Blood & Mud

The RBS 6 Nations table doesn't lie is a lie

In between hurling pool balls at people in Cardiff pubs and pissing on trains, curiously orange Gavin Henson is quoted as saying that "the [Six Nations] table doesn't lie".  As usual, I disagree with him.

While I can see the point he trying to make - that ultimately Wales were not very good, hence they finished fourth - he is missing the main point: England finished second.  Many England fans are using this as a stick to beat many doubters with, they see it as proof positive that they are not as bad as people make out, and thus neither are Wales as good.  However, these people are idiots - England finishing second is proof positive that the table does lie about many things. 

Three teams finished on six points this year, with England gaining the silver medal due to superior points difference.  This was garnered against an Italy team who gave them 36 points due to one of the worst selection decisions in the history of sport, ever; and a sublime performance in 45 incredible minutes vs Looney Lievremont's Scattergun Selection Circus.  

I look at it that three teams finished in second this year, each with different reasons for it: England are clawing their way out of a long period of malaise; France have a coach with selection policies that inspire as much confidence as a tissue paper raincoat; and Wales lost their self-belief and sense.  Or to put it another way, England started SHIT and ended up GOOD, France and Wales were the other way around.  One thing England can be pleased about is that they conceded the least number of points, even with their disciplinary problems, that is something to build on and credit to Mike Ford, who has copped a lot of flak recently.

What this also demonstrates is that Ireland picked one of the better years to win a Grand Slam: every other team lost at least two games each, which indicates the inconsistency of what they were facing.  My friend James over at The Rugby Blog sees this year as the start of something special for Ireland, I think if we consider the above, there are some grounds to dampen the enthusiasm.

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The RBS 6 Nations table doesn't lie is a lie

In between hurling pool balls at people in Cardiff pubs and pissing on trains, curiously orange Gavin Henson is quoted as saying that "the [Six Nations] table doesn't lie".  As usual, I disagree with him.

While I can see the point he trying to make - that ultimately Wales were not very good, hence they finished fourth - he is missing the main point: England finished second.  Many England fans are using this as a stick to beat many doubters with, they see it as proof positive that they are not as bad as people make out, and thus neither are Wales as good.  However, these people are idiots - England finishing second is proof positive that the table does lie about many things.