Six Nations - Where's Cilldoubt

[DTCwordfan]

Forecast from here....

Ireland 28, Italy 12
Scotland 18, France 16
England 26, Wales 10

[DTCwordfan]

Chilldoubt not Cilldoubt - wearing my LD glasses, not my reading ones! Oops.

[slaney]

I'll try -
Ireland 25 Italy 10
Scotland 12 France 22
England 21 Wales 24

[DTCwordfan]

well the Irish are one try up already, nicely worked - but there's a review.....oh it's against Italy.

[ChillDoubt]

Apologies DTC and thank you for starting a thread, I've been somewhat waylaid.

Predisctions:

Ireland 27 Italy 13
Scotland 15 France 22
England 15 Wales 19

[albaqwerty]

7-0 to Ireland at the moment, I doubt Italy will trouble them too much.

Scotland will not turn up, again and will be thumped by France.

England v Wales, I reckon will be a tightly fought game.

[ChillDoubt]

Now I've got the predictions in I can submit the appraisals:

Italy go to Ireland on the back of a last minute heartbreaker against Scotland 2 weeks ago. Unfortunately, they are missing their talisman, arguably the best Number 8 in the world at the moment, Captain Fantastic, Parisse. The Irish were on song but stuttered against England, they'll come roaring back this weekend for sure.
As I type, the Italians are getting plenty of encouragement from the partisan home crowd, everyone likes to see them do well, even their opponents!

We move to Murrayfield later, where a resurgent Scotland play host to the 'which team will turn up' French. Buoyed though the Scots will be, I can't see France playing that badly 2 games in a row and expect them to get back on track with a (slightly) against the run of form win, but it'll be close.

Then, we prepare for battle tomorrow.............

The match-up of the weekend sees England at Twickers against the men from the Land of the Dragon.
My heart says Wales (obviously) but my head counters that with the fact that despite all denials the English will be looking for some serious payback after the massacre at the Millenium.
My main worry is Priestland at 10 for Wales. He has, as ever, been nothing more than average. No flair, no guile and failures to find touch when required leave me with a sense of dread. I feel the crowd, venue and occasion will get to him and he'll crumble, along with our hopes.
If he's replace early enough, Biggar can and will come on and do the job for us.

[ChillDoubt]

Fair play, there is some stout Italian defence and they're not taking a backward step.

Forza Italia!

[ChillDoubt]

What a try!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DTCwordfan]

Yes! Well done Italy

How scrappy is this one......

[ChillDoubt]

Parity after 25 minutes, you couldn't make it up!

[albaqwerty]

Was chatting to a pal yesterday, (an avid Irish supporter) who thinks that Italy, within the next 2 -3 years will become quite a force to be reckoned with.

[DTCwordfan]

That may be true, albs. More size and fitness coming through and the backs are coming into it now.

[DTCwordfan]

Personally, I would love to see a Six Nations 2nd Div created and then, say after three years, a play off between wooden spoonists and Div 2 Champions.

Candidate XVs, Russia, Romania, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Benelux, Ukraine and Scandinavia.

[ChillDoubt]

Sexton slots a pen to take the lead, 9 minutes to half time and Italy are more than holding their own.

[DTCwordfan]

There goes Darbbasharra and who's coming on? A Bus-of-wine? Interesting Italian names!

[albaqwerty]

a 6 nations 2nd division? Yep, I'd go for that :-)

Thon Italian replacement is a bit of a bear!

Ireland's defence is as strong as Italy's I think. Next half will have me chomping my nails.

[DTCwordfan]

Thought that the Azzuri were going to hold out there.....

[ChillDoubt]

A short passage of turnovers and Trimble goes over for the score, which is tough on Italy who are looking to play expansively.

[albaqwerty]

Will it be converted to extend Ireland's lead?

Yep, surely?

[albaqwerty]

nice one Mr Sexton!