Dare I ask why you have "with the terrorists" as part of your name - I hadn't realised Mullah Omar was a Six Nations fan!

its part of the lyrics from that harlem shake song dont worry im not planning any atrocities

I really like Brown too, one of the stand-out memories of that NZ game was him sticking his beak in a ruck vrs their forwards and somehow coming away with the ball. Brilliant. It is crazy that Goode is playing ahead of him, I think it is Lancaster's biggest mistake so far imo.
As for Barritt, I disagree pretty much. My ideology of rugby is England expects every man will do his duty in regards to defence. It is why I wouldn't play Wade. I don't dispute that Barritt is exceptional in defence but is his defence so much better than 36 that it negates the huge difference in creativity? The same goes for Farrell, he is awesome in defence but his primary role must be to fire his backline and kick well, anything after is a bonus.
That way you set out to beat teams rather than prevent them beating you. Maybe Barritt would be a good option to play against a really strong backline, such as NZ but certainly not against Italy. I think we have the talent to really blow teams away with our backs, but selection is holding us back.
Youngs>Burns>36>Manu would give a back three so much better ball to show what they can do. May, Ashton, Sharples, Strettle as competing wingers and Foden/Brown at FB, it is alot of talent. We are not using it correctly.

tbh, i prefer care over youngs at 9, but we're lucky to have 2 top class SH's

I don't mind either, but Youngs is technically better and much younger which suggests he will improve before 2015, which has to be the ultimate goal of this regime.

On the England backrow I'd go Wood, Robshaw and Vainapolo (argh spelling!). Wouldn't hate Croft there since Wood and Robshaw are beasts in the ruck making up for his poor efforts there.
Easter has been exceptional for Quinns but his international days are clearly over.

So what scores do we fancy for the 3 games this weekend?

OK,

Lets look at Scotland - Wales first.

Something of an odd one this, both sides come in with a realistic chance of taking the title, yet both were well beaten in their opening games, coming into the tournament on the back of nightmare runs.

For Scotland flair is back in fashion, with a terrific three quarters and a decent pack bolstered by the return of Euan Murray, though their achilles heel seems to be the half backs and if Wales can pressure them then they should eliminate Visser, Maitland and Hogg from the game. Perhaps this is the area the game will be won and lost, if the Welsh blitz defence is slowed, the holes behind it will open up like the Red Sea before the Murrayfield tide, if not the Scots three quarters could end as spectators.

The scrum is a fascinating mix and Wales seem to be finding form again here, if Adam Jones can really fire - and his Lions spot is on the line, we could have a titanic contest and I'd say this area is too close to call. The Welsh half backs are not great, Phillips is too slows and Biggar lacks experience though it is growing all the time. The introdcution of Duncan Weir makes this a much more even contest, but I'd call it slightly in Wales favour.

For me the centres are the cleanest cut with Wales having a definite advantage. Surprisingly I'd call the three quarters for Scotland, whilst there is no doubting the Welsh talent, they are built around power, whereas I think the Scots mixture of power and speed gives them the edge on a dry cool day.

All in all Wales have the advantage, but the Murrayfield crowd have reason to believe for the first time in years, even decades, and will be well up for it. If they can stir the growing sense of Scots self belief they could end the day 3-1 and be the only side capable of stopping England, though needing a little Welsh assitance - but who would have thought that in January?

My predition: Wales by 3, in the game of the weekend

Michalak and Madigan at fly halves for France and Ireland - or Ireland and France as I suppose you could look at it

Alright folks, not been around for a few days, busy busy busy.

How's everyone? Looking forward to the penultimate weekend?

my predictions for the weekend

wales by 3
france by 5
england by 30

Nice summary SARS.

I'm going for Wales by 7. I think the Wales will be too good at the breakdown for Scotland similar to how England beat them. I also fancy the Welsh scrum to fire again.

I fancy Ireland the get the French monkey off their back and come up with a heroic 3 point win.

England should put Italy away, I have a feeling it might be ugly for 60 minutes but England to win by 20.

Gentlemen i expect you all to be cheering for Ireland this weekend. As we bid to move those French fellas one step closer to a wooden spoon.

Frankly the other 2 games are largely academic. Scotland will lose by a big margin and so will Italy.

So basically you should all be only concentrating on projecting positiveness and goodwill toward Ireland and her band of misfits who find themselves massive underdogs to those frog eating garlic munchers!

love the neutrality there!

I think Scotland - Wales will be an open, expansive game and a great one, and I think Ireland - France will be a much tighter. more nervous affair, not one for the purists, but in some respects the sort of game I like. Its been raining here (Dublin) for 2 days and the forecast is for more of the same. It didn't work for Ireland against England, but they have the expeience of that in their back pocket now.

In the packs I'd expect France to have the edge, the sheer power will make it very tough for Ireland, but the weather might allow Ireland a little leeway. Ireland's half backs haven't been great, but the Frecnh selection is just awful, so if Ireland can get the ball through the scrums quickly I think their centres can get stuck in.

O'Driscoll & Marshall looks a tasty combination and given this is France's third different pairing in three games I wonder what the hell is going on - everyone knows Ireland's weak spot is a relatively lightweight set of backs, so why is Basteraud on the bench?

In the three quarters its very close, if Earls can settle down and have a decent game it should make this area neutral.

Overall, both sides will be kicking themselves after bad tournaments, btu I think greater familiarity with the weather, a lightly more consistent side, home advantage and slightly greater confidence will give Ireland the edge.

If I were France I'd target Ireland's half backs and put the ball on Jackson from the off - if he has a decent day Ireland will win. For Ireland I'd say slow and steady, go through the motions, urinate the French off and take the penalties - though agaion much depends on Jackson

Overall - Ireland by 4

Good man SARS! that's one Englishman on board the good ship Ireland now the rest of you follow suit... good lads. I'll be sure to be nice to you in the future

Actually SARS i think you have summarised that game badly.

Ireland are not happy in the wet at all! We don't know how to play the wet conditions anymore. In the old days when we had a bunch of munster forwards and leinster backs we were a good wet weather team in fact we preferred it with ROG kicking the corners and POC stealing lineoutsand driving mauls. That was our game plan.

These days, its really difficult for us as they play a very high tempo passing game trying to emulate the leinster style of play. Paddy Jackson is an excellent passing flyhalf, takes the ball to the line and passes fast and hard. not suited to the wet conditions. England played the perfect wet weather game against us and though the score was close the result was never in doubt. If it rains badly were are cooked for sure as you quite rightly point out, them Frog eaters are big lads!

I actually think Ireland and Scotland are the two teams who excel when it is wet Ding. As for the England game, I felt it was fairly even and if anyone had the advantage it was Ireland. What let you down however was too many handling errors. Maybe you should have started ROG Just kidding.
That said I am enjoying this French campaign, but it is a little frustrating that PSA only picks his best backline against England. Oh well at least we won. I will be cheering on Ireland and Scotland on Saturday, mainly because I would love to see France finish with a whitewash in a tournament they were favourites to win.
SL has again annoyed me with his selection. Only one reason is in my mind why he would stick with Barritt against Italy, he doesn't want 36/Tuilagi to play well. That would mean the press are on his back for them to start against Wales. As for Goode, I swear it is a bad joke that nobody understands. He seems to like players out of position, Lawes at flanker, Wood at 8, Brown on the win, Goode in an international side. It is crazy.
Scotland by 1.
Ireland by 10.
England by 25.

I also hope Ireland win as I'm going to apply for Saint-Andre's job when he gets sacked

My plan to take France to the heights of rugby will be to cancel all training and concentrate on frecnh greatness by going to vineyards, hypermarches and the cinema to instill in them what it means to be French.

Personally I fancy myself to be lifting the 2015 World Cup, after losing to Japan - or even Scotland - in the first round but massacring the All Blacks 56-0 in the final - I will have the Legion d'honeur yet, plus all the wine, women & Jacques Tati films that France has to offer

Allez les bleus!

i wont be able to do an england match thread on sunday as i will be at Old Trafford

I see Saint-Andre has lost the plot again...I loved his quote before the England match it was something like...in order to overcome this challenge we have to go back to what the French are known for; bravery, coverage and strength or something like that...I couldn't help wonder what French he was referring to there!?!?

I fancied the Irish to win before the teams were announced now I'm even more confident of it!

Need to get my predictions in on superbru.

Wales by 9
Ireland by 3
England by 24

mine again just for fun :

England by 18
Wales by 10
France by 5

Oh man

I never win these leagues because i always go for Ireland regardless. I mean how can i go against them. it would break me little heart.
I don't think ireland are mature enough to win a tight game with all the young bloods there at the moment, So im going to use some crazy logic to predict an 8 point victory (2 score) for Ireland. If we can break them early their heads will drop that at least is the logic im hoping for!
But that said my head rules for the other 2 games.

England by 15
Because the Italians had Captain fantastic back and he will have something to prove. single handed he will keeping Italy within 15 points. LOL

Wales also by 15 and i think i am being conservative with wales! Scotland played the worst rugby i have seen in years against ireland and i think wales will not waste four gilt edge try scoring chances like we did. This report on Scotland is even more dameging to ireland considering we lost!

Jezuz! 81% possession! How the FLYING FAQ do you lose with 81% possession!
Its got to be some kind of record for utter stupidity.

Actually, add this to the Collins dictionary
---
Headless Chicken: Definition-
Losing a game of rugby having had 81% possession.
---
Still can't get my head around that!

Afternoon folks. Managed to get off my course early today so around for both matches. Anyone here?

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