England vs Scotland - predictions

[360stimo]

Bad news to see Dan Ward-Smith carried off in last nights game for Bristol. Would have been great to see him at 8. I fear for Scotland in this 6 Nations with the world class and inspirational Jason White and with it being at Twickenham, i reckon England by 16-20

[360stimo]

ATG said:

I don't follow rugby too carefully, but I saw the last few games England played. Honest question: how can Scotland possibly be worse than the current England squad? If they really are worse, is anyone on the pitch going to even be able to find the ball, let alone pick it up and pass it to someone (on their own team)??

Edited by ATG on Wednesday 31st January 13:11

New coach, new captain and 11 changes to the team that last took to the field. This is a very competent England side, with the exception of Worsley and Balshaw (heard he is injured and Morgan will relpace him, hope so)

[360stimo]

thegreatsoprendo said:

Jinx said:

You do realise the Irish are favourites for the six nations?

Ah yes, but all knowing rugby guru, Graham Henry, thinks differently:

Reporter: In a word, who will win the Six Nations? In several more words, why?
GH: Wales. Because they will.

I hope he's right, but I think he might be deluded on this one!

As an ex coach of Wales, Graham Henry has been having to a massive PR job for New Zealand rugby ever since this article was published in the NZ Herald just before their game with Wales.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chris Rattue: Sorry, but Wales are rubbish
NZ herald
Wednesday November 22, 2006


This sure is an exciting week for rugby.

Everywhere, people are biting their nails in anticipation of the All Blacks' clash against ... snorrrrrrrrrrr ... Wales.

The last time I was this excited about a rugby occasion was when I spied a touring Venezuelan team eating hamburgers in Onehunga.

It's pointless at this point going on about the great history of All Black and Welsh rugby because there isn't one. About the only thing of interest that has happened between the two countries in the past half century was the time Andy Haden dived out of a lineout at Cardiff Arms Park. Welsh rugby sure learns its lessons, because they've been heading nose first into the turf ever since.

If rugby between New Zealand and Wales was a boxing contest, they would have stopped it many rounds ago and revoked the Welsh licence.

Every year they turn up with a lot of gibbidy-gib in the talk department, and every year they play like a reserve grade team on an end-of-year trip to Majorca.

Looking at the general state of the Welsh game, the big question isn't so much, "Why haven't they beaten the All Blacks for 53 years?"

The real question is, "How the heck could a mob like that have ever beaten us in the first place?"

What is it about Welsh rugby that still fires the imagination, or does it fire the imagination at all?

Yes. The Welsh talk with an interesting lilt. If it was a talking contest, the Welsh would win hands down. Yes, they sure can sing. If it was a choral contest you'd put a tenner on their tenors, although to be honest, a bunch of Angus steers could give this country a run for its money in that department. We don't so much belt out our national anthem. We beat the bugger to death.

Yes, they've got a stadium with a roof. Maybe our city mums and dads could head to Cardiff on a fact-finding mission, although knowing our dearly beloved leaders they'd probably return carrying the plans for a go-kart track in the Isle of Anglesey.

And yes, every team Wales fields sounds as though they've scrambled all the great names from the past and pulled them out of a hat.

Welsh rugby gets away with murder, or make that suicide.

It is always busy closing the gap, although the only gap that actually disappears is the one being dealt to by its stadium roof.

Come on, Wales. Break the habit of most people's lifetime. Get mad. Get real. Get something. Go out there and win - as in scoring more points than the All Blacks rather than winning all that patronising muck that everyone heaps on your broken bones.

Okay, I hear the cry that now and then, Wales get real close. Real, real close. Real, real, real close.

And you know what? They still lose. And everyone still blathers on about their singing and their history and blah de blah de blah and how Blethyn someone or Gareth someone else had a really great game because they ran past this bloke or tackled that bloke.

Let's face it. Wales are rubbish. They are the village idiots of rugby union. They have fans who live for the game, administrators who've killed it and players who lie down for the cause.

Wales had a brilliant team of never-to-be-forgotten players 30 years ago. Since then, they've totally stuffed it up and they'll stuff it up again this weekend.

[360stimo]

Joe Worsely was man of the match, closely followed by Tindall, Wilko, Ellis and Vickery.

Great to see England playing with confidence. The biggest part was the ball retention which comes from selecting a 7 in the erm, 7 shirt (Andy Robinson take note).

To be fair, apart from the odd good kick from Parks, Scotland were terrible and offered nothing. England now have a fairly settled team and with Italy up next another good win can only breed more confidence and we can get on a rool for the big away games in Dublin and Cardiff.

This is an England team that can develop into a serious outfit given some time and get back into the top 5 in World Rugby.

Long way to go but the signs are good.

[360stimo]

rcarr said:

I reckon Scotland will win, the English are still rebuilding. They used to be world champions but not anymore, they may still hold the Webb-Ellis trophy but they are not a championship winning side. Why can't the fans face it, that they are not that good anymore.

Scotland are more of a tight unit, we have our injuries but they aren't so serious.

I reckon Wilkinson will be the weak link in the backs for England, either that or he will be taken off at half time.

I am quite enjoying the analysis of the forth coming Calcutta Cup match, considering England aren't as strong as they can be and Scotland are still on a high from the wins we had last year, but if we play like we did against AUS, then we will have a massive problem, but it'd be nice to put 1 over the English at home!

PS I go to uni in England, I am driving home tonight to get out of England before tomorrow!

Edited by rcarr on Friday 2nd February 14:35

Ha Ha Ha, good call mate. Slice of humble pie?

[360stimo]

360stimo said:

i reckon England by 16-20

Hate to say i told you so ! ha ha