Six Nations

Can I just be the first to wish Ireland all the best for the upcoming Six Nations. For once we're not one of the "favourites", but I have a feeling we could cause a surprise. Eddie O'Sullivan doesn't help things by keeping practically the same team that was destroyed by France and Argentina in the World Cup - leaving Jackman and Heaslip out is a disgrace as they've been on fire for Leinster this season, especially seen as Best and Easterby have been * this season for their respective clubs.

Scotland are being tipped as many people's dark horses. Their match with France at Murrayfield on Sunday will reveal a lot about both teams' chances.

Anyway, I have tickets for the Ireland-Wales match at Croke Park. Can't wait!

 

Mon' The Scotland

 

Mon the Wales! Am I correct in saying everyones behind us this weekend?

 

CMon Ireland

 

I certainly am 100% behind Wales this weekend Hopefully Scotland and Ireland can get off to good winning starts too.

 

Cmon the irish, hope we can gt back from are world cup horror behind us and id say this will be the last game for a few players if we play bad,
also cmon scotland and wales

 

I'm going to the France match this weekend. I am the most hopeful i have been in years. We have a settled team with the best back row in the competition. Bit shocked that Paterson has been benched as it shows the confidence of the management when you can drop the best goalkicker in the world. With France and England at home this could well be our year.

Good luck wales also!

 

I hope England beat the Ospreys . . . sorry, Wales. Always found the Welsh to be a * bunch of fans in both footy and rugby.

 

The Welsh are OK in my book. Whenever i've been down in Cardiff it's been cool. Same can be said about when i lived in London but thats not the point! C'mon Wales!

 

Ireland 10-0 Italy Atm!....

 

This is pish. Italy are the punching-bag of the 6N and we really should be racking up the points difference - look what happened last year!

Hopefully it finishes at least 20-3

 

Can't believe that second half performance from England - what happened there?!

Haha.

 

Defo m8.

So far I'm up on the Handicap bets - Italy with 15 points was a gimmie in my book, Wales with 14 likewise

France -5 I reckon is another cert tomorrow. With the best will in the world and I am a Scot, but the French are a class apart.

 

Well it's a win thankfully for Ireland but boy you can see the team is totally lacking confidence and that was a big factor today I think in the game ending as close at 16-11 as it did.
To be honest I actually though we were pretty good in the first half. Unlike as said above Italy are no whipping boys anymore. Yes they are still arguably the weakest country in the 6 nations but their 2-3 showing last season showed they are at least competitive now and capable of beating the other 6 nations sides on their day. So I was quite pleased with our first half but after that early Dempsy try we just couldn't put them away and you could just see the nerves and lack of confidnce slip away in the second half after all the missed chances in the first half. But at least we won.

On the up up side how about that second half collapse by England. Was that beautiful to see or what. Crusing at 19-6 and they end up losing 26-19 just brilliant. well done Wales.

Now come on Alba amarach and make it a Celtic treble to start the 6 nations

 

Austin Healy was on Soccer Am on Saturday and he's as insufferable as ever
"All the Celtic nations think we are arrogant,It's not arrogance we are just better than them at everything we do"

Good man Austin and i'd be getting my money back from yon hair transplant people too..

Ireland just look tired.Too many average players...Rory Best was awful as per....Flannery is a big loss...Trimble looks out of his depth even tho he had to move to inside ctr..
Really have ta up for it Paris even tho the French were average enough yesterday

 

Bernard Jackman has to come in for Rory Best. Jackman has been possibly the on form hooker in Europe this season at club level yet Eddie O'Sullivan, being the * that he is, continues to ignore him. Best had just come back from injury and was thrown straight back into the side - poor on O'Sullivan's part. While Flannery is a loss, I still think Jackman has been playing much better rugby than him all season at club level and deserves the jersey.

Have to disagree concerning Trimble. Had a good game considering he was playing out of position. He's been playing at outside centre all season for Ulster, and playing very well, too. He's a great player when given good ball to work with and deserves to be given a chance in the thirteen jersey next weekend outside of Brian O'Driscoll, who, in turn, should move to inside centre after D'Arcy's injury. Tommy Bowe to come into the side on one of the wings with hopefully Rob Kearney swapping with Geordan Murphy.

Ireland's record in France under O'Sullivan is very poor, and I don't expect things to get better on Saturday. France will be full of confidence after yesterday's performance, and have something to prove to their public. Ireland need a miracle to stand a chance of picking up a win. France by twenty.

 

Scotland are mince. What was Hadden thinking of dropping Paterson? Get him oot!

 

Wens The Next Set Of Matches
This Weekend????

 

yeah, the fixtures are as follows:

Saturday, 09 February 2008
France v Ireland, 16:00
Wales v Scotland, 14:00

Sunday, 10 February 2008
Italy v England, 14:30

i can see scotland finishing bottom this year, not looking good!
wales have an excellent chance, will be between them and the french me thinks.

 

With the way France looked yesterday and the obvious lack of confidence in the Irish side I fear for us next saturday. It could get ugly.