The Official *England to Grand Slam Glory 2013* Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

“It is not enough that we do our best; sometimes we must do what is required.”
Winston Churchill

In just over 4 weeks, Stuart Lancaster's England will start their quest for Grand Slam glory. It has to be said that this is England's best chance since 2003 for a Grand Slam. Really, for the Northern Hemisphere's biggest Rugby nation not to have clinched a Grand Slam for 10 years is a poor return. That will surely change on the 16th March.

“My tastes are simple: I am easily satisfied with the best.”
Winston Churchill

This amount of optimism stems from a hugely encouraging 2012 for the English rugby team. 4 wins out of 5 in last year's Six Nations with a fairly new team, then a character-building tour to South Africa, running South Africa and Australia close at the home of Rugby, before ending the year by beating the World Champions and running in 3 tries against them. 2013 will be the year that it all comes together for England.

"The English have an extraordinary ability for flying into a great calm."
Alexander Woollcott

2013 for England will start with a game home to Scotland. Unless there's a downpour, Scotland have little hope. Expect England to rack up 25+ points and a multitude of tries against inferior opposition.

"Let not England forget her precedence of teaching nations how to live."
John Milton

Then, away to Ireland. Often, the Irish are seen as a bogey team for England but let's be rational. England are better in every department as they proved in 2012. I'll be looking for a very very good result from England in this game.

"You must hate a Frenchman as you do the devil."
Lord Nelson

The third game will be the biggest of the lot. Home to the French at Twickenham. Beaten by England in Paris in 2012, France will be beaten by England in London in 2013. No mistake though, this game will be the toughest challenge that England will face in the 2013 Six Nations. I expect England to just about edge out the French.

"We few. We happy few. We band of brothers."
William Shakespeare

On the 10th March, England will be on the home straight. Home to Italy, mere cannon fodder against the mighty mighty England. 4 wins out of 4, Grand Slam in sight.

"Ever the faith endures, England, my England."
W.E. Henley

The crowning glory will be against England's little brother, Wales. No doubt they'll be up for this game, they love a game against their bigger brother and the chance to upset the odds. What is it Wales, 7 losses out of 7 since last year's Grand Slam? After a tough 20 minutes, England's superiority and class will show. Grand Slam clinched.

“You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.”
Winston Churchill

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Brace yourselves my fellow Englishmen, the media are starting to whisper those dreaded two words:

England Expects.

Well you should have thought of that before you beat the All Blacks!

[Jimpy]

Brace yourselves my fellow Englishmen, the media are starting to whisper those dreaded two words:

England Expects.

Well you should have thought of that before you beat the All Blacks!

But the win against the AB was devalued. Apparently.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

You beat them fair and square as far as I'm concerned.

[gregortree]

You beat them fair and square as far as I'm concerned.

A little modest there Luckless about your nation's contribution. The ABs were food poisoned by Welsh catering to soften them up for the English game.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Well actually we intended to kill them, but we only ended up giving them the squits. It's hardly a cause for national pride.

[mystiroakey]

Who would have thought that the welsh contributed to an england success hey!

[Cyril]

Who would have thought that the welsh contributed to an england success hey!

It's those Agincourt archers again

[mystiroakey]

[gregortree]

Who would have thought that the welsh contributed to an england success hey!

It's those Agincourt archers again

At Agincourt the whole English / Welsh army developed dysentery (Welsh cooks again) but notwithstanding, we both still beat the French.
That must p/o the ABs.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Never wouldve passed a pitch inspection these days though.

[gregortree]

The French wanted to cite the Welsh archers to somebody, for ungentlemanly behaviour, but nobody could give a sh#t.

[Duty281]

This should make the thread a good deal more English:

Spoiler:

[Duty281]

http://www.espnscrum.com/six-nations-2013/rugby/story/176142.html

Scotland will target Owen Farrell according to their former head coach Andy Robinson and will ask questions of him that not even New Zealand did. Yeah right.

http://www.espnscrum.com/six-nations-2013/rugby/story/176122.html

Tuilagi has until Tuesday to prove his fitness, otherwise Joseph/Twelvetrees will step in. I don't think it would be such a bad thing for him to miss the Scotland game, as long as he's 100% for Ireland.

[Duty281]

Just over 72 hours to the start of England's journey, and we'll see how much the games against the 'big 3' Southern Hemisphere teams have enriched this young and exciting England side. An English side which will surely form the majority of the Lions side this summer. The great expectations are starting to pick up in the media, 2013 will be the year that everything falls into place for England, the first time in a decade for the English rugby team.

"This story shall the good man teach his son."
William Shakespeare

[sirBiggles]

You keep quoting from an arrogant, biggoted, tory upper class toff, if you wish.... All it does is make you look a Muppet...


ANEURIN BEVAN had the mark of this pompus man...

Of WINSTON CHURCHILL, Nye was quoted as saying:

"He never spares himself in conversation. He gives himself so generously that hardly anyone else is permitted to give anything in his presence."

"The Prime Minister has very many virtues, and when the time comes I hope to pay my tribute to them, but I am bound to say that political honesty and sagacity have never been among them."

"He is a man suffering from petrified adolescence."


By all means big up the English cause if you wish, but for god sake drop the Churchill quotes.... unless it is ...

Spoiler:

[Duty281]

"Perhaps it is better to be irresponsible and right, than to be responsible and wrong."
Winston Churchill

[nobbled]

"Never trust quotes from the internet"
Winston Churchill

[RubyGuby]

"Perhaps it is better to be irresponsible and right, than to be responsible and wrong."
Winston Churchill

Said the Depressed Old Man

[nobbled]

I may be drunk - but you are ugly - and tomorrow I will be sober.

[RubyGuby]

I may be drunk - but you are ugly - and tomorrow I will be sober.

Said the Depressed Old Man

[sirBiggles]

I may be drunk - but you are ugly - and tomorrow I will be sober.

During a 6 Nations weekend.... Not on my watch



... and lets not forget the chaser....

[glamorganalun]

Looks like Jim Telfer is correct with a post like this, as a lazy Welshman I say no more

[Duty281]

So the England team has been named:

England team: Alex Goode (Saracens), Chris Ashton (Saracens), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester), Mike Brown (Harlequins); Owen Farrell (Saracens), Ben Youngs (Leicester); Joe Marler (Harlequins), Tom Youngs (Leicester), Dan Cole (Leicester), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester), Tom Wood (Northampton), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Ben Morgan (Gloucester)

Replacements: Dylan Hartley (Northampton), David Wilson (Bath), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), James Haskell (London Wasps), Danny Care (Harlequins), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), David Strettle (Saracens)

Very strong I'd say in all areas. And why are we so optimistic?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wod8aZzmRWE

[gregortree]

Some impact waiting to happen off that bench !

[Duty281]

England out to Emulate All Blacks

Final prediction for tomorrow: England 26-9 Scotland

[quangut]

Twelvetrees man of the match

4 tries
4 conversions
8 penalties
9 drop goals

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Some impact waiting to happen off that bench !

Yeah Wilson Vunipola and Strettle could shift the game dramatically in scotlands favour

[AlastairW]

England out to Emulate All Blacks

Final prediction for tomorrow: England 26-9 Scotland

That must be least sensationalist article headline i've seen since the cirus began.

[Duty281]

England 38-18 Scotland.

England too good in the end:

4 tries
7 kicks at goalout of 8 Landed
62% possession
69% territory
Only 7 pens conceded

We're only 4 games away from Grand Slam glory you know...

[RuggerRadge2611]

Congrats today guys. England looked very strong

[Duty281]

[Duty281]

Congrats today guys. England looked very strong

Thanks, good luck against Italy next week.

[Duty281]

The morning after, the late afternoon before. The English press are certainly lapping it up:

England beat Scotland with ball in hand
England beat Scotland in the Six Nations...so deal with it
England Thump Scotland

It would appear some of the foreign media are also praising England:

Scotland the brave overwhelmed by powerful England
Convincing Win for England
English Chariot Gaining Momentum

Feet remaining firmly on the ground of course!

[Morgannwg]

Congrats to England on an excellent win. I still don't think they'll win the Slam but after this game and with Italy to come they will have the most points, therefore winning the tournament. England will also beat France at home, but it would be much more satisfying if all of us beat France.

[LondonTiger]

I too struggle to see England winning in Dublin AND Cardiff - but the dream is still there.

[GunsGerms]

My observations on England:

-Forwards outstanding, backs average.
-Englands forwards were exceptional at the breakdown.
-Englands backs play like they are playing rugby league, bash bash bash. Very little creativity.
-With Farrell kicking well England are very good at keeping scoreboard ticking by fishing for pens at setpiece and at the breakdown.
Wasnt impressed by Brown, 12 3s looked good though.
-England have the two best 9's in the 6N.
-Robshaw is growing into his role

How to beat England:

-Be ultra competitive at the breakdown, Scotland were not, They chose to defend out wide instead. Ireland will be distroyed if they do this.
-Effective choke tackling. Should be easy v England cause of their direct style in the backs.
-Pressure Farrell. He has an old head on his shoulders but Sexton is a ferocious tackler and needs to let him know things are different at Landsdowne.
-Beat the sh1t out of them. This might sound crass and is most certainly easier said than done but, manic agression is generally how Ireland triumph over England.
-Be crafty. This England team will unquestionably come to Dublin with some sneeky tricks up their slieves. It is going to be a battle of wits as much as anything else.

There will be at least 5 tries in this match.

[mystiroakey]

England are massive massive favs now..


Best opening weekend of the 6N's ever

[HammerofThunor]

England still have to go to Dublin, Paris and Cardiff. Certainly not massive favourites (at least in my eyes). If we win next week (when was the last time we beat them out there? 10 years ago?) then maybe but still way off.

[Duty281]

England still have to go to Dublin, Paris and Cardiff. Certainly not massive favourites (at least in my eyes). If we win next week (when was the last time we beat them out there? 10 years ago?) then maybe but still way off.

We're home to France. If we beat Ireland next week - and I think we will about 14-24 - then we will be huge favourites with 2 home games and an away trip to a Welsh team that is on a never-ending decline.

[mystiroakey]

England still have to go to Dublin, Paris and Cardiff. Certainly not massive favourites (at least in my eyes). If we win next week (when was the last time we beat them out there? 10 years ago?) then maybe but still way off.

in my eyes and the bookies eyes!

[HammerofThunor]

England still have to go to Dublin, Paris and Cardiff. Certainly not massive favourites (at least in my eyes). If we win next week (when was the last time we beat them out there? 10 years ago?) then maybe but still way off.

We're home to France. If we beat Ireland next week - and I think we will about 14-24 - then we will be huge favourites with 2 home games and an away trip to a Welsh team that is on a never-ending decline.

In that case, yes, IF we beat Ireland then we're favourites. Until then I say it's up in the air. If anything the Italian game has shown you can't rely on anything.

[mystiroakey]

Hammour england are evens - ireland are 2/1!!

England are big favs for this..

You dont have to agree- and if you dont lay them off you could make a few quid

The italian game has shown me what I knew allready- france were massively overrated!

[Duty281]

England up to 4th in the World now, thanks to Italy beating France. The rankings say, and I agree, England are the best side in the Northern Hemisphere.

[gboycottnut]

Hammour england are evens - ireland are 2/1!!

England are big favs for this..

You dont have to agree- and if you dont lay them of you could make a few quid

The italian game has shown me what I knew allready- france were massively overrated!

France's main problem is that their players don't player as a team, they just play as individuals and that just isn't good enough even against a team like Italy. Anyone well done Italy but England look the best team in this year's competition so far and look unbeatable and unstoppable.

[gboycottnut]

My observations on England:

-Forwards outstanding, backs average.
-Englands forwards were exceptional at the breakdown.
-Englands backs play like they are playing rugby league, bash bash bash. Very little creativity.
-With Farrell kicking well England are very good at keeping scoreboard ticking by fishing for pens at setpiece and at the breakdown.
Wasnt impressed by Brown, 12 3s looked good though.
-England have the two best 9's in the 6N.
-Robshaw is growing into his role

How to beat England:

-Be ultra competitive at the breakdown, Scotland were not, They chose to defend out wide instead. Ireland will be distroyed if they do this.
-Effective choke tackling. Should be easy v England cause of their direct style in the backs.
-Pressure Farrell. He has an old head on his shoulders but Sexton is a ferocious tackler and needs to let him know things are different at Landsdowne.
-Beat the sh1t out of them. This might sound crass and is most certainly easier said than done but, manic agression is generally how Ireland triumph over England.
-Be crafty. This England team will unquestionably come to Dublin with some sneeky tricks up their slieves. It is going to be a battle of wits as much as anything else.

There will be at least 5 tries in this match.

England have so many options up their sleeve particularly on the bench that even a reserve set of players can beat teams like Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy.

[Pot Hale]

England have so many options up their sleeve particularly on the bench that even a reserve set of players can beat teams like Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy.

Are you planning on entering the WUM Of The Six Nations Competition 2013?

You're starting well. Good entry.

[gregortree]

I can only repeat, and feel more reinforced in my view that Ireland pose the greatest threat. No disrespect to Wales or Italy, esp Italy.
If that France turn up in Twickenham, then their Coq is goosed.
Ireland in Dublin has not been a good hunting ground for Old England. This New England - who can say ? I cannot, but it will be the sternest test.

[Brian Moores Twin]

Are people forgetting about last year!

England 30-9 Ireland

Its worth noting that this was a SL England not MJ's

But it will be tough.

[gregortree]

Brian's Twin, I remember.
And all the previous Dublin defeats too.
But this is our best chance in years, with New England.

[Duty281]

One of our biggest problems in the years of Martin Johnson's coaching was ill-discipline. We're a much more disciplined team under Lancaster. Get the history out of your head and look at the two teams on paper and you'll see England are better. It will probably be our toughest game of the Six Nations though.

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