Six Nations 2021

[Elpenor]

So with a few days to go, the 2021 championship is due to begin.

As an England fan, I expect this championship to be ours for the taking. My chief concern is a slightly raw front row, and as we all know forward domination provides the platform to win matches.

Wales and Ireland away from home may not be such a threat for England given the lack of crowds as both teams thrive on the emotional edge their supporters give them. Wales need to win at least 3 games to keep Pivac in a job, Andy Farrell’s Ireland haven’t excited yet and haven’t got a solution for their ageing half back combination.

France are heavily tipped, have a good young squad and seemingly all working in the same direction.

Scotland always start optimistically and their front row could cause England problems on Saturday.

Italy are outstaying their welcome based on the quality of opposition they provide - the championship shouldn’t be decided by who got the most points against them.

So many exciting players to watch, but I’m keen to see what Laurent Jalibert and Cameron Redpath do for France and Scotland respectively, and I hope Paolo Odogwu gets some game time. And of course, Tom Curry, who I believe is England’s most essential player, and as a fat ex-flanker one who I believe I played a bit like.

 

[wayward bob]

won't be quite the same with no singing drifting over from the stadium :/

 

[stavros]

Will England be hampered by having so many players at Saracens, so now playing in the Championship? Might Farrell's tackling skills have got a bit rusty?

 

[Elpenor]

Rustier I think you mean

 

[mx wcfc]

as a fat ex-flanker

Respect from one fat ex-flanker to another.

 

[Supine]

Will watch, but I'll be missing the pub with friends big time. Go Wales

 

[fucthest8]

Respect from one fat ex-flanker to another.

Thirded
(Favourite moment as a flanker: catching their scrum-half low and my oppo on the open side then hitting him high. We hi-fived. Oh yeah )

I am supporting France and look forward to them winning if the travel bollocks is all ok.

 

[flypanam]

Andy Farrell’s Ireland haven’t excited yet and haven’t got a solution for their ageing half back combination.

Oh there is a solution with Craig Casey or Blade at scrum half and Harry Byrne or Healy at fly half. We just don’t have the vision to get them into the squad and see how they get on.

expect France to win the thing their autumn nations play was beautiful. We’ll struggle especially as Doris is out and we’ll have a back row of Ruddock/Bierne, POM and Stander for every game. Would have liked to see Coombes get a go against Wales but very unlikely.

so fourth for us unless Paulie can get the line out functioning and the maul working which means we could get third.

 

[Teaboy]

I'm as excited by this as I was with the resumption of 2020's 6 nations. Some sport without fans is OK, international rugby is not one of them.

 

[stavros]

Seriously, are the Sarries players going to lack a bit of sharpness?

 

[Ax^]

as an Irish rugby fan this is going to be a painful six nations

Still fuck you Eddie Jones

 

[A380]

 

[stavros]

I had a look at the odds today, and France are second favourites for the title. As always, will they turn up?

 

[Elpenor]

I think they’re a bit more resilient now, but it’s a fairly inexperienced team missing Vakatawa so who knows!

 

[two sheds]

Tomorrow afternoon ITV eh?

 

[mx wcfc]

I had a look at the odds today, and France are second favourites for the title. As always, will they turn up?

The 6 Nations is always better when France do turn up. key player missing, but not a bad bet imho.

(Despite being an England fan, I used to love the "old French" "running with the ball" style - they seem to be moving back to that, and moving back to being in contention, so I like that - I'm not a big fan of the "the scrum battering away at the line" type rugby we see too much of these days and I fucking hate kicking duels.

 

[flypanam]

Can’t wait to see all the teams this weekend which is unusual as I’d normally not watch Italy unless they were playing Ireland. Things I’d like to see is the refs being hotter on players stepping out of the line at the line out before the ball is thrown. Crack down on grabbing round the neck in the ruck as it’s still happening and penalise off side at the pillar.

 

[Spymaster]

I'm as excited by this as I was with the resumption of 2020's 6 nations. Some sport without fans is OK, international rugby is not one of them.

Yeah, I’ll watch the Ireland games but not expecting much out of this year’s contest. Combine that with the lack of pub action and it’s hard to get too enthusiastic.

 

[sleaterkinney]

as an Irish rugby fan this is going to be a painful six nations

Still fuck you Eddie Jones

I’d just like us to have an identity, a plan. I think we’re less than the sum of our parts. It’ll be interesting to see what PO’C does to the scrum.

Also I’d like to see some exciting rugby, there’s no flair. It’s all defence these days.

 

[flypanam]

I’d just like us to have an identity, a plan. I think we’re less than the sum of our parts. It’ll be interesting to see what PO’C does to the scrum.

Also I’d like to see some exciting rugby, there’s no flair. It’s all defence these days.

POC is forwards coach. Fogerty is scrum coach. Paulie will have more input into the line out, maul and rucks. If he can improve all of those it will be a job well done.
ETA Agree on the identity thing. The perception that everything goes through sexton is our identity and has been since Joe was there. Part of me hopes that this is sexton’s last campaign and we go into next year with a new outhalf and that we ditch Healy, POM and Stander too.

 

[sleaterkinney]

POC is forwards coach. Fogerty is scrum coach. Paulie will have more input into the line out, maul and rucks. If he can improve all of those it will be a job well done.

With that amount of coaching there’s no excuse!. The breakdown is where things are decided.

 

[dessiato]

I’m really looking forward to the Calcutta Cup today. I’m sending the tattoo pic, from earlier, to a Scottish friend who is a very passionate rugby fan, and who usually travels to every 6 Nations in which they play. It’s guaranteed he”ll call me a cunt, and worse. It’s worth it for the wind up though. (Luckily he can’t get here due to Covid, or I might be wearing his beer)

 

[Elpenor]

My predictions for today, France by 25, England by 12 points.

Although I'm a bit wary about the Calcutta cup!

 

[fucthest8]

Oh man, the weight on the kick for France's 2nd try was just perfect

 

[fucthest8]

Bloody hell Italy, no-one wanted the ball

Beautiful last pass from Dupont. He's on fire again.

 

[fucthest8]

My predictions for today, France by 25, England by 12 points.

Although I'm a bit wary about the Calcutta cup!

France by 60 maybe now?

 

[two sheds]

Late rally by Italy?



Do enjoy Flatman's commentaries by the way, really entertaining.

 

[two sheds]

Wehey late rally

Really unlucky not to score with that first run down the wing.

 

[ElizabethofYork]

Should Italy continue to be in this competition?

 

[mx wcfc]

Should Italy continue to be in this competition?

No, I don't think so. It's getting harder to justify it. They aren't progressing (but I hope they go on to win a couple of games to prove me wrong).

Either go back to 5 Nations, or give Georgia a go for a couple of years, then introduce promotion/relegation.