It’s week 2 of the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations and that means our Prediction Challenge is back! Johan sits top of the pile, having aced a perfect prediction for England’s demolition of Italy in Rome last Sunday. Can our Head of Rugby Programme maintain his early lead or will one of the rest of the PSA Academies team have the last laugh this weekend. Read on to find out more!
PSA Academies 2018 6 Nations Predictions Challenge – Week 1 Results Positions
- 1st place – Johan 20 points
- Tied 2nd place – Cory & Graham – 15 points
- Tied 4th place – Philippe & Johne – 10 points
- Last & 6th place – Neil – 5 points
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The 2018 6 Nations Predictions Challenge rules are simple. Each competitor needs to give us a simple match summary plus a winner prediction and winning margin (if a draw was predicted, they need to predict the total match points). It is 5 points for a correct result prediction and 5 points for a correct winning margin/total draw match points total.
The ‘expert’ with the most points at the end of the tournament is crowned the 6 Nations Predictions Challenge ‘King of the Picks’, whilst the person finishing last needs to make a public donation (amount TBC) to our 2018 Charity partner Unicef Ireland at our upcoming Unicef Ireland Charity Rugby Clinics in Ireland in April.
Saturday 10 February – Ireland v Italy, 1415hrs kick off
Johan Taylor – After a competitive first half, Ireland pull away easily in 2nd half
Prediction – Ireland by 25 points
Johne Murphy (@MurphyJohne) -Ireland to have too much power & precision for an improving Italy
Prediction – Ireland by 29 points
Philippe Saint-André (@PSaintAndre) – Ireland to build on Paris escape and win comfortably
Prediction – Ireland by 30 points
Neil Marchant (@NeilMarchant2) – No worries for Ireland as they smash the Italians just like we did
Prediction – Ireland by 40 points
Cory Brown – Ireland will bore Italy into submission with overly structured game. Floodgates to open after 60 mins. Prediction – Ireland by 36 points
Graham Ross (@GrahamRoss76) – Ireland have a real point to prove but very wet forecast plus proud Italian resistance could make this tougher than expected. Prediction – Ireland by 21 points
Saturday 10 February – England v Wales, 1645hrs kick off
Johan – Expecting a titanic struggle between the Welsh bolters and an (overly?) confident England. Expect the holders to get the job done (just like me)
Prediction – England by 11 points
Johne – Wales to put it up to the hosts in a tight affair. England to just edge it
Prediction – England by 6 points
Philippe – England will have too much power and control for good Welsh team. Expect a good game but England pull clear in 4th quarter
Prediction – England by 14 points
Neil – It’s going to be brutal and tactical at Twickers but England will show their pedigree by managing the game home
Prediction – England by 15 points
Cory Brown – The Welsh will come out firing, by they won’t have enough as Eddie’s finishers close it out with a bit to spare Prediction – England by 10 points
Graham Ross – England were made to luck good last weekend in Rome but the Welsh be a very different proposition. Gatland’s men will have a go & bring it to the wire but lumbering England will have too much power, just! Prediction – England by 4 points
Sunday 11 February – Scotland v France, 1500hrs kick off
Johan – If there was a relegation zone in the 6 Nations, this would be a proper 6 pointer. Two sides who really need to win will likely mean a match full of nerves and mistakes but France to have too much up front
Prediction – France by 6 points
Johne – France on the up and although no home advantage this time, they should have enough to outpower a depleted Scots pack. Expect the French to become the jokers in this year’s 6 Nations pack, making Johnny Sexton’s drop goal magic even more valuable as the tournament progresses
Prediction – France by 3 points
Philippe – Scotland have pace and ambition but no forward pack to build on. Expect the French power, defence and kicking game to be the narrow difference in the end
Prediction – France by 2 points
Neil – France are taken to get their tournament back on track with a narrow win in a really competitive game in Murrayfield
Prediction – France by 5 points
Cory Brown – Almost too close to call but France are due a win and after the robbery of last weekend, they’ll get the job done this time despite some staunch Scottish resistance at freezing Murrayfield Prediction – France by 4 points
Graham Ross – France were flattered by their close miss last Saturday, with a rare bad day in the office by ref Nigel Owens, keeping them in the game. They don’t have the tactical game yet and will be shown up by a smarter and more mobile Scotland, who with massive home support, will get their 6 Nations restarted after the Cardiff brain fart last weekend Prediction – Scotland by 5 points
Best of luck to all involved in the 2018 6 Nations Predictions Challenge and enjoy the rugby wherever you are this weekend.
