Off and Running
The F6NF2025 got away to a flying start this weekend with 300 of the 341 entrants scoring positive points.
France’s destruction of Wales was rather like watching Toulouse and Bordeaux in recent weeks, totally outclassing their opposition. Wales threw everything they had into the fray, but it was no way near enough. The state of their regional game and finances doesn’t auger well for a speedy recovery, so the F6NF has a Trumpian solution: Make La Rochelle Welsh. Their whole squad is mandated to be available for Wales, including their manager. Warren Gatland gets to escape, and France loose a handful of stars, balancing up the competition.
Italy threatened briefly in Murrayfield, but the Scots took it away eventually. Hard to tell how much of a risk either is at this stage.
A stuttering first half from Ireland was replaced by a much more positive second half, faster ball and more direct running breaking the English defence. Jack Conan made a big impact off the bench and will surely start next time. Steve Borthwick meanwhile is in very tough place, England showed flashes in attack, but are leaking too many tries. Not an easy thing to fix before meeting the French in Twickenham next week.
Out of the Traps
Flying out of the traps this year is experienced forecaster Shane Minihane, leading the field with a near perfect 57 points.
“I thought France would do a number on Wales, and I guess I got lucky with the Scotland and Ireland results” said Minihane from his yacht in the Caribbean. “See if I’m still in it after the Scotland/Ireland match next week”.
| 1 | Shane Minihane | 57 |
| 2 | Tom Ennis | 54 |
| 3 | Andrew Callaghan | 52 |
| 4 | GW | 52 |
| 5 | Stephen Sludds | 51 |
| 6 | Frank Crowley | 50 |
| 7 | James Flynn | 50 |
| 8 | John Cuppage | 50 |
| 9 | Barry Grennan | 49 |
| 10 | Fergal Moran | 48 |
| 11 | Des Reynolds | 47 |
| 12 | Owen Fee | 47 |
| 13 | Sean Mulhall | 47 |
| 14 | Brendan Boyle | 45 |
| 15 | Cian Murray | 45 |
| 16 | Midge | 45 |
| 17 | Pat O’Riordan | 45 |
| 18 | Greg Withey | 44 |
| 19 | John Slowey | 44 |
| 20 | Johnnie Greene | 44 |
| 21 | Oliver Balding | 44 |
| 22 | Thomas O Keefe | 44 |
Minihane wins the Linesight Fiendishly Clever Award for the best performance on opening day. His voucher for €100 worth of calculator batteries is in the post.
Plenty of room left for change with a tight chasing pack of Tom Ennis, Andrew Callaghan, GW (who is keeping her identity secret but well done Grainne), and Stephen Sludds making over 50 points, quite an achievement with such a huge spread in the French game.
The RKD Form before Function Award goes to Ann O’Byrne, for scoring a perfect 40 on the Irish and Scottish games.
“The French game upset my score but did for most people, so I’m very happy with the overall, and an award! Do you really give out prizes or is that just something you say?” said a dubious O’Byrne from her Portuguese villa overlooking the 18th green.
O’Byrne’s €100 worth of tile samples is on its way to her.
All Winners
Our thanks to all of you for entering again this year, and putting up with our pestering. Your generosity, and that of our ever supportive sponsors, means we have broken the €20,000 target raised for LauraLynn. Our sincere thanks, without you this couldn’t happen.
Next Weekend
Another intriguing set of matches coming straight at you: Italy entertain Wales in Rome (+3) on Saturday where they will be determined to put the Dragon to the gladitorial sword. England then host France (-5) and its hard to see them reversing fortunes. Scotland Ireland is (-7) the Sunday game, where Finn Russell’s men will be determined to put a banana skin under the Irish bus.
(Figures in brackets are the average of all your forecasts)
