Finnegan Posted 31 January 2011 Posted 31 January 2011 So here we go again, kicking off on Friday night with Wales - England at the Millennium Stadium. England the Ladbrokes favourites which has got to be for the first time in Cardiff since 2003 but I think you'd have to be a brave man to put much money either way on that one. Mind you, this is the same bookmaker that has England as 15/8 favourites ahead of France and Ireland so you have to be somewhat dubious. Regardless of their result against the ABs in the Autumn, I'm struggling to look much beyond France but I can't see anyone pulling off the Grand Slam this year. It's becoming a bit of a cliché in recent years but I honestly believe anyone could win it in 2011, with the obvious exception. I usually have a theory in rugby, a reliable one at that. It's pretty simple - what you do is, you see what Jerry Guscott is saying and you expect the complete opposite. But for once in his life he's been caught on video speaking a lot of common sense (well, except claiming that England could beat anyone in the world!) Good video for anyone interested here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/9381705.stm Opening fixtures are as follows: Friday: Wales - England Saturday: Italy - Ireland & France - Scotland. Three very interesting fixtures. I think it's something of a shame that Scotland have to start off with possibly the toughest match possible. I've been saying for the last couple of years that if they could just switch on on the attack they could really cause a few surprises, they're immensely well organized and their regional sides have made huge improvements in the Magners League era. But you can only see them taking a battering to their confidence in Paris. This will be Italy's first Six Nations since regionalizing their top end rugby and getting membership to the Magners League. It's probably too early to see big improvements but it may well have galvanized some of their players and Ireland are severely misfiring. Pretty much obvious which the all-eyes-on game of the weekend is, though. I'd agree with Jiffy's analysis, I think. If Wales can achieve, at least, equality in the scrum (and Jenkins and Jones will be MASSIVE losses) then I think we will win. We have the creativity and the skill to terrorize England on the back foot. But if we see a repeat of last year in Twickenham with Wales making silly mistakes and losing out in the scrum then Foden, Ashton and Youngs could cause a major upset. One things for sure - it pretty much makes or breaks both teams' championships on opening day, I haven't been this apprehensive of a game in Cardiff for years.
Sparky Posted 31 January 2011 Posted 31 January 2011 So here we go again, kicking off on Friday night with Wales - England at the Millennium Stadium. England the Ladbrokes favourites which has got to be for the first time in Cardiff since 2003 but I think you'd have to be a brave man to put much money either way on that one. Mind you, this is the same bookmaker that has England as 15/8 favourites ahead of France and Ireland so you have to be somewhat dubious. Regardless of their result against the ABs in the Autumn, I'm struggling to look much beyond France but I can't see anyone pulling off the Grand Slam this year. It's becoming a bit of a cliché in recent years but I honestly believe anyone could win it in 2011, with the obvious exception. I usually have a theory in rugby, a reliable one at that. It's pretty simple - what you do is, you see what Jerry Guscott is saying and you expect the complete opposite. But for once in his life he's been caught on video speaking a lot of common sense (well, except claiming that England could beat anyone in the world!) Good video for anyone interested here: http://news.bbc.co.u...lsh/9381705.stm Opening fixtures are as follows: Friday: Wales - England Saturday: Italy - Ireland & France - Scotland. Three very interesting fixtures. I think it's something of a shame that Scotland have to start off with possibly the toughest match possible. I've been saying for the last couple of years that if they could just switch on on the attack they could really cause a few surprises, they're immensely well organized and their regional sides have made huge improvements in the Magners League era. But you can only see them taking a battering to their confidence in Paris. This will be Italy's first Six Nations since regionalizing their top end rugby and getting membership to the Magners League. It's probably too early to see big improvements but it may well have galvanized some of their players and Ireland are severely misfiring. Pretty much obvious which the all-eyes-on game of the weekend is, though. I'd agree with Jiffy's analysis, I think. If Wales can achieve, at least, equality in the scrum (and Jenkins and Jones will be MASSIVE losses) then I think we will win. We have the creativity and the skill to terrorize England on the back foot. But if we see a repeat of last year in Twickenham with Wales making silly mistakes and losing out in the scrum then Foden, Ashton and Youngs could cause a major upset. One things for sure - it pretty much makes or breaks both teams' championships on opening day, I haven't been this apprehensive of a game in Cardiff for years. Yeah they will, on the flip side we are without 2 major line out players in Croft and Lawes which worries me but for once in a tussle between England and Wales i'm looking forward to seeing us attack and use the pace of Youngs/Ashton/Foden. If it were up to me i think i'd go with Banahan at 13. Not a huge fan of his but Tindall has had his day and it's unlikely Manu will be thrown in to the fray. Its gonna be a game of fine margins and ill go England by 1-5
The Doctor Posted 31 January 2011 Posted 31 January 2011 love a bit of 6N - Anyone got tv listings for this weekend?
Finnegan Posted 31 January 2011 Author Posted 31 January 2011 Wales v England Friday 4 February 1930-2200, BBC One/BBC Radio 5 live/BBC Red Button/online Italy v Ireland Saturday 5 February 1400-1625, BBC One/BBC Radio 5 live sports extra/BBC Red Button/online France v Scotland Saturday 5 February 1635-1900, BBC One/BBC Radio 5 live sports extra/BBC Red Button/online Post-match forum: 1900-1930, BBC Red Button From here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/4797831.stm And I'm not making predictions on the Wales - England game, just leaving it as I've said, it could go either way largely dependant on the set piece.
Guest Bilo Posted 1 February 2011 Posted 1 February 2011 I'll keep this to a nice and brief prediction. 1. France 2. England 3. Ireland 4. Wales 5. Scotland 6. Italy
Finnegan Posted 1 February 2011 Author Posted 1 February 2011 IF we win Friday: France Wales Ireland England Scotland Italy
Edmund Posted 1 February 2011 Posted 1 February 2011 IF we win Friday: France Wales Ireland England Scotland Italy That's a big IF sossers Depending on how much tinkering France do with their squad I'm backing England all the way.
Simmo86 Posted 1 February 2011 Posted 1 February 2011 Looking forward to this, love a bit of 6 Nations action. Wales v England will spice up a usually boring Friday night. Got a horrible feeling that the taffs backed by a hostile Millenium Stadium crowd might just be a bit to much for us!
Finnegan Posted 1 February 2011 Author Posted 1 February 2011 That's a big IF sossers Not really. Had the Aussies actually shown up at Twickenham you probably wouldn't even be the bookies favourites. If our pack front up I think it'll be an immensely difficult game for England. For us it's less a case of having the players, I'd say we probably have the better fifteen on the field, it's more about having the level of performance to get the job done - something we've failed to consistently since 08.
The Doctor Posted 1 February 2011 Posted 1 February 2011 Ireland The rest Scotland The Rest Almost everyone Scotland Italy.
FoxyPV Posted 1 February 2011 Posted 1 February 2011 Scotland The Rest Almost everyone Scotland Italy.
Finnegan Posted 2 February 2011 Author Posted 2 February 2011 Scotland The Rest Almost everyone Scotland Italy. Chin up. To be honest, if we lose to England on opening day then I can see you coming above us if you find a scoring touch. We'll be low on morale and having to travel to Murrayfield where we're traditionally not that strong. Here's another good preview video from the BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/9384349.stm Good old Jiffy, he physically can't find it in him to tip the English, haha! It disgusts me how much Andy Nicol loves England, mind. Although it's good to see Guscott back to the norm of talking complete rubbish.
Head Honcho Posted 2 February 2011 Posted 2 February 2011 Scotland will have a good tournament this year and will play England for the triple crown on March 13th......... France will win without doubt.
Finnegan Posted 2 February 2011 Author Posted 2 February 2011 Cannot see Scotland beating Ireland two years in a row, home advantage or not. It would be viewed as a massive upset, Ireland need to be properly motivated this year after they suffered a similar slump to us after their Grand Slam.
Samu Posted 4 February 2011 Posted 4 February 2011 If anyone has a link to watch this game online please let me know. I'm in the States so can't use BBC but if there are any other ways to watch it I would be most grateful!
Finnegan Posted 4 February 2011 Author Posted 4 February 2011 BBC America will be broadcasting if you have it. It's on terrestrial TV in most nations but if you check myp2p I'm sure you'll find a link or two come kick off.
Guest Bilo Posted 4 February 2011 Posted 4 February 2011 One thing I will say is that there doesn't look to be an outstanding team this year, I'd be surprised to see anyone Grand Slam. I've predicted France but they don't go into this with any great form and England could easily top them if their morale isn't up to it. The meeting between England and France will be key and the advantage is with England with the game being at Twickenham. The big thing is getting off to a good start, a win for Wales and anything less than a convincing win for France and suddenly the tournament looks very open with Ireland and Wales well in it. I can't really see England Grand Slamming anyway with Ireland away to round off the tournament. Scotland and Italy will of course bring up the rear (homophobia thread worthy) but could cause a couple of problems for the contenders, with Wales having a poor record up there as Sosban has said.
Samu Posted 4 February 2011 Posted 4 February 2011 BBC America will be broadcasting if you have it. It's on terrestrial TV in most nations but if you check myp2p I'm sure you'll find a link or two come kick off. Thank you! I've been informed BBC America won't be showing it but if they are then fantastic. The pubs out here are charging a $20 entrance fee which is just ridiculous so I'll hopefully just find an online link and watch it at my desk.
Finnegan Posted 4 February 2011 Author Posted 4 February 2011 I am ridiculously excited. This is the most nervous I've been about a Six Nations game in literally years (probably the 2005 decider.) It really could go either way, I hope the English being painfully overhyped off the back of one decent performance goes to their heads. I usually keep a vaguely low profile but this year I've been giving it the royal big ones so I'm going to look like a prize willy puller if we lose.
StanSP Posted 4 February 2011 Posted 4 February 2011 I'm going for 26-20 to England. Tight but exciting game. Last try coming in last few minutes. I'm basing this prediction on randomness!
ScouseFox Posted 4 February 2011 Posted 4 February 2011 Wales to win by one score. Hoping for the other way round, and an exciting game.
Finnegan Posted 4 February 2011 Author Posted 4 February 2011 AND WE WERE SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINGING, HYMNS AND AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARIAAAAAAAAS
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