6 Nations

i_got_a_mohawk · #1 02-07-2011, 05:17 AM

Right, now this Superbowl stuff is out the way, I can start a thread

Anyone here watching it this year?

Wales - England, interesting game, good play but Wales really did start lagging, they'll need to really pick up their game if they want to avoid the wooden spoon!

Italy - Ireland - Quite a dull game, other than the last 10 minutes. Ireland got lucky. They really need to use o'Gara as a starting player, not just a sub to save the game at the end of the day! Italy are looking even more dangerous this year, and Ireland, like Wales, will really need to up their game to do well.

France - Scotland - Another good game I thought, granted, we got humped, but you don't often see Scotland scoring tries, let alone 3 in Paris. A lot of potential, just need to cut out the silly little mistakes and up the scrummage game! France on the other hand, look set to take home the title, possibly the grand slam with England looking like the only team here that could take them on.

Worth a shot to see if this thread'll go anywhere

Apparently the 6 Nations games are being broadcast on BBC America if any of you folks across the pond fancy seeing what it's all about!

**Vorago** · #2 02-07-2011, 06:10 AM

Come on Wales!

However, the last game I saw of Wales (vs the AB?) showed how much they miss Shane Williams (imo).

edit; Shane is back I see :-)

Also interested in how the French will do, they have great potential with the Clermont/Toulouse backs. Now if only the coach (Lievremont?) wouldn't completely alter his team every time they play.

i_got_a_mohawk · #3 02-07-2011, 06:47 AM

I think he completelly altered the team after they were decimated by Australia in the Autumn test series last year, 59-16, in Paris! Was surprised to see they weren't fielding Bastareaud, but I'm glad to see Chabal is still in the fray!

EdHunter · #4 02-07-2011, 07:12 AM

Bloody egg chasers...

MJ5150 · #5 02-07-2011, 08:29 AM

Sure. I'll give it a go and follow it. I can get BBC here where I live. I'll take Scotland.

-Mike

i_got_a_mohawk · #6 02-07-2011, 08:33 AM

Probably not the safest of bets

MJ5150 · #7 02-07-2011, 08:47 AM

Eh, sounds even better. I like an underdog story.

Even better, I found the 6 Nations website, and they have an online store. I really dig the logo.

-Mike

Jim Campbell · #8 02-07-2011, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Right, now this Superbowl stuff is out the way, I can start a thread

Anyone here watching it this year?

Wales - England, interesting game, good play but Wales really did start lagging, they'll need to really pick up their game if they want to avoid the wooden spoon!

Italy - Ireland - Quite a dull game, other than the last 10 minutes. Ireland got lucky. They really need to use o'Gara as a starting player, not just a sub to save the game at the end of the day! Italy are looking even more dangerous this year, and Ireland, like Wales, will really need to up their game to do well.

France - Scotland - Another good game I thought, granted, we got humped, but you don't often see Scotland scoring tries, let alone 3 in Paris. A lot of potential, just need to cut out the silly little mistakes and up the scrummage game! France on the other hand, look set to take home the title, possibly the grand slam with England looking like the only team here that could take them on.

Worth a shot to see if this thread'll go anywhere

Apparently the 6 Nations games are being broadcast on BBC America if any of you folks across the pond fancy seeing what it's all about!

oddly enough,the mohawks are part of the six nation confederacy in america/canuckistan....

MJ5150 · #9 02-07-2011, 09:39 AM

How do the teams for the 6 Nations get selected? Is it a qualifier that gets them in, or a long standing tradition those six teams play in it?

-Mike

Skitch it! · #10 02-07-2011, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

How do the teams for the 6 Nations get selected? Is it a qualifier that gets them in, or a long standing tradition those six teams play in it?

-Mike

Long tradition Mike, up until 2000 it was known as the 5 nation's (from 1910), since Italy came in in 2000, it became the 6 nations, as far as the play, team V team selection, I believe it's based on home/away rotation, but may be wrong, it's a bit of a mystery. I'll dig out more info, I'm not an avid follower apart from interest in the 6, but a few friends I have live for it, they should clear that one, maybe?

i_got_a_mohawk · #11 02-07-2011, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Campbell

oddly enough,the mohawks are part of the six nation confederacy in america/canuckistan....

That's pretty cool

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

How do the teams for the 6 Nations get selected? Is it a qualifier that gets them in, or a long standing tradition those six teams play in it?

-Mike

It's a yearly event, it started off as the "Home Nations", in 1883, which saw England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales playing against each other. In 1910, France joined, and it became the 5 nations. There were a few changed between the 6 Nations and Home Nations after that (much to do with the war and various economic problems at the time). And in 2000, Italy joined, making it the 6 nations.

Each team play each other once, alternating between playing home and away each year.

If one team wins all their games, it's considered winning a Grand Slam and there are a few other cups involved aswell.

Scotland vs England decides the winner of the Calcutta Cup.

And if any of the Home Nations teams, beat all of the others (ie, if Scotland were to beat England, Ireland and Wales), they would be awarded the Triple Crown.

No qualifiers, it is just the same teams year in and year out.

A similar tournament is held between New Zeland, Australia and South Africa, which is the Tri-nations. This is (likely) to become the Four Nations soon, as Argentina may be joining that tournament.

If you really enjoy your taste in Rugby, the Rugby World Cup is coming up soon, so you should be able to follow more team. The USA is in the pool stages, with Australia, Ireland, Italy and Russia

MJ5150 · #12 02-07-2011, 10:11 AM

Thank you for the background. This sounds really interesting, and something I can get into for sure. I'm not much of a rugby follower, but I'll go watch Invictus tonight to get myself fired up again. I just ordered a 6 Nations t-shirt and Scotland t-shirt from the website store.

How long is the rugby season, and when does it start and finish?

-Mike

i_got_a_mohawk · #13 02-07-2011, 10:33 AM

I just read into the history because our actual playing is painful at times!

Nice work Mike

The Rugby season tends to kick off in the Autumn and end just before Summer. There are a huge number of cups and numerous leagues etc.

For internationals, each year there is the 6 nations and tri nations. The 6 nations always starts round about now and lasts 5 weeks. There are also Test matches during the summer and around November.

Every 4 years we'll see a Rugby World Cup, also every 4 years (roughly) we'll get a "Lions Tour". Which is where a team of the best players from the UK and Ireland are banded together and go play a series of games in either South Africa, Australia or New Zeland (rotates each time).

Another interesting one is the Barbarians RFC, which is an invite only club. Basically the best players in the world get selected to play for the babas (Barbarians) and they'll go on tours or play teams (ranging from club level teams all the way to full internationals).

There are a lot of rules to the game, and many people get caught up/put off by that. But with a little reading and understanding, they are fairly simple

MJ5150 · #14 02-11-2011, 08:11 AM

Scotland plays Wales tomorrow!

On another note, I caught the Australia versus New Zealand match last night in the Sevens World Series. I recorded the USA/France game and will watch it today.

-Mike

Skitch it! · #15 02-11-2011, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Scotland plays Wales tomorrow!

On another note, I caught the Australia versus New Zealand match last night in the Sevens World Series. I recorded the USA/France game and will watch it today.

-Mike

Whomever win's this one tomorrow, there will always be respect between 'those' two teams opposing on the pitch, history has embedded that one

MJ5150 · #16 02-11-2011, 01:19 PM

I'm going for Scotland! I'll even watch Braveheart tonight to get myself excited for the match.

-Mike

Skitch it! · #17 02-11-2011, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

I'm going for Scotland! I'll even watch Braveheart tonight to get myself excited for the match.

-Mike

I'm for both, whichever

I'm thinking about putting $30 on France for the 6 taker though, in fact tomorrow I will before the odd's change, TBC...........

MJ5150 · #18 02-11-2011, 01:50 PM

So how is this tournament and the Sevens World Series going on at the same time?

-Mike

BartmanPDX · #19 02-11-2011, 02:12 PM

Rugby rules. It's my favorite sport to play and watch.

Thanks for the heads-up about the tournament. I'd forgotten it was that time again.

dj150888 · #20 02-11-2011, 02:52 PM

As an Irish man, you can guess who I'm rooting for, unfortunately unless we SERIOUSLY up our performance compared with how we played against Italy, we're screwed. I predict the following finish

France
England
Ireland
Wales
Scotland
Italy

I haven't checked with any bookmakers, but I'd imagine thats probably the order they've favoured as well.