Finnegan Posted 15 January 2013 Posted 15 January 2013 Bit late starting the thread this year, likely in no small amount due to our woeful prospects. A dire autumn, manager loaned out to the Lions and an injury list that could almost be a 15 on it's own. Living desperately in hope that we pick Hook at 10 and he takes his chance. We near always have a lousy autumn anyway and the fixture list could be kind if we can beat Ireland at home but should we flop we'll be duking it out with Italy down in fifth. Expecting good things from England, it may still be too early for Lancaster but if he can replicate the NZ performance then there's no reason you can't beat anyone on your day and the Irish have fitness issues of their own and Rog facing a citing panel. Going to be a cop out and tip France for the title but a wobble against the English and who knows? Ireland to come second or third it they beat us, depending on points scored.
Guest Bilo Posted 15 January 2013 Posted 15 January 2013 My prediction: 1: England 2: France 3: Ireland 4: Wales 5: Scotland 6: Italy I donkt think there'll be a Grand Slam this year though, though I do quite fancy a Triple Crown for England.
Guest MattP Posted 15 January 2013 Posted 15 January 2013 What's the fixture list? Only thing I hate about the six nations is it's one game against each side. Fixture list makes it a bit of a farce if youretwo away games are Scotland and Italy and get the others at home you have a massive advantage.
Finnegan Posted 15 January 2013 Author Posted 15 January 2013 The fixtures aren't random, they alternate annually. I don't think anyone has a year where they only have Scotland and Italy away. I'm sure the other unions would kick off. We have Ireland and England home one year and Scotland and France the next. Repeat indefinitely. I also can't see a Grand Slam winner unless the French really find unbelievable form.
Finnegan Posted 15 January 2013 Author Posted 15 January 2013 Full fixtures, lifted from The Beeb: Saturday, 2 February 2013 RBS Six Nations England v Scotland, 16:00 Wales v Ireland, 13:30 Sunday, 3 February 2013 RBS Six Nations Italy v France, 16:00 Saturday, 9 February 2013 RBS Six Nations France v Wales, 17:00 Scotland v Italy, 14:30 Sunday, 10 February 2013 RBS Six Nations Ireland v England, 15:00 Saturday, 23 February 2013 RBS Six Nations England v France, 17:00 Italy v Wales, 14:30 Sunday, 24 February 2013 RBS Six Nations Scotland v Ireland, 14:00 Saturday, 9 March 2013 RBS Six Nations Ireland v France, 17:00 Scotland v Wales, 14:30 Sunday, 10 March 2013 RBS Six Nations England v Italy, 15:00 Saturday, 16 March 2013 RBS Six Nations France v Scotland, 20:00 Italy v Ireland, 14:30 Wales v England, 17:00
Guest MattP Posted 15 January 2013 Posted 15 January 2013 The fixtures aren't random, they alternate annually. I don't think anyone has a year where they only have Scotland and Italy away. I'm sure the other unions would kick off. We have Ireland and England home one year and Scotland and France the next. Repeat indefinitely. I also can't see a Grand Slam winner unless the French really find unbelievable form. Fair enough, I was never quite sure to be honest. Looking at that Ireland seem to have the best 'draw'. France will have to go some to win it with England and Ireland away in the same fixtures list. Odds. (bet365) England 2/1 France 2/1 Ireland 4/1 Wales 4/1 Scotland 66/1 Italy 250/1
Finnegan Posted 15 January 2013 Author Posted 15 January 2013 We won't win in France, France have to travel to England and Ireland and England have to travel to Cardiff and Dublin. Frankly, can't see a Grand Slam anywhere looking at that. If we win our first two then the Welsh media will go ****ing nuts hyping a slam decider at home versus England in the final game, mind.
kingfox Posted 15 January 2013 Posted 15 January 2013 Looking forward to this, too close to call between England, France, Wales and Ireland. Looking forward to seeing if Wales opt for North and Walker on the wings.
Finnegan Posted 15 January 2013 Author Posted 15 January 2013 Looking forward to this, too close to call between England, France, Wales and Ireland. Looking forward to seeing if Wales opt for North and Walker on the wings. Would that be Walker with no senior caps? Over Alex Cuthbert and Leigh Halfpenny?
kingfox Posted 15 January 2013 Posted 15 January 2013 Would that be Walker with no senior caps? Over Alex Cuthbert and Leigh Halfpenny? Yep, Walker is rapid and is a game changer, as proven against Tigers at the weekend. Would probably be Cuthbert though I guess. Walker North Halfpenny Would be good though.
Bert Posted 15 January 2013 Posted 15 January 2013 Well, at least we can't say the Welsh have got their excuses in early.
Finnegan Posted 16 January 2013 Author Posted 16 January 2013 Yep, Walker is rapid and is a game changer, as proven against Tigers at the weekend. Would probably be Cuthbert though I guess. Walker North Halfpenny Would be good though. Pace isn't everything. Tom Varndell is quick, where's he been in the England set up? I do quite like Walker and I hope he has a good future in the sport for us but he's young and inexperienced even for us. It'll be either Cuthbert or Halfpenny depending on whether Byrne gets the nod at full back, which I suspect he won't. The backs are the one place we're still looking alright. As a Scarlets fan I like Priestland but I think his injury may be a blessing in disguise, he needs some time away from the national set up and the coaching team need to be almost strong armed in to giving Hook another shot. I'll be annoyed if they go with Biggar but should they not and we don't pick up any injuries we're still going to be strong and fast on the attack.
Finnegan Posted 30 January 2013 Author Posted 30 January 2013 So we're nearly there and the team news has started coming in from the home nations ahead of their two big Triple Crown games on the opening weekend. With England set to confirm their starting fifteen on Thursday, yesterday saw their squad announcement with some noticeable interest for Tigers fans. With young bruiserweight Manu Tuilagi not yet fit to start, Leicester reject Billy Twelvetrees looks likely to make his Six Nations debut. Whilst the Gloucester man's form has been rightly praised since his switch to the West Country, it's doubtful anyone would particularly wish to bestow the youngster with the moniker 'world class.' It's unlikely they ever will. Meanwhile their opponents name Greig Laidlaw and Ruaridh Jackson in a Glasgow-Edinburgh half back axis and there's no place in the starting line up for the talented Max Evans. Former New Zealand Maori Sean Maitland adds to the list of Southern Hemisphere talent to trade in their nationhood via residency laws in a bid to get Six Nations action. Former Wales and Wallabies attack coach Scott Johnson is this year's debutant head coach as he takes the Scotland reigns ahead of their Calcutta Cup opening. He's already getting tired of being asked if Scotland can win games, stressing the need for some acceptance of where they stand in the world and calling for mere progress. With Scotland having less wins at Twickenham than you can count on one hand (and none in the professional era) and England's current form it's not looking all that bright, either. Across the border, Cardiff is gearing up for Ireland's return to their second home, a happy hunting ground for the shamrock over recent years. They come with typically high domestic form billowing their sails as Ulster storm the Celtic League and Munster join them in the Heineken Cup knock-out stages (at Leinster's expense.) The shadow of regional demise lingers, however, with Jonathan Sexton's announced intent to be the first major Irish international to cross the English channel hitting home before the tournament starts. Ireland welcome back talismanic play-maker Brian O'Driscoll and buccaneering beast of a full back Rob Kearney from injury as they submit their team-sheet for the opener. The undeniably world class Tommy Bowe, however, will not return to torment his former neighbours as the one-time Osprey remains on the injury list. His absence makes way for flying Ulster colleague Craig Gilroy and Munster's Simon Zebo to form an inexperienced wing partnership at this level. The influential Paul O'Connell and Stephen Ferris are also absent from the pack. Wales, however, come in to the game off a run of defeats that saw them white-washed in Australia and the Autumn internationals. Warren Gatland's selection as Lions head coach has caused clear disruption to the reigning champions with Rob Howley due to oversee proceedings in his stead. Wales, along with England, will be the last to announce their starting side for this weekend's opening fixtures as Howley puts pen to paper on Thursday. The debate at the core of the nation, as ever in Wales, will be the selection of a number ten. A source of enormous pride in the nation's rugby heartland since the days of Barry John, this year's key contenders are the young Dan Biggar and - as ever - the enigmatic James Hook. While Hook, on his day, is undoubted a match winner, frequently admired by his opponents, the more creative of Wales' options is also prone to error and several high profile mistakes heavily blot his copy book. Biggar offers consistency and a solid platform for Gatland and Edwards' more conservative Welsh approach and is set to be favoured despite his inexperience in the competition. Selection looks wholly positive amongst the Welsh backs with Mike Phillips, Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, George North, Leigh Halfpenny and Alex Cuthbert all fit to resume their duties from last season's successful campaign whilst Lee Byrne returns to the fold in flying form for French giants Clermont. Noteable losses to injury have devastated the Welsh pack, however, and if form is to be found and the rot stopped, huge performances will be needed from a number of second and third choice names. Predictions? England by more than ten, Wales by less than seven, France by more than two scores.
Finnegan Posted 30 January 2013 Author Posted 30 January 2013 I will go frupping nuts in walkabout if we win by a point . Or at all to be honest. I'm confident the team we put out can win but the confidence needs to come back. Big time.
Sparky Posted 30 January 2013 Posted 30 January 2013 May be in Walkabout myself for the England game. Not sure yet. Find it better than O Neills to get a decent viewing point these days
Finnegan Posted 30 January 2013 Author Posted 30 January 2013 The TVs in O'Neills are crap and we're playing Ireland so I ain't going there anyway. Can't stand the plastic paddies. My sister's Irish (really Irish) mate will be with us, I can take gloating off her but not some clueless nob off the Saff with a Guinness hat on.
Finnegan Posted 30 January 2013 Author Posted 30 January 2013 You should come down early though to watch some tidy rugby. Whoever wins, Wales Ireland is nearly always one of the best games of the tournament. I'd be inclined to say maybe the best, along with France England.
Sparky Posted 30 January 2013 Posted 30 January 2013 Yeh i may do mate, working in the morning but should be done in time to get up town. Gotta back Jamie Heaslip 1st try though, won me a fortune in the past. Lions skipper for me.
Finnegan Posted 30 January 2013 Author Posted 30 January 2013 If + and it's a big if - we win the Six Nations, Sam Warburton.
Haydos Posted 30 January 2013 Posted 30 January 2013 Cannae wait now, got a match at lunchtime, should be showered, dressed and beer in hand with plenty of time to spare. Perfect day. Tempted to suggest this as well...
Finnegan Posted 30 January 2013 Author Posted 30 January 2013 loving that. Brian Moore really is a hilarious bellend.
Finnegan Posted 30 January 2013 Author Posted 30 January 2013 Apparently England are arrogant and we're lazy. That'll be why we prepare for most major tournaments by doing extensive fitness camps in cryo chambers to be the fittest team going. Jim Telfer, what a tit. Andy Farrell and Alex Cuthbert happily put him back in his box.
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