The Official *England to Grand Slam Glory 2013* Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

“It is not enough that we do our best; sometimes we must do what is required.”
Winston Churchill

In just over 4 weeks, Stuart Lancaster's England will start their quest for Grand Slam glory. It has to be said that this is England's best chance since 2003 for a Grand Slam. Really, for the Northern Hemisphere's biggest Rugby nation not to have clinched a Grand Slam for 10 years is a poor return. That will surely change on the 16th March.

“My tastes are simple: I am easily satisfied with the best.”
Winston Churchill

This amount of optimism stems from a hugely encouraging 2012 for the English rugby team. 4 wins out of 5 in last year's Six Nations with a fairly new team, then a character-building tour to South Africa, running South Africa and Australia close at the home of Rugby, before ending the year by beating the World Champions and running in 3 tries against them. 2013 will be the year that it all comes together for England.

"The English have an extraordinary ability for flying into a great calm."
Alexander Woollcott

2013 for England will start with a game home to Scotland. Unless there's a downpour, Scotland have little hope. Expect England to rack up 25+ points and a multitude of tries against inferior opposition.

"Let not England forget her precedence of teaching nations how to live."
John Milton

Then, away to Ireland. Often, the Irish are seen as a bogey team for England but let's be rational. England are better in every department as they proved in 2012. I'll be looking for a very very good result from England in this game.

"You must hate a Frenchman as you do the devil."
Lord Nelson

The third game will be the biggest of the lot. Home to the French at Twickenham. Beaten by England in Paris in 2012, France will be beaten by England in London in 2013. No mistake though, this game will be the toughest challenge that England will face in the 2013 Six Nations. I expect England to just about edge out the French.

"We few. We happy few. We band of brothers."
William Shakespeare

On the 10th March, England will be on the home straight. Home to Italy, mere cannon fodder against the mighty mighty England. 4 wins out of 4, Grand Slam in sight.

"Ever the faith endures, England, my England."
W.E. Henley

The crowning glory will be against England's little brother, Wales. No doubt they'll be up for this game, they love a game against their bigger brother and the chance to upset the odds. What is it Wales, 7 losses out of 7 since last year's Grand Slam? After a tough 20 minutes, England's superiority and class will show. Grand Slam clinched.

“You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.”
Winston Churchill

[yappysnap]

I hear that one's a real doozy

May have to get a couple for some Welsh friends of mine...

[Artful_Dodger]

My Law
As individuals talk about superiority and a nationality being "the pinnacle of perfection and nature’s masterpiece.", the probability of Hitler being mentioned approaches.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

My Law
As individuals talk about superiority and a nationality being "the pinnacle of perfection and nature’s masterpiece.", the probability of Hitler George North being mentioned approaches.

Fixed that for you

[doctor_grey]

My preference is to avoid any references to nazis. No place in a Rugby conversation, or, frankly most polite conversation. Let's leave it flat and move on.

[GunsGerms]

Anyone know what Godwin'd means?

Godwin's Law
As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches.

Very interesting.

[Duty281]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYmmzI36TJA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXmC_fku15Y

[Taylorman]

"I have a dream..."

[Standulstermen]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYmmzI36TJA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXmC_fku15Y

Dont understand the relevance?

Was that a grand slam game?

[Biltong]

Biltong. Take a chill pill for goodness sake. Your over sensitivity is not attractive.

I am not here for my looks mate.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

And to think you all poopooed my idea of having a creche forum for all this guff

[Duty281]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYmmzI36TJA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXmC_fku15Y

Dont understand the relevance?

Was that a grand slam game?

Oh sorry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BdsTh2oP6o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXJc7ZhXaSI 6-42

[Duty281]

Right then, Flood (cited) and Corbisiero (Knee) are both doubts for the start of the Six Nations. The EPS is named on Wednesday.

[disneychilly]

Good luck England. Hopefully you guys reach the level you did against NZ in December and beyond. Will be great for the game if you did.

Also hope that the other teams raise their games to a similar level-that way we get some bloody good rugby and cliffhanger games.

Here's to that and also to a lack of injuries as I'd like to see a great Lions squad leave these shores in a few months.

[AlastairW]

Right then, Flood (cited) and Corbisiero (Knee) are both doubts for the start of the Six Nations. The EPS is named on Wednesday.

Shame about the Flood citing, but he'll be back after the first few and until then we have Burns/Farrell, both of which seem to be completely unflinching, and with different play styles could be utilised to keep opponents guessing on the game plan.

Shame about Corbs, but we have Marler as cover for him and I hope he grabs the opportunity with both hands after the shocker he had against Australia & Ben Alexander in the AI's. I'm more worried that Corb's re-occurring knee problem could spell the end of his career if it's as bad as the rumour mill makes out, because he's definitely a step above Marler as it stands.

[AlastairW]

Good luck England. Hopefully you guys reach the level you did against NZ in December and beyond. Will be great for the game if you did.

/doff's cap

And you DC. If Ireland can carry their HC club pedigree into the 6N as a national team you'll have a blinder. Interesting times!

[mystiroakey]

nice one duty... love your threads pal...

come on england

[mystiroakey]

"The English are not a very spiritual people, so they invented cricket to give them some idea of eternity.
-George Bernard Shaw"



lol.... Even i laughed at that one. Never heard it before and i love cricket!!!

[Duty281]

nice one duty... love your threads pal...

come on england

Time to be optimistic again! Although we don't have to be overly optimistic - this England side is good enough to win a Grand Slam.

[disneychilly]

Good luck England. Hopefully you guys reach the level you did against NZ in December and beyond. Will be great for the game if you did.

/doff's cap

And you DC. If Ireland can carry their HC club pedigree into the 6N as a national team you'll have a blinder. Interesting times!

Ha thanks mate, I'm actually a Kiwi who lives in Dublin. Totally agree about the interesting times though!

[mystiroakey]

nice one duty... love your threads pal...

come on england

Time to be optimistic again! Although we don't have to be overly optimistic - this England side is good enough to win a Grand Slam.

yeah i have backed it at 7/1

[cabbagesandbrussels]

I'm an embarrassed Englishman.

[gregortree]

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars. ~Les Brown

I guess Les Brown was not an astrophysicist on that logic.

[RubyGuby]

I'm an embarrassed Englishman.

Then have a pint on me as it's that level of honesty that is the sign of true balance, composure and breeding - Good luck in the 6 Nations it looks complex to say the least and I'm not conivinced with the French - I see a tie at the top with 2 teams on 4/5 and the winner taking it on points difference

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Okay, let's see if I've got this right:

England are going to win the Six Nations because they beat New Zealand in the autumn internationals, which no other Six Nations side did.

But Australia drew with New Zealand last time the two sides met, and France trounced the Wallabies in the Autumn...

Ah, but Wales have lost to the Wallabies the last umpteen times they've played them, so the one thing we can say with certainty is that Wales won't win the Six Nations.

Except they won it last season.



This is all too confusing for me. It's much easier when no one pretends they know how a tournament will pan out.

[Duty281]

Okay, let's see if I've got this right:

England are going to win the Six Nations because they beat New Zealand in the autumn internationals, which no other Six Nations side did.

But Australia drew with New Zealand last time the two sides met, and France trounced the Wallabies in the Autumn...

Ah, but Wales have lost to the Wallabies the last umpteen times they've played them, so the one thing we can say with certainty is that Wales won't win the Six Nations.

Except they won it last season.



This is all too confusing for me. It's much easier when no one pretends they know how a tournament will pan out.

It's better if you simplify it. England are the best rugby team in the NH, ergo England will win the Grand Slam.

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

Okay, let's see if I've got this right:

England are going to win the Six Nations because they beat New Zealand in the autumn internationals, which no other Six Nations side did.

But Australia drew with New Zealand last time the two sides met, and France trounced the Wallabies in the Autumn...

Ah, but Wales have lost to the Wallabies the last umpteen times they've played them, so the one thing we can say with certainty is that Wales won't win the Six Nations.

Except they won it last season.



This is all too confusing for me. It's much easier when no one pretends they know how a tournament will pan out.

It's better if you simplify it. England are the best rugby team in the NH, ergo England will win the Grand Slam.

Actually according to the IRB rankings France are the best rugby team in the NH

[Guest]

What a daft uneducated thread this has turned out to be,
the facts being presented are England beat a virus ridden team and we THINK we are the best.

[AlastairW]

What a daft uneducated thread this has turned out to be.

Don't read it then, and yes, there are replies that make me cringe as well as an England supporter.

Pete's bang on the money, France are ranked above England for a reason, especially after the AI's. If they can take that form into away fixtures and carry their club HEC form across all home nations will get spanked. They have to go in as favourites.

[Duty281]

What a daft uneducated thread this has turned out to be.

Don't read it then, and yes, there are replies that make me cringe as well as an England supporter.

Pete's bang on the money, France are ranked above England for a reason, especially after the AI's. If they can take that form into away fixtures and carry their club HEC form across all home nations will get spanked. They have to go in as favourites.

If we can beat them in Paris then we can certainly beat them in London town after a full year's development. But it will certainly be the toughest game for England, followed by the Irish game.

[mystiroakey]

if england play the way they can i agree with Duty- france will be second best,..

[Duty281]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17273139

There we go, 22-24 England in Paris with 3 tries to boot.

[Morgannwg]

OMG just what are you people smoking.

[mystiroakey]

OMG just what are you people smoking.

trying to give up all that mogs.. just predicting the 6n's...

[Duty281]

OMG just what are you people smoking.

Something less strong than when you wrote this:

"The All Blacks are unbeaten and looking to end their tour on a high against an England team that is forever young. I see the All Blacks getting a big score here. But by how much is the question.

Vote and discuss."

[Morgannwg]

You can thank the suzy for that.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

France are ranked above England for a reason, especially after the AI's.

If we can beat them in Paris then we can certainly beat them in London town

And yet you see the game away to Wales, who beat England in 'London town' last season, as a walk in the park.

[Duty281]

France are ranked above England for a reason, especially after the AI's.

If we can beat them in Paris then we can certainly beat them in London town

And yet you see the game away to Wales, who beat England in 'London town' last season, as a walk in the park.

Since the end of last year's six Nations, Wales have lost 7 out of 7 and are on a remarkable slide which doesn't show signs of stopping. England meanwhile have gone from strength to strength.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

But we beat you away last season, which, by the logic you applied to your win in Paris last year, means we're bound to win at home this time 'round.

[Duty281]

But we beat you away last season, which, by the logic you applied to your win in Paris last year, means we're bound to win at home this time 'round.

Wales on a massive slide
England on the up

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I won't argue with that.

[disneychilly]

You can thank the suzy for that.

No mate, credit where it's due. England played well and beat us well enough to take any what ifs out of it. Hope the other teams can reach that level too. At least you cam have a crack at them soon-we've gotta suck it up and strive to surpass that level for the revenge clash in 11 months time.

Sorry to state a cliche but France are as usual an enigma and they could either surpass the level of play England attained in their last game or fail to beat Italy. Just gotta train for facing them at their very best and then hope for the best!

[mystiroakey]

Ermmmm enigma talk and france- that old chestnut!!

When england win a big game or lose an 'easy' one its due to the other team.. When france do it- its down to them!!

[disneychilly]

Where did I imply that Oakey?

[mystiroakey]

well you said that if france have that miraclus performance they can surpass england..

I think its the other way around.. England can have the miraculas performance and beat them..

Just because England allways try(even when they play bad) and never have that bad a performances doesnt mean they cant raise there game as much as france can.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

The way I look at it is to imagine each nation is playing its absolute best - who would be the best side of the six? For me it would be France. France on song are formidable. England's performance against New Zealand has muddied the waters a bit, because it was a hell of a performance, but it's still France for me. The match at Twickenham between the two should be a humdinger.

[mystiroakey]

Your logic has been going around by fans for ages.

France are the enigma- they can beat anyone, they can lose to anyone. It depends on there mood..

The cliche was being brought up in the 2011 wc.. They played rubbish in the groups then played well in the final..

England did exactly the same in 2007..

When France beat NZ its because they are unplayable, when england do it there are questions about how it happened..

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Your logic has been going around by fans for ages.

France are the enigma- they can beat anyone, they can lose to anyone. It depends on there mood..

That's not my logic at all. I'm not concerned with whether they can beat 'anyone', just whether they can beat the other five nations they'll be facing in the tournament. If each national side plays at its best, I say France are the best of the six.

I don't know how else I can say it...!

[mystiroakey]

you did mention the 'cliche'. I am not making that up!!

[Luckless Pedestrian]

When? Where?

[mystiroakey]

"Sorry to state a cliche but France are as usual an enigma and they could either surpass the level of play England attained in their last game or fail to beat Italy"

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