goes very well", appreciates the center Gaël Fickou, one of the survivors of the quarter-final of the World lost to the Welsh (20-19).

Franco Smith (Italy)

A South African on the bench to find a smile: it is the bet of Italy with Franco Smith, former half-opening of 47 years, who succeeds the Irish Conor O'Shea.

Smith was only appointed on an acting basis, however. the task is tough: the Azzurri have not won a tournament match for five years against Scotland.

"We want to find our DNA and build on our strengths," said Smith, who leads Italy ousted from the group stage of the World Cup and whose captain Sergio Parisse will bow out after a final match at Rome (facing Scotland or England).

Eddie Jones (England)

"My goal is to make England the biggest rugby team ever," said Eddie Jones, whose XV lost in the final to Japan against South Africa (32-12) and now wants take a new step.

The Australian, whose contract expires in 2021, has just celebrated his 60th birthday and is thirsty for trophies, two years after the last Six Nations won.

A follower of psychological warfare on the grounds of the press conference, Jones will have to show that he can overcome disappointments after his second setback in the world final: in 2003 with the Wallabies, he lost to ... England.

Gregor Townsend (Scotland)

He is the second survivor of the six, but he inherits a less enviable situation: at 46, Gregor Townsend must make forget the early elimination in Japan.

"We have to be better," said Tonwsend before crossing the Irish Sea for a revenge on Saturday against the XV of Clover, the big winner of the Scots at the World Cup (27-3).

The former opening half must contend with a reduced player pool, the retirement of many players (Greig Laidlaw, John Barclay, Tommy Seymour), the injury of winger Darcy Graham and the misconduct of the opening half Finn Russell, excluded from the group. He chose to rest on his rear Stuart Hogg, designated as captain.

© 2020 AFP