6 Nations 2018 - Round 1 Predictions

[Banquo]

Gatland’s teams always do it. They back their fitness over 80 if there’s lots of ball in play time.

Yes, I heard the commentators as well. It didn't make much sense esp in the first half against this scots team- they could have kept the ball to keep it in play, and as the lineouts from Scotland were so poor off the park was good....., but hey, a convincing win.

I had the sound off, so I assumed it was genuine question.

No, I just thought they'd switch their tactics a bit against this scots side, but they stuffed them so what do I know.

[Oakboy]

Thought Wales played very well. Their new players stood up and looked the part.

Scotland were inexplicably awful. Maybe the expectation got to them, but they badly miscued today.

yep, losing Faletau, Warburton, Davies, Biggar, Liam Williams and even North would severely dent most sides.

Somehow, no matter what the score, I always felt that Wales were flattered. I can't decide how good they were and how bad Scotland were. The Scottish mistake level was amazingly high. Having said that, AWJ butchered two easy try-scoring chances. Might it all have been different if Gray had passed early on?

[Banquo]

Thought Wales played very well. Their new players stood up and looked the part.

Scotland were inexplicably awful. Maybe the expectation got to them, but they badly miscued today.

yep, losing Faletau, Warburton, Davies, Biggar, Liam Williams and even North would severely dent most sides.

Somehow, no matter what the score, I always felt that Wales were flattered. I can't decide how good they were and how bad Scotland were. The Scottish mistake level was amazingly high. Having said that, AWJ butchered two easy try-scoring chances. Might it all have been different if Gray had passed early on?

Wales were very good in the second half. Their back row did very well.

[Raggs]

Potentially feel similar Oakboy. The scottish defence looked absolutely dire, passive and with holes everywhere. Or were the Welsh just very good? Always seems to take until the 2nd weekend before we can really make judgements. Scots certainly weren't good at keeping hold of their own ball, and seemed to completely lack any heavy ball carriers making it easy for the Welsh defence.

[Banquo]

Potentially feel similar Oakboy. The scottish defence looked absolutely dire, passive and with holes everywhere. Or were the Welsh just very good? Always seems to take until the 2nd weekend before we can really make judgements. Scots certainly weren't good at keeping hold of their own ball, and seemed to completely lack any heavy ball carriers making it easy for the Welsh defence.

true and their lineout was pants, and no inroads at the scrum from Wales. But Wales defended well, and some of their lines and handling were ace.

[twitchy]

This fra - ire game is pretty grim so far.

[16th man]

Anyone else bored of Murray up and unders?

[16th man]

Nige giving the French nothing. Irish 6 jumped straight through that lineout.

[Banquo]

Anyone else bored of Murray up and unders?

Fraid so, but its a key tactic, and as the commentators assistant said, they spend an awful lot of time in training on 'aerial attack'

[morepork]

Kick, kick, kick, kick -loop around- kick, kick, kick - penalty.

[16th man]

Girrado deserves a better team around him.

[Banquo]

For a side that's currently banking on efficiency, Ireland making a fair few errors.

[morepork]

Punishment for being relentlessly conservative.

Somebody do something. Please.

[16th man]

Unfortunately it's not a bad strategy to do the absolute basics and wait for the French to give you a stupid penalty.

[Banquo]

shunt game. France poor, Ireland constipated.

[Digby]

shunt game. France poor, Ireland constipated.

Thank god they brought in BPs for tries, it's really helping this game

[morepork]

No one really looks up for it. Extra ration of grog in the sheds at half time?

[Banquo]

France are re=defining poor

[16th man]

Good lord, France are bad.

[Banquo]

woke up for a second there

[16th man]

Ooh a try could win it for the Fre...... No, couldn't do it.

[Banquo]

apparently its shyte because its drizzling

[morepork]

apparently its shyte because its drizzling

Weak.

[Which Tyler]

I was expecting 3-4 wins for England ahead of this tournie. Quite honestly though, I've seen nothing to scare me from anyone. Wales can attack... when gifted possession and territory, intercepts and huge defensive holes; but it don't see them creating anything against an organised defence today.
Scotland not the threat we thought they'd be.
Neither France nor Ireland look like they know how to score tries, though Ire may have remembered by the time they've put Italy and Scotland to bed.

So far, all four teams seem to have spent all their time on defence and can only make more than 1m of ground through defensive gifts or broken field mayhem.

[16th man]

Easy to say that when we haven't seen our back row in action yet.