Six Nations 2022
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Starting a thread as his kicks off his weekend and I've been starved of Test rugby for too long...
Could be a very open competition this year with any country possibly winning it - with the obvious and perennial exception of Italy. Here's Brian Moore's take on this WE.
It is cliche time. Whatever, however, wherever, you must win your first Six Nations game. In a tournament that is over too quickly, the all-important starting game has a disproportionate effect on what comes next. Win, and you can make any changes you want from a position of strength. Win again and you are on a path that might lead to at least a shot at the title. Lose, and there is no Grand Slam. Lose again, and there is no title. From that point on you are battling to stay off the bottom of the table, with the media and fan frenzy raging about your ears. This year’s draw could leave all the teams on par after two rounds or two or three of the big countries out of it altogether. That is a fascinating prospect for pundits, and it will delight the bookies but should worry the coaches. It is difficult to see Italy winning any of their games again this year and they have the toughest of openers in Paris. After that they are at home to England, who have never lost to them in the Six Nations. What this means is that only France and England can be almost certain to have at least one win when the third round starts. It is possible that they could be unbeaten. France will ease through their opening game with what should be a confidence-boosting points frenzy and then have a decidedly more difficult game against Ireland, but – and it is a big but – they are at home again. In contrast, England have a very tricky opener at Murrayfield. The absences of Owen Farrell, Courtney Lawes and Joe Marler have shorn them yet further of leaders on the field. They will face a Scotland side desperate to build on a decent autumn international series and one who reversed 38 years of losses at Twickenham in last season’s Six Nations. The relatively settled nature of the Scotland side and Murrayfield make the Scots favourites and, if they were to win, they would go to Cardiff to face a Wales side who have to negotiate a difficult opening game away against Ireland. In that game the Irish are definitely favourites and should Wales lose they are facing the nightmare start identified above. In this scenario, a Scotland win would put them at the top of the table, either outright or with the French or Irish. For England to win their opening game they must eschew their penchant for being slow starters. The prize is worth having, because that opening win would certainly be doubled in Rome the following week. In a trice they can go from a team who look to have problems on paper to one who will be starting to play with more familiarity and confidence; one who will have extended their winning streak to six games, including the last autumn nations series. Unusually for England, their pack will have to stand up to the physical onslaught that Scotland will surely launch at them from the kick-off. The front and back rows have particular challenges and for England to win they cannot afford to get bested like they did last year. If England allow Scotland to play on the front foot, they will find Finn Russell running the show and their untried back line pulled hither and thither. In fact, the more you look at this game the more difficult it appears from an England perspective. We do not yet know who Eddie Jones will pick as captain and two leading candidates occupy the same position of hooker. Either Jamie George or Luke Cowan-Dickie could be named and start as captain, but this would make the usual substitution of hookers in the second half more problematic. In the backs, they are certain to have another untried centre partnership and a similarly experimental back three. With the fine margins that exist at this level it can go right or, with not much difference other than a bounce of the ball or decision here and there, they could be staring at a repeat of last season’s fifth place. It is a similar story for the Irish. Away games in France and England have to be won for them to take the crown and their form and depth of squad suggests they are capable of doing this. What makes their task more difficult is the combination of their first two games – they could be in or out of sight by just their third match and that is pressure. Given the circumstances, we contemplate another fascinating tournament and one which assumes more than the usual importance because of the approaching World Cup next year. Still, first things first – stay in the fight. -
It has all the makings of being one of the best 6N.
However, the 6N never really works like that. 2021 had all the makings to be terrible - disrupted schedules, no crowds, people out with Covid etc etc. Yet, the rugby and matches were absolutely fantastic.
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Ireland
England
France -
@mikethesnow said in Six Nations 2022:
Ireland
England
FranceGood pick.
Think Wales & Scotland will push their opponents hard and both those games could be tight. Big shock could be Italy. They have been known to turn France over and generally at their best at the start of the 6N - just get worse and worse as the season goes on
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@mikethesnow said in Six Nations 2022:
Ireland
England
FranceYep that’s half the teams in the six nations. Scotland, Wales and Italy are the other ones.
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@victor-meldrew said in Six Nations 2022:
@mikethesnow said in Six Nations 2022:
Ireland
England
FranceGood pick.
Think Wales & Scotland will push their opponents hard and both those games could be tight. Big shock could be Italy. They have been known to turn France over and generally at their best at the start of the 6N - just get worse and worse as the season goes on
I’m not sure how you can mention a team who haven’t won a game since 2015 and ‘best’ in the same sentence
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I would think Ireland will be close to winning it. Though with all the confidence I have got I am expecting this thread to self destruct halfway through the tournament!
France I know look bloody good, but I still get feeling they pretty capable of tripping up along way.
Was orirgnally thinking Ireland/Wales would be game of first round, but I actually thinking Scotland/England will be match of round, and wouldn't be real surprised if Scots snuck in.Really looking forward to it, geez it all just reminds me how much I love the game,
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@mn5 said in Six Nations 2022:
@victor-meldrew said in Six Nations 2022:
@mikethesnow said in Six Nations 2022:
Ireland
England
FranceGood pick.
Think Wales & Scotland will push their opponents hard and both those games could be tight. Big shock could be Italy. They have been known to turn France over and generally at their best at the start of the 6N - just get worse and worse as the season goes on
I’m not sure how you can mention a team who haven’t won a game since 2015 and ‘best’ in the same sentence
It's called irony
I did say "their best". And the love of the underdog wants me to believe the drought has got to end.... someday.
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The draw is pretty even this year but i think Ireland has the best overall.
i hope it lives up to the expectations
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@mn5 said in Six Nations 2022:
@mikethesnow said in Six Nations 2022:
Ireland
England
FranceYep that’s half the teams in the six nations. Scotland, Wales and Italy are the other ones.
Ho ho ho
The victors in Week 1
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@mikethesnow said in Six Nations 2022:
@mn5 said in Six Nations 2022:
@mikethesnow said in Six Nations 2022:
Ireland
England
FranceYep that’s half the teams in the six nations. Scotland, Wales and Italy are the other ones.
Ho ho ho
The victors in Week 1
I thought you were doing the top 3 at the end! But I agree
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Welsh rugby supporters can't handle their beer, official
Wales to serve weaker beer and shut bars at half-time in Six Nations games
The Welsh Rugby Union has moved to curb alcohol-related disorder by weakening the beer and ordering the bars to be closed during the second half of this year’s Six Nations matches
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@mn5 said in Six Nations 2022:
@victor-meldrew said in Six Nations 2022:
@mikethesnow said in Six Nations 2022:
Ireland
England
FranceGood pick.
Think Wales & Scotland will push their opponents hard and both those games could be tight. Big shock could be Italy. They have been known to turn France over and generally at their best at the start of the 6N - just get worse and worse as the season goes on
I’m not sure how you can mention a team who haven’t won a game since 2015 and ‘best’ in the same sentence
You mean in the 6N right? Didn't they beat USA Canada and South Africa in 2016 or was I just dreaming it?
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The Welsh Rugby Union has moved to curb alcohol-related disorder@machpants said in Six Nations 2022:
Welsh rugby supporters can't handle their beer, official
After extensive research conducted in unsanitary lab conditions with Welsh drinkers, I call bollocks! They just can't handle order...
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@machpants bit late to be using their Brains
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As long as they also scrap Jonathan "Space out wide....too late" Davies, I'll accept this...
Brian Moore axed by BBC for men's Six Nations as costs cut and 'regional' voices prioritised
Plus: Forget nationality - why Brian Moore was simply the BBC's best rugby pundit
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@dogmeat said in Six Nations 2022:
@machpants bit late to be using their Brains
The best place for Brains is down the drain. Fairly sure it’s still up there as the worst beer I’ve ever had.
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Jeez that was quick. New Zealand are still awaiting clarification of the accidental offside law since 2017!
World Rugby issue Law clarification on back of England Rugby request
World Rugby have issued a Law clarification on back of an England Rugby request, relating to rucks and loose balls in open play.
