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Well it is nearly here. A bit of a brew-ha coming up over the proposed introduction of a bonus point system as well. Saint- Andre says, correctly imho, that it would be dreadful if a team won a grandslam and yet came second in the table because someone else got more bonus points.
On the team news fronts, Injury is casting it's ugly head again although I think Wales look like they will do well again. I wonder what impact Johnson will have with the jocks though?
Bonus points for 6N - "consultation report has been drawn up for the six countries to discuss" - they haven't even discussed (or seen?) it yet
won't be this year's tournament
And today
France against Six Nations bonus points
JANUARY 23 2013
PARIS — France coach Philippe Saint-Andre is totally opposed to the introduction of bonus points for the Six Nations tournament, he said on Tuesday.
Saint-Andre, who is set to take France into his second Six Nations after filling the vacuum left when Marc Lievremont stepped down after the 2011 World Cup, said he would feel cheated if his side won the Grand Slam but another team finished on top because they had accrued more bonus points.
The Observer newspaper revealed this month that the Six Nations was considering falling into line with other tournaments and introducing bonus points.
A consultation report has been drawn up for the six countries to discuss whether to bring in the bonus points system, which sees sides earn points for scoring four tries and losing by a margin of seven points or less.
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Six Nations... As per usual I shall be supporting Scotland. And Ireland. And Wales. And France. And Italy.
Basically anyone playing England. :)
^ still sore after the arse whipping then? lol
Not at all, I'm not that petty.
It's a long standing detestation of England rugby. :)
Long standing? Like 9 years when we did you home and away, with 13 men on the park? That far back? (By the way, I don't need to be told the results in between - they are all made up and faked and fixed and Diana did it anyway and too much flouride, and all sorts of shit and it's Socals fault anyway).
I know that feels like an eternity to England fans but no, even longer than that. Actually one of my first memories is of detesting the England rugby team. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by pseudolus
England
France
Ireland
Wales
Italy
Scotland
2013 6N Fixtures
Sat 2nd Feb 13:30 Wales v Ireland Millennium Stadium
Sat 2nd Feb 16:00 England v Scotland Twickenham
Sun 3rd Feb 15:00 Italy v France Stadio Olimpico
Sat 9th Feb 14:30 Scotland v Italy Murrayfield
Sat 9th Feb 17:00 France v Wales Stade de France
Sun 10th Feb 15:00 Ireland v England Aviva Stadium
Sat 23rd Feb 14:30 Italy v Wales Stadio Olimpico
Sat 23rd Feb 17:00 England v France Twickenham
Sun 24th Feb 14:00 Scotland v Ireland Murrayfield
Sat 9th Mar 14:30 Scotland v Wales Murrayfield
Sat 9th Mar 17:00 Ireland v France Aviva Stadium
Sun 10th Mar 15:00 England v Italy Twickenham
Sat 16th Mar 13 14:30 Italy v Ireland Stadio Olimpico
Sat 16th Mar 13 17:00 Wales v England Millennium Stadium
Sat 16th Mar 13 20:00 France v Scotland Stade de France
Early decider for Wooden Spoon Scotland v italy on the 9th
Winner of Eng-France 23rd Feb my pick to win the title
France
England
Wales
Ireland
Scotland
Italy
^^seems about right to me. Might see Scotland a bit higher though and Wales a bit lower. Injury is still an issue for the Welsh, and usually when the GS it, the next year they are scraping the bottom.
England
France
Ireland
Wales
Scotland
Italy
^^ I'd like to see Scotland higher, no easy games but their three home games at least don't involve England/France; focus on those home games (and hope)
The first round will be interesting, was England's form v NZ a one-off or vcan they continue in that style? (bad news for Scotland if so)
Wouldn't pick a winner between Wales/Ireland, and Italy at home are rarely easy - but if France can follow on from their match v Oz all those months ago.
Back to the bonus points, the main argument I've seen against introducing them is that this is not a home and away tournament, ie home advantage is too great and the draw could have too big an impact. Thoughts?
And people have re-counted old tournaments, silly stuff imo as they were played under a no bonus point system where a win was all that mattered, ie hammer home five more penalty goals rather than go for tries - this revisionist stuff doesn't work as decisions made back then wouldn't apply under a different points system.
Ahh the main reason I don't lie bonus points systems in any Rugby is that it detracts from the win. You Lose - you get nothing. Then some bright spark though "ahhhh poor diddums, here have a consolation point. Keep your chin up" which the decent teams retorted "Oh millions of tries are worth more points, give us more" and so it goes on. It's all rubbish. Win you get 2 points, draw you share it, lose you go home with nowt. Just don't see how anything can be fairer than that.
^ further down in article I posted in #2
Therein lies the answer.Quote:
sponsors were keen on the introduction of the bonus system.
French Top 14 I think a bonus if for scoring three more tries than opposition? What I don't like about the Super Rugby bonus system is some games get so ragged/loose when a team is way in front, get a score like 60 - 40 and the team with the hiding also gets a bonus for 4 tries scored when the other side 1) couldn't give a stuff and 2) has their entire subs bench on the field
Anyone going to win that 3 Crown thingy?
Really looking forward to this 6 Nations. Although I was born English I have a mixture of Welsh and Jock in the ancestry. England and France to decide the top two and sadly I think Scotland will win the spoon with Italy surprising a few.
Would enjoy beating the Welsh, but my main cause this year is to pressure the French and watch them fall into an undisciplined rabble.
No one likes losing to England so it makes an English victory much harder won and all the sweeter for it.
As far as the England NZ game is concerned. No one should be fooled by the result, AB's may not want to admit it but they were weakened by the bug and being at the wrong end of a long hard season.
A good England performance of discipline, unity and starting to gel, but let's not get carried away too soon eh?
England will win the triple crown and only France will possibly stop the grand slam.Quote:
Originally Posted by Norton
piss off Bob
I'm a little surprised that Saint-Andre's so opposed to a Bonus Point system as I would've thought that the French team would be the first to embrace it.
Personally I'm all for it, it encourages attacking rugby.
easy to over-rate that one England result v NZ; and conveniently forget their form in the preceding 6 months/6 tests, which was one win (Fiji!) a draw and four losses. And for the year 6 wins from 12.
For me the win of the end of year tours has to be France's 33-6 over Australia (who the week after went on to beat England).
I agree. They played well and certainly deserved the win, however it was against a fading AB's team at the end of a long year and needs to be put into perspective.Quote:
Originally Posted by trabant
I'm not allowed to say things like that though - I'm a Kiwi so it will be interpreted as sour grapes. :)
Will you allow England the pleasure of defeating the home nations before we start on the SH? ;)
Said it for you already. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by chassamui
Ahhh, so you did chass!
Must've missed that... Easy to do when you only have one-eye. :D
Ah, english arrogance at its best,Dream on big-boy....Quote:
Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog
Before you get accused of that let it be said that in person pseudolos agrees with that and went even as far to say that the AB's looked so off colour he knew a win was in the bag before kick off.Quote:
Originally Posted by AntRobertson
Wales' second row has been decemated. Top 5 locks currently injured, 2 out of the whole tournament, 1 will miss at least the first two games and the others may be available but hardly match fit.
Plaenty of other injuries as well, Priestland is out, Hook is doubtful, Lydiate not sure at the moment. It doesn't look good, but we may just pull out a suprise or two.
We will lose the first game to Ireland though, it's their turn, we have beaten them every time since they won thier Grand Slam and they don't like losing to us. They are also our bogey team in Cardiff.
If that happens then we will win 2 at best. If we do beat Ireland through some divine intevention then it'll be a very different tournament.
Marmers if France prevent the GS who will beat them to send England to the Championship?