6 Nations 2011

[en_force_er]

Gents,

There doesn't appear to be a thread for this Tournament and I'd love to have a chat about it.

The winner of this tournament will go in being perhaps the 3rd or 4th country most likely to win the World Cup (though we all know anything can happen at world cup time). So, who are we tipping?

Also, does anyone know what channel is screening the 6 nations this time around? Fingers crossed it's ESPN.

 

[MrTimms]

Pretty sure it is live on ESPN HD and on delay on ESPN. I looked it up a while back.

 

[en_force_er]

Pretty sure it is live on ESPN HD and on delay on ESPN. I looked it up a while back.

Look's like I'll be hanging at my Dad's a bit then haha.

I'm personally tipping a France, England, Scotland 1-2-3 with a vastly improved Italian performance that will see them make their first Rugby World Cup finals.

 

[MrTimms]

Yep, just found confirmation: http://www.foxtel.com.au/whats-on/f...rights-to-rbs-six-nations-cup-rugby-38707.htm

I think the France and England game will be decisive, with the winner likely to take the comp out. Will be interesting to see who comes out strongest.

Schedule, for reference:

All UK time - Add 1 hour for France and Italy

RBS Six Nations Fixture Schedule 2011
Friday 4th February - Wales v England - 7.45pm
Saturday 5th February - Italy v Ireland - 2.30pm
Saturday 5th February - France v Scotland - 5pm

Saturday 12th February - England v Italy - 2.30pm
Saturday 12th February - Scotland v Wales - 5pm
Sunday 13th February - Ireland v France - 3pm

19/20 February Free

Saturday 26th February - Italy v Wales - 2.30pm
Saturday 26th February - England v France - 5pm
Sunday 27th February - Scotland v Ireland - 3pm

5/6 March Free

Saturday 12th March - Italy v France - 2.30pm
Saturday 12th March - Wales v Ireland - 5pm
Sunday 13th March - England v Scotland - 3pm

Saturday 19th March - Scotland v Italy - 2.30pm
Saturday 19th March - Ireland v England - 5pm
Saturday 19th March - France v Wales - 7.45pm

 

[rugbysmartarse]

Look's like I'll be hanging at my Dad's a bit then haha.

I'm personally tipping a France, England, Scotland 1-2-3 with a vastly improved Italian performance that will see them make their first Rugby World Cup finals.

As much as I'd love to see Italy get to the finals of the RWC, Their requirement to beat either Aus or Ireland in the pool games makes it aweful tough for them.

As for 6N, I think it will finish up Eng, Ire, France, Sco, Wales, Italy

 

[Lee Grant]

Before the autumn tests I would have picked France to win again but not now - especially after the way we thrashed them. They didn't have their best team on the park but even taking that into account they were crap.

I think that England will win it especially if they play like they did when they beat us.

The good news for other teams is that I am the world's worst tipster.

 

[disco]

I'm backing England to win this years 6 nations.

 

[Newter]

Good thread. Not sure how fortunes will change with players in the various club competitions going up and down in form, but here are a couple of facts:

Courtney Lawes is injured and out for the entire campaign. England will miss him, he was probably one of the best locks in world rugby last November.

Sebastian Chabal has blamed the coach for the Wallabies thrashing. See below:

"We were soundly beaten and we just could not understand how we collapsed like that in the second half - both physically and mentally. But it is useless to go on feeling sorry for ourselves."

Chabal said he agreed with skipper Thierry Dusautoir that an over-charged schedule could have been one factor contributing to the French flop.

"What he said the day after the loss was that perhaps our tactics were too ambitious," he said.

"I am not saying that French players do not have the talent and abilities to play that way, but it is always the same problem - we simply do not have the time to work at training on these things.

"You need a lot of time working together and that is the big problem with our French rugby.

"The tactics that the coaching staff employed were perhaps not the best adapted to the time we had available to train for the match."

Senior players publicly chiding the coach? France may be in trouble.

But purely on November form, the best teams were England followed by Wales. I think the Welsh were unlucky not to get at least one victory against the Trinations sides. Their margins of loss were very slim, and they were competitive long into each Test.

 

[macg101]

the Poms as you would refer are one year away from getting back to dominant form.. I'm fairly confident that Ireland will beat them at home, although fortress Aviva is yet to inspire.

The French will prob walk it again.. not as strong as last year. but I reckon ye lads are placing too much emphasise on the November internationals (they were prob rusty given that it was the very start of the season.) Anyway they have the mental edge over us so should beat us at home.

I think Italy have prob disimproved over the last couple of years... but regular club rugby at a decent standard in the Magners should improve them..

The Scots should be difficult as usual... but again they were brilliant at club and international level last year and haven't hit that form yet this year.. the killer B's back should boost them..

Wales are steadily improving and their club sides ie scarlets and ospreys are red hot at the moment so they could actually end up winning the 6ns.

As for Ireland.. all we will hope is to start putting together some combinations and improve on a dismal November..

 

[sudrugby]

I don't think it will be a grand slam year.
Ireland has a good opportunity because England will play at the AVIVA Stadium.
And I think Italy won't be last this year

 

[dobduff11]

My prediction:
1. France
2. England
3. Wales
4. Scotland
5. Ireland
6. Italy

France will select the right players, turn on the style and beat everyone but england

England will regress from the Autumn series, get a load of injuries (already started with Lawes) and lose to Wales or Scotland

Ireland will have a poor 6 nations, they usually have the form teams in the Heineken at this point and they don't this year. I am predicting a struggle for Ireland

Lawes is out for 6-12 weeks. So he could make the Six Nations or he could miss it completely.

No doubt Johnson will manage to put atleast 2 of the following in before the end, Deacon, Borthwick, Care, Wilko, Worsley and Erinle.

My bet will be Worsley and Deacon.

 

[Reddy!]

Yeh I think France will win it as well. Gave England a thought, but I think they will go into the tournament with too much confidence and drop a game against Wales.

 

[Gagger]

I like Dobduffs summation. Written like a man who's been watching England a long time

 

[Shiggins]

After france being humiliated they might just come out firing. But I still think England France Ireland wales scotland Italy.

 

[Cutter]

Where there isn't a chasm in class between two teams, November form has little to do with 6N results. Its intriguing to watch.

If Wales can get their best team on the park, they will push all comers. The Wallabies made England look good in November. France - who knows. Ireland appear to be waning. Scotland rising and Italy treading water.

 

[macg101]

My prediction:
Ireland will have a poor 6 nations, they usually have the form teams in the Heineken at this point and they don't this year. I am predicting a struggle for Ireland
QUOTE]

I see where your coming from, BUT...

Munster and Ulster can still qualify and Munster are ussually in this position every year...

Leinster are absoluutely running away with their group against tough French and English opposition (Beating Saracens away + Mauling Clermont)

Munster are top of the Magners league (by 9 points) and have beaten Glasgow home and away this year.

SO.... fair enough to say not a vintage Irish team, but worth more than a throw away comment..

See you in Landsdowne!

 

[dobduff11]

Fair enough on the Leinster comment but I did watch the Clermont game and the Saracens game. Although Leinster were good they weren't brilliant like they sometimes can be.

Munster are having a statistically good season but their best players from what I have seen haven't been hitting their stride properly.

Not the same team from 2 years ago although they look pretty similar on paper. I just cant see them tearing it up in the backline like they usually do.

Ulster have been impressive this season and Stephen Ferris is such a monster

 

[macg101]

Fair enough on the Leinster comment but I did watch the Clermont game and the Saracens game. Although Leinster were good they weren't brilliant like they sometimes can be.

Munster are having a statistically good season but their best players from what I have seen haven't been hitting their stride properly.

Not the same team from 2 years ago although they look pretty similar on paper. I just cant see them tearing it up in the backline like they usually do.

Ulster have been impressive this season and Stephen Ferris is such a monster

As I said I can see where your coming from. And you have a point

To add another argument on the defence...

It will be interesting to see how Munster fair against Toulon with O Connell back, in terms of rucks, tackles ball carrying and set pieces he is our best player and provides massive leadership, missing also, at international level in the Nov series.

I would have to respectfuly disagree with Leinster against Clermont in the second game at home, I thought they were awesome.. but sure i suppose that is the beauty of sport in that we can all disagree.

A good 6N's from an Irish perspective would be to sneak past one of the 2 heavyweight in Eng and France, and 2 from 3 away, with some significant improvement in performances i.e. to play more as a team. I would imagine with O'Connell back the demand on standards will be significantly increased. Our scrum and linout should be alot better with the hiring of a dedicated scrum coach for the provinces this year. I would like to see Mike Ross as a scrum specialist getting a run out in the green too.

I reckon you have to be happy with the gradual improvement from England over the last couple of years? I'd say its been hard enough to watch since WC2003 (considering where the national side was then). I reckon its going to be like that watch Ireland for a bit now.. although there are some talented guys coming through.

 

[dobduff11]

2008 was depressing, 2009 was bad apart from Riki Flutey and Monye playing like gods.

2010 was good actually Foden and Ashton into the set up. Lawes in for Borthwick. Benny Youngs tearing Aus apart twice.

Only bad thing was the disposal of Barkley after the summer tour and the emergence of Brad Barritt ( who i don't rate )

 

[macg101]

2008 was depressing, 2009 was bad apart from Riki Flutey and Monye playing like gods.

2010 was good actually Foden and Ashton into the set up. Lawes in for Borthwick. Benny Youngs tearing Aus apart twice.

Only bad thing was the disposal of Barkley after the summer tour and the emergence of Brad Barritt ( who i don't rate )

Ye its great when you get a guy really step up to international level like Youngs (notice the shudder round the forum by the Aussie lads when his name is mentioned)

As I said above, its only a matter of time before ye were back.. really its just a case of getting the back line play functioning well as your pack has always been big enough to keep games close..

Im interested to see what Wales will do this year and what kind of France shows up! the excitement levels are building anyway, time to start picking test matches to go to me thinks!