RBS Six Nations Fixtures

Dont know if this has been done but here they are-


Sat 2nd Feb 13 13:30 Wales v Ireland
Sat 2nd Feb 13 16:00 England v Scotland
Sun 3rd Feb 13 15:00 Italy v France
Sat 9th Feb 13 14:30 Scotland v Italy
Sat 9th Feb 13 17:00 France v Wales
Sun 10th Feb 1315:00 Ireland v England
Sat 23rd Feb 13 14:30 Italy v Wales
Sat 23rd Feb 13 17:00 England v France
Sun 24th Feb 1314:00 Scotland v Ireland
Sat 9th Mar 13 14:30 Scotland v Wales
Sat 9th Mar 13 17:00 Ireland v France
Sun 10th Mar 1315:00 England v Italy
Sat 16th Mar 13 14:30 Italy v Ireland
Sat 16th Mar 13 17:00 Wales v England
Sat 16th Mar 13 20:00 France v Scotland


Surprised France v Scotland is the final match as Wales are the favorites and England are 2nd favorites.

Haven't you heard about the Scottish targets?

Grand Slam decider in Paris on the final day!

You heard it here 1st !

No Friday games which is a bonus!

To Lift Trophy
Wales 15/8
England 11/4
France 3/1
Ireland 9/2
Scotland 20/1
Italy 125/1

Win Outright
No Winner 4/7
Wales 9/2
England 6/1
France 8/1
Ireland 16/1
Scotland 40/1
Italy 500/1

To Lift Trophy
Wales 13/8
No Winner 15/8
Ireland 5/1
England 5/1
Scotland 18/1

This is from SKYBET and probably indicates that the final match should be Wales v England

Any Welshies got any good travel tips for Italy, hotels etc, areas to stay in/avoid etc

Ireland in first game at 1.30? Why so early?

I can't see Scotland's grand slam hopes going beyond the first day, could have started with Italy to try to build some momentum. These aims are going to bite the Scottish management on the bum.

Well we will have no expectations of winning the first one away to England, so that is at least when we play ok.

Since we have been the first game on during the last Saturday for the last 100 years, good they change it around

Also these fixtures were announced before the last 6N - the fact that Welsh & English are 1st and 2nd favourites respectively is a nice coincidence (or I guess might have been predicted).

Fixtures in my opinion for round robins should be as randomized as possible and it's good to see that they're beginning to do that. Because seriously, Scotland have had some really poor line ups in the past, in a way that basically expects them to have a wooden spoon battle on the last weekend. With this fixture list come the final weekend you could say they may be in with a shot for the title if things go right.

Obviously it's better just to beat all in front of you but travelling to Paris on the first weekend , which has happened far too often , is a little harsh and appears to have been done on purpose for a while.

I do like it when the Calcutta Cup is a bit later in the tournament, though. I'm surprised they didn't line up Scotland v Italy first match so one of the traditionally bottom teams could have some actual momentum after the first week - could make things interesting.

Anyone know how they actually decide the fixtures?

Excellent point, KickandChase

Here's a breakdown of Scotland's opponents for the opening weekend of the six nations:
Italy: '00
France: '01, '05, '06, '08, '10, '11
England: '02, '07, '12, '13
Wales: '04, '09
Ireland: '03

And the same breakdown for final weekend opponents:
Italy: '03, '06, '08, '11, '12
France: '07, '13
England: '00, '05, '09
Wales: '02
Ireland: '01, '04, '09

Does anyone else smell something fishy?

We could go on and on about momentum and winning streaks, etc. However, we need to consider the influence that the climate can have on how a particular rugby match is played. There is a significant difference in temperature, pitch condition, precipitation and available light between the first weekend of February and the last weekend of March.

So, is it right that Scotland -v- France is usually played at the coldest point of the tournament, where a forward-oriented game-plan is more useful? Likewise, is it right that Scotland -v- Italy is usually played at the warmest point in the tournament, where conditioning and handling are most important?

These days Scotland don't care what conditions are they'll try chuck it around anyway.

I never thought of that point, but even so it still seems Scot v Ita turns out to be an arm wrestle and Scot v Fra is a running game where Scotland get turned over 4 times and consequently leak 4 tries.

I have lost count of the number of games over the years where England finish the Six Nations playing away from home, regardless of how many home or away games in the competition. It might be random but it does seem curious and invariably throw in a SH ref into the mix for the deciding last game for table positions and it all makes for a very tough challenge - which England have usually failed.....

Didn't think about that one Recwatcher. For me I'd rather Scotland had the last game as away as it presupposes some momentum which they rarely have from prior home games. But for England I could see why you'd prefer home games on the final weekend , for a team that's far more likely to be in the mix for the crown by then based on past 6N tables.

KickAndChase wrote:These days Scotland don't care what conditions are they'll try chuck it around anyway.

I never thought of that point, but even so it still seems Scot v Ita turns out to be an arm wrestle and Scot v Fra is a running game where Scotland get turned over 4 times and consequently leak 4 tries.

We seem to have developed a habit of playing a style of rugby that suits the opposition in the six nations. Our backs are superior to Italy's yet we attempt to fight them in the forwards (which we should also win) whereas against France we attempt to throw the ball around when we have two lumbering oafs in the centre.

its all about getting italy at home- for the points difference!

Stuff looking at fixtures! lets look at predictions

Sat 2nd Feb Wales v Ireland - Wales Win
Sat 2nd Feb England v Scotland - Scotland win
Sun 3rd Feb Italy v France - France win
Sat 9th Feb Scotland v Italy - Scotland win
Sat 9th Feb France v Wales - France win
Sun 10th Feb Ireland v England - Ireland win
Sat 23rd Feb Italy v Wales - Wales win
Sat 23rd Feb England v France - France win
Sun 24th Feb Scotland v Ireland - Scotalnd win
Sat 9th Mar Scotland v Wales - Scotland win
Sat 9th Mar Ireland v France - France win
Sun 10th Mar England v Italy - England win
Sat 16th Mar Italy v Ireland - Italy win (coz they tend to get one)
Sat 16th Mar Wales v England - Wales win
Sat 16th Mar France v Scotland - Too tough to call with it being a Grand Slam decider!

tigertattie wrote:Stuff looking at fixtures! lets look at predictions

Sat 2nd Feb Wales v Ireland - Wales Win
Sat 2nd Feb England v Scotland - Scotland win
Sun 3rd Feb Italy v France - France win
Sat 9th Feb Scotland v Italy - Scotland win
Sat 9th Feb France v Wales - France win
Sun 10th Feb Ireland v England - Ireland win
Sat 23rd Feb Italy v Wales - Wales win
Sat 23rd Feb England v France - France win
Sun 24th Feb Scotland v Ireland - Scotalnd win
Sat 9th Mar Scotland v Wales - Scotland win
Sat 9th Mar Ireland v France - France win
Sun 10th Mar England v Italy - England win
Sat 16th Mar Italy v Ireland - Italy win (coz they tend to get one)
Sat 16th Mar Wales v England - Wales win
Sat 16th Mar France v Scotland - Too tough to call with it being a Grand Slam decider!

tigertattie wrote:Stuff looking at fixtures! lets look at predictions

Sat 2nd Feb Wales v Ireland - Wales Win
Sat 2nd Feb England v Scotland - Scotland win
Sun 3rd Feb Italy v France - France win
Sat 9th Feb Scotland v Italy - Scotland win
Sat 9th Feb France v Wales - France win
Sun 10th Feb Ireland v England - Ireland win
Sat 23rd Feb Italy v Wales - Wales win
Sat 23rd Feb England v France - France win
Sun 24th Feb Scotland v Ireland - Scotalnd win
Sat 9th Mar Scotland v Wales - Scotland win
Sat 9th Mar Ireland v France - France win
Sun 10th Mar England v Italy - England win
Sat 16th Mar Italy v Ireland - Italy win (coz they tend to get one)
Sat 16th Mar Wales v England - Wales win
Sat 16th Mar France v Scotland - Too tough to call with it being a Grand Slam decider!

That's quite some rise, from whitewash to grand slam contenders!

I defy anyone to say it is not possible

It is a big if, but, if Scotland beat England in the first game, I cannot see any reason for them not be be fighting it out for the title.

It's a funny old game the rugby!

and one can but pray to the that we come out on top

If I were Scotland, an away Calcutta match first up is ideal. No pressure to win. Italy at home the next game to avenge a loss and Italy at home full of confidence after a win. Much better than playing them last with the pressure of playing for the wooden spoon and losing in the dying moments!

Wales and Ireland seem to have tough draws so that first match up again is vital to setting up their overall tournament.

France are the real unknown for me. They were bitterly disappointing in the big matches this year. Will PSA learn from those meek capitulations and realise a bit more attack is needed than trying to win the game through Dusatoir and defence.