What will be the best 6 Nations match of 2012?

It was a class World Cup and I reckon it'll be a mad 6 nations with teams taking that world cup rivalry a step further.

In the world cup Ireland lost to Wales, England lost to France, Wales lost to France, Scotland lost to England and Italy lost to Ireland.

On top of that factor in the usual 6 nations stakes - calcutta cup, le crunch, triple crown, wooden spoons, grandslam deciders and the amazing trips to Paris, Dublin, London, Edinburgh, Rome and Cardiff.

What you reckon will be best match.

From an Irish view I'm delighted we get to take on Wales first though england v ireland on Paddys Day will be excellent too.

For me it will either be Scotland V England on the opening day or Scotland Vs Wales in Cardiff. I certainly remember what happened the last time Scotland played there.

From an Irish perspective I am looking forward to the encounter with Wales. An opportunity to redress the balance.

Rava wrote:From an Irish perspective I am looking forward to the encounter with Wales. An opportunity to redress the balance.

You can't win two games in one

Scotland v England on the first day.

I pray to Bill McLaren that both countries will pick experimental sides and have a right old fashioned tear-up.

Scotland vs Italy for me.

Always a classic....

Hey, every Scotland game is a classic - just like their Grand Slam DVD

The final game between England v Ireland should be a corker. I'll enjoy all the Wales games too

England V France...again a time to redress the balance...

A few games stand out for me:

Italy v England
Ireland v Wales
Wales v France
Scotland v England

munkian wrote:Hey, every Scotland game is a classic - just like their Grand Slam DVD

yeah yeah good one.

Actually - Italy will be interesting to watch because they'll have a new coach won't they?

I enjoy the whole thing anyway.

A new coach and a new stadium. I think they could pinch England.

Oh yes! The new stadium...I forgot about that. Wonder if it'll resemble the colesium?

Wales v France for me.Should be epic as the two top NH sides go head to head.

Taffineastbourne wrote:Wales v France for me.Should be epic as the two top NH sides go head to head.

Taff, check the IRB rankings

Scotland v England always has some meat & 2 veg about it.

Hoping to get up to Fife to see my family and catch the game at Muddyfield while I'm there. Just hoping it is not like the last trip I went on to MF when we had that ridiculous Braveheart re-enactment and then 75 minutes of scrummaging in a hideous quagmire of mud and God only knows what.

But the one I'm looking forward to is England v France as always. Was at that one this year and had enormous fun with our French cousins in the pubs afterwards. Very gracious and thirsty bunch they were.

Actually, as run ins go, England have got it pretty good this year. Arguably our 2 of our 3 hardest games are at home.

Taffineastbourne wrote:Wales v France for me.Should be epic as the two top NH sides go head to head.

Those pesky IRB rankings mean nothing do they.

1) See how Warburton / Falatau can follow up their impressive WC....
2) See how the new look Italy go....new coach new stadium- will it have the same atmosphere.
3) Who will be the England coaching team.....
4) Can Scotland find some creativity from somewhere...
5) Actually.... can England find some creativity...and some steel to their pack.

Lots to look out for.....

Lots of rugby before then though....

Metal Tiger wrote:Hoping to get up to Fife.

Nobody hopes to get to Fife mate

red_stag wrote:A few games stand out for me:

Italy v England
Ireland v Wales
Wales v France
Scotland v England

strange picks- you trying to make a point or something

Wales vs France for me, purely because of the Semi-final.

We've talked a lot since then about how Wales would have won not for the sending off/kicked their points blah blah blah.

So lets see them do it, kapishe?

Also think Ireland vs England, those games are always very, very intense.

mystiroakey wrote:

red_stag wrote:A few games stand out for me:

Italy v England
Ireland v Wales
Wales v France
Scotland v England

strange picks- you trying to make a point or something

Whats strange about them.

Italy v England: Italy are weak outside rome but they are a handful there. Last year they beat France, lost to Ireland due to a last minute drop goal and were quite competitive against Wales. England had a shaky World Cup and with a new coach for Italy bringing in new ideas, the continued improvement of the Italian clubs (Treviso put 50 points on Dragons last week) and the fact this is the first match in the Stadio Olympico (over 70,000 seats) I think an upset is on the cards.

Ireland v France: An epic modern rivalry. Wales beat us in the World Cup quarter finals, we've had some great Magners League club rivarlies be built up, the last match was dominated by the Mike Philips quick throw debate, Gatland came out and said Wales want to beat Irish more than anyone else, Ireland v Wales Six Nations decided two years ago. Its a very exciting game.

Scotland v England: The oldest rivalry in rugby. People still take the Calcutta Cup seriosuly. A close World Cup campaign between the two of them and Scotland will no doubt be champing at the bit to take England on in Murrayfield.

Wales v France: Wales feel they should have won the RWC Semi Finals. The Warburton Red was a massive world cup talking point and this will spice up the next match. Its usually a good game to watch both opt for free flowing rugby when possible.

For me, the repeat of the Semi Final will be one to look foward to but i must say the thought of England v Ireland on Paddy's day holds alot of interest

I cant see any team winning the GS next year but i think that the triple crown is defo up for grabs

I fancy France for the Slam.

New Coach - We've seen Kidney and Gatland come in and deliver Grand Slam in their debut season sweeping away the problems of old and stamping a new image on the team.

Kind Fixture List - Italy at home first, then Ireland at home, then Scotland away, then England at home, then Wales away. I'd expect them to win all 5 games.

Quality Players - Apart from their lack of depth at 10, I think they are littered with quality players and have excellent strenght in depth.

Afternoon stag, not like you to immediately disagree with me

eirebilly wrote:I cant see any team winning the GS next year but i think that the triple crown is defo up for grabs

That's better though. The tournament is more fun when each game could go either way and you get some shocks and suprises

It must be a generational thing. Or a Dutch v Irish thing

Im amazed how many GS's there have been in the Six Nations compared to the 5 Nations

I may live in Holland mate but i am not Dutch, in fact i dont think that sixmilebridge is too far away from you now is it

Just cant see a GS. Wales i feel will be too strong for France at home and even though France have a new trainer they always have one bad game at home so England or Ireland may beat them at home.

Ah a Clareman, that explains it all

Way I see it, momentum is vital in a tournament. France beat Italy and Ireland and Scotland. Then they are used to winning, they take on England and win again before facing Wales who hopefully will have lost to Ireland already.

Sorry that your not from Clar, not everyone can be blessed

Its funny you say you fancy Italy to beat France then say France for the GS?

I did have the pleasure of working in Clare for a while and I had a girlfirend from Crusheen. To be fair I actually like the place.

I said Italy to beat England. France will crush Italy.

Damn my Clar education, cant read. Really thought i had you as well there

Clar is ok........ when i return home for a visit but its even better when i am in Holland

I'm not sure why but I reckon Scotland will win both their home games in the up coming 6N. Don't ask me why I think we can win our home games, because form and common sense dictate otherwise.

England always struggle with us in Edinburgh and France were turned over by Italy in the 6N and Tonga in the RWC. Countries in truth who are comparable in the world rankings and performances to Scotland.

Yea I find Im proudest to be from Limerick when I;m away from the place. Whats the rugby scene like in Niederländer!

In de Nederlands, its not so big but its getting there. Actually 7 a side beach rugby is really popular here during the summer with loads of tournements.

Must look into that more actually. Been meaning to take some rugby teams to Amsterdam or Rotterdam.

Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimbal come to my local Rugby team in Zwolle every year. They are good lads and give loads of help to the young lads for a weekend.

eirebilly wrote:Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimbal come to my local Rugby team in Zwolle every year. They are good lads and give loads of help to the young lads for a weekend.

WHEN!? Party round Billy's....

Always welcome Cari but they dont stay at mine. Its a good weekend though.

eirebilly wrote:Always welcome Cari but they dont stay at mine. Its a good weekend though.

They will if I am! Gibbo kept it quiet...I wonder why...

Ah it's good they head out there and do that.

Anyway, back on topic...is anyone going to any Six Nations games next year?

Cari definitely going to France v Ireland in Paris and Ireland v Wales in Dublin. There is a chance I'll be at Wales v France and England v Ireland but at the minute its unlikely.

Aye I'll be at Scotland vs England and myself and a group of others are going to drink Dublin dry (or at least try) when we come across the water for a Stag weekend to watch Ireland v Scotland at the new Aviva Stadium

That stag weekend sounds like it'll be a good laugh Radge.

Staggy - I hope you get to Twickenham for the Ireland game, that'll be a corker I think. Uber jealous you're going to Ireland/Wales too.

red_stag wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:

red_stag wrote:A few games stand out for me:

Italy v England
Ireland v Wales
Wales v France
Scotland v England

strange picks- you trying to make a point or something

Whats strange about them.

Italy v England: Italy are weak outside rome but they are a handful there. Last year they beat France, lost to Ireland due to a last minute drop goal and were quite competitive against Wales. England had a shaky World Cup and with a new coach for Italy bringing in new ideas, the continued improvement of the Italian clubs (Treviso put 50 points on Dragons last week) and the fact this is the first match in the Stadio Olympico (over 70,000 seats) I think an upset is on the cards.

Ireland v France: An epic modern rivalry. Wales beat us in the World Cup quarter finals, we've had some great Magners League club rivarlies be built up, the last match was dominated by the Mike Philips quick throw debate, Gatland came out and said Wales want to beat Irish more than anyone else, Ireland v Wales Six Nations decided two years ago. Its a very exciting game.

Scotland v England: The oldest rivalry in rugby. People still take the Calcutta Cup seriosuly. A close World Cup campaign between the two of them and Scotland will no doubt be champing at the bit to take England on in Murrayfield.

Wales v France: Wales feel they should have won the RWC Semi Finals. The Warburton Red was a massive world cup talking point and this will spice up the next match. Its usually a good game to watch both opt for free flowing rugby when possible.

all teams have rivalries- not sure why you pick them out or have this false pretense that italy are actually any good even though france and ireland were poor against them this year. if you think italy will be good at home why not pick another team that italy may have a chance at beating

like for instance italy v scotalnd will be a very level playing ground game .

but italy v england- its like your actually dreaming

I;ve gone for Italy v England as a possible upset.

I fail to see why you're so cranky about the games I picked.

Ah ok I see your point. I've gone for Italy v England for several reasons:

- Italy will be targetting that match above all others.
- It is the first home game of campaign
- Italy beating England (or even running them close) would be a better match than Italy beating Scotland.

Of course England are likely to win - however we have to make these calls sometimes - they really fronted up against France and Ireland last season. They crashed and burned in Twickers - lets see it in Rome.