6 Nations Thread 2012 - Wales Grand Slam Winners!

[still]

Hoping for England to win, France to win, and Italy to win. Shame it's the last weekend.

^Ditto !

[sawyerpip]

So, predictions for the weekends results?

I think Scotland should beat Italy, they've shown enough in their four games to suggest their capable of the win. It will be a tough first half at the least though, I thought the Italian defence did very well in the first half of the Wales game and were very organised, albeit helped out a bit by quite a few silly Welsh mistakes in the final 22.

Onto the England-Ireland game, recent history would favour a Irish win, and seeing as Ireland are a settled team full of quality players and England a team in transition, you'd think it'd be difficult to see past an Irish win. However, England have shown some glimpses of quality in their games this year, and despite the French not being at their best, a win in Paris is a big scalp. Coming off that win, and adding in the Twickenham factor means I think this could be a close game. I'm going to go for an Irish win, but I wouldn't be surprised to see this go the other way. (As a side note, if England do get the win, giving them 4 out of 5 this year including 3 away wins, surely they would have to hire Lancaster full-time?)

And finally the game with the Grand Slam on the line for Wales. I think Wales have got the Championship won now as I can't see a 38 point swing in England's favour (I'd be absolutely gutted if that happened!) but I think the team and the fans really want the Grand Slam. I can't make any predictions for this match because I'm too biased, too nervous and too excited to make any useful observations about the teams I'm just glad Warburton's back (although Tipuric has shown he is very handy in an open game and is a quality cover for that position), and I hope he can lead the team to the Grand Slam.

COME ON WALES!

[Something Fishy]

Very sad to hear about Merve the Swerve passing away.

RIP.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/16439582

[Victor Mildew]

So, predictions for the weekends results?

And finally the game with the Grand Slam on the line for Wales. I think Wales have got the Championship won now as I can't see a 38 point swing in England's favour (I'd be absolutely gutted if that happened!) but I think the team and the fans really want the Grand Slam. I can't make any predictions for this match because I'm too biased, too nervous and too excited to make any useful observations about the teams I'm just glad Warburton's back (although Tipuric has shown he is very handy in an open game and is a quality cover for that position), and I hope he can lead the team to the Grand Slam.

COME ON WALES!

While I'd much rather see England win, as you say i can't see them overturning that points deficit. Turns out I'm row 15 and not row 11 (first world problems) in block L2 (think its a corner bit at the bottom) so i'd love to see the millennium stadium going mental at the end

Oh and don't forget, "after the game, you can go to the club bar and get yourself a pie, and a pint...for a fiver!"

[sawyerpip]

Ahh the good old corners in the bottom tier, I've seemed to end up sat at one of those the last 10 or so times I've been to the Stadium Very jealous you've got tickets Still, enjoy the match, the atmosphere at the stadium is always electric and I can only imagine it'll be even better with the Grand Slam on the line.

Oddly enough, one of the best atmospheres I can remember there was for the World Cup semi-final, and the match was about 10,000 miles away

[Victor Mildew]

Even better is that we have seats 1-4 meaning i can sit on the end and booze as much as i like without fear of walking in front of people every 5 mins for a piss

The bit at the start where they're prepping for wales to come out always gets me choked up, the fire, the lights, the booming music! I've got tingles just thinking of it now.

[sawyerpip]

Yeah I hate being stuck in the middle of the row, although I try to stick to half-time and long breaks in play to get up for drinks so hopefully I don't annoy people too much!

The flames are the best, from that close you can properly feel the heat which is always good when it's freezing I do like all the build-up as it does get you pumped for the match, and especially now as it's the last game of the tournament. I do sometimes feel it's a bit silly when it's for a friendly and Wales have just lost the last 3 matches though

[Victor Mildew]

The first match I went to there was right up in the roof under the huge picture of the team. Wales got a battering and then got booed off

Time to dig out the ref radio!

[sawyerpip]

I much prefer the bottom tier to the top, the view is more obstructed but it seems to be a lot better for atmosphere downstairs.

Booed off Luckily that's never happened when I've been there, although I have been there when people start booing the opposition's kicks which I'm not a fan of. I remember when I went to the Wales-France match two years ago, and during the minutes silence for Bradley Davies' mother someone shouted "Come on Wales". It was nothing sinister but still, a complete tool for doing that.

[Knoyleo]

I initiated a Stadium filling crowd chant of "WA-LES WA-LES" there, once.

[sawyerpip]

At an awful Wales-Canada game I really wanted to start a Mexican Wave, I tried a couple of times, the furthest it got was about 3 blocks

[Victor Mildew]

Just got to the holiday in at Coldra at Newport and the place is overrun with French! The bar girl just said the cheeky strawberry floaters got off their coach, lit a desposable barbecue on the lawn and then carted all their booze from the coach into the hotel bar and started cracking the cans open!

[sawyerpip]

Just got to the holiday in at Coldra at Newport and the place is overrun with French! The bar girl just said the cheeky strawberry floaters got off their coach, lit a desposable barbecue on the lawn and then carted all their booze from the coach into the hotel bar and started cracking the cans open!

That is amazing

[Victor Mildew]

It's alright, the mrs is fluent in French and German so I'm sure they'll start waving the flags when we want a drink

/casual xenophobia blog

[Donk]

Can't really see beyond a Welsh win this weekend, but the French have a habit of just cutting loose, so I could be wrong.

Scotland should beat Italy.

Ireland are a better team on paper. England are playing better than on paper. So England will probably win.

[Slartibartfast]

At an awful Wales-Canada game I really wanted to start a Mexican Wave, I tried a couple of times, the furthest it got was about 3 blocks

What I don't enjoy about the Millennium Stadium (although other stadia might do it too) is when it's a dull match there's all this bullshit encouragement for the crowd. I just think that if it's a dull match then it's a dull match, playing land of our fathers on the speakers won't change that.

[sawyerpip]

At an awful Wales-Canada game I really wanted to start a Mexican Wave, I tried a couple of times, the furthest it got was about 3 blocks

What I don't enjoy about the Millennium Stadium (although other stadia might do it too) is when it's a dull match there's all this bullshit encouragement for the crowd. I just think that if it's a dull match then it's a dull match, playing land of our fathers on the speakers won't change that.

I honestly don't recall them ever playing songs through the speakers when I've been there, definitely not during the match anyway.

[Victor Mildew]

At an awful Wales-Canada game I really wanted to start a Mexican Wave, I tried a couple of times, the furthest it got was about 3 blocks

What I don't enjoy about the Millennium Stadium (although other stadia might do it too) is when it's a dull match there's all this bullshit encouragement for the crowd. I just think that if it's a dull match then it's a dull match, playing land of our fathers on the speakers won't change that.

Never heard that, but I've seen a lot of welsh people just get up and walk out so id imagine they want to keep people inside drinking and eating there instead of at the pub.

[Slartibartfast]

They definitely did when I was watching Wales vs Canada about 3 years ago. My Welsh housemate wasn't impressed, although he's a true rugby aficionado. Watched Wales vs NZ two years ago, no need for encouragement then

[Victor Mildew]

These French people's dress sense is hilarious, it's like a horde of dr who Matt smith stunt doubles, but smoking endlessly