Reply to: Six Nations Predictions

[Doggy Styles]

Can't see England finishing ahead of Ireland.

A year or two back I'd agree, but they are getting old.

[shaunbhoy]

France top, Wales second, England third.

Can't see England finishing ahead of Ireland.

[Doggy Styles]

Point 1; true, thanks to the other idiots who played for France

Point 2; true, added to the list of 'brilliant but not as good as the French back row in 2011'

Could Richie McCaw sneak into the list of 'brilliant but not as good as the French back row in 2011'? I know he bends the rules but most of the best ones do.

From what I saw I agree, that back row were very good. Pity the rest underperformed in the final, I had money on the bastards at a good price.

Perhaps with a less mental coach in Saint-Andre France might do better. France top, Wales second, England third.

[The Spartan]

I'm not convinced by France at the moment they have a lot to offer but having trouble pulling the trigger of late. Looking forward to the France v Wales game it'll be a barnstormer for one reason or another

[BrilloPad]

England will come last. Well - obviously ahead of Scotland and Italy...

[malvolio]

I'd say you're not far off there

Actually I'd go France, Wales, Ireland.

France will play simply to win as always, Wales are very strong if they can retain the spirit they showed at the WC, Ireland will have to learn how to play without O'Driscoll who's been the cornerstone of their whole game for a long time.

[Mich the Tester]

Yes. And the All Blacks still beat them

Also you need Michael Jones in your list.

Point 1; true, thanks to the other idiots who played for France

Point 2; true, added to the list of 'brilliant but not as good as the French back row in 2011'

[doomage]

If the French back row turn up, everyone will have problems.

I was astonished by it; if you had to write a book called 'how to play in the back row', it would amount to 'watch the French back row in the 2011 world cup final'. They did everything you could dream of your back row doing, and three times more. Close to perfection. Never seen a performance that approaches what those three did. I mean it; I rate the way they played even higher than the best performances of the greats of the past; Shelford, Richards, Dallaglio, Hill, Rives etc were all brilliant, but ordinary compared to the French back row in that final. The other 12 nincompoops in that team deserve to have their guts ripped out and turned into sausages for the sheer stupidity of losing a game that those three had handed to them on a plate.

Sod it, I can't think of enough superlatives to describe the way they played; I'm just glad I lived to see it and I just wish that I just could have played like that, if only once, for 5 minutes. And I wish they played for England.
But that's the thing; maybe that French back row have had their moment now; I can't believe that anyone can repeat that kind of performance, however good they are.

Yes. And the All Blacks still beat them

Also you need Michael Jones in your list.

[Mich the Tester]

England's props are not even first choice with their clubs, no genuine 7, ordinary locks and no real ball carriers anywhere, you have to put them on course for the wooden spoon.

1. Ireland
2. France
3. Wales
4. Scotland
5. italy
6. England

England do potentially have the best 7 in the world in the form of Tom Croft, but unfortunately he's been playing blind side more and more and even second row, which seems to me to be a waste of his greatest talent which is his speed. The man runs like tulip off a shovel; he should be a 7. (or even a wing, but I wouldn't say that to his face)

[The Spartan]

England's props are not even first choice with their clubs, no genuine 7, ordinary locks and no real ball carriers anywhere, you have to put them on course for the wooden spoon.

1. Ireland
2. France
3. Wales
4. Scotland
5. italy
6. England

I'd say you're not far off there

[DodgyAgent]

England's props are not even first choice with their clubs, no genuine 7, ordinary locks and no real ball carriers anywhere, you have to put them on course for the wooden spoon.

1. Ireland
2. France
3. Wales
4. Scotland
5. italy
6. England

[The Spartan]

The Six Nations after a world cup is always interesting, I can't see anyone completing the slam this year but I think it could be anyones tournament this year. All the teams are on equal footing for the most part none of them stands out as a frontrunner.

[Mich the Tester]

You just never know which France is going to show up.

Wales could threaten. Not sure what's happened to their squad since the RWC though.

If the French back row turn up, everyone will have problems.

I was astonished by it; if you had to write a book called 'how to play in the back row', it would amount to 'watch the French back row in the 2011 world cup final'. They did everything you could dream of your back row doing, and three times more. Close to perfection. Never seen a performance that approaches what those three did. I mean it; I rate the way they played even higher than the best performances of the greats of the past; Shelford, Richards, Dallaglio, Hill, Rives etc were all brilliant, but ordinary compared to the French back row in that final. The other 12 nincompoops in that team deserve to have their guts ripped out and turned into sausages for the sheer stupidity of losing a game that those three had handed to them on a plate.

Sod it, I can't think of enough superlatives to describe the way they played; I'm just glad I lived to see it and I just wish that I just could have played like that, if only once, for 5 minutes. And I wish they played for England.
But that's the thing; maybe that French back row have had their moment now; I can't believe that anyone can repeat that kind of performance, however good they are.

[pacharan]

Nobody knows, but I get the impression they'll be more disciplined that the last lot and hungry to make a mark. Never underestimate a team that's rebuilding after some arse kickings. As for France, well never overestimate a team that played in the world cup final; see England 2004. Sure, they have the best back row in the world on their day, by far, but the other 12 aren't all that impressive. NZ only found it hard going against them in the RWC final thanks to Harinordoquy, Dusautoir and Bonnaire putting in probably the best back row performance since human life began. Anything less than that performance and I don't see them being all that good.

You just never know which France is going to show up.

Wales could threaten. Not sure what's happened to their squad since the RWC though.

[Mich the Tester]

Just a couple of weeks to go now.


Don't have much faith in Mr Lancaster's team doing the business from what I've seen. On paper there seems to be too much lack of experience at this level.I reckon France for the Slam. Might even have a flurret.

Nobody knows, but I get the impression they'll be more disciplined that the last lot and hungry to make a mark. Never underestimate a team that's rebuilding after some arse kickings. As for France, well never overestimate a team that played in the world cup final; see England 2004. Sure, they have the best back row in the world on their day, by far, but the other 12 aren't all that impressive. NZ only found it hard going against them in the RWC final thanks to Harinordoquy, Dusautoir and Bonnaire putting in probably the best back row performance since human life began. Anything less than that performance and I don't see them being all that good.