2022- 6 Nations
Well the contest is nearly upon us and the excitement is building. Predictions? For me I think England will do well, even with Farrell out. I hope Marcus Smith really shows us his creative skills. He’s got a good mentor in Jonny Wilkinson! The biggest test for them I think will be France. Bring the games on! .
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Excited here too Micky. The one competition I look forward to each year.
I'm not a fan of Farrell and am looking forward to seeing others keep him out of the team. I think the French will be the team to beat and the only certainty will be Italy (sadly) again retaining the wooden spoon. Interesting opener for England......the Calcutta Cup, away in Edinburgh, is never an easy fixture.
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A Leicester Fan by any chance, extugger? Yes, Scotland will be an indication as to the worth of England but the latter are favourites. One of the things about Rugby I like is that even the underdog can have his day. Sometimes sheer determination and grit can overcome what looks like a forgone conclusion and when it happens admiration can soon overcome disappointment in my opinion.
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Looking at the strengths of all the sides, apart from Italy of course, I think that there is little to choose between the teams. As usual there will be an upset or two, but if I was a betting man, and I'm not, I would place my 10p on France to take the title.
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Tom Curry captains England against Scotland
Now I didn't expect that, although I guess that it is a typical move by Eddie Jones, similar to when he gave the captaincy to Dylan Hartley.
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Unexpected choice indeed Nellie - hopefully it'll prove to be a good one.
I'm hoping the tournament isn't marred by the relentless need for referees to refer to the video ref, scrutinising every minute detail of play and the over use (imho) of red cards. Let the game flow, get on with it! It's bad enough having to endure scrums nowadays (which can consume up to 3 minutes of playing time) as paying customers, we've come to watch a game of rugby, not a set of officals.
The chills are running down my spine, the nerves are jangling, my hands rub together in fevered anticipation.......and it's only Friday!
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"I'm hoping the tournament isn't marred by the relentless need for referees to refer to the video ref, scrutinising every minute detail of play and the over use (imho) of red cards. Let the game flow, get on with it! It's bad enough having to endure scrums nowadays (which can consume up to 3 minutes of playing time) as paying customers, we've come to watch a game of rugby, not a set of officals."
Give up on the posh boys' game and switch to watching rugby league!
To be honest, I've got a bit bored watching union premiership and internationals over the past couple of years, although I will, and did, continue to watch the England games. But league is returning, albeit in a small way for the moment, to terrestrial TV, and that's where the real excitement remains.
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While you say that, M, I find league very boring, with it's play the ball at every tackle. Each to their own!
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It's the "play the ball" that keeps the game moving though, Nellie. No 3+ minute set scrums such as the one which which England used as an opportunity to run down the clock on that yellow card yesterday.
Far less kicking for position and reliance on penalties to build up points.But yes, each to their own.
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After next week's games we will see much better just how good, or not, the French side is, but they are starting to look like a Team rather than a set of talented individuals.
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Famous last words perhaps, but I can't see that happening, however I also don't expect England to score 37 points against them either.
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I’ve been lost for words, how can England loose a game that they pretty much dominated most of the 80? Yes M, I’d agree with you about League. The union game is creeping ever closer to league what with drop outs now behind the try line(posts), 50/22 (40/20), and now the new brake foot rule. Soon it’ll be 6 man scrums- scrums are returning to league after covid related ‘restrictions’. I enjoy both games, they are getting closer what with the royal connection we now see too. The rugbies, best games on’t ‘urf!
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He didn't even make it look as if he was attempting to catch the ball. Had he done so perhaps the sending off would not have occurred, and even if the Scots had scored the try, the conversion would have been from very near the touchline, so much easier missed than from under the sticks, and England would have still had a full side so in a much stronger position to respond. It definitely cost his side dearly.
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Looking forward to this weekend's round of matches, especially the Ireland/France game, which may well decide the championship already.
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Two cracking games today. Ireland made a few too many mistakes after getting back in the game. Looks as if it's France's championship to loose now.
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Scotland, once again, throw away an opportunity against a mediocre Welsh team (by their standards) who seem to be struggling without Wyn Jones, particularly at rucks and mauls
A real treat dished up in Paris with Les Bleu holding off a magnificent Irish second half effort.
Both games enjoyable for different reasons and for those who understand the game, enthralling and exciting. It’s difficult to see anyone stopping a French Grand Slam at the moment.
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Agree with you there, Ext.
England won comfortably enough with a young untried combination, but again gave away too many penalties and unforced errors to be convincing. They should have won by a lot more, but at least we're able to stop a determined Italian team from scoring, and gained the bonus point for scoring 4 tries.
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Yes Nellie, if you compare Englands’ performance against Italy to that of the French in the same fixture last week, you could say England are a better team, particularly defensively (but we know that is not the case)
The next round of games in a fortnight will be interesting
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France molecular today, but that said, it could have been a bit of a different story had Hogg hung onto that pass and scored towards the end of the first half. However the "what ifs" don't win games.
England very nearly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Wales must be give lots of credit for getting so close to a victory, as they didn't play well for 3/4 of the game.
Roll on the next round of fixtures in two weeks time.
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Italy shot themselves in the foot today, but it is a stupid rule to have to take off another player when one lost two hookers, one due to a severe injury. They had no chance what so ever of winning against the Irish with one man short let alone two. I can, in some way, understand the reason for the rule at club level, but it seem very unfair for it to apply in internationals with all the additional personnel overseeing injuries and a video official too who should be able to determine if a team coach is trying it on, to get uncontested scrums.
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Scotland vs France......what a game! Fabulous French performance and I'm reminded of Fisherman's comments earlier in the posts about France being nothing special. OOops! Maybe it was said tongue in cheek?!
England vs Wales.....another game where Wales interupted play (particularly in the scrum) in the second half - a tactic which they've been doing and getting away with for some years now. The trainers and water bottle carriers are on the pitch longer than their players! How Moriarty stayed on the pitch is beyond belief - constant infringing unnoticed by a weak referee.
Ireland vs Italy.....only ever going to be one winner. The lawmakers of the game, together with the match officials need to take a long hard look at themselves. A red card ruins the game as a spectacle and I for one, would want my entrance money back. Ludicrous decisions!
And now the big question......where has Micksf gone? He normally contributes. Hope all is well OP
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