[la gran siete]

I am though nervous. How will the lads fare?I believe Wales will be strong which begs the question why the RFU let Shaun Edwards join their coaching ranks???What numpties!

[huwg]

Ah, I found a 6N 2008 thread.....

I think it could be a very interesting year.

Wales have a new coaching team - they could be strong (I hope so), but I have had my hopes dashed so many times that I don't know what to expect (probably heavy defeat).
England have lost some fine players since the World Cup final, due to retirement and injury.
France have a new coach who appears to be either bonkers or knows something the previous coach did not.
Ireland may be past their best, for some players it is now or never, but they will be up there.
Italy are getting better with each season.
Scotland usually spring at least one surprise

All in all, it could be a tricky one to predict.

[Reepicheep]

It's going to be a very close competition with most teams having gone through a rebuilding exercise to some extent after the World Cup.

I think it will be between England, France and perhaps Ireland - they have something to prove after a very poor World Cup.

I'm just so pleased that all the games are live on the Beeb

[la gran siete]

If not England then i hope the Irish pul it of after so many years of trying - the slam that is

[KevD]

Ashton just named the England side

I Balshaw
P Sackey
M Tindall
T Flood
D Strettle
J Wilkinson
A Gomarsall
A Sheridan
M Regan
P Vickery
S Shaw
S Borthwick
J Haskell
L Moody
L Narraway

L Mears
M Stevens
B Kay
T Rees
R Wigglesworth
D Cipriani
L Vainikolo

A decent side I think, although havent seen alot of Narraway. No Tait in the squad is a little suprising, but glad to see Shaw made it.

[huwg]

and it looks like they will be playing the Ospreys

[la gran siete]

Originally Posted by huwg

and it looks like they will be playing the Ospreys

why ? They 'll have the understanding you only get with players who spend a lot of time playing together. Whereas England are going in with amore or less scratch side and with only a weeks preparation.

[huwg]

Originally Posted by la gran siete

why ? They 'll have the understanding you only get with players who spend a lot of time playing together. Whereas England are going in with amore or less scratch side and with only a weeks preparation.

I can see the logic behind it, but 13! I'm not entirely convinced but believe me I'd love to be proven wrong.

[la gran siete]

Originally Posted by huwg

I can see the logic behind it, but 13! I'm not entirely convinced but believe me I'd love to be proven wrong.

i am damned sure you would be

[mrtbag]

I hate the way international rugby is run in Wales, to have even threatened players with the chop if they do not ply their trade with a welsh club stinks.

They are going to lose on Saturday. By about 30 points I reckon.

[la gran siete]

Nothing like a bit English arrogance to stir the Welsh.I agree the restrictions are wrong though.It almost seems a deliberate attempt top keep them separate from us.

[huwg]

Originally Posted by la gran siete

Nothing like a bit English arrogance to stir the Welsh.I agree the restrictions are wrong though.It almost seems a deliberate attempt top keep them separate from us.

I agree that the restrictions are wrong.
Maybe he is doing it to keep the Welsh to a certain style of rugby, to keep the flair and skill levels high.
Mind you though, a bit of English backbone and set piece competence would certainly benefit Wales.

People tend to forget that most of the victories of the 70's were due to the forward pack grinding down the opposition, it was not all fancy stuff from the whistle.

not long to go now

[cirdan]

really looking forward to it know. not sure what to expect from my lot to be honest. last year under jenkins we were pretty bad, i went to the wales england game and to be fair we were the better of two average teams. but england seemed to use the rest of last year to at least move in the right direction, we just wasted the time. know i liked gar but he was the right coach at the wrong time.

unfortunately for gatland rugby like all sports i guess is about results. i just hope they give him some time and we get to see some progression over these next few months. i believe we have a pretty good core of a team, but im not sure about this selection, i would have had shanks instead of parker, i dont really rate him but i wouldnt mind him on the bench.

[la gran siete]

Originally Posted by huwg

I agree that the restrictions are wrong.
Maybe he is doing it to keep the Welsh to a certain style of rugby, to keep the flair and skill levels high.
Mind you though, a bit of English backbone and set piece competence would certainly benefit Wales.

People tend to forget that most of the victories of the 70's were due to the forward pack grinding down the opposition, it was not all fancy stuff from the whistle.

not long to go now

And very sound defence too.Shaun (the traitor)Edwards will put in place the rush defence which has served Wasps so well . I also expect a lot of accurate kicks from Hook and Henson making life hell for Balshaw whose weakness under high balls is well known.Sackey isnt too good kicking either Gommersall is woefully out of form.I am seriously worried
btw I have always considered the "foreign presence" in the premiership to be a thoroughly sound thing . It helps to build bridges as well our youth learning new things skills.

[mrtbag]

Originally Posted by la gran siete

Nothing like a bit English arrogance to..

No arrogance at all LGS, and i'd prefer it if you don't try and make me out as so.

[huwg]

Originally Posted by mrtbag

No arrogance at all

Unfortunately (for me) I think you may be telling the truth, a 30 point drubbing is a very real possibility if Wales play against the England shirt.

I think there is a big mental difference between playing England at Twickenham, and the same players in club shirts.

Yes the England front 5 are very big, but if Martyn Williams can get his hands on the ball, who knows....

[huwg]

My predictions for the weekend...

Ireland v Italy
England v Wales
Scotland v France

[waf-tastic]

Well, first match was boring - let's hope the rest of the matches are more exciting...

[Dony]

Glad to scrape through that with the win, but doesn't seem like any of the problems have been sorted.

How is Eddie O'Sullivan still in charge

[Dony]

They'll be singing in the Valleys tonight

[waf-tastic]

Well, at least is was more exciting... I thought we'd just had Christmas, but England just gave a heck of a present!

[WelshBluebird]

Originally Posted by Dony

They'll be singing in the Valleys tonight

too true!!
I expect the england team to get a good dressing down though. Absolute madness to throw that away.

But wooo!

[signs]

well done Wales, 19-6 how could we give it away

[domtheone]

Originally Posted by signs

well done Wales, 19-6 how could we give it away

By playing like a pub team

Only saw 20 mins of it towards the end. England were awful.

[signs]

Originally Posted by domtheone

By playing like a pub team

Only saw 20 mins of it towards the end. England were awful.

you should have seen the first half we were back with a vengeance .. then it went tits up

[Sporran]

OMG easy to be happy when you win, wasnt the nicest of games first half for us last half for Eng.

Still good win for wales, really hope Jon Thomas ok, that dint look too good imho, infact looked bad .

So Ospreys beating england

[la gran siete]

a game they should have won comfortably they contrived to lose appallingly. Oh well with Slam gone now its time for new faces, Shaw Regan and Gommers you must go. Bring on Hartley Nick Kennedy and errr , A.N,Other.Unlucky with injuries mind Strettle Moodie.
Well done Wales they'll get better .

[Sporran]

thank you LGS

One would think with the sympathy u show to the welsh you must be half welsh

Yer agree with strettle so early to come off, an awesome player imho.

[huwg]

I really can't understand how we went in only 10 points down at half time. We were simply not in it.
A passage of poor play from England gifted Wales the victory.
I feel very happy, but also confused as to how the hell we won.


Anyway, well played fellas

[Alan_W]

A possible citing on the cards for Johnny for that flying arm?

If he misses a game England are in real trouble.

Bad halves from both teams today.

Wales were much better without a few ospreys