Six Nations 2018

As a Welshman who knows nothing about rugby, I hope we win.

I have no meaningful insight into tactics / game plans etc but if pushed can down a reasonable quantity of Brains.

Tangled Metal wrote:

What did you guys make of the idea that backs playing as forwards? I saw a news piece about Eddie Jones saying it'll happen and suggesting Nowell for such a time. Will he try it? Say against Italy or Scotland? After the game has been won of course.

I've stopped predicting a few years ago. I enjoy it more.

Sounds like typical Eddie Jones bollox. All positions have their slight specialisms so it would be difficult for even a top class back who has played rugby all their life to switch position and still play like a top class player. Italy did it in reverse with Bergamasco a few years back and it wasn't a success (although not as bad as when they used him at scrum half). Even switching among back row positions isn't easy or alternating between centre and wing unless you've done it a lot.

As for predictions I think Crispy has summed it up although I think Ireland may take the Slam again.

crispybug2 wrote:

I think Ireland will win, but without a Grand Slam. England and Wales to push them closest, France will be France, Scotland have too many injuries and Italy will take up their traditional place of holding up everyone!

Could be a experimental time with the Rugby World Cup later on this year

As per usual I can’t wait!

Fairly certain Ireland did win 2018 with a GS, how about this years tournament?

FWIW if we (Wales) can get off to a winning start tonight then we're in with a great chance.

Ireland have that air of invincibility about them . . . like England in 2001 - 2003. Settled, fearless, experienced, calm and very very capable. Favourites by some margin and rightly so. After the 6N, the world cup is on "neutral territory" - a GS this time around would set them up beautifully.

England are kinda good enough in all positions but never seem to get the "good enough" players on the park at the same time if they do, they don't perform - big fan of England Rugby but EJ in danger of losing his aura. Will do well to achieve parity vs Ireland

Wales win tonight would set them alight - Italy next, then England and Ireland both in Cardiff they would rightly fancy themselves but I wonder if some of their big guns are getting just a bit past it (not much - just a bit)

Scotland, I think, will almost do brilliantly in every game they play but I fancy them to beat one of Ireland England or Wales

France . . . as ever, who knows but think they have suffered from their domestic league pay structure (much like England footy with the last WC excepted)

Italy - really really hope they win one game . . . just something to take out of the tournament.

Can't wait for it to start though, it's a very special and very unique competition

Pross wrote:

Tangled Metal wrote:

Wasn't there an England league player who switched codes then played as a forward for club but as a centre iirc for England. Wasn't very successful considering his talent in league so he went back to league. Don't think he ever performed as highly in league after that. No more man of Steel etc.

Yep, Sam Burgess. He was rushed in before even being given a chance to adapt to playing Union. To make things worse he played flanker for club and centre for England, talk about never being given a chance!

The thing is, the normal England strategy is to play 7 forwards in the backs plus one pretty boy with a nice quiff whose job is to kick the ball a lot :twisted:

Wales are terrible, France surprisingly well drilled.

Oh, and I've said it before but Anscombe isn't international standard and certainly not a starting number 10.

Cheese eating surrender monkeys.

Italy show that if they can get the structure out of the game they can be dangerous. Scotland demonstrate that they will be susceptible to teams taking them on with pace and width.

England very impressive, just pressured Ireland out of it with a very aggressive defence and good tactical kicking. A bit of a dull watch but they've certainly worked Ireland out and Ireland had no idea how to adapt.

Easily the best match of the weekend and the highest intensity by a distance. That was a really top performance by England to squeeze the life out of Ireland and cap it off with the BP.

Wales were dreadful in the first half and got very lucky in the second. They are very over rated and believe their own hype, but have the easy draw this year with England and Ireland in Cardiff.
France better than they have been with fewer mercenaries in their team, but mentally are made of china.
Three of Scotland's first 4 tries shouldn't have been given for various reasons, were easily better than Italy, but still not good.
Italy dangerous in patches, but quality is lower than everyone else and another wooden spoon awaits.

Dorset Boy wrote:

Easily the best match of the weekend and the highest intensity by a distance. That was a really top performance by England to squeeze the life out of Ireland and cap it off with the BP.

Wales were dreadful in the first half and got very lucky in the second. They are very over rated and believe their own hype, but have the easy draw this year with England and Ireland in Cardiff.
France better than they have been with fewer mercenaries in their team, but mentally are made of china.
Three of Scotland's first 4 tries shouldn't have been given for various reasons, were easily better than Italy, but still not good.
Italy dangerous in patches, but quality is lower than everyone else and another wooden spoon awaits.

That's complete crap. They've finally got a confidence that they can win any game which comes from being on a winning streak, a bit like England in the early 00s and it's good to see you are hedging your comments with the 'easy draw' comment. I doubt you commented last season that Wales had a difficult draw when finishing second. Good teams manage to eke out wins when playing badly.

Anyway, as you've written everyone else off I'm sure you are looking forward to an England Grand Slam?