Six Nations 2009
Posted by MrZink on Thu, 11 Dec 2008.
The premier European tournament has again started, with the 6 Nations kicking off at Twickenham as England take on Italy.
Wales won the title last year, and have class backs with Shane Williams, the world player of the year on the wing, and others such a Lee Byrne also playing fantastically.
France have had a troubled year, with the coach chopping and changing the team so there are doubts that their best team will not be gelled enough together, or if he even knows what his best team is.
England had an appalling Autumn international series, losing to all 3 of the southern hemisphere sides in record fashion. However, Martin Johnson is hoping that he will be able to bring some of his own brand of stability to the team he led so famously to the World Cup title 6 years ago.
Scotland have the longest standing coach in Frank Hadden, however there are issues over which fly-half is his main one. However, many say that Scotland have their best chance for many years this year, with both Scottish teams doing well in the European cup.
Italy, forever whipping boys of the 6 Nations, are improving vastly, and are hoping to improve on their current record of 1 win and countless losses in the tournament. Unfortunately for them their first 3 scrum-halves are all out with injury, and so the coach has placed Mauro Bergamasco, the veteran flanker, at scrum-half. He has never played in the position before, so it will be interesting to see how he deals with the pressure that comes from a top-class international match.
Ireland, often portrayed as the under-achievers of the tournament, are reaching the end of this generations life-span, with players like Ronan O'Gara and Brian O'Driscoll beginning to reach the end of their player careers. However, they have class players throughout, so many hope that (as ever), this will be the year they finally put their mark down on the international scene.
Wales are currently bookies favourites to retain the title they won last year, however it ought to be an interesting tournament to see whether England show some of that Johnson grit, if France and Ireland can finally find some form to prove their top-class status, and whether it will as ever be Scotland and Italy battling to not receive the wooden-spoon.