2017 Prediction thread

[rowan]

6 Nations
England wins, gets the tier 1 test match record, media brags incessantly, Eddie declared Coach of the Millenium.
Italy again winless, wonder how they ever beat the Boks. Scots & French scrap for 4th.

SUPE RUGBY
Hurricanes again make the play-offs, but return to customary choker's status as Kiwis against dominate and produce the winner.
Aussies will do better.
Jaguares make play-offs.
Sunwolves, Kings, Rebels and Force again struggle, leading to changes for 2018 with 2 or 3 less teams.

Mid-year tests
England, without their best players, who are on Lions duty, will lose one of the two tests against Argentina. Agreed.
Australia will win all 3 of their tests, although Scotland will run them close (they also play Fiji and Italy). Agreed.
Wales will beat understrength & inadequately prepared Tongans and Samoans in a canter.
Ireland will beat the USA and Japan, but one of the tests against Japan will be close.
Scotland will edge an understrength and ill-prepared Fiji.
The Georgians will give Argentina a solid work-out but lose by 10 or 15.
Romania will have a proper shit tour, and get duffed up by Japan and Canada Agreed.
The Italians will lose to the Aussies by 10 or 15 but edge the understrength and ill-prepared Fijians
South Africa will win their series against France 2-1. Agreed.

Lions
All Blacks will win 2-1 in a tight struggle. The Lions will inflict their first home-defeat of the decade, however.
Hurricanes will also beat the tourists. Lions will win the rest.

Rugby Championships
The All Blacks will win, but lose a test match along the way. Possibly a resurgent Australia in their home fixture.
Australia will go 3 from 6 and finish runners up.
Argentina will pull off the now customary upsett, probably at home against SA again. An agonising home-loss will see victory over the All Blacks elude them yet again.

EOYT
No way I can predict this before I see how the regular season unfolds.

[rowan]

This probably should have gone on the General Rugby forum, to be honest. Last time I looked, the 6 Nations were definitely north of the equator . . .

[rowan]

Ah, so now it's on both forums, if anyone's confused.