It’s the end of another Six Nations up in the North and there’s been some great stories evolve throughout the five rounds of matches.
From Ireland’s unstoppable ascendancy to Grand Slam winners and ranking as second best team in the world, to what some are calling the beginnings of #downfall2018 for England, to the resurgence of France, there has been a lot to talk about.
Ireland are a class act
To be fair it’s not really shocking news to anyone but the Irish are getting better and better. After just two losses in 2017 they’ve started 2018 in fine form and are unbeaten.
They’ve looked comfortable in every game this championship and no team has really been able to trouble them for extended periods of time.
Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton have shown why they in the top two halves combinations in world rugby with not just attacking potency but such an incredible control over a game that it just doesn’t seem to matter what the opposition throw at them.
This Irish team have shown a great ability to read the game well, build pressure and then take advantage when their opponents inevitably make a poor decision.
They’ve been able to win big games away from home and if they’re starting to blend a team of wise experience with exciting youth.
If they can keep key players like Sexton and Murray injury free then they will be one of the favourites to go deep in the World Cup.
(Photo by Lynne Cameron/Getty Images)
England’s form is looking less like a blip and more like genuine problems
Despite the success of the first two years of the Eddie Jones era, there have been those who have been suggesting that all is not roses for the English roses.
This Six Nations has brought evidence to these rumours – England finished fifth in the championship, lost three games and really struggled to put together any decent performances.
Their forwards look average compared to the powerhouse pack of 2016/17 and their attack is really lacking… well, any signs of actual attack.
Too many key players are looking well out of sorts – Maro Itoje for example is a shadow of his former self.
The challenge for this team now is how they react to this period of poor form. If they can find a way back then they could arguably become more of a threat than they looked previously under Jones.
However if they don’t fix these problems quickly then the rest of 2018 could see them stumble down the world rankings as the southern hemisphere teams smell blood in the water.
It’ll be interesting to see how Jones when he takes the team to South Africa this year. It really could be a make or break tour for him and his players.
(Photo by Ashley Western – MB Media via Getty Images)
Wales are the second best team in Europe apparently – except they are not
The final table shows that Wales are the second best team in the northern hemisphere having desperately held on to beat the French by just one point. But they really are not that good.
They were beaten by both England and Ireland and only just beat the French at home. While I’d argue that their final second place flatters them, they have definitely shown good signs of moving away from the outdated Gatland-Ball style of playing and have brought some more attacking flair to their game plan.
Against the Scots in their opening game they caught the in-form Scottish by surprise with some great play.
There are some exciting youngsters coming through for the Welsh and they need to persevere with this new style even if they have a few rocky results if they want to compete against the best sides in the rest of 2018 and 2019.
(Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)
The French are back! Well, not really, but kind of
World rugby is a better place when there is a competitive and successful French side. The Top 14 domestic league has attracted both talented players from around the world as well as criticism in the way it beasts its players and the styles that reward success.
For too long the French national side have been ineffective and with 2017 ending in a loss to the travelling South Africans, a draw against Japan and the first sacking of a French coach ever things looked bad.
But in this year’s championship they beat England and were very close to beating both Ireland and Wales.
With players like Gael Fickou and Mathieu Bastareaud living up to their potential on the international stage the French are looking like a team that others need to take seriously.
Don’t get me wrong – there are still plenty of things that they need to work on but this Six Nations will have really helped to get the team and their reputation back going in the right direction. The hard work has only just begun, but at least it’s begun.
(Photo by David Rogers – RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)
The Six Nations is more exciting than the Rugby Championship
If you’ve been watching over the past eight weeks or so you’ll have got to see five of the world’s top eight teams go head to head including two of the top three.
The games have been competitive with only the matches against Italy being predictable.
A combination of historic rugby rivalries, experienced players and fresh young talent coming up against each other week in week out is hard to resist.
Yes, the Rugby Championship has the best of the best with the All Blacks, but as a tournament, is the Southern Hemisphere annual competition actually competitive?
When was the last time there was genuine debate about who was going to come away with the silverware?
The Six Nations is a fantastic tournament and it has given rugby fans some great entertainment over the past couple of months.
Malo
Guest
Sr is not watched by the masses but the exclusive few and it is not marketed or on at reasonable times
Taylorman
Guest
Luckily for them you mean? Whens the last time Ireland lost to Scotland and Wales? 2017? Abs, never and 1954. Hmmm...
HenryHoneyBalls
Guest
I don't think NZ have ever played all six nations sides in a calendar year so there isn't much precedent to NZ winning a grand slam. Not in your books? Is that because NZ lost their last game to Australia?
Cathal
Guest
Who would that someone be?
Lara
Guest
The 6N is a great comp, very tribal and hence the great turn out of spectators . The standard of the teams are close and therefore close games. RC has been one sided but not always. The Argies hasn't improved the comp and that is a shame , but no lack of trying...even a retired ABs coach tried to assist. End of the day rugby down under isn't so bad. Enjoy the success in 6N and may it continue . The RC comp is still a good comp and the standard of the teams will get closer and therefore closer games. The Tribal aspect is there and it is as strong as ever , win or lose the diehard fans will still be there , supporting their teams 100%.
Rugby Fan
Roar Guru
"Yea good point, though that doesnt explain why they play so much better than the rest" You'll get no argument (or excuses) from me on that point.
Taylorman
Guest
Yea good point, though that doesnt explain why they play so much better than the rest, including the Lions, that was the kahunas part. The 79 side was fantastic, as was their 86, 87 world cup effort, the try from the endof the world in 94, the drawn series in 09 etc etc. Let alone their worldcup efforts in 87, 99, 07, 2011. Far more memorable for their efforts, some great tries and wins than any home unions or Lions sides, and theres five of them, england 03 and Lions 17 the only decent sides to make a dent. Their 13 effort was poor but hopefully we’ll see a bit more flair than last time, when barretts subbing really put them to the sword.
Johnny Boy
Guest
Yeah I would take him over any NZ no 12 atm.
Rugby Fan
Roar Guru
Nothing to do with kahunas, it's the Lions. France aren't part of the Lions. That gives them more opportunity to tour top opposition as a national side. Also, when New Zealand aren't facing the Lions themselves, they like to get France over if they can in those years (1989, 2001, 2009, 2013) Similarly, when the Lions toured a country, it wasn't common for any of the Home Nations to go back there individually the following year. The next team to tour New Zealand after a Lions tour was usually France (1984, 1994, and this year - Ireland broke the cycle in 2006)
Taylorman
Guest
Not really, they just have the kahunas to tour here more often. And when they do, they go for it. The french have scored many fantastic tries in NZ. Cannot say anything like that for any of the home union sides. Not even close.
cuw
Guest
LOL - forget the NZ team . the only center i can think of replacing with OF in any super rugger team - maybe that dreadlock guy Faauli ( CHIEFS ) . all others are much better for each team - than OF will be. Blues - SBW and Reiko / Moala Crusaders - Crotty and Goodhue Hurricanes - Laumape and Proctor / Aso Highlanders - Rob Thompson and Tei Walden Chiefs - ALB and Faauli
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
Would you take him over Crotty and ALB?
Celtic334
Guest
Ireland are just England 12months ago. A very good team...yes but they just lack someone that any potential World Cup winning team needs to have. I still fancy England to be the Kiwis biggest threat in 12 months time
Rugby Fan
Roar Guru
I replied to your earlier post with a list of all the age-group players who had made it into Eddie Jones's training squads (that I can remember). You may think it is unlikely that injury kept them out but that's exactly what happened. Sam Jones (career -ending leg injury) Jack Clifford (Horror run of injuries) Zach Mercer (ruled out of this 6 Nations) Sam Underhill (out with concussion, then ruled out of this 6 Nations) Kyle Sinckler (suspended, then played when available) Ben Curry (Went to Argentina, got injured) Tom Curry (Selected ahead of his brother, injured before he could play) Nick Isiekwe (available but lock is not a weak position) Gabriel Ibitoye (Given game time in the U20s Six Nations where he starred against Ireland) Marcus Smith (Jones spotted him in 2015, and included him as an apprentice this year) , Sam Moore (also qualified for Wales, initially called up to the main squad but played in the U20s Six Nations) Gary Graham (also qualified for Scotland, included before the Italy match, then injured) Henry Slade (injured, and only back in time for Ireland) Harry Mallinder (included in the wider training squad, but not in great form) Two young props who didn't come through the age group pathways, Ellis Genge and Harry Williams, are both injured I do agree that Jones has not sufficiently deepened the England selection pool but it's certainly not because he hasn't tried to bring people through the age group pathways. Injury has struck almost every time. It's particularly bad news in the back row, where Jones, Clifford, the Curry twins, Underhill and Mercer have all looked promising. Jones has had other options though. For instance, there were two England Saxons matches against South Africa A in 2016 but very few of those players have ever been involved with the senior squad again, That seems like a wasted opportunity. Either the wrong players went on tour, or more should have been given additional chances, Only Don Armand played in this Six Nations, and he was out of the picture for a long time. At the very least, I'd have used Dan Robson, Alex Lewington and Mike Haley more from that tour.
Taylorman
Guest
Like I said, not in my books it aint. Abs would win a GS every 2 or 3 years at a minimum, based purely on the results against those sides to date. They wouldnt go 3-0 through Ozzie as often. But you wouldn't understand that degree of comparison, I understand that too.
Derm
Roar Guru
20 tries in four matches is doing all right for a team that don’t have much on attack. If the Wallabies can defend like France in Paris, it could be interesting.
Johnny Boy
Guest
I disagree, moaman. I was and still am strongly against the new Super schedule as it means we would have twice as many derby games and our NZ players would be the ones who would suffer the most due to the brutal nature of the NZ Conference. But this won't be an issue this year. If you look at our starting forward pack, only Retallick and Cane are currently playing. The rest are all on the sideline and Coles, Moody, Laulala and Read won't play until April/ May. Add in the fact that Retallick had a good six months off last year and Squrie's current six week injury lay off due to a broken thumb, the only guy who realistically will be burnt out would be Cane. You also have to take into account that the ABs will have a couple of weeks off during the Super Season which will also help freshen up the players.. The backs don't do much so they should be sweet.
rebel
Guest
Agree Poth. Can't see how a comp that doesn't involve the team I follow can be 'better'. They are there to serve a purpose geographically, not everything needs to be a competition.
Derm
Roar Guru
Ireland had two foreign-born players in their 23 yesterday. The other 21 are born, raised, and schooled in Ireland. Even the AB’s has more foreign-born players. Err... Aki, Stander, Marmion, Carbery were not born in Ireland. Carbery arrived at age 11.
Derm
Roar Guru
Well, let’s wait and see what Schmidt decides to do. No point in bringing the exact same 23, other players need more experience. And they’ll learn more from a loss as you always say... ?