[lichtie23]

The annual tournement between Europes top 6 nations kicks off next Saturday.

The 1st weekends matches are:

France vs Italy
Scotland vs England
Ireland vs Wales


After a disastrous 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign, England will be desperate to put their demons to bed in the 2012 RBS Six Nations Championship.


Scotland, who also endured failure in New Zealand, will be hoping they can also put things right and there would be no better way of doing so than defeating England in front of a packed home crowd.

The proud Welsh crowd will be in buoyant mood come the spring and will undoubtedly throw their full support behind the team both at the Millennium Stadium and away from home.


France’s current side may also not have long left before they are forced to break up, however the World Cup signalled that they are a team in their peak despite not being one of the most feared French outfit’s compared to years gone by.

The Irish can definitely hold their heads high after beating Australia at the World Cup but as ever, their final product just wasn’t good enough to sustain a prolonged challenge. Declan Kidney will need time to sew up the holes left in his side after the retirement of a number of famous names but the Six Nations could easily provide a solid platform for Irish Rugby moving forward.

As ever, the dogged Italians will be hoping to avoid the wooden spoon and it will be interesting to see whether they can cause an upset in Rome.

This post has been edited by lichtie23: 29 January 2012 - 13:21

[lichtie23]

Ladbrokes odds

France 13/8
Wales 11/4
Ireland 4/1
England 4/1
Scotland 25/1
Italy 150/1

[aidan-bufc]

Got a feeling Wales will win this year. Don't think anybody will get the Grand Slam though.

[Sarto Mutiny]

Looking forward to the England game next week. We have a decent chance, based on World Cup performances.

[lichtie23]

Thought 4/1 on England was tempting tho I can't see past France to be honest

[Savage Henry]

I know we're terrible, but 25/1 seems a bit long in what amounts to a four horse race.

[RosspCfc]

Savage Henry, on 29 January 2012 - 13:40, said:

I know we're terrible, but 25/1 seems a bit long in what amounts to a four horse race.

That's why were 25/1 because we're likely to be the 5th of the 4 horses

[whiskychimp]

I think Scotland competed well at the World Cup but had very little to offer in attack. I like Robinson as manager but, if the attack remains as ineffective, Townsend's position should be looked at.

[Fuctifano]

I haven't' really followed club rugby this season except the 2 Glasgow - Edinburgh matches and the latter stages of the HC so not massively up to speed.

From the squad it looks as if we still have a decent if unspectacular pack, particularly in the back row where there are a few options.

Problem as always is the backs and cutting edge, are any of these youngsters (Jones /Weir / Hogg/ maybe others) going to be any good? I know Laidlaw's not what you'd call young but with him and Blair doing so well at Edinburgh I'd be tempted to start them together. After that I don't really know, apart from not having Parks anywhere near the 22- he's not going to be around for the next WC and he's still living off his 2010 6N, don't know why he wasn't binned after the last WC.

England are in transition as well so could either be there for the taking or they could thump us.

I start off full of hope but no doubt we'll be going to Italy fighting to avoid the wooden spoon again.

[superwell87]

I fancy Wales to win the 6 Nations this year and take the Triple Crown. However i don't think that they will be a grandslam this year. Wil a bit of luck Scotland will will the Calcutta cup.

I recon the table will finish like this

Wales
France
England
Ireland
Scotland
Italy

[TheScarf]

Just read Tim Visser is eligible to play for Scotland this year.....in June.

[ajwffc]

If the French play the way they played in the RWC final they should win the 6 Nattions but if the other French turn up it should be the Welsh that win it. Can't wate till Saturday as going to the Scotland-England game and might be going to the Scotland-France game as well.

[Consolidate]

When was the last time we finished better than 4th?

[ajwffc]

Consolidate, on 30 January 2012 - 13:54, said:

When was the last time we finished better than 4th?

We were 3rd in 2006 witch is our joint higest in the 6 Nations(also 2001). We have never won the 6 nations but won the last ever 5 nations on PD

[flyingscot]

To be honest the 6 nations is a bit of luck as to who wins it really. Scotland's best hope is to beat England which would be a very positive start.

[chico]

Always a bit of a shame that this is the six nations & Scottish cup weekend.

[aidan-bufc]

Noticed a fantasy league 6 nations thing by ESPN on the following link:

http://espnscrum.fan...e.com/User.aspx


Create your own team for the 6 nations (post the team up here if you wish) and if enough we can try and make a P&B league thing if possible

[aidan-bufc]

Just made a league on the website above. Its called "Pie & Bovril" and the pin number is 8593.


Join if you wish, hopefully we will get a lot of players

[sergie's no1 fan]

I am by no means a rugby expert but i dont think we have much of a chance atall.

We can beat England and scrape by Italy but cant see us doing much else.

We'll be lucky to see us score 5 trys.

[Northsea80]

Anyone going to the 6 nations games, I got tickets for the France game. Will be my first time at Murrayfield.

[ajwffc]

Northsea80, on 31 January 2012 - 12:56, said:

Anyone going to the 6 nations games, I got tickets for the France game. Will be my first time at Murrayfield.

Will be at the England game on saturday and might be going to the France game if i am not working.

[Christophe]

http://www.frixo.com...ons-preview. asp

[Christophe]

Anyway c+p baiting aside, i'd go
1.Wales
2.France
3.Ireland
4.England
5.Scotland
6.Italy

[Fuctifano]

Scotland team to face England

15 Rory Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 26 caps, 6 tries, 30 points
14 Lee Jones (Edinburgh Rugby) new cap
13 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby) 29 caps, 1 try, 5 points
12 Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 60 caps, 8 tries, 40 points
11 Max Evans (Castres) 24 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
10 Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues) 66 caps, 4 tries, 15 conversions, 53 penalties, 17 drop-goals, 260 points
9 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 55 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh Rugby) 60 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) 53 caps, 2 tries, 10 points CAPTAIN
3 Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons) 41 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
4 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 16 caps
5 Jim Hamilton (Gloucester) 34 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester) 23 caps, 1 try, 5 points
7 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) 11 caps
8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 1 cap

Substitutes:
16 Scott Lawson (Gloucester) 29 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
17 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 caps
18 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) 36 caps, 1 try, 5 points
19 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
20 Mike Blair (Edinburgh Rugby) 75 caps, 7 tries, 35 points
21 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps
22 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

Looks like Robinson believes the best way to win is to play for territory and hope the English give away penalties. Optimism punctured right away. Would also have preferred S Lamont at 11, on doing a bit or research Evans hasn't kicked his own arse for Castres since he went there.

[ajwffc]

Fuctifano, on 31 January 2012 - 17:41, said:

Scotland team to face England

15 Rory Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 26 caps, 6 tries, 30 points
14 Lee Jones (Edinburgh Rugby) new cap
13 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby) 29 caps, 1 try, 5 points
12 Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 60 caps, 8 tries, 40 points
11 Max Evans (Castres) 24 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
10 Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues) 66 caps, 4 tries, 15 conversions, 53 penalties, 17 drop-goals, 260 points
9 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 55 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh Rugby) 60 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) 53 caps, 2 tries, 10 points CAPTAIN
3 Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons) 41 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
4 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 16 caps
5 Jim Hamilton (Gloucester) 34 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester) 23 caps, 1 try, 5 points
7 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) 11 caps
8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 1 cap

Substitutes:
16 Scott Lawson (Gloucester) 29 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
17 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 caps
18 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) 36 caps, 1 try, 5 points
19 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
20 Mike Blair (Edinburgh Rugby) 75 caps, 7 tries, 35 points
21 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps
22 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

Looks like Robinson believes the best way to win is to play for territory and hope the English give away penalties. Optimism punctured right away. Would also have preferred S Lamont at 11, on doing a bit or research Evans hasn't kicked his own arse for Castres since he went there.

Ansbro is injured so would of started at 13. I recon if that was not the case Sean would of been starting at 14 with Jones on the bench. Happy that he has went for Cusiter ahead of Blair at 9 as i recon that he is by far the better of the 2.