i think ireland as they have an imense team!
2007-02-07 06:53:28 · 8 answers · asked by The Kellster 1 in Sports ➔ Rugby
My team is Ireland (though being half-British I don't know what I'm going to do with myself in Dublin come February 24) and they looked pretty good in their win over Wales. Problem is, I heard they're without one of their best players (hearsay, I know) for the upcoming match against Les Bleus. Tough stuff. Even if they do beat France, they've still got another test at home vs. England (as previously mentioned) which I think they can win. The problem is that as it stands right now, they're a little behind in the points, so hopefully they can make up for that vs. Italy and Scotland. I can't say for sure, but it should be fun to watch Ireland, England, and France battle it out.
2007-02-07 23:20:56 · answer #1 · answered by Lmeister 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I disagree. I think Ireland are very lucky to have the maegre front row they have at the moment just at the point when the IRB has depowered the scrum.
Hayes, Horan and Best offer very little around the park and their scrummaging is a long way from being World class and although it's not impossible to win the Six Nations with a weak front row, it is impossible to challenge at a World Cup.
Paul O'Connell is a class act in the second rown but Donnacha O'C simply isn't anything special and the Irish lineout looked aweful on Saturday until Flannery came on on Saturday. Giving away such a soft try to Taylor is not the kind of lack of concentration and precision shown by champions.
I was impressed by the Irish back row, despite the blatant professional fouls by Leamy at the ruck and Easterby in the tackle (particularly the tackle without the ball on Czejak which stopped the welsh from getting 5 points and back into the game).
The Irish backrow will have to be very careful, Leamy in particular (along with Donnacha O'Callaghan who was constantly offside or playing the ball on the floor on Sunday), because whoever their next referee is will have seen the Ireland Wales game and will be looking out for the blatant cheating that went on all day at the ruck and tackle area. This will hugely slow down the ball they get their hands on and mean that they are less likely to turn over possession, which they did on numerous occasions on Sunday.
In the backs Ireland look strong and I think it's a big loss for Stringer to be unavailable for the next match but more and more we're seeing that Ronan O'Gara can take a good half hour before waking up to the occasion and realizing that he's in an international. The centre pairing has been talked about enough - they're simply World class, however I don't believe that Hickie outside them has the pace anymore to be a truly dangerous finisher. Trimble looks very fast at the moment though so I'm sure that as soon as Horgan's back to full fitness this lack of pace on the wing will be less of an issue. Why anyone would play Dempsey at fullback over Murphy is a mystery to me.
Take a team like England or France in this year's tournament and you don't have these kind of problems. The problems in England and France's team are more to do with communication, practice, coherence and game time together. They are not limited by the talent of the players on the teamsheet in the same way Ireland are; this said, Ireland play well together as a team and there is clearly good communication between different units on the pitch so it's not impossible for this team to have a successful Six Nations; I just can't see them beating the sheer quality of players in the French and English teams this year.
My prediction is England to win it, France second and Ireland third. As for the other three; who cares; they lost.
2007-02-08 03:06:03 · answer #2 · answered by Diarmid 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ireland will win the six nations, there the favorites.
2007-02-07 15:17:03 · answer #3 · answered by Rob 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ireland will probably win, reach the world cup, choke and under perform. Hopefully they get knocked out by the Arges...Haha. Go All Blacks.
2007-02-07 19:58:13 · answer #4 · answered by thekinkpimp 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Those with most points. If it is a draw those with the largest points difference and failing that who has scored most tries.
2007-02-07 23:26:19 · answer #5 · answered by Closed Down 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Blimey,
Really stuck your neck on the block with that prediction.
Kellster, this is controversial stuff.
2007-02-07 15:37:08 · answer #6 · answered by hard as nails 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hate to admit it, but, if I where to bet, it would be on France
2007-02-09 09:39:53 · answer #7 · answered by RUGBYCHLD 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
France will!
2007-02-07 15:54:03 · answer #8 · answered by Samcut 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋