6 Nations 2008

Wolfmiester · Post by **Wolfmiester** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 5:38 pm

I know there are a few rugby fans out there, anyone have an opinion on this year?
Personally I'd squarely sit on the fence! After the world cup it will be a transitional year for most teams so it's very difficult to predict.
Can't see past the obvious favourites of course, however I think Ireland will have the most unchanged squad so can they finally live up to their potential?

paulgould · Post by **paulgould** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 6:53 pm

I think France are going to take it - England are just lacking pace and flair and played above themselves in a great defence of the RWC - Scotland and Italy to fight it out for the wooden spoon as usual - I will be interested to see if Nick Mallett(ex-Bok coach) can maximise Italy's resources.
Down below the equator we have another week to wait for the Super 14 to kick off - Canterbury Crusaders will probably walk it again.

Paul G

Paul Victory · Post by **Paul Victory** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:51 pm

Wolfmiester wrote:I think Ireland will have the most unchanged squad so can they finally live up to their potential?

I wish

Expectations here are very low. Nobody has any confidence in Eddie O'Sullivan and the general view is that the IRFU were totally out of their minds offering him a four year extension to his contract immediately before the Word Cup finals.

Our performances there were so bad that Saturday's match could be the wooden spoon decider. We were very lucky to beat the Italians in Belfast before the World Cup (dodgy try in the last minute - very much a home town decision by the referee) and Italy usually have their best performance in their first match, so a win for the Italians is definitely on the cards.

I will be at Croke Park on Saturday and I hope that the Irish team can raise their game back to something close to last year's 6 Nations. A good team doesn't become a bad team overnight and we still have a lot of very good players. O'Gara is back to form with Munster and his below par performances were a major factor in our poor World Cup showing, so maybe we have some chance if he can maintain his recent form.

Having said that, I can't see beyond France as champions, with England as their main rivals and Ireland possibly sneaking into third if we can hold things together. Having said that, it's been a long time since we lost to England, and we often seem to perform best as underdogs, so you never know...

Paul V

Wolfmiester · Post by **Wolfmiester** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 9:28 am

Paul Victory wrote: Having said that, it's been a long time since we lost to England ...
Paul V

don't I know it! I tend to go to the Eng v Ire game most years and it's been a long time since I've seen an England win! Maybe this year [-o<
I agree with you both about France and the question marks over the other teams, hense the fence sitting.
Who knows how England will be, but pure strength in depth will give them a chance.
Scotland may have false hopes after squeeking through an easy world cup group.
Italy probably have their best chance to win more than one game.
Wales in dissaray as ever.

If anyone is at Twickenham for the Ireland game, or Murrayfield for the England game, let me know if you'd like to meet for a beer.

Jessica-Red · Post by **Jessica-Red** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:12 am

Pardon the opinion of a mere girl but I have supported England as I was born here-Wales cos I lived there for many yrs-had a soft spot for Ireland with my small touch of Irish ancestry -

but I LOVE all things Italian and its a shame they never win so maybe its their time now with some extra special coaching from ME !! ha ha

of course they prob dont stand much chance

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:26 pm

Clearly England have decided the only trophy they will ever win is the wooden spoon and have gone about it with a vengeance. Has anybody actually told this bunch that rugby is played over 80 minutes, not 40 and going home at half time is not good form.

Spikeola · Post by **Spikeola** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:41 pm

I can't even speak about it - APPALLING!

Wolfmiester · Post by **Wolfmiester** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 2:32 pm

Have to give the Osprey's some credit I suppose

, but my god England were woeful in the 2nd half.

Spikeola · Post by **Spikeola** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 8:29 am

I'm hoping this evening that the England team do us some justice against the French - They normally perform at least once up to expectation each year (we do have very high expectations I think though?!). By 9:30 this evening we'll know (fingers crossed, as are everything else in our house). Allez les Bleu's - oooops! that's what I shout to appease our French Friends

but Allez les Blanc's doesn't sound right and neither does Allez les Couchons Blanche!!

kingy2 · Post by **kingy2** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 12:05 am

drinking lots of french red to celebrate

Paul Victory · Post by **Paul Victory** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 1:34 am

Enjoy!

Very unexpected but thoroughly deserved.

Paul V

Spikeola · Post by **Spikeola** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 8:13 am

Well, as Paul said that was very unexpected - I feel England were lucky in some respects - ie winning with Paul Balshaw on the pitch! England did defend monumentally after the french try though and fantastic for the new scrum half to get a try on his debut - how happy was he?

.

Wales - absolutely magnificent in front of their home crowd - poor old Italy took a bit of a pasting

I only saw a brief glimpse of the Ireland vs Scotland match - and that was the scottish try - superb and brought them back into the game (or so I thought) - Ireland must have turned the screw after that.

Overall it makes for a very exciting end for the championship with 4 teams all in the running - can Wales really win a grand slam?

Kingy - I think you should get the single malt out for Englands next match!

Spikeola · Post by **Spikeola** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:14 am

I never thought I'd say this but as this team have played the most exciting rugby - come on Wales lets have a grand slam =D>

Paul Victory · Post by **Paul Victory** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:57 pm

Yes, Wales were deserving winners.

And England probably deserved to finish second.

Ireland were dreadful and O'Sullivan must go!!!!

Paul V

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:27 pm

Summary of thoughts on this years tournament
Pleased for Wales - they deserved to win. =D>
England - frustrating

France

Scotland:

Ireland

Italy: Plucky losers - probably tried harder than any other team. Hopefully they will continue to improve.

Wolfmiester · Post by **Wolfmiester** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:01 am

Wolfmiester wrote:
Paul Victory wrote: Having said that, it's been a long time since we lost to England ...
Paul V
don't I know it! I tend to go to the Eng v Ire game most years and it's been a long time since I've seen an England win! Maybe this year [-o<
I agree with you both about France and the question marks over the other teams, hense the fence sitting.
Who knows how England will be, but pure strength in depth will give them a chance.
Scotland may have false hopes after squeeking through an easy world cup group.
Italy probably have their best chance to win more than one game.
Wales in dissaray as ever.

Oh dear, just shows what I know

At least England finally beat Ireland Paul! How on earth did they finish second

Stan, agree Wales deserved it. But I could never bring myself to be "pleased"

Overall a pretty poor tournament this year, didn't stop the flow of beer though

Stan · Post by **Stan** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:38 pm

Hi Wolfie - yes sorry about the apparant betrayel. I just meant I was pleased for them, not pleased they won

Paul Victory · Post by **Paul Victory** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:09 pm

Not Six Nations, but Munster have done it again!

Paul Victory · Post by **Paul Victory** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 6:48 pm

A bit of a nervy first half, but the Grand Slam is still on!

Roll on next weekend. March 21st is my birthday and guess what I want for a birthday present?

Paul V

Wolfmiester · Post by **Wolfmiester** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:33 pm

I hope they do it this year Paul, if only for all the near misses in the recent past. They deserve it.

hewitt · Post by **hewitt** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 7:22 am

I agree Paul,it would be good to see them win it aswell. =D> They have done quite well so far.

Post by **Thomas W-P** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:39 pm

I'd love to see Ireland do it, I really would.

I was most relieved to see that England finally found some form today. Whether France failed to turn up or weren't allowed to turn up is moot. England ran in some tries and looked dangerous. This was nice!

Paul Victory · Post by **Paul Victory** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 10:15 pm

Yes, huge improvement from England.

It just shows you what they're capable of when they concentrate on playing rugby and stop giving away silly penalties and being sin binned.

As for Ireland, I'll be keeping fingers and everything else crossed for the next week. This could be the last chance for this 'golden generation' to live up to their potential.

But it ain't gonna be easy....

Paul V

hewitt · Post by **hewitt** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 5:51 am

What a fantastic result by England yesterday. =D>

=D>

I know that Martin Johnson is still building for the future,but that was a great display of rugby against the old enemy.

We seem to have some very fast up and coming new players.

strider77 · Post by **strider77** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:03 pm

Paul Victory Wrote :-

Roll on next weekend. March 21st is my birthday and guess what I want for a birthday present?

Would that be a night with Angelina Jolie

Seriously Paul all the best to Ireland for next week-it will quite a game

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