RBS Six Nations 2010

[traeth]

the Wales team announced today
Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Tom James (Blues), James Hook (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Blues), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Scarlets); Gareth Cooper (Blues); Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Gareth Williams (Blues), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Dragons), Andy Powell (Blues), Martyn Williams (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt).
Replacements: Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Paul James (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Blues), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Richie Rees (Blues), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues).

some of the "unexpected" selections :we've got Tom James on the wing instead of Halfpenny , Hook at outside centre and Charteris at lock

[traeth]

some bad news for Wales

Wales prop Gethin Jenkins is out of the Six Nations match against England on Saturday with a calf injury.
Paul James takes his place at loose-head, with uncapped Rhys Gill coming onto the bench for the Twickenham game

i think he's the best prop in loose play and he will be missed

[CPFC]

Just seen a nice little anomaly on Bet365.

The Wales +4.0 handicap has pulled in from 10/11 (1.90) and now sits at 100/123 (1.81)

Whereas the Wales +5.0 handicap is dead on evens (2.0)

[CPFC]

[yorkieacer]

Nice find CPFC shame i know nothing about rugby union

[Pie-chucker]

Ireland v Italy

Same Italy team that beat Samoa. Last time these two met at Croke Park (2008) it was Ireland 15-11. The Grand Slammers won 4 of their 6N games last year by less than 10 points so are hardly a points machine. They did pretty much stuff Italy though. Italy usually go well first couple of games in 6N (watch out England in Italy next week). You wouldn't have gone broke backing Eyeties on the spread these last couple of years and 21 pts here is generous.

O'Gara to break deadlock after 35 mins with chip punt to wing.

4 pts Andrew Trimble first try @ 10-1
2 pts Tommy Bowe first try @ 8-1


England v Wales

Was keen on Wales with Lee Byrne getting green light. Then Wales go and lose 98 caps and 4 stone from their front row. Jenkins a big loss. Very even with 20s looking a fair price for honours even at the whistle.

22pts Wales +4 @ 10/11
2pts DRAW @ 20/1

[traeth]

good spot cpfc , but it appears that bet365 have corrected that anomaly , yorkie don't let your lack of knowledge hold you back , you won't go far wrong following pie through the six nations.

following reading your post pie on ireland low scoring wins i went looking for one of my favourite international rugby bets ...the h.t. handicap , can't find it , bet365 used to have it last season , I would be backing Italy +10 at h.t. if it was available
If anyone find that bet please let me know
The loss of 2/3rds of our first choice front row has made me is holding me back , but I suppose by tomorrow morning the rugby bug will have me backing wales again

[Quandram]

HT Handicap's are all over the place traeth... including 365

Most generous is Boyles & Hills with Italy +10 @ Evens

[Pie-chucker]

A very good thought, traeth.

Last year Ireland came up with what might be called a 'scrappy thumping' turning over Italy 38-9. The score at half time? 14-9.

[yorkieacer]

Im going to follow pie with all of his tips this campaign

[slick]

Ehhm interesting , I'll keep my eye on those Ireland low scoring wins Pie and Traeth especially the half time ones, as Quandrum mentions most bookies have the ht handicaps up now.

I'm more of a League fan but do enjoy the Six Nations, been watching it since time immemorial and love the passion involved, Gatling and Edwards have done a great job with Wales but from the last few times I've watched Wales the novelty seems to be wearing off and they have looked a pretty average team, Jenkins missing must have been quite a blow for them but they do give it 110% when they meet England.
Its Hard to rate England as they came on strong the back end of last seasons six nations but had a dire Autumn series from what i remember and recall them having to beat Argentina to end a record run of defeats which they did pretty unconvicingly.

I know England were missing a few key players then and have them back now with Johnson proclaiming its the best English side he's had since he took charge but it doesn't look to disimilar to last years side allthough i do rate Armitage and Tait and its good to see players in the team who can run with the ball and not just depend on Kicking and clapping which what Johnson seemed to be instilling into the England Team before the Autumn shambles, obviously trying to play the same tactics that were employed when he won the World Cup, seems its took him two years whilst in charge to sit up and take notice that the game has changed since then.

I did fancy Wales for this game and any handicap for the welsh looked like a gimme but with England having only two home games during the tournament, this and the Ireland game, then England must be seeing this as a must win affair to take something from limited home advantage this year.

I'm still not having a bet on them mind as I think this game should be priced up on the level and some of the England odds are ridiculous but I do think England will sneak it.

[ONEDUNME]

I'm not keen on rugby at all. I'm not keen on being a traitor to my country either but I will be tomorrow if that spunker Wilkinson is playing. I've said it before but I just hate the way he gets the credit for eveything they do. It must be hell being a team mate. You can run your bollox off for 80 minutes and break every bone in your body and that cunt steps up and with one kick, most of the country have forgotten you were even playing.

It's worse than the Beckham syndrome.

Makes me puke. I'll be the only man in the local cheering on the Welsh.

[slick]

Thats what I don't like about Union, especially England under Johnson , you can run yor bollox off get into a good position and some cnut will just boot it up field and the players around him will start clapping, thats why League fans call it Kick and Clap.
Wilkinsons a good player , he's renknown for kicking but there's more to his game than that, if he can find some of his old form then he can turn any match albeit with his kicking lol as converting penalties or drop goals are crucial in tight games.

[Pie-chucker]

Yorkieacer - IF you want to get into rugby a bit the 6N is a top way in as it's a condensed format and you start to get to know strengths/stars of teams quite quickly. It is USUALLY a bit of a money maker on this site. My exploratory fiver would go on a treble:

Italy +21
Wales +4
France -6

g'luck!

[yorkieacer]

Just done a tenner on that treble could only get France -7 though