After a brief break the rugby will soon be back up and running - and Joe Ansbro too we all hope - what expectations and hopes do you have for your club and country (or if you support Leinster, what margin of victory do you aspire to?). Aside from these alliances who or what will you be watching out for?
For me as a Gloucester fan you never can tell, the ability to explode at just the wrong moment seems nigh on inevitable. There have been a good few changes at Kingsholm, though I think they will be beneficial overall, and I'd hope for a top six finish, though I think top 4 is beyond us yet.
For England, things are looking up and a shot at the Six Nations title is a realistic option, though Wales will start as favourites no doubt. With Andy Farrell now back in I hope that England will be able to add an attacking element to a strong defensive set up, and the autumn internationals will be very interesting.
What I'd really like this year is to see Freddie Burns get an England cap, he's never going to be the next Wilkinson, or a long term option, but as a good, occasionally brilliant - and it has to be said occasionally terrifying - player I'd love to see him get a cap, even if it were just for 20 minutes against Italy.
I'll be interested to see if Leinster can again sweep all before them, whether Leicester can get things together, how Owen Farrell fairs - likewise Sam Warburton, now so much is expected of them.
Elsewhere, France are always great to watch, and after a quiet post World Cup period, surely its time for (Gallic) flair to be back in fashion? This might be the last season for the great O'Gara - and possibly O'Driscoll and O'Connell too, so it would be nice to see them bow out with a bang. Meanwhile, across the sea how will the Welsh dragon fare now as favourite - and can they shake off a rather disappointing time down under? Will we see a return to form for Gavin Henson, or is the party well and truly over?
How will London Welsh fair as the new boys on the block, and will Wasps get themselves back together, will the Scots development at club and country level continue? Will the Dragons, Blues, Ospreys and Scarlets get the folks through the gates?
Finally, who will win the trophies? I'd go for:
Heineken Cup - Leinster
Pro-12 - Leinster
Aviva Premiership - Saracens
Top 14 - Toulouse
Amlin Challenge Cup - Stade Francais - very tempted to go with Glos here
Six Nations - Wales
Finally, good luck to you all and enjoy your rugby (not hard if you support Leinster and / or the All Blacks!!!)
What lies ahead?
posted on 1/9/12
Hey Ding,
Fair enough it gets said a lot but I just have a feeling that they'll be better this year! If not well who cares it's only the Scots!
Can't wait to see the new rules in action as well...didn't even realise there was a 5 second ruck rule being introduced!
posted on 1/9/12
I dont care too much about European club rugby tbh so I will leave that. In the six nations I predict that England and Wales will again prove the best two teams but I am hopeful England get a GS this time. I want to see Ford in the squad, he is the future.
As for the Schumacher thing (apologies SARS), he was hated because he had a long history of cheating and his team had "benefits" from the FIA. No true F1 fan will deny the fact he was one of the greatest ever. However, I was lucky to watch the greatest of all time and it wasnt Schumacher.
posted on 1/9/12
Anyone watching Wasps v Quins? What a game!
posted on 1/9/12
Aristodemus mate that was me who made reference to Schumacher, and the point was that no one likes to see year on year dominance of any sport as it gets boring. Anyway was lucky enough to see Schumacher in Belgium, Italy and Canada when he was in his prime. I suppose every generation has a good guy and a bad guy. for me he was the greatest. As for his cheating. Senna was just as willing to do the same, the deference being he's not around to face the questions these days.
posted on 1/9/12
Yeah I know it was you, I apologised for talking F1 on his thread. I guess you mean Suzuka 90 for Senna? It was very different to the Hill/Villeneuve incidents. He said before the race he would make it into turn one first or not at all and stuck to it, I respect that. Afterwards he was in turmoil over how he won, rather than Schumacher who was clearly delighted to realise he broke Hills suspension.
Anyways, I met Schumacher and he is a nice guy. He just has a will to win that doesnt allow a moral compass. Sorry again SARS.
posted on 1/9/12
Aristo. For sure, everything u say is true. But Schumacher will to win as you say is something i also respect. anyway back to rugby
posted on 2/9/12
for me the prost and senna moves were very sketchy too, but schumacher's moves on hill were clearly premeditated decisions to take the driver out. dont forget as well that he celebrated his first GP victory in spite of senna having died in then race. think he lost a lot of people right there.
posted on 3/9/12
Side stepping the F1 if you will, what did you make of the first week - some interesting ones - both Pro-12 finalists losing away - Ospreys at Treviso especially, some very dramatic games in England, Sale totally massacred at Exeter too - what were your thoughts
For Gloucester I suppose a slightly below par start, given that it was at Kingsholm, but how did your team do (with the exception of "Show" whose result I'm more than familiar with - though what do you think post Ashton?) and how did it compare with what you expected?
posted on 4/9/12
Ah no big deal for us mate. Leinster have lost their opening game 4 years on the trot! its like some kind of hex. THe Ospreys was perhaps more of a surprise considering the opposition!
Munster looks great! well organised and playing a whole new brand of Rugby with their forwards particularly DOC getting in the mix out in the wide channels! Carrying and keeping moves going and pressure on defenses. I was well impressed!
As for the English prem' i dont know much, only what i have read in the papers, but by all accounts the Quins v Wasps game looks to have been an all time cracking game of rughy!
posted on 4/9/12
In all honesty I only watched the 3 televised Aviva games....but wow Wasps vs Quins was a hell of a game. Firm ground really does make for a cracking game.
Sarries and Leicester looked their usual solid selves...bring on week 2!