RBS 6 Nations

It is that time of year again.  It is when I feel as though I have finally come out of hibernation and can carry on with my life.  The end of January.  I love this time of year.  It is when you notice the days getting longer; the weather starts to pick up, albeit a little bit and it just seems as though Mother Nature wakes up and things happen.  Like most people, nature is also happy to see the end of the most mundane month of the year come to an end. 

This phase has special significance for me for many reasons but, for me, it is very exciting as we are, FINALLY(!), within touching distance of the six nations rugby championships.  This is a time when all eyes will be on the elite of Northern Hemisphere rugby to provide us with entertainment for 6 weeks.  It looks to be the most open tournament in a long time as well!

The first game will be Wales versus England.  This will be in the Millenium stadium on 04/02/11 (Friday) for a 7.45PM kick off and it will be a good start to the 6 nations.  They are two teams who have a history of producing a copious amount of good games.  Though Wales I think will be up against it.  The home advantage will prove to be Wales’ biggest asset on the day.  Usually England start poorly and build ahead of steam but, I must say (and begrudgingly too) that they look good. 

The next day (Saturday) will offer Italy versus Ireland (Rome) in the early afternoon 2.30PM and France take on Scotland (Paris) at 5.00PM. 

Following week 12/2/11 England versus Italy (London) at 2.30PM followed by Scotland versus Wales (Edinburgh) at 5.00PM.  The next day (Sunday) gives us the spectacle which, in my opinion, is usually the game of the 6 Nations every year.  Ireland versus France (Dublin).  This could decide the title this year. 

Saturday 26th February - Italy v Wales - 2.30PM followed by another big, big game which can also decide the title - England v France – 5PM.  Sunday 27th February - Scotland v Ireland (Edinburgh) – 3PM.  This could become a grudge match as Scotland put up a heroic fight to win last year in Croke Park.  This weekend will be full of potentially classic games. 

Following another gap weekend, Saturday 12th March sees and all European tie Italy v France - 2.30PM.  This, despite being in Rome could still be a one sided affair.  The game on Saturday 12th March - Wales v Ireland - 5pm could also be a very entertaining encounter as each of these teams are both very good upfront and also play a very expansive game of rugby.  Here it is - Sunday 13th March - England v Scotland – 3PM.  It may very well be the first time Scotland win against England in London in a long, long time.  It would be good to see. 


Finally, super Saturday.  The last and most exciting day of the 6 nations – a triple whammy of games.  This is day exceptionally good if it is more than a one horse race. 
Saturday 19th March - Scotland v Italy - 2.30PM (Edinburgh)
Saturday 19th March - Ireland v England – 5PM (Dublin)
Saturday 19th March - France v Wales - 7.45PM (Paris)

My opinions of this tournament being very open if based on the fact that not one team have ALL their first choice players, particularly with woeful Wales.  They are in serious trouble as they have lost forwards and backs and I count in excess of 5 players, including, prop, Adam Jones, winger, Shane Williams and centre, Gavin Henson.  There are others which I cannot remember at the moment.  Scotland has some players coming back from injury like Johnny Beattie and other are ruled out; Graeme Morrison and Chris Cusiter.  England, France, Ireland and Italy are also missing a few due to injuries due to club duty.  It will be interesting to see how the tournament transpires. 

I think that there is more than one team that can win it this year.  England have a good blend of experienced players with young, explosive players but, they do play a very boring brand of rugby.  They exhibit very few dim sparks of entertainment in most of their games.  They have two games at home one against Scotland which will be difficult and the other against France which could tip the balance in England’s favour.  England do run hot and cold though.  They had a good autumn test series but were defeated by a very lacklustre South Africa and a New Zealand team that were not pumping on all cylinders.  I think they will be good contenders for the title this year as they have come a long way under Martin Johnson’s regime.  The win against Australia was a classic win for England.  Ireland, who also have big games in Croke park, France and England, stand a tremendous chance of coming into this tournament as favourites.  Ireland took a very much deserved grand slam championship when they took on England and France at Croke park.  France are almost always tournament favourites.  They always play with flare and set new fashion in rugby which even the mighty all blacks try to emulate.  Although they have a very desirable variety of rugby, they have very tough games on the road and this could cause them to lose decisive games.  I do, however, often find that the French are very fortunate so I would not be surprised if they do pull off some shocking victories. 

My dark horses have to be Scotland this year.  If they start with the same conviction and intensity they ended with in last year’s championships and also with the same play as they produced in the autumn tests then they will do very well. 

I will say this, there will not be a grand slam winning team this year and if I had to choose a winning team at this point – I will have to say it will be either France or Ireland. 
I hope you all are as excited as I am!

Much love,

Jackson L.