Rugby Predictions for 2013
What better way to kick off the year than to look ahead to a superb 12 months of Rugby and throw out some predictions to be debated – what do you think of these?
Six Nations
Winner: England
Runner-up: France
Wooden Spoon: Italy
The fact that England play France at Twickenham swings it for me, but I’m not expecting a Grand Slam for anyone. Apart from Scotland and Italy, anyone can beat anyone else on their day, and it should make for an excellent tournament.
Heineken Cup
Winner: Toulon
Runner-up: Clermont Auvergne
These two French sides have been hugely impressive so far, with Clermont making a mockery of their pool of death and Toulon’s dream team also remain unbeaten, albeit in an easier group.
Aviva Premiership
Winner: Harlequins
Runner-up: Leicester Tigers
Relegated: Sale Sharks
I can see a repeat of last year’s final and the same result – Quins have shown some real mettle in winning tough away games and making The Stoop a tough place to play. Sale’s rudderless ship is likely to cost them if they don’t sort themselves out soon.
RaboDirect Pro12
Winner: Ulster
Runner-up: Ospreys
Last year’s champions are moving ominously up the table after a dreadful start, but I fancy Ulster to top the table at the end of the season and go on to win the final.
Lions Tour
Winner: British and Irish Lions (2-1)
A victory is essential after three unsuccessful tours and if Wales and Ireland can rekindle some of their RWC form, the player pool for Warren Gatland to choose from has talent in abundance.
Super Rugby
Winner: Stormers
Runner-up: Chiefs
Having won the Currie Cup and some long-awaited silverware, the Stormers may finally have shaken the ‘chokers’ tag, giving them the confidence to land the big one.
The Rugby Championship
Winner: New Zealand
Runner-up: South Africa
It’s always difficult to predict anything but an All Blacks win, despite their thrashing at Twickenham in December. A fresh, post-sabbatical Richie McCaw will be available again, and Australia – the most likely to beat them – will be less of a threat to them after a tough Lions series.
What do you think? Share your predictions in the comments below!
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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Can’t wait for the 6N tbh. I really hope Eng take their “NZ form” into the competition and push on, though more than happy for France to be favourites. However for the first time ever I think the match I am looking fwd to the most is the Wal/ Ire game – surely Wal can’t make it 4 in a row? If they do – they’ll be contenders for sure, but if not, and with the Howley effect it could be a depressing few weeks. Likelise for Eng any more backward steps and it will be a compeltely demoralising.
France are the obvious choice as they were unbeaten in their southern hem. tests and were convincing winners against Aus. That England are favoured by a .co.uk is nor surprise after their emphatic win against New Zealand. & I’d have to say they deserve that favouritism.
Ireland didn’t have it in them to beat the Saffas, throwing away a massive opportunity to win that. Still the stink of inconsistency remains with them. I place Ireland in their own tier as a wild card for the tournament.
I also place Wales in their own tier. They will be even less fancied after their abysmal failure to beat Australia even one time after umpteen attempts and losses to Argentina and Samoa. But they can perform as we all know.
Then there’s Scotland and Italy, both capable of taking the scalp of any of the 4 above on their good day but only one I think. I predict one of them to get not one but 2 wins in this campaign!
Clermont for me are the obvious team to beat in the HC. But Harlequins, Ulster, and Toulon are in the running. I haven’t watched much Premier league, but Harlequins sounds like a sound bet. Toulon or Clermont for the Top 14 I guess. I predict Aus 2 – 1 Lions in the Lions test. Why do people assume that players that don’t normally play together will naturally gel together, when they have differing styles of play, and choke on the occasion historically. My 2 – 1 against the Lions is based on history, and reality. The players will be there to win, but they’ll be lucky to get A win.
6 nations 2013
————–
England 8
Wales 7
France 5
Ireland 5
Scotland 3
Italy 2
However Mitchel, France were also the obvious choice last year. They were WC semi finalists, had a settled team, had domestic teams ruling the Heineken Cup. So I don’t think it’s bias for some people to assume they won’t win it again this year. Last year most predictions were wrong because I think the only people who thought, before it all started, that Wales would win it were the Welsh. Last year was odd as I was strangely confident before it even started. This year if we can win the Ireland game (and it’s winnable, eminently winnable) then we’re off. Lose that and we’re in trouble as we then have 3 away games…
Question, sorry it’s totally off base, how did you get the picture added to your comment?
Use gravatar.com and then wait a few hours for it to sync up.
Thanks mate!
Not sure England have developed the nous to get a result in Dublin yet, I’ll go with a French 6N win. England and Ireland to be separated by very little for the runners up spot.
I think Toulon will focus on taking the Top 14 and it will be Clermont’s year for the Heineken.
For the England EPS announcement next week who are people hoping to see included? I would like to see B.Vunipola, Burns and 12trees make the cut. Are we going to see Brown, Goode and Foden all in I wonder?
I have been reading this blog for about half a year now and it is dedinetley the best blog on the Internet for rugby. The thing I like most about it are the polls and the team of weeks. I would just like to say thank you and keep up the good work in the new year!!
I have been reading this blog for about half a year now and in my view it is one of the best rugby blogs on the Internet. I particularly enjoy the polls and the discussions which follow. I would just like to sat thank you and keep up the great work for the new year!!
Hutch – stop posting as “randoms” on the internet.
I just watched Toulon get beaten by Racing…they can afford that loss but their panicked play in the last 5 mins will be a concern. It seemed that Racing were not committing at all to the breakdown but Toulon kept flinging wide passes about instead of attacking around the breakdown.
Aaaanyway – Quins to win the HC, Wales the 6N, Toulon the Top14, Ulster the Pro12, Lions 2-1 (please, please, let that happen), Wasps the Aviva, NZ the Championship, Crusaders the Super 15.
I might put a bet on all that, imagine the odds!
I’ll wager you’ll get very good odds on that cumulator Spike!