Six Nations 2015

So Wales come out of their shells and this group shows they are entirely capable of proper enterprising rugby.

But oh Italy. Are you Cardiff Schools Colts Reserves in disguise?


Wales have put themselves as hot favourites, surely. Not only the "points on the board" in both senses: Scotland must (surely?) be due one raised game this season, with their improved coaching and sense of purpose. And as for England ... not only the eternal "flatterers to deceive", but the Froggies will just love it if they can get their cocks' tails up and running, to put one over yet again against the detested perfidious rosbifs. (Plus, even if the French don't pull off a win, 20+ points should be a barricade they can easily defend. Even this weaker group of players.)

beamer wrote:Four teams in contention then - who takes the honours? Amazed Wales are available at 5/1. I see them setting a target in the manner of NZ last night, and piling the pressure on England and Ireland. A raw front row for the Welsh but that shouldn't matter, an Italian side minus Parisse could implode if they concede early tries.

Good tipping! (where's that "nose-tipping" smiley ...?)

beamer wrote:Well, it gives the others a glimmer of hope, but I can't see England beating even this disjointed French side by a double figure margin, and the current Irish side are too pragmatic in approach to blow away the Scots.

A 14-point swing in the last couple of minutes though as the Welsh messed up a chance for yet another, that would really have been game over for their rivals.

I think you can be sure the Irish will really go for it.

Whether they can achieve it ...... is another matter, perhaps. It really depends on whether the Scots go forward from long doldrums, or stay enmired.

PeterCS wrote:

beamer wrote:Four teams in contention then - who takes the honours? Amazed Wales are available at 5/1. I see them setting a target in the manner of NZ last night, and piling the pressure on England and Ireland. A raw front row for the Welsh but that shouldn't matter, an Italian side minus Parisse could implode if they concede early tries.

Good tipping! (where's that "nose-tipping" smiley ...?)

I always had Wales as slight favourites and was astonished to see the bookies disagreed so dramatically before start of play.

Ireland's championship to lose now.

beamer wrote:Well, it gives the others a glimmer of hope, but I can't see England beating even this disjointed French side by a double figure margin, and the current Irish side are too pragmatic in approach to blow away the Scots.

A 14-point swing in the last couple of minutes though as the Welsh messed up a chance for yet another, that would really have been game over for their rivals.

Aye, the 14 point swing was indeed decisive.

I was proved wrong there, didn't think Ireland had that in them (or Scotland a performance as poor as that...)

Over to you, England... that would surely have to be a record victory over the French if they did it?

Another half like that and they are within a whisker, but I can't see France falling apart though. Ireland's 6 nations I feel, and as they beat us pretty comfortably can't have too many complaints about that.

Bit of a mad scramble of a first half. Looked for a few minutes as if it might descend into a Frankenstein Meets Dracula horror film for England (as, being England, it still might): greasey-palmed butterfingers left right and centre, Ford cool and accurate on the placed goalkicks but time and again very poorly booting away possession (and even worse, getting charged down, with that ultra-slow set-up to kick of his) .... as so often with England in the last 10 years and longer, nerves on show everywhere, and errors of every description.

Whereas the French, now with nothing to lose except a chance to poke the beefeaters in the eye, committing themselves with gusto up front and running riot with gusto from the back.

England were lucky the French goalkicker was as awry as their own brains.

Running rugby, and exciting amok stuff. No idea where this is going. Good refereeing, even if - or even because - you could query a few decisions, in the ungodly mistake-bestrewn chaos of much of it.

I agree. On balance, Ireland would be worthy winners.

Wales on a high going into the WC though.

And if only for the WC, England need some sort of calm purpose and stability in the second half, whatever the outcome. Or it's a listing ship all over again.

Insanity!

As so often before, England give themselves too much to do.

"We don't do destiny in this country."


Congrats to Ireland. Kept their heads and their control the best over the season.

Well, I'm not sure what form of rugby that was we were just watching... Sevens on steroids? There must have been more tries today than in the rest of the tournament put together.

In the end 10 points in terms of the overall diference separated the three teams, so evenly matched... in the old days they would just have shared the title three ways. In fact in world terms, these three, Australia and South Africa must be covered by the proverbial cigarette paper, behind the runaway All Blacks. Which of those five will face NZ in the World Cup final? One of them won't make it out of their group...

I'd say South Africa are generally three or four packets of Rizla ahead of the three leading "home" nations. But that can be overhauled.

Australia are always beatable by one of those.

New Zealand are always the team to beat, as you say.

Ireland beat the Yarps in the autumn... they're an ageing side still reliant on the stars of 2007. Perhaps still second favourites, but can they last the pace over here this year?

Well, the chicken punter's way out is always ... "We'll see"!

Also usually the wise punter's.

When it comes down to cold hard facts though, it's one title in 12 years for England... despite the fact that we have the highest win ratio in the 6N era.

beamer wrote:Ireland beat the Yarps in the autumn... they're an ageing side still reliant on the stars of 2007. Perhaps still second favourites, but can they last the pace over here this year?

The SA team isn't particularly good. Heyneke Meyer has had 4 years to rebuild and has done basically nothing. The only world class player he has developed is Vermeulen. For some insane reason he stuck with De Villiers, who has been past it for years, as captain. He is now crocked so there is no captain in place. The best scrum half is Fourie du Preez so plays in Japan. The Du Plessis brothers and Beast are still facoured in the front row even though they are done.

There is so much wrong I hardly know where to start.

The only good news is that the ABs are close to being done as well.

But NZ could probably field an uncapped side capable of beating anyone else, even if McCaw, Carter and co. have just about had their day...

beamer wrote:But NZ could probably field an uncapped side capable of beating anyone else, even if McCaw, Carter and co. have just about had their day...

So could SA. NZ teams are struggling in S15.

Don't know that much about the SH rugby scene in depth but have always had the impression that NZ have a talent pool that dwarfs everyone else's (even if that involves scouring the various Pacific islands for the best/biggest/fastest).

If that's not the case then it could be an interesting time in terms of 6 or 7 teams competing for global supremacy.

beamer wrote:Don't know that much about the SH rugby scene in depth but have always had the impression that NZ have a talent pool that dwarfs everyone else's (even if that involves scouring the various Pacific islands for the best/biggest/fastest).

If that's not the case then it could be an interesting time in terms of 6 or 7 teams competing for global supremacy.

The SA talent pool is probably bigger but due to various factors particularly the weakness of the Rand there are too many players playing overseas.