The 6 Nations splutters back into life

(picture http://bit.ly/XP8tl6)

After a two week break, the 6 Nations splutters back into life this weekend.  England vs France is the big match, but this is a tournament deciding match for Ireland coming up. If we scrape thought this one – then beat France and Italy, or at least Italy anyway, we will at least be able to hold our heads up in the 6 nations pub. A defeat this Sunday – and that’s our season down the tube. If you looked at our match against England and said – what could possibly go wrong – well all of that and more happened.

We have 2,5 decent props in the country, but the lean mean Cian machine did a wobbly on us, and can’t play this weekend. Our star out half will being the stands. We had exactly two fit adequate locks, now we have one. The Darce is out, Zebo is nowhere to be seen.  But in the team picked, we at least have some fresh faces, I like Jackson at 10 and Marshall in the centres, feck it, time to take some chances. Scotland are waiting for us like a giant banana skin – we are supposed to be able to beat them, but man are we going to struggle! It all depends on which team Scottish team turns up. But for me , Ireland should just ,just , nab this one.

In the Italy Wales match, it will be interesting to see if Italy can show that the French victory wasn’t just a flash in the pan, and they are from here on in going to make their home ground a fortress. Wales need to show a lot more than they have so far to take this one, but I kind of think they will.

Finally, Wales and Ireland will be holding their breath to see if the French can open the tournament up again by besting the English at Twickenham. We want them to discover a little bit of form to sort out Les Rosbifs, and then lose it for our match. They could easily do that – or they could roll over and play dead, and continue their embarrassing run of form. England haven’t really showed a lot, but have been solid and dependable – if the French can put them under pressure, let’s see what happens. I think France will play better, but that England will still win.

RBS Six Nations
Saturday , February 23
Italy vs Wales 15:30
England vs France 17:00
Sunday , February 24
Scotland vs Ireland 14:00