Should be a good one this year, and Italy apart everyone else will rightly feel they've got a shot at the title.

My tips are France and Scotland, both came close last year, and both just need to improve their discipline and keep 15 guys on the park at all times.

Ireland-Wales

Scotland-England

On Saturday

A tasty 1st weekend methinks.

France-Italy

Sunday

Should be an easy start for the French.

Always enjoy this tournament. I fancy France.

Ohhhhhh very hard to say really but if you go by the November internationals a couple of teams stand out .
So head on the block time then
Ireland by 10 points
England by 5 points
France by 17 points

You have to win your first game as we all know Ireland look very strong , well i would say that .

Ireland or France for me this year. What a fantastic tournament it is, it always gets me excited and I’m looking forward to some entertaining rugby getting me in the mood for Burnley’s massive win on Saturday.

I'm looking forward to this too, hopefully all the games will be played on schedule and with full crowds.

Watching the European club competitions so far this season, Ireland and France seem to have the best crop of in-form, uninjured players. Id go for Ireland as favourites but they have both France and England away from home and that's a tough ask.
On the other hand, France have both England & Ireland at home so that's much in their favour.

Bookies make it: France 6/4, Ireland 11/4, England 3/1, Wales=Scotland+ 10/1, Italy 1000/1. Cant argue with that.

If anybody is interested & wasn't aware, Guinness organises a free-to-enter fantasy game at https://fantasy.sixnationsrugby.com/#/game/equipe/me
It's pretty simple to play and (unlike the footy fantasy games) the starters and subs are known in advance of each round of games.

I've got a league set up from last year (just me and a couple of mates) if anybody fancies entering and having a bit of competition.

Kick and clap competition..Should be a challenge trying to stop awake for 80 mins for you yawnion lads.

no challenge at all , one of my favourite times of the year, love both codes enjoy their differences, no chips on my shoulder !

best competition in sport.

Sottpark1 ! wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 01, 2022 3:55 pm

no challenge at all , one of my favourite times of the year, love both codes enjoy their differences, no chips on my shoulder !

Non on mine either..I do prefer league though.! You only need to be able to count up to six..
Yawnion has to many laws and stoppages for me..but you do get the odd game every season when it flows .

Papabendi wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 01, 2022 4:09 pm

best competition in sport.

You are easily satisfied ..

Yes count to six then Er oh yes kick

Egg chaser’s .

Haters gonna hate

Can't be worse than watching Burnley most of the time these days

Sottpark1 ! wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 01, 2022 9:14 pm

Yes count to six then Er oh yes kick

Or catch the ball, kick for touch. Line out, catch the ball kick for field position, opposition catch the ball kick it back.

I use to love watching the 5 nations in the 70’s. But now, it’s all about drawing penalties from the million and one laws they have. Little silly things, so much so, commentators have to wait till the infringement is confirmed by the ref, because no one can see what it might be for.

Yes, Rugby League has its flaws, but it’s by far a more entertaining to watch.

RammyClaret61 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 01, 2022 11:23 pm

Or catch the ball, kick for touch. Line out, catch the ball kick for field position, opposition catch the ball kick it back.

I use to love watching the 5 nations in the 70’s. But now, it’s all about drawing penalties from the million and one laws they have. Little silly things, so much so, commentators have to wait till the infringement is confirmed by the ref, because no one can see what it might be for.

Yes, Rugby League has its flaws, but it’s by far a more entertaining to watch.

Speaks volumes

"Average time of ball in play:

Rugby League ≈ 62 minutes "

Rugby Yawnion ≈ "30 minutes"

conyoviejo wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 02, 2022 12:00 am

Speaks volumes

"Average time of ball in play:

Rugby League ≈ 62 minutes "

Rugby Yawnion ≈ "30 minutes"

Overall eyeballs talk. Union a far bigger sport.

Personally think it is going to be a very close run thing . I think Ireland are just favourites (if they play anything like the did against did against the All Blacks ) but could see England , France or Wales running them v close . Going to be some great games . Ty for fantasy link Leadbelly

Papabendi wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 02, 2022 12:17 am

Overall eyeballs talk. Union a far bigger sport.

Bigger...yes

Better no.!

In your opinion. Far prefer to watch international union than league. You might have a point with club rugby.

Boss Hogg wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 02, 2022 9:58 am

In your opinion. Far prefer to watch international union than league. You might have a point with club rugby.

I rarely if ever watch club rugby, but the Six Nations is one of the sporting highlights of the year for me.

And it's refreshing to actually watch a match where the officials are treated with respect, and the players aren't constantly diving and playacting, unlike a lot of the PL prima donnas we witness week in week out.

Yes same for me,it means Superleague is nearly ready to start and spring will be nearly here when the Yawnion is finished.

tiger76 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 02, 2022 10:10 am

... refreshing to actually watch a match where the officials are treated with respect, and the players aren't constantly diving and playacting,

It's creeping in....bit by bit...

Every season now there's an increase in the bitching and yarking at the referee...pressurising him..the Welsh were certainly the first to be at it, but it's fairly universal now. Can't remember which game last year but there were 2 instances of players in the refs ear pushing for yellow cards for opponents.
Unless they reverse this it'll not be much different to football in 10 years.

Hey look no problem to those who don't like the sport , but knocking for the sake of it is poor form .
Lots on here enjoy it i have only ever been to one international in Dublin and trust me the Rugby lads are dead sound , and that's coming from a die hard football fan .

fatboy47 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 02, 2022 11:40 am

It's creeping in....bit by bit...

Every season now there's an increase in the bitching and yarking at the referee...pressurising him..the Welsh were certainly the first to be at it, but it's fairly universal now. Can't remember which game last year but there were 2 instances of players in the refs ear pushing for yellow cards for opponents.
Unless they reverse this it'll not be much different to football in 10 years.

There is a bit more of it these last couple of years, even a bit of falling-down-easy when trying to get an obstruction/late tackle decision.
The "move 10m forward" for backchat is a good deterrent for badmouthing of refs though. An extra 10 yards further forward can be a big advantage to the opposition - giving a more kickable 3 points or a better angle for touch etc.
Pity there arent steps brought in to stop all the ref-mobbing in football, its horrible to see even if the ref isn't much cop.

Ah yes the Bosses game, dead sound they are.

Ireland, Wales, England, Scotland matchday starters & replacements were all announced yesterday; France and Italy followed this am.

Pretty straight forward selections for Ireland, Scotland and France who all have good availability and form. A few surprises in the England and Wales names I think (as they cope with a lot of unavailable regulars).
Josh Adams starting in the centre for Wales is a surprise.
England going without a big crash-ball centre - picking Slade & Daley is maybe another (although Slade has bulked-up quite a bit since his early days and at 15 stones each it isnt small combination by normal standards (& they can always try and run around people rather than through them ))

Ireland v Wales tomorrow at 14.15 on ITV
Scotland v England 16.45 on BBC (overlapping with Clarets v Watford unfortunately)
France v Italy Sunday at 15.00 on ITV.

Bring it on.

Marty Dobson wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 02, 2022 6:38 pm

Ah yes the Bosses game, dead sound they are.

There's the thing. It's only like that in England.

That's why the rest of us have it bred into them to want England Rugby to lose every game. And to be honest, there are patches in England where it is not like that either - the west country and east Midlands, mainly.

We'll, that plus the whole invade your country, kill/starve you into submission, long to reign over you, and giving us your boris johnson thing, but most of that is in the past, right?

RammyClaret61 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 01, 2022 11:23 pm

Or catch the ball, kick for touch. Line out, catch the ball kick for field position, opposition catch the ball kick it back.

I use to love watching the 5 nations in the 70’s. But now, it’s all about drawing penalties from the million and one laws they have. Little silly things, so much so, commentators have to wait till the infringement is confirmed by the ref, because no one can see what it might be for.

Yes, Rugby League has its flaws, but it’s by far a more entertaining to watch.

Spot on. I played RU through the 79's into the 80's and loved it. Much less technical and far more exciting running. I doubt there will ever be another try to match the Gareth Edwards score for the Barbarians in 1973. Still brings a tear to my eye when I watch it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oVIRy-djlY

Just found out I’ve got 2 free tickets for Wales v Scotland from my employer. Will be a good day out.

RammyClaret61 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 01, 2022 11:23 pm

Or catch the ball, kick for touch. Line out, catch the ball kick for field position, opposition catch the ball kick it back.

I use to love watching the 5 nations in the 70’s. But now, it’s all about drawing penalties from the million and one laws they have. Little silly things, so much so, commentators have to wait till the infringement is confirmed by the ref, because no one can see what it might be for.

Yes, Rugby League has its flaws, but it’s by far a more entertaining to watch.

Or catch the ball run at the man in front, heel ball and run at the man in front, then after 5th crash tackles kick the ball away. Rinse and repeat for 80 mins.

Convincing win for Ireland, the CC clash is as tight as expected, 7-6 to Scotland nearing HT.

So the Ireland game never really got going as Ireland were in control for the whole game , i must say the defence is at another level , as for Wales very poor really too many injuries .
10 - 6 to Scotland at HT now very much all England so should be a good 2nd half for thise who will watch it that is .

Good to see the English put in their place.

conyoviejo wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 02, 2022 11:23 am

Yes same for me,it means Superleague is nearly ready to start and spring will be nearly here when the Yawnion is finished.

Who cares about the little M62 league. Well nobody really apart from the daft little towns in Yorkshire.

It’s like the boxing vs MMA debate really.

Shaggy wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 05, 2022 7:03 pm

Who cares about the little M62 league. Well nobody really apart from the daft little towns in Yorkshire.

It’s like the boxing vs MMA debate really.

Obviously you care making silly statements like than.

PeterWilton wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 05, 2022 7:02 pm

Good to see the English put in their place.

I'm sure 'the English' will take being the most successful Northern Hemisphere team in history as some consolation.

Boy the French are massive up front , going to be some game next week when they take on the Irish .

So next week
Wales v Scotland
France v Ireland
Italy v England

Scotland to win by 17 points
Ireland to win by 2 points
England to win by 23 points

Wales-Scotland just started, should be a good one with lots of points.

Wales edge a thriller 20-17, throws the Championship wide open, England, France & Ireland all right back in the hunt.

And Scotland still can't win in Cardiff.

TheOriginalLongsider wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 05, 2022 8:32 am

Just found out I’ve got 2 free tickets for Wales v Scotland from my employer. Will be a good day out.

Enjoying it?? Great atmosphere and a Welsh win!

Great start to France v Ireland

Crazy start in Paris, a try apiece already, and 10-7 to France after a breathless 9 minutes.

19-7 France at HT, and they look in ominous form, Ireland battling hard, but just being outclassed and overpowered.

Fancied France before tournament. Seen nothing to change my mind.

conyoviejo wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 01, 2022 4:10 pm

Non on mine either..I do prefer league though.! You only need to be able to count up to six..
Yawnion has to many laws and stoppages for me..but you do get the odd game every season when it flows .

The Leeds v Warrington game shown live on Channel 4 earlier this afternoon was an absolute cracker.

Some comeback from Ireland

Boss Hogg wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 12, 2022 5:54 pm

Some comeback from Ireland

Great comeback just not enough in the end against a strong French side, who must now be heavy favourites to win the title, if not complete a Grand Slam, they really should have won it last year, but crucial errors let them down at vital moments.

Hard to back against France winning the WC next year as well, especially given they're hosting the tournament, and South Africa apart most of the usual contenders are undergoing transitional phases.

Yep France were too strong for the Irish who gave away too many pens , would Sexton have made the differance i am not too sure . Slam for France you would think .

It was a good (ballsy/commendable) fightback by Ireland in the 2nd half against a v good French team. They edged that 40 mins but not by enough to erase the deficit in quality that appeared in H1. I think the scoreboard was pretty much reflective of the play. 19 v 7 to France H1, 11 v 17 H2; 30-24 at the close.
Carberry is a tidy number 10 and had a good game but Sexton is even better so you suspect it wouldve been closer with him fit & playing.

Anyhow, France are already the only team with 100% record so "it's theirs to lose". Scotland away in a fortnight for them will be tough, especially if it's lashing down and windy in Edinburgh.

My bet is for England to win in Italy by 16 to 20 points difference this afternoon, they weren't that far off decent form v Scotland last week and the newer players have had a bit more time to train together. Italy have some exciting players and are enterprising but I don't think they'll have sufficient quality overall to beat any of the other 5 nations.

Once again I was sucked in, like some rabid Nationalist, that Scotland could maintain their form and put too many in my fantasy team. They should only be allowed to play England at the end of the tournament!!