By David van der Merwe
The players have prepared, the coaches have had their "my daddy is bigger than your daddy" moments in the media and the battle lines are drawn. All that is left is for the anthems to be sung and then the first game will kick-off. So what is my view Round One of the Six Nations? Well here it comes.
FRANCE vs ITALY
For many of us this is probably the easiest outcome to predict and if you ask 90% of rugby fans they will go with France to win. They did after all play in last year's World Cup final and only narrowly lost to the All Blacks by 8-7. What we must forget is that they also lost to Tonga in that same World Cup. Although the odds of the bookmakers are in favour of France it is not always so clear cut with them. This is their first test under their new coach and it will show us all what he is made of.
Italy on the other hand have it all to play for with nothing to lose. No one expects them to win so they can play a free game and take chances. If they are lucky it might just pay off. They do not have the stars France has got, but they sure can play with a lot of heart. And as has been shown by many a team before, playing with your heart can win you games. They will hope that the French Lottery falls in their favour and a lacklustre French side shows up.
Prediction: My money however is on France to win by 14 points or more.
SCOTLAND vs ENGLAND
Looking at the English side and their inexperience many will go with Scotland. England have a caretaker coach, comes from some trouble within management and is Captained by Chris Robshaw with only one cap under his belt. What they do have is young players with a hunger to prove themselves. Guys like Brad Barritt that have waited a long time to show what they are worth on the international stage will want to shine.
Scotland have a balanced team and they are due for a good showing in the Six Nations. They do however have an inability to cross the try line and this might just cost them the game. If they can play rugby like they sing "Flower of Scotland" they will win this one hands down. But do they really have the hunger to win? This only they can answer.
Prediction: I'm going against the popular take on this one and back England to win by 10. (Just hope my gut is right and it is not last night's curry speaking to me)
IRELAND vs WALES
This is probably the game of the weekend. Wales should have been in the World Cup final had it not been for the Warburton red card in the semi-final. They will come out with a point to prove. And prove it they can. They have a strong team with a very good disciplinary record. Defensively they are sound and on attack they have what it takes. They are playing away from home and this might just count against them and swing it the favour of Ireland by 51% to 49%.
The Irish have surely by now recovered from their hangovers after the beating they gave Australia in the World Cup. If not they might just lose this. Guinness stocks will however go up again should they win. Ireland can call on the experience of D'Arcy and others and this will test Wales. With the Irish fans and the luck of the leprechaun behind them they have the advantage. Add the four leaf clover and a steady team and you have a winning team. Will they however answer "Ireland's Call"? Only time will tell.
Prediction: I'm buying some Guinness stock and hope my investment will pay off. Ireland to win by 7.
Follow Dave on Twitter @djvanman
4 February 2012
