Six Nations 2012 Review

Following the end of this year’s Six Nations, we asked SportsLab participants to review the tournament by rating the performance of their team, selecting the most exciting match, and choosing who they felt was the best player of the tournament.

This year’s Six Nation’s came about not long after last year’s World Cup in New Zealand, in which Wales were the best performers from the Home Nations in reaching the Semi-Final. England and Ireland both reached the Quarter-Finals, whilst Scotland exited at the Group Stage. The Six Nations proved to be a thrilling tournament with Wales prevailing as the winners; England performed well to finish in second place, whilst Scotland lost all five matches to earn the wooden spoon.

SportsLab participants have weighed in with their views on the performances of their team, the matches, and the best players in this year’s Six Nations

SportsLab respondents supporting England, Wales and Scotland provided their views on this year’s tournament. Wales were part of 3 out of the 4 most exciting matches at the tournament, whilst respondents also selected Leigh Halfpenny, Dan Lydiate and Owen Farrell as the best players of the tournament.

Do you agree with the opinion of our SportsLab respondents? Join the debate by using Disqus below!

Here’s what SportsLab respondents had to say... Accordion jquery do not edit--------------------------------------------------------------------------ACCORDION 1--------------------------------------------------------- Accordion title--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. How did your team perform?

England Performance

“After the disaster of the World Cup any kind of Performance would have been welcome, instead all expectations have been met and surpassed” Mike B, Bolton

“At the start of the season we had a temporary coach and an unsettled team. The young players have really come through and the team have played better and better in each game. Missing out on a Grand Slam by just one score against the Welsh from this starting point is extremely good progress” Dan, Edinburgh

“Excellent coaching team. Good selection. Players playing for each other and the shirt. Reconnection with the supporters. The press were off their back” FIC, Halifax

“Young team with fire in their bellies. The old team were jaded and never put themselves out. They just went through the motions. Stuart Lancaster has breathed life into the team and shown what good players there are in this country” Anon

“Considering it was an inexperienced and young team, under a new coach, it was a creditable performance to come 2nd” Anon

“After the World Cup performance, it was great to see a "new" England team developing” Peter, Farnham

Wales Performance

“Wales built well on their RWC successes, learned from their mistakes and played as a coherent unit with strength in depth off the bench. They played 80 minutes rugby and were as ferocious in defence as they were incisive in attack. They were by far the best team of the competition” Christina M, Carmarthenshire

“Well Wales won the Grand Slam; I think you'd struggle to win it if you did not perform very well. Wales won all their games, even with crucial players sin-binned. The Welsh squad is also quite young, in part, so their performance was even better than had they been a more experienced squad” Ellie, Aberystwyth

“Inspirational and respected coach with modern ideas for improving fitness and stamina and managing a team as a unit. A pool of good young players and a few experienced players - and not a prima donna among them - each did his best for the team” Keith L, Cornwall

“They played consistently well throughout the six nations, and physically they were very fit” Aaron R, Monmouthshire

“GRAND SLAM!!!” Anon

Scotland Performance

“Aside from Richie Gray being solid at lock throughout and David Denton playing well in patches at number 8, Scotland was an absolute disaster. Naming no names, but there are certain players who put in no effort in a dark blue jersey because they know there's nobody competing for their place” Anon

“They were close to being quite good but didn't have the luck of the draw against England or Wales” Ron C, Bridgend

“They were utterly rubbish most of the time, they had no defence, and they were unable to take advantage of any opportunities the opposition gave them - no follow-through when a try might have been a possibility. I do not blame the coach because I don't believe Andy Robinson tells the players to play rubbish” Anon

“Poor quality coaching and failure of several players on the pitch to play to the standard required e.g. getting yellow carded” Anon

“Wooden spoon... played well at times just can't break through” Anon

2. What was the best match of the tournament?

England 12 - 19 Wales

“Wales brought out the best in this new England team - it was a battle of near equals with very good attacking and defensive play from both sides” Keith L, Cornwall

“It was a very nerve-retching game. We just had to beat the English. Things were very tight, but the last minute try just made it so exciting. And of course, the game won Wales the Triple Crown!” Ellie, Aberystwyth

“The rivalry between the English and Welsh is legendary and Wales won! It was a close match which was very exciting” Anon

“It came down to one score and could have so nearly been a draw. Both teams played some stunning rugby” Mat A, Fareham

“It should have been a draw, but they did not count Strettle's last minute try. When the try was not given, the ref should have gone back and awarded England the penalty” Peter, Farnham

“I was just waiting for the one moment when Wales would strike to win the match and it came in the last 5 minutes” Andy, Staffordshire

France 22 - 24 England

“Because it was so finely balanced and there is always something special about this fixture for me” Dan, Edinburgh

“England scored several tries. Score line was relatively close throughout. Entertaining spectacle for the fans” Chris W, Kidderminster

“England's performance in Paris was unexpected - France were clear favourites - so the ding-dong scoring and final outcome was exciting” Tony S, Telscombe Cliffs

“The match was so tense! And being the first team to beat France on their home turf in god knows how long was a great achievement!” Anon

“It was end to end stuff and both teams showed excellent character” Anon

“Exciting and frantic game with our great rivals, but importantly we triumphed in the end!” Anon

Wales 16 - 9 France

“It might not have been vintage rugby (because let's face it, nobody can kill a game better than the French), but definitely the most compelling contest of the championship, with Wales' slam in the balance until the very last moments” Anon

“It was the Grand Slam decider; France needed a win to be able to feel they had gained anything this year. The performance of several of Wales players was outstanding” Anon

“It was the Grand Slam decider for Wales, everything rested on the end result. France are a dangerous team and can score lots of points very quickly if you let them. Any mistake in attack or defence could have seen an end to Wales's Grand Slam hopes. They played well, took their chances when they came and defended like Demons. It was nail biting stuff particularly the first 5 minutes and last 5 minutes of the second half” Christina M, Carmarthenshire

“Wales needed to win to win the grand slam and the tournament. It went down to the wire as France could have won in the last 15 minutes” Anon

Ireland 21 - 23 Wales

“Lead changed hands numerous times; lots of tries and running rugby. Leigh Halfpenny battled kicking demons and won. George North was a Titan” Anon

“End to end thriller. Result in doubt up to the final whistle” Anon

“The result was in the balance until the end. There were several tries” Robin A, Maidenhead

“It was a close contest between two very good teams” Anon

3. Who was the best player of the tournament?

Leigh Halfpenny

“Brilliant fullback took over kicking duties, long distance kicking a specialty of his. Also innovative play, breaking through tackles and played a great part in try scoring” Anon

“He is such a professional player and really helps make Wales so competitive” Dan, Edinburgh

“Leigh Halfpenny is an amazing young player. With him in the Welsh team, the future looks bright. He scored so many points throughout the tournament. I even overheard an English fan saying 'Wales is Halfpenny', which I do not agree with one hundred per cent, but I think it does show that Leigh is a very key player to Wales, who performed superbly throughout the whole of the Six Nations” Ellie, Aberystwyth

“His kicking was excellent; He made several very good solo runs; He was stalwart in defence” Robin A, Maidenhead

“I've gone back and forth on this with a couple of names in mind (Warburton and Priestland being the others) but Halfpenny led with the boot, and that's the way of the modern game” Anon

Dan Lydiate

“Consistently high standard of play, total commitment both mental and physical to the point of self-destruction, exceptional level of skill” Anon

“He never missed a tackle and he bested the French captain last week” Andy, Staffordshire

“He was immense in defence. He was also something of a surprise package as I don't think he was expected to play so well. He was brilliant against France when it really counted” Anon

“The most influential forward of any team, he secured countless turnovers and made match winning tackles on numerous occasions” Anon

“He performed well with ball in hand and in defence; he stood out and made a difference in every game he played” Anon

Owen Farrell

“Extremely promising young player, he's got the makings of an absolute giant” Anon

“Never put a foot wrong, was the personification of calmness during tense situations, a very cool head on young shoulders” Mike B, Bolton

“His nerveless performances were remarkable for a 20 year old” FIC, Halifax

“He's a young player with a lot of pressure on his shoulders who did very well in the circumstances. Since Johnny Wilkinson I believe there's even more expectation and pressure on a young English kicker” Anon

“To play like he did so quickly at international level was fantastic” Anon

Do you agree with the opinion of our SportsLab respondents? Join the debate by using Disqus below!