Comments on: Six Nations 2008 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:33:23 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: bernarda http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-226666 bernarda Sat, 02 Feb 2008 18:44:08 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/#comment-226666 As I thought about the England team, they are too old and they ran out of steam against Wales. Ireland should have been better against Italy. So we will see tomorrow how France/Scotland goes. Who knows, this may be Wales's year. As I thought about the England team, they are too old and they ran out of steam against Wales.

Ireland should have been better against Italy. So we will see tomorrow how France/Scotland goes. Who knows, this may be Wales’s year.

]]> By: Neil http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-226482 Neil Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:04:24 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/#comment-226482 Regan's continued selection baffles me, too. He was bloody dreadful at Bath - his throwing earned him the nickname 'scud', and his occasional attempts to play as an extra winger were, well, interesting. I suppose at least he gets stuck in, although even that was a problem at times. Regan’s continued selection baffles me, too. He was bloody dreadful at Bath – his throwing earned him the nickname ‘scud’, and his occasional attempts to play as an extra winger were, well, interesting. I suppose at least he gets stuck in, although even that was a problem at times.

]]> By: Chunter http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-226451 Chunter Thu, 31 Jan 2008 07:47:09 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/#comment-226451 I can't remember the last time that there was only one Leicester player (here Moody) in an England team. There will be more Tigers (Geordan Murphy and Castrogiovanni) playing in Dublin than at Twickenham. Hamilton will be playing for Scotland against France. The Ospreys, who supply 13 players to the Wales team, have lost all the three matches they have played against the Tigers since their formation a few years ago. I can’t remember the last time that there was only one Leicester player (here Moody) in an England team. There will be more Tigers (Geordan Murphy and Castrogiovanni) playing in Dublin than at Twickenham. Hamilton will be playing for Scotland against France.

The Ospreys, who supply 13 players to the Wales team, have lost all the three matches they have played against the Tigers since their formation a few years ago.

]]> By: Jimbo http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-226419 Jimbo Wed, 30 Jan 2008 23:31:22 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/#comment-226419 I do believe this won't be Ireland's year - nor last year's winner, France. Rather my prediction is that the teams finish up in the following order: England, Scotland, France, Wales, Ireland, Italy. The big surprize will be Scotland who I think will beat England at Murrayfield and lose only to France at Saint-Denis. France will do well but will lose to England at home and to Wales at Millenium. The caveat to this is that I say the same thing every year hoping that one of these years, my predictions will be born out. ;-) I do believe this won’t be Ireland’s year – nor last year’s winner, France. Rather my prediction is that the teams finish up in the following order: England, Scotland, France, Wales, Ireland, Italy. The big surprize will be Scotland who I think will beat England at Murrayfield and lose only to France at Saint-Denis. France will do well but will lose to England at home and to Wales at Millenium.
The caveat to this is that I say the same thing every year hoping that one of these years, my predictions will be born out. ;-)

]]> By: Michael Keyes http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-226410 Michael Keyes Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:36:56 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/#comment-226410 France, England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, in that order. Ireland will not come close to their promise while Wales will win one more game than predicted. You can all go home now. France, England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, in that order. Ireland will not come close to their promise while Wales will win one more game than predicted.

You can all go home now.

]]> By: shteve http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-226202 shteve Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:30:45 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/#comment-226202 Heineken Cup mentality: every team to win its home games, with Ireland-England at Twickenham the sole exception. France have Ntamak coaching the backs, so expect them to revisit their former glories ... and repeat some time-honoured mistakes. Scotland to shine. Wales to intrigue. Italy to make their minds up - although a home win against England will stop the nagging. The RWC was quite dull the closer you got to the final. Pity. And if BOD ends up as a footnote, well ... Heineken Cup mentality: every team to win its home games, with Ireland-England at Twickenham the sole exception.

France have Ntamak coaching the backs, so expect them to revisit their former glories … and repeat some time-honoured mistakes.

Scotland to shine. Wales to intrigue. Italy to make their minds up – although a home win against England will stop the nagging.

The RWC was quite dull the closer you got to the final. Pity.

And if BOD ends up as a footnote, well …

]]> By: a http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-226197 a Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:37:33 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/#comment-226197 I take New England over the Giants. I take New England over the Giants.

]]> By: John Edward http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-226134 John Edward Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:17:09 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/#comment-226134 I should have added that the two Scottish pro teams have being doing (relatively) well with their meagre resopurces in the past few months. Some good results against big opposition. Light at the end of the tunnel, or the incoming Flying Scotsman? You decide. I should have added that the two Scottish pro teams have being doing (relatively) well with their meagre resopurces in the past few months.

Some good results against big opposition.

Light at the end of the tunnel, or the incoming Flying Scotsman? You decide.

]]> By: Gurney http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-226119 Gurney Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:08:25 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/#comment-226119 this year looks more open that more reent years with Welsh players on form and doing well in the HC, France are always a danger, especially with 2 home games against the so called 'big 2' and Ireland and England in the mix. I simply cant wait till the games kickoff and we get our annual rugby fest.... Prediction: Ireland to win championship in 2008... this year looks more open that more reent years with Welsh players on form and doing well in the HC, France are always a danger, especially with 2 home games against the so called ‘big 2’ and Ireland and England in the mix. I simply cant wait till the games kickoff and we get our annual rugby fest….

Prediction: Ireland to win championship in 2008…

]]> By: John Edward http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-226115 John Edward Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:14:19 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/#comment-226115 Crazy. Scotland has had a poor time of it of late, and last year against Italy still hurts. But the team is getting visibly stronger, has only had one bad injury loss, played a tactically wise World Cup campaign, and is facing France and England at home (who have both had a lot of retirals) while the others away. Wherever they do come - I'm not getting cocky - it WON'T be wooden spoon for Scotland. You read it here first. Crazy.

Scotland has had a poor time of it of late, and last year against Italy still hurts.

But the team is getting visibly stronger, has only had one bad injury loss, played a tactically wise World Cup campaign, and is facing France and England at home (who have both had a lot of retirals) while the others away.

Wherever they do come – I’m not getting cocky – it WON’T be wooden spoon for Scotland. You read it here first.

]]> By: jay bee http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-226114 jay bee Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:13:28 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/#comment-226114 Its very disappointing to see all the press & other predictions about Ireland doing well. Eddie O'Sullivan shows all the signs of having learnt absolutely nothing from the World Cup (it was all down to the conditioning of the players being wrong - somebody's else job apparently) and not Eddie's other failings as a coach: rigid tactical game plan and a failure to develop any real depth in the squad or competition for team places. What's worse is he now seems to be living in a dream world. In an interview in the "english" Independent today he says that he experienced no negative reaction to the World Cup outcome: " I never had one negative letter after the World Cup, or anything like that," he says. "There's been absolutely no backlash at all from the public." What planet is Eddie on and is it it the same one as the RDS in Dublin where the crowd booed when the TV screen in the ground showed a close up of Eddie at the game?? France for the 6-Nations - six uncapped players in the squad of 22 for the Scottish match. (Eddie managed 2 in his extended squad of 30plus). Hopefully Italy will beat Ireland in Croke Park on Saturday and we'll be rid of him. Failing that, if his hand picked veterans can't beat a team of relative novices in Paris... Its very disappointing to see all the press & other predictions about Ireland doing well. Eddie O’Sullivan shows all the signs of having learnt absolutely nothing from the World Cup (it was all down to the conditioning of the players being wrong – somebody’s else job apparently) and not Eddie’s other failings as a coach: rigid tactical game plan and a failure to develop any real depth in the squad or competition for team places.

What’s worse is he now seems to be living in a dream world. In an interview in the “english” Independent today he says that he experienced no negative reaction to the World Cup outcome:

” I never had one negative letter after the World Cup, or anything like that,” he says. “There’s been absolutely no backlash at all from the public.”

What planet is Eddie on and is it it the same one as the RDS in Dublin where the crowd booed when the TV screen in the ground showed a close up of Eddie at the game??

France for the 6-Nations – six uncapped players in the squad of 22 for the Scottish match. (Eddie managed 2 in his extended squad of 30plus).

Hopefully Italy will beat Ireland in Croke Park on Saturday and we’ll be rid of him. Failing that, if his hand picked veterans can’t beat a team of relative novices in Paris…

]]> By: Airbox http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-226101 Airbox Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:16:51 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/#comment-226101 Or you can compete with your predictions of the outcome of the six nations matches -> <a href="http://six.watersheep.org/" rel="nofollow">Six Nations Sweepstake</a> Or you can compete with your predictions of the outcome of the six nations matches ->
Six Nations Sweepstake

]]> By: Toby http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-226100 Toby Tue, 29 Jan 2008 07:33:32 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/#comment-226100 Re: Ireland winning. Depends on which team turns up. Munster players have all returned to form, they might drag their brethren along. It's a "do or die" season for Eddie O'Sullivan ... another disappointment and his position is untenable. That means Ireland MUST come first or a close second. Not only is his reputation at stake, but his legacy as well. Without an international championship, this Irish team (and itd coach) will always be remembered as "nearly men". The single great success for Irish rugby over the last few years was Munster winning the Heineken Cup. That means the most successful Irish coach at this point in time is Declan Kidney. O'Sullivan & Brian O'Driscoll could end up as footnotes in the history books. Re: Ireland winning.

Depends on which team turns up.

Munster players have all returned to form, they might drag their brethren along.

It’s a “do or die” season for Eddie O’Sullivan … another disappointment and his position is untenable. That means Ireland MUST come first or a close second. Not only is his reputation at stake, but his legacy as well. Without an international championship, this Irish team (and itd coach) will always be remembered as “nearly men”.

The single great success for Irish rugby over the last few years was Munster winning the Heineken Cup. That means the most successful Irish coach at this point in time is Declan Kidney.

O’Sullivan & Brian O’Driscoll could end up as footnotes in the history books.

]]> By: Kieran Healy http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-226094 Kieran Healy Tue, 29 Jan 2008 04:58:38 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/#comment-226094 <i>Seeing the World Cup on Versus last year was a real eye-opener about the union game. I had no idea it was that dull.</i> To keep this troll moving, pick up that comment, run two meters, bash into an opponent, fall down, writhe, pause, stand up. Repeat twenty or thirty times. Seeing the World Cup on Versus last year was a real eye-opener about the union game. I had no idea it was that dull.

To keep this troll moving, pick up that comment, run two meters, bash into an opponent, fall down, writhe, pause, stand up. Repeat twenty or thirty times.

]]> By: leinad http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-226092 leinad Tue, 29 Jan 2008 04:44:13 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2008/01/28/six-nations-2008/#comment-226092 France sans Chabal?! C'est un imposture! France sans Chabal?! C’est un imposture!

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