Friday, December 30, 2005
Looking to the North
Who will set the game alight in 2006?
29 Dec 2005
Andrew Baldock, PA Sport Rugby Union Correspondent looks forward to another great year of Rugby
The 2006 rugby union year has a tough act to follow after Wales' exhilarating Six Nations success and the astounding achievements of Graham Henry's All Blacks during the past 12 months. But a sport that rarely disappoints - on the field, as opposed to some interminable squabbles off it - will inevitably produce another heady mix of thrills, spills and controversy. After dusting down the crystal ball, prospective winners and losers in 2006 were readily apparent, yet as Wales proved earlier this year, anything is possible.
RBS 6 NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP Wales lit up a disappointing championship last season with their thrilling brand of all-action rugby - expect France to do likewise in 2006. Coach Bernard Laporte must sometimes struggle to contain himself when he assesses the playing talent at his disposal, and a Grand Slam is well within reach if France don't self-destruct. When you consider France beat Australia and South Africa during the autumn without two of world rugby's finest operators - centre Damien Traille and flanker Serge Betsen -- then they present a daunting challenge, especially for England and Ireland, who must both travel to Paris.
Grand Slam champions Wales could conceivably threaten again, but so much depends on their opening game against England at Twickenham in early February, where the loss of injured quartet Ryan Jones, Tom Shanklin, Kevin Morgan and Brent Cockbain, plus a suspended Gavin Henson, suggests it will be too tough a task. England's heavyweight pack will grunt and grind its way around Europe, decimating much in its path, but on current evidence, the world champions' lack of flair, ambition and creativity behind the scrum suggests a Six Nations title would be as satisfying for the neutral as Germany being crowned soccer World Cup winners on the back of five 1-0 wins.
Ireland will have Lions Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell available following long injury absences, yet the Irish cracked under pressure last season in ``must-win'' games against France and Wales, which doesn't auger well for trips to Paris and Twickenham this time around. While Scotland are displaying small shoots of recovery under new coach Frank Hadden, victory in a wooden spoon decider against Italy in Rome on March 18 could be their solitary success, although the Italians won't be easily subdued on home soil. Finishing order: 1 - France, 2 - England, 3 - Wales, 4 - Ireland, 5 - Scotland, 6 - Italy. HEINEKEN CUP The popular view suggests Toulouse only need to turn up in five more Heineken Cup games this season, and a record fourth European title will be theirs, but I have doubts whether the tournament will become a French procession. Toulouse and Biarritz should undoubtedly feature heavily at the business end, while Stade Francais could also mount a strong bid, yet the Heineken Cup might ultimately find itself resting in somewhat less exalted surroundings - Edgeley Park, Stockport.
Four English clubs have already lifted the trophy - Bath, Northampton, Leicester and Wasps - and Philippe Saint-Andre's Sale Sharks are good enough to join that illustrious band at the Millennium Stadium next May, as long as they keep believing in themselves. Last eight: Sale Sharks, Cardiff Blues, Stade Francais, Biarritz, Bath, Toulouse, Munster, Perpignan. Winners: Sale Sharks.
GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP English rugby's flagship competition appears to be developing into a two-horse race between Sale and Wasps, despite the ludicrous play-off system that means a team finishing fourth after 22 games can still be crowned champions. Wasps have won all three Twickenham Grand Finals since the controversial concept was introduced, beating Gloucester, Bath and Leicester, and I am backing them to sink the Sharks on May 27, with Sale's Heineken Cup campaign steering them slightly off a successful domestic course.
TIP: It is essential you know when to stop - practice will help.
url: www.bargainplace.co.uk
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