6N Preview – England
After defeating the French to open the tournament with three consecutive victories, England looked odds on to win last year’s Six Nations until it all came crashing down with an embarrassing performance in Cardiff.
After defeating the French to open the tournament with three consecutive victories, England looked odds on to win last year’s Six Nations until it all came crashing down with an embarrassing performance in Cardiff.
Nobody expected Italy to challenge the top of the table when they joined the competition in 2000, but the Azzurri faithful were probably hoping for at least a third place finish within a decade or so.
The second, and last, ‘A’ international of this season takes place tomorrow at Scotstoun, the home of Glasgow Warriors, with Six Nations aspirations at stake.
It wasn’t the prettiest game of rugby, in damp muddy conditions at Kingsholm, but some questions will have been answered for both Joe Schmidt and Stuart Lancaster.
The remnants of a dying tradition will be on display at Kingsholm on Friday, as the Saxons take on the Wolfhounds in a pre-Six Nations teaser.
After much deliberation the team has been picked! Fifteen of the top contributors in international rugby over the course of the year, a few certainly debateable, while others pick themselves.
Quade Cooper stole the show in his 50th test as the November test series came to an exciting close with Australia once again edging out Wales at the Millenium Stadium.
The flying Fijians opened and ended at Twickenham with a little trademark magic, but in between it was one-way traffic as the Barbarians made easy work of their patchwork opponents.
The final test match of 2013 takes place at the Millenium Stadium on Saturday, as Wales will attempt to conquer Australia having lost the previous eight meetings between the two.
Fiji has a date with a star-studded Barbarians side as they celebrate the centenary of rugby in their country. Sadly the Fijians won’t be fielding the majority of their best.