The Six Nations concludes this weekend, nine months after it began. Three teams have a chance of winning in an unusual finale at the end of the most bizarre of seasons. Stadiums will be empty and echoing and the need to maximise TV revenue brings staggered kick-off times, a departure from the normal format of the final weekend .Of the contenders, only favourites England did not have a game last weekend while fixture timing means both France and Ireland will know exactly what they must do to triumph.
If England gain a bonus point win in Rome, as seems likely, they will win, unless France can beat Ireland with a bonus point and build a superior points difference. Ireland would not only spoil France’s party by winning in Paris: if they can snatch a try bonus they will pull clear of England on points and seize the title. Scotland’s slim mathematical chance of winning disappeared with Ireland’s comfortable bonus point victory last Saturday.
Some team selections will be very different from the first stage of the tournament. Ireland, already without Furlong and Toner, lost Gary Ringrose to injury on Saturday, while enjoying the debuts of Hugo Keenan and Jamison Gibson-Park. The latter has a knock so John Cooney may be required to take his place on the bench. England lost George Kruis to Japan over the summer and must do without the injured Luke Cowan -Dickie, Courtney Lawes, George Ford, Manu Tuilagi and Jack Nowell.
France began the tournament with a bang and are buoyed by their warm up victory over Wales. Dupont was in regal form, calling the shots from scrum half, Alldritt and Ollivon carried powerfully, while Vakatawa, Ntamack and Tomas brought a mix of power, guile and pace to their running game. As they showed on Saturday they can switch from brutal power to flair at will and under Sean Edwards their defence looks mean enough to deny Ireland the bonus point. The question is whether, without a passionate crowd behind them they can earn one of their own. Ireland will hope to hold the monstrous French pack and gain the edge with extra fitness in the closing minutes. In Sexton, Stockdale, Conway and Keenan they have the strike force to spring an upset. With the championship at stake, England will hope these two teams will batter each other to a standstill in a low scoring encounter.
England should have too much for Italy but must keep their composure and remain clinical in pursuit of a cricket score to put them beyond overhaul by Les Bleus. Denied a chance to experiment against the Barbarians last week by the unauthorised socialising of some in the Baa Baas squad, Eddie Jones says he immediately set about creating Plan B. That suggests he will be conservative with selection in the hunt for silverware. Before the break he hinted at a role for Tom Dunn against Italy. Tom’s form of late justifies a start, so the front row is one area where Eddie may gamble – possibly with an all Bath bench trio? He is reportedly impressed by Worcester’s Ollie Lawrence, who could be called on to fill Tuilagi’s shoes at 12, with Captain Owen Farrell moving to 10 in place of Ford. Elsewhere, most debate is likely to be around the back row, where tyros Willis, Earl and Hill challenge the established trio Curry, Underhill and Vunipola.
I am expecting wins for Wales, England and France, but England’s chance of the championship may well rest with Ireland’s defence. Will they be up to it?
Possible England Team: Vunipola, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Ewels, Curry, Underhill, Vunipola. Youngs, Farrell (Capt.). May, Lawrence, Slade, Cokanasiga. Watson.
Am I the only one that has no interest in who 'wins' the 6Ns when it's based on points difference (or even, really, BPs)?
It's a 'league' of just 5 games, no home/away, and with some of the teams getting the advantage of 3 home games vs 2 away.
At the start of the 6Ns, my order of importance goes:
Grand Slam
Eng vs Wales
Eng vs France
Calcutta Cup
Eng vs Ire (Millennium Trophy apparently)
Triple Crown
6 Nations Championship
Eng vs Italy
Having said that, I did love the England France game in 2015 (?) when we were chasing points difference - but all that seemed to prove was that England should always be more ambitious in the way they seek to entertain.
Optimist Am I the only one that has no interest in who 'wins' the 6Ns when it's based on points difference (or even, really, BPs)?
It's a 'league' of just 5 games, no home/away, and with some of the teams getting the advantage of 3 home games vs 2 away.
At the start of the 6Ns, my order of importance goes:
Grand Slam
Eng vs Wales
Eng vs France
Calcutta Cup
Eng vs Ire (Millennium Trophy apparently)
Triple Crown
6 Nations Championship
Eng vs Italy
Having said that, I did love the England France game in 2015 (?) when we were chasing points difference - but all that seemed to prove was that England should always be more ambitious in the way they seek to entertain.
Broadly agree, but its important to stay ahead of Wales in 6N/5N championships currently28 vs. 27
Optimist Am I the only one that has no interest in who 'wins' the 6Ns when it's based on points difference (or even, really, BPs)?
It's a 'league' of just 5 games, no home/away, and with some of the teams getting the advantage of 3 home games vs 2 away.
At the start of the 6Ns, my order of importance goes:
Grand Slam
Eng vs Wales
Eng vs France
Calcutta Cup
Eng vs Ire (Millennium Trophy apparently)
Triple Crown
6 Nations Championship
Eng vs Italy
Having said that, I did love the England France game in 2015 (?) when we were chasing points difference - but all that seemed to prove was that England should always be more ambitious in the way they seek to entertain.
Broadly agree, but its important to stay ahead of Wales in 6N/5N championships currently28 vs. 27
I may be sad but I like seeing past results with Englands name repeated, having said that I couldn't agree more with Woody's comment!
Sam Harris
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.
It's a sign of the times that the only thing of importance for England is the size of the points difference required to win the Championship. The result and the 5pt win is not in doubt and one-sided matches do nothing for the wider appeal [why bother?] of the sport. I really can't see how Italy can become competitive, many have tried w/out success sadly...
Adopted players: 23/24 O Lawrence; [23] J Cokanasiga; [22] M Green; [21] A Watson; [20] T Faletau; [19] M V Vuuren; [18] T Faletau; [17] D Denton; [16] H. Agulla; [15] L Houston; [14] W Spencer; [13] F. Louw
England team to face Italy
Furbank; Watson, Joseph, Slade, May; Farrell, Youngs; M Vunipola, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Hill, Curry, Underhill, B Vunipola.
No back up fly half (slade i guess), Brilliant news for Hill well done benefited from playing well but not being a media lovechild so eddie will pick him. Furbank is a very odd choice but he is an out and out 15 and You have to give players more than one chance before you ditch them. All in all that is a very very good team.
Crass selection in my view. How has Willis been overlooked along with either Spencer or Robson not starting and Furbank included? Neither Simmonds in the squad is again baffling. Also, JJ's form has not been exactly syntalating either. Well certainly, if Eddie has driven 8,000 miles to watch games it must have been wasted effort as he must of watched different ones to the ones I have seen on TV. But what do the general public and the majority of knowledgeable pundits know? Its like his selections are done out of some sort of spite to what everyone can see as he knows best and can do what he likes unimpeded. I think all that sushi has turned his brain to fairy dust.
Adopted player 2020/21 Beno 'the Transformer' Obano
Adopted player 2019/20 Jonathan 'JJ' Joseph.The Jink Joseph.
Adopted player 2018/19 Adopted player 2018/19 Semesa 'The Rock' Rokoduguni
I must admit that I know little about Furbank. Is he a speed guy, a ball-player like Goode or a solid guy under the highball? He looked a bit iffy the first time he put on the red rose. EJ talked about him as a potential 10.
There is a bit of the Ray Illingworth about EJ. I remember some odd choices like Craig White who averaged 24 with the bat and 37 with the ball during his career. We've had Mike Brown being picked for so long, Cipriani winning a game with a piece of magic and never playing again, and countless others who never get a chance. And ..... we are now being told that Ben Youngs is currently about the best half-back in the world.
P G Tips 40 points could be a big ask!
Have to hope the Paris winner gets few tries in a tight game.
PG
Can you see Ireland getting 4 tries against a Shaun Edwards defence or the converse France getting 4 tries against a Farrell defence? Both big asks, but it does make for great viewing doesn't it PG!
Sam Harris
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.
P G Tips 40 points could be a big ask!
Have to hope the Paris winner gets few tries in a tight game.
PG
Can you see Ireland getting 4 tries against a Shaun Edwards defence or the converse France getting 4 tries against a Farrell defence? Both big asks, but it does make for great viewing doesn't it PG!
Possibly a draw then !
That would sort it !
Adopted Player 2018/19 Ross Batty
Adopted Player 2019/20 Jack Davies
Adopted Player 2020/21 Cam Redpath
Adopted Player 2021/22 Darren Atkins
Adopted Player 2022/23 Gabriel Hamer-Webb
Adopted Player 2023/24 Tom Carr-Smith
"AN OUNCE OF ACTION IS WORTH A TON OF THEORY"
FRIEDRICH ENGELS
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