Adam Jones = Legend.

WIsh I could find that great interview where he had a teacup and saucer in hand and basically just chatted away leisurely. So smooth!

Great to see proper scrummaging again, especially with Gethin and Ads leading the way. Then again, the Italians and Argentians pretty much rule the roost for the front row these days!

Still not the VietGwent, look you!

No really it wasn't. "bet that hurt. that'll teach him" is about as far as it went.
The ref has since admitted fault at the scrum on the lions test. So while you may not blame him, he does blame himself.
CFH, Despite being english you support wales? O…K…
I don't mind the outcome of the 6N as I see it for what it is; valuable training for the next RWC.

I'll make it easy. Where were you born?

Yes, it was huge news actually.

No really it wasn't. "bet that hurt. that'll teach him" is about as far as it went.

Weren't you two arguing about this during the Lions tour as well?

You guys are getting all excited over 3rd, 4th and 5th place though aren't you? 😛

I don't think they can a_a…for much the same reason as you…

The first game against Italy will be a stuttering win for sure… 😆

We have Stade de France this year – not a happy hunting ground for us – though the current team has won there – so it's not like they have no knowledge of getting results there. Don't underestimate the relish of an opportunity to get one over on the French (there's a much bigger intersection of travelling fans between football and rugby in Ireland) though.

I think we could win any of the rest of them. Our front row needs some serious looking at. During the AI's (and a lot of the slam winning 6N), our scrum took a right battering, even though the line-out functioned very well…I assume that's down to something going on the front row that I don't really understand. If anything, and maybe this is green tinted spectacles, but it shows the quality around the rest of the team that with a battered scrum, that we drew and could have won against a good Australian side and beat the Boks, though our scrum did look much better organised for that game.

I suppose the team can relax a bit this year – without this unbearable yoke of the best Irish team not to win a GS – there were times in the last 6N that you could see it etched on their faces. And we all know, it wasn't the highest quality 6N ever, but all the same, a slam's a slam and believe me, they'd take it any way i came.

As for Scotland, I can see the excitement that beating Australia C has gone to their heads. I mean, fair enough, they're good at stopping teams scoring points, but they have an ever so slight problem scoring enough to win most of the time.

Damn – you noticed! If Robinson selects bravely and goes for the fast flair guys rather than the power backs then there is the potential. Without a stand off tho its always going to be difficult however.

So who is going to win? Can Scotland continue their run in the calcutta cup at murrayield? Can Scotland get 3 wins?

final table – in my ever so humble opinion
France
Ireland
Scotland
Wales
England
Italy

Scotland have the best sequence of matches to give them a chance of a good series. First up France at Murrayfield. Might catch the French cold. Wales away – gonna be tough. Italy away – Italy will be targeting that for a win but Scotland should win. England at murrayfield. England will not fancy that so Scotland should win . Ireland away -another tough one.

3 wins is perfectly feasible and it might just happen.
gonna be a other close six nations I bet. France and Ireland fighting for the win but grand slams unlikely. Not a lot to chose between England Scotland and Wales. Italy – well I want them to get a win or two – but please not Scotland this time. Italy have had enough generosity from Scotland in the past.

Can you all please have a look down the back of the sofa for a Scotland qualified stand off? There must be one somewhere. We will even have Cipriani. With a name like that he must have a Scottish granddad surely?

Anyone got an STW fantasy rugby leage going this year?

Signed up to the ESPNscrum one this year, seems pretty good.

I'll get a league started if its not already been done

http://scrum.fantasyleague.com

I think you're deluded.

Well I think you're setting youself up for a major disappointment.

However, if Wales come out on top against England, they could continue on to great things. Welsh club sides have started to turn around and show some great rugby from the welsh lads. Also coming into the 6n as underdogs will benefit us hugely.

Did the joke get missed?

Scots rugby fans are notorious for either extreme pessimism or optimism. Me – my glass is more than half full.

I do believe the 3 wins – France England and Italy are posssible – but I wouldn't bet my house on it. ( Or even a pint) It could easily be a wooden spoon for Scotland swell.

Scotland have some great assets in a mobile pack that can also scrummage well – tho Murray refusing to play on sundays will weaken the scrum a bit. A couple of really classy backs as well.

However here are also some glaring weaknesses. Lineouts have been decidedly hit and miss. No decent standoff being the most obvious but also a lack of depth in the backs. I fear for conservative selection as well with Robinson going for power over skill in the backs.

Injuries could play a real part as well. There just is not the strength in depth in some positions.

I believe England are very beatable. The forwards just don't have the speed to match the Scots – if ( and perhaps its a big if) Scotland can move the game around at speed they will get a lot of good possession and the penalty count will be high. Just watch them at the breakdown. Scotland can play effectively 5 back rows at once as several forwards have converted from back row to other positions. That should give an advantage at the breakdown while the props should ensure the scrum remains solid.

England appear to have some serious weaknesses but we will know a lot more after the first 20 mins against wales. For quite a while England have played well below their potential. Perhaps this is their year to reach their potential. Or perhaps it will remain the same leaderless team too scared of failure to try things. Borthwick is such a weakness as captain and as a penalty giving machine. IIRC England are going to have to use some fairly inexperienced props. That could go either way and Jonny Wilkinson at standoff just does not cut it in my book. Great in defense but stands too deep meaning he cannot get the backs moving.

France – leivramont should know after the experimentation of the last couple of years what the best team is but can he mould them into a team. first up must be the best chance of beating them. Some real class players.

Ireland – settled team with class players but can they rise to it again? It might be the last hurrah for this team or it might be a season too many.

Wales – are they the new France? Sublime and ridiculous mixed together. Which will we get?

Italy – missing Paraise will be hard and they are still short of a bit of class. I can't see them threatening much.

We shall see. I am really looking forward to it.

I honestly think the championship will be between France and Ireland with England Scotland and Wales really very close. I don't see this as Italys year to break thru to real contenders.

ESPN Fantasy 6 Nations

League Name – STW

League PIN – 5171

Simply create a team then enter the PIN to join the STW league

Backhander.

Ewan Murray, Nathan hines, Barclay, Stokosch. Kellock

What has changed for the scots? Hopefully belief and continuity. They beat Aus – england did not. England were woeful in the Autumn internationals – Scotland were decent if not world beaters, There are players that will be better for another years experience.

For sure they are short of quality players but look at the calcutta cup record. 2 each the last 4 years – games going with the home team. Its about playing as a team.

Where are Englands class players? There is hardly one I'd have in the Scotland team – for a variety of reasons. Apart from Cipriani or Flood. I'd have them at 10.

Wilkinson – he has always been overhyped in my opinion – he simply lies too deep in attacka nd often goes missing from first reciever. Never the player hwee was hyped to be.

However by all accounts playing in France has rejuvenated him. We shall see.

I did say scotland could easily get a wooden spoon as well.

I disagree. I think that England are playing exactly at the level that
you'd expect given that they have a coach with no experience, a very poor captain who really shouldn't be in the team anyway, no world class 10 (apart from the National Hero obviously – is he fit?, is he injured?, oh please not again), and a set of backs who have forgotten how to beat a defender. Not to mention that the rest of the world has caught up and overtaken the forwards power that England used to rely on.

Once you beat England up front they have very little else, and they are very fragile mentally these days.

As somebody said, for all the teams the first game is crucial for momentum. Wales are going in with confidence. Even without Byrne, they have more than enough firepower to win at Twickenham.

I think Wales will win that game.

Scotland and Italy will be the spoilers, nothing more. Happy to win a few games and get in the way – in the best sense of the 6N. Scotland have France and England in Murrayfield, which they can win on a good day, and that may be crucial to the other sides.

France? Who knows. But at least we've got them in Cardiff. But they've only got two away games (Wales and Scotland). They must be favourites given the team(s) they can field. (Just checked, they are 6/4 favourites.)

Ireland? Hmmmmmm. Too old? I think not. Will O'Gara play, or Sexton? Whatever, they have the players to win it, but an immense amount of pressure because of the back to back thing. I think they'll buckle under the strain.

FWIW my own wish table:

1 Wales
2 Ireland
3 France
4 England
5 Scotland
6 Italy

(Disclaimer – the above table may refer to senior, U21, U16, womens, 7s, this season or for any other season in the future.)

Backhander. I am a brit of English descent who is an assimilated Scot 🙂

Been a Scotland rugby supporter since the mid 70s.

Nae point in arguing about Wilkinson. He is a player that really divides opinion. To me a great place kicker and in defence but simply does not have the sparkle and guile to put get the backs moving. Fantastic if you want to play England 2003 style but that will not win against the best teams anymore.