Early 6 Nations Predictions Post AI’s

[OllyM97]

Yes, I know there's Wales v South Africa next week, but the main part of the Autumn is done and dusted. Here's my early shouts for the 6N.

1. England (GS)
2. France
3. Ireland
4. Italy
5. Scotland
6. Wales

I know England have to go to Paris and Edinburgh, but we've got belief, we've got momentum and we're building very good depth in most positions. I think this could be the time when it all comes together. It's by no means a certainty, and such are the tight margins in the 6N, momentum can change very quickly, but I'm more confident about England's chances than I've been in a long time.

As for the rest, France will at a minimum be 4/5. I suspect 3 wins is probably Ireland's ceiling with trips to Paris and Twickenham, if they get 4 i think that is above par. Italy will be fancying their chances of beating Wales and Scotland, which i think they could do and that would be good enough for 4th. I think Scotland won't improve significantly from last year and with Italy away this time, 5th place is s genuine possibility. Wales will be competitive for periods in every game, but I think in the end, their lack of power up front and lack of depth will be their undoing - I’m still not sure where a win comes from.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Wales GS

 

[TRF_Olyy]

England vs France as a grandslam decider in the final game of the tournament would be tasty AF
I could see both England and France ending on 4 wins
Wales will do better than the predictions (though with the predictions being a winless 6N I'd struggle to say they'll do better than just beating Italy)
Ireland very interesting - bit of a transitional period with their banker-players aging out and no one really stepping up. Still capable of putting in a world beating performance but feels like that's a max exertion effort, rather than their baseline now. Tough schedule for them with France and England away - wouldn't be surprised to see them win one of those two though.

1. France/England
2. England/France
3. Ireland
4. Scotland
5. Wales
6. Italy

 

[Welsh Exile]

We’ve got England and France as our first 2 matches. lol.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

France with Dupont back and extra motivation for both the England and Ireland games whilst being at home look odds on to me, I'll back them for the GS too.

England 4 easy enough wins and palatable if disappointing loss to France.

Ireland defend home court but don't really fire a shot away to England and France.

Scotland to be mostly uncompetitive against the top half and make the Italy game more difficult than needs be.

Wales and Italy will play each other and one of them will probably win.

 

[dirty harry]

Very logic rationale, i have England as my favourites too, both Ireland and France have shown weaknesses. Both have players being given game time whonjust dont look up to speed yet, and the old heads just starting to dip from world beating years...

Dont want go to Murrayfield over confident tho, they love an English scalp (can we call it a scalp anymore).

Italy i think have kicked on, but what an up and down year theyve had, some great performances at home (ireland and Australia) , shockers away (France and Scotland).

I think most games will go as expected, France and England early bye rounds 1 and 2.

IMO Scotland is going to decide the title, both England and France at home, i see them turning one over, Scotlands overall appearances havnt maybe kicked on, but i think their depth certainly has.

Final weekend will be fun, i think we will see a champuonship decider in Paris, a spoon decider in Cardiff, and a race to bronze in Dublin.

If i had to go for a table:

England
France
Scotland
Ireland
Italy
Wales

 

[Welsh Exile]

If we go through 3 six nations without winning a single ******* game then it’s time to call it a day.

 

[OllyM97]

France with Dupont back and extra motivation for both the England and Ireland games whilst being at home look odds on to me, I'll back them for the GS too.

England 4 easy enough wins and palatable if disappointing loss to France.

Ireland defend home court but don't really fire a shot away to England and France.

Scotland to be mostly uncompetitive against the top half and make the Italy game more difficult than needs be.

Wales and Italy will play each other and one of them will probably win.

It's mad because for the last 4-5 6N's I've probably backed France to win the GS every year. This French team in my eyes has still massively underachieved given the talent and depth they've got. They should have racked up 3 Slams by now IMO. You watch, because I've not backed them for it for the first time in an age, they'll go out and romp it this year!!.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

It's mad because for the last 4-5 6N's I've probably backed France to win the GS every year. This French team in my eyes has still massively underachieved given the talent and depth they've got. They should have racked up 3 Slams by now IMO. You watch, because I've not backed them for it for the first time in an age, they'll go out and romp it this year!!.

I usually take the easy route in these predictions and guess number of wins for each team rather than an actual table but I just don't see Ireland or Scotland having a say this time around with are in a slump. So it came down to who I think wins on game week 5 in Paris.

England could do it for sure but an away win against a top side is another level from what they've shown and that game will be their first crack at it since, arguably, Dublin in February this year if not before and they'll likely have the pressure of the ever growing win streak which I think plays on squads more than we realise.

 

[mousquetaire]

In my opinion, next year's 6 nations will surprise us by the level and points differences between the teams. It will look like 2000's 6N when France and England dominated the game with the Celts in trouble. Italy could finish 4th behind Ireland.

 

[The Seeker]

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

1. France
2. Ireland
3. England
4. Scotland
5. Wales
6. Italy

Might seem a bit counter to the recent games we've seen but I'm not yet convinced England have that consistency they need (sounds daft after their winning streak but it's just not felt convincing enough for me). They still feel a bit too likely to throw things away when it really matters.

France and Ireland I think have a bit more fight in them and I feel we still haven't sorted out the issues with our gameplan which always play into Scotlands hands. Scotland to beat us but lose to france and Ireland.

Wales have atrocious defence but seem to be able to score a fair bit too. I think that will allow them to pip Italy.

 

[BPM]

I'm going with:


1. France
2. England
3. Ireland
4. Scotland
5. Wales
6. Italy

I'm expecting a very close Championship with the title and the wooden spoon decided on the last day of the tournament.

England are improving and Ireland appear to be declining but I don't think there's much to choose between them. I'm giving England the advantage on the basis that they face off at Twickenham and the sequence of games favours England (with France last). I don’t think England are quite good enough to do the GS yet so I think they may lose to France on the final day.

I think Wales might pull off a win over Italy in Cardiff. Had it been in Rome, I’d have gone the other way.

 

[OllyM97]

It’s only my opinion but, if we don’t win the 6N, then the clean sweep in the Autumn is kinda meaningless. In terms of importance, I’d put a Grand Slam in the 6N well above a strong showing in November. Anything but first next year is unacceptable, that would be one step forward, two back - and if @Ragey Erasmus is on the money with 3rd, that, in my eyes, would be a complete disaster of a season. England have specialised in mediocrity in the 6 Nations for too long and we shouldn’t put up with it any longer.

 

[Which Tyler]

1. France
2= England
2= Ireland
4. Scotland
5. Italy
6. Wales

I'm not yet convinced England have that consistency they need (sounds daft after their winning streak but it's just not felt convincing enough for me). They still feel a bit too likely to throw things away when it really matters.

For England, I don't think "consistency" is quite the right word - though I do see that.
We lack that clinical edge in attack, squandering entries-into-22 - but that will come with giving more time to combinations, and Blackett, leaving us vulnerable for this 6N.
We also lack that sheer bloody mindedness, refusal to admit when we're beaten, coming back from a metaphorical punch in the face... Whatever you want to call it. We can capitalise on a shift in momentum, but we're limited in creating one for ourselves to a Ford drop-goal or an Underhill tackle (We've also got an Arundell scaring defenders shitless - but that requires him to be on the pitch, and runs the risk of Arundell scaring his fellow defenders shitless).

 

[Toulousain ex French fan]

If we get the following back Dupont Mauvaka Cros Boudehent Guillard Jalibert Moefana, I predict
France
England
Ireland
Scotland
Italy or Wales

England are gathering steam. They have improved massively and have a dominant pack.

I'd like to see the following start
Gros Mauvaka/Marchand Montagne
Flament Meafou
Cros Guillard Ollivon
Dupont Natmack
Depoortere Moefana
Penaud Ramos LBB

Bench: Baille Mauvaka/Marchand Atonio Boudehent Alldritt Jegou Jalibert Fickou. In a perfect world this is the bench we needed vs SA…

 

[OllyM97]

If we get the following back Dupont Mauvaka Cros Boudehent Guillard Jalibert Moefana, I predict
France
England
Ireland
Scotland
Italy or Wales

England are gathering steam. They have improved massively and have a dominant pack.

I'd like to see the following start
Gros Mauvaka/Marchand Montagne
Flament Meafou
Cros Guillard Ollivon
Dupont Natmack
Depoortere Moefana
Penaud Ramos LBB

Bench: Baille Mauvaka/Marchand Atonio Boudehent Alldritt Jegou Jalibert Fickou. In a perfect world this is the bench we needed vs SA…

I’d love to see that bench against England - let’s see how good the “Pom Squad” really is. I actually hope France are fully loaded against us in Paris, that would be another level of challenge to what we faced in the Autumn. I still think France at their best are the next best thing after the Springboks. Despite what the rankings say, that All Blacks side should be nowhere near number 2 in the World.

 

[BPM]

It's only my opinion but, if we don't win the 6N, then the clean sweep in the Autumn is kinda meaningless. In terms of importance, I'd put a Grand Slam in the 6N well above a strong showing in November. Anything but first next year is unacceptable, that would be one step forward, two back - and if @Ragey Erasmus is on the money with 3rd, that, in my eyes, would be a complete disaster of a season. England have specialised in mediocrity in the 6 Nations for too long and we shouldn't put up with it any longer.

Sorry but this is nonsense. 4/4 is a good achievement but doesn't translate to anything other than first in the 6N = 'unacceptable'. We might have edged ahead of France and Ireland in the current rankings but IMO, there is very little to choose between the three teams.

Beating both would be a huge success. A more realistic scenario would be beating Ireland at home and losing to in a close game with France on the final day which would either give them a GS or leave the title down to points difference. Would your really regard not finishing first in that scenario as mediocre or unacceptable? If so, I think your standards are almost impossibly high.

 

[Half Pint]

To temper Olly's expectations a little, if England aren't heading to Paris with the *chance* to win the 6N championship, it would be disappointing. ('unacceptable', if you prefer)
An away win in France is a tough challenge, and not guaranteed.

 

[Which Tyler]

Given that other teams are allowed to play well, Ireland and Scotland certainly have the wherewithal to beat us, even if we start as favourites.
We don't start as favourites against France - especially in Paris