From: grahamc@hpwin052.uksr.hp.com (Graham Cutting)
Subject: Re: 5 Nations preview
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 18:02:04 GMT
Organization: HP, Berkshire, England
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]

Bruce Beadle (bruce@siesoft.co.uk) wrote:
>Well, can they do it? Can England win a third grand slam in succession?
>The pundits that I have read in the press over the weekend seem to
>think that they can. Everyone agrees that the most difficult matches
>are going to be France on Saturday and Wales at Cardiff. Can Perfidious
>Albion send Les Blues packing? France look to have picked their strongest
>side, although I'm a little surprised that Mesnel is on the bench. Should
>be a good game. I'll report back next Monday, assuming I can see anything
>through the alcoholic haze :-)

Yep,  France at Twickers and Wales at The Arms Park are definitely the two
hardest games for England.  Although France have been beaten in the last 
six encounters they have not always been beaten by much.  The last game at
Twickenham had that spectactular try (shown on Rugby Special on Sunday)
started by Blanco behind his own posts, made by Camberambero (spell?)
and kept going by all the French backs.  The result only had a few points
in it.  Wales seem to be the strongest of the other Home unions and are 
always difficult at home.  They will have learnt from the Aussie game, 
which they didn't really give away the number of points they lost by.

Having said that, France have been going through a lot of tormoil of late,
management and coaching problems, losing to SA and the Pumas, more changes
to the side and a new captain, who has changed position from flank to
hooker, in Tordo.  It has been said in the press that Berbizier's future
rests on this tournament, so the England game will be crucial.  The 
players appear to be keen for Berbizier to stay which could give them
an added incentive.

Scotland are also going through a rebuild and haven't played any internationals
during the winter.  I don't know much about the new players although the 
expeienced players in the team will count for a lot.  Chalmers and Hastings
were linking well for the Baabaas.  They _should_ be ok at home against
Ireland, who have a shakey defence.

>
>The home nations had a few injury scares at the weekend. Carling, Morris 
>and Winterbottom have all sustained injuries of some sort, but all are
>expected to be fit for Saturday. Mike Griffiths the Cardiff loose head
>prop has broken his collarbone in a bizarre accident on bicycles with
>the Welsh squad in Lanzarote! Also injured were Tony Clement and Colin
>Stephens. Griffiths is expected to miss the England game in a month,

From what I read Griffiths is out for 8 weeks which will rule him 
out for the 5N.

>Ricky Evans from Llanelli stands by. Craig Chalmers is carrying an
>injury but expects to be fit. Jim Staples on the other hand is definitely
>out, Colin Wilkinson of Ulster replaces him.
>
>January 16th  - England v France, Scotland v Ireland
>February 8th  - Wales v England, France v Scotland
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 February 6th 

>February 20th - Ireland v France, Scotland v Wales
>March 6th     - England v Scotland, Wales v Ireland
>March 20th    - Ireland v England, France v Wales
>

So, this weekend we could be watching the contest for the championship and
the wooden spoon.  No disrespect there but it does, on form, appear that way.
My predictions for the week-end are; England to beat France and Scotland
to beat Ireland.  

BTW, the championship now has a cup for the winners.

>--
>bruce@siesoft.co.uk   Bruce C. Beadle, SNI, Bracknell RG12 8FZ England.
>Phone : +44-344-850485 (Desk).  |  +44-344-862222 (Switchboard)
>"Do you really think that's wise?" - Sgt Wilson, Dad's Army

--
Graham Cutting
grahamc@hpwin052.uksr.hp.com
Hewlett-Packard, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1HN, England
Newsgroups: rec.sport.rugby