Table of Fixtures & Results
|
Date |
Match |
|
Feb 4, 2012 |
France 30 – 12 Italy |
|
Scotland 6 – 13 England |
|
|
Feb 5, 2012 |
Ireland 21 – 23 Wales |
|
Feb 11, 2012 |
Italy 15 – 19 England |
|
Feb 12, 2012 |
Wales 27 – 13 Scotland |
|
Feb 25, 2012 |
England 12 – 19 Wales |
|
Ireland 42 – 10 Italy |
|
|
Feb 26, 2012 |
Scotland 17 – 23 France |
|
March 4, 2012 |
France v Ireland |
|
March 10, 2012 |
Wales v Italy |
|
Ireland v Scotland |
|
|
March 11, 2012 |
France v England |
|
March 17, 2012 |
Italy v Scotland |
|
Wales v France |
|
|
England v Ireland |
Six Nations Table
|
Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
Pts |
|
Wales |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
|
England |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
|
France |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
Ireland |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Italy |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Scotland |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
Summary of weekend matches
Well the weekend came and went very quickly again, but not quickly enough for Scottish fans! Anyway starting with the Ireland game, let us be honest I did not see Ireland losing this one and they did not raise any eyes brows with a decent win against Italians. The England game was a great advert for rugby! Big hits, great tries and consistency from the referee made great rugby entertainment. If you missed the game please follow this link for the hit of the game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28ctfUDXfMs go to 1.31 on the timer for the tackle. Now that’s what I call a tackle!
Wales deserved their win because they dominated England in the contact areas and showed off that they have the talent and experience to win games. I thought Halfpenny had a fantastic game at fullback and saved his teammates on few occasions when England did break through the line. Therefore Wales did deserve their win and before anyone asks was it a try? It was absolutely not a try by the English winger Strettle because there was no clear evidence to award it. Simples
Now onto the sore subject of the Scotland game. Firstly I thought that was the best performance Scotland has displayed in a long time. They were running with confidence smashing the French back in the tackles and playing with pace. Andy Robinson again showed his managerial master class with the selection of bringing Morrison, Hogg and Blair into the team to give it spark and solid attacking options. I was bouncing halfway into the first half because Scotland was a team possessed. They were doing the fundamentals of rugby union to high standards and taking the game to Rugby world cup runners up. But with a few injuries and the game stop starting gave France the opportunity to get back into the game and show off why they were in the rugby world cup final with some superb counter attacking rugby and physicality.
Half time – still bouncing with excitement that Scotland were going to pull it off and get their first win on the board there was a dark voice in my head saying ‘ they are going to lose this’!
Second half- agony as soon as the French got their noses in front it was game over. I thought Rennie had a fantastic game and showed there is more than one way to steal a ball. The introduction of Hogg into the Scotland set up has created a spark of confidence especially when he flew past the best player in the world last year. Scotland are improving but they better hurry up because the wooden spoon is getting closer.
Favourites
I am staying with my original decision. Wales will win the 6 Nations but will face stiff opposition from the French on the 17th of March at the Millennium stadium. The wooden spoon favourites at the moment are Scotland and Italy with neither team having won a game so the cutlery is still up in air with this one! Second, third and fourth place are also up in the air but I predict the French to come second followed closely by the Irish and then England. Why – well I think the French and Irish have too much experience and determination to lose to this young England team. But this might all change when the French play their rearranged fixture against Ireland on Sunday at 3pm.
Scotland’s hopes and fears
With the wooden spoon looming and six international losses in a row the Scotland team need to find their try scoring days of old! Please follow link for rugby’s greatest try: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwCbG4I0QyA it is not a Scotland try but it is a great try! If Scotland produce something similar I will donate £100 to sport relief !!
However on a serious note if Scotland continues to improve at the current rate and the Irish pick up a few key injuries an upset is on the cards.
Join the debate now!!
Cheers
JP Ward
