Rugby

[Welshie]

Nice one Fh enjoy the day...anyway here's a couple of others who graced a rugby pitch...
Ide amin, Che Guvara, Bill Clinton, George Bus, Jacques Chira, Daniel Craig, Javier Barden (who had a Spain U21 cap!)
Howa that for a list.
Cheers
Aled
ps have a Merry Christmas all on the rugby thread.

[firehazard]

It'd be fun to try to put together that hellraisers XV. I'll have a go sometime.

Meanwhile, 6 Nations squads being announced. Looks like new faces in the backs for England this time around. It's all getting closer...

And a crucial H.Cup weekend to get through first!

[Welshie]

Yes two weeks tomorrow it all starts.
H cup this weekend.
Cheers
Aled

[Welshie]

Too many of the newspapers are making Wales favourites, its getting a bit scary!
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

Wales will take some beating, though a few problems with injury and suspension in their pack now. England hard to predict, with a lot of injury absentees in the backs (though that could just work in their favour). Ireland, with new coach, will be wanting BOD to go out on a high.

France always do well in the season after a Lions tour, and I might tip them on that basis. Though a lot will depend on what happens in the first match. If France beat England, they could be champions. If they lose, they could have another disastrous tournament.

[Welshie]

Scrum 5 on BBC Wales, had some Irish and English ex players lining Wales up as favourites.
I think England, Ireland, Wales and France, are not far apart, and Scotland are improving, plus Italy will not be a pushover.
A few days to go yet.
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

Yes, I think most people have Wales as favourites this year. And France as unknown quantity.

Just a few days... looking forward to the squad announcements!

[Welshie]

Oh yes roll on, i also fall off the wagon at 2.30pm on Saturday (I've done a dry January)
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

Oh yes roll on, i also fall off the wagon at 2.30pm on Saturday (I've done a dry January)

Well done, Aled! I never manage to do that. You'll enjoy Saturday all the more.

[MissWalshy]

Oh yes roll on, i also fall off the wagon at 2.30pm on Saturday (I've done a dry January)
Cheers
Aled

Woah, well done.

Really looking forward to the weekend too. Yay.

[firehazard]

Are you going to any matches, MissWalshy? Or will you be in front of the TV like most of us are most of the time?

I'm not sure that there are enough of us on here to really make a go of it, but I've set up a Medusan Fantasy League for the 6 Nations if anyone's interested:

http://espnscrum.fantasyleague.com/

To join, you'll need the pin: 58940.

[Welshie]

Yes i will but sadly, it will be a couple of half pintds of lager as one of my beloveds friends is 40, and i have to do the driving! All being well i hope to get to the Scotland match.
Cheers (with a cup of tea)
Aled

[firehazard]

Very strong looking Welsh team against Italy.

And a definite new look for the England back division... interesting times.

[Welshie]

Hello All
Well here we are days away and time to fess up:
What i think will happen:
England will have learnt from last years mistakes and will win the Grand Slam.
Ireland, Wales, & France will win three each, who finishes where will depend on points difference.
Scotand will get a good result against Irealnd, Wales or France
Italy will finish bottom.

Here's what i hope will happen:
Wales will win a Grand Slam playing sophisticated and stylish rugby.
Scotalnd will be a strong force to reckoned with.
BOD will score a couple of his superb solo tries.
France will remind us all of how well they can play rugby with some champagne rugby.
England: Stuart Lancaster will show us how well he can coach, he is the only home grown coach in the Lions countres.
Finally, and this is a big one: Italy after beating Ireland last year, you have one scalp left to get and you have been close twice. I would like to see Italy beat England. For the 6 Nations tournament it would be a good result!
OK everybody gets a mention. Discuss!
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

Good analysis, Aled!

Here's my attempt:

I suspect that no team will win the Grand Slam this year.

Tournament winners: I'd pick either Wales (who look very strong, with an impressive Lions contingent) or possibly Ireland, with a good new coach, most of the squad used to playing and winning together for the Irish provincial teams, and determined to give BOD a memorable final season. The Ireland-Wales match on the second weekend may prove the decider.

Dark horses: France. They usually win the 6 Nations in the season following a Lions tour. Their form's been pretty poor leading up to the tournament, but the French clubs are still performing outstandingly in the H.Cup, and if they can bring club form into the national side they'll be hard to beat. In which case France-Ireland as the final match of the tournament could be a cracker. But a lot may depend on what happens in the France-England match tomorrow...

Hard to predict: England. The pack looks pretty settled, and Billy Vunipola at No. 8 could be a real star. But the backs are such an unknown that it's very hard to predict how they'll go - I certainly can't remember them picking such an inexperienced back division for a 6 Nations game. Some potentially exciting selections there that could be brilliant or they might freeze in Paris and it will all go horribly wrong.

Italy: May win their home games. Including against England in the final match. England traditionally fall apart on the last weekend anyway.

So to predictions for this weekend:

Wales-Italy. Italy will put up a fight as usual, but a strong Welsh team will be too much for them, and in the second half the Welsh wings will run riot. Wales by 15-20.

France-England. Very hard to call. I'd love to see the English pack pound the French and the quick young English backs run in some tries. But that's a lot of inexperience to take to Paris, and if they don't keep their discipline it could go horribly wrong. France by 5-10. But this is a match I'd love to be at.

Ireland-Scotland. Haven't seen the Irish team selection yet, but Ireland should be too strong for the Scots. Ireland by 10-15.

And if anyone can be tempted to have a go at a Fantasy League, I've set up a Medusan League here: http://espnscrum.fantasyleague.com/

To join, you'll need the pin: 58940.

Otherwise I shall be in it all on my own. Though at least I'll win it then.