The Six Nations is almost done and dusted with 1 round left to play and this is for the French to lose and Ireland/Scotland hoping for an upset. The big advantage the French have is the points difference so all they have to do is win their game and if they score a bonus point then the title is theirs. This is so hard to look past anything but a French victory as they have the title in their hands and is for them to lose.
The French play England in Paris with England having lost their last 3 games in a row so there is always a possibility England play desperate rugby and change their mindset which gives them the hope. The only problem is this is a young inexperienced team and they have not known the situation and pressure they find themselves in now. I have heard some ex England players state they have hit rock bottom, but that is not true. The next two games are France in Paris followed by South Africa in June away at altitude in Johannesburg.
This is why The England coach has to go after this weekends game to give them a chance of regrouping because once on a losing run it is virtually impossible to shut down. The last two games England played they had a defensive mindset which is very negative and they do not have the players to change this within one week. The challenge England have ahead of them this week is not just a mountain it is more of an Everest task. The French lost this week and will also be focusing on themselves which makes it doubly hard.
The England camp is desperate right now and the players are under pressure to perform and we all know the harder you try the harder the task becomes. I was involved in a team that lost 8 games in a row and if I am brutally honest it was down to mindset because the confidence levels are down. The harder you train the more tired you become and this becomes a dark place with so many emotions.
Sport will level you at some point and you have to accept that situation and work through it. The problem is you may not be doing anything that is obvious or wrong and is more of a collective coming together raising the game play by an extra 5%. With negativity and low confidence this is easier said than done and only expect to see an England team winning against Fiji which they should do on the 18th July being played at the new Everton Football Stadium in Liverpool. This will depend on what type of hammering the team received by South Africa the week before as this is what I expect to be rock bottom.
Focusing on Ireland vs Scotland in Dublin look no further than an Irish win even though they are not a strong team these days. Scotland threw everything at the French team and won which the style of play caught everyone off guard. Repeating that type of play two weeks in a row would be great to see and not impossible, but highly unlikely. Both teams have serious weaknesses which makes this an even contest and dare I say it a card or a couple of cards could change the game either way.
Predictions for the upcoming weekend matches which I normally do not do.
Ireland to win by 8
Italy to win by 12
France to win by 19
I guess it wont polish out lol.
On a lighter note the Six Nations trophy will be a replica stand in trophy trophy this year as the original trophy was being transported by a vehicle that caught on fire and had heat damage with the base having melted. The new trophy which should be recast next year will include some of the melted silver from the original trophy to give it some authenticity.