By kola bear
…and I’m about ready to wet myself with excitement. I love rugby. I love international rugby. I love provincial (or Heineken Cup) rugby. I even love schools rugby. And if Ireland, Leinster or Belvedere are playing then I love it even more.
The 6 nations is the highlight in my rugby year (although September’s world cup may upset that trend once every 4 years or so). I’ve been lucky enough to grow up at a time when Irish rugby has reached unparalleled highs. Few Irish teams have had the consistant success that this team has and that can be backed up by success at lower levels (2 Heineken Cups and it is at a point where to not reach the knockout stages of the competition is a failure for the Irish provinces).
Asking myself why do I love rugby so much is an interesting question. It was the sport that was unfailingly watching in the house when I was younger but I don’t think that is it. It’s not simply a case of exposure (though that obviously helps). I think a large part of it is the feeling of pride I get from being an Irish rugby supporter, I could happily argue at length the virtues of Irish players over some the best in the world or that Ireland are the 2nd best rugby team in the world. And in few other fields (sporting or otherwise) can Ireland claim so high a standard.
Anyway I posted this to the forums at planetrugby.com where there was a predictions thread and I thought I’d share it with all of you dear readers (as though more than one person might read this) and delete it when I am proven thoroughly wrong*….
Fra-Ita Fra by 10
Eng-Sco Eng by 17
Wal-Ire Ire by 12
Eng-Ita Eng by 8
Sco-Wal Wal by 2
Ire-Fra Ire by 3
Sco-Ita Ita by 5
Ire-Eng Ire by 6
Fra-Wal Fra by 10
Sco-Ire Ire by 15
Ita-Wal Wal by 4
Eng-Fra Fra by 8
Ita-Ire Ire by 8
Fra-Sco Fra by 18
Wal-Eng Eng by 4
1st overall (team):Ireland
Last overall (team):Scotland
Most Points (player:ROG
Most Tries (player):Horgan (despite missing the 1st match)
*the predictions may in fact be totally warped by my having totally embraced all the optimism and hype that has been building up this week.
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4th of February, 2007
Your second round margins look a little small, other than that I can’t argue too much.
First round predictions were fairly good. France did a lot more winning than you thought they would, though. And the score in that second match really reads “Scotland 20 - England 15 - Wilkinson 27″. If it’d been Olly Barkley playing in white, the Scots would’ve won that :)
6th of February, 2007
Also if the TMO actually decided to watch the replays. Or Lamont learnt the most basic skills England would have had two tries less.
To be honest having seen both Scotland and Italy in action they look a lot weaker than I expected them to be. I’d also maybe switch to Wilkinson for top scorer and BOD for tries but hindsight’s 20/20.