expectations and aspirations

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Do Wales currently see Eng as their biggest rivals? If so why? I think Warren Gatland has tried to get them thinking beyond Eng and should be and is I suspect treating this match as just another. I have a sneaking fear that his quiet media time recently is an indication that he is taking out the emotion in this game and preping his players to do a professional number on us. Personally I can't see us winning if this is the case, if wales do get emotional then it could be tight and let us pick away at their continuity/discipline.

Comfort wrote:Wales biggest scalps this year realistically should be:

France
Australia
South Africa

Those are the 3 that are above us (but in touching distance).

Ireland/England are in and around there, but we're now 3 from 3 in our last games with Ireland and England/Wales is always a close tetchy affair thats in the balance. No disrespect to them, but the 3 teams mentioned above have all won their last 2/3 games against us, those are the scalps we should be aiming for.

Building up to the next 57 years of welsh dominance over the all blacks of course.

Wow, I'll have to have a talk with heyneke Meyer and let him know.

thats the plan, of course

hows your take on the 6ns so far this year bill? any surprises from your p.o.v down there?

Wales seem to be kicking on from where they left off, which is a nice change, and we've got George North mk2 in Cuthbert

Comfort

Italy shows endeavour but doesn't have the linespeed to achieve much.

Scotland shows their forwards can retain the majority of possession and territory, but their backs lack a playmaker and some patience, they have messed up enough opportunities so far that should have won them two games.

Ireland, well I have only seen one game, but they look stationary with ball in hand, pretty much the same as England, and both of them are looking much like SA did under PDV

France, shows class in their backs, but no forward domination against Italy is a sure sign that they can be taken up front

wales have been the most dangerous so far.

cheers bill, always nice to get an unbiased view...

agree on italy, they have looked to have improved their style of play (so much as they have actually been using their backs), they just seem like they're going to need a fair bit of development at club-level to bring through some more class behind that pack.

Scotland look a couple of players and some confidence away from being a very good NH side. Fingers crossed with Matt Scott at 12, Hogg at 15 and a certain Tim Visser to come in at 14, they're back play will be varied enough and they'll have the clinical edge they're missing at the moment. Conservative selection in the backs from Andy Robinson has cost them so far in my eyes.

Ireland and France have both looked very dangerous in their own rights but with weaknesses, Irelands midfield without BOD looks pourus and Frances forwards still dont convince me as much as they should. Undoubted class, but are they strong enough mentally.... yet to be seen.

England are the most interesting for me, new faces everywhere, new structures, 2 from 2, both away (against historically the 2 worst teams admittedly) and a test against this good welsh side this weekend.

I think this weekend will tell us where a lot of the teams are.

Yeah, the english vs Wales game is actually more difficult to call than one would think.

you have a team who have been playing well balanced rugby with cuthbert adding a lot to that back line.

You have an english team that despite poor continuity in play, slow rucks and no cohesion keeps on winning. As you say admittedly they have only played Scotland and Italy. But Scotland are under rated in my opinion.

Even Wales only managed to put the game away when scotland had players in the bin.

pipty/pipty I say.

absolutely agree with you on Cuthbert, hes given a blance of power/pace across the entire welsh backline, you simply cant single out individuals to stop because the gaps left will be exploited by someone else.

Im very nervous about this game against England, our record at twickenham isnt good, we start as favourites (always a bad sign for us in years gone by) and everyone seems to be writing England off in the media.

It has all the makings of a fairytale upset for England, but really, theres not much more different in the sides other than, settled combinations/coaching and confidence to my mind.

On a side note, I cant wait to see the battle between Roberts attack and Barritts defence, and Tuilagi vs Jd2 all around.

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:

slartibartfast wrote:hmmmm....

Rivals in this order...

France
Ireland
England
Scotland
Italy

I agree there's a distinct lack of media hype for this one.

Who are you trying to kid.

We (England) may not be at our historic best but we are still Wales biggest scalp in the 6Ns.

Look at the banter. The hype will only increase from now on, everyone knows it, it's unstoppable.

Don't flatter yourself, Ireland was 'the biggie' for me this year.

Comfort, it is always a pleasure to discuss rugby Welsh rugby with you.

No one eyed, head in the cloud debate.

Cheers mate.

aye cheers mate, and thats usually the case until matchday, when i don my red glasses and get to the pub, from that moment until the end of the day, Wales are infallible, the worlds against us and on our day....

I think Wales will beat England. I'm nearly sure of of it. Wales strong all over the park. They have a gameplan that's working and their belief in it, and in themselves, is giving them the confidence and composure to never give up.

I'm not convinced by England at all. The raw materials are there in terms of talent. But with so many new faces and a new coach, they just don't have the team cohesion yet. In my opinion there's still to many questions hanging over the team.

Does Lancaster have what it takes to lead a team at this level? He doesn't seem to have much gravitas about him in my opinion. I might be being unfair there but my gut feeling tells me he's not the man to rebuild England. Does Robshaw have what it takes to captain a team at this level? Great club player, but you just don't know if he can step up to dominating the best test sides. It was to early to hand him the captaincy. Will Youngs get back to form? Doesn't look like he will any time soon.

To many questions over England, and Wales are on a roll. I'm sure they'll get the win in a tight physical battle, even in Twickenham.

I wish I shared your confidence feckless, I have no doubts in this welsh sides capabilities, more doubting that England cant be that static for a third game running, and they're at home, their team selection seems a bit more fluid but im hoping my judgement on Farrell is right and the english backline struggle with what little ball isnt kicked away.

im sure itll be an enthralling game however it turns out

3 from 4 now Comfort