Six nations final standings predictions?

First topic message reminder :

So how do you think your beloved nation will fair this time round. We have already had a few predictions on the boards this week. Let’s see people nail their colours to the mast for the opening weekend is not far away now. I’ve managed to find a few quotes by different posters from the different nations on their thoughts of their own team or their opponents.

It’s not easy to find many posts where people lay down their cards, hence wanting to see where people’s thoughts on the final standings might be.

First up we have Wales welcoming Italy to Cardiff. The bookies have Wales picked to come third overall and Italy to grab another wooden spoon but both teams have new coaches and there are a few elements of change ahead in their squads and their philosophies. The fans are a mix in wales on the prospective good fortune of a new rugby ethos and the limitation of being a tiny nation fighting against giants. “That's what Pivac will be dealing with in the next 2-3 years as Jon Davies, Biggar, AWJ, Halfpenny etc. wind down and retire. There are some good prospects coming through, but particularly in the midfield, we look weak...” Wales  and their coaches will need to make an impressive start to this campaign, while Italy have nothing to lose and a growing pool of talent.

Next we have Ireland entertaining Scotland in Dublin. After both nations fans likely feel a little underwhelmed post RWC2019, maybe now is the time to set the record straight. Ireland have changed their head coach, will they change their squad...? Scotland have some exciting players but can they get them enough ball to do the damage they need to win....? The bookies have Ireland to come second Scotland to come fourth. There is some jubilant wise old Irish heads stating “I'm calling it, 2020 will be a good year ..” the Scots are off to Spain for a pre six nations training camp maybe They can rectify a few faults as one fan said “This squad has a soft underbelly which has been exposed time and again. It needs mentally tough individuals who refuse to lie down to anyone / thing.”

England make the trip to Paris first up on Sunday the 2nd of February. It all depends which French team turns up for any encounter against the French but in this case they have new coaches 19 new players all uncapped as well as new kit and a new pair of boots. There is plenty to ponder on. Though it looks like they are being written off. One young upstart has already written off the French on these boards stating “4th/5th finish for them in the 6Ns. They’re just lucky that Italy are utterly dire and getting worse year on year.”...! Will his words ring true or may Monday the third of February see un peu des oeuf sur son visage...?

This site is bollox. I tried to use the quote function on the mobile version and it doesn’t work!

If only we had a feedback thread that wasn’t closed by the mods

Any ideas on how to sort it out, RDW etc? Or please open up another thread for this kind of thing?

Cyril wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:

Cyril wrote:Yep. Should win the 6Ns. Disappointed if we don’t get the slam to be honest.

Should really be RWC holders too, but you can’t afford a really poor game, especially if your opponents play a blinder. England won’t face that kind of power in Europe though.

Cyril, do you think its possible you are over rating England a bit? The slam is definitely off the table, do you still think they will win the championship?

I mean England are very strong but they always have ups and downs.

Not at all. It’s a blip. France played well enough, but England played terrible in most facets of that game and still nearly came back, even playing so badly. Scotland will suffer for that upset.

England to get wins in all the remaining games. France to lose against Wales and Scotland.

That would put Wales in prime position to win the tournament though - they were made to look pretty good by Italy, but Wales didn't do much wrong and we know that historically, Wales improve as the 6N goes on. Beating England at Twickenham isn't beyond them.

It’s difficult to say how good or bad Wales are as Italy are an awful side (have I mentioned that should be nowhere near the tournament?).

Anyway, Ireland will narrowly beat Wales.

No Slam.

Cyril wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:

Cyril wrote:Yep. Should win the 6Ns. Disappointed if we don’t get the slam to be honest.

Should really be RWC holders too, but you can’t afford a really poor game, especially if your opponents play a blinder. England won’t face that kind of power in Europe though.

Cyril, do you think its possible you are over rating England a bit? The slam is definitely off the table, do you still think they will win the championship?

I mean England are very strong but they always have ups and downs.

Not at all. It’s a blip. France played well enough, but England played terrible in most facets of that game and still nearly came back, even playing so badly. Scotland will suffer for that upset.

England to get wins in all the remaining games. France to lose against Wales and Scotland.

Good chance they will win all their remaining games however they haven't won v Scotland in their last two games and this one is in Murrayfield.

England will certainly fancy their chances v Ireland in London however, that's often when they slip up. That said Ireland only have 4 wins there vs England's 3 in the Aviva so the win usually goes to the home side.

V Wales who the heck knows.

Not entirely sure where the confidence comes from though.

England cannot afford to lose another match obviously and that's what's going to make things much more difficult for the remaining opponents. Wales IMO are much more likely to beat but both they and Ireland have to travel to Twickers and one or both will likely come a cropper. It's up to you Scotland, can you send them homeward to think again.
France are still more than beatable especially when they have to travel but with Italy up next for the French they could build a decent chunk of winning momentum. It could very well be their year.
Wales are Wales, always hard to beat and even under the new coach look very Wales-like.
Ireland are Ireland, still Schmidt's Ireland, still too predictable, still too beatable. We cannot afford a bad 6 nations but I fell we're in for one.
Italy are not looking like they'll move up the table at all. Time for a bit of new blood in the 6 nations? Will they be replaced by Fiji? Will we see relegation to allow the likes of Romania and Georgia a chance to dine at the top table?

Anyway, that's for another thread, my revised prediction after round 1 is:

1. Wales (No GS) - points difference over the French
2. France
3. England
4. Ireland
5. Scotland
6. Italy

Way the fixtures fall theres one huge game every round which is great for the championship. With Italy playing a team that's lost already last it means the final week should remain very open too.

Fixtures set up like last year, so that England play last will know exactly how many they need to win by to take the title, only this time they play Italy as Scotland refused to play their game last year. Not that it mattered by then as Wales had already taken the Slam. Guess we’ll have to do that again this year to stop England’s party.