Thread: 6 Nations 2013

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.
more

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).

Originally Posted by pseudolus

Long standing? Like 9 years when we did you home and away, with 13 men on the park? That far back?

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.

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

sponsors were keen on the introduction of the bonus system.

Therein lies the answer.

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?

Originally Posted by Norton

Anyone going to win that 3 Crown thingy?

England will win the triple crown and only France will possibly stop the grand slam.

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).

Originally Posted by trabant

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.

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.

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?

Originally Posted by chassamui

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?

Said it for you already.

Ahhh, so you did chass!

Must've missed that... Easy to do when you only have one-eye.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Originally Posted by Norton

Anyone going to win that 3 Crown thingy?

England will win the triple crown and only France will possibly stop the grand slam.

piss off Bob

Ah, english arrogance at its best,Dream on big-boy....

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Originally Posted by trabant

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.

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.

I'm not allowed to say things like that though - I'm a Kiwi so it will be interpreted as sour grapes.

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.

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?