Six Nations 2009 kicks off tomorrow!

Gavin Henson's winning kick for Wales in 2005, drawn by Rebecca Millwater, aged 10

I am struggling for words

I don’t see philosophy
don’t agree with their choice of captain
or what they say in public

Don’t agree with nine of the starting team
don’t think they have the right coaching group
don’t know why they’ve de-powered their own pack

(chorus)

It’s become torture
I love England and English rugby
They have lost me

It’s been so bad, so depressing
I wish they would go away
play behind closed doors
they are failing

Spending money like water
For nothing

(repeat chorus x 3)

It’s become torture
I love England and English rugby
O woes, the once-mighty rose
They have lost me

----------------------
"The Wilting Rose Has Lost Me," lyrics by Stephen Jones; musical accompaniment ("Wreck On the Highway") by Bruce Springsteen.

Alrighty then. Six Nations rugby kicks off tomorrow. I hear the faint whisp of clairvoyant sorrow in the 'Stache's weepin' heart, so on to this weekends' preview action !!

ENGLAND vs ITALY

England: 1. Andrew Sheridan, 2. Lee Mears, 3. Phil Vickery, 4. Steve Borthwick (c), 5. Nick Kennedy, 6. James Haskell, 7. Steffon Armitage, 8. Nick Easter, 9. Harry Ellis, 10. Andy Goode, 11. Mark Cueto, 12. Riki Flutey, 13. Mike Tindall, 14. Paul Sackey, 15. Delon Armitage. Reserves: 16. Dylan Hartley, 17. Julian White, 18. Tom Croft, 19. Joe Worsley, 20. Ben Foden, 21. Shane Geraghty, 22. Mathew Tait.

Italy: 1. Salvatore Perugini, 2. Fabio Ongaro, 3. Martin Castrogiovani, 4. Santiago Dellapé, 5. Marco Bortolami, 6. Josh Sole, 7. Alessandro Zanni, 8. Sergio Parisse (c), 9. Mauro Beragamasco, 10. Andrea Marcato, 11. Mirco Bergamasco, 12. Gonzalo Garcia, 13. Gonzalo Canale, 14. Kane Robertson, 15. Andrea Masi. Reserves: 16. Carlo Festuccia, 17. Carlos Nieto, 18. Tommaso Reato, 19. Jean-Francois Montauriol, 20. Giulio Toniolatti, 21. Luke McLean, 22. Matteo Pratichetti.

Date: Saturday 7 February, 2009
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT (10 am ET (Toronto, New York))
Venue: Twickenham
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Touch judges: Joel Jutge (France), Peter Allan (Scotland)
TMO: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)

ENG v ITA Rugby Planet preview
ENG v ITA Rugby Heaven preview

IRELAND vs FRANCE

Ireland: 1. Marcus Horan, 2. Jerry Flannery, 3. John Hayes, 4. Donncha O'Callaghan, 5. Paul O'Connell, 6. Stephen Ferris, 7. David Wallace, 8. Jamie Heaslip, 9. Tomas O'Leary, 10. Ronan O'Gara, 11. Luke Fitzgerald, 12. Paddy Wallace, 13. Brian O'Driscoll (c), 14. Tommy Bowe, 15. Rob Kearney. Reserves: 16. Rory Best, 17. Tom Court, 18. Mal O'Kelly, 19. Denis Leamy, 20. Peter Stringer, 21. Gordon D'Arcy, 22. Geordan Murphy.

France: 1. Lionel Faure, 2. Dimitri Szarzewski, 3. Benoit Lecouls, 4. Sebastien Chabal, 5. Lionel Nallet (c), 6. Thierry Dusautoir, 7. Fulgence Ouedraogo, 8. Imanol Harinordoquy, 9. Sebastien Tillous-Borde, 10. Lionel Beauxis, 11. Maxime Medard, 12. Yannick Jauzion, 13. Florian Fritz, 14. Julien Malzieu, 15. Clement Poitrenaud. Reserves: 16. Benjamin Kayser, 17. Nicolas Mas, 18. Romain Millo-Chluski, 19. Louis Picamoles, 20. Morgan Parra, 21. Benoit Baby , 22. Cedric Heymans.

Date: Saturday 7 February, 2009
Kick-off: 17:00 GMT (12 noon ET (Toronto, New York))
Venue: Croke Park
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Touch judges: Dave Pearson (England), David Changleng (Scotland)
TMO: Giulio de Santis (Italy)

IRE v FRA Rugby Planet preview
IRE v FRA Rugby Heaven preview

SCOTLAND vs WALES

Scotland: 1. Allan Jacobsen, 2. Ross Ford, 3. Geoff Cross, 4. Jason White, 5. Jim Hamilton, 6. Ally Hogg, 7. John Barclay, 8. Simon Taylor, 9. Mike Blair (c), 10. Phil Godman, 11. Sean Lamont, 12. Graeme Morrison, 13. Ben Cairns, 14. Simon Webster, 15. Hugo Southwell. Reserves: 16. Dougie Hall, 17. Alastair Dickinson, 18. Kelly Brown, 19. Scott Gray, 20. Chris Cusiter, 21. Chris Paterson, 22. Max Evans.

Wales: 1. Gethin Jenkins, 2. Matthew Rees, 3. Adam Jones, 4. Ian Gough, 5. Alun-Wyn Jones, 6. Ryan Jones (c), 7. Martyn Williams, 8. Andy Powell, 9. Michael Phillips, 10. Stephen Jones, 11. Shane Williams, 12. Gavin Henson, 13. Jamie Roberts, 14. Leigh Halfpenny, 15. Lee Byrne. Reserves: 16. Huw Bennett, 17. John Yapp, 18. Luke Charteris, 19. Dafydd Jones, 20. Dwayne Peel, 21. James Hook, 22. Tom Shanklin.

Date: Sunday 8 February, 2009
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT (10 am ET (Toronto, New York))
Venue: Murrayfield
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Touch judges: Chris White (England), Rob Debney (England)
TMO: Geoff Warren (England)

SCO v WAL Rugby Planet preview
SCO v WAL Rugby Heaven preview