RBS 6 Nations 2013

Everything 6 Nations:

O'Driscoll loses Ireland captaincy

Brian O’Driscoll will not lead Ireland in the forthcoming Six Nations after coach Declan Kidney elected to retain his Leinster teammate Jamie Heaslip for the tournament. O’Driscoll has said he is “very disappointed” to lose the captaincy but accepts the decision as Kidney wants him to focus on regaining his full fitness after of his recent ankle injury.

Ireland training squad (*denotes uncapped player): Michael Bent (Leinster), Rory Best (Ulster), Isaac Boss (Leinster), Darren Cave (Ulster), Tom Court (Ulster), Seán Cronin (Leinster), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster), Declan Fitzpatrick (Ulster), Craig Gilroy (Ulster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster, capt), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Chris Henry (Ulster), Robbie Henshaw (Connacht)*, Paddy Jackson (Ulster)*, Rob Kearney (Leinster), David Kilcoyne (Munster), Ian Madigan (Leinster)*, Paul Marshall (Ulster)*, Conor Murray (Munster), Mike McCarthy (Connacht), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Dave McSharry (Connacht/)*, Seán O'Brien (Leinster), Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster), Ronan O'Gara (Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), Jonathan Sexton (Leinster), Lewis Stevenson (Ulster)*, Richardt Strauss (Leinster), Devin Toner (Leinster), Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Simon Zebo (Munster).
Not available due to injury: Tommy Bowe (Ulster), Stephen Ferris (Ulster), Luke Marshall (Ulster), John Muldoon (Connacht), Paul O'Connell (Munster), Dan Tuohy (Ulster/5)
http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/rugby/2013/0117/1224328961229.html
WALES
FORWARDS: Scott Andrews (Blues), Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs), Adam Jones (Ospreys) Paul James (Bath), Gethin Jenkins (Toulon), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Ryan Jones (Ospreys) Lou Reed (Blues), Ian Evans (Ospreys), James King (Ospreys), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Josh Navidi (Blues), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Scarlets), Toby Faletau (Dragons), Andries Pretorius (Blues)

BACKS: Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Bayonne), Lloyd Williams (Blues), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), James Hook (Perpignan), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets) Alex Cuthbert (Blues), George North (Scarlets), Eli Walker (Ospreys), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Lee Byrne (Clermont)

England's 2013 RBS Six Nations Training Squad (via RFU.com)
Forwards (18)
Calum Clark (Northampton Saints)
 Alex Corbisiero (London Irish )
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
 James Haskell (London Wasps)
 Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
 Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
 Joe Marler (Harlequins)
 Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby) 
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
 Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
 Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers)
 David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
 Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
 Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Backs (15)
Chris Ashton (Saracens)
 Brad Barritt (Saracens)
 Mike Brown (Harlequins)
 Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
 Danny Care (Harlequins )
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints) 
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints) 
Alex Goode (Saracens)
 Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
 David Strettle (Saracens) 
Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
 Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby) 
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Scotland squad for RBS 6 Nations 2013
Interim coach Scott Johnson has named a 35-man training squad to prepare for the RBS 6 Nations 2013.
There are recalls for Johnnie Beattie, Richie Vernon, Alasdair Dickinson, Moray Low, Robert Harley and Duncan Weir, and there are ten uncapped players in the squad.
What do you think? Can these players usher in a successful new era for Scotland? Can they beat England at Twickenham in the opening match?
Backs:
Peter Murchie, Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour, Sean Lamont (all Glasgow Warriors), Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby), Max Evans (Castres), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Dunbar, Peter Horne, Duncan Weir, Ruaridh Jackson (all Glasgow Warriors), Tom Heathcote (Bath Rugby), Henry Pyrgos, Sean Kennedy (both Glasgow Warriors) and Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby).
Forwards:
Alasdair Dickinson (Sale Sharks), Ryan Grant, Dougie Hall, Pat MacArthur (all Glasgow Warriors), Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby), Euan Murray (Worcester Warriors), Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby), Moray Low, Alastair Kellock (both Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Sale Sharks), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Robert Harley, Ryan Wilson (both Glasgow Warriors), Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier), David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby), Richie Vernon (Sale Sharks), Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors).

France squad for the RBS 6 Nations
Forwards: Vincent Debaty, Yannick Forestier, Thomas Domingo, Benjamin Kayser, Guilhem Guirado, Dimitri Szarzewski, Nicolas Mas, Luc Ducalcon, David Attoub, Pascal Papé, Yoann Maestri, Jocelino Suta, Romain Taofifenua, Yannick Nyanga, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Thierry Dusautoir, Wenceslas Lauret, Louis Picamoles, Damien Chouly


Backs: Maxime Machenaud, Morgan Parra, Frederic Michalak, Francois Trinh-Duc, Mathieu Bastareaud, Gael Fickou, Wesley Fofana, Maxime Mermoz, Florian Fritz, Yoann Huget, Vincent Clerc, Benjamin Fall, Brice Dulin, Jean-Marcellin Buttin

Italy:
Forwards: Martin Castrogiovanni, Lorenzo Cittadini, Alberto De Marchi, Andrea Lo Cicero, Michele Rizzo, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Davide Giazzon, Joshua Furno, Quintin Geldenhuys, Francesco Minto, Antonio Pavanello, Robert Barbieri, Paul Derbyshire, Simone Favaro, Sergio Parisse (captain), Ratu Manoa Seru Vosawai, Alessandro Zanni.


Backs: Tobias Botes, Edoardo Gori, Kristopher Burton, Luciano Orquera, Tommaso Benvenuti, Paolo Buso, Gonzalo Canale, Gonzalo Garcia, Tommaso Iannone, Andrea Masi, Luke McLean, Alberto Sgarbi, Giovanbattista Venditti.

Not long to go, opening fixtures:

- Wales v Ireland: Sunday 03/02 12:30am AEDT
- England v Scotland: Sunday 03/02 3am AEDT
- Italy v France: Monday 04/02 1am AEDT

Can't wait for this to start now, all the Irish province's have found some form at the right time of year. Calling it now, Ireland Grand Slam winners.

Ireland do have the favourable draw with England and France at home. Think France finally put it together however.

Very good thread idea. I have moved this to the Rugby Discussion main boards.

If you take current club form into consideration the only players in France that are any where near the top of their game is Clermont. Things are not looking good for Wales and as you said the draw is in Ireland's favour.

Matt Kvesic and Mouritz Botha have been called up to the England senior squad as cover for the injured Tom Johnson and Calum Clark respectively.

Ugo Monye will also train with the squad as cover for future injuries.

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/21735.php

Italy and Wales, Scotland could win both this year.

Hope Calum Clark's injury is not an elbow deliberately broken by an opponent!?!

France have called up uncapped Perpignan wing Adrien Planté as a replacement for the injured Gaël Fickou.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_8425494,00.html

I haven't seem much of him, but he's 27 and does not seem to have amassed enough tries to be next cab off the rank. Can anyone shed some light as to why he's been called up?

Not to sure, have not watched to much French rugby this season. He is quite a small winger, might be to do with the style of play they are planning on playing more than anything else.

Interesting Scottish squad..i don't expect them to win to many if any this year but they are definitely starting to get some players that resemble the basis of a good team. Having naturalised Visser and Maitland gives them a back three that are potentially as dangerous as any in the 6 nations.
I think that in a a year or 2 they will be able to stand up and give the comp a good tilt. As there young brigade is quite promising as well as the players they have moved to naturalise.
Till then however I am tipping France for the win. England I feel will be a close second.

I have a feeling England are going to flop in this tournament and honestly think Scotland might beat them on the first weekend. The players and the press have slipped back into the usual arrogant default setting since they beat up a NZ team completely hobbled by the Noro virus back at the beginning of December, how sensible of NZ not to whinge about the sickness. NZ literally didn't turn up for that game IMHO. England think they are the best team in the world again although they have done very little to warrant anything like that status. If truth be told, probably the only player they have who is certain to be in the Lions match day squad would be Dan Cole and I wouldn't have him ahead of a fit Adam Jones. People will say Tuilagi but there is no point having 'can't pass, won't pass' at 13 if you have got strike runners outside of the calibre of North, Visser etc who are never going to see the ball.

That said I hope Ireland win the Grand slam, as always, and am quietly confident, but I fervently pray that Fatland and the other pr*cks running the Lions shamelessly ignore all the Irish players and take the English and the Welsh on the whole pointless, wasteful exercise. I can guarantee that the world player of the year nominee will be first name on the list because his daddy is the coach, and that will have me supporting Australia even more fervently!!!

Did you post that drunk? Or can't you see past your green eye patch? The press may have made a little bit of noise but nothing over the top like you are making out.

I think with form and the way the fixture looks it really is Ireland's to lose.

France have to travel to both Ireland and England.

England have Wales and Ireland away

Ireland have there tough games at home so have every chance possible. Plus they are due a big win against the Walsh after the last couple of years and some unlucky calls.

I'm optimistic about Ireland's chances this year. Some of the young players coming through have really come of age this season. There isn't the old stale feel about the squad that there was during the RWC and last years 6Ns. Still the grand slam will be a tough ask. France were the form NH team during November and no mater where we play them I'd make them slight favourites as they have a mental edge over us which always makes for a nervy game.

If we get to that point with a 100% record and do pull off a win then we should take out the GS even if there are nervy moments in the final game against Italy. something that would be typical of this Irish team would be to slip up against Wales or Scotland away and beat England and France at home and leave us to wonder about another one that got away.

I've been encouraged by our attacking play in the games against Fiji and Argentina and hope we continue that development through this years 6Ns. I'm also encouraged that the senior coaches will take charge of the first Wolfhounds game as this shows an interest from the coaches in the depth of talent available. This should mean that players will get a fare shake this year rather than it being practically the same squad, injuries excepting, for every game regardless of the result.

France I would have as the favourites. Their tales will be up from the November games and their teams are looking good in the Heineken Cup. They have Italy and Wales to start which should allow them to build some momentum before facing both England and Ireland away. If they knock over the English, who seem to be their bogey team in the 6Ns, they'll come to Dublin full of confidence.

England may not be the best team in the world but they're a team that can latch on to a little bit of confidence and roll with it. The main problem is that eventually what Paddy says about their media will come to pass long before they've achieved enough to challenge for top 2 in the world let alone knocking the ABs off their perch. But they've a bit to go before they reach over confidence.

They've got Scotland first up which will be a very passionate and close game but I think the crucial difference will be that Scotland will be satisfied with putting in a performance and showing some passion even if it's a narrow loss. After that England travel to Dublin and we're due a win against them so I'd predict a win for Ireland by 1-2 scores. By that point the press in England will probably be on their backs wondering where all the promise from the November win against the ABs has gone.

Next up for them will be France and England like playing France especially at Twickenham. I'd predict a stylish win for England in this one and them shutting up the critics for a bit. They then have Italy at home which I'd expect them to win as long as they remember you still have to work to beat Italy no matter how good you've been in your last game. To finish off they go to the Millennium to play a Wales side that will probably have a point to prove. At that point I'd expect both teams to be close enough in points that the winner would finish higher in the table.

I don't think Wales will do as badly as people are predicting, I don't think they're going to win another Grand Slam and traditionally they've had a very poor 6Ns the year after winning a GS. Still I don't think they're wooden spoon material just yet. If they manage to beat us in the opening game then they're probably in for a pretty good tournament. Although as KevinO points out we're probably due some luck against them.

I think they'll give it a real go in Paris and probably score some tries and it will be an exciting game but I still expect the French to out score them by a couple of tries. I think they'll beat Italy away finally ending the losing streak if they haven't done that already at home to Ireland. Scotland v Wales will be an interesting one as I think Scotland will be targeting their 3 home games as winnable. That will then bring them to the showdown with England which many are already predicting Wales will have to win to avoid the wooden spoon. I think it will be more likely, if they win, they'll have had an OK tournament and if they lose they'll have had a terrible 6Ns. Ours is a game of very tight margins.

I'm very interested to see how Scotland go under a new coach. As stated above I think they'll come out with lots of passion against England and really make a game of it. If they lose they'll be quietly happy if they put in a good performance, even if they won't admit to it in the post match interviews. They'll target their 3 home games against Italy, Ireland and Wales. They'll have probably set a target of 2 wins but they'll be satisfied with 1, happy with 2 and delighted if they win all 3. In the last game against France they'll probably be told to go out and have a go and possibly shift a heavy defeat while showing some good attack themselves. With this years 6Ns possibly going to be a tight affair at the top the margin by which they lose could determine where the trophy goes.

Italy are definitely an improving team and the gap between them and teams like Scotland, Ireland and Wales isn't as big as it used to be. But unfortunately they start off against France who will be looking to put down a marker for the rest of the tournament. They'll really give it a go away to Scotland and home to Wales. They could pick up a win if Wales are indeed as poor as many are predicting or if Scotland don't harness the optimism after what should be a rousing display against England. If they haven't won a game by then it won't look good for the final 2 rounds. England away is a fixture they've dreaded in recent years and in the final game they'll face an Ireland team who will either need to win to have a chance at the title or, even more dangerous for Italy, an Ireland team that needs to win to put some gloss on a disappointing campaign.

Of course these are just my thought on how the teams may go in this years 6Ns and may bear no resemblance to what actually happens and that unpredictability is one of the many reason I love rugby in general and the 6Ns in particular.

Did you read my post drunk? I commended NZ for not making a fuss about the extent to which the squad were struck down by the noro virus!!! Have you had it by the Way???? I can think of plenty of teams that would have made the mother of all fusses if nearly the entire squad, the rumour was all bar 2 of the whole squad and management combined, had been puking and shitting through the eye of a needle all week before a test match, that NZ DID NOT , I repeat DID NOT, is greatly to their credit!! Honestly you try and pay someone a compliment and you just wind up being abused!?! Probably the reason why I didn't post on here for six months.

As frustrating as they can be to watch I have a real soft spot for the Scots. They are my favorate 6 Nations team.

They always look like they know what they want to achieve but their basic skills are dreadful. I hope they sort it out because when they do I think they are more than capable of playing some real entertaining rugby.