ATW FRIDAY NIGHT 6 NATIONS JUKEBOX
By Pete Moore On February 3rd, 2012Because Friday night’s Music Night, but roll on tomorrow …
This is one of my favourite times of the year. Whatever else is going on, the 6 Nations is at the top of my sporting tree and tomorrow it’s back.
Predictions? Who knows? It’s all change for many. Six Nations champions England have had a right old clear out with manager, coaches and just about all the old guard gone. In place is a young and dynamic squad with little experience of Test rugby. So they’ll appreciate the warm welcome at Murrayfield tomorrow for the Calcutta Cup match. France and Italy meet tomorrow. France are my favourites to take the championship even though they’ve changed coaches and brought in some new players. They could be pushed very close by either Ireland or Wales, who meet on Sunday in Dublin. I’ll give Wales the edge because they have continuity and Ireland will miss Brian O’Driscoll who is out of the entire tournament with injury. You just don’t replace magic and physical commitment that easily. As always, let’s hope the refs look the other way and we get some good old fashioned scrapping.
For the US audience the England v Scotland game is on BBC America tomorrow at midday and there is one live game each weekend.
http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2012/01/6-nations-rugby-live-broadcasts-return-to-bbc-america/
I wouldn’t say that Wales have continuity on their side. There are three changes from the Ireland side that played Wales in the World Cup (O’Driscoll, O’Gara and Earls) and they are being replaced by three guys in great form (McFadden, Sexton and Trimble). The Welsh have five changes with most forced by injuries, while two of their starters haven’t played recently (with Jamie Roberts not having played at all this year). Of the five changes four of them are in the pack (the other being Shane Williams) while Ireland names an unchanged pack.
Seamus -
The Welsh pack is carrying some injuries, but you’d say only Rhys Gill at loosehead is raw and even then he’ll have Huw Bennett and Adam Jones alongside him.
Injuries or not, I fancy Ireland on Sunday. Home advantage and a better pack should do it.
I’m not suggesting that they are throwing inexperienced players out there. I just don’t think they have greater continuity than Ireland. Ireland’s strongest point is continuity.