6 Nations

The Northern Monkey

So it all kicks off on Friday with England V Wales.

I for one will be wearing my England shirt to work that day.

I think its going to be a fairly close one this year, the teams are relatively young by the looks of things with only a few of the veterans in the starting line up.

I really hope Chabal is on form... not that I want France to win, but because he's a freaking animal.

Predictions?

cooldad

Man U probably.

The Northern Monkey

cooldad wrote:

I like men

I guess you prefer football?

toby_winkler

Obviously it would be nice to see England win, and I am going to say they will win just out of pride. I think the team is heading in the right direction, finally choosing the up and coming players instead of the older veterans (who dont perform as well as they used to).

Ireland, Wales and France all have a chance of doing well though, so you never really know with England. Would also be nice to see Italy and Scotland challenging a bit more this year.

So my prediction is England, but I reserve the right to change this after this weekend

Anonymous

One of the things I like about the 6 Nations is that it's almost never a foregone conclusion. (almost) all the teams can pull a surprise win.
And the fact that there is genuinely friendly banter between fans, rather than the pretty hostile attitude from football fans.

ddraver

i think we have the prospect of the first genuinely good match between England and Wales for a good few years - and I'm going to have to listen on the radio cos i ve got to sodding drive home!!

Andy

Germany for me...

Anonymous

Whilst England is definitely among the very best teams, I do find their playing rather boring though. It's constantly kicking the ball up the pitch into touch.

Now, there's no denying the tactic works for them, but it does make for a rather dull game. I prefer to see ground won and lost on the players' feet.

VWsurfbum

This^^^

I will be the first to admit that i dont follow rugby all year round but i love the 6 nations, cracking tornament , nd like previously said its more light hearted than football nancy boys who take it all far to seriously! Its only a bloody game!

The Northern Monkey

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Whilst England is definitely among the very best teams, I do find their playing rather boring though. It's constantly kicking the ball up the pitch into touch.

Now, there's no denying the tactic works for them, but it does make for a rather dull game. I prefer to see ground won and lost on the players' feet.

yeh I know what you mean.

They used to use it as a tactic, but then also tear teams apart. Now its kick, ruck/maul for a bit, then drop goal or wait for the penalty.

France are a very good team to watch when on form.

Italy will beat Scotland.

tlw1

Looking forward to it, esp now I have told the wife we are not going out on Friday night!

Ransaka

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Whilst England is definitely among the very best teams, I do find their playing rather boring though. It's constantly kicking the ball up the pitch into touch.

Now, there's no denying the tactic works for them, but it does make for a rather dull game. I prefer to see ground won and lost on the players' feet.

Agreed.

If I were a gambling man I'd be hard pushed to chose between Wales and France for winner but I'd feel dirty choosing France and my old man wouldn't speak to me if I didn't choose Wales

Gazlar

The Northern Monkey wrote:

Italy will beat Scotland.

I dunno, Scotland have only lost 1 game in the last 7, whilst they aren't the team they used to be, they could get the odd surprise result which could decide how the competition plays out.

Obviously I will be supporting England, and smugly rubbing it in the face of Liz and her Mum if we beat the Welsh, but it is light hearted banter

welshkev

france or ireland to win for me. wales v england is going to be a close game. england played really well aginst australia and then just self destructed against south africa.

wales played well (apart from against fiji) in the autumn internationals but we've got 3 or 4 of our key players out injured that could tip the balance in englands favour :?

italy will play ok, but again i don't think they'll win a game, scotland are playing well under andy robinson so i think if italy were going to beat anyone it would be us and that's not going to happen

stubs

I know statistics dont mean a damn but I do get a bit bored with everyone trotting out the dull predictable only kick for touch England line every year. England havent had a decent team worthy of winning the championship since 2003 but in the 11 years since it became the 6 nations

England have scored 166 tries
France have scored 151 tries
and exciting Wales 118 tries

My prediction for Friday night too close to call

My prediction for the championship France if Lievremont can resist the urge for mad cap selections and settle on his best squad. If Johnny Sexton can get the Ireland back line working and there pack stays fit then they are my 2nd favourites.

welshkev

stubs wrote:

I know statistics dont mean a damn but I do get a bit bored with everyone trotting out the dull predictable only kick for touch England line every year. England havent had a decent team worthy of winning the championship since 2003 but in the 11 years since it became the 6 nations

.

but that has totally changed since johnson has taken over, i hate to say it but i think he's done a really good job. and with players like chris ashton and ben foden england have some of the most exciting attacking players in the whole chapionship


i feel dirty now for saying that

stubs

welshkev wrote:

stubs wrote:

I know statistics dont mean a damn but I do get a bit bored with everyone trotting out the dull predictable only kick for touch England line every year. England havent had a decent team worthy of winning the championship since 2003 but in the 11 years since it became the 6 nations

.

but that has totally changed since johnson has taken over, i hate to say it but i think he's done a really good job. and with players like chris ashton and ben foden england have some of the most exciting attacking players in the whole chapionship


i feel dirty now for saying that

Thats okay I feel dirty for saying this but I am looking forward to seeing what Johnathon Davies can do I think he is an awesome player and could well end up as an all time great. Also Morgan Stoddard will be an interesting one he has the pace but I am not too sure he has the brains to go with it.

toby_winkler

welshkev wrote:

but that has totally changed since johnson has taken over, i hate to say it but i think he's done a really good job. and with players like chris ashton and ben foden england have some of the most exciting attacking players in the whole chapionship

Boosh, big up the Northampton Massive

I do feel that England are heading in the right direction, with more exciting running rugby that players such as ashton and foden bring into the team. I think the only problem we really have is utilising these players, getting the ball out wide to them and letting them do the work. There is no point having such players in the team if we dont play the style of rugby that will utilise them to their best ability.

You obviously want to get the balance right though, don't want to be flinging it out wide the whole time. I think Johnson has done a pretty decent job since taking over though. I suppose the Six Nations and World Cup this year will be the real test though.

welshkev

stubs wrote:

welshkev wrote:

stubs wrote:

Thats okay I feel dirty for saying this but I am looking forward to seeing what Johnathon Davies can do I think he is an awesome player and could well end up as an all time great. Also Morgan Stoddard will be an interesting one he has the pace but I am not too sure he has the brains to go with it.

yeah morgan stodard is one of those players that has promised a lot but not quite delivered. he's been playing well for the scarlets this season so we'll see how he goes. yeah again, jonathan davies is a great young player, he's quick for a big guy aswell.

it's sdefinately going to be a close one on friday, i just hope it's a good game aswell

The Northern Monkey

England haven't won at the Milenium Stadium against Wales in 6 years.

toby_winkler

The Northern Monkey wrote:

England haven't won at the Milenium Stadium against Wales in 6 years.

Hmmm I actually did't know this. It is certainly setting up to be a very interesting game indeed.

PXR5

I'm also going to be wearing the old England top to work tomorrow, just to endure the comments from all my colleagues - one good thing about French TV is that all the matches will be shown either on France 2 or France3, just have to get used to the French commentators....

welshkev

The Northern Monkey wrote:

England haven't won at the Milenium Stadium against Wales in 6 years.

and you won't be winning this year either

what's the forefit sunday for the losing rider?

irishdan13

I will let you guess who I will be supporting

Anonymous

Irishdan13 wrote:

I will let you guess who I will be supporting

Russia?

a.palmer

If Courtney Lawes wasn't inured it would be a definite win, but we will just have to settle for having 4 Northampton Saints lads in the pack and hope that's enough.

toby_winkler

A.Palmer wrote:

If Courtney Lawes wasn't inured it would be a definite win, but we will just have to settle for having 4 Northampton Saints lads in the pack and hope that's enough.

Only 2 saints boys in the pack mate, get it right.

Would definitely be a win if courtney was playing though.

a.palmer

Hartley, Foden, Ashton, Wood

toby_winkler

A.Palmer wrote:

Hartley, Foden, Ashton, Wood

Of which only Hartley and Wood are in the pack.

toby_winkler

A.Palmer wrote:

Hartley, Foden, Ashton, Wood

Of which only Hartley and Wood are in the pack.

a.palmer

Okay then, in the team