2015 RBS Six Nations General Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

errlloyd

England

philstar wrote: »

i wonder will the welsh close the roof at the millennium??

Both coaches have to agree, the Welsh will almost certainly opt to close the roof, it suits them absolutely down to the ground. Better atmosphere, better catching conditions, easier breakdown.

The real question is are we gonna England on this and insist on it being open.

penybont exile

Scotland

errlloyd wrote: »

Both coaches have to agree, the Welsh will almost certainly opt to close the roof, it suits them absolutely down to the ground. Better atmosphere, better catching conditions, easier breakdown.

The real question is are we gonna England on this and insist on it being open.

I'd be surprised if it's not open .........

errlloyd

England

penybont exile wrote: »

I'd be surprised if it's not open .........

I'd generally agree, the only reason Ireland would choose not to keep it open would be to try and dampen the pre-match controversy.

spiralism

errlloyd wrote: »

I'd generally agree, the only reason Ireland would choose not to keep it open would be to try and dampen the pre-match controversy.

Yeah, and after all since when were we in the business of being nice to Gatland? **** him, if the shoe were on the other foot he'd opt to **** us over ten times out of ten.

Gits_bone

France

Roof being open or closed does not effect anything really.

efb

England

As I'm there id prefer the roof closed - but it's what Johnny wants that matters

sydthebeat

England

Gits_bone wrote: »

Roof being open or closed does not effect anything really.

It certainly does.

Especially in March, you could have any kind of weather in a couple of hours.

keeping it closed Is a better guarantee of conditions

Gits_bone

France

Will the Irish team be training in Carton House again?

thomond2006

Let Wales do what they want with the roof and then rout them.

philstar

France

spiralism wrote: »

Yeah, and after all since when were we in the business of being nice to Gatland? **** him, if the shoe were on the other foot he'd opt to **** us over ten times out of ten.

and can you blame him? after the way he was **** over by the irfu

thomond2006

philstar wrote: »

and can you blame him? after the way he was **** over by the irfu

14 years ago now in fairness.

Podge_irl

philstar wrote: »

and can you blame him? after the way he was **** over by the irfu

He refused to hire a defence coach. Seems like he's learned from that lesson at least.

philstar

France

thomond2006 wrote: »

14 years ago now in fairness.

and the irish never forget??

vienne86

England

I thought the visiting coach had the casting vote if they couldn't agree.

Podge_irl

vienne86 wrote: »

I thought the visiting coach had the casting vote if they couldn't agree.

The default position is open. They just have to both agree to close it.

Micky Dolenz

England

But if it's closed, how will all the emissions from the fireworks, flame throwers, smoke bombs and other such things disperse?.

aimee1

Gits_bone wrote: »

Will the Irish team be training in Carton House again?

Belfast this week

total former

England

So, Galway this week?

molloyjh

total former wrote: »

So, Galway this week?

Athlone I heard. I heard. I heard.

Micky Dolenz

England

Right, who'd thought it would be funny to drag this thread into a cave? :pac:

DGRulz

So, eh, this is the door in to the Scotland coaches box after Saturday (according to someone on reddit).

aimee1

total former wrote: »

So, Galway this week?

JS said in his press conference that they are in belfast for a few days this week

errlloyd

England

vienne86 wrote: »

I thought the visiting coach had the casting vote if they couldn't agree.

The default position is closed. What you say is effectively true because the Welsh have never opted to have it open AFAIK

.ak

errlloyd wrote: »

The default position is closed. What you say is effectively true because the Welsh have never opted to have it open AFAIK

You mean the default position is open? Both coaches have to agree for it to be closed, no?

Podge_irl

.ak wrote: »

You mean the default position is open? Both coaches have to agree for it to be closed, no?

Indeed

Some attractive genius wrote:

The default position is open. They just have to both agree to close it.

.ak

Podge_irl wrote: »

Indeed

Sorry, I must have Some Attractive Genius on ignore.

timaru89

England

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/six-nations/comment-analysis/after-three-rounds-of-the-six-nations-here-is-the-independentie-team-of-the-tournament-31040091.html

efb

England

Just got my Scotland ticket today

RobbieRuns

France

efb wrote: »

Just got my Scotland ticket today

Thats great news, delighted for you. I would urge everyone to not think past the Wales game though, lets keep it one game at a time.

total former

England

France 26-man squad for the Italy game:

Forwards: Atonio, Ben Arous, Debaty, Mas, Slimani, Guirado, Kayser, Flanquart, Maestri, Suta, R. Taofifénua, Chouly, Dusautoir, Goujon, Lauret, Le Roux, Nyanga.

Backs: Kockott, Tillous-Borde, Lopez, Plisson, Tales, Bastareaud, Fickou, Mermoz, Guitoune, Huget, Nakaitaci, Dulin, Spedding.

So likely changes to XV are Kockott back in for Parra and Mermoz for Fofana.

If I were PSA, I would definitely look at changes in the back row, either Lauret for Chouly or Nyanga for le Roux, they need more dynamism.

aimee1

RobbieRuns wrote: »

Thats great news, delighted for you. I would urge everyone to not think past the Wales game though, lets keep it one game at a time.

If we lose to wales we are playing scotland after they play italy on the last day. We could be chasing points for a championship chance.

aimee1

RobbieRuns wrote: »

Thats great news, delighted for you. I would urge everyone to not think past the Wales game though, lets keep it one game at a time.

If we lose to wales we are playing scotland after they play italy on the last day. We could be chasing points for a championship chance.

George Hook

England

aimee1 wrote: »

If we lose to wales we are playing scotland after they play italy on the last day. We could be chasing points for a championship chance.

Whilst I don't want that to be the case.. I am tempted to see what the team could produce if forced to score as many points as possible.

efb

England

RobbieRuns wrote: »

Thats great news, delighted for you. I would urge everyone to not think past the Wales game though, lets keep it one game at a time.

Have Wales ticket too!

aimee1

George Hook wrote: »

Whilst I don't want that to be the case.. I am tempted to see what the team could produce if forced to score as many points as possible.

England play france after our game, could be wales set us a target and then we have to set england a target. Hopefully we are chasing a slam tho.

razorblunt

France

Stuart McInally has been drafted into the Scottish team after only one professional appearance at hooker for Edinburgh.
He's gone well at club level apparently but this is a big step up.

accensi0n

Any suggestions on a place in Barcelona to watch the rugby this weekend?

Dubliner28

England

Slightly off game talk here lads. I have 2 nights accommodation for 2 adults in the Ibis Cardiff gate this week. If anyone is interested in it PM me. Tried to sell @ €50 but had no joy. Unable to travel so had to give up tickets and hotel. Tickets sold not a problem but stuck with hotel. If anyone is interested in it for free PM me

Dwarf.Shortage

Dubliner28 wrote: »

Slightly off game talk here lads. I have 2 nights accommodation for 2 adults in the Ibis Cardiff gate this week. If anyone is interested in it PM me. Tried to sell @ €50 but had no joy. Unable to travel so had to give up tickets and hotel. Tickets sold not a problem but stuck with hotel. If anyone is interested in it for free PM me

If you'd held onto the oul ticeadi I might have bitten for the package deal.

total former

England

total former wrote: »

France 26-man squad for the Italy game:

Forwards: Atonio, Ben Arous, Debaty, Mas, Slimani, Guirado, Kayser, Flanquart, Maestri, Suta, R. Taofifénua, Chouly, Dusautoir, Goujon, Lauret, Le Roux, Nyanga.

Backs: Kockott, Tillous-Borde, Lopez, Plisson, Tales, Bastareaud, Fickou, Mermoz, Guitoune, Huget, Nakaitaci, Dulin, Spedding.

Guitoune is ruled out of the Italy match, Marc Andreu has been called up but we might see Nakaitaci get a run, which would be great to see.

Edit: Andreu lasted less than 24 hours in the camp, he's now been cut, along with Suta, Nyanga, Lauret and Tales, so presumably Plisson is on the bench.

total former

England

England team named: Brown and Lawes back in the XV, Parling on the bench. Tom Wood back in for Croft too. Definitely a stronger team than the one that played Ireland so we got lucky I think. Goode, Kruis and Easter get the bullet.

Brown; Watson, Joseph, Burrell, Nowell; Ford, Youngs;
Vunipola, Robshaw (c), Haskell; Lawes, Attwood; Cole, Hartley, Marler.

Youngs, Vunipola, Brookes, Parling, Wood, Wigglesworth, Cipriani, Twelvetrees.

rudiger2.0

accensi0n wrote: »

Any suggestions on a place in Barcelona to watch the rugby this weekend?

Dunnes on via Laietana is a good spot. In between the Gotico and Born. Next to Jaume 1 metro. Good atmosphere but get there early for a decent seat.

thomond2006

Le XV de départ:
Spedding ; Huget, Fickou, Mermoz, Nakaitaci ; (o) Lopez, (m) Tillous-Borde ;
Le Roux, Goujon, Dusautoir (cap) ; Maestri, Flanquart ; Mas, Guirado, Ben Arous.

Remplaçants: Kayser, Debaty, Slimani, Taofifenua, Chouly, Kockott, Plisson, Bastareaud.

24e et 25e homme: Atonio et Dulin

8 changes to the starting XV. I can't understand dropping Dulin, Spedding's only advantage over him is size/bulk. Mermoz and Fickou has potential in midfield but Mermoz has disappointed in previous opportunities under PSA.

Buer

He hasn't got a clue, he hasn't got a cluuuuu-ooooo, Philippe Saint Andre, he hasn't got a clue.

timaru89

England

Nakaitaci's debut for France?

total former

England

timaru89 wrote: »

Nakaitaci's debut for France?

Yep

thomond2006

He played in a mid-week match in New Zealand I think.

.ak

thomond2006 wrote: »

Le XV de départ:
Spedding ; Huget, Fickou, Mermoz, Nakaitaci ; (o) Lopez, (m) Tillous-Borde ;
Le Roux, Goujon, Dusautoir (cap) ; Maestri, Flanquart ; Mas, Guirado, Ben Arous.

Remplaçants: Kayser, Debaty, Slimani, Taofifenua, Chouly, Kockott, Plisson, Bastareaud.

24e et 25e homme: Atonio et Dulin

8 changes to the starting XV. I can't understand dropping Dulin, Spedding's only advantage over him is size/bulk. Mermoz and Fickou has potential in midfield but Mermoz has disappointed in previous opportunities under PSA.

Fickou is going to be one of the most influential French players over the next decade imo. One of the few Toulouse players seriously impressing and barely out of the u20s squad. The only reason he isn't getting more caps is because it's hard to justify dropping possibly the best carrying 13 in the world. So I'm really interested in seeing how these two work together. The future I think will be Fofana and Fickou, but Mermoz is a classic centre and will guide Fickou through nicely I think.

thomond2006

.ak wrote: »

Fickou is going to be one of the most influential French players over the next decade imo. One of the few Toulouse players seriously impressing and barely out of the u20s squad. The only reason he isn't getting more caps is because it's hard to justify dropping possibly the best carrying 13 in the world. So I'm really interested in seeing how these two work together. The future I think will be Fofana and Fickou, but Mermoz is a classic centre and will guide Fickou through nicely I think.

I didn't realise Fofana was dropped. Not a major surprise as he hasn't looked like the player who was ripping defences apart in 2013. Mermoz has been playing well for Toulon having become first choice 12 at Toulon with Giteau moving to 10.

Bastareaud could be a great impact sub in the last 20 against a tired pack. Once he gets over the ball at the breakdown he's near impossible to clear out.

sydthebeat

England

so what has speeding done to demand his place back over dulin?

i like speeding but he has been distinctly average so far... and dulin cant be carrying an injury if hes the 25th player can he?