6 Nations Overview

So now the dust has settled somewhat, I think it's time for a 'big picture' overview of the tournament:

Teams:
Ireland - A well deserved championship, even though losing narrowly to England. Did a good job of maximising their winning margins against the lesser teams, and were probably the only side to play (and beat) a France side playing to their potential. It was though the end of an era, with the great Brian O'Driscoll calling it a day. Short term future generally looks solid, with their new coaching regime bedding in well and a good blend of youth and experience through the side.

England - Will be looking at this as a Championship and a Slam that got away. A bad first 15 minutes and last 3 minutes in Paris made the big difference between an outstanding tournament and one of what might have been. Other than that, there was a feeling in most games that chances were being made but not always taken. A young and improving team, and the criticisms from the last 18 months of there appearing to be no attacking plan have been addressed, but still in need of a little but of a clinical edge to finish what they create.

Wales - Somewhat hit and miss, with good performances against France and Scotland, a fairly insipid win against Italy and two quite convincing defeats to Ireland and England. Looked a jaded team at times (Lions hangover?), and their tactics look limited when the opposition stand up to them and can counter from the in-field kicking. Some cause for concern with the front row in particular looking old and struggling to find the right combination at 9 and 10. Still the nucleus of a good team, especially 11 to 15, but a few questions to answer.

France - Arguably more miss than hit, with only really the Ireland game where they could be said to have played well. Started explosively for the first 15 minutes against England, but were out-played for much of that match and nicked it with a typical bit of French flair in virtually the last play. Adequate against Italy, but hammered by Wales and limped to a last kick win over Scotland before finally putting a shift against a very good Ireland. While on paper their first choice XV is good, there is a lack of quality behind that in some areas (the half-backs for example were no better than mediocre). The biggest question though has got to be over PSA as the coach, the selection policy (for example, the continued reliance on that big Basteraud in the centre) and team unity. Then again, being the French, they could stay being abject until the start of the RWC and then go on and win the whole thing...

Scotland - Well, on the bright side they did beat Italy. Oh, and Scott Johnson will not be the head coach for another match. Performances ranging from apathetic to abject - I can't recall a Scotland performance as lacking heart and character as that they put up against England. Even when they have had teams weaker on paper than the current one, you'd always expect a huge effort from the Scots, but recently it has just been absent. There may be the basis for a decent team there, but too many question marks at present, and the strength of the back ups reflects the lack of options given the two pro regions.

Italy - Possibly their worst 6Ns performance since they were brought in to the tournament. Started OK in pushing Wales, but pretty poor against France, close but unsuccessful against Scotland and then thumped by both Ireland and England. The forward power of old has diminished, as has Parisse's greatness, and while there are some decent outside backs, the issues of finding a reliable half back partnership remains their main issue. Also questions about their fitness, as both Ireland and England overwhelmed them by moving the point of attack and eventually runninng them ragged.

Highlights
The England v Ireland game was a classic, even if the scoreline makes it look like a borefest.
Mike Brown running the ball out from the back and making the first defender miss so often.
Halfpenny kicking everything, including making some very difficult goals look ridiculously easy. Add his bravery in defence and you have an outstanding player.
BOD drawing the curtain on his outstanding career with only his second 6Ns championship .
Ficou's last minute try v England   

Lowlights
Hogg's red card
The waning of Gethin Jenkins as a force at international level (always one of my favourite players from another country)
Italy's performance v England - while England were good, I don't recall a poorer performance in the 6Ns from any team. Nothing seemed to work for them on the day..

Ireland won the tournament but are they the best team in the NH? Im guessing lots of people dont believe that they are. Rankings say England are but are they?

GunsGerms wrote:Ireland won the tournament but are they the best team in the NH? Im guessing lots of people dont believe that they are. Rankings say England are but are they?

Does it even matter? There is very little to choose between them at the moment. Ireland started better, beat France and gave Halfpenny fewer kicks when they played Wales, but didn't quite have enough to in in Twickenham. They had a moment of good luck with the French forward pass (it would be stretching it to claim Irish pressure forced it)

England overcame their early errors and bad luck against France but gave it away through inexperience and poorly timed substitutions, then improved with every subsequent game. England finished more strongly and if the opening fixture had been Scotland instead of France they could well have been Grand Slam champions. But they're not.

Ireland have a greater depth of experience, a more clinical approach and a more tactically astute coach who has not yet deployed all his tricks. But they have to replace BOD and hope that POC holds together for another year. They have SOB to come back into the team, though.

England have far less experience, but greater playing depth and a coach whose master plan is only just coming to fruition. They are creating more but need to learn to finish the opportunities. They have a better record against the SH, but a much tougher RWC pool. They've got the likes of Corbisiero, Cole, Parling, Croft, Tuilagi, Yarde and Wade to come back in, but most of them will have a fight to claim their place. Right now, they are in serious trouble if Robshaw or Farrell picks up a long term injury - but we said that about Corbisiero, Cole, Parling, Wood, Croft, B Youngs, Foden and Tuilagi.

Take your pick. I'm English, so I choose to believe that England will have the edge.

Wales are still the best side in Europe, they had a poor 6 Nations after winning 2 on the bounce and having provided the backbone of the Lions suffered as a result, still finished in 3rd and will be back to winning ways next season.

England got better and better as the championship went on, they should be ruing the missed grand slam by switching off against France on a couple of plays. They need better wingers though as I'm not convinced by either Nowell or May.

Ireland played quite well against poor opposition but struggled against England and France, I actually feel that if France wern't so inconsistent this year they would have won against Ireland.

Wales need to wake up, they were caught out twice by England and Ireland, and if it weren't for Halfpenny would have been on the end of a proper hiding against England as well. I still think we're a good side not playing as well as we're capable.

Scotland and Italy have both been dreadful again, Scotland have the potential maybe Vern Cotter will change things, then again we say this every year. Italy need to be worried though, they had I think the oldest squad going into this years Six nations and from what I can see have not been able to unearth some proper talent aside from young Campagnaro and Furno

Pretty chuffed with Enlands 6 nations tbh, despite the injury list. Corbs,parling,croft,Foden,wade,yarde,Manu. Then cole, billyV. Unlike last year, we started ok and got better throughout. Bit the finished article tho, we played some good stuff but there's definetly room for improvement.

Scratch, I dint think you can blame lions fatigue. The regional players have hardly played any pro12. Yet North, at saints, was your best player. More like the Autumn ints injuries hangover.