6 Nations Rugby

McGrathsipan

Dawn’s less famous husband
Joined
Jun 25, 2009
Messages
25,662
Location
Dublin
Given Ireland are away to England and France this year a repaeat of last years grand slam would be a very hard act to follow however they are more than capable of it.

My predicition for it is

France
Ireland
Wales
England
Scotland
Italy

I fancy Ireland for the triple crown but I cant see anyone other than France doing the Grand Slam
 
I'm with the OP on France, they just look to have so much depth and quality

You can definitely see the way Lievremont has been building a team, a squad for the 2011 WC. Whereas with England and Johnson, there seems to be have been very little sign of this

I'm sure the likes of Danny Cipriani and Courtney Lawes would be given so many more opportunities if they were French

So, I think France will win it, as their schedule is favourable, in the sense that they have Ireland and England at home. Only Ireland can really challenge them in my opinion.



England have got to beat Wales for me this weekend, that is the game that really matters for me, Scotland and Italy should take care of themselves, got to be looking to beat Wales, and then go from there against Ireland and France when we face them.

Pretty happy with the team he's selected;

England: D Armitage (London Irish); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), M Tait (Sale Sharks), R Flutey (Brive), U Monye (Harlequins); J Wilkinson (Toulon), D Care (Harlequins); T Payne (Wasps), D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Bath), S Shaw (Wasps), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), J Haskell (Stade Francais), L Moody (Leicester), N Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements: S Thompson (Brive), D Cole (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), S Armitage (London Irish), P Hodgson (London Irish), T Flood (Leicester), B Foden (Northampton).


I hope they can get Wilkinson not to play so deep, hard to get over the gain line when he's receiving the ball so deep
 
I think France will win it with maybe Wales second. Everybody will be out to beat Ireland now so I can't see them repeating their performance from last year.
 
I dont really follow Rugby, but theres something about the 6 Nations that I really enjoy.
 
I would have like to see Courtney Lawes aswell but I read in the BBC 606 forums part is that he has an injury the reason he isn't gonna play. Other then Sheridan would would play but he is injured I do like Englands team good to see Tait back.
 
Rooney1987 said:
I would have like to see Courtney Lawes aswell but I read in the BBC 606 forums part is that he has an injury the reason he isn't gonna play. Other then Sheridan would would play but he is injured I do like Englands team good to see Tait back.
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I'm not saying he should be playing, but he would have had opportunities in the AIs if he was French, Lievremont seems to trust youth and give them their chance, and yeh, he's lost games, but he's got an incredible group of players now
 
EdWeatherall said:
I'm not saying he should be playing, but he would have had opportunities in the AIs if he was French, Lievremont seems to trust youth and give them their chance, and yeh, he's lost games, but he's got an incredible group of players now
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They do have allot of great young players but I agree England and Johnson don't take many risks in picking young player England do have allot. I know Cipriani has been injured but for some reason Johnson does not want to pick him I hope they don't mess him around like with Tait over the years. Unless Wliko has been playing well in France I don't watch much rugby there how is Wilko doing?
 
Rooney1987 said:
Unless Wliko has been playing well in France I don't watch much rugby there how is Wilko doing?
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No idea

As I said earlier, he needs to start playing flatter, give England a chance to get some forward momentum and get over the gain line, he plays too deep at times.

And on Byrne, always thought he would play, and always thought it was weird that bans could count for all competitions, he should be banned for two Ospreys Heineken cup games (or however many they see fit), not two weeks
 
Brophs said:
Trimble on the wing in the first game. He deserves it, to be fair. Earls is massively overrated, IMHO.
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Earls is still a bit raw, but he has the ability, even if he's having a mediocre game, to make that crucial break. I would imagine for the time being he is most suited to an impact role off the bench.
 
If Andy Robinson can get Scotland to continue the good work he started in the Autumn internationals Scotland could do a bit better than people might think. Then again we do have a habit of not performing as we should so anything could happen this 6 nations, so an improvement on last years would be a start.
 
will copy my post from Ed's thread

as for the 6 nations well, i dont know how to call it this year. Im gonna stick my neck out and call it as Ireland winning the coveted trophy once again. But not a grand slam. I reckon they will go down in Paris.

I expect the French to put up the most resistence this year but with the French well you just never know. The biggest game for them is wales away in the middle of the campaign. A game I tip the Welsh to win.

England will be stronger this year and may upset the welsh next week, its worth an outside bet. I see the welsh having a poor-ish six nations this year based on what I saw from their forwards pack during the Autumn internationals. But a poor wales is still better than an average England team.

italy to become more competitive also, competitive but to finish bottom with the spoon with perhaps a shot at a win against the scots in rome.

Scotland i expect to have a poor season, 3 away fixtures including a banana skin in italy. However I do expect them to pull off a sneaky victory at murryfield against England.
 
Sexton is out for Ireland but a great number 10 to come in as a replacement in Ogara.

Looking forward to the game myself.

If anyone has 2 tickets spare PM me
 
Can't wait for the 6 nations!
France will win it but don't think it will be a grand slam.
Scotland could be up there as well they are coming in with good form, however would love it if Wales won it again
 
Sam#1 said:
I dont really follow Rugby, but theres something about the 6 Nations that I really enjoy.
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Same. I end up watching it with rugby-obssessed mates and trying to blag my way through all the banter.

"Tell you what, that Brian O'Driscoll is good, isn't he? Why are they playing him as a back? He should be one of the forwards, so he can score a few goals... tries... I mean tries..."
 
As a proud Englishman/Welshman*, I can't wait for our lot to thrash the English/Welsh* at the weekend.

Have that, you inferior English/Welsh* cnuts



*to be deleted as appropriate depending on actual result
 
noodlehair said:
As a proud Englishman/Welshman*, I can't wait for our lot to thrash the English/Welsh* at the weekend.

Have that, you inferior English/Welsh* cnuts



*to be deleted as appropriate depending on actual result
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Na dude you gotta pick a team!

anyways Welsh team to play England was picked yesterday Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Tom James (Blues), James Hook (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Blues), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Scarlets); Gareth Cooper (Blues); Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Gareth Williams (Blues), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Dragons), Andy Powell (Blues), Martyn Williams (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt).

bit surprised Cooper was picked ahead of Richie Rees who has kept cooper out of the blues team this year, I guess Cooper looked better in training and went for his experience.

Glad Hook has been picked at 13, he has the creative play that we were missing in the AI's.
 
oleonenumber20 said:
anyways Welsh team to play England was picked yesterday Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Tom James (Blues), James Hook (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Blues), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Scarlets); Gareth Cooper (Blues); Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Gareth Williams (Blues), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Dragons), Andy Powell (Blues), Martyn Williams (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt).
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Having another look at the England team, I'm surprised Joe Worsley isn't playing, is he injured?

As he did such a good game of stopping Jamie Roberts when we last played Wales
 
Worsley just returned from Injury last week for Wasps there saying he might be back for England against Ireland on Feb 27.
 
Cheers. That does sound familiar, and would explain why he's not even on the bench either.

Should be a good game

Anyone want to make any score predictions

Ireland 31-12 Italy
England 24-19 Wales
Scotland 17-26 France
 
EdWeatherall said:
Cheers. That does sound familiar, and would explain why he's not even on the bench either.

Should be a good game

Anyone want to make any score predictions

Ireland 31-12 Italy
England 24-19 Wales
Scotland 17-26 France
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1st 2 i'd go with but what makes you think that scotland will run france that close? I have a feeling the french will hammer them

And the irony is no-one can call hand-ball
 
The funny thing is that most of the pundits tipping Ireland are English and Welsh where as the Irish pundits are tipping France.

IMO I think Ireland have a great chance. England away is always a game they will be well up for so the potential banana skin is France.

French teams have been doing well in the Heineken Cup but if Lièvremont is going to do this chopping and changing i can see it affecting the team.

Ireland have match winners all over the pitch so I'm going with Ireland for the six nations but with the grand slam being too much.
 
McGrathsipan said:
1st 2 i'd go with but what makes you think that scotland will run france that close? I have a feeling the french will hammer them

And the irony is no-one can call hand-ball
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Yeh, was perhaps a bit generous to Scotland, didn't include any points from penalties for France, so you can easily add on another 9/12
 
EdWeatherall said:
Yeh, was perhaps a bit generous to Scotland, didn't include any points from penalties for France, so you can easily add on another 9/12
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I would love it if the scots did them, in fact if the french finished last i would enjoy that.

But I think they have good quality in their ranks and will be battling for the title!
 
Retention of the Grand Slam may be a bridge too far for Ireland, but only just! It may well be unclaimed this year.

However, I still think Ireland could well end up champs, in a close tussle between them ,France, Wales & England(whom can only improve!).

Apologies to all Scots, but still a little of the pace!
 
Just seen on SSN that Toby Flood replaces Riki Flutey just when England start getting there players back this happens.
 
I think if Ireland can get past France, they have a good chance of doing the Grand slam again. Im assuming of course they beat Italy tomorrow. Englöand at Twickenahm will be tough, but I would back them to come through it and then its the Welsh and the Scottish at Croke Park, the momentum would be high and I think it could pull them through.

I suppose its all if and buts at the minute, cant wait for this to kick off.
 
Rooney24 said:
I think if Ireland can get past France, they have a good chance of doing the Grand slam again. Im assuming of course they beat Italy tomorrow. Englöand at Twickenahm will be tough, but I would back them to come through it and then its the Welsh and the Scottish at Croke Park, the momentum would be high and I think it could pull them through.

I suppose its all if and buts at the minute, cant wait for this to kick off.
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me neither, im not a big big rugby fan but I like the international game....

Come on Ireland!!
 
Ireland were very poor today. It don't understand why they can't put the smaller teams away.
 
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