Six Nations 2008

[traeth]

great result for Wales yesterday , we were todally outplayed for the first 35 minutes , but defended really well just before half time which must have given the boys a boost of faith. The second looked as if two different sides had turned up . England were abysmal and threw it away.
here in Wales we have gone from having a little hope to believing we will win the grand slam , funny how one result can make such a difference [ are we misguided ? ]

agree with you pie about today's game, I'll be on France -4 with bet365

France have a new coach we has introduced a lot of new players , a few coming from the unfashionable clubs and i must admit i do not recognise the names of Trinh-Duc, Faure, Brugnaut and Ouedraogo.With France having the strongest domestic league in Europe I am assuming these players are of the highest standard but whether they can gel is another matter. So just my standard 2 point bet for me.

[traeth]

good result for both of us pie , anyone else on France ?

Scotland were poor today , i'm hoping that they are just as bad next week , skybet were offering Wales -10 earlier today [before the match started] , that is about the margin i would be willing to take.

the only handicap i can see now is in the Italy v England game , another too close to call ,but with so many England injuries from Saturday I would take Italy +7 at h.t.

In the France v Ireland , France are available for a straight win @ 1.2 which usually gives a handicap of -11/-12 , another one which is about right , not much opportunities for making money at the moment.

I'm hoping for a suspension for Wilkinson after that "tackle" , it has been ignored in the english press ,if it had been the other way with Wilkinson being stretched off , the media would be up in arms.
I suppose i'm being paranoid again.

[ONEDUNME]

Originally Posted by traeth

good result for both of us pie , anyone else on France ?

I thought about it when I read this thread earlier but, well, to be honest I bottled it a bit. I don't like the handicap idea in rugby as so many times it can go wrong (as it did yesterday) and it would break my heart if the team I was on won but not by enough.

So instead I put my cash on France to win the competition at 11/8 on bet365. At least it gives me an interest throughout the rest of the comp.

[traeth]

Originally Posted by ONEDUNME

So instead I put my cash on France to win the competition at 11/8 on bet365. At least it gives me an interest throughout the rest of the comp.

good luck mate with the bet , France will be playing Wales in their final match in Cardiff , which i'm hoping will be the grand slam match for Wales [ fingers crossed] , found the smilie

[slick]

Missed todays game but thought last nights match between England and Wales was unblelievable, talk about a game of two halfs, I've never seen a team dominate so much then the other side turn round a game in such away.

I can only think it was because England lost a few key players as the match went on but thats taking nothing away from the Welsh as they themselves at half time must have thought they were going to get a thumping and to come out in the second half and take it on the chin for the first five mins then turn the game around was stuff fantasy is made of.

I must admit after the game i was in shock wondering what went wrong as things like that rarely happen and it wasent pleasant viewing if you were English

Still well done the Welsh and its a game they'll never forget and one no doubt they won't be letting the English forget in a hurry either.

[slick]

I noticed Shaun Edwards looked a bit coy too as it was England, expect him to be bouncing about and joining in the celebrations on victories from here on in.

I'm quite surprised Ashton never took him on board tell the truth with their Wigan connection and the job he did coaching at Wasps, unless its because of his League background.

[traeth]

the match odds and the handicaps for next weekends matches from bet365

9 Feb 14:00 Wales 1.28 Scotland 3.75 Tie 21.00
9 Feb 16:00 France 1.20 Ireland 4.50 Tie 26.00
10 Feb 14:30 Italy 6.00 England 1.12 Tie 31.00

the caps
9 Feb 14:00 Wales -9.0 1.90 Scotland +9.0 1.90 Tie 17.00
9 Feb 16:00 France -12.0 1.90 Ireland +12.0 1.90 Tie 17.00
10 Feb 14:30 Italy +14.0 1.90 England -14.0 1.90 Tie 17.00

[ONEDUNME]

Wilkinson escapes citing charge

Jonny Wilkinson denied injuring Jonathan Thomas

England's Jonny Wilkinson will not be cited for his challenge on Jonathan Thomas during Saturday's Six Nations defeat to Wales.
The fly-half had denied deliberately injuring the Wales flanker in the 13th-minute challenge, forcing him off. Wilkinson said: "There has been speculation that it was my tackle that led to it. "I feel that it was not my tackle and it is always very sad to see a player going off injured."

[Pie-chucker]

Damn these spreads look right this w/e. I think Wales will go past the +9 but the other two are bastards.

Reckon it's worth a tickle on the handicap tie on Italy v England in particular. PP are offering 25-1 on the +15, and worth a stab just to stop the shouts of fukc at the final whistle.

Don't normally bother with this, but very possible one 'cap tie will come in this w/e.

Makes sense if you've think they've got it right to bet on them having it right. But I'm Wales, France, Italy... just.

[Pie-chucker]

The -9; the -15, of course.

[traeth]

I think Wales will overcome the -9 handicap this weekend , I will settle for the changes to the Welsh team , would have prefered Roberts at fullback ,Delve carrying the ball and Jenkins starting.Gatland must be saving Gethin for the final 20 minutes as he was involved in all the major Welsh moves once he came on.
My knowledge of Scottish rugby is limited but I was expecting a few more changes in key positions , any comments from Scottish rugby fans would be appreciated.
I have already placed one bet on Wales -9 , with further reading there could be more.

Good luck with the handicap draw bets , never placed a bet on that one , I did consider it once when I heard that the handicap compilers got a bonus if it came up.
I believe it was Stan James ,they were 1 point different from most of the others in the World Cup in the Autumn.

At the moment the h.t. handicap is Italy +7 , I would like a +8 before being tempted.



the Welsh team selected for Saturday

Wales: Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Jamie Roberts (Blues), Tom Shanklin (Blues), Gavin Henson (Ospreys), Shane Williams (Ospreys); James Hook (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Ospreys); Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Martyn Williams (Blues), Ryan Jones (capt, Ospreys).
Replacements: Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Deiniol Jones (Blues), Gareth Delve (Gloucester), Dwayne Peel (Scarlets), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Sonny Parker (Ospreys).

the Scottish team selected for Saturday

Scotland: Chris Paterson (Gloucester), Nikki Walker (Ospreys), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh), Andrew Henderson (Glasgow Warriors), Simon Webster (Edinburgh), Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors), Mike Blair (Edinburgh), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Euan Murray (Northampton Saints), Nathan Hines (Perpignan), Jim Hamilton (Leicester Tigers), Jason White (Sale Sharks) capt, Kelly Brown (Glasgow Warriors), John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors).
Replacements: Fergus Thomson (Glasgow Warriors), Gavin Kerr (Edinburgh), Scott MacLeod (Llanelli Scarlets), Allister Hogg (Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Perpignan), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh).

[Pie-chucker]

Wales backs should have too much ambition for a very ordinary Scotland side. Fairly confident here.

15pts Wales -9 @ evens

Ireland are a busted flush; racked up a total of 3pts in Paris in WC group stages v France. But am going with caution with Corals 9 pt margin.

13pts France -9 @ 8/13

[slick]

I reckon england could be for the taking here with so many key players out as Wales found at last weekend , bar Wilkinson this is a very inexperienced squad especially if Vickery is also out which looks the case.

Once Moody, Strettle, Tindall, Vickery, Sheridan and Rees left the field last weekend England looked like a lost cause which Wales took full advantage of with England offering no opposition what so ever no matter how hard they tried even on home soil.

Italy are no match to a full strength English side but they are the most experienced here and no mugs as they shown against the Irish last week, on the level 6's is quite a decent price for home advantage to the Italians and +14 on the handicap even more tempting as england will have one hell of a battle on their hands here.

As for the other games i think its hard to judge Scotland as the French side last week was pretty much an unknown quantity and i'd have a dabble at the +9's on offer for them on the handicap as Wales were dire against a first team England side b4 Injuries.

Frrance v Ireland is a a hard game to judge mind but with both sides having a winning start to the campaign i'm gonna ago with Ireland on the handicap @ +12 as they do have a wee bit more experience than this new french side.

[traeth]

got up this morning and was apprehensive about the Welsh match, thankfully placed the handicap bet early on in the week

today's result
France 26 - 21 Ireland...France started well , great second half from Ireland
h.t.(19 - 6)
Wales 30 - 15 Scotland...Wales dominated should have been futher ahead first half , lucky decision from TMO to get the cap
h.t.(10 - 6)


my latest thinking is that England will overcome the h.t.Handicap of -6 and the full time handicap of -13 ,
England started well last week and somehow lost it after 50 minutes , Italy were lucky not to be further behind as Ireland looked a bit ragged and rusty last week,i can see England improving but cannot see Italy improving much. i will wait until tomorrow to place my bet though , any thoughts ?

[ONEDUNME]

Originally Posted by slick

Frrance v Ireland is a a hard game to judge mind but with both sides having a winning start to the campaign i'm gonna ago with Ireland on the handicap @ +12 as they do have a wee bit more experience than this new french side.

Good call Slick