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Is this the start of the Welsh psychological campaign against the Irish? Talk them up as favourites in the hope that they bottle it yet again? It's actually quite a compliment, and perhaps a fatal flaw, that Wales have one eye on Ireland already before taking to the pitch in Paris......Let's focus on games 3 and 4 of the championship before talk of a grand-slam decider shall we?

i think England will compete. There, I've said it... There won't be a whitewash.

I cant see how England will win this in Ireland, they will be far to 'up for it' at Croke Park.

We are starting to know about the players who will go with the Lions to South Africa. But how are we going to get Declan Kidney out there? Would be criminal to leave him at home.

Ireland always seem to be the favorites and just bottle it. 07 world cup is a prime example. They wont win the 6 nations Wales all the way with England a close second.

As it stands, there are very few Englishmen knocking on the door for the Lions. The idea of Toby Flood as the Lions number 10 is a bit far-fetched.

Delon Armitage might have a shout if he weren't unfortunate enough to be up against Lee Byrne and Rob Kearney in that position.

Perhaps one of the front-rowers will stake a claim, but I can't see there being any English players from 4 - 15 when the Lions front up for the first test in South Africa. They might struggle to find a place for the token Scotsman as well (Mike Blair?).

Fitzexpat - totally agree, it would be very useful to have Declan Kidney on the Lions coaching staff, the only problem I would see is that he is such a good man manager, organising the coaching team etc that I am not sure it would be the best use of his ability just being a member of the staff. That said I am not arguing with McGeechan's appointment.

Intersting article - one thing concerns me about the Ireland setup at the moment and that is the lack of replacement for O'Gara. It was obvious in Rome that there was no suitable alternative once RoG was in the bin and Wallace was having his face put back together....O'Driscoll should not have to be taking the touch kicks - albeit a straightforward heave into the stand.

Just to keep the tournament interesting, wins for France and England this weekend would leave 4 teams in with a shout. The England win may be fairly unlikely though.

For the Lions at the moment you have to pick the Welsh team en masse and then look at the Irish team for a few improvements (O'Driscoll, Heaslip, O'Connell) and then that's about it. Any English / Scots players on the tour will have their weekends free!

It is very obviously the year of the Celts. . .

the only question is which one is it going to be?

what about harry ellis he has been in great from and i know phillips is playing well but ellis is still coming back really and if he can get english backs movin what will he do with a line that likes running the ball he is good at ruck time and is always a threat around the base admittedly not many other english players will be looking at a starting place other than sheridan if only if could find an ounce of form

There is something I want to get off my chest. I think England have a much better chance than people are prepared to give them. I honestly believe that.

in a word will Ireland win slam ,No! in 2 words No Chance and in three No Bloody Chance.

This is the best Irish side I have seen for a generation. At long last they appear to have clicked and not only that, but are clearly capable of getting better. They also have that fire and flair combination that has been at best inconsistent in recent years. I believe they will stuff England tomorrow and if Wales can make it past France tonight (not an easy task), then the decider (with respect to the currently poor Scotland and Italy) next month will be fantastic.

That will be the sort of game that get's young people playing the game, not to mention the resulting 'sesh' in Cardiff!

Maybe, if Wales and Ireland are going to be so much better than the rest every year, we should pull out of the competition and play the southern hemisphere teams? It may do huge damage to the game we love but heh, think how much more money we would make?

Oh no, sorry. That was England's policy when they were winning.

I don't quite understand why everyone thinks Wales are so amazing. The France score quite clearly proves this. Ireland for a well earned grand slam. The rest of the teams are not worth talking about.

France deserved to win and beat the Welsh last night. Their game plan was simple, but ruthlessly effective. The game could have been sealed in the first half. France were denied a try and one Welsh player should have been sin binned in the first half. The Welsh can blame individual errors, but France was superior on the night. A great win and I hope the start of many more thrilling games from 'Les Petits'.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Martin Johnson acknowledges that his team gave away 18 penalties in the match today. What possible justification can there be for 18 deliberate fouls in a game which lasts only 80 minutes?
Furthermore, it is nonsense for him to say that indiscipline cost England the game. If England had not deliberately fouled 18 times Ireland would have had much more good possession of the football and would have won by a bigger margin.