Jeremy Guscott has had his say forecasting:
France for the Six Nations
Leinster for the Heineken Cup
Saracens for the Aviva Premiership
Leinster for the Pro 12
Can we do any better?
Disregarding my bosses old maxim that "only the hindsight forecast is 100% correct" here's my punt
Six Nations - Wales (I think they'll be well fired up, England still finding their way under a new regime, Ireland have away days in France and England which I think will go against them, and Wales will want revenge against a French team who are themselves regrouping)
Heineken Cup - Toulouse (feel O'Driscoll's absence and Sexton's occasional off day may derail Leinster, think the English clubs and Munster may be too knackered, don't think the Welsh clubs are yet good enough)
Aviva Premiership - Saracens (just enough experience and squad strength to outrun the rest)
Pro 12 - Leinster (hard to see anyone else here)
Where am I right / wrong and what are your thoughts?
Trophy Winners Predictions
posted on 5/1/12
mmmmmmmmm
SARS i like this article been a while since an interesting article has a appeared.
Well i shall start by shooting holes in your predictions
I find it nigh on impossible to pick a 6N's winner between France and Wales. We know what wales will bring. And France under a PROPER manager are surly going to challenge so this should be a great year for either of them. Tho i heavily disagree that England will beat Ireland. Thats the game Ireland target every year, year on year, and since 2003 ireland have won all games against England save for one loss. Home and Away England don't have the Intensity to beat Ireland. Who look at the all white jersey with venom and disrespect.
HC- AGAIN its difficult to see past Toulouse and Leinster but this time i see Leinster doing it. They are incredible with or without Drico and all hinges on the pack. That back row could make a Scottish back-line look good with the amount of destruction it does.
AP - Quins for me for no other reason but i like Conner O'Shea, and i like how they play under his leadership. Next Ireland manager?I for one HOPE SO!
Pro 12 - If leinster lose the HC then Leinster by a massive scoring margin over whoever they meet. If they win the HC it will be a close final due to fatigue and hangovers
So finished shooting holes i say...
Heart say wales but head says France... for the Six Nations
Leinster for the Heineken Cup
Saracens for the Aviva Premiership
Leinster for the Pro 12
MMM i almost agree with Guscott ...... oh god i feel a bit ill
posted on 5/1/12
oppppppsss
Heart say wales but head says France... for the Six Nations
Leinster for the Heineken Cup
QUINES for the Aviva Premiership
Leinster for the Pro 12
posted on 6/1/12
Now Mr Guscott, can I pin you down to heart or head here for the Six nations?
On England - Ireland, you have to some degree confirmed my worst fears about it being a "special" game from the irish point of view, my wife and her side of the family (including a couple of Blackrock College chaps) have often denied it - though with various degrees of strength - though I've often suspected it to be the case!
posted on 6/1/12
arrrggg im gona go with my Heart and say.... Ireland tis me country you know.
But really... well its difficult but i will pin my flag to the mast and say Wales.
RE: Ireland and England... oh ye, i know we irish like to say were all grown up now and the hate is gone... but you know we still very much enjoy sticking it to the old enemy. But the hate really is gone and were neighbours now and happy neighbours indeed but we still like to beat the English. thats just a fact of life. I won't deny it tho i know most Irish like to think its not that way... when really it is exactly that way.