As an Irish fan I am not sure what to make of this weekends final 6 Nations game against the English. A big part of me wants us to win of course, just to knock them off their perch and stop them from completing the Grand Slam (I did say to people after round one that I did not believe there would be a Triple Crown or Grand Slam winner this year) but there is also a part of me that wants them to win! This is not because I want to listen to all the comments from my England supporting mates about how poorly we played this year (and we have played poorly at times) and that it is 2003 all over again when they won the Grand Slam and went on to win the RWC in the Southern Hemisphere but to see if it stirs a reaction from Declan Kidney! Do not get me wrong I am not looking for a mental break down like we seen from Marc Lievremont but just something to show me that behind that very well maintained media front there is a coach who is as passionate as the players say he is! Anyway, mini rant over, back to looking at the games.
Italy travel to Murrayfield on the back of their greatest ever victory, not just in the 6 Nations but in their rugby history! We all know that France are, shall we say in-deferent this year but nothing should be taken away from what was a well earned victory, which could have seen a bigger winning margin if not for Mirco Bergamasco's missed kicks (no blame can be pinned on him, he is not a natural goal kicker!). This victory combined with a good performance at Twickenham for Scotland is helping lift this game from becoming what could have been a stale start to the Super Saturday to something resembling a rugby match. I remember a few years ago when Italy went to Murrayfield and had three tries in the first 21 minutes, nobody was expecting that, least of all the Scot's! Italy are sensing a victory here for sure, the Scotland team that beat South Africa in the Autumn's International's has slipped away into the history books, they will of course want to make sure they do not finish bottom and give their fans a good result and performance to end their shaky 6 Nations and lift their spirits going into the World Cup in New Zealand in September but I believe Italy have the momentum for this game. Scotland for the Wooden Spoon and a well deserved second win for the Italians; Italy by 3!
Now! The game of the day! England winning the Grand Slam in the brand spanking new home of Irish rugby. Breaking Irish hearts around the world on St Patrick's Day Weekend. At least that is what they want to happen. I am bag of nerves already about this game, Declan Kidney has gone back to Sexton at 10 and brought in Trimble on the wing and this to me points to only one thing. Preparing for a defensive game! It is no secret in world rugby that as class an act as Ronan John Ross O'Gara is at outside half, his defense has never been a strong point. With the likelihood of Matt Banahan being brought in to replace Lord Tindall of Gloucester, DK had to look at our 10 channel as a massive hole, one that the England back row and Banahan could exploit to their hearts content if ROG were there, running move after move down it, drawing in our defense and leaving space out wide for England's marauding back three to take advantage off (no doubt a swan dive from young Christopher Ashton sealing an English Grand Slam). With Sexton coming in we shore up that hole, he is not here because he played well in the last 20 minutes in Cardiff but only to make the tackles. The same goes for Trimble, as much as I love seeing him pull on the green of Ireland (being a good Ulsterman) I cannot see any reason for his inclusion other than his size. Do not get me wrong, I am not looking at this as the glass is half empty, we still have a great chance to win this game and one that I believe we will grab with both hands. Ireland have proved they can score tries this year but more to the point they have shown they do not conceded tries (dodgey touch judge decisions aside). The England camp are now allowed to talk about the Grand Slam and what it could bring with it. Their mixture of the young up and coming players with the more senior heads seems to have clicked, something that I know all England fans are more than glad to see after what can only be seen as a unstable last few years since 2003. This England team are showing the hunger and the unity that was on shown with that team and will not back down but Ireland have yet to click and the frustration of this is all over the players faces for everyone to see. Ireland are due to have a good game soon and there is no better/bigger occasion to do that than at home in the last game of the Six Nations to stop England winning the Grand Slam. Ireland want this, Ireland need this victory! England to win the championship but Ireland to win the day. Ireland by 7!
And so to the final game of the RBS 6 Nations 2011. The Welsh vs the French. Wales still have a chance to win the championship but I honestly cannot see that happening. Hook has been playing very well and 10 and with the French starting to fall apart as a team, squad and Union with their very on Mad Tinkler Marc Leivremont in charge I believe that it will be a Welsh win but the lose of Wing King Shane Williams will hit them hard. France of course will look to bounce straight back from their shock defeat to the Italians in Rome last weekend, they will be dangerous but Wales are no Italy and they have the players to convert their chances and more to the point, they have a natural goal kicker who very rarely misses! It'll be no walkover for the Welsh but I think they'll win by 5.
Feel free to leave any comments, the more the better!
Italy travel to Murrayfield on the back of their greatest ever victory, not just in the 6 Nations but in their rugby history! We all know that France are, shall we say in-deferent this year but nothing should be taken away from what was a well earned victory, which could have seen a bigger winning margin if not for Mirco Bergamasco's missed kicks (no blame can be pinned on him, he is not a natural goal kicker!). This victory combined with a good performance at Twickenham for Scotland is helping lift this game from becoming what could have been a stale start to the Super Saturday to something resembling a rugby match. I remember a few years ago when Italy went to Murrayfield and had three tries in the first 21 minutes, nobody was expecting that, least of all the Scot's! Italy are sensing a victory here for sure, the Scotland team that beat South Africa in the Autumn's International's has slipped away into the history books, they will of course want to make sure they do not finish bottom and give their fans a good result and performance to end their shaky 6 Nations and lift their spirits going into the World Cup in New Zealand in September but I believe Italy have the momentum for this game. Scotland for the Wooden Spoon and a well deserved second win for the Italians; Italy by 3!
Now! The game of the day! England winning the Grand Slam in the brand spanking new home of Irish rugby. Breaking Irish hearts around the world on St Patrick's Day Weekend. At least that is what they want to happen. I am bag of nerves already about this game, Declan Kidney has gone back to Sexton at 10 and brought in Trimble on the wing and this to me points to only one thing. Preparing for a defensive game! It is no secret in world rugby that as class an act as Ronan John Ross O'Gara is at outside half, his defense has never been a strong point. With the likelihood of Matt Banahan being brought in to replace Lord Tindall of Gloucester, DK had to look at our 10 channel as a massive hole, one that the England back row and Banahan could exploit to their hearts content if ROG were there, running move after move down it, drawing in our defense and leaving space out wide for England's marauding back three to take advantage off (no doubt a swan dive from young Christopher Ashton sealing an English Grand Slam). With Sexton coming in we shore up that hole, he is not here because he played well in the last 20 minutes in Cardiff but only to make the tackles. The same goes for Trimble, as much as I love seeing him pull on the green of Ireland (being a good Ulsterman) I cannot see any reason for his inclusion other than his size. Do not get me wrong, I am not looking at this as the glass is half empty, we still have a great chance to win this game and one that I believe we will grab with both hands. Ireland have proved they can score tries this year but more to the point they have shown they do not conceded tries (dodgey touch judge decisions aside). The England camp are now allowed to talk about the Grand Slam and what it could bring with it. Their mixture of the young up and coming players with the more senior heads seems to have clicked, something that I know all England fans are more than glad to see after what can only be seen as a unstable last few years since 2003. This England team are showing the hunger and the unity that was on shown with that team and will not back down but Ireland have yet to click and the frustration of this is all over the players faces for everyone to see. Ireland are due to have a good game soon and there is no better/bigger occasion to do that than at home in the last game of the Six Nations to stop England winning the Grand Slam. Ireland want this, Ireland need this victory! England to win the championship but Ireland to win the day. Ireland by 7!
And so to the final game of the RBS 6 Nations 2011. The Welsh vs the French. Wales still have a chance to win the championship but I honestly cannot see that happening. Hook has been playing very well and 10 and with the French starting to fall apart as a team, squad and Union with their very on Mad Tinkler Marc Leivremont in charge I believe that it will be a Welsh win but the lose of Wing King Shane Williams will hit them hard. France of course will look to bounce straight back from their shock defeat to the Italians in Rome last weekend, they will be dangerous but Wales are no Italy and they have the players to convert their chances and more to the point, they have a natural goal kicker who very rarely misses! It'll be no walkover for the Welsh but I think they'll win by 5.
Feel free to leave any comments, the more the better!
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