RBS Six Nations 2011

[Egg Chaser]

It's only a couple of weeks until the start the Six Nations for this year

So, what are your predictions?

Will France dominate like last year? How well will England do after their fairly promising performance in the Autumn Internationals? Or will we have a surprising winner?

[Taz46]

with mr wilkinson back in the squad anythings possible!

[Zaxxon]

Johnny is terrific, but I always get the feeling that the squad is built around one person.

It seems that it is a support crew just to feed Johnny's boot.

Am I wrong? I love watching Union but I'm not up to speed with the current squad as much as I would like to be.

[anonymous-user]

Wales are fked already: Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones (), Shanklin and Richie Rees are out already, going to cause big problems. They spent the AI's with a great front 5 but no back row and now they actually have a credible back row the bloody props get injured!

I hear England aren't in great shape either though with Lawes, Croft, Moody and possibly Ashton (?) out, so who knows how the opening game will go. Both teams are similar in a way: very powerful with their first 15 out, but only a few injuries away from disaster.

ps. I'd be more worried about facing Flood than Wilkinson right now.

[hornetrider]

Agreed. Wales are fked. Losing Gethin and Adam is a fking catastrophe.

[Forthright MC]

hornetrider said:

Agreed. Wales are fked. Losing Gethin and Adam is a fking catastrophe.

Gavin Hensons already out of the picture before he was even back in it due to a calf tear also!

Is Andy Powell back in the Wales set up again after "Buggygate"?

England do look promising though, some good performances during the Autumn tests i thought so hopefully they can produce the goods once again come February 4th!...

[hornetrider]

Forthright MC said:

hornetrider said:

Agreed. Wales are fked. Losing Gethin and Adam is a fking catastrophe.

Gavin Hensons already out of the picture before he was even back in it due to a calf tear also!

Is Andy Powell back in the Wales set up again after "Buggygate"?

England do look promising though, some good performances during the Autumn tests i thought so hopefully they can produce the goods once again come February 4th!...

Well... I'm a massive fan of the Great Orange One but he hasn't really had the game time anyway. Powell should be back in, yes, he was back in the AIs.

[anonymous-user]

Forthright MC said:

hornetrider said:

Agreed. Wales are fked. Losing Gethin and Adam is a fking catastrophe.

Gavin Hensons already out of the picture before he was even back in it due to a calf tear also!

Is Andy Powell back in the Wales set up again after "Buggygate"?

I wouldn't have wanted Henson back yet anyway, despite the universal BJ he seems to get he's shown nothing so far. What posessed him to move to Sarries is beyond me, every time I watch them they seem to be getting blown off the park. Powell will be back and I think he'll start personally, with Lydiate and Warburton doing the donkey-work he can do what he's best at: run hard and make yards.

My bet for the Wales team (not necessarily who I'd pick though):

1) Duncan Jones
2) M.Rees
3) P.James
4) B.Davies
5) Alun-Wyn Jones
6) D.Lydiate
7) S.Warburton
8) Powell
9) Phillips
10) S.Jones
11) S.Williams (if he's fit)
12) Roberts
13) Hook
14) Halfpenny
15) Byrne

Bench: Yapp, T.Rhys-Thomas (or Hibbard), Mitchell, Ryan Jones, McCusker, Biggar, Jon Davies, Chris Czekaj

[Melchett]

Egg Chaser said:

So, what are your predictions?

Dylan Hartley will crumble if the set piece doesnt go well.

[disco1]

The realist in me says we'll come undone against England, Ireland and France and scrape past Scotland and Italy. Major problem for us is that our team is mainly made up of Ospreys players and we all know (despite their team sheet) they're rubbish and simply don't know how to win games.

The optimistic fool inside me say if we can beat England our tails will be up and we'll go on to win the grand slam!!!

[hornetrider]

disco1 said:

Major problem for us is that our team is mainly made up of Ospreys players and we all know (despite their team sheet) they're rubbish and simply don't know how to win games.

Yeah, what is that all about?! Must be the coaching set up as individuals we know they can perform. Here's hoping Gats will get the best out of them.

disco1 said:

The optimistic fool inside me say if we can beat England our tails will be up and we'll go on to win the grand slam!!!

It's the Welsh way!

[Legend83]

Fecking come on Wales!

Didn't realise we had so many key injuries so looks like I am going to be shouting even louder at the TV this year.

[disco1]

hornetrider said:

disco1 said:

Major problem for us is that our team is mainly made up of Ospreys players and we all know (despite their team sheet) they're rubbish and simply don't know how to win games.

Yeah, what is that all about?! Must be the coaching set up as individuals we know they can perform. Here's hoping Gats will get the best out of them.

disco1 said:

The optimistic fool inside me say if we can beat England our tails will be up and we'll go on to win the grand slam!!!

It's the Welsh way!

The Ospreys are just plain odd, they've got what on paper should be a tier 1 euro club team up there with Toulouse, Munster & Co but results show they're actually average at best and no better than the likes of Edinburgh, Ulster..etc. They look totally clueless in attack and rely on the brilliance of Shane Williams and Tommy Bowe rather than a team effort/allround skills. It comes as no suprise that since Shane has been injured they've (along with Wales) lost key games and looked rubbish with ball in hand. Without him would Wales have won their last Grand Slam? Unlikely....

[hornetrider]

Indeed, and Ospreylia plumbed new depths of cluelessness in Reading at the weekend - but that's for another thread!!

[Melchett]

disco1 said:

...rely on the brilliance of Shane Williams and Tommy Bowe rather than a team effort/allround skills.

Isnt that basically the Welsh game plan! Play a wide and loose game, split the defence and run like fk?

As soon as the opposing defence is organised they struggle, like Scarlets did at the weekend who got pushed around the park in the Scrum. Then Stephen Jones (Times journalist) kept banging on about passion, pride and 'open, expansive rugby'. This is another way of saying a one dimensional team that cant do the basics.

Edited by Melchett on Wednesday 19th January 16:05

Edited by Melchett on Wednesday 19th January 16:10

[TDutchy]

Ireland FTW.

[Beardy10]

Lawes and Croft are a big loss for England and I have to say though I have never really been a fan I think Moody has been a good captain and will be missed. Going to be a very interesting tournament.

[Melchett]

Beardy10 said:

Lawes and Croft are a big loss for England and I have to say though I have never really been a fan I think Moody has been a good captain and will be missed. Going to be a very interesting tournament.

Lets just hope they dont resort to Borthwick!

[anonymous-user]

Melchett said:

Beardy10 said:

Lawes and Croft are a big loss for England and I have to say though I have never really been a fan I think Moody has been a good captain and will be missed. Going to be a very interesting tournament.

Lets just hope they resort to Borthwick and Worsley!

EFA from a Welsh point of view

Also please play Banahan.

[disco1]

The England game is causing much discussion in work, for the first time in a while England look they're getting their act togther.

My players to watch:

Ben Fodden, this guy looks class. I'd happily welcome him in to the Welsh Team. We could do with him with Byrne playing like a total fairy.

Jon Davies - Been on fire for his club (despite their results), deceptively very strong and fast, has a great eye for gap, could be our line breaker. Possibly the form centre in the UK