6 Nations 2013

[leighton]

I agree, Ireland have been poor for a long time now..every team lifts for the England clash but I think we will have too much for them next Sunday

England just wont rock up to Dublin and run riot on Ireland no matter what you think. Ireland and Wales away for England are hard games even harder than away to France both teams will be up to put the record straight. When both teams play England. I would be certain England wont be able to beat both Ireland and Wales in this 6 nations.

Ireland have lost close games in the last 2 6 nations yes a team in transition but a healthy team going forward. IF England open up and play free flowing rugby they will be open for counter attacking rugby which both Wales and Ireland can do so well. England need to keep it tight at all times to have any chance of beating both teams.

You're massively underestimating England here. If we can take the game to the All Blacks we can take it to anyone if were in form. I'm not saying we'll match that level, but that has to be the goal, if we do there's nothing the Irish or the Welsh will be able to do about it.

You're making out that the Welsh and the Irish are some unstoppable force if anyone dares to try and play expansive rugby, they aren't and they prove that at the world cup.

There not. Neither are England. You beat the All Blacks in the November or whenever it was at the end of there long hard season with Tri Nations or whatever it is called now games. Its like when the 6 Nations team tour Aus , NZ and SA at the end of the season coming near the end of every tours the players dont want to be there after a long hard season. Well we wont have much longer to wait to find out just how good England are and Ireland. It will be good to watch thats for sure.

 

[RPDB]

I think I'll put a tenner on it

£5 on Craig Kilroy top try scorer 20/1 - as the OP suggested

£5 on Scotland to win @ 33/1

Worth a punt - If you pardon the pun!

 

[Blue Til Death]

To be honest, it was less of your opinion that Ireland would win it, that I find to be stupid than your statement on England having absolutely no chance.

I agree, Ireland have been poor for a long time now..every team lifts for the England clash but I think we will have too much for them next Sunday

England just wont rock up to Dublin and run riot on Ireland no matter what you think. Ireland and Wales away for England are hard games even harder than away to France both teams will be up to put the record straight. When both teams play England. I would be certain England wont be able to beat both Ireland and Wales in this 6 nations.

Ireland have lost close games in the last 2 6 nations yes a team in transition but a healthy team going forward. IF England open up and play free flowing rugby they will be open for counter attacking rugby which both Wales and Ireland can do so well. England need to keep it tight at all times to have any chance of beating both teams.

England will have learned the lesson when the Irish hammered us there 2 years ago, as I said previously, Ireland are not the force they were and will be outplayed by England... funny how the All Blacks only lost to England because they were tired after a long tour..... didnt stop people like Leighton telling anyone who would listen that we were going to get thrashed did it......Wales will beat Ireland convincingly on saturday and that will be that!!

 

[Latics Fan SJK]

England just wont rock up to Dublin and run riot on Ireland no matter what you think. Ireland and Wales away for England are hard games even harder than away to France both teams will be up to put the record straight. When both teams play England. I would be certain England wont be able to beat both Ireland and Wales in this 6 nations.

Ireland have lost close games in the last 2 6 nations yes a team in transition but a healthy team going forward. IF England open up and play free flowing rugby they will be open for counter attacking rugby which both Wales and Ireland can do so well. England need to keep it tight at all times to have any chance of beating both teams.

You're massively underestimating England here. If we can take the game to the All Blacks we can take it to anyone if were in form. I'm not saying we'll match that level, but that has to be the goal, if we do there's nothing the Irish or the Welsh will be able to do about it.

You're making out that the Welsh and the Irish are some unstoppable force if anyone dares to try and play expansive rugby, they aren't and they prove that at the world cup.

There not. Neither are England. You beat the All Blacks in the November or whenever it was at the end of there long hard season with Tri Nations or whatever it is called now games. Its like when the 6 Nations team tour Aus , NZ and SA at the end of the season coming near the end of every tours the players dont want to be there after a long hard season. Well we wont have much longer to wait to find out just how good England are and Ireland. It will be good to watch thats for sure.

You're actually playing down the defeat we handed to the All Blacks because it was their "last game" of the season?

Fuck right off. If Ireland had spanked NZ on that day, we'd still be hearing you gloat about it when Lionel Messi retires. You ask any New Zealander if they'd have wished to end the year in style by beating one of the top 5 nations on their own patch and every single one of them would have said yes!

Just because it's not a World Cup or Tournament match means nothing when it comes to international rugby, especially when it involves the big guns and, without a shadow of a doubt, New Zealand.

That New Zealand side wanted to win but, the simple the fact is, they couldn't.
I'm not all tinted to say they wouldn't beat us next time because they still are the more superior nation but to play down that result on the basis of it being their final game of the season, to help "strengthen" your stance on why England have no chance of either beating Wales & Ireland or winning the 6 Nations is plain daft.

 

[joeCTID]

I can see why Leighton has confidence in Ireland's chances with England having to travel to Ireland and Wales, France away to Ireland and England where as Ireland have the toughest opponents at home. Possibility of one last hurrah for BOD? And some excitement with player like Gilroy. As he said, the Wales game will tell us what their chances are.

If England can pull out the performance against NZ with consistency throughout the tournament then they have got a huge chance to win it. Will be interesting to see how Robshaw captains them after the decisions he made in the Autumn internationals and also how the players live up to the pre tournament hype and prove the NZ game wasn’t a one off.

 

[nijinsky's fetlocks]

£5 on Scotland to win @ 33/1

Worth a punt - If you pardon the pun!

I admire your optimism/patriotism mate,but I can see even Italy beating Scotland,along with everyone else.

 

[leighton]

Ireland v Wales games are normally tight games only a kick between them most of the time. I never once said Ireland would trash Wales or anything like that. I said if Ireland can beat Wales then Ireland have a great chance of winning the 6 Nations. I would back Ireland to win any home game in Dublin. Dont take the November tests just gone as a Ireland playing to there limits it was a different back line due to injuries and was more so a look at players that are coming into the team. We will be there or abouts in the end I have no worries about that. I just think the teams within the 6 Nations are all capable of beating each other. It wouldnt shock me if no team does the grand slam as its just so competitive these days with Ireland , Wales , France and England all capable of doing so but with difficult games to play away from home.
Big Gaz knows all too well how highly I rate the Welsh and always have. Gaz might be playing down there chances. I think if Wales can beat Ireland and England then the Welsh could well be dreaming of Grand Slam glory this year. There hardest game would be the game in France as the Welsh will think that at home against Ireland and England they have every chance of doing it again this year.

 

[big gaz]

Just been looking at the Welsh squad and I've perked up a hell of a lot. I thought we had injury woes but that looks pretty much like last years team. Big misses are Dan Lydiate and Jones 2nd row.
Adams return to tight head means with Gethin we should have a solid scrum.
Its the halves that worry me, Phillips has the slowest delivery in the 6 nations and with a new lad at stand off, this could be an area for the Irish back row to cause mayhem. Always have a good back row the Irish.
Quite looking forward to this now ;-)

 

[leighton]

Just been looking at the Welsh squad and I've perked up a hell of a lot. I thought we had injury woes but that looks pretty much like last years team. Big misses are Dan Lydiate and Jones 2nd row.
Adams return to tight head means with Gethin we should have a solid scrum.
Its the halves that worry me, Phillips has the slowest delivery in the 6 nations and with a new lad at stand off, this could be an area for the Irish back row to cause mayhem. Always have a good back row the Irish.
Quite looking forward to this now ;-)

Yep our back row we have some choices to pick from. With Ferris and Henry all able to fill in if there is any injuries the back row I will never have any concerns. Thats Kidney's biggest decisions as the players when fully fit he is leaving out some good players. Saying that it would be a weird 6 Nations to start off without either Paul O Connell or D O Callaghan at 4 and 5 in the team but the lads replacing them will do well. Our front row scares me big time if there is a injury to any of the Irish front row we will struggle. Hooker in my view we need someone better than Best. Should be a good match just heading to the pub tomorrow for it.

 

[BoyBlue_1985]

Oh dear I knew Wales had been bad lately but they are fucking shite

I could get a game for them and I ain't good at rugby or welsh

 

[bernabias home shirt]

Am glad i never gave you any grief on here leighton
Great win for ireland,well played.

 

[nijinsky's fetlocks]

Am glad i never gave you any grief on here leighton
Great win for ireland,well played.

I backed Ireland to win today,as Wales are a shadow of their former glories,and that first half performance from the Welsh was an error-strewn nightmare.
Ireland won't find it so easy against better organised English and French sides.

 

[big gaz]

Enjoy the rest of you're day Leighton and have that reality pint on me. No complaints today, if you do not produce basic skills eg- pass to a player not the f****g grass, Make the ball available to you're team, do not loose the ball in the tackle, you do not deserve to win. Fair play to you're boys for the pressure in the first half and defence in the second.
Stevie Johns has a lot to answer for, how we miss him :-(
Oh well it will be hell and damnation in chapel tomorrow for the Welsh populous.

 

[bernabias home shirt]

Am glad i never gave you any grief on here leighton
Great win for ireland,well played.

I backed Ireland to win today,as Wales are a shadow of their former glories,and that first half performance from the Welsh was an error-strewn nightmare.
Ireland won't find it so easy against better organised English and French sides.

I agree with the french mate
I certainly wouldnt be backing england to beat the irish next week

 

[AlexWilliamsGloves]

As an Englishman who grew up in Belfast...im in a dilemma.

Support Ireland when they're playing...England when they play.

Always support England when they play each other.

Great opening game...now for England to demolish Scotland

 

[pee dubya]

Not sure i really want to watch this.

 

[CitizenD]

How hot was that bird singing for England!!

 

[pee dubya]

Missing tackles already :(

 

[mad4city]

Great game in Cardiff today and much as it may p*** off the little Englanders, it's a result
that gives Ireland a fair shot at the title. England will come to Dublin on a high; having
stunned New Zealand (& themselves?) and no doubt cast the Scots aside like rag dolls.
Good! That's just how we like them.
Tuilagi (spelling) is their pivotal player & he could well hammer Ireland on his own. The thing is tho', that Ireland are more than a match for an England team assembled from the ranks of a grossly overrated league (whisper it but most Prem teams wouldn't prosper in the Rabo - just don't tell Sky!).
Next Sunday in Dublin will decide who's gonna come second to France - or at least have a go at edging them out.
Could go either way. A lot will depend on how tired Ireland are after playing most of the second half today with 14 men. For that reason - & the Tuilagi factor. I'll go England - just.

 

[johnny on the spot]

Scotland try. Well, fuck.