Crystal Ball Time

Feeling grim on New Year's Eve, so an impromptu blog as to what we can look forward to in the first part of 2012. All is irreverent as ever, though you never know...

Happy New Year to everyone. If you use Twitter, keep on eye on #rugbyunited which aims to keep supporters chatting and together, irrespective of which side they follow. A great initiative which gets my vote, not only for its concept but also for proving once more that rugby continues to go where football cannot.

January
The Heineken Cup stirs us from our post-Christmas and New Year revelries inspired slumber with yet more classic games. Edinburgh and Racing Metro follow-up their 48-47 classic with a 0-0 draw at La Garenne Colombes. Munster travel to Northampton for the re-match of their classic opening weekend game on the Saturday evening, with Munster securing a stunning comeback victory on Sunday afternoon, when Ronan O'Gara drops the winning goal to make the score 27-25 in the 1053rd minute of extra time, after Paul O'Connell's side recycle possession for the 4785th time. Truly unbelievable scenes. Finally for January, strange scenes as Ulster, Leicester and Clermont all finish joint top of their pool, and with no-one understanding how to separate them, Leicester claim the QF spot as they win a three-way 15-a-side boat race when referee Nigel Owens disqualifies the French side for using glasses of red wine.

February
6 Nations fever abounds as Wales, fresh from their stunning World Cup performance of 4 wins in 7 games, and France, fresh from their stunning World Cup (well the last 20 minutes thereof), brim with confidence at the start of the tournament. England entered the era of the House of Lancaster (or is the House of Stuart, so many historical choices) with a stunning performance in Edinburgh, where they managed to have a team night out without any photos/cctv footage appearing anywhere). On the field,  Scotland manage to go three more games without a try, meaning their last International try was scored by Tony Stanger in 1991.

March
The denouement of the 6 Nations sees all 6 teams finish level on 5 points each, after the last weekend sees 3 drawn games. Theeggchaser's Annual Continental trip sees Rome for Italy vs Scotland, another successful weekend with much beer and wine, pasta and pizza, and not a Caribinieri problem in sight. At a hastily convened meeting to decide the tournament winners, Sergio Parisse defeats Thierry Dusautoir at tiddlywinks to claim Italy's first 6 Nations title. Much confusion surrounds the end though after Bernard Lapasset tries to go back on his decision to make tiddlywinks the choice, only to be sent off by Alain Rolland for being just a little too like Sepp Blatter for comfort.

April
As European focus returns to domestic competition after the fun and games of the International competition, April 1st saw Saracens host Harlequins at Wembley in an attempt to beat their record of December for the biggest crowd. 273,000 crammed into Wembley to watch as Harlequins gained revenge in spectacular style, though debate as to the validity of the trapeze artist's last minute try still goes on. The European Cup threw up a surprise too, as much fancied Munster and Leinster both slipped up, which was surprising as they were playing in the same semi final.

May
Nothing beats a Twickenham final in May (apart from maybe an Auckland final in October, or Joburg in December). This year we had two. To avoid playing twice in a week and to reduce the carbon footprint, Saracens and Leicester decided to make it a winner takes all encounter for both Heineken and Aviva titles. Saracens leaving with a smile on their faces.

June
The French season, which started in 1998, finally came to close on June 9th. Yawns all round as Toulouse won for the 43rd time in 41 seasons. Meanwhile, England went on tour to Australia (2 games vs Aussie Baabaas and 2 Tests) and New Zealand (1 game vs Maoris in Napier - not a foot was set in Queenstown). Much of the rest of the month was spent by Theeggchaser trawling round the North of England, advocating the "addition of 2 flankers to the Rugby League version of the game", while also suggesting that "when tackled, players should let go of the ball and that if the ball goes out of the field of play it should be thrown back in. While you're at it, scrap this 6 tackle rule and you're there". The jury is still out apparently. Chris Ashton finally signed a new deal to play for Biarritz; "I've always loved the Italian way of life" he said somewhat 'enigmatically'.