2012 6N predictions

by cabbagesandbrussels Wed 23 Nov 2011, 11:37 am

First topic message reminder :

I think that the 2012 6N will be extremely open again and can't really call it. Of the European sides, only Wales have really good form to take into the tournament. France need stability and a settled side that they never had under ML. Ireland have a lot of players past their prime and in the twighlight of their careers. England are in total dissaray, but have a great chance to blood some young talent and start righting a few wrongs.

At a push, my predictions are:

1) Wales (6N but no slam)
2) Ireland
3) France
4) England
5) Italy
6) Scotland

by G Mon 28 Nov 2011, 1:02 pm

kiakahaaotearoa- the way the Ozzies were treated by the NZ crowd in the WC, I dont know how u can come out with that to be honest.

At least theres none of that a NH games....

by RuggerRadge2611 Mon 28 Nov 2011, 1:12 pm

Some of these Comments are pretty strong, Scotland don't normally smash anyone on the score sheet, but do tend to be one of the most physical sides in the 6N so in that sense yes England will get smashed on the 1st day of the tournament.

Realistically If Scotland can turn over England at home we stand a very good chance of building some mommentum and actually having a crack at the 6N championship. This type of Draw suits Scotland pretty well.

We have Ireland away, a very good rugby nation but we have beaten them twice out of our last 3 encounters, 1 being at Croker.

Wales we do seem to struggle with, the last time we played the Welsh in Cardiff it was one of the best/toughest games the 6N has seen for a very long time with Scotland commiting suicide in the last 5 minutes.

Italy away is a winnable fixture, tough to be sure since the French were rolled their last season.

France at Murrayfield presents a chance to turn them over too.

What really makes me angry is posts cropping up here that are pretty inflamatory and to be honest not very accurate. Scotland and Italy are much closer to the 6N teams than a lot of posters here care to admit.

by kiakahaaotearoa Mon 28 Nov 2011, 1:18 pm

G Today, the World Cup is not the 3N and George Gregan started the four more years business.

Anyway I was talking about fans on the boards as opposed to fans at the game so believe me it´s very easy to come out with what I said. But now you bring up booing, I think it´s a bit righteous to say it doesn´t exist in the NH.

The only place where I think there is silence for the kicking or respect for the opposition is Ireland. I will freely admit that crowd attitudes are better in the NH on the whole and that a lot of the NZ carry on from the RWC stems from insecurity. I´d love to pat your lovely horse but it´s an awful long way up. And I´m not talking about a Song for Ireland.

by R!skysports Mon 28 Nov 2011, 1:23 pm

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:.

Anyway I was talking about fans on the boards .

Lets not mention the Ghost that is slightly off white then Hug

by cabbagesandbrussels Mon 28 Nov 2011, 1:27 pm

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Some of these Comments are pretty strong, Scotland don't normally smash anyone on the score sheet, but do tend to be one of the most physical sides in the 6N so in that sense yes England will get smashed on the 1st day of the tournament.

Realistically If Scotland can turn over England at home we stand a very good chance of building some mommentum and actually having a crack at the 6N championship. This type of Draw suits Scotland pretty well.

We have Ireland away, a very good rugby nation but we have beaten them twice out of our last 3 encounters, 1 being at Croker.

Wales we do seem to struggle with, the last time we played the Welsh in Cardiff it was one of the best/toughest games the 6N has seen for a very long time with Scotland commiting suicide in the last 5 minutes.

Italy away is a winnable fixture, tough to be sure since the French were rolled their last season.

France at Murrayfield presents a chance to turn them over too.

What really makes me angry is posts cropping up here that are pretty inflamatory and to be honest not very accurate. Scotland and Italy are much closer to the 6N teams than a lot of posters here care to admit.

Ask Father Christmas for some realism wrapped up nicely for you!
Georgia and Romania are more worthy of a 6 Nations place than Scotland and Italy!

by SubsBench Mon 28 Nov 2011, 1:32 pm

Well this is different. The Scots and English Wumming each other and us Welsh keeping out of it. It wont last.

by RuggerRadge2611 Mon 28 Nov 2011, 1:34 pm

cabbagesandbrussels wrote:
RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Some of these Comments are pretty strong, Scotland don't normally smash anyone on the score sheet, but do tend to be one of the most physical sides in the 6N so in that sense yes England will get smashed on the 1st day of the tournament.

Realistically If Scotland can turn over England at home we stand a very good chance of building some mommentum and actually having a crack at the 6N championship. This type of Draw suits Scotland pretty well.

We have Ireland away, a very good rugby nation but we have beaten them twice out of our last 3 encounters, 1 being at Croker.

Wales we do seem to struggle with, the last time we played the Welsh in Cardiff it was one of the best/toughest games the 6N has seen for a very long time with Scotland commiting suicide in the last 5 minutes.

Italy away is a winnable fixture, tough to be sure since the French were rolled their last season.

France at Murrayfield presents a chance to turn them over too.

What really makes me angry is posts cropping up here that are pretty inflamatory and to be honest not very accurate. Scotland and Italy are much closer to the 6N teams than a lot of posters here care to admit.

Ask Father Christmas for some realism wrapped up nicely for you!
Georgia and Romania are more worthy of a 6 Nations place than Scotland and Italy

Realism eh? Plenty of that in your previous post. Plenty of knowlege of the game of Rugby too. Lets just look at these results below and watch as you try to justify the comment above highlighted in bold.

Scotland 34–24 Romania
Scotland 15–6 Georgia
Argentina 43–8 Romania
England 41–10 Georgia
England 67–3 Romania
Argentina 13–12 Scotland
England 16–12 Scotland
Argentina 25–7 Georgia

by G Mon 28 Nov 2011, 1:35 pm

I´d love to pat your lovely horse but it´s an awful long way up. And I´m not talking about a Song for Ireland.

Give over will ya u auld hippocryte Wink

You were the one going on about how much respect u SH'ers have for eachother.....

At least I didnt start with the veiled insults about high horses...

....and no, we dont throw plastic bottles at visiting teams either...

by cabbagesandbrussels Mon 28 Nov 2011, 1:41 pm

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:
cabbagesandbrussels wrote:
RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Some of these Comments are pretty strong, Scotland don't normally smash anyone on the score sheet, but do tend to be one of the most physical sides in the 6N so in that sense yes England will get smashed on the 1st day of the tournament.

Realistically If Scotland can turn over England at home we stand a very good chance of building some mommentum and actually having a crack at the 6N championship. This type of Draw suits Scotland pretty well.

We have Ireland away, a very good rugby nation but we have beaten them twice out of our last 3 encounters, 1 being at Croker.

Wales we do seem to struggle with, the last time we played the Welsh in Cardiff it was one of the best/toughest games the 6N has seen for a very long time with Scotland commiting suicide in the last 5 minutes.

Italy away is a winnable fixture, tough to be sure since the French were rolled their last season.

France at Murrayfield presents a chance to turn them over too.

What really makes me angry is posts cropping up here that are pretty inflamatory and to be honest not very accurate. Scotland and Italy are much closer to the 6N teams than a lot of posters here care to admit.

Ask Father Christmas for some realism wrapped up nicely for you!
Georgia and Romania are more worthy of a 6 Nations place than Scotland and Italy

Realism eh? Plenty of that in your previous post. Plenty of knowlege of the game of Rugby too. Lets just look at these results below and watch as you try to justify the comment above highlighted in bold.

Scotland 34–24 Romania
Scotland 15–6 Georgia
Argentina 43–8 Romania
England 41–10 Georgia
England 67–3 Romania
Argentina 13–12 Scotland
England 16–12 Scotland
Argentina 25–7 Georgia

I applaud you on your fantastically selected results...how long did that take you?

You sweaties crack me up!

by kiakahaaotearoa Mon 28 Nov 2011, 1:48 pm

Well G Today, that behaviour is unacceptable, no arguments from me.

I love the 6N and think it´s the envy of the rugby world in terms of tradition. Frankly I wasn´t too impressed with the rugby last year (apart from the upset victory over France by Italy and the intensity of the Irish in the England vs Ireland match, there was very little to write home about. England vs Wales or France failed to live up to pre-match hype.

That said I have high hopes for Ireland, Wales as well as England and France to provide some fireworks this year. I just wish there wouldn´t be the petty banter that some posters resort to.

All I meant to say by my comments was that on the boards the Kiwis, Aussies and South Africans aren´t slagging off one another (at the grounds it´s a different story). Maybe that is mutual respect because the teams are more evenly matched. Maybe it´s because the 3N is a fledgling tournament compared with the 6N. Maybe Argentina will spice things up.

As for GG, his gripe was with England rather than SA or Australia. Most of the time...

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 28 Nov 2011, 1:53 pm

cabbagesandbrussels, will you be getting a ticket for England's trip to Murrayfield? Have you put money on England winning? You seem quite certain that they will.

by G Mon 28 Nov 2011, 1:55 pm

......Im afraid Englands best hope of points is in Rome and the way things are going, I can only see one winner there...

..........Italy, but I guess you got that....

I'll get me coat..

by cabbagesandbrussels Mon 28 Nov 2011, 1:57 pm

I will actually be going yes. Can't wait actually.

My last away trip was to Cardiff last year and I was treated to some very choice language for wearing my England shirt, (I had my 3 year old boy with me.) I'm sure that the Edinburgh folk will be far more hospitable (and more gracious losers.)

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 28 Nov 2011, 2:02 pm

I'm sorry to hear that, genuinely sorry. But can I ask you whether you talking to Welsh fans in person the way you're talking to Scottish fans here?

by RuggerRadge2611 Mon 28 Nov 2011, 2:08 pm

cabbagesandbrussels wrote:
RuggerRadge2611 wrote:
cabbagesandbrussels wrote:
RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Some of these Comments are pretty strong, Scotland don't normally smash anyone on the score sheet, but do tend to be one of the most physical sides in the 6N so in that sense yes England will get smashed on the 1st day of the tournament.

Realistically If Scotland can turn over England at home we stand a very good chance of building some mommentum and actually having a crack at the 6N championship. This type of Draw suits Scotland pretty well.

We have Ireland away, a very good rugby nation but we have beaten them twice out of our last 3 encounters, 1 being at Croker.

Wales we do seem to struggle with, the last time we played the Welsh in Cardiff it was one of the best/toughest games the 6N has seen for a very long time with Scotland commiting suicide in the last 5 minutes.

Italy away is a winnable fixture, tough to be sure since the French were rolled their last season.

France at Murrayfield presents a chance to turn them over too.

What really makes me angry is posts cropping up here that are pretty inflamatory and to be honest not very accurate. Scotland and Italy are much closer to the 6N teams than a lot of posters here care to admit.

Ask Father Christmas for some realism wrapped up nicely for you!
Georgia and Romania are more worthy of a 6 Nations place than Scotland and Italy

Realism eh? Plenty of that in your previous post. Plenty of knowlege of the game of Rugby too. Lets just look at these results below and watch as you try to justify the comment above highlighted in bold.

Scotland 34–24 Romania
Scotland 15–6 Georgia
Argentina 43–8 Romania
England 41–10 Georgia
England 67–3 Romania
Argentina 13–12 Scotland
England 16–12 Scotland
Argentina 25–7 Georgia

I applaud you on your fantastically selected results...how long did that take you?

You sweaties crack me up!

Still waiting for your Justification as to why Georgia and Romania are more worthy of 6N spots than Italy and Scotland.

Whilst we are at it, last time Italy played France I believe Italy won the match..... what happened when England last played France?

by R!skysports Mon 28 Nov 2011, 2:10 pm

RR - leave it - he is just tryiong to wind u up Very Happy

by RuggerRadge2611 Mon 28 Nov 2011, 2:13 pm

Yeah I know, but best way to get rid of them is to counter their WUMs with facts. I don't mind people making bold claims if they back them up with some facts to spark a debate, but making comments like the one I highlighted above for the sole purpose to antagonize other posters is the sort of tripe we left behind on 606.

by cabbagesandbrussels Mon 28 Nov 2011, 3:23 pm

then ignore me you fool!!!

by 123456789 Mon 28 Nov 2011, 5:01 pm

Obviously England will go to a place where they haven't won since 2004, without a coach or a captain and in total disarray and turn over Scotland, who they only just beat in the world cup yet in your opinion less worthy of a spot than Georgia or Romania. I think if all the England fans found a middle ground, between you current situation where half of you think that you will get the wooden spoon and the other half think that you will win the six nations, it would make life far easier.

by robbo277 Mon 28 Nov 2011, 6:20 pm

maestegmafia wrote:
bsando wrote:
Ireland don't seem like the team they were a few years ago, but when they have the right game plan they seem to destroy other teams, very clinical eg England and Australia.

Im going to call this a bit different, I think Ireland will do well this year. Watching the current form of Munster and Leinster in particular in the HEC and Rabo Irish rugby looks good. Ulster and Connacht are both playing some superb rugby though falling at the final hurdle, not getting the wins. 4W 1L

Welsh rugby looks good too. All the way through the regions we have teams that are hard to beat, can play exciting try scoring rugby, defend well and win games. There is not the depth of strong forwards that Ireland have, but the best are very good. 4W 1L

French rugby is not looking great. Some steady performances in Europe but the French teams as a whole have a fifty fifty win lose record this year. French still have a great deal of individual inspiring brilliance that can get them through tough games. But there is the other half that are falling apart through lack of performance. 3W 2Lss

Scotland have just about enough players to put together a squad that is competitive at this level. On their day they can beat anyone, on a bad day they are tackling shadows. Though, Edinburgh and Glasgow are looking quite exciting in the Rabo and HEC. They are a match for anyone. With added overseas players Scotland wont be an easy win. 1W 1D 3Lss

Italy are better than last year, Airioni and Treviso are better teams. They will prove this again before the Six Nations. These teams are made up of Italian Qualified players, their success bodes well for italian rugby. 1W 4Lss

England, a few English teams look good, Quins in particular. But the regular teams that have made the big parts of former England teams have struggled this year in the Aviva.. That said those teams who struggled early on are doing well in the HEC. Teams that did well last year in the HEC cant get a win this year. As we know the RFu are in a poor state and it looks like no one bar Jim Mallinder, who's Saints are not having a great season, want the England Coaches position.1Drw 4Lss

So the teams that form the largest parts of the England squads are struggling this year? Would this be because large numbers of their players were missing for the start of the season?

Harlequins and Saracens were largely unaffected by International call-ups for the World Cup (and some players would have had a serious point to prove having missed out, see Robshaw and Barritt) and have had fantastic starts to the season. They could form a decent England team just between the two of them if they had to (Marler, Gray, Stevens, Robson, Borthwick, Robshaw, Saull, Guest, Care, Hodgson, Monye, Barritt, Lowe, Strettle, Goode) - all of whom missed the World Cup.

It's hard to predict how England will do this far out. Let's see who gets the coaching gig (even if it is only an interim coach), who he selects and the form of those players closer to the time. I won't be rushing to put my hard earned pennies on England, but I don't think we'll do nearly as badly as some people are saying. It wouldn't surprise me if we lost to Scotland and Italy away in our first two games then beat Wales at home, France away and Ireland at home. Probably won't happen, but it wouldn't be a surprise!

by EnglishReign Mon 28 Nov 2011, 6:21 pm

I stand by my original prediction on page 1 but will say that, yes, England had a poor world cup but Scotland were bloody terrible. Did they even manage more than 10 tries? Although Wales played well, they did lose 3 games and Ireland just had one stand out game against Aus after losing all 4 warm-ups. France were rubbish until the final too.

I think everyone is using England's unexpected poor campaign to cover up their own team's problems. We'll also replace the deadwood with young guns. Still reckon 4th though...possibly 3rd.

by 123456789 Mon 28 Nov 2011, 7:35 pm

In Scotland's first two matches they were terrible but Scotland's performances against Argentina and England were far from poor. Their shortcomings were that they could not close out the games and Dan Parks seemed to bottle it. Scotland will be spurred on against England for a number of reasons:
1. It's England!
2. It's Murrayfield
3. England effectively knocked them out of the world cup
4. England seem to have massively over reacted to being knocked out by a decent French side which only lost to a point against the winners whilst also beating two top 10 nations and Georgia (who are a very decent side)
5. Scottish teams and players are in terrific form.

If I'm totally honest I see this being the kick up the backside England needs and a great four performances from England following.

by EnglishReign Mon 28 Nov 2011, 8:48 pm

You could be right bud - I'm just basing it on the RWC and little else, just like my fellow posters Smile

.

by Tattie Scones RRN Tue 29 Nov 2011, 9:26 am

cabbagesandbrussels wrote:
RuggerRadge2611 wrote:
cabbagesandbrussels wrote:
RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Some of these Comments are pretty strong, Scotland don't normally smash anyone on the score sheet, but do tend to be one of the most physical sides in the 6N so in that sense yes England will get smashed on the 1st day of the tournament.

Realistically If Scotland can turn over England at home we stand a very good chance of building some mommentum and actually having a crack at the 6N championship. This type of Draw suits Scotland pretty well.

We have Ireland away, a very good rugby nation but we have beaten them twice out of our last 3 encounters, 1 being at Croker.

Wales we do seem to struggle with, the last time we played the Welsh in Cardiff it was one of the best/toughest games the 6N has seen for a very long time with Scotland commiting suicide in the last 5 minutes.

Italy away is a winnable fixture, tough to be sure since the French were rolled their last season.

France at Murrayfield presents a chance to turn them over too.

What really makes me angry is posts cropping up here that are pretty inflamatory and to be honest not very accurate. Scotland and Italy are much closer to the 6N teams than a lot of posters here care to admit.

Ask Father Christmas for some realism wrapped up nicely for you!
Georgia and Romania are more worthy of a 6 Nations place than Scotland and Italy

Realism eh? Plenty of that in your previous post. Plenty of knowlege of the game of Rugby too. Lets just look at these results below and watch as you try to justify the comment above highlighted in bold.

Scotland 34–24 Romania
Scotland 15–6 Georgia
Argentina 43–8 Romania
England 41–10 Georgia
England 67–3 Romania
Argentina 13–12 Scotland
England 16–12 Scotland
Argentina 25–7 Georgia

I applaud you on your fantastically selected results...how long did that take you?

You sweaties crack me up!

If you go around calling Scots 'sweaties' when you're up there and generally showing the sort of attitude you have in general, I'm pretty sure you will get even less of a welcome in Edinburgh than in Wales.

Your three year old must be so proud.

by cabbagesandbrussels Tue 29 Nov 2011, 9:33 am

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:
cabbagesandbrussels wrote:
RuggerRadge2611 wrote:
cabbagesandbrussels wrote:
RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Some of these Comments are pretty strong, Scotland don't normally smash anyone on the score sheet, but do tend to be one of the most physical sides in the 6N so in that sense yes England will get smashed on the 1st day of the tournament.

Realistically If Scotland can turn over England at home we stand a very good chance of building some mommentum and actually having a crack at the 6N championship. This type of Draw suits Scotland pretty well.

We have Ireland away, a very good rugby nation but we have beaten them twice out of our last 3 encounters, 1 being at Croker.

Wales we do seem to struggle with, the last time we played the Welsh in Cardiff it was one of the best/toughest games the 6N has seen for a very long time with Scotland commiting suicide in the last 5 minutes.

Italy away is a winnable fixture, tough to be sure since the French were rolled their last season.

France at Murrayfield presents a chance to turn them over too.

What really makes me angry is posts cropping up here that are pretty inflamatory and to be honest not very accurate. Scotland and Italy are much closer to the 6N teams than a lot of posters here care to admit.

Ask Father Christmas for some realism wrapped up nicely for you!
Georgia and Romania are more worthy of a 6 Nations place than Scotland and Italy

Realism eh? Plenty of that in your previous post. Plenty of knowlege of the game of Rugby too. Lets just look at these results below and watch as you try to justify the comment above highlighted in bold.

Scotland 34–24 Romania
Scotland 15–6 Georgia
Argentina 43–8 Romania
England 41–10 Georgia
England 67–3 Romania
Argentina 13–12 Scotland
England 16–12 Scotland
Argentina 25–7 Georgia

I applaud you on your fantastically selected results...how long did that take you?

You sweaties crack me up!

If you go around calling Scots 'sweaties' when you're up there and generally showing the sort of attitude you have in general, I'm pretty sure you will get even less of a welcome in Edinburgh than in Wales.

Your three year old must be so proud.

I'm having banter you wally...being called and English C U Next Tuesday in front of my boy goes against everything rugby stands for.

by cabbagesandbrussels Tue 29 Nov 2011, 9:34 am

by the way, i take the word sweaties back. On reflection, it was out of order and I apologise. thumbsup

by Metal Tiger Tue 29 Nov 2011, 10:05 am

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:

If you go around calling Scots 'sweaties' when you're up there and generally showing the sort of attitude you have in general, I'm pretty sure you will get even less of a welcome in Edinburgh than in Wales.

Your three year old must be so proud.

Actually I've worn my England shirt on nights out in Cardiff when there wasn't even an international on. Of course you get some banter & p1ss taking but never ever felt threatened or intimidated.

However, I and my daughters were verbally attacked in Edinburgh on a day out because some drunken scumbag with a roll up fag, fell out of a pub and heard our accents. I'd taken them up to see the Tattoo and my daughters cried when the commentators asked if there were any English in the audience and the crowd around us started booing. They actually thought it funny that they had reduced my daughters to tears.

It was f*cking shameful behaviour but I understand that every nation has their own fair share of pr1cks.

by RuggerRadge2611 Tue 29 Nov 2011, 10:22 am

Tiger, firstly love your gears of war crimson omen as your picture

Secondly, reducing little girls to tears is not a good advert for Scotland. Certainly a few of my friends have some pretty xenophobic attitudes towards England and English people. Mostly because they have seen Braveheart too many times and have been tainted by the footballing obsession to feel hatred towards English people or England as a whole.

We are not all like that though and certainly I have found England and the English rugby fans a very friendly and welcoming bunch. As you said :

Metal Tiger wrote:every nation has their own fair share of pr1cks.

I just hope that this would not put you off coming to Murrayfield and coming to Edinburgh for the rugby in the future. When coming out for the rugby, supporting either Edinburgh or Scotland I do my best to squeeze as much banter as possible out of the Visiting fans, pointing out the best Bars and Pubs this brilliant city has to offer Hug

by damngoodOvalball Tue 29 Nov 2011, 10:52 am

maestegmafia wrote:Mind you, after the last RWC when Wales were considered in turmoil and found a new coaching team we went on to win a Grand Slam. Maybe England can do the same.

Though Wales didn't have the same amount of backroom issues England have at the RFU

That's very true maesteg, and I have been considering exactly the same albeit with a lot of wishful thinking. Wales did have very similar backroom issues based on my knowledge at least. Also they hadn't even made it out of their group in 07, so bad were they. A few months later they bag a GS.
I'm not expecting England to get a GS but the few fans on this thread hopefully predicting a Ws for England are going to be disappointed I expect.

As for the scot fan suggesting Scotland will 'smash' England. You'd do well to remember that England conceded the least tries of any team in the group stages, and had the joint leading try scorer. I think Scotland need to learn how to score tries before they smash anyone. When was the last time they did that?

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Tue 29 Nov 2011, 11:32 am

I stuck a quid on Irleand at 6-1 for the title this year, I thought that pretty generous really.
I guess the favourites should be France and Wales, but in this torunemnt recent years have shown its always pretty marginal.
As alwyas any of the big 4 could pulkl it oiff and beatr each other, plus theres always the chance for scotland or italy to grab the odd result here and there and shhake things up.
Its pretty cyclical, youd be mental to confidentaly predict one team smahing another even based on world cup performances and results.
I mean how do we really rate France, they were pretty insipid except for a 30 minute period against England wher ethey whoed what they were madeof. Same for Ireland, one massive perfomrance against Aus.
Its pretty clear that although Wlaes took all the paludits for their displays that the other big sides can beat them "on their day". And we've seen all these sides go through good spells in recent years only to have a flump. Its only a year ago everyone was raging about a resurected England. Wales tend to follow up their grand slams with 4th place finsihes. Ireland were suppossedtot be the greatest team in the world ever a couple of years ago, then went on a dreadful run only really punctuated by the destruction of england last 6 nations which came compltely out the blue.

Dowes anyone honestly beleive they can confidently predict how these sides will shape up this year?
Thats why the comeptition is so great, its hugley unpredictable ( apart from any England game in Scotland being absolutley devoid of creative rugby and suicidaly depressing)

by Tattie Scones RRN Tue 29 Nov 2011, 11:34 am

Fair enough cabbage - apology accepted and I certainly hope that you don't experience anything like you did again in Edinburgh or Cardiff.

Metal Tiger - I second RR's comments and would reinforce the fact that Edinburgh is a fantastic place. Don't let some pleb from Leith ruin your impression of the city. As you say, there are plenty of clueless erseholes around the UK determined to ruin it for everybody else (some have even formed a coalition government) but best to ignore and carry on with the real rugby fans.

Hug

by Luckless Pedestrian Tue 29 Nov 2011, 11:34 am

Edinburgh is a brilliant city, I visited it for the first time a month or two ago. My visit coincided with Wales losing to France in the World Cup semi-final, but I still enjoyed myself!

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Tue 29 Nov 2011, 11:38 am

Tattie Scones RRN wrote: As you say, there are plenty of clueless erseholes around the UK determined to ruin it for everybody else

True, youll find drunk Scotts in any city in the UK

( jokes/banter/menat in jest/cheap shot couldnt resist etc)

Its fair to say that anyone can get given a bad time in any place simply for being different or "not one of them", but at leats rugby fans are allowed to sit together without riot police required to keep them apart.

by Imperialbigdave Tue 29 Nov 2011, 11:40 am

damngoodOvalball wrote:
maestegmafia wrote:Mind you, after the last RWC when Wales were considered in turmoil and found a new coaching team we went on to win a Grand Slam. Maybe England can do the same.

Though Wales didn't have the same amount of backroom issues England have at the RFU

That's very true maesteg, and I have been considering exactly the same albeit with a lot of wishful thinking. Wales did have very similar backroom issues based on my knowledge at least. Also they hadn't even made it out of their group in 07, so bad were they. A few months later they bag a GS.
I'm not expecting England to get a GS but the few fans on this thread hopefully predicting a Ws for England are going to be disappointed I expect.

As for the scot fan suggesting Scotland will 'smash' England. You'd do well to remember that England conceded the least tries of any team in the group stages, and had the joint leading try scorer. I think Scotland need to learn how to score tries before they smash anyone. When was the last time they did that?

Hence my post earlier in the thread about a potential backline that could finally start scoring tries. If we do that, then all the other pieces of our game are there. Our lineouts top class, Our scrums solid provided Kellock isnt playing, We have a traditional mix of turnover specialists, ball carriers and tacklers to choose from and can put out a backrow to match anyone, we have one of the form scrumhalves in europe, and good options at 13 and 15. If we can just sort 10 and 12 out, we could spring a few surprises.

by Metal Tiger Tue 29 Nov 2011, 11:52 am

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Tiger, firstly love your gears of war crimson omen as your picture

Yeah... I'm a bit of a Gearhead... love Halo too.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Secondly, reducing little girls to tears is not a good advert for Scotland. Certainly a few of my friends have some pretty xenophobic attitudes towards England and English people. Mostly because they have seen Braveheart too many times and have been tainted by the footballing obsession to feel hatred towards English people or England as a whole.

The booing at a major international event like the tattoo surprised me but I think it was more in line with how people boo at a pantomine. I think that is kind of how we are seen now, as the Panto Villian. But without getting all too political I think the SNP are responsible for promoting that attitude & borderline racist organisations like 'settler watch' too and it saddens me.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:
I just hope that this would not put you off coming to Murrayfield and coming to Edinburgh for the rugby in the future. When coming out for the rugby, supporting either Edinburgh or Scotland I do my best to squeeze as much banter as possible out of the Visiting fans, pointing out the best Bars and Pubs this brilliant city has to offer

I go to fife & Edinburgh a lot as I have family up there and both my neice & nephew were born in Edinburgh... proper little bairns... they love living and working up in Scotland. So no... a couple of incidents from some morons would not put me off at all.

by Metal Tiger Tue 29 Nov 2011, 11:56 am

Sorry... I have deleted this post as It was a duplicate of the one above. Not sure how I did that?

by G Tue 29 Nov 2011, 12:01 pm

It was f*cking shameful behaviour but I understand that every nation has their own fair share of pr1cks.

Oh I hear that!!!!

...except for Belgians. Dont know why but Ive never met a pr!ck Belgian...

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Tue 29 Nov 2011, 12:19 pm

G wrote:
It was f*cking shameful behaviour but I understand that every nation has their own fair share of pr1cks.

Oh I hear that!!!!

...except for Belgians. Dont know why but Ive never met a pr!ck Belgian...

Have you never seen JCVD?

by Pot Noodle Miner Tue 29 Nov 2011, 12:21 pm

still to early to try and make accurate predictions on the 6Ns really, if a team has a few key players out injured it could make a big difference, i think France, Wales, England and Ireland are all in with a chance of winning the tournament but then again Scotland and Italy are both capable of beating any of these teams on their day and could cause a few upsets

by cabbagesandbrussels Tue 29 Nov 2011, 1:02 pm

I agree that Edinburgh is a truly wonderful city...i went there a couple of seasons back and had a blast.

by Feckless Rogue Tue 29 Nov 2011, 1:38 pm

Can't see Ireland winning in Paris. Scotland and Italy at home should be wins. Wales at home with revenge on our minds should be a win for us. But for Wales v Ireland games in particular, home advantage seems to have absolutely no bearing on the result. So not sure. I think the anger of being knocked out of the WC by Wales will help us. Ireland play much better when angry and bitter. England in Twickenham? It's always very close when we travel there, and we have a knack of winning there in the last 10 years.

I think the best Ireland can hope for is 4 wins and that should be our target. I'd say a worst case scenario is 2 wins. Which would be terrible. We won't have BOD for this tournament. It'll be interesting to see how we go without him. My main worry is in midfield. We were not good in this area in the World Cup. We got rid of Gaffney but haven't hired a new backs coach.

I worry about Kidney's selections. Hope he doesn't go for D'arcy and Earls in the center with O'Gara at 10. There's some very good young centers coming through. But my guess is Kidney won't start these youngsters, Gatland style. He'll go for D'arcy and Earls, but start Sexton over O'Gara. Which will have to do.

by Gatts Tue 29 Nov 2011, 8:59 pm

ROG is a certainty v Wales anyway. And I think that his hand is somewhat forced with absence of BOD he needs experience in the centre. it will be a crackng game and i expect the irish pack to front up massively but if Wales are at full strength i believe our backline is just too potent

by mankiaow Wed 30 Nov 2011, 8:35 am

I don't think ROG will start. I feel he will revert back to Sexton with ROG as an impact sub. The centre selection will be interesting.

I'm a fan of DK but, at times, even I can be frustrated with his conservatism. I think that was his downfall against Wales in the WC. Gatland second guessed him. The shackles are off now though and I don't believe he is so narrow-minded as to stick with older players, when there are opportunities with good young guys coming through. The likes of Fitzgerald is playing well also and should be in the mix come the 6N.

by maestegmafia Wed 30 Nov 2011, 10:19 am

ROG has certainly played himself into contention, even at the tail end of his career he is still an excellent player who can cause serious damage to the opposition.

Ireland also have some other young players looking good to fill the boots though, I was impressed with Keatly at Munster, against Edinburgh he looked a great option. Ian Humphrey's has been a rock at Ulster too.

by Feckless Rogue Wed 30 Nov 2011, 12:35 pm

I'm hoping Sexton will play. Wales have actually become the masters at negating ROG, after the heartache he's inflicted on them in the past.

England, France and Italy will all have new coaches and it's difficult to tell what will happen. A new coach can often have a positive effect on a good team though. Gatland and Kidney both won Grand Slams in their first year. Wouldn't be surprised if St. Andre did the same with France.

I expect Scotland to put in solid enough performances in the 6 Nations. I'd be most positive if I was a Welsh fan. Good young players coming off a good World Cup and the regions are having a good Heineken Cup campaign too. My head says it's between France and Wales this time, but my heart, as always, says Ireland can win the slam.

by mankiaow Wed 30 Nov 2011, 3:39 pm

I don't think it's an outlandish notion. While the our exit from the WC and the manner in which it happened was disappointing, we didn't become a bad team overnight.

I have always felt that the HC is the best form guide for the 6N(as close as you'll get anyway). Now that the WC is over, with no more need for tinkering, there is no reason to believe that Ireland should be also-rans. I think the biggest variation will come in the respective form of England and Wales. Wales should kick on and england may well circle the wagons.

Despite our loss to them, I feel that we will handle Wales in Dublin. We should also be favourites against England in Twickers, and there is no reason we shouldn't give France a run for their money in Paris. No disrespect to Scotland and Italy but, at home, we should account for both.

So my glass is most definitely 3/4 full!

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