You're hilarious 999's. You did the same last week and I got 2 out of 3 right. Another 5 minutes in the England V Wales game and I reckon I would have got all 3. So, what are your predictions 999's?
Sorry mate I couldn't resist it. I'll stick my head on the chopping block and I think it will be wins for the Welsh, the Irish and the French. The Welsh with a 10+ margin and the other two games close and within 10.
Don't be sorry. Should be an interesting day of rugby tomorrow. With the R;s playing away, you might get a chance to see some of the games.
Yes hopefully nice and relaxing. On the sofa and watching the rugby play itself out. Shame it's not an exciting final day as last year. I thought about going to Preston but I've been there before. It's a fair old trek with nothing to play for. I think we have 600 going to the game.
Never been there myself. The closest I got was Blackpool. We played there on 1st December about 8 years ago and it was the trip from hell for me. I took the car on the ferry to Holyhead and drove from there. There was a force 10 gale blowing. It was the weekend the ferry got washed up on Blackpool beach. We sat in the uncovered stands as the gale blew in off the Irish sea. I was numb with the cold. To cap off a terrible trip, we conceded a last minute goal and lost 1-0. I have seen us play at five grounds in Lancashire and I have never even seen us even get a point, never mind a win.
That does sound grim. I can remember us winning at Blackburn and Oldham away in the 82/83 season in which I did every game home and away. I think we won 10 away that season including Leeds and Leicester. I can't recall winning up that way in a game I've been to since.
I have only see us win 3 times "up North". I got to see us winning at Leeds a couple of seasons ago. Early Saturday morning August bank holiday sky live game. Clint got the winner. There were 5 of us on the plane coming home amongst about 150 Massive fans. We were grinning from ear to ear. The Leeds Manager Brian Mc Dermott was also on the flight. You'd want to hear the excuses he was making for the defeat in front of the Leeds fans as we queued to get on the plane. I also got to see us win on a Tuesday night at Sunderland last season which was very satisfying considering how bad we were away from home up to that point. We had 396 fans there. I got the metro from the Stadium of Light back to my hotel in Newcastle City Centre and when I arrived at Newcastle Central, all the Geordies were shaking my hand. I was also at Hillsborough for the promotion party back in 2003. Great day that but Wembley 2014 eclipsed that.
I was at Twickenham last week - the scoreline flattered us, England were deserved winners. We scored late 2 tries against 14 men. I can't see England losing in Paris to a relatively poor French team - it is becoming increasingly evident that the focus on their domestic game is weakening the French National side. Wales should beat Italy and finish second for the first time since 1980 - yep, 36 years. The year that Paul Ringer was sent off at Twickenham with Billy Beaumont's England winning 9-8. England won the Grand Slam that year. An omen? Ireland & Scotland is harder to call, but I think I will go for a home win.
I fully expect England to complete the Grand Slam today against one of the poorest French sides in recent memory. When you consider the success of the French sides in European club competitions it is baffling as to why the national side has lost it's way. Perhaps the fact they sign so many foreign players similar in a way to the Premier League in footballing terms, but they should still be challenging every year. Wales should be far too strong for Italy and Scotland might just carry their improved form to pip Ireland...
I'm expecting the game of the day to be Ireland/ Scotland. I'm looking forward to it and favour Ireland for a narrow victory. Wales/Italy should be a formality. England should beat France, but there is a fragility about England at certain times of the game, that is not wholly convincing. Compare the collapse of England at the end of the Wales game when down to 14 men, with the resilience shown by the 14 men Australian side against (from memory) Scotland in the World Cup.
Australia were down to 13 against Wales in the Group match - and didn't conceded a try...... As Max Boyce would say "I know, because I was there..."
England should beat a poor French side, but England's relative inexperience along with a sudden showing of French passion and flair could cause an upset. England need to kill the game in the first half and get the crowd on the French players' backs and the French players' heads down. Come on England...........................the GRAND SLAM awaits!!
Thanks for reminding me, Taff. If you were there, you must have been grinding your teeth! Quite incredible resilience against huge Welsh pressure. England haven't shown that kind of "backs to the wall" attitude yet
