2017 Six Nations
Discussion
Unless I'm blind I can't see another thread yet.....
2017 could be one of the most closely contested for a while.
England
I watched the Eng V Aus game and the way they got themselves back in the game was impressive. Some key players are out injured and some looking doubtful-Mako Vunipola and Marler making loosehead stocks look a bit bare, Hughes looks a able enough stand in for Billy Vunipola who has probably been England's stand out player under Jones. Will hopefully get a a chance to see some new blood get a chance. England will be hard to beat. First game at home against France.
Two away games at Wales and the final game in Ireland will be tough.
Ireland
Only the two home games for Ireland and first up a tricky visit to Edinburgh.
I hope it comes down to a decider in Ireland. Ireland are in good form and the domestic teams are also going well. Ireland don't have as much strength in depth if key players get injured.
Scotland
Time for Scotland to to show something tangible for their promise? I think they'll give Ireland and England a game but fall short. I'd expect them to beat a Howley Wales at home, plus Italy which means to come third they'll probably need to beat France in France if results go the way I'm predicting.
Wales
If Howley were to play some of the form players in the Pro12 it could be interesting but he won't. Wales have ground out some victories of late while playing poorly. I'm sure every Wales supporter would be happy to see them play poorly in 5 games and grind out results but can't see it. To fulfill my prediction and see Wales come 4th it would mean they would have to go Paris and win in the final game, which if France have nothing to play for in particular could do.
France
It used to be the old cliche 'which France will turn up' but I've said for sometime that internationally they just aren't very good. All the money and lots of retired internationals overseas players topping up their pensions has be eroding the French national side for a while now IMHO. They probably go on and beat England at Twickeham in round 1 now...... Still have plenty of talent but I just find the French far less than the sum of their parts.
Italy Capable of an upset still but I think the gap between Italy and the others is widening and will continue to do so.
Head says if Ireland don't suffer key injuries with home advantage in that last game they might take it.
Heart says England will win a GS on the way to beating the AB's unbeaten record.
2017 could be one of the most closely contested for a while.
England
I watched the Eng V Aus game and the way they got themselves back in the game was impressive. Some key players are out injured and some looking doubtful-Mako Vunipola and Marler making loosehead stocks look a bit bare, Hughes looks a able enough stand in for Billy Vunipola who has probably been England's stand out player under Jones. Will hopefully get a a chance to see some new blood get a chance. England will be hard to beat. First game at home against France.
Two away games at Wales and the final game in Ireland will be tough.
Ireland
Only the two home games for Ireland and first up a tricky visit to Edinburgh.
I hope it comes down to a decider in Ireland. Ireland are in good form and the domestic teams are also going well. Ireland don't have as much strength in depth if key players get injured.
Scotland
Time for Scotland to to show something tangible for their promise? I think they'll give Ireland and England a game but fall short. I'd expect them to beat a Howley Wales at home, plus Italy which means to come third they'll probably need to beat France in France if results go the way I'm predicting.
Wales
If Howley were to play some of the form players in the Pro12 it could be interesting but he won't. Wales have ground out some victories of late while playing poorly. I'm sure every Wales supporter would be happy to see them play poorly in 5 games and grind out results but can't see it. To fulfill my prediction and see Wales come 4th it would mean they would have to go Paris and win in the final game, which if France have nothing to play for in particular could do.
France
It used to be the old cliche 'which France will turn up' but I've said for sometime that internationally they just aren't very good. All the money and lots of retired internationals overseas players topping up their pensions has be eroding the French national side for a while now IMHO. They probably go on and beat England at Twickeham in round 1 now...... Still have plenty of talent but I just find the French far less than the sum of their parts.
Italy Capable of an upset still but I think the gap between Italy and the others is widening and will continue to do so.
Head says if Ireland don't suffer key injuries with home advantage in that last game they might take it.
Heart says England will win a GS on the way to beating the AB's unbeaten record.
Yeah I can Itoje going to blind side with Launch, Kruis and Lawes competing to start. One thing I will say is that quite a lot of players who were putting in a lot of average performances under Lancaster have stepped up their game under Jones, namely Lawes and Wood who were very good in the autumn internationals.
Team news so far...
Wales team to face Italy:
Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon); George North (Northampton), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Liam Williams (Scarlets); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys); Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, capt), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester).
Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Rob Evans (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Cory Hill (Newport Gwent Dragons), James King (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Sam Davies (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins).
England team to face France:
Mike Brown; Jonny May, Jonathan Joseph, Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley (captain), Dan Cole; Joe Launchbury; Courtney Lawes; Maro Itoje, Tom Wood, Nathan Hughes.
Replacements: Jamie George, Matt Mullan, Kyle Sinckler, Teimana Harrison, James Haskell, Danny Care, Ben Te'o, Jack Nowell.
Italy team to face Wales:
Edoardo Padovani; Giulio Bisegni, Tommaso Benvenuti, Luke McLean, Giovanbattista Venditti, Carlo Canna, Edoardo Gori; Andrea Lovotti, Ornel Gega, Lorenzo Cittadini, Marco Fuser, George Biagi, Abraham Steyn, Maxime Mata Mbanda, Sergio Parisse (capt).
Replacements: Leonardo Ghiraldini, Sami Panico, Pietro Ceccarelli, Joshua Furno, Francesco Minto, Giorgio Bronzini, Tommaso Allan, Michele Campagnaro.
From a Wales perspective, I would have liked to have seen Steff Evans picked instead of George North who seems to continue to be selected on reputation alone. No major surprises from a Welsh perspective though, given the injuries.
Wales team to face Italy:
Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon); George North (Northampton), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Liam Williams (Scarlets); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys); Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, capt), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester).
Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Rob Evans (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Cory Hill (Newport Gwent Dragons), James King (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Sam Davies (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins).
England team to face France:
Mike Brown; Jonny May, Jonathan Joseph, Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley (captain), Dan Cole; Joe Launchbury; Courtney Lawes; Maro Itoje, Tom Wood, Nathan Hughes.
Replacements: Jamie George, Matt Mullan, Kyle Sinckler, Teimana Harrison, James Haskell, Danny Care, Ben Te'o, Jack Nowell.
Italy team to face Wales:
Edoardo Padovani; Giulio Bisegni, Tommaso Benvenuti, Luke McLean, Giovanbattista Venditti, Carlo Canna, Edoardo Gori; Andrea Lovotti, Ornel Gega, Lorenzo Cittadini, Marco Fuser, George Biagi, Abraham Steyn, Maxime Mata Mbanda, Sergio Parisse (capt).
Replacements: Leonardo Ghiraldini, Sami Panico, Pietro Ceccarelli, Joshua Furno, Francesco Minto, Giorgio Bronzini, Tommaso Allan, Michele Campagnaro.
From a Wales perspective, I would have liked to have seen Steff Evans picked instead of George North who seems to continue to be selected on reputation alone. No major surprises from a Welsh perspective though, given the injuries.
TheGreatSoprendo said:
I seem to remember Ireland doing fairly well in the autumn and Scotland have come on in leaps and bounds under Vern Cotter. As for Wales, who knows!
I was referring to Wales. Scotland is my outside (£5) bet to win the whole tournament (but not a grand slam) and Ireland, although suffering from some injuries, play some great rugby when on song. It's possibly the most open tournament since last year, with France, England, Ireland or Scotland having every chance to win it.magooagain said:
I think Scotland could trip at least two or three teams up this time round.
Could have said the same thing for the last 10 competitions. On their day they certainly have the ability to upset anyone, I just think they tend to lack that big game mentality and towards the end of the competition if injuries to key players occur the cupboard looks pretty bare. a311 said:
Could have said the same thing for the last 10 competitions. On their day they certainly have the ability to upset anyone, I just think they tend to lack that big game mentality and towards the end of the competition if injuries to key players occur the cupboard looks pretty bare.
Agreed, however have you seen the depth Scotland can currently muster in their back line? They have a lot of options now and Ali Price seems to be gunning for Laidlaw's position (wish they would start him and give J Grey the Captaincy). The Forward's are also looking strong with Dell, Brown and Fagerson performing well, especially in the loose. Imagine if we had WP Nel and Dickinson fit! To quote a famous phrase in Finance 'This time it's different'. However it certainly feels like Scotland have turned a corner for the better.
It's the closest six nations in years I think. It's hard to look past Ireland or England and I think it could go down to the final game. However, France have shown their attacking flair and we all know what they can do, Scotland have scared some big teams and are always tough to break down with their passion and tackling and Wales can never be written of especially with halfpenny fit and at em.. Bring it on.
I will post me predictions after Saturday
I will post me predictions after Saturday
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