Predicted 6N table 2020

[Tooting Carmen]

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

England are by some distance the best team in the NH, as proven by the World Cup.
France should finally do something big - they nearly beat Wales in the World Cup, the Jiff rules are gradually strengthening the national team and they have all those successful U20s players coming into the senior ranks.
Ireland still have strong provinces and will do OK, but will probably lose away to England and maybe to France as well.
Wales have a lot of injuries and the Ospreys are extraordinarily bad at the moment. (Yes I know the regions have never really been that successful, and Welsh rugby at international level has risen above that and the endlessly poor form of the Dragons in particular, but having a really poor Ospreys team too might prove too much this time).
Italy were impressive in pockets of the World Cup, and I expect them to finally break their losing 6N streak at home against Scotland, who bombed out of the World Cup ignominiously, and I think it is their turn for the Wooden Spoon.

 

[bushytop]

England
Ireland
Wales
France
Scotland
Italy

Could be way off though, apart from England going well and Italy not I think that predicting the other four teams fortunes is especially tough this time. Ireland and Wales will have new coaching teams as well as quite a lot of new faces within their squads (Ireland through age/selection and Wales through injury), as you say France should start to show some improvement and I think they'll eventually (by 2023) be fantastic but not sure that it will happen for them yet. Scotland, well they should see this 6N as an opportunity to do quite well. They have an established coaching structure, a lot of the players who were injured last year are back and the other teams (bar England) are in transition. Still if there was ever a side who flatters to deceive it tends to be the Scots.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I think one of Ireland or Wales will win. A bit of a world cup hangover for England coupled with one of those two getting a boost from a new coaching team should see it, don't see a slam coming though.

 

[duncanb]

Agree with Alpha here, see a close tourney.No standout team this year see all winning games maybe even Italy.
A 4 1 team to win it hard to predict
Ireland look relatively injury free.
England need to forget final.
Wales find the attack that could make them very good.
France carry on bringing on the younger players and play as a team.
Scotland play consistently at there best.
Italy stay injury free build on 2 clubs improvement.
Looking forward to it.

 

[Scotty]

England No GS
Ireland
France
Wales
Scotland
Italy

England wont change too much and have a strong squad, new coaches may have an effect(good or bad) but we have ireland and wales at home.

Ireland didnt do great at the WC and have promoted from within which is always risky.

Wales have injuries and a new coaching set up so takes time to bed in

Scotland are not in a great place atm but could come good.

France have been bold with 19 uncapped players in there 42 man squad and an average age of 24. They are a team with alot of potential who are rebuilding, dont think they will win but i think they are worth watching.

Italy...are Italy. Improved or not they will be very likely last.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I could see Wales getting a GS or getting 5th, really hard to predict how they'll be under a completely different coaching style.
Ireland have had Farrell around the set up for a while so he's/they're used to each other - don't think his gameplanning will be massively different to their old style like Pivac vs Gatland will be.

I can't see England winning it - think the RWC was a fluke and we massively over achieved. Could see us 3rd, maybe 2nd. Ireland and Wales at home definitely helps a bit, but I can see us losing one of those - I think we'll probably lose to France first up, and Scotland is anybodies guess. They had a dog **** world cup, but I won't forget the Twickenham game easily.


I think Ireland vs Wales for top 2
England vs France vs Scotland for 3rd/4th/5th,
Italy wooden spoon

 

[ForumWhore]

Wales
England
France
Ireland
Scotland
Italy

Wales are 6 nations specialists. They weren't great in 2019 and still won it and will do the same again. England will be dazzling but somehow lose to Wales at Twickenham.

 

[bushytop]

I could see Wales getting a GS or getting 5th...

I can see your logic there, we are a bit of an unknown quantity right now. The thing that worries me most from a Welsh perspective is how different the philosophies are... virtually polar opposites, and our establishment players have been drilled in one way (Gatland and Edwards) all of their adult lives and now all of a sudden they'll have to adapt to something that is in stark opposition. On the whole I like the new coaching team... love Jones and have a lot of respect for Humphreys (I think they are both massive improvements over Howley and McBryde) and although the Scarlets struggled last year I think on the whole Pivac did an amazing job there. It's just Hayward as defence coach that gives me major concern really... but pretty much anyone was going to be a down-grade after Edwards. Like that they've got Warburton involved in the breakdown too.

 

[MikeTheNative]

I can't see Wales going away to Twickenham and winning to be honest, it wouldn't surprise me if nobody get's the grand slam and it's pretty tight between 3 teams going into the last day. The team that needs a big 6 nations is Scotland, they have seemed to have stagnated the last few years and after showing some promise have failed to elevate to actual ***le contenders. With a number of teams with new management now is their best chance to get a result.

 

[bushytop]

I can't see Wales going away to Twickenham and winning to be honest, it wouldn't surprise me if nobody get's the grand slam and it's pretty tight between 3 teams going into the last day. The team that needs a big 6 nations is Scotland, they have seemed to have stagnated the last few years and after showing some promise have failed to elevate to actual ***le contenders. With a number of teams with new management now is their best chance to get a result.

Agreed, if Scotland are ever going to do anything this year is the year.

 

[The Seeker]

Wales
Ireland
England
France
Scotland
Italy

 

[profitius]

It usually comes down to 3 or 4 games because Scotland, Italy and France have been a level below the other 3.

Italy will remain a level below for a while although I do think they are improving. I don't think Scotland have the players yet but could pull out a big performance.

France could be the wildcard. If they step up a level it could mean 6 or 7 big games instead of 3 or 4. I wouldn't hold my breath though.

 

[MikeTheNative]

People always seem to say that if the French team turns up they could be great, it just seems they never turn up.

 

[bushytop]

People always seem to say that if the French team turns up they could be great, it just seems they never turn up.

Yeah but with those two under 20 World Cup winning teams on the bounce, this next crop will be a new breed. Don't know if it'll have an effect this time but I'd imagine that they will be a very good side in the coming years. Also, if they can play like they did against us in the World Cup QF with some regularity... they'll be more than competitive.

 

[Mumbles119]

I think one of Ireland or Wales will win. A bit of a world cup hangover for England coupled with one of those two getting a boost from a new coaching team should see it, don't see a slam coming though.

I agree with Alpha here.
England might suffer a hangover, but I also still think England haven't solved the issue of adapting during the game. I.e. Wales 6N game 2019 and RWC final. SA and Wales are both very good strong teams that will punish you repeatedly if they can take control of a game.

So TLDR version is: England still lack ability to adapt during games so could easily lose one to two of the 6N games.

 

[MikeTheNative]

I agree with Alpha here.
England might suffer a hangover, but I also still think England haven't solved the issue of adapting during the game. I.e. Wales 6N game 2019 and RWC final. SA and Wales are both very good strong teams that will punish you repeatedly if they can take control of a game.

So TLDR version is: England still lack ability to adapt during games so could easily lose one to two of the 6N games.

Those two games you could see the game progressively falling away from England. Is it a question of coaching or should the senior players on the pitch be taking responsibility?

 

[Mr Ruggleby]

I can't see England winning it - think the RWC was a fluke and we massively over achieved.

Eh!? Is this a joke I am missing?

 

[bushytop]

Eh!? Is this a joke I am missing?

'English Humility'... it's the new arrogance

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Eh!? Is this a joke I am missing?

Nope,
We looked **** going into the world cup and shouldn't let a great performance vs the All Blacks paper over the cracks

 

[bushytop]

Nope,
We looked **** going into the world cup and shouldn't let a great performance vs the All Blacks paper over the cracks

Don't know about looking ****... there was obviously the second half against Scotland but apart from that England looked pretty good imo.