Six Nations International Rugby

[crookycymru]

With all this cricket and tennis flying about Off The Wall, I thought it time to start posting about a proper sport.

Seriously, arguably the Worlds greatest rugby tournament starts on Saturday, and it could well be our best ever Home Internationals rugby tournament.

The tournament lasts from 15 February all the way up until the Ireland-England match on 30 March in what could be the tournament decider. I will be posting plays on the matches, as well as outright plays before the tournament begins on Saturday.

I hope a lot of you come along for the ride, as this is truly one of the worlds greatest sports competitions, and few events match the pride and passion a Six Nations tournament arouses.

FIXTURES

15 Feb 2003 Italy vs Wales 13:30 Rome (Stadio Flaminio)
15 Feb 2003 England vs France 16:00 London (Twickenham)
16 Feb 2003 Scotland vs Ireland 15:00 Edinburgh (Murrayfield)
22 Feb 2003 Italy vs Ireland 14:30 Rome (Stadio Flaminio)
22 Feb 2003 Wales vs England 17:30 Cardiff (Millenium Stadium)
23 Feb 2003 France vs Scotland 14:00 Paris (Stade de France)
08 Mar 2003 Scotland vs Wales 16:00 Edinburgh (Murrayfield)
08 Mar 2003 Ireland vs France 14:00 Dublin (Lansdowne Road)
09 Mar 2003 England vs Italy 15:00 London (Twickenham)
22 Mar 2003 Wales vs Ireland 14:00 Cardiff (Millenium Stadium)
22 Mar 2003 England vs Scotland 16:00 London (Twickenham)
23 Mar 2003 Italy vs France 14:00 Rome (Stadio Flaminio)
29 Mar 2003 Scotland vs Italy 15:00 Edinburgh (Murrayfield)
29 Mar 2003 France vs Wales 13:00 Paris (Stade de France)
30 Mar 2003 Ireland vs England 14:00 Dublin (Lansdowne Road)




2002 FINAL STANDINGS :

Team P W D L F A Diff PTS
France 5 5 0 0 156 75 81 10
England 5 4 0 1 184 53 131 8
Ireland 5 3 0 2 145 138 7 6
Scotland 5 2 0 3 91 128 -37 4
Wales 5 1 0 4 119 188 -69 2
Italy 5 0 0 5 70 183 -113 0


BOOKMAKERS ODDS (PaddyPower) :

England 2 - 5

France 11 - 4

Ireland 7 - 1

Scotland 66 - 1

Wales 80 - 1

Italy 1000 - 1

 

[kickserv]

what no Canada :shrug:

 

[crookycymru]

OUTRIGHT PLAYS :



2 Points Win Ireland to win Six Nations at 10/1 with Coral Eurobet

This may seem strange to regular readers of this column, as I have been talking up France as being the best side in the world over the last six months. However, I see a hell of a lot of value in this Ireland outright bet.

Irish rugby is on a crest of a wave. Having beaten World Champions Australia in Autumn, their confidence will be sky high. They will face a tough opener in Murrayfield and face Scotland, who themselves beat a Southern Hemisphere side in the Autumn, with that great victory over South Africa. However, I fancy the Irish to edge this celtic battle. They will then gain a straight forward win over Italy, before a epic battle against France in Dublin on March 8th. They can beat the French if at their best, and then travel to Wales where they always seem to have the edge in Cardiff. This could well set up a nailbiter in Dublin on March 30th, and there is no reason to oppose the Irish over England after their emphatic victory two years ago.

This could mean that Ireland are in with a real chance of the Grand Slam, which brings me on to my next outright bet.

0.5 Point Ireland to win the Grand Slam at 20/1 with Bet365

There is no reason Ireland cannot achieve the impossible this season. Their matches should depend on the home games against France and England, and they are capable of winning both fixtures. Their campaign will be helped that they face two of the easier fixtures first, which will give time for influential skipper Keith Wood to recover from injury. If not he is ably deputised by world class centre Brian O'Driscoll.

True, Ireland will rely on their more influential players staying fit throughout the next two months, but there is no risk in pinning my hopes on the luck of the Irish in what are over inflated odds.

Good Luck

 

[cameroncrazie]

crooky - Great to see the rugby action heating up again. Will be coattailing you for the tournament. Good luck. Keep up the amazing record.

 

[british bulldog]

Good to hear from you again crooky.

Tried telephoning several times all weekend. Line either busy or no reply.

Great post, I'll be playing along.

Look forward to all the post's as they come along.

 

[kickserv]

"Tried telephoning several times all weekend. Line either busy or no reply."

know that feeling BB

tough to get a hold of that guy I'll tell ya..........


but hey.......he's the rugby god....so can't complain

 

[Anders]

"the world's greatest rugby tournament".... :nono:

u guys not heard of the Tri-Nations or Bledisloe Cup :moon:

 

[PAWAQATSI]

You tell em Anders!!!

 

[british bulldog]

Can't accept the Tri Nations, only two teams compete for that. Cant say South Africa have been much of a force lately. Plus those other two, who are they? Oh yes, thats New Zealand and Australia. Well both got beat by England recently and by numerous other nations.

As for super 12's well the Sharks bearly beat a second XV Quins side who are nothing special in our league.

 

[Anders]

Del, u mean more than 2 teams regularly contest the Six Nations title apart from England and France??????

Come on, if we're going to talk standard of rugby here then I should mention those world superpowers Ireland and Scotland have NEVER beaten the All Blacks in their entire rugby history!

Yes, Eng and France very hard to beat at home. Away, they get right royally munted on most occasions by the Down Under powers.

World Cup winners?? Hmmm, ABs 1987, Aus 1991, Sth Africa 1995, Aus 1999, 2003 - either Aus or NZ

As for comparing the Super 12 with the European Cup :drinky: :lol:

'bout time we had a decent argument in this forum

 

[crookycymru]

Yeah I am with BB on this one.

The tri-nations, and Six Nations are a class apart. As somebody who has been lucky enough to attend a number of Six Nations matches in the past, I can easily say that nothing compares in terms of atmosphere and passion to a Six Nations match.

I have been to Wimbledon tennis, a number of Joe Calzaghe fights, World Snooker Championships, Premier League football matches, International Soccer matches, Lords cricket matches, but nothing comes close to a Six Nations match.

That Wales-England match at Wembley a few years back, where Scott 'fatty' Gibbs dived over for the injury time winner ranks as the greatest moment in my life. :drinky:

I am not doubting that the Tri Nations and indeed the Bledisloe Cup are top class events, but the Six Nations has the history and importance, your tournament will never be able to live up to.

Having put this debate to sleep, it is now on to the important case of handicapping the weekends matches.

Check back over the next few days for analysis and the all important final plays.

 

[crookycymru]

Italy vs Wales ( Saturday, 13:30 GMT, Stadio Flaminio, Rome, Italy)

Wales sprung no surprises today in naming a side that played a large part in their fair efforts in last years Autumn series. Good wins against Fiji, Canada, and Romania were followed by a brave defeat at the hands of the New Zealand All Blacks in a match that flattered the Kiwis.
The team is mainly a youthful team with limited international experience. They are certainly no world beaters, but will play with the pride and passion certain Welsh sides have lacked in the past.
Italy sprang a minor surprise in naming arguably their best player, one Mauro Bergumasco onto the wing from his native position as flank forward. They are boosted by the return of the one world class player in their team, legendary fly half Diego Dominguez, and he will be looking to help Italy to only their second Six Nations victory.

I feel the Iestyn Harris-Diego Dominguez match up is key here. Iestn Harris is no doubt a world class rugby league player who has failed to have the hoped impact on the union code. However, this game could provide him with the space and freedom only he will revel in. Wales pack will have to recycle quick ball, and he can find teammate Rhys Williams with his superb vision, and Williams has bags of pace which will cause endless problems for the Italians.
However, discipline is crucial. If Wales concede penalites, then Dominguez will bang over the kicks for fun, and Wales could easily find themselves behind.
I struggle to find any reasoning for John Kirwan to play his best forward on the wing. Not only is he breaking the number one rule of playing players out of position at international level, but he has inflicted huge pressure on his man by comparing him with Jonah Lomu. Now somebody nudge me if I have had a Bud or two too many but Mauro Bergumasco is no Jonah Lomu.
I point blank refuse to accept the general opinion that Italy can beat Wales on Saturday. Year upon year, people talk up Italy, only to find that they are the cannon fodder of this tournament and have little to no right in taking part in this great event as it is.
True Italy will probably play their game for 60 minutes, but I think Wales will score points late on, and surpass the handicap set by Bluesq. I do not anticipate a better line coming out tomorrow, so I advise to get on this early as I dont suspect it will last up to the weekend.

1 Point Win Wales (-10) at 4/5 with BlueSq

Secondly a bet, regular readers may find unfamiliar. However, although predominantly a soccer bet, there is good value in playing this bet in rugby union.

I talked earlier about how I feel Wales will pull away after 60 minutes. However, providing they control their disicipline, and I see no major offender in the Welsh forwards, then I feel Wales should have control of this game from the outset. We are taking a pretty short price here (but note other firms are pricing this up a lot shorter), but I feel it is a good opportunity to gain a point profit at this early stage of the tournament. Again make sure you are on early, as this price wont last.

2 Point Win Wales (HT-FT) at 1/2 with Coral Eurobet

That is it for tonight. I am waiting for the remainder of the England-France lines, but I feel a Australian book has priced up the Scotland-Ireland game wrong.

Check back tomorrow, for further updates!

 

[PAWAQATSI]

I have been to Wimbledon tennis, a number of Joe Calzaghe fights, World Snooker Championships, Premier League football matches, International Soccer matches, Lords cricket matches, but nothing comes close to a Six Nations match.

World Snooker Championships????!!!!!! :shrug:
I bet they're a ROWDY ol' crowd!!!! LMAO

 

[british bulldog]

World Snooker Championships????!!!!!!
I bet they're a ROWDY ol' crowd!!!! LMAO


They are when the likes of O'Sullivan and the whirlwind White are at the table.

 

[crookycymru]

Scotland vs Ireland (Sunday 15:00 GMT, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland)

Ireland name a team dominated with players from Irish provinces Leinster and Munster. These provinces would be a match for any province team in the world, so it is fairly obvious that they form the base of a very strong international side. Arguably the worlds greatest centre skippers Ireland. Brian O'Driscoll captains the Irish in place of injured skipper Keith Wood. A injury to regular fly half Ronan O'Gara means Ulster fly half David Humphries takes his place.
Scotland devestated by the Roy Keane scenario, where skipper Budge Poutney has walked out on the team due to a lack of professionalism on behalf of the Scottish RU.

There is no doubting that Ireland these days are a stronger international outfit than their Scottish counterparts. They lack the strength in depth of the top nations, but there is no doubt that they are on par with the worlds finest when playing at their best, and this was highlighted in the autumn, whilst beating World Champions Australia in Dublin. There is no prizes for assuming that having tipped them to be a possible Six Nations grand slam team this year, I take them to beat the Scots on Sunday.
Scotland will battle to the end, as all Scottish team will. The Scottish anthem always raises a few hairs on my back (well before I had it waxed that is ), and despite the retirement of their skipper, they will give a performance to be proud of.
I am slightly concerned at the Irish' awful record up in Edinburgh. Indeed they have not won at Murrayfield since 1985, but I am of the opinion that records are there to be broken.
I cant see Ireland needing the luck of the Irish to beat the Scots, and I take them to leave the Scots chewing on their haggis come Sunday night.
Centrebet spread of three points is easily the best spread available on this game, so it is time to batter the Australian books, and take Ireland to oblige on the handicap.

1 Point Win Ireland (-3.5) at 1.85 with Centrebet

 

[crookycymru]

Finally I am passing on tomorrows game between England and France. I am a big fan of French rugby, and they are set to be my bet at this years World Cup, but even as a Welshman, I must admit England are very hard to beat at Twickenham.

I lean with France recieving ten points, although I would have preferred a couple more points. France are well capable of beating the English, but I feel the loss of Tony Marsh at centre is a big blow, while I am slightly surprised at Bernard Laportes decision to leave the mercurial Thomas Castaignede on the bench.
I may well regret the decision to leave France out of my weekends programme, but I am going to sit back and watch this as a spectacle rather than getting involved.

Good Luck this weekend!

 

[cameroncrazie]

I'm on it crooky. Let's go Ireland!!! Are you passing on the France/England game?

I'm going with a French friend of mine to watch the games tomorrow morning at a place in New York City called The Red Lion. Really looking forward to it as I hear the crowd should be rowdy.

Good luck. Thanks for the picks.

 

[cameroncrazie]

Didn't see your earlier post about the France/England game. Sorry about that.

 

[crookycymru]

Cameron,

Have a great day!! I will be cheering the French on tomorrow. Amazing that the place I go most Friday nights is a place called The Red Lion about a mile away from where I live! If it is like the place I visit, then you will have a good time and get some great women!! If you are a degenerate and must have a bet on that France game, then take France (+10) and cheer on your buddy!

Stayed in tonight as tomorrow is my big day!!

Incidentally, good to see that Olympic have priced up this weekends rugby. I would advise anybody without a Centrebet account to take Olympics Ireland-Scotland line instead.

 

[crookycymru]

Finally anybody who does not have TV access to tomorrows games can use the following websites :

www.planetrugby.com
www.scrum.com
www.sportinglife.com

The above are useful for live scores.

www.bbc.co.uk

Live commentaries will be available in the sport section of the BBC site.

Hope that helps!