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I thought I’d kick off with an event that never fails to get me excited year after year, an event that proves that annual international tournaments can indeed be a success. I’m talking, of course, about Rugby Union’s Six Nations, and this year’s tournament looks to be as open as I can remember.
England took home the trophy last year, and they looked destined for the Triple Crown and Grand Slam too until they were crushed by Ireland in the final week. It was a loss that marred England’s tournament victory, and I for one did not feel like we’d won anything at all after such a comprehensive defeat by O’Driscoll’s men.
This year, however, an England win would be jubilant whatever the circumstances, given the catastrophe of their World Cup campaign; a campaign which is still a bit too painful for me to want to discuss.
England come into the tournament with a much needed new look to their squad, a squad that looks to be built for the future, and even if they struggle this year, I’m all for the changes. Old stalwarts Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Tindall and Lewis Moody, along with ten others who made the trip to New Zealand for the World Cup, are nowhere to be seen, whilst 16 members of the new look outfit have never played in a Six Nations match before.
One of these men is Harlequins back-row Chris Robshaw, who will lead the team out for at least the first two fixtures against Scotland and Italy. Robshaw led Harlequins to the European Challenge Cup trophy last season, and his side currently sit top of the Aviva Premiership. His selection as captain, therefore, is a sign that interim coach Stuart Lancaster is ready to reward those who have impressed in the domestic game.
This philosophy is one which is far too late in coming for a side who have, up till now, been hanging onto the dregs of their World Cup sides from 2007 and even ’03, but is now finally seeing the inclusion of players such as Mike Brown, Jordan Turner-Hall and Owen Farrell who I feel will add a much needed injection of life into a tired rugby nation.
I think England will show promise over the course of the tournament, but don’t see this new breed as winners quite yet. I’m going to put my neck on my line and make a few predictions, starting with the English to finish third this year.
My tip for the trophy this time is Wales. Despite the loss of the little magician Shane Williams, a man who should go down as one of the greatest finishers in the history of the game, the Welsh still look a great bet (William Hill have them at 5/2 if anyone’s interested- as a man who considers gambling an acceptable alternative to getting a summer job to pay off my overdraft, I think I might take them up on that).
The Welsh squad also had a youthful, exciting look to it, and their captain, flanker Sam Warburton, was, for me, one of the players of the World Cup. Add to this the likes to James Hook, George North and Jamie Roberts and it is clear that Wales have a back line capable of hurting any side, even without Williams in their ranks.
France are the pre-tournament favourites after somehow making it to the World Cup final last year following a dismal start, but they are ever unpredictable and I don’t think they will have the drive and hunger to match the Welsh.
They certainly have enough talent for second place however, with the simply brilliant Dusautoir as captain and the likes of Clerc and Nallet amongst their ranks.
I always feel an inexplicable affinity with Ireland during the Six Nations; they are undoubtedly my second team (if such a thing is allowed) and I would be very happy if they were to avenge their World Cup defeat to Wales and go on to win the trophy. That contest with the Welsh was my personal highlight of the World Cup, a real war of attrition, and I feel that if the Welsh are to slip up anywhere in this tournament, it will be against their Celtic rivals.
Come to think of it, this year’s Six Nations could well be all about revenge, for I also see Wales avenging their World Cup defeat to the French, France overturning last year’s Italian embarrassment and England making amends for their defeat by Ireland.
Ireland to come in fourth for me then, with Scotland to beat Italy to fifth and the ever improving Italians to regrettably take home the wooden spoon.
I’d be interested to know whether anyone agrees with me over this year’s Six Nations assessment. I am equally open to abuse should Italy or Scotland romp to a stunning Grand Slam victory or indeed if you disagree at all with my predictions.
Before this starts to sound like a lonely man’s plea for attention I’m going to take leave. I hope you enjoyed the first instalment of Sporting Vision, we’ll be back next week.
Cheeky git! Get a summer job……. just kidding. Great Blog and wish you every success going forward. Reckon you’re spot on with the prediction as long as we win the Calcutta cup!
Good blog, and before the weekend I would have been tempted to agree with you, except I think France may just get the edge in over Wales. Would be interesting to see what you think now after the first lot of matches? I think England are going to get fourth, I just can’t see them beating Ireland, France or Wales after their performance against Scotland. I also agree with your comments on the new look England Squad, these guys should have been integrated sooner so they could mature alongside the old guns, I hope whoever takes over after Lancaster doesn’t undo what he has started!