Who has the best chance of beating Wales in the 2013 6N?

England did well to keep the score close at Twickenham, but will struggle in Cardiff next year.
3 in a row for Wales v Ireland. Never thought I would see the day. Traditionally Ireland do well in Cardiff, but those days are over.
France will probably be the toughest opponent next year for Wales when they play in Paris.

What a pointless article.

Ozzy3213 wrote:What a pointless article.

Agreed!

Another slam for Wales.

I miss the old star ratings from the beeb606. 1*

ANYONE,lets get 2012 over before crowing about 2013 anything can happen.

Ozzy3213 wrote:What a pointless article.

Whats the score on Posters with multiuple accounts or constant username changes?

grandslam - where's the option for 'none of the above'?

Hey Ozzy can you edit that option into the poll so we all can vote for it? Ta butt.

I think England at home and France away will be the biggest challenges - However if we're not at our best we might only beat both by 7 points again

Morgannwg wrote:grandslam - where's the option for 'none of the above'?

Hey Ozzy can you edit that option into the poll so we all can vote for it? Ta butt.

If we are going to be fair then 'all of the above' should also be an option

england will be a tough game

Scotland away will be a tough game

France away will be a tough game

There is nothing to say Wales will not finish in the bottom half of next years 6N's

Long way to go before now and then!

The question isn't who will beat Wales but who is most likely. It is highly unlikely that more than one side will be the most likely, and though some posters may feel that a Grandslam is more likely than losing to any individual team, the question of who is the most likely to beat Wales is perfectly valid with only the choices shown above. It's still a pointless article though

Remember when the Welsh were sound?

All 6 nations teams have beaten Wales in recent years so wouldn't be surprised if anyone beat them. They are very good but far from unbeatable

Submachine wrote:Remember when the Welsh were sound?

No

Trick question!!
No one can beat Wales, ok you can score more points than them but you can never beat them

you can score more points than them

No you can't

RubyGuby wrote:you can score more points than them

No you can't

Ah but remember a couple of years ago we best you at the MS by scoring more points, but now here's the clincher.........you scored more try's so therefore won

I think trys were worth 10 points then and we wuzz robbed

Wumming aside I'm sure many of us on both sides of the Severn think that now the time has arrived for some great Wales v England battles hopefully for quite afew years to come where both teams go into the game relatively 50/50 - this gives it great theatre and edge. Growing up for me beating England was about as exciting as watching a boiled egg - Come 1990 and the pendulum swung and we couldn't compete for about 15 years due to losing our best to RL. Joking aside the fields look relatively even now and the victorys for each will be that much the sweeter I'm sure - here's hoping

RubyGuby wrote:I think trys were worth 10 points then and we wuzz robbed

Wumming aside I'm sure many of us on both sides of the Severn think that now the time has arrived for some great Wales v England battles hopefully for quite afew years to come where both teams go into the game relatively 50/50 - this gives it great theatre and edge. Growing up for me beating England was about as exciting as watching a boiled egg - Come 1990 and the pendulum swung and we couldn't compete for about 15 years due to losing our best to RL. Joking aside the fields look relatively even now and the victorys for each will be that much the sweeter I'm sure - here's hoping

+1

Away to France in Paris will be the toughest game by far.

It's clearly a wind-up thread.

However, it's pretty difficult to say at this point. Wales, Ireland, France and England are likely to be the top sides as usual. Could finish in any order. Of those, Wales play Ireland and England at home so France away could be the trickiest.

We'll have a much better idea in 6-9 months time after the tours and autumn games.

France in Paris is always going to be hell. Get that one in the bag (easier said than done) and I'd actually go as far as to say back to back slams are ours to lose.

Form will be a different picture by then however, likely for all sides.

2005 Wales GS
2006 Wales 3rd

2008 Wales GS
2009 Wales 4th

2012 Wales GS
2013 Wales 5th?

So in answer to your question: Eng, Sco, Ire, Fra - you should beat Italy (unless you're playing them away).

I imagine Wales will struggle next year

3rdGrandslamCame wrote:England did well to keep the score close at Twickenham, but will struggle in Cardiff next year.
3 in a row for Wales v Ireland. Never thought I would see the day. Traditionally Ireland do well in Cardiff, but those days are over.
France will probably be the toughest opponent next year for Wales when they play in Paris.

If wales beat Ireland next year it will be their fourth win over Ireland in a row. Shall we start five other threads... Who is most likely to beat England.... Who is most likely to beat Italy etc.?

Wales two recent six nations wins over Ireland have both been very close matches decided by one score awarded thanks to horrendous refereeing blunders. Wales probably marginally deserved those wins but given that they have been consistently hammered home and away by Ireland for the last 10/20 years I don't think it's time for the Irish team to panic yet.

Yeah I agree with Leinster, a lineout taken with the wrong ball, and a referee over reacting whther rightly or wrongly made the difference in those to matches.

I know about these losses wehad a few of those against Oz in recent times, and no for once I am not talking about the RWC but during the Three nations.

In order of probability:

France - only because it's away
England/Ireland - can't choose between these
Scotland
Italy

biltongbek wrote:Yeah I agree with Leinster, a lineout taken with the wrong ball, and a referee over reacting whther rightly or wrongly made the difference in those to matches.

I know about these losses wehad a few of those against Oz in recent times, and no for once I am not talking about the RWC but during the Three nations.

I think Ireland and SA are the two top eight teams that have adapted slowest to rule changes and either don't manage refs as well as other teams or are getting a raw deal. I know Ireland coach Declan Kidney had to approach Paddy OBrien after a lot of the six nations matches.

leinsterbaby wrote:

biltongbek wrote:Yeah I agree with Leinster, a lineout taken with the wrong ball, and a referee over reacting whther rightly or wrongly made the difference in those to matches.

I know about these losses wehad a few of those against Oz in recent times, and no for once I am not talking about the RWC but during the Three nations.

I think Ireland and SA are the two top eight teams that have adapted slowest to rule changes and either don't manage refs as well as other teams or are getting a raw deal. I know Ireland coach Declan Kidney had to approach Paddy OBrien after a lot of the six nations matches.

Leinster I agree and disagree with you. I think both our teams haven't fully adapted to new gameplans to fully benefit from the new law changes, however having to manage a referee because of the ambiguity of laws in my eyes is a no no. Yes other teams have come to the realisation that BS baffles brains and are getting the benefit of this "new age" way of playing rugby. I personally think the fact is South African and Irish rugby players have a tendency to want to play straight forward rugby, no nonsense physical rugby and aren't really the "outwit" type.

There for in my view we will never really get to grips with this BS baffles brains rugby, we need to use tactics that takes the "guesswork" of interpretations out of the game for us to feally progress from here.

Can't argue with any of that. I do think that Ireland probably play like SA more than any other top team and yes Ireland under kidney do play very straight forward (predictable?) rugby.

2013 wales will be beyond any NH team in every single aspect of the game so I can't see any six nations team finishing with in ten points of Wales.

France-ruderless
England -seriously overhyped
Ireland-just plain awful
Scotland-weak in mind and in skill
Italy- who cares

England, France & Ireland to finish above Wales next year I reckon.

You have got to love Welsh optimism. A few wins in a row and they are world beaters again. Would you be that shocked if Wales finished 4th next year. I wouldn't.

If Ireland are so bad why did Wales only beat them by two points?

viewtothegym wrote:2013 wales will be beyond any NH team in every single aspect of the game so I can't see any six nations team finishing with in ten points of Wales.

France-ruderless
England -seriously overhyped
Ireland-just plain awful
Scotland-weak in mind and in skill
Italy- who cares

It's posts like this that really make this forum great.

Are wales the new England?

viewtothegym wrote:2013 wales will be beyond any NH team in every single aspect of the game so I can't see any six nations team finishing with in ten points of Wales.

France-ruderless
England -seriously overhyped
Ireland-just plain awful
Scotland-weak in mind and in skill
Italy- who cares

view for a team that has won some really close contests and had the rub of the green in others that is a big statement to make. Ireland was aweful against england only, Scotland showed lots of skill just not enough patience to finish moves, England aren't nearly as hyped as you just hyped wales.

Biglong the voice of reason once again.

"Italy who cares"

Wales should really given that Italy have gotten better results in Rome v Wales than any other team in the 6 nations.

leinsterbaby wrote:Biglong the voice of reason once again.

complimenting me again, I see?

Must have been a misspelling.

viewtothegym wrote:2013 wales will be beyond any NH team in every single aspect of the game so I can't see any six nations team finishing with in ten points of Wales.

France-ruderless
England -seriously overhyped
Ireland-just plain awful
Scotland-weak in mind and in skill
Italy- who cares

WOW and the Welsh call us arrogant

Wales on the surface is doing very well right now but in reality the foundations are built on sand and the future of the national team is precarious enough.

Welsh regional rugby is not working, it isn't paying the bills. Hence big regions such as the Ospreys and the Blues are haemorrhaging top class players who are chasing big pay packets abroad. Whatever way you look at this it doesn't bode well for the national team.

Look at Italy. All their top players play in France and are expected back to their clubs during six nations off weeks. They play far more matches than Irish players for example and are wrecked by the end of the tournament.

Mike Philips for example is on big money at Bayonne and is contracted for another couple of years. Bayonne are odds on to be in the second division next year. Is this really what you want from your first choice 9?

Even if the likes of Warburton and Roberts stay with the Blues with all expensive foreigners leaving and high profile Welshmen gone will their ambition suffer? Will the level of rugby they play drop.

Finally if all Wales' best players are playing abroad it will mean no more pre 6n trips to Poland for conditioning training which apparently has given Wales the edge recently.

That's me being modest and biting my tongue.
NH teams might as well get used to playing second fiddle to wales for the next few decade's

Sorry leinsterbaby did you say something?
I stopped reading when it said 'built on sand'
Good old dickie said the same back in 2005 and 3 grandslams later and a world cup semi.
Please do refresh me on what Ireland has done in the last 70+yrs?
One slam

world cup semi

View

You really need to set your sghts higher.

3 Grandslams & a world cup semi

Whoopee!

Start beating the SH sides.

Start looking significantly better than the other NH sides.

Then, maybe someone will listen.

Knackeredknees wrote:

viewtothegym wrote:2013 wales will be beyond any NH team in every single aspect of the game so I can't see any six nations team finishing with in ten points of Wales.

France-ruderless
England -seriously overhyped
Ireland-just plain awful
Scotland-weak in mind and in skill
Italy- who cares

WOW and the Welsh call us arrogant

It's absolute double standards Knackeredknees

I like england I see them doing well over the next few seasons they actually beat the mighty scotland away this year! A true acid test of top flight rugby