WHO KNOWS THE intricacies of each Six Nations team best?
Who jumps for the strengths, screams at the weakness and recognises the first signs of abject failure?
It’s the fans, that’s who.
So, we asked some of Europe’s finest rugby bloggers to give us their tuppence worth on what kind of egg-shaped delights their native land would be offering up over the next five international Tests.
Wales
Woodster is one half of the team behind TheCoalFace, a blog written by Welsh fans for Welsh fans (but you can stop by too).
The CoalFace looks to provide detailed analysis and discussion about everything related to Welsh rugby, and thrives on the debates that arise from carefully written opinion pieces. Cymru Am Byth!
How do you expect Wales to do this time out?
The million dollar question. Who knows?
We won the Grand Slam, and then went on this catastrophic run which seems to have gone on and on. Minus the mickey-mouse Barbarians test in the summer, we haven’t tasted victory for 10 months, pretty tough to take.
So in a round about answer to your question, the realist in me says that we’ll do relatively badly, maybe third or fourth. However, there is a feeling within Wales that they perform the best when not a lot is expected of them (see 2008 GS) so the optimist in me says we’ll do alright. The first match is crucial as always.
Which area of the Welsh team keeps you awake at night with worry?
Where to start? The 10 shirt is a massive issue. Ever since Warren Gatland retired Stephen Jones we have had issues.
Priestland did amazingly well at the World Cup, but it’s probably fair to say that he’s struggled since then. With Priestland now out, we’ve got Hook or Biggar and neither of them fill me with a huge amount of confidence. We’ve also got a bit of a lock crisis and that could be catastrophic, especially against the big packs.
What is Rob Howley’s big selection call?
There are two. The 10 shirt is probably the biggest. Does he go with unpredictable Hook knowing that he has the ability to win and lose us the game singlehandedly? Or does he go for the as yet internationally unproven Biggar?
The other one is who to play at seven. We all love Sam ( Warburton) here in Wales, but he’s currently not the same player who gained rave reviews at the World Cup in New Zealand. However, Justin Tipuric has been phenomenal and in my opinion deserves to start at seven for Wales. The situation is complicated by the fact that Sam has retained the captaincy, making it far more difficult for him to be left out.
Who’s Wales’ key man for 2013?
I think that if he is given the opportunity, Tipuric could be the key man for Wales. Looking around at the other 6 Nations teams, most don’t appear to have a poacher, and if Tipuric is selected I think he could run riot at the breakdown which as we all know is where the game is often won and lost.
Leigh Halfpenny is also going to be crucial again, I know that the media are playing up the chances of Byrne gaining a recall to first XV but realistically you can’t look past Leigh as first name on the team sheet and first choice goal-kicker.
Your (brutally honest) thoughts on Ireland and their chances…
You’ll be there or thereabouts. The Irish player I’m most impressed with at present is Sexton who I think is pretty nailed on to be the Lions 10 and deservedly so.
If the Irish pack can provide him with enough good quality ball and BOD can get back to his sparkling best then you guys are always going to be a threat. I think you may struggle at the breakdown, not through lack of ability or might, but it’s like every year, we’re never quite sure how the referees will interpret it this year. All the best anyway!
Who’ll win the tournament (and are they good enough to win a Grand Slam?)
I literally have no idea. I think France, England, Wales and Ireland all have a realistic shot at it and because the competition is so open I don’t believe that there will be a Grand Slam. If I was pushed to name the winner I’ll go with my heart and plump for Wales to surprise a few people.
England
Total Flankeris an overweight, opinionated, 40-something, injury-prone loose forward still deluded enough to believe he can still play rugby despite all the evidence to the contrary.
His blog features his utterly biased, often unfair and mostly uninteresting views on the game of rugby… which is why we think he’s great!
Clive Gee/PA Wire/Press Association Images
How do you expect England to do this time out?
I’m really not sure. Was the win against the All Blacks a blip or was it just the beginning?
If we can take that form and momentum into the first match against Scotland then you never know. Start slowly and and all the good work of the Autumn goes to waste. One thing’s for sure, this England squad are a resolute mob and teams will have to work extremely hard to beat them.
Which area of the English side keeps you awake at night with worry?
I wouldn’t say any part of this team worries me as such – we are very, very solid throughout. What we do lack (and have done since 2003) is that little bit of midfield stardust that can transform a good team into world beaters. Farrell, Barritt and Tuliagi are robust enough but don’t do enough to release the back three.
What is Stuart Lancaster’s big selection call?
At what stage (if at all) does Billy ’36′ Twelvetrees enter the mix? Big, quick, great defence, soft hands and a siege-gun boot – what’s not to like? And a quite wonderful surname.
Add a midfield trio of Freddie Burns, Twelvetrees and Tuilagi to this England team, light the blue touchpaper and stand back.
Who’s England’s key man for 2013?
Chris Robshaw. We’re constantly told by so-called experts (Warren Gatland included) that Robshaw is not a true seven, more a six-and-a-half. The England skipper’s work at the breakdown against the All Blacks, however, was a masterclass – try asking Richie McCaw how good Robshaw is.
Your (brutally honest) thoughts on Ireland and their chances…
Being brutally honest, I’ve no idea! Will we see last season’s listlessness or are the Autumn internationals more of a guide?
Certainly in November the likes of Gilroy and Henderson were a breath of fresh air, and with BOD back and Ulster in particular looking virtually unbeatable this season, I can see the Irish being a handful, especially in Dublin where England’s recent track record is nothing short of abysmal. And if the Irish do struggle they can always just import another prop from New Zealand!
Who’ll win the tournament (and are they good enough to win a Grand Slam)
It’s wide open this year. If the Autumn internationals are a form guide then France and England are probably slight favourites, but both travel to Dublin.
The Welsh can’t be as bad as in November but don’t have enough depth to cope with the number of injuries they have and I doubt they’ll successfully defend the title. Scotland may surprise a few people, but hopefully not at Twickenham, while Italy will struggle to avoid the Wooden Spoon again.
On balance I’d say France will win it, or maybe England. Or perhaps Ireland! As for a Grand Slam, why not? If one team can grab a couple of early wins the momentum could just take then all the way.
Scotland
Rory Baldwin is the editor of Scottish Rugby Blog, and has offered a fan’s view on Scottish rugby since 2009. An early bloodbath vs Keith Secondary School should have put him off the game for life, but luckily sitting at full-back and on the wing kept him well out of the action.
How do you expect Scotland to do this time out?
I say this every year but it is hard to say, and given our schizophrenic performances in the Autumn (three tries against New Zealand, defeat to Tonga) only gets more difficult.
Glasgow are riding high and Edinburgh plumbing ever lower depths in the Rabo. But with the Six Nations you never know until game one, which in our case is against England. The heart wants a couple of wins, but the head says more dogged losing performances at Twickenham, Paris and beyond. If our team clicks under the new coaching group though, there’s nothing to stop us from contending. The first two games (England and Italy) are our toughest mental challenges.
Which area of the Scottish side keeps you awake at night with worry?
As always, the midfield 10-13.
We have some scoring talent out wide in the backs but against England it may well be for defence that the centres are selected as it has been in the past. This has an unfortunate side effect of stifling ball to the back three, even with a former club stand-off in Matt Scott at 12.
Injuries to Ansbro and De Luca leave us no clear cut choice at 13, although there is a school of thought that Stuart Hogg could fit in there. Which would leave us searching for a fullback again. Like Scott Johnson says, it would be nice to have England’s talent pool.
What is Scott Johnson’s big selection call?
There are any number of areas where he could make a big call and replace a long term incumbent with someone untried/younger in better form (hooker being a prime example). The back row is as always very difficult to select. The biggest call for me is whether Al Kellock makes the team on the strength of his leadership skills. He is Scotland’s best leader, but maybe not its best second row.
Who’s Scotland’s key man for 2013?
Whoever is picked at 10. With Laidlaw the likely 9 and goal kicker, whoever is at 10 will be tasked with bringing the outside backs into the game and using the platform that will undoubtedly be provided by the forwards. In the first game against England and last against France, our props will be key as well.
Your (brutally honest) thoughts on Ireland and their chances…
A few folk are tipping Ireland given they have England and France at home this year (unlike Scotland).
Sexton’s transfer talk won’t help his concentration and Kidney will be under pressure to start building a new golden generation even as the previous one clings on. Zebo and a handful of the Ulster pack should see to that, and the fixture list means they should be there or thereabouts, even with a team that is working through some changes.
Who’ll win the tournament (and are they good enough to win a Grand Slam)
Unless we somehow upset the apple cart on Saturday, sadly I think this will be one of those tournaments that comes down to England or France. Should be no shortage of drama but I can’t see a Grand Slam this year though.
