Six Nations 2020

So, back to normality in the rugby world... the post-World Cup edition is always a bit unpredictable, with retirements and overhauls to start a new four-year cycle. There are four new coaches and four new captains, with only England changing neither... but of course, the massive shadow of Saracens-gate threatens team unity and spirit.

For that reason I think Wales are the side to beat, with lots of experience in their ranks and the irrepressible AWJ still at the helm. Ireland look somewhat in transition and a lot rests on the ageing shoulders of Jonny Sexton. France, as ever, who knows... a raw young side with 2023 in mind. Could be great, could be awful - likely to be both, in patches. Remarkable that it’s a decade since they took the title.

Scotland have off the field issues with the influential Finn Russell being booted out, after another letdown of a World Cup. Their recent progress looks to have been undone. As for Italy, not sure what there is to say, probably a farewell appearance for Parisse, they desperately need a win from somewhere or more questions will be asked about their involvement. Scotland at home offers some hope.

Prediction: 1) Wales 2) England 3) Ireland 4) France 5) Scotland 6) Italy.

Do people still watch rugby?

A walkover for Wales. Time Italy called it quits for their own good? Ireland with a scrappy win over Scotland, that doesn’t suggest they will be contenders.

Someone tell these England players that Brexit doesn’t apply to rugby...

Well, the comeback was too little too late, despite May’s efforts (France brought on a Cameron and a Boris, so the last three PMs were represented on this momentous weekend!)

The losing BP could be valuable in the final reckoning, if Wales don’t manage back-to-back Grand Slams. But with Scotland away and Ireland at home next, it’s not inconceivable that we could be winless when we try to spoil the Welsh party.

Don't usually comment on rugby.... Curry at 8 when they have Simmonds and Dombrandt is a bit baffling, those 2 could've been particularly useful in the second half when England were bossing the scrum. Scrum half is just a problem.

Hopefully this generation of French players kick on.

Yeah, they should have ditched Youngs after the World Cup, but there seems to be a lack of obvious alternatives. As per the opening position in Test cricket, just pick the best young prospect and allow him to grow into the role.

It’s common to all team sports that picking people out of position rarely works out.

beamer wrote:Someone tell these England players that Brexit doesn’t apply to rugby...

Did they decide to secede from the match?

Thumping start to the Edwards era in French rugby. (Okay okay, it wasn't just him, but even if he will have been furious with the two (too) late tries conceded, the Edwards input is as important as the attacking flair.)

As for England, well, they got their big flop in early this season. Whether it was indeed the Saracens factor, the weird tradition of World Cup losing finalists going backwards in the wake of that loss, Eddie overstaying his tenure and going stale (choosing old faces, as has been noted), or whatever else, you can't go far if you make handling error after error against a resurgent team of no little skill.

Thumping win also for Wales. Does this make them favourites for the 6N this year? Or when they come up against a deent team (e.g. France - or if they speed up a bit, Ireland next up), will all those points count for little? Certainly, without Parisse at the helm, Italy look bereft, and may yet even seize the wooden spoon from the Brexit Centrals. ....

I always thought Wales were favourites, but the bookies don’t agree, even after an England defeat. Probably because they have to visit Twickenham and Dublin this year. Nobody has done back-to-back Grand Slams in the Six Nations era, and they will have to do it the hard way.

I suspect France will have at least one poor performance in them, and Ireland just look like a tired team whose best days are behind them. Would be good to see a really competitive championship with a final day bonus points shoot-out between two or three teams.

It would indeed.

Some interesting matchups in this weekend's fixtures. Well, two of the three. France should give Italy a right royal (Bourbon?) stuffing.

Scotland will never have a better chance or occasion to humiliate the Auld Enemy ... at least in rugby. England at sixes and sevens from the last match, missing four or five of their best players - Watson, Cowan-Dickie, Nowell, Tuialgi, (Vunipola?), the home side buoyed from a creditable performance against the Men in Green, and ... by a passionate home crowd. ANd Hogg won't make a mistake like THAT again in a hurry.

As for England, a mauling must mean the end of the Jones era sooner rather than later. He achieved a lot but - like a Number 10 falling short from the restart - was unable to kick on. (Or was it his players?)

Ireland may be in a transition period. AND I doubt Farrell is half as wily or meaningfully seasoned as Schmidt (few are). AND a few of the Irish stars seem to have gone off the boil, perhaps for good. AND Wales are red hot from marmalising the poor old Italians, and clearly greeting a golden dawn for their country's rugby, with a skilful, determined blend of experienced and young players, at last free of the shackles of Warrenball and finding a more resourceful blend that can beat the best. Also, I have the strange impression Wales and Ireland often do better away to each other than at home (I have no stats, just an impression).

But for all that - with the Irish, you can never be sure. As an opportunist-rebel shambolic music band used to chirp: "You'll never beat the Irish!" Well, we'll see about that. But what's true is, however skilled or not a particular 23 they put out, however cohesive the mix or not, however well coached or not, however cunning the strategy, Irish teams seldom yield to anyone in pure united battling spirit. I doubt they'll be steamrolled.

But who knows? The beauty of sport.

And the Irish did do it, which perhaps leaves them title favourites now?

A wind-affected crapshoot, with the emphasis on “crap”, so far at Murrayfield. Expect tomorrow’s game to be as you suggest (the Italians will need the Bourbon... the whiskey, that is, and perhaps the biscuits as well!) but with France, you just never know. And will the storm hit over there?

In a saner world, the Calcutta Cup match would have been postponed, e.g. by a week. Constant driving rain is bad enough to make handling (and even proper sight) difficult; but a heavy blustering wind that regularly changes direction and speed can reduce even decent players to shamblers. You can try to keep it absolutely tight and just rumble, rumble, rumble all the time (Warrenball again) - but you still generally have to pass the ball at some point, field kickoffs, take penalties, conversions (if you're lucky), clearing kicks etc.

Speaking of which, England's decisionmakers didn't play with much between the ears for a lot of the match. For example, in the second half, it became like a contest between Beanz and Ford who could slam the ball directly into touch the most times. Even Daly joined in, maybe others too - I started to lose interest.

Opinion: England will never make serious progress until they sort out the two pivot positions. :::

"Beanz" is better than Carthorse Youngs (don't call him "Ramrod"), even though the latter makes a miraculous recovery to be a half-decent, but only half-decent, #9 whenever he's dropped and brought on from the bench. He speeds up a bit from suspended animation. at least. Heinz is at least bustling, relatively quick, and (unlike Youngs) generally tries to get some forward motion going from scrums and rucks before the match is over. However, not the most accurate. And too much kicking today - including all that hoofing it like an idiot down the pitch straight into touch. Not much sign of grey matter, no learning on his feet, and as I said, not accurate enough.

Why is Jones so obstinate? Dan Robson, Jack Maunder, Ben Spencer, even Harry Randall, ffs even JOE SIMPSON all have skill, class and penetration more about them than Jones's favourites. What's that you say? Simpson's way too old? Well, he's 31. "Beanz" is 33.

And second opinion: Ford should never play for England again. Error after error, as so often, that should have been costly against a more rapacious side. Marshmallow "tackle" too - even dear old Cornwall Jack has learned to grab and ground opponents better than that. He's a persistent weak link, not enough substance. So stick Farrell in at 10 where he belongs, and give some young blood a shot as replacement fly-half. Ford is "place-blocking".

A better show from England's forwards, but again, the match was a farce, hard to assess. It must be maddening for Scotland fans - the "nearly" team again. Really not sure about Townsend's input, but hey. They have some good players.


And meanwhile, back in the "Premier League" ... "you'll never beat the Irish". Well, not today. Poor conditions too, but nowhere near as brutal as Murrayfield. Wales I thought were a bit unlucky - what could go against them, did. Not that they should "do an England" and blame the referee. It wasn't really that.

I don't know who'll win the trophy this season. Wales' loss opens the door also for France. Who might take it. But then, Wales may come back stronger from this setback. And thirdly - wait for it - you'll never beat the Irish.

Ireland-France is the last game of the Championship. Grand Slam showdown? Or just a massive shoot-out to win it on points difference/bonus points?

Better from Italy (wouldn't in all truth be hard, but some spirit and enterprise); conversely, more errors from France than their coaches would have liked. Perhaps taking Italy on more as top dogs than their unwise "underdog" tag against les rosbifs the weekend before - hence a bit less focused.

Was still a result that was never seriously in doubt.

Yeah, France went to sleep when they thought it was won. Conditions not great either. They’ll just be pleased not to have left a bonus point behind, given they might yet be crucial.

An amusing account of the Scotland vs England game:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51430948

Good old-fashioned 6N (or 5N) rugby. That’s what the Calcutta Cup’s all about, really...

Youngs back & Ford retained in the two pivotal positions for England.

Lawes now as flanker, and Curry at 8.

Is Jones taking the piss, or trying to get a big payoff ASAP? Or both?


So, Ireland and Wales should power on from here.

As I’ve said before, it’s one thing common to all team sports, that putting square pegs in round holes hardly ever works.

Should be three interesting games this weekend, anyway. Scotland shouldn’t slip up in Rome given Italy’s current state but they’re low on confidence and the Italians might not get a better shot at a win for a few years. If Scotland start well they’ll win by 20+ but if not, nerves will set in.

The battle-hardened Welsh against the raw French promises to be the game of the weekend. Perhaps a step too far for the talented young side to turn over AWJ and co. on their own patch?

As you say, some baffling selections from Eddie but it will be a tight game anyway. If England can get control up front and stop Sexton and Murray from running the game, then the spark of the likes of May (and maybe a bit of home refereeing) might prove the difference. Every chance the Grand Slam is off the table for everyone by the end of week 3.

Well, the French now favourites for a first title and Grand Slam in a decade.

Yep, they held up unexpectedly well.

Very much an Edwards factor in play, for sure. Determination and purpose, not just flair and trust to luck.

Wales didn't have the rub of a couple of greens, but the New French done good.

Yes, that pick-five, to tweak an NFL phrase, was probably decisive.

Depending on today’s result, could be a winner takes all showdown with the Irish in Paris.

Best moment this weekend was Biggar being tossed like a rag doll after the final whistle when going on a whinge for no reason at all (did that the whole match). That too while being a mile offside.

That and England's first two tries. Larmour particularly brain dead.