It’s nearly that time again when Six Nations come together and lock horns to compete for the RBS 6 Nations Trophy once again.
This year is one of the special ones, in so much as this time the event is being played just a few months after the Rugby World Cup (Where I made followers a tidy sum over the tournament via Facebook) and sides have some very different outlooks and expectations coming into the tournament.
England
England, bookies favourites, will be looking to wipe some of the egg off their faces after a, more than dismal, showing in their own RWC. To not qualify for the knockout phase puts them firmly in a very select club, of one! Now I’m sure England supporters are all for being part of a select club, but not that one. So, out went Stuart Lancaster, what option did he have, and England hail the arrival of the man from down under, Eddie Jones. For anyone who doesn’t know anything about Eddie, he was the man that, like Lancaster, was head coach of a side in the RWC2015 and also failed to get his side to the quarter-finals, but as no one expected him to do so and how he got the best out of what can only be seen as 2nd tier players, is now well and truly written in the history books. His side, the Brave Blossoms of Japan, caused the biggest upset in Unions world cup history, if not, the biggest shock in world rugby of all time, when defeating twice World Champions South Africa in the opening pool match. Were it not for some very unfortunate scheduling, Japan may well have progressed to the knockout phase, but with only four days to recover from the most emotional and physically draining match ever, they came unstuck in the final forty minutes against a more than useful Scotland side that were in no mood to be sentimental to their opponents.
So, with that said, the jury remains very much out as to what “Miracle man” Jones can do with the players he has at his disposal, and trust me, there are plenty!
France
Another country that failed in October were France, who did go one better than their English foes, only to be well and truly taught a lesson in rugby and attitude, after getting trounced by eventual World Cup winners New Zealand.
Like England, they have shown their head coach Saint Andre, the door, and in walks Guy Noves, the man who steered Toulouse to their European successes and a man of the French people, at least in rugby parlants! Just like Eddie Jones, there is no doubting his abilities as head coach, the unknown for Noves is whether he can re-ignite his countries side and indeed the question of whether or not he has kept pace with the ever changing game at this level, as his last Euro Cup win with his beloved Toulouse was back in the 2009/10 season. As I write this newsletter I have just seen the 31 man squad for the opening game for France against Italy and in my opinion, at least part one has been achieved, as he introduces ten uncapped players to the side, but all based on current form and not, reputation, so that said, it bodes well for France to get back on the “winning horse” in this years 6 Nations.
Ireland
Last years champions Ireland fared slightly better than France, after losing out to an exciting Argentinian side in the quarters, where they were shown the door early on only to produce a fightback that brought the best out of the South Americans in terms of keeping their heads, something that is not always on show with their Latino temperament. They come here as third favourites, even though their first match is hosting Wales, current second favs with the bookmakers. The reason for this is that they are still very much finding their feet again after the loss of a number of senior players, none more so than their captain, and last years RBS 6 Nations Player of the tournament, Paul O’Connell. There is plenty of talent in Ireland, but whether this tournament has come a year too soon for the men in green, time will only tell, but I will not be looking to back them at current odds to produce a third 6 Nations in a row, in fact, no country has EVER won three titles in a row outright since this event started back in 1883!
Wales
After their terrible run of injuries during their World Cup campaign, Wales will be looking to show their domestic rivals what they could have done last October had it not been for their bad luck. They, unlike England and France, have continuity on their side in respect of their coaching staff and they certainly know how to win this event, having lifted the trophy back in 2012 & 2013 before Ireland took charge of affairs to win the last couple. With away matches against champions Ireland and tournament favourites, England, I will pass them over as I believe that is a bridge to far for them, I also believe that they could be the disappointment of the tournament and will be looking to take them on.
Scotland
Vern Cotter has been building a side that now looks ready to take on the likes of England and hopefully put up a better showing than when his charges played their first 6 Nations under his control last year. Amazingly, this will only be Scotland’s second game at Murrayfield since their heavy loss to Ireland last March in their final 6 Nations match. Their record since that embarrassing defeat is 5 wins and 4 losses, the losses coming again against Ireland, by 6, France by 3, Australia by 1, with only South Africa winning comfortably by 34-16. This is now the time for Scotland to stop the false hope and start putting down a serious marker and start to show at least in the northern hemisphere, they are a force to be reckoned with once again, I think they will.
Italy
I’m not even going to waste your time on the Azzurri, in a word, Wooden Spoon, ok, two words!
In summary, I believe in terms of value, France and Scotland represent the best chance at their respective best prices at 7/1 & 16/1.
If there is enough interest shown I will be happy to post some more Ante Post bets before KO on Saturday.
Trevor Oakland
This year is one of the special ones, in so much as this time the event is being played just a few months after the Rugby World Cup (Where I made followers a tidy sum over the tournament via Facebook) and sides have some very different outlooks and expectations coming into the tournament.
England
England, bookies favourites, will be looking to wipe some of the egg off their faces after a, more than dismal, showing in their own RWC. To not qualify for the knockout phase puts them firmly in a very select club, of one! Now I’m sure England supporters are all for being part of a select club, but not that one. So, out went Stuart Lancaster, what option did he have, and England hail the arrival of the man from down under, Eddie Jones. For anyone who doesn’t know anything about Eddie, he was the man that, like Lancaster, was head coach of a side in the RWC2015 and also failed to get his side to the quarter-finals, but as no one expected him to do so and how he got the best out of what can only be seen as 2nd tier players, is now well and truly written in the history books. His side, the Brave Blossoms of Japan, caused the biggest upset in Unions world cup history, if not, the biggest shock in world rugby of all time, when defeating twice World Champions South Africa in the opening pool match. Were it not for some very unfortunate scheduling, Japan may well have progressed to the knockout phase, but with only four days to recover from the most emotional and physically draining match ever, they came unstuck in the final forty minutes against a more than useful Scotland side that were in no mood to be sentimental to their opponents.
So, with that said, the jury remains very much out as to what “Miracle man” Jones can do with the players he has at his disposal, and trust me, there are plenty!
France
Another country that failed in October were France, who did go one better than their English foes, only to be well and truly taught a lesson in rugby and attitude, after getting trounced by eventual World Cup winners New Zealand.
Like England, they have shown their head coach Saint Andre, the door, and in walks Guy Noves, the man who steered Toulouse to their European successes and a man of the French people, at least in rugby parlants! Just like Eddie Jones, there is no doubting his abilities as head coach, the unknown for Noves is whether he can re-ignite his countries side and indeed the question of whether or not he has kept pace with the ever changing game at this level, as his last Euro Cup win with his beloved Toulouse was back in the 2009/10 season. As I write this newsletter I have just seen the 31 man squad for the opening game for France against Italy and in my opinion, at least part one has been achieved, as he introduces ten uncapped players to the side, but all based on current form and not, reputation, so that said, it bodes well for France to get back on the “winning horse” in this years 6 Nations.
Ireland
Last years champions Ireland fared slightly better than France, after losing out to an exciting Argentinian side in the quarters, where they were shown the door early on only to produce a fightback that brought the best out of the South Americans in terms of keeping their heads, something that is not always on show with their Latino temperament. They come here as third favourites, even though their first match is hosting Wales, current second favs with the bookmakers. The reason for this is that they are still very much finding their feet again after the loss of a number of senior players, none more so than their captain, and last years RBS 6 Nations Player of the tournament, Paul O’Connell. There is plenty of talent in Ireland, but whether this tournament has come a year too soon for the men in green, time will only tell, but I will not be looking to back them at current odds to produce a third 6 Nations in a row, in fact, no country has EVER won three titles in a row outright since this event started back in 1883!
Wales
After their terrible run of injuries during their World Cup campaign, Wales will be looking to show their domestic rivals what they could have done last October had it not been for their bad luck. They, unlike England and France, have continuity on their side in respect of their coaching staff and they certainly know how to win this event, having lifted the trophy back in 2012 & 2013 before Ireland took charge of affairs to win the last couple. With away matches against champions Ireland and tournament favourites, England, I will pass them over as I believe that is a bridge to far for them, I also believe that they could be the disappointment of the tournament and will be looking to take them on.
Scotland
Vern Cotter has been building a side that now looks ready to take on the likes of England and hopefully put up a better showing than when his charges played their first 6 Nations under his control last year. Amazingly, this will only be Scotland’s second game at Murrayfield since their heavy loss to Ireland last March in their final 6 Nations match. Their record since that embarrassing defeat is 5 wins and 4 losses, the losses coming again against Ireland, by 6, France by 3, Australia by 1, with only South Africa winning comfortably by 34-16. This is now the time for Scotland to stop the false hope and start putting down a serious marker and start to show at least in the northern hemisphere, they are a force to be reckoned with once again, I think they will.
Italy
I’m not even going to waste your time on the Azzurri, in a word, Wooden Spoon, ok, two words!
In summary, I believe in terms of value, France and Scotland represent the best chance at their respective best prices at 7/1 & 16/1.
If there is enough interest shown I will be happy to post some more Ante Post bets before KO on Saturday.
Trevor Oakland
