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nickrex
116 posts
42 months
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I think the most saliant point here is, that whilst many of you claim to have tipped Wales to do well or to maybe win the 6 Nations, nobody thought we'd win the Grand Slam. It was a huge suprise to a lot of people, and is a far bigger achievement and shock than England coming second! England's second place looks good only because of the first two truly terrible performances, and they deserve credit for turning it around and playing well from there in. I wouldn't worry about what Lawrence Dallaglio writes, he's probably trying to wind us up 
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0000
9,319 posts
60 months
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Why would anyone think Wales wouldn't win a grand slam after the last world cup?
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Cheib
6,213 posts
44 months
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England finishing second is more of a shock than Wales winning the Grand Slam IMHO.....I don't think anyone predicted that....and let's face it they were a few mins from winning the tournament themselves which is even more incredible.
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DocJock
2,781 posts
109 months
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Even more of a shock after seeing their first two matches against Scotland and Italy.
I really thought they'd lose the next three.
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nickrex
116 posts
42 months
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0000 said: Why would anyone think Wales wouldn't win a grand slam after the last world cup? Did you honestly think we would? If so, you're the only person I know that did. We were universally tipped to finish anywhere from 2nd to 4th. Nobody I know thought we'd win the Slam before the tournanment, challenge for the title yes, but not a Grand Slam. Hindsight's a wonderful thing.......
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0000
9,319 posts
60 months
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Not so much that I thought you'd win it as I couldn't see who'd beat you, except in the unlikely event that France turned up.
Who was tipped to finish at the top if not Wales?
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hornetrider
40,771 posts
74 months
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0000 said: Who was tipped to finish at the top if not Wales? Read the bazillion links I posted on the last page. Every single pundit either picked France or Ireland. Our first match was in Dublin remember - and we had to go to Twickenham.
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TheGreatSoprendo
3,748 posts
118 months
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0000 said: Who was tipped to finish at the top if not Wales? France and Ireland mostly. Let's not forget that France reached the WC final and ran the All Blacks close and that was under the widely ridiculed Lievremont. I think the expectation was that, given the undoubted talent in the French squad, they would improve significantly under a decent coach. That's why most were tipping France to win the 6N's and why I cited them as my disappointment of the tournament - they didn't step up as many expected them to.
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TheGreatSoprendo
3,748 posts
118 months
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hornetrider
40,771 posts
74 months
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Derek Smith
16,034 posts
117 months
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I said Ireland might win the 6N but I didn't beleive it. I thought Wales might win the GS but didn't say it although did predict the 6N. I hoped France wouldn't win the 6N, let alone the GS as this would be dreadful for England. It seemed France hoped they wouldn't win it as well.
I did say that anything less than second for England would mean disaster for Lancaster. When I saw his team selections I predicted disaster for England.
At my club the general concensus was the England would be 3rd or worse, Wales would win the Tournament and stood the best chance of the GS. When the selection for the final match was announced we all agreed that England would lose.
I think there is no doubt that the biggest surpise was how well England did. Further, the selection was a surprise as well so a double whammy there.
I know no one who was surprised, that's in my English club, with Wales' success. It was predicted by those with a fair bit of experience. 'They can only lose it' was one comment that got a lot of nods. The only 'group' to be wrong were our resident Welsh who predicted a drubbing for England. But they are 'old school' rugby and there was no nastiness about their predictions. In fact they seemed as pleased by the England showing as the rest were by the Welsh.
So from my experience, that of a rugby club with some very knowledgeable staff and players, the story of the 6N was how well England did.
Can't see the problem with that.
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Egg Chaser
Original Poster
4,848 posts
36 months
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TheGreatSoprendo said: You've deliberately quoted me out of context there. Noone that I spoke to at my local rugby club thought England would do better than 3rd is what I said.
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TheGreatSoprendo
3,748 posts
118 months
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Egg Chaser said: You've deliberately quoted me out of context there. I know! 
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nickrex
116 posts
42 months
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Whatever anyone thinks about the relative merit of each teams achievements, it's very apparent now that most people think it was a strong tournament with a good English side participating. This can only enhance our Grand Slam. 
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DJRC
19,821 posts
105 months
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Egg Chaser said: Melchett said: I'm not sure England will do all that well this time round. Besides the injuries, there is too much inexperience. I know, but a performance better than the one shown at the World Cup isn't too hard to achieve. I'm only expecting them to do average at best. For me, I'm expecting: Wales France Ireland England Italy (they seem to be improving every year) Scotland - Grin* For those giving Egg stick about "oh yes, hindsight is wonderful..." here is his post from the first page of this thread. Would the Welshies care to say something nice to him?
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DJRC
19,821 posts
105 months
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disco1 said: I've got a feeling that this will be a very close 6N, there's 4 teams that have a very good chance of winning it. Wales, France and Ireland have good squads and England won't be as bad as they were in the WC. However, being totally biased I'm going for: Wales - Grandslam Ireland France England Scotland Italy Here is Disco. With the Grandslam for added measure.
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DJRC
19,821 posts
105 months
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DJRC said: Derek speaks sense for once. I think it is a very very open field this year. England, France, Ireland and Wales all have an equal chance of winning the thing with England the lesser of those equals as it were. There is no one dominant team, the French were almost as bad as England at the WC, the Welsh were the best team from us at the WC but have since been knackered by injuries and the Irish are without the talisman, are ever older up front and as ever usually flatter to deceive.
Everything to play for, should be a great Championship with Scotland looking to throw a few spanners in the works up in Edinb...especially for England! Here is my post. Turned out to be rather a decent call.
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nickrex
116 posts
42 months
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DJRC said: Egg Chaser said: Melchett said: I'm not sure England will do all that well this time round. Besides the injuries, there is too much inexperience. I know, but a performance better than the one shown at the World Cup isn't too hard to achieve. I'm only expecting them to do average at best. For me, I'm expecting: Wales France Ireland England Italy (they seem to be improving every year) Scotland - Grin* For those giving Egg stick about "oh yes, hindsight is wonderful..." here is his post from the first page of this thread. Would the Welshies care to say something nice to him?
No mention of a Welsh Grand Slam? I love love Egg
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nickrex
116 posts
42 months
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DJRC said: disco1 said: I've got a feeling that this will be a very close 6N, there's 4 teams that have a very good chance of winning it. Wales, France and Ireland have good squads and England won't be as bad as they were in the WC. However, being totally biased I'm going for: Wales - Grandslam Ireland France England Scotland Italy Here is Disco. With the Grandslam for added measure. Note Disco's wink. I believe he's Welsh, more in hope than expectation.
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nickrex
116 posts
42 months
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DJRC said: DJRC said: Derek speaks sense for once. I think it is a very very open field this year. England, France, Ireland and Wales all have an equal chance of winning the thing with England the lesser of those equals as it were. There is no one dominant team, the French were almost as bad as England at the WC, the Welsh were the best team from us at the WC but have since been knackered by injuries and the Irish are without the talisman, are ever older up front and as ever usually flatter to deceive.
Everything to play for, should be a great Championship with Scotland looking to throw a few spanners in the works up in Edinb...especially for England! Here is my post. Turned out to be rather a decent call. Okay, here's my call for next year's 6 Nations- Either Wales, England, France, Ireland or Scotland.
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