[Monty Burns]

So, who do you THINK will win and thats not who do you WANT to win?


I really think England will spank specially after such a close game with NZ. I also think France are to hot and cold and no where near consitant enough.

[Miyazaki]

The only thing I feel sure of is that Wales will be a shadow of themselves.

[la gran siete]

I fear England with their lack of midfield creativity will fail the French hurdle who will in turn become deserved champions

[Henry]

It's the blues away for England this year, so I'm going for France as the winners.

[Orson]

France too inconsistent, England not quite there yet, Wales... lets not go there.
I reckon with O'Driscoll back in the form he showed at the weekend, he could inspire the Irish to win.

And this from an Englishman

[smelly]

Originally Posted by Games Guru

The only thing I feel sure of is that Wales will be a shadow of themselves.

As much as I hate to admit it I have to agree with you Games

Although I'll be there in the pub cheering them on in every game

Want: Wales to win
Think: England will win

[la gran siete]

Originally Posted by smelly

As much as I hate to admit it I have to agree with you Games

Although I'll be there in the pub cheering them on in every game

Want: Wales to win
Think: England will win

NAAAH NOT A HOPE. ITS LES BLEUS

[Monty Burns]

Originally Posted by la gran siete

I fear England with their lack of midfield creativity will fail the French hurdle who will in turn become deserved champions

I just don't see the French as consistant enough .... one week they almost play like gods, the next week they can play like school girls. This is of course, just my opinion

[CLH]

Wales 2005 version was hampered by a mass of injuries. There were established names in the team but they were by no means certain of their places.

For 2005 Ruddock brought this lot in:

Henson
Shanklin (starting and in position)
Gethin Jenkins (starting)
Ryan Jones (replacing injured Daffyd Jones)
Dwayne Peel (replacing injured Cooper)
Kevin Morgan (replacing injured Gareth Thomas)
Hal Luscombe (then himself replaced by Rhys Williams then replaced himself by Mark Taylor)

5 Lions were CREATED by Wales 2005 team.

Now then, I tend to agree that Wales will suffer this year. That said the opportunity is there for the next set of replacements to claim a place.

To that end watch closely for the following:

Matthew J Watkins : even us Welsh are worried about him. We call him "revolving door" because of his defence and he does not play I/C. He's going to be selected at I/C. Consider this, if we can't work out what he's going to do in the centre England bloody well won't!!!

Hal Luscombe : has had a stormer of a season. Matthew J and Hal are actually direct replacements for Shanklin and Henson. If this works then it could tear other midfields to shreds.

Lee Byrne : massive massive acceleration. Gareth Thomas may well not start next weekend. Byrne just might.

Shane Williams : has a massive crisis of confidence. Can't get worse, first attempt to recapture form against England.

Mark Jones : has torn the Zurich teams defence apart (remember the Wasps games?)

Forgive me focusing on the England game but (tbh) if Wales can sneak that then they can move forward.

Now all of the above may be well off in six weeks time.

But look what was predicted for us last year.

The simple fact is this. Whatever you may think, Wales play as a team. There's no time for individuals within it as far as the content is concerned. Let's see how far that can translate.

One last thing. England pushed NZ. Wales did not.

But both of them smashed Oz. Something the Irish and Scots could not claim to do.

[la gran siete]

Originally Posted by Monty Burns

I just don't see the French as consistant enough .... one week they almost play like gods, the next week they can play like school girls. This is of course, just my opinion

thats a fair comment .I just feel that they are building for the WC and 6n is another stepping stone to that goal. They will also want to become the fist side to win 5 grand slams in a ten year period.They've won 4 so far which proves they are currently the best side in the NH( putting the last WC to one side of course).If they can get the temperament right then they have the ability to be the best side in the world.I hope I'm wrong mind as i want England to win but I am a huge admirer of French rugby. Apart from that I think its about time Ireland bagged the slam.

[Monty Burns]

Originally Posted by la gran siete

....If they can get the temperament right then they have the ability to be the best side in the world.....

I totaly agree and, so do the beeb pundits. But, it seems us in the general public seem to think diferent - according to the poll results.

Guess we will know in a few weeks


Im just gutted the beeb have the away games for England, hope the weathers not too bad here in Germany or no watchy for me unless its UKTV2!

edit: yeah you do have to feel sorry for the Irish team, in my opinion they should be dominating this grand slam. Bloody frail human bodies ... bah!

[la gran siete]

I woluld very like to see England win but I fgear woith the squad dimwit has selected its going to be mosre of the same old tedious forward dominated bosh up the middle with little or no midfield creativity. Watch out for Tindall and Noon crash ball into the firwrd and playing the fazes Th efrnch, by contrast , play the game the way it should be played always seeking to offload in contact areas. Jaunzion is absolutely awesome, always staying on his feet and giving the ball to a teamate.
Ireland could bet surprise package this year. They have the forwards to win enough setpiece ball and with BOD and one of Trimble D'arcy or Murphy could really uposet the odds.

[KevD]

I think you are right la gran siete, Robinson has again selected Noon/Tindall at centre for a home game against a weakend Wales
I would be incredibly confident other than this, absolutely no imagination. Smith and Abott have both been in great form as has Lewsey and even Simpson-Daniel, either of the those in the side would have given us a chance to play some exicting rugby and make use of Cohen and Cueto.
I do feel sorry for Cueto, he doesnt like to come inside as much as Cohen and he gets wasted in games.
However, with the fowards we have and CH playing well, we can win this playing with the fowards and picking up whatever we can elsewhere.
Still really looking foward to this champioonship, Heres hoping

Team For Saturday:

Lewsey
Cueto
Noon
Tindall
Cohen
Hodgson
Ellis

Sheridan
Thompson
Stevens
Borthwick
Grewcock
Worsley
Moody
Corry (c)

Replacements:

Lee Mears
Julian White
Simon Shaw
Lawrence Dallaglio
Matt Dawson
Andy Goode
Tom Voyce

[la gran siete]

Originally Posted by KevD

I think you are right la gran siete, Robinson has again selected Noon/Tindall at centre for a home game against a weakend Wales
I would be incredibly confident other than this, absolutely no imagination. Smith and Abott have both been in great form as has Lewsey and even Simpson-Daniel, either of the those in the side would have given us a chance to play some exicting rugby and make use of Cohen and Cueto.
I do feel sorry for Cueto, he doesnt like to come inside as much as Cohen and he gets wasted in games.
However, with the fowards we have and CH playing well, we can win this playing with the fowards and picking up whatever we can elsewhere.
Still really looking foward to this champioonship, Heres hoping

Team For Saturday:

Lewsey
Cueto
Noon
Tindall
Cohen
Hodgson
Ellis

Sheridan
Thompson
Stevens
Borthwick
Grewcock
Worsley
Moody
Corry (c)

Replacements:

Lee Mears
Julian White
Simon Shaw
Lawrence Dallaglio
Matt Dawson
Andy Goode
Tom Voyce

I very much hope I'm wrong as nothing would please me more than to see England play expansive rugby of which they are perfectly capable of but the fear of losing is so great that I expect the same old tactics.

[Monty Burns]

Originally Posted by Monty Burns

I totaly agree and, so do the beeb pundits. But, it seems us in the general public seem to think diferent - according to the poll results.

...

Now, i didn't see the Sunday game but does this read right? Did France loose to Scotland? Did France have one of those amazingly inconsistent bad days?

[la gran siete]

scotland played out of their skins and fully deserved their win. France had a better second half but were playing catch up all the way. They did manage tio score the same number of tries but fluffed the conversions.
Shamefully Laporte gave the Scots no credit at all claiming they hadnt moved forward from last season which is balderdash. France , in my view, dont deserve to win the championship on last sundays showing but Scotland deserve huge credit.