2023 Six Nations

[OomStruisbaai]

From a neutral I think Ireland is the favorite to win it. Since we are part of the URC and HC competitions we are a bit closer to the action and looking forward to it.

Oom you clown!

You even thanked me for creating the fixtures thread.

[Ymx]

This is the first time I’ve seen this.

There is only one Hask



Not sure where else to post it.

[Ovals]

Only 6 days to go.

Really looking forward to it - more in hope than expectation.

Actually, not having high expectations makes the games a little less nervewracking. Still, With Scotland at hime, 1st up, followed by Italy at home - we've a chance to get off to a good start. On the other hand, if we don't hit the ground running, we could be in for a very rough 6N.

Lots of other interesting games to look forward to. The Wales/Ireland game should tell us a lot about where the championship is heading.

[Slick]

I got my first butterflies today

Also got my first anger at the newspapers with all the pundits putting us in a 5th place finish. Probably right but nonetheless!

[OomStruisbaai]

I like your thread, fishfoodie. It's a good one and it's by someone whose team are in the comp :)

So WTF?

[Paddington Bear]

I’m really looking forward to this. I’m not expecting much from England but there’s enough hope that we can compete, and I’m very hopeful that every game will be a proper contest to a greater or lesser extent. Bagged a ticket for Saturday so will ice my throat for a week in preparation for the Borthwick Bray

[Guy Smiley]

I like your thread, fishfoodie. It's a good one and it's by someone whose team are in the comp :)

So WTF?

Home side starts the thread Oom. We've been through this many times now.

[OomStruisbaai]

I like your thread, fishfoodie. It's a good one and it's by someone whose team are in the comp :)

So WTF?

Home side starts the thread Oom. We've been through this many times now.

This is NPR. The Scots and English have their own threads, no Aussie and only three Kiwis. If you wait for the home team to open one, it's not going to happen.

[Ymx]

Don’t worry Oom. Don’t take it to heart.

Rise above it my man!

[charltom]

So WTF?

Home side starts the thread Oom. We've been through this many times now.

This is NPR. The Scots and English have their own threads, no Aussie and only three Kiwis. If you wait for the home team to open one, it's not going to happen.

And yet, fishfoodie started one. Isn't he Irish?

I just didn't like the idea of having to work out which of several threads to post to throughout the tournament. Glad to see they are all merged.

[Hal Jordan]

Anyone who can, hand on heart, say that at the start of the season they had Dan Cole making England's 6N squad is either a liar or Deep Thought.

[Guy Smiley]

So WTF?

Home side starts the thread Oom. We've been through this many times now.

This is NPR. The Scots and English have their own threads, no Aussie and only three Kiwis. If you wait for the home team to open one, it's not going to happen.

You started yours after FF started his.

It’s not about waiting with you, it’s about being needy and wanting attention.

[ASMO]

Merged both topics

[Jock42]

I've just watched "The Grudge", totally fired up now

Watching the game in Hull with my English side of the family, Scotland had better fucking win this.

[Guy Smiley]

Merged both topics

Good move.

[OomStruisbaai]

Home side starts the thread Oom. We've been through this many times now.

This is NPR. The Scots and English have their own threads, no Aussie and only three Kiwis. If you wait for the home team to open one, it's not going to happen.

You started yours after FF started his.

It’s not about waiting with you, it’s about being needy and wanting attention.

Gaan kak.

[OomStruisbaai]

Merged both topics

Thanks Asmo

[TheNatalShark]

Find it difficult to look forward to it this year, not being able to play club because of my knee and needing to focus on exams means I'll just be quietly watching and then switching off.

And then I look at the squad and match-ups and not seeing much good prospect of "of maybe, just maybe" this year. Been in "TOoNIe oUt" camp since the US loss without leaving. Really struggling for depth in injuries and form, front row can't take any injuries, not looking forward to another round of Tuipulotu/Harris, no Graham, VDM still needs to work back to full pelt and none of our locks on current form would threaten anything but Italy's starting places. At least nothing busted yet pretourney re Russell.

Another bright Monday Morning I'm sure prospects will change come 1600 Saturday.

[Jim Lahey]

Are Scotland darker horses than ever this year, or are they lighter horses?

One could argue they are lighter horses as they had a decent autumn and their clubs are doing well in Europe.

Or are they darker because they have England and France away?

Or are they the same dark horses as per usual?

Discuss.

[Guy Smiley]

Are Scotland darker horses than ever this year, or are they lighter horses?

One could argue they are lighter horses as they had a decent autumn and their clubs are doing well in Europe.

Or are they darker because they have England and France away?

Or are they the same dark horses as per usual?

Discuss.

[Tichtheid]

Are Scotland darker horses than ever this year, or are they lighter horses?

One could argue they are lighter horses as they had a decent autumn and their clubs are doing well in Europe.

Or are they darker because they have England and France away?

Or are they the same dark horses as per usual?

Discuss.

A unicorn is probably an appropriate symbol for Scotland's chances, but,...... as per every year, this is going to be our year.

We have a few injury and form woes, which all teams have for sure, but our depth isn't what it might be. Zander Fagerson's hamstring is worrying, WP Nel should be watching this with his feet up, a cold beer at hand, but he will probably start against England.
Ally Price hasn't got back to his best yet and we are missing Darcy Graham, one of the most lethal finishers in the tournament. There is hope he will be back in a couple of week's time. We don't really have a stand out choice at hooker, I'd like to see Cherry start as he has the best line out capabilities, but who knows?

my team would probably be

Schoeman, Cherry, Nel, Gilchrist, R. Gray, Fagerson, Ritchie (Capt), Dempsey,
Price, Russell, van der Merwe, Tuipulotu, Harris, Kinghorn, Hogg
Turner, Sutherland, Berghan, Skinner, Watson, Crosbie, Redpath, White

I've gone 6/2 because I think Watson will feature and Crosbie demands selection, plus it's not a bad idea to keep there pressure on up front against England.

[Jock42]

I thought you didn't like a 6/2 split

[JM2K6]

Weird to see the Scots worrying about facing their bunnies...

Much like a Tory government, I plan to blame everything on the previous regime for a good 18 months. OK so they've done it for 13 years, but you get the idea.

[Tichtheid]

I thought you didn't like a 6/2 split

I don't, but in this case, Kinghorn covers 10 and 15 from the wing, Redpath covers the centres and if we can replicate the game Edinburgh had against Saracens up front, it will serve our chances well.

[inactionman]

It's my daughter's birthday party on Saturday, and for once mum has played a blinder* and made sure it's all wrapped up by 1:30.

A nice warm-up of Wales-Ireland and then the main event.



* a bit unfair- she usually plays blinders but has occasionally - and outrageously - managed to book things right in the middle of major sporting events.

[Sandstorm]

It's my daughter's birthday party on Saturday, and for once mum has played a blinder and made sure it's all wrapped up by 1:30.

Will you get all the puke off the sofa before kickoff?

[inactionman]

It's my daughter's birthday party on Saturday, and for once mum has played a blinder and made sure it's all wrapped up by 1:30.

Will you get all the puke off the sofa before kickoff?

We've outsourced it

Softplay, which I'm hoping I'll get a shot on as well.

[SaintK]

Are Scotland darker horses than ever this year, or are they lighter horses?

One could argue they are lighter horses as they had a decent autumn and their clubs are doing well in Europe.

Or are they darker because they have England and France away?

Or are they the same dark horses as per usual?

Discuss.

If Scotland bring the same physicality as Edinburgh bought to their match against Saracens then they should beat Italy and Wales and bearing in mind theeir recent record at Twickenham could easily beat England again
I think they will struggle against Ireland and France..........as will all the others!
So a slightly lighter shade of dark!!!

[ASMO]

I think Scotland could easily get 3 wins in this years 6N, there is not even a fag paper between everyone except Ireland and France who are a level above the rest.

[sockwithaticket]

I think Scotland could easily get 3 wins in this years 6N, there is not even a fag paper between everyone except Ireland and France who are a level above the rest.

I'd say we've got

Good - Ireland, France

Middling - Scotland

Rubbish - Wales, Italy

Probably middling, but who knows? - England

[Slick]

I think Scotland could easily get 3 wins in this years 6N, there is not even a fag paper between everyone except Ireland and France who are a level above the rest.

I'd say we've got

Good - Ireland, France

Middling - Scotland

Rubbish - Wales, Italy

Probably middling, but who knows? - England

I think Italy are going to be a lot more competitive this year

[Lobby]

I think Scotland could easily get 3 wins in this years 6N, there is not even a fag paper between everyone except Ireland and France who are a level above the rest.

I'd say we've got

Good - Ireland, France

Middling - Scotland

Rubbish - Wales, Italy

Probably middling, but who knows? - England

England are probably the only real dark horses as we've no idea whether they will still be as bad as they were under Eddie, or how much impact Borthwick (and Nick Evans) will have. If they are still crap, at least we can blame Eddie.

[sockwithaticket]

I think Scotland could easily get 3 wins in this years 6N, there is not even a fag paper between everyone except Ireland and France who are a level above the rest.

I'd say we've got

Good - Ireland, France

Middling - Scotland

Rubbish - Wales, Italy

Probably middling, but who knows? - England

I think Italy are going to be a lot more competitive this year

They will, but I think other teams will have taken note of their improvement over the last year or so and treat them accordingly, so their results will still be rubbish. Their only win last year was Wales and frankly I wouldn't expect the Welsh approach to this year's game to be anywhere near as flat and lacadaisical even without Gatland returning to give them a kick up the arse.

[Sandstorm]

Softplay, which I'm hoping I'll get a shot on as well.

Every Dad I know who "had a go at Softplay" gets injured

[inactionman]

Softplay, which I'm hoping I'll get a shot on as well.

Every Dad I know who "had a go at Softplay" gets injured

I'm more worried about getting stuck

[Slick]

I'd say we've got

Good - Ireland, France

Middling - Scotland

Rubbish - Wales, Italy

Probably middling, but who knows? - England

I think Italy are going to be a lot more competitive this year

They will, but I think other teams will have taken note of their improvement over the last year or so and treat them accordingly, so their results will still be rubbish. Their only win last year was Wales and frankly I wouldn't expect the Welsh approach to this year's game to be anywhere near as flat and lacadaisical even without Gatland returning to give them a kick up the arse.

I think France, Scotland and Wales are all in danger against them. I think Twickenham is a step too far though, if not the England team.

[Slick]

Softplay, which I'm hoping I'll get a shot on as well.

Every Dad I know who "had a go at Softplay" gets injured

I'm more worried about getting stuck

I might take the kids for a laugh at this....

[Paddington Bear]

I'd say we've got

Good - Ireland, France

Middling - Scotland

Rubbish - Wales, Italy

Probably middling, but who knows? - England

I think Italy are going to be a lot more competitive this year

They will, but I think other teams will have taken note of their improvement over the last year or so and treat them accordingly, so their results will still be rubbish. Their only win last year was Wales and frankly I wouldn't expect the Welsh approach to this year's game to be anywhere near as flat and lacadaisical even without Gatland returning to give them a kick up the arse.

Italy being competitive makes for a more interesting 6N even if they likely lose every match, as for 6 years plus sides have essentially run the dirt trackers against them and been able to ease up from 50 mins or so anyway. Having to play an actual test, even if you score 2/3 times towards the end, makes the 6N much tougher.

RE: England - even playing no rugby and putting out players who are fifth/sixth in their position in the country we've been pretty competitive with most, I'm reasonably confident we'll see a half decent 6N out of us.

[sockwithaticket]

I think Italy are going to be a lot more competitive this year

They will, but I think other teams will have taken note of their improvement over the last year or so and treat them accordingly, so their results will still be rubbish. Their only win last year was Wales and frankly I wouldn't expect the Welsh approach to this year's game to be anywhere near as flat and lacadaisical even without Gatland returning to give them a kick up the arse.

I think France, Scotland and Wales are all in danger against them. I think Twickenham is a step too far though, if not the England team.

Fair enough, you clearly have a more positive view of them than me, I don't think they'll pose France any trouble at all.

[Slick]

They will, but I think other teams will have taken note of their improvement over the last year or so and treat them accordingly, so their results will still be rubbish. Their only win last year was Wales and frankly I wouldn't expect the Welsh approach to this year's game to be anywhere near as flat and lacadaisical even without Gatland returning to give them a kick up the arse.

I think France, Scotland and Wales are all in danger against them. I think Twickenham is a step too far though, if not the England team.

Fair enough, you clearly have a more positive view of them than me, I don't think they'll pose France any trouble at all.

Don't get me wrong, France are obviously much, much better, but they are always shite against Italy and first up. This group obviously are a lot less fragile than before, but I think there is a small chance.