6 Nations 2012 Thread

[tototoner]

why dont we have one ?

very disappointed with yesterday's result and to lose the way we did but Wales probably the better side.

Can see Wales winning the Grand Slam now especially as they play the French in Cardiff.

Ireland v France next week will decide who finishes 2nd

England, Scotland and Italy all look poor sides

 

[SugarRay]

I wouldn't be so quick to give the title to Wales. Them and Ireland produced the best game of the weekend by far but both are over rated sides.

England are for some reason still getting negative press which is strange. Scotland have beat everyone in recent years at Murrayfield and England come away with a win there after giving 7 debuts ( I think ) and still have people moaning. Not saying England will win the 6 nations, just a bit of perspective is needed.

 

[mpickard2087]

After watching all the games at the weekend initial thoughts are:

France - Played in second gear yet took chances when it mattered, much more to come from them and getting through the game on Saturday with the minimum of effort may give them an advantage compared to Wales and Ireland's high intensity match. Favourites in my eyes.

Italy - Will be tough opponents for anyone in Rome, bar Scotland though I think every other team should have the beating of them.

Scotland - Had the possession and chances to win the game, but attack lets them down as usual. Need to blood some of the promising young players they have and hope that this can improve their try-scoring threat.

Wales - Big win, run of home games now puts them in a good position and with the young players they have its exciting times. If you can stop the 'bosh' tactic they use with the likes of Roberts and North then I think you can keep them quiet.

Ireland - Should really have closed that game out with the experience they have. Tough ask against France next week. Another team who maybe should be looking at some new blood with eyes towards the next World Cup.

England - A win without the performance to go with it, but all that mattered this week really was the points considering players were missing and the number of debutants. Defence looks solid, hopefully next week we have more of the ball and 'go-forward', but at this stage the team just needs to learn and develop and take it one week at a time, whilst the fans have to accept that mistakes will be made at times and there might be a few losses along the way.

 

[tototoner]

I just put £100 in Italy 11/10 with 7 point head start

Even fancy them to win outright

 

[Welshiespursboyo]

I wouldn't be so quick to give the title to Wales. Them and Ireland produced the best game of the weekend by far but both are over rated sides.

England are for some reason still getting negative press which is strange. Scotland have beat everyone in recent years at Murrayfield and England come away with a win there after giving 7 debuts ( I think ) and still have people moaning. Not saying England will win the 6 nations, just a bit of perspective is needed.

Well they're not though. Wales and Ireland are two very very good sides. Far superior to England's side at present (understandably as England are rebuilding). There is nothing 'over-rated' about them. They are rated very highly for good reason.

 

[tototoner]

think it is Wales to lose now, no way will they lose any of there next 3 against Scotland, England and Italy. They then have France at home in what may be the Grand Slam decider.

I would love Ireland to win tonight but we have an awful record in France so cannot be confident at all

 

[tototoner]

heavy snow in Rome, England game could be off

 

[Welshiespursboyo]

Looks like it's still going ahead! Could be interesting!

 

[tototoner]

How can u call off a match as big as this seconds before kick off, farce

 

[Welshiespursboyo]

Disappointed - France vs Ireland was all set up to be a cracker.

 

[nightgoat]

How can a stadium of the size and stature of the Stade de France not have undersoil heating?

Wales should do Scotland, Scotland can't score tries to save their lives...

 

[Azazello]

Scotland doing pretty well; they've scored a try at last and were denied another perfectly good one. Wales winning well though; very tight first half.

I do wonder how the knock-on that wasn't was missed despite the video technology they use.

 

[Welshiespursboyo]

Cracking 2nd half - decent game overall. Very pleased with the win! Cymru am byth. Atmosphere was cracking - I've just got back from the game.

 

[mpickard2087]

Cant see another win for England this tournament, mainly because I dont see enough of an attacking threat to hurt Ireland/Wales/France whilst they will all surely be more clinical than Scotland or Italy were against us.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Cant see another win for England this tournament, mainly because I dont see enough of an attacking threat to hurt Ireland/Wales/France whilst they will all surely be more clinical than Scotland or Italy were against us.

Will depend if they can develop in a short period of time. There's enough attacking talent in the England team (based on club form) but it won't come together in two games, and to be honest is unlikely to come together in one tournament.

I think the Italy game is hard to gain any insight from because of the conditions but having said that you could be right. On paper England look 4th best in this tournament and we've only got the top 3 to come.

 

[mpickard2087]

Will depend if they can develop in a short period of time. There's enough attacking talent in the England team (based on club form) but it won't come together in two games, and to be honest is unlikely to come together in one tournament.

I think the Italy game is hard to gain any insight from because of the conditions but having said that you could be right. On paper England look 4th best in this tournament and we've only got the top 3 to come.

We do have individually talented players, but your right it will definately take some time to gel the structure of the attack. The coaches havent had long with the players and the conditions I agree havent helped in either of the games so far.

I think we are crying out for a bit more creativity/flair in the centre (at 12) in order to bring our back three into the game, although where that comes from I dont know but hopefully long-term someone grabs that spot.

For this tournament and to stand a chance in the next three games I think we need to make better use of ball carriers and have more 'go forward' than we have so far. I think Morgan has to start at No. 8 vs Wales and I would bring back in Lawes and partner Barritt and Tuilagi in the centres for some solidity. Dickson to start at scrum half is another change that I think has to be made unless Youngs finds some form.

 

[talkshowhost86]

We do have individually talented players, but your right it will definately take some time to gel the structure of the attack. The coaches havent had long with the players and the conditions I agree havent helped in either of the games so far.

I think we are crying out for a bit more creativity/flair in the centre (at 12) in order to bring our back three into the game, although where that comes from I dont know but hopefully long-term someone grabs that spot.

For this tournament and to stand a chance in the next three games I think we need to make better use of ball carriers and have more 'go forward' than we have so far. I think Morgan has to start at No. 8 vs Wales and I would bring back in Lawes and partner Barritt and Tuilagi in the centres for some solidity. Dickson to start at scrum half is another change that I think has to be made unless Youngs finds some form.

Pretty much agree with all of that and thought Morgan and Dickson played themselves into contention against Italy.

The centres are tricky and you'd like to think that the current Saracens trio would be used to playing together so should stay the course of the 6 nations, but Hodgson, for all his charging down ability, is limited at international level and I assume the plan is to bring Tuilagi back and either move Farrell to 10 or bring back Flood.

I just hope that the powers that be don't bottle it and let this team develop towards the next World Cup.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Interesting to see Lancaster shaking up the team a bit for the Wales game. I think the changes he's made are exactly what I would have done (which is either a good thing or a really bad thing). Barritt and Tuilagi should work well together and Dickson and Morgan deserved to start after their cameos against Italy.

Still think Wales will win but if England stick with that 15 and keep developing them I think they'll be a good side by the next six nations.

 

[chrissivad]

not just the next six nations, but a good base for the next world cup.

 

[mpickard2087]

Its pretty much the team I would have picked, I'm a bit surprised Palmer got dropped I would have kept him instead of Botha. Maybe Farrell Snr being the coach of him at club level influenced that decision. Apart from that no complaints at all.

I think Wales will win, but hopefully England show positive signs, such as getting the back three into the game a bit more than we have seen in the first two games.