I couldn't see a thread on this so I thought I'd start one...... given we had some lively debates on RWC 2015.
So first matches tomorrow then ,and on Sunday for me the key game of the weekend Wales away to Ireland.
Scotland v England at Murrayfield will be the first game I'm able to watch, and conveniently it starts just as the footie finishes. It's a fixture I've attended a few times over the years and there's nothing like the bristling hostility that rises in the Scottish crowd when a few bars of "Swing low..." kicks off. Murrayfield in February has for me been consistently the coldest sporting venue I've ever been to, wrap up with extra layers , make sure the hip flask is filled with Highland Park etc. England's first job will be to silence the crowd and figure out how to play the conditions whatever they may be. 6N is a new experience for their manager but in their first season other newbies like Warren Gatland (Won Grand Slam) and Joe Schmidt (Ireland won Championship) have done well. Scotland are still smarting about their RWC exit and believe they have the best front row and best second row (the Gray brothers) in the tournament . England as ever have strong , big forwards so it will be an interesting battle particularly the front 5 and the back row where Scotland like Wales have opted for 2specialist 7 s while England's back row looks more unbalanced but more powerful.
Wales have probably the most experienced and settled squad , though the front row is comparatively inexperienced, but with a powerful second and back row. They've still got key back players like Halfpenny, Rhys Webb and Scott& Liam Williams out through injury but Jon Davies returns in the centre and their replacements have performed well. Ireland too have been hit by injuries and loss to retirement of Paul O'Connel will be a big miss. No team announcement at the time of writing , and it seems they are sweating on the availability of Sean O'Brien who will be a huge miss if he can't play. Likelihood is its mind games and he'll play.
I get hugely excited by the Six Nations, as Mrs Blueloon will testify, just two live games lined up this time . Let the Games begin !
So first matches tomorrow then ,and on Sunday for me the key game of the weekend Wales away to Ireland.
Scotland v England at Murrayfield will be the first game I'm able to watch, and conveniently it starts just as the footie finishes. It's a fixture I've attended a few times over the years and there's nothing like the bristling hostility that rises in the Scottish crowd when a few bars of "Swing low..." kicks off. Murrayfield in February has for me been consistently the coldest sporting venue I've ever been to, wrap up with extra layers , make sure the hip flask is filled with Highland Park etc. England's first job will be to silence the crowd and figure out how to play the conditions whatever they may be. 6N is a new experience for their manager but in their first season other newbies like Warren Gatland (Won Grand Slam) and Joe Schmidt (Ireland won Championship) have done well. Scotland are still smarting about their RWC exit and believe they have the best front row and best second row (the Gray brothers) in the tournament . England as ever have strong , big forwards so it will be an interesting battle particularly the front 5 and the back row where Scotland like Wales have opted for 2specialist 7 s while England's back row looks more unbalanced but more powerful.
Wales have probably the most experienced and settled squad , though the front row is comparatively inexperienced, but with a powerful second and back row. They've still got key back players like Halfpenny, Rhys Webb and Scott& Liam Williams out through injury but Jon Davies returns in the centre and their replacements have performed well. Ireland too have been hit by injuries and loss to retirement of Paul O'Connel will be a big miss. No team announcement at the time of writing , and it seems they are sweating on the availability of Sean O'Brien who will be a huge miss if he can't play. Likelihood is its mind games and he'll play.
I get hugely excited by the Six Nations, as Mrs Blueloon will testify, just two live games lined up this time . Let the Games begin !
