Well, as the Heineken Cup quietens down its time for the Northern Hemisphere's rugby tour de force - the Six Nations. As a build up to this on each of the next six working days I'll put up a few thoughts on each nation in turn in alphabetical order - your thoughts are, as always, most welcome.
Last Year: Winners
Fixtures:
Sat 4th Feb 17:00 Scotland v England
Sat 11th Feb 16:00 Italy v England
Sat 25th Feb 16:00 England v Wales
Sun 11th Mar 15:00 France v England
Sat 17th Mar 17:00 England v Ireland
England are perhaps the hardest to pick, Martin Johnson has gone and large chunks of his team have, voluntarily or otherwise, followed leaving Stuart Lancaster with carte blanche.
Bar a brief period in 2010 the last 10 years have seen English sides built with the ethic of pack play in a forwards first and backs at the back mentality. In its early years it was phenomenally successful as all nations fell below the English panzer-pack, but after the 2003 the southern hemisphere and then the rest of the world change to a more expansive back dominated game leaving England out of kilter and out of touch, made worse by the RFU mindset "The British disease, what is it? Nostalgia, a refusal to accept change"
With Johnson and large chunks of the team that inspired that gone, how will England play? England's strength would now appear to be in exciting young backs, rather than a bruising old pack - some what a shame then that the first game is away in Scotland, when a fresh new pack will face a Scottish side full of grunt - and buoyed up by Heineken Cup progress - but somewhat lacking in flair.
How England fare, both physically and psychologically, in this game could have a huge effect. If the pack holds up and releases and explosive young backline it could be an exciting day for England and a traumatic one for Scotland. This could then be a springboard that could take England to 3 wins ahead of a game in the Stade Francais. On the flipside, a mauling by a growling Scottish pack, followed by a trip to Rome and Wales at home could even see England play Ireland without a win to their name - on St Patricks Day - Croagh Patrick barefoot would be a comparative walk in the park.
My view is that it will be somewhere between, I don't think there will be a "Road to Damascus" conversion to free flowing rugby but rather a steady transition towards this goal. I think England will have enough to avoid disaster and elevate them to mid-table but not much more at this stage. There are likely to be occasional flashes of brilliance later in the tournament as the team starts to gell, but also moments of confused horror early on - Richie Gray and Alistair Kellock muttering "yum yum" as they run into the England back line spring to mind, and if Murrayfield is a swampy mudbath for the Calcutta Cup game you'd have to fear the worst.
Overall prediction - third
Six Nations Preview - England
posted on 23/1/12
Third is about right and I'd see Wales missing out although fourth is more likely. Think Wales need another year before dominating this competition for a while.
France will be confident after the WC with some players feeling like they should've been winners on the day.
posted on 23/1/12
I would agree Max however their new manager has been ringing in the changes and the 6 n's squad looks vastly different from the one we saw in the WC.
Now mind that, i see most of the players who have been brought in to the French squad should have been there in the first place. The likes Julien malzieu... could walk into any team yet that fool Lievremont left him at home for the WC.
posted on 23/1/12
"With Ireland likely to finish ahead of England"
I hope that was tongue in cheek. I wasnt happy with the squad Lancaster selected but I still feel we can win if we hit the ground running at Murrayfield.
posted on 23/1/12
Aristo
Fair to say my man that any Irish man could feel as u do. Given our record against u guys and indeed our Heineken Cup Results thus far. 3 irish teams to 1 english, 5 Pro 12 teams to 2 french and 1 english is perhaps a telling statistic. And i know how much u like stats...
In Fact i think we will be travelling away to Twikers as favourites. Nothing tongue in cheek in that my friend
posted on 24/1/12
If England and France had only four teams they would dominate the HC, and club results dont always translate to international results. English clubs didnt do too well last year.
As for stats, how about these. The last time Ireland played England (loss), France (loss), Wales (loss), Scotland (loss) but you guys did beat Italy the last time you played, well done. Look forward to our date at HQ.
posted on 24/1/12
Ah Aristo ur grasp of stats or atleast twisting them to suit ur self always amuses me.
How many teams is it wales have? same as us i believe. How many HC's? I suppose there is no point bringing up the amount of pro playerswe have in relation to you, that argument would be lost on you.
(N.B. Thats not a needle at the welsh just a point being proven to show how silly stats are)
By the way, France have dominated the HC. Well and truly they have dominated it. Showing only that ur own grasp on the stats is a little askew.
Anyway, without the prodding at each other, it will be interesting to see what Lancaster does with the squad. There is a touch of the unknown which is both good and bad, good because none of the teams in the six nations know what to expect from England, bad because its not the same team from the past few years so the form book is out the window.
Adds a little spice to the competition in general as its a repetitive competition normally. As we all sort of know what to expect from each other. I suppose the same can be said for France, but thats nothing new.
posted on 24/1/12
I am glad that posting Irelands recent record against the six nation sides amuses you, it amuses me also I didnt twist anything. Ireland had a terrible 2011, accept it.
As for the six nations I expect a three way scrap for the title, with Scotland and Ireland battling it out for fourth.
posted on 24/1/12
Ye we had a weak 6 nations last year indeed.
But what u mean our record against the 6 nations sides?
Our record against france is awful! for sure but the others? in the six nations our record seems just fine in recent years. Not entirely sure what you are pointing out so i will give u the benefit of the doubt that u have a point in there somewhere?
I really hope its not based on the WC warm up games? is it? because that would be idiotic really. Im sure u would agree.
posted on 24/1/12
Scotland might surprise a few.
posted on 24/1/12
JPB
ill drink to that!