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Six Nations 2018

Yesterday showed just why the 6 Nations is so good when the home nations are playing each other - you just cannot take any game for granted given the historical aspects to each, particularly when England are playing the other 3 - and also France - away from Twickenham.

In that respect I always think it's harder for England to win a Grand Slam/Triple Crown/Calcutta cup, even with the playing depth and resources available to them.

But I think in the long run the result yesterday could end up being good for them. The great Woodward side blew 2 or 3 Grand Slams before getting it right in 03 and then backing that up in the World Cup final.

Ultimately it comes down to what's between the ears and how you cope when things aren't going your way. Scotland yesterday were immense in every department and England had no answers and were therefore lacking mentally. Hopefully they'll learn from that going forward and be mentally tougher.

Plus remember that a good win in France, and the same at Twickenham against Ireland and England win the Championship for 3 in a row. Unlikely I know given how food Ireland are playing, but a lot can happen in 3 weeks.
 
Was a disappointing result yesterday for England, very po9r start and only got going in the second half, seemed to lack ideas going forward and were slow at the breakdown.
Nigel wasn’t at his best yesterday, but he isn’t the reason we lost, we lost as Scotland had more intensity first half and England were flat!
Onwards and upwards, France next, the ireland, big games and see how we bounce back.
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
Is Val outta bed yet (did he actually get there?)
Click to expand...

Aw man, what a day. That has been a long time coming, we’ve played against poorer England teams than that one and came up short. We deserved that victory and it makes that opening fixture in Cardiff all the more frustrating.

Met a few England fans who were very gracious in defeat and one in particular was great company in the bar afterwards ........ Gregg Wallace of Masterchef fame
 
A well deserved scotland win. I said the 6 nations is best with all teams playing well and aside from Italy any team can beat any other. At least the Tigers cheered me up today with an unexpected bonus point win.

I think Wales gifted that game to Ireland. Biggar cannot play that expansive game that Scarlets play and it is no coincidence that Wales played better with the whole Scarlerts back line.
 
GB72 said:
A well deserved scotland win. I said the 6 nations is best with all teams playing well and aside from Italy any team can beat any other. At least the Tigers cheered me up today with an unexpected bonus point win.

I think Wales gifted that game to Ireland. Biggar cannot play that expansive game that Scarlets play and it is no coincidence that Wales played better with the whole Scarlerts back line.
Click to expand...

But then Sextons kicking was off, so Ireland could have been out of sight early. Swings and roundabouts.
 
PieMan said:
Yesterday showed just why the 6 Nations is so good when the home nations are playing each other - you just cannot take any game for granted given the historical aspects to each, particularly when England are playing the other 3 - and also France - away from Twickenham.

In that respect I always think it's harder for England to win a Grand Slam/Triple Crown/Calcutta cup, even with the playing depth and resources available to them.

But I think in the long run the result yesterday could end up being good for them. The great Woodward side blew 2 or 3 Grand Slams before getting it right in 03 and then backing that up in the World Cup final.

Ultimately it comes down to what's between the ears and how you cope when things aren't going your way. Scotland yesterday were immense in every department and England had no answers and were therefore lacking mentally. Hopefully they'll learn from that going forward and be mentally tougher.

Plus remember that a good win in France, and the same at Twickenham against Ireland and England win the Championship for 3 in a row. Unlikely I know given how food Ireland are playing, but a lot can happen in 3 weeks.
Click to expand...

Why is it harder for England than any other side? It's the same for every team, when Scotland get England and France at home they have tough trips away in Wales and Ireland (and Italy i suppose) then you have how the fixtures pan out and as we know, momentum is king in the 6 nations.

I would argue it was potentially easier for England this year as the fixture list was kind, starting away to Italy before getting Wales at home and then up to Scotland to play a side they haven't lost to in that ground for 10 years then a French side who are a bit of a basket case and have been for years.
 
GB72 said:
A well deserved scotland win. I said the 6 nations is best with all teams playing well and aside from Italy any team can beat any other. At least the Tigers cheered me up today with an unexpected bonus point win.

I think Wales gifted that game to Ireland. Biggar cannot play that expansive game that Scarlets play and it is no coincidence that Wales played better with the whole Scarlerts back line.
Click to expand...

Have you kept an eye on Cockerills Edinburgh? He's got them playing very well and becoming very difficult to beat.
 
On saturday after the game in my head I was back in Edinburgh - bouncing along the road back to the city centre - into The Rutland (as it was) for the first of many - before grabbing some nosh somewhere - anywhere - up Lothian Rd. Then across to the High Street and it was always Deacon Brodies for a mighty sing-song - then after many a sunken pint finishing up in The Last Drop in the Grassmarket to round off the day - and another great sing-song as all our party of 50 gathered together from wherever we'd scattered to after the game - prior to the midnght coach back to Glasgow.

That was a long time ago mind - my last Murrayfield was the 1984 Grand Slam game against France - when I bought my ticket on the coach for double the face value. It cost me a princely £10. Quite. But I was happy to pay that as I'd saved money for a ticket by hitch-hiking to Glasgow from Bristol as I'd only just recently moved to Bristol and was skint.

Great days. rather fancy getting back to going (have to buy a place in Embra first though)
 
Last edited:
Val said:
Have you kept an eye on Cockerills Edinburgh? He's got them playing very well and becoming very difficult to beat.
Click to expand...

I watched the last Edinburgh v Glasgow game - near 24,000 in Murrayfield on a cold Saturday evening 23rd December. And Embra won at the death - there was me thinking that Glascu were the top boys - they just didn't turn up - that said the Embra pack were good.
 
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