Cyclonic's RBS 6-Nations Rugby Union Tournament.
- Thread starter SwanHills
- Start date
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England already have the Six Nations in the bag thanks to Scotland beating France last week.
The French have been lacklustre throughout this year’s competition but they usually manage one good performance a year: have they saved it for the finale?
Since it became the Six Nations, England have had 6 chances at the Grand Slam and have failed on 5 occasions. England have not won in Paris in eight years. Looks like a banana skin...
Only sensible bets: 21/20 France +8 or 100/30 France outright
England haven't won in Paris for 8 years? Was the 2012 fixture played in Marseille?
Clearly whoever did the preview at the BBC thought that Saint Denis (i.e. Stade de France) was in Paris in 2008 but had moved in 2012. Looking at the Wikipedia page for England v France, the visitors won 24-22 on 11th March 2012, so it is only four years. The last match in Marseille was in 2007.
Would agree with most of you that this game will be a lot tougher than the odds would have us believe.
We obviously have big motivation to win with the Grand Slam on the line, but that could add extra tension into our play. Where as the French don't have alot to lose and have huge motivation to make sure we don't win all 5 games.
That's the problem with being English, we are the number 1 rival within the 6 nations for every team apart from probably Italy. So even a side with little to play for are going to give everything they have to stop us.
We obviously have big motivation to win with the Grand Slam on the line, but that could add extra tension into our play. Where as the French don't have alot to lose and have huge motivation to make sure we don't win all 5 games.
That's the problem with being English, we are the number 1 rival within the 6 nations for every team apart from probably Italy. So even a side with little to play for are going to give everything they have to stop us.
You have a point, but I really don't care. Watched the last game just finished, erm, I don't think Ireland and Scotland like each other much either. If they're wanting a Donnybrook, then let 'em get on with it like they do in Canada with ice hockey. Just keep the clock stopped till they're all fed-up with it?
Man, that was not easy, in fact the whole tournament was bloody hard. Taking nothing away from a very good performance by France, England were not at their best today. Very glad Dylan Hartley is OK, looked damn nasty at first.
Well done lads, and Eddie Jones of course, owe him a lot.
Well done lads, and Eddie Jones of course, owe him a lot.
Agree with all of that but I also think some credit should go to Mr Lancaster. After the complete shambles he picked up in 2011 he got us some way there
- Eddie Jones built on it and so did the players. Great night regardless.
Oh, and Swanny, could not agree more with your comment about Ireland and Scotland. As long as it does not get too out of hand the fisticuffs are great!
Congratulations England. Apart from some of the matches involving Italy most of the results could have gone either way with only a converted try between the teams. Unfortunately Scotland reverted to type yesterday and managed to concede several penalties for the same offence; will they never learn!
Back to more important matters; after a tough draw in the round of sixteen my lovely boys have been given the draw (Benfica) I would have chosen in the Champion's League quarter finals. Who makes the semis?
Back to more important matters; after a tough draw in the round of sixteen my lovely boys have been given the draw (Benfica) I would have chosen in the Champion's League quarter finals. Who makes the semis?
Don't know too much about the round ball game, but I'll have a crack.
Real.
Bayern.
Barcelona.
Paris.
Real.
Bayern.
Barcelona.
Paris.
Don't underestimate your nous! Barcelona may have a problem with Athletico Madrid; probably the team I am most pleased FC Bayern avoided!
How the hell did the round-ball game get on here, blasphemy. 
Nevermind, agree with this semi-final forecast. Barcelona are surely the ones to avoid? How on earth do you stop their three musketeers from scoring, a right old problem for all IMO? I am not at all sure the Bayern defence, for one, is up to it.
Nevermind, agree with this semi-final forecast. Barcelona are surely the ones to avoid? How on earth do you stop their three musketeers from scoring, a right old problem for all IMO? I am not at all sure the Bayern defence, for one, is up to it.
Six nations officially over for another year; have a feeling England will go from strength to strength as they have too many very good players. Could possibly field two times twenty two player pools in competition.
Three musketeers; any black market Lugers floating about the Allianz?
Three musketeers; any black market Lugers floating about the Allianz?
England proved to be the best of a mediocre Northern Hemisphere. Listening to Eddie Jones on Sports Week this morning, he says that when they win he will give the players all the credit but he expects that he will have to take all the blame when they lose.
Unfortunate for Eddie that next on the fixture list is a trip home in the Australian winter to find out how much superior they still are in the Southern Hemisphere. When asked what chance he would give England against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, he reckoned that they could beat two of the three. We will get some idea in June.
What you say I would partly agree with QM but I'd call my stance more cautiously optimistic than negative about the future.
Was it a mediocre bunch we played against? In part, yes. Ireland have been a real strong team these past few seasons but they are going through a new identity search having lost some of their star leaders in Paul O'Connell and of course Brian O'Driscoll before that. Wales were pretty much at full strength and England aside, looked a clear second best and still a good side. France have been very mediocre, Italy regressed after a promising start, and Scotland are showing real signs of life.
What England were good at was being pretty ruthless in attack when they did get their chances and that is something we have missed for a long time.
There is still plenty of work to do, especially in the back row because Haskell and Robshaw are unlikely to be first choice 7 and 6 in 4 years time, but I think it is a sensible idea to blood players gradually and allow the likes of Robshaw to steer the ship behind Hartley to let the new guys like Itoje settle in (who incidentally has been excellent).
Some good players to come in too, including Henry Slade who could be a future 12 (although Eddie has stated that he sees Manu Tuilagi playing that position, so perhaps Slade could add depth at 13.
Australia down under will be a good test for some of the younger players and another step on the road to improving to the necessary levels in the necessary areas.
First Grand Slam in 13 years and a squad that has the potential to grow and win another one in the future.
I think that when the English get to Australia, betting will probably have them as outsiders. Home games and the memories of the World Cup will I think taint the betting. If the playing conditions are fast, then it'll be expected that Oz will run riot, but I wouldn't be writing off the visitors. With your well drilled, monster pack operating on faster ground than at home, they'll be in Australia's faces from the get go. The final 20 minutes will be where it will be decided. I think Oz will probably draw away, due to their game being built around hard ground. Legs will tell in the end.