So, without any (further) delay I am happy to reveal to you who has been crowned as winner of the 2007 In Fact, Ah Six Nations tipping competition, lower is better.

Tom 287
PMC 307
Jap 330 (Closest Prediction France -v- Scotland -10 points)
Cahony 332 (Closest Prediction Wales -v- England -10 points)
Da Rossie 363
Egardoo 393
Francie 414
The Salmon Of Knowledge 420 (Closest Prediction Italy -v- Ireland -10 points)
Incognito 430
Barabus 508
Dae 510
Gib 524
Colm 529
Murray 682
Bull 744
The Slippery Orange Ballcock 777
Lorenzo 779

Thank you to everyone who participated and congratulations to Tom who has cemented his integrity as owner of the best sports blog around these here parts.

I'd like to give a big shout out to Francie, who managed mid table mediocrity despite predicting defeats for Ireland in every single one of their games. Better luck next year Francis.

So, yesterday saw the announcement of the Six Nations Fixtures for 2008. 3 home games for Ireland, France and England away, culminating in a St. Patrick's weekend trip to Twickenham. Will Eddie be at the tiller come that time? There is the biggest challenge this side who have been together a long time now will ever face looming in September on French soil. It's impossible to predict where we will be regarding players and coaching staff next year - at the very least this was most likely the last six nations for some in the fold.

I was at Croker for the Ireland -v- Slovakia game on Wednesday night. Nice atmosphere, great to be there under lights, but the bloody Ole, Ole-ers were constantly trying to get the Mexican Wave going all throughout proceedings from early in the first half. How is a sports fan supposed to catatonically stew on that botched restart defence and the exact spot of turf where it happened with a bloody Mexican wave constantly going on. Some people...

So, for this evening and tomorrow's Heineken Cup games - I certainly fancy Munster against Llanelli. Jones is back fit at 10 for the Welsh region and the always effervescent Dwayne Peel will be expertly dishing out and taking on ball from the deck for the Welshmen. After this it's hard for me to see where Llanelli are going to win this game from. I've no doubt Munster will have their game heads on and the outstanding form of Simon Easterby along with his cohorts in the back row are likely to be severely tested by what on paper is a mouthwatering Munster backrow of Quinlan, Leamy and Wallace. Quinlan in particular will still (rightly) harbour ambitions of making Ireland's World Cup squad and he was in frightening form for Munster before his suspension earlier this year. He'll really have eyes for Easterby all day to make his point.

I'm a little surprised that Larry Murphy (aka Leifemi Mafi) has made a berth at centre ahead of Barry Murphy but we'll see how that pans out. With Halstead and Cullen (who looked the sharpest I've seen him in a long time against Ulster last week), Ian Dowling and John Kelly, the Munster backline cannot be taken for granted.

Munster by 9.

Leinster will face a much sterner challenge in the form of London Wasps tomorrow. Add this into the fact that Leinster have not really proved their battle hardness on the road this season (particularly in their last encounter in the Heineken Cup, away to Gloucester). The BOD is absent but the planets that normally orbit him in the Leinster backline are in situ and having the seasons of their live to a man. Wasps backline is extremely flaky in comparison and there is a sprinkling of inexperience at this level thoughout the side.

Cheika has been progressive where Eddie was conservative in managing a missing O'Driscoll. The exciting young prospect Ciaran Lewis fills the man's boots and Horgan is left in his most devestating channel at wing. It's a crime that someone of the talent of Mr. Contempomi has been idle for the past two months and I'm sure he is chomping at the bit to get back into action. It's lucky for Leinster that the genius of Contempomi is only matched by his reputation for being one of the hardest 10s in World Rugby, and himself and D'Arcy shouldn't have too many problems keeping a paternal eye on the more slight Lewis in defence.

Regarding the respective packs, it's going to be a huge ask for Leinster to get near parity in the forward domain. Wasps can name proven world class campaigners Ibanez, Vickery and Dallaglio among their eight, while Leinster rely on their sturdy back row incumbents Gleeson, Heaslip (both hoping to be in France in September) the useful Keogh and a multi-national tight five who will need to put in the performance of their lives lead by the fit-again Mal O'Kelly. As we all know, Leinster can win this game without parity up front, but the forwards cant afford to do bad things all day either.

Keep an eye out for Eoin Reddan who by all accounts is having a storming season for Wasps at 9, Issac Boss, are you watching? Peter Bracken could also be launced from Wasp's bench and is someone O Sullivan should definetly be looking at to give some Test time in Argentina in the summer, we should have plenty of seats for prospective props on that plane. Bracken impressed greatly in what was otherwise a horrid display by Ireland A against the Saxons a few weeks ago. We say, more please.

My heart says Leinster but my head says...

Bah, Leinster by 5.

tags:rugby

Published by Paul.