Six Nations 2011

February for many means spring is in the air and what better way to celebrate than clean the house from top to bottom with the mother of all dusting and tiding. Without sounding like Richard Keys or Andy Gray, while your busy doing that, I'll be making in a groove into the armchair with the sport that awaits for the next two months. Superbowl Sunday, the return of the proper stages of the Champions League, Cheltenham just around the corner and my personal fav, the RBS Six Nations championship. There is simply no greater way for us to gain bragging rights over our neighboring countries than this, now that they're all laughing at us as our Celtic tiger looks like a poor cat dead at the side of the road, abandoned without hope. Winning another grand slam would certainly left the mood of the nation again.Who will win this year. Can we beat England for the 7th time in 8 years?

I give my verdict on this season's finishing positions but you'll get a chance to challenge my prediction and win a wee free bet for your troubles.




England-Verdict: 1st

England are slight favourites for the first time since 2003. They also haven't really came within as asses roar of winning it since then either and while it's wide open on paper, England look ready to step up to the mark. Back to back victories from the Wallabies and even defeat to the Springbox will have shown them the fruits of their labour are starting to surface and the panel looks ready to make the step up. One worry is the injury to winger Chris Ashton who along with Ben Foden have given Northampton and England the ammunition in the backs to open up opposition. Anything else but 4 wins would be failure this season.


Scotland-Verdict: 2nd

"Scotland second, this fella is off his rocker" I hear you say. Well yes perhaps I am being a little generous and a heavy defeat to France away first time out and it may look like as clever as a Brian Cowen reshufflement. I fancied them last season to do well and when you stop and think about it, they should of walked away with a triple crown. An unbelievable finish to the Welsh game when they had it in the bag only for a horror injury(which retired Thom Evans) and being reduced to 13 men cost a big early victory, a draw with England that they should of won and finished with a deserved victory in Dublin. They will fancy beating Wales and Ireland again and while I can't see a victory in Twickenham, catching France early is always the best time to cause an upset. They don't score many tries(7 in 13 games) and if they start poorly, it's an uphill battle all the way.


France-Verdict: 3rd

Last season's champions possess all the talent to go back to back. However with a horror loss to Australia in November, coupled with the fact it's a World Cup year and they must travel to Dublin and London, I don't fancy them this season. They will stay under the radar for the season before catching one of the southern hemisphere cold come knockout stages in the World Cup.

Ireland-Verdict: 4th

Ireland tend to to well in the odd years on account of the fact England and France must come to us. We only lost one game in 07, 03 and 07 and finally got our just rewards in 09. Why am I so pessimistic this season? 7 injuries against Italy and even if the likes of Heaslip, Ferris and Bowe make it back for France, I can't accept they'll be at full fitness. One of the areas that really concerns me is full back. Munster and Leinster both use non Irish full backs and we really need somebody who excels in that position rather than trying to squeeze either Earls or Fitzgerald into it. It's a specialist position and one which teams will look to exploit though the campaign. The other reason I don't like our chances is the visit of England. I already alluded to the fact I believe they'll win the championship(maybe even Grand Slam) and although we have beaten them every time since that horror day in 2003, bar the end of the Eddie o Sulliavn era 08 match, I see England winning on their first visit to the new Landsdowne Road.




Wales-Verdict:5th

Six defeats and a shambolic draw against Fiji in his last seven Tests means Warren Gatland might not get to lead Wales to the World Cup in his native New Zealand. No Welsh side has made the last 8 of the Heineken Cup or Amlin cup and suddenly you'd have to be one eternal Welshman to fancy their chances. Win against England on opening night and they'll probably feel they can go on a do another 08 Grand Slam. Lose like they're expected and the match against Italy on the 26th of March will be a wooden spoon encounter



Italy-Verdict: 6th
Italy were the bettors favourite team for the first few years they entered the six nations. Back them on the spread and they ended in profit year after year as bookies underestimated their ability. The last two seasons has seen a decline though as Italy have started to go backwards in relation to the other sides. Sergio Parisse is back this season and they have finally sorted out that horredous scrum half problem with the introduction 20-year-old Edouardo Gori. Couple with the inclusion this season of Aironi and Treviso into this season's Magners league and there is room for optimism again but I think they need another season in transition. Now watch them go and beat a wounded Ireland for the first time ever in Six nations history.



So that's the verdict but you're entitled to yours and win a free €30 bet courtesy of John Mulhollands which can be used either Online, over the phone or in any of their 19 shops. The choice is yours.

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