Six Nations Preview - The Closest Battle Yet?

This blog was first published on February 3rd at http://happydude88.livejournal.com/

 

This weekend sees the start of the 2010 RBS 6 Nations Championship. One of Rugby’s biggest assets returns and for the next six weeks, fans of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Italy & France will be glued to the BBC’s television screens, hoping that their side can end up walking away with the Championship, possibly the Triple Crown and definitely, the Grand Slam. So, here are the contenders and how I think they will do:

IRELAND

Ireland comes into this year’s tournament as defending champions and Grand Slam holders. Once again, the Irish have the same abundance of team spirit and quality and will be the bookmakers and my favourites to retain the trophy. However, with rugby still very closely fought in the Northern Hemisphere, one slip-up could see Grand Slam hopes disappear at a drop of lightning. The usual men are back to defend their trophy, with Captain Brian O’Driscoll leading the way. On their day, Ireland can beat anyone in the world, they have to be highly confident of keeping their trophies from last year safely locked away at Croke Park.

ENGLAND

Are England good enough? It is a traditional question and one that many fans and rugby experts keep talking about. Since the 2003 Rugby World Cup winning team, inconsistency has dogged international rugby and for too many years. It is time for England’s players to wear the shirt with pride, passion and perform to the highest levels that they can. As for Martin Johnson, this is his 2nd Six Nations in charge and there can be no excuses this time around. Formidable at Twickenham, but still very dodgy on the road – and with difficult trips to Paris & Murrayfield on this year’s calendar, I fear it could be another frustrating championship for everyone connected with England.

FRANCE

If you thought England were so inconsistent, then what about Les Bleus – who have had so many off-colour performances that leaves you wondering whether a bunch of Paris schoolboys can do better. France have the ability to rip any rugby team to pieces, then can have days when they wake up with ten minutes left to play, and realise the game is lost. Last year’s Twickenham visit was a perfect example. The first half of that game saw some of France’s worst rugby in Six Nations history, but the second half was different – shame for them that the game was over at half-time then. Full of flair and charisma, if France can perform on the big stage for long enough without doodling off, they could well be Ireland’s closest challengers. The match between the two at the Stade de France could be the deciding outcome.

ITALY

The Italians are always the outsiders and more often than not, end up with the wooden spoon in the RBS 6 Nations. Fourth is their best finish, in 2008, but with every passing year, they get slightly better and Rome is never an easy place to go. The charmers of the rugby game still aren’t quite on the same rugby level as the likes of England and Ireland, but their determination and attitude to the game is second-to-none. It would be nice to see them avoid bottom spot this time around and I believe they can do that too.

WALES

Grand Slam dominance in 2008, followed by the slip to 4th in the 2009 table, Wales’s recent Six Nations history is hot and cold. Theoretically, they have the most talented squad in the championship, but sometimes, the team unity is lacking and when the pressure is on, they have a tendency to crack underneath it. The first game against England at Twickenham will be crucial to their prospects, if they want to return back to the top.

SCOTLAND

Now coached by former England flop, Andy Robinson, the Scot probably come into this tournament with as much confidence as ever before. Not since the team of the mid-1990’s have a realistic hope of causing a major surprise. With the reliable Chris Patterson still kicking as well as ever, plus their usual determination to mix-up and spoil the tactical plans of more creative teams, no-one will want to play the Scots this time around. A shock, but welcome victory over the Australians in November at Murrayfield highlights this. Scotland will be dark horses this year and their game on Sunday against France could be spiciest encounter of opening weekend.

The tournament is nearly here, consequently the talking can stop and the action can begin. It could well be the closest fought Six Nations for a decade, with maybe five sides having a case for winning the championship. What is definite, is that we are in for six weeks of gruelling and pulsating rugby action.

Also, this is the first Six Nations without the ‘Voice of Rugby’ around to watch. RIP Bill McLaren, you will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.