2022 6 Nations

Based on the Autumn Internationals and knowing there's still a way to go....

My thoughts on 6 Nations are..

1. Ireland and France are favourites. With Ireland having to go to both Paris and Twickenham, and France having both England and Ireland in Paris, I'd put France very slightly ahead.. but a very small margin.
2. You then have England playing very well and definitely within a chance of wining the 6 Nations.
3. Then we have the proverbial dark horse that is Scotland. Great AI and going to take a scalp or two in the 6 Nations, but more likely to be kin maker rather than king.
4. Wales are heading for their worst 6 Nations for a long time and can only see them beating Italy on current form, even though they have 3 home games this tournament.
5. Italy will be targeting Wales this year, as they'll see that as their best chance, which could put Wales from 6 Nations champions to Wooden Spoonists..

My early predictions are:-

1st France (No Grand Slam, with them tripping up on one of their away games.. most likely to Scotland)
2nd Ireland (taking Triple Crown)
3rd England
4th Scotland
5th Wales
6th Italy (Wooden spoon and whitewash)

Really disappointing to go from reigning 6 Nations Champions to bottom (but one) of the table.. but not the first time.  

And a side prediction... It still wont be enough for the WRU to sack Pivac.

Wales for the win

Can't see Ireland coming to London and Paris and winning so think it's drops them down a bit. Hoping someone can upset France before the final fixture...could be setup for a stressful day.

Italy are at their lowest ebb. I wouldn't worry about them, they barely beat Uruguay a few days ago, which was apparently their first win in 17 games. Horrific.

I think it's a pretty open Six Nations and I wouldn't be surprised to see any of France/England/Scotland/Ireland triumph, though France would be my favourites. I see the fixture computer has France v England as the very last game, so hopefully both those sides win their first four matches to set up an astonishing finale.

Ireland have it tough going to both Paris and London, but Scotland have the reverse in being home for both of those games.

Little way off but maybe: 1) France, 2) England, 3) Scotland, 4) Ireland, 5) Wales, 6) Italy. But no Grand Slams or Triple Crowns.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Can't see Ireland coming to London and Paris and winning so think it's drops them down a bit. Hoping someone can upset France before the final fixture...could be setup for a stressful day.

Wales’ penultimate game is home to France. Could we do our usual and get better as the tournament goes on and, potentially, upset France at home and give Ireland or England a helping hand?! Stranger things have happened Unlikely, given current form. But not impossible. And Wales are usually a better 6N team than they are an AIs team, for some unknown reason.

I think it will be a very close 6ns this year, i do not think any ream will get the slam.

I think it will be.
(1) England
(2)France
(3)Ireland
(4)Scotland
(5)Wales
(6) Italy

Wales have played some good rugby  from time to time, but only seem to win when playing against 13/14
men for most of the game.

It's an interesting schedule, with banana skins everywhere:
- Wales' worst game is often their first one, and Ireland in Dublin is not the one you'd pick, and then they have to go to Twickenham in week 3 - but you could see them turning over France at the Principality in Week 4
- Likewise, England have to negotiate a tricky opener against Scotland, but then have about as benign a schedule as you get in the 6N with Italy away, Wales and Ireland at home and a potential decider in Paris to finish
- Ireland have to travel to both Twickenham and Stade de France. I can see them winning one, but winning both is a tough ask
- Scotland have England and France at home, but have to travel to Cardiff in week 2 and Dublin in week 5, which I think will be too much for them
- France have Ireland and England at home, but Cardiff is a tough prospect and if England are still in the mix in the final week it could be a cracking final match.

I'd have France as favourites, but if England can win in Murrayfield they have about as good a build up as can be expected - which given their likely lack of experience as a team could be a big factor. Ireland have to pull off two away wins against their strongest opposition, as do Wales. I don't want to write Scotland off, but I don't think they have the depth yet to finish up the table.

France have a tendency to win their Grands Chelems in the years after Lions tours, so that's my tip. But England seem unlikely to have the usual Lions hangover because of the changes Eddie is making, so I'll be crossing my fingers...

Have updated No9's original post to put a fixture list graphic in there.

If England can just get past Scotland at Murrayfield, they will kick Italy in the crackers and then come back to Twickenham for 2 home games and will think that they're in good shape.

Ireland probably has the worst fixture list with trips to Twickers and Paris.

I think its a tough one to call again this year.

I think France are my favourites. What they are building looks impressive and I can see them going from strength to strength over the next couple of years, and strong competition in the 6 Nations is only going to help them.

I'd have Ireland and England next, capable of winning the whole thing too. I think England's fixtures just tip it to towards them out of the two.

Scotland and Wales next. It depends on what Scotland turn up. I have watched them with great hope over the last few years, but end up disappointed that they don't show up. They could beat anyone if they turn up, its just whether they can do it over 5 matches. Wales are a momentum team IMO. If they start by winning, they could easily carry on winning. Losing first up and it could be the opposite. Ireland away first game is not a great option for starting a winning run though!

And Italy at the bottom. The gulf is going to be more evident this year, and in a tournament where points difference and bonus points could be all important, I don't see any of the sides taking their foot off the gas.

From a entirely selfish perspective, it would be nice to see a Grand Slam decider in the final game in Paris, but a lot of hurdles to get over first!

I'd say that France are about 18 months ahead of England in their rebuilding, with Ireland somewhere in between the two.

However, I think Eddie's shown a consistent pattern and the late start is all part of the plan. This isn't the first time he's allowed a team to stagnate in the first year and a half after an RWC and waited for a crisis to make big changes. He did it last time (and it worked) and I think he even tried to do it post-2003 with Australia, only to get sacked for it.

What I think is happening is a combination of three things that Eddie is trying to exploit. The obvious one is the forced opportunity to try out new players in a Lions summer. Less immediately obvious is the introduction of the ELVs - but I think the Eng v SA game in particular showed that the new rules demand a different tactical mindset. SA were still playing largely in the style that won them the RWC; England were making better use of the new rules to create space and relieve pressure (as with Kwagga's denied try).

Finally, I think Eddie reckons that changing at this point gives him long enough to refine the gameplan and get the players making the most of it, but not long enough for the opposition to work it out. Ireland had the best gameplan in world rugby in 2018, and had it working well, but after a couple of failed attempts to crack it, Eddie worked it out in the 6N and their RWC campaign never recovered.

This time around, France have the best gameplan right now (and I think are harder to work out, because it relies less on the system and more on a generation of brilliant players) - but England now look like they have the potential to overtake them, especially if they a) continue to let Smith and Slade run the show and b) can settle on a pack that has the right balance and the right players in the right position (which mostly means getting their props back, putting in a good setpiece lock, and not playing Curry out of position)

France
England
Ireland

Scotland
Wales







Italy

Wales' number of wins depends on the amount of red cards the opposition gets. This coaching team just isn't working and they've had enough time by now. You can see it's not working by looking at the players, who are no longer playing well for Wales when they usually would. They need to be moved on now before we become a laughing stock (again) at the next world cup.

Could be a cracking tournament, as clearly there is a group of 3 teams (France, England and Ireland) that showed great form over the AIs and that it's difficult to pick a winner from. Then throw in Scotland as the wild card, who really can beat anyone on their day and conversely can. throw in a shocking performance. Wales are difficult to call, as they came through the AIs with a lot of injuries and seem to have the knack at the moment of winning without playing well.

Italy, sadly, are likely to be the whipping boys again, although perhaps have hope if they catch Scotland on a bad day

England played their 3rd team and beat the World Champions...
Grand Slam in the bag when we roll out our 1st team....

Ireland should win their game against Italy.

All up for grabs after that.

I think this should be a great tournament. Really hard to tell. Ireland have just had two great wins. France (équipe de DuPont) is obviously in terrific form. England improving. Scotland, maybe, just a whisker below, but can/will take a scalp or four. Italy, unfortunately not improving as quickly as the rest. Which brings me to Wales: Seemingly every time they play and look like a pizza run over on the motorway, they come back and play extremely well.

Oddly, this year I find I really have little interest in the Heineken Cup (can we call it that again?). Just want to see the return of our club Rugby leagues, Premiership and URC, the back to the Internationals.

A very competitive 6N in store. Home advantage will play a large part, France, England and Ireland look the most consistent teams, but at home, Wales and Scotland can beat anyone.