The six Nations

[monkian]

Surprised I've not seen a thread on this yet.

Sooo... what are your predictions ?

I've just moved to Brizzle but am going back to a pub in Caerleon (Wales) this weekend to watch our boyos beat the Irish.

Im not optimistic enough to hope for the Grand Slam ....aslong as we beat the English !

[Banquo's Ghost]

I suspect that you are going to be disappointed.

If we can turn you Welsh over in Cardiff, I rather hope Ireland will finally win the Grand Slam we've been letting go for the last four years.

I hate it when we're favourites.

[Papewaio]

Go the Welsh!

[monkian]

I suspect that you are going to be disappointed.

If we can turn you Welsh over in Cardiff, I rather hope Ireland will finally win the Grand Slam we've been letting go for the last four years.

I hate it when we're favourites.

It should be a great game no matter what the outcome. I shall be drinking my Guiness but cheering on Wales

[Hosakawa Tito]

And here I thought, "Finally, a thread about the Iroquois..."

GO IRISH!

[Yawning Angel]

All I can do is pray that England actually win against the Scots to try and end our dismal run (what is it now? lost 8 out of last 9?!?).

The worrying thing is I am not all that hopeful, whatever happened to the times you could almost guarantee a win at Fortress Twickenham? (Had the misfortune to be there to watch the Argentine debacle in the Autumn ). I feel Scotland under Hadden (sp?) are playing with much more confidence again, and I hope Ashton has had enough time to try and get some confidence and pride back in the English team.

I think on current form Ireland are the clear favourites, with France probably coming second. England, Wales and Scotland are all struggling a bit with injuries etc. and its probably going to be a dogfight to claim 3rd between those three. Italy probable wooden spoon, but I imagine they will beat one of the above three teams in the championship.

Looking forward to watching the games though! Saturday when I'm not playing and Sunday from the comfort of my sofa with accompanying bruising and aches from Saturdays game

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Oh no, is it the six nations this weekend? I'm back in Cardiff, all of the pubs are going to be packed.

[monkian]

Oh no, is it the six nations this weekend? I'm back in Cardiff, all of the pubs are going to be packed.

Cardiff is going to be quite full mate.

Stick to the sofa if I were you

EDIT: Interesting metaphor, but perhaps not quite suitable for a PG site BG

[Samurai Waki]

Hmmm. I'm going to have to watch this.

Go Wales!

[Tribesman]

The 24th will certainly be a historic event

[English assassin]

[Strike For The South]

Go Why are they in it anyway?

[KukriKhan]

Go Why are they in it anyway?

They joined in 2000. Wiki Link for the Rugby-impaired

[Scurvy]

hmm, hopefully it will be a good one this year, for me favourites are Ireland and Wales, maybe Enlgand or France can steal it though

[Louis VI the Fat]

I'll worry about the home nations later. All I want is to bruise some Italians.


Oh, and go Scots. Give us a nice suprise!

[Banquo's Ghost]

Well Louis, you should be a happy bunny. France did very well.

Looks like the English have rediscovered some pride too. I was glad to see the determination and open game after the Robinson era.

It's going to be a good old ruck this one.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Ah, I think this one is going to be one of the closest ever. Four good candidates for the win, and two of them started well. After the Ireland-Wales game we'll know more about the other two.

Meanwhile, I got to see those bruises I was hoping for.

[Scurvy]

I enjoyed watching the England/Scotland game yesterday, we seemed to be playing better, and i was very impressed by the forwards especially... Ellis played fantastic too (i thought ithe whole wilinson thing was slightly ott)

missed Italy/France due to work, but sounds like France played well..

Looking forward to Ireland/Wales, although Ireland are favourites

[Banquo's Ghost]

Well, that was a fantastic game!

Hearty congratulations to Wales - what a tempo, what fight and style and skill! We played really poorly, I'll admit, and you were on the wrong end of at least one really bad decision - should have been a penalty try, but my goodness did you play out of your skins. I think we probably deserved to edge it because of our defense keeping you from a try, but you scared me half to death.

All Welshmen should be right proud, even though you lost. Wonderful rugby.

I'm so annoyed I missed being there - had a ticket, but got a real nasty cold and couldn't go. I can't even have a drink to celebrate.

In case any of our US brethren are interested, this is an example of toughness.



Dennis Hickie had his forehead split open by a boot, ran around for a few minutes blind as a bat with blood, tackling on sonar. Went off, got a few stitches and a skull cap, came back and played a blinder. No helmets over here. (A Welshman copied the act just a few minutes later, so it's not just an Irish thing )

Now for France. We'll have to play a universe better if we are to beat them. And Ronan, practise that kicking thing.

[Csargo]

Nevermind

[Justiciar]

I'm putting my money (or pocket fluff, rather) on France.

[monkian]

Gah ! We was robbed !

Sat down with my first pint and Ireland had allready got a try !

I swear the ref was sponsored by Guiness.

And I burnt my hand on the half time curry.

Great game though, shared the train back to England (from Wales) with a load of bladdered singing Irish fans and had a great time. Wouldnt get that after a football match.

Hope Ireland play better next time, didnt exactly run rings round us considering you're tipped for the top. Ah well, aslong as we beat the Saesneg

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

What train did you get, Monkian? I was on the 7.15 back to London and had a drunken Irish fan fall asleep on top of me.

[Lorenzo_H]

pity Italy got whitewashed saturday by the froggys...

[monkian]

What train did you get, Monkian? I was on the 7.15 back to London and had a drunken Irish fan fall asleep on top of me.

I think it was the 7'oclock one from Newport and we got off at Bristol- two carriages so standing room only

[Banquo's Ghost]

Well, we approach the second weekend of the Six Nations - what are people thinking?

Saturday sees England facing Italy - should be straightforward, though it's rarely fun to play a team with nothing to lose like Italy. I can't say I was impressed with what Berbizier had done with them so far - they looked disinterested against France. England seem full of confidence now, if not real skill.

Wales go to Murrayfield - not sure it was a good idea for Paterson to call the Welsh "cheats". Pretty sure a feeble Scotland will get turned over by a vengeful Wales.

And then on Sunday to Croke Park. Still a bit stunned that I can say that for a rugger game. I'm fearful we are going to "choke in Croke" as the saying goes. The myth is that France don't travel well, but they know how important the match is. A freezing, sleety day in Lansdowne would have them worried, but a big stadium like Croke? It looks like O'Driscoll and Stringer are out, which makes it all the more difficult.

I really hope the emotion of the occasion brings out the best, in which case we'll win, but I'm not so sure. Goodness will it be a great moment though!

[Louis VI the Fat]

Saturday sees England facing Italy - should be straightforward,

A walk in the park for England I think. France was good last saturday, but the score was as much owing to the weakness of Italy. As much as I love to see them lose, it's almost a pity that Italy still isn't quite there yet. They haven't been able to advance their game since their good performances last year.

Wales - Scotland

My money's on Wales.


Teh Big One:

And then on Sunday to Croke Park. Still a bit stunned that I can say that for a rugger game. I'm fearful we are going to "choke in Croke" as the saying goes. The myth is that France don't travel well, but they know how important the match is.

But do we really? Does Bernard Laporte? With all the changes he's going to make for the match, I wonder if he isn't doing what I feared: looking ahead to the World Cup already. Of course it's the bigger prize, but I wouldn't mind defending the Six Nations too. There's still plenty of time for preparation for the World Cup.

Then again, why not experiment a little? Ireland always loses to us anyway. And not even Croke Park is going to change that...

[scotchedpommes]

Pretty sure a feeble Scotland will get turned over by a vengeful Wales.

So much for that, eh.
And what a load of bollocks it was.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Hmm, what's happened to Wales then? No tries now in two matches and staring at the wooden spoon.

England had the gloss taken off them despite the win. Deadly dull game too.

[Louis VI the Fat]

So much for the Welsh then.

England were rubbish too. Wilkinson was good of course, but I don't see England winning it at this rate.

So I think it's beginning to increasingly look like this competition will be decided tomorrow. Should be exhilarating, the two best teams of the tournament battling it out in front of 80000 excited Irish fans.
Ah, I must grant it to the Irish, indeed to all the British fans, what spirit they show. They just keep on singing and supporting, no matter what. So much better, and so much more likeable, than French audiences, who only ever break their silence for displays of sarcasm thrown at their own teams.