6N Tournament 2018 (non-Irish TT)

Neil3030

Deleted User wrote: »

Eddie Jones has been remarkably sore about the Italy game since his post match comments right after that game. For someone who loves to stir the pot and dish it out he doesn't seem to have been able to move beyond that criticism at all.

Definitely don't think England were as good last year as they were in Jones's first year either. Looking at how Lancaster has Leinster humming I wonder how much of that first year in charge was a hangover from the work Lancaster had put in?

With the massive extension Jones just got, it would be a little brilliant if they had a terrible six nations.

I'd cut Jones some slack to be honest - you simply cannot survive in the British media landscape without using attack as your defence. I'd agree with you that England had a little wobble in 2017, but let's not forget that they were still on for the Grand Slam coming to Dublin, where SOB and Ringrose (who we were missing/not quite ready in 2016) had a large part to play in keeping them at bay defensively.

Neil3030

Neil3030 wrote: »

I'd cut Jones some slack to be honest - you simply cannot survive in the British media landscape without using attack as your defence. I'd agree with you that England had a little wobble in 2017, but let's not forget that they were still on for the Grand Slam coming to Dublin, where SOB and Ringrose (who we were missing/not quite ready in 2016) had a large part to play in keeping them at bay defensively.

After their grand slam and destruction of Australia I reckoned they were on a serious build to the RWC and had really set out their stall.

From what I saw of them last year even taking the Ireland game out of it I wasn't blown away. They smashed Scotland alright but they scraped passed France and Wales and we beat them comfortably. They weren't overly convincing in the Summer albeit their Lions were away but their game hasn't evolved and they are already looking a little bit stale after the Autumn Internationals.

They could well do the slam again this year and I could be well wide of the mark, but I've a sneaking suspicion they peaked in 2016. I'm mostly basing this on my own personal desire!

Stheno

Is kick-off next week quarter to five or six?

prawnsambo

Stheno wrote: »

Is kick-off next week quarter to five or six?

They give local and GMT on the six nations website so you don't have to melt your brain trying to work it out. :P

The Rape of Lucretia

A little history :
While there were plenty of conspiracy theories speculated at the time, does anyone know of an official or definitive reason for the farce that was the last minute frozen pitch Paris game call-off of 2012 (or was it 2010?)?

Burkie1203

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

A little history :
While there were plenty of conspiracy theories speculated at the time, does anyone know of an official or definitive reason for the farce that was the last minute frozen pitch Paris game call-off of 2012 (or was it 2010?)?

No undersoil heating and a game at 9pm in february with temperatures below zero.

prawnsambo

Burkie1203 wrote: »

No undersoil heating and a game at 9pm in february with temperatures below zero.

There is still no undersoil heating there. I believe it's impossible because gas mains pipes run under the stadium iirc.

The Rape of Lucretia

Yes. But I mean more was there any subsequent enquiry into what was a mega cock up on thelast minute nature of thecancelling with everyone in the ground. It was known there was no undergeound heating. Tbe pitch was frozen for the week beforehand. The weather forecast was clear there was no thawin prospect. Surely it was scandalous management that merited more answering than just "sorry, the pitch is frozen".

prawnsambo

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

Yes. But I mean more was there any subsequent enquiry into what was a mega cock up on thelast minute nature of thecancelling with everyone in the ground. It was known there was no undergeound heating. Tbe pitch was frozen for the week beforehand. The weather forecast was clear there was no thawin prospect. Surely it was scandalous management that merited more answering than just "sorry, the pitch is frozen".

It wasn't frozen all week. It was under covers all week and had hot air blowers on it to keep it from freezing. It was inspected about two hours before kick off and declared playable. It froze in the intervening time. It was a stupid idea to play an evening match on it though.

penybont exile

Neil3030 wrote: »

Missing Biggar, Webb, J Davies, Falateu, Lydiate, Jake Ball, Priestland, L Williams and Warburton, I just can't see how Wales can stay in the mix. It's an absolute horror show of injuries.

It's not great .... but adversity usually brings some form of opportunity.

Of the names you mention the recent knock to Biggar is the really annoying one for me. He has been in great form. Of the others [JD, Warburton] we've known about for a while. We have options @8 to cover Faletau. Davies is playing better than Webb. LW hasn't enough games behind him .... the others we can cope without.

TBH I would roll the dice for next week and go with the following ......

Anscombe, S Evans, S Williams, Parkes, Amos/Adams, Patchell, Davies, Navidi, J Davies, Shingler, AWJ, B Davies, R Evans, Owens, Lee

Gatland is not afraid to gamble .... but I'm not sure he's prepared to risk it all just yet!

stephen_n

At this stage Gatland could write off this 6N and really take a look at the future. Don’t think the Welsh fans, the media or anyone else expects much from this campaign, so he could blood a lot of players, give them high level experience and see what comes of it. His job is as safe as houses and he really has little to lose from taking a high risk approach.

Stephen Hawkins football boots

Richie Gray has pulled out of Scots squad for Welsh game

Buer

Wales have named their team. Gone with Patchell at 10 and the big call with Josh Adams making his debut on the wing as North doesn't get passed fit.

Tipuric left out too for Navidi.

Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets) (74 Caps)
Josh Adams (Worcester) (*UNCAPPED)
Scott Williams (Scarlets) (51 Caps)
Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets) (1 Cap)
Steff Evans (Scarlets) (5 Caps)
Rhys Patchell (Scarlets) (5 Caps)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (27 Caps)
Rob Evans (Scarlets) (20 Caps)
Ken Owens (Scarlets) (52 Caps)
Samson Lee (Scarlets) (34 Caps)
Cory Hill (Dragons) (10 Caps)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (113 Caps) CAPT
Aaron Shingler (Scarlets) (13 Caps)
Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues) (7 Caps)
Ross Moriarty (Gloucester) (17 Caps)

Replacements:

Elliot Dee (Dragons) (2 Caps)
Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (5 Caps)
Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (26 Caps)
Bradley Davies (Ospreys) (57 Caps)
Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (52 Caps)
Aled Davies (Scarlets) (5 Caps)
Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues) (11 Caps)
Owen Watkin (Ospreys) (2 Caps)

Buer

10 Scarlets players starting....echoes of 2008 when the Ospreys team essentially won the Grand Slam.

Clegg

Scarlets are the best team in Wales by a distance so it makes sense that so many of their players are starting. But I'm not sure Rob Howley is the coach that can get them to translate those skills to international level.

And James Davies isn't even in the squad. You'd have to wonder what's going on there. Been the best backrow playing in Wales for the last 12 months now.

Webbs

Clegg wrote: »

Scarlets are the best team in Wales by a distance so it makes sense that so many of their players are starting. But I'm not sure Rob Howley is the coach that can get them to translate those skills to international level.

And James Davies isn't even in the squad. You'd have to wonder what's going on there. Been the best backrow playing in Wales for the last 12 months now.

Davies is in the extended squad but picking as big a back row as they could with Navidi at 7 then it made sense to go with Tipuric on the bench with his experience. Davies chance will come later in tournament if any more injuries in back row am sure.

Its a very inexperienced squad (13 players with less than 20 caps) so its a chance to see who can step up and who cant. I along with a lot of Wales supporters are seeing this 6N as a sounding board for guys who wouldnt normally get a chance due to the mad amount of injuries.
If Wales get 3rd place in this 6N they will have done well

wp_rathead

Watson and Barclay should have a field day against that Welsh backrow at the breakdown- Navidi had a good autumn series but for me he is not better than Tipuric

If Scotland have a semi-competent set piece I think they'll pull of a win, but their front 5 is crippled with injuries so Welsh scrum could be the key

Burkie1203

wp_rathead wrote: »

Watson and Barclay should have a field day against that Welsh backrow at the breakdown- Navidi had a good autumn series but for me he is not better than Tipuric

If Scotland have a semi-competent set piece I think they'll pull of a win, but their front 5 is crippled with injuries so Welsh scrum could be the key

Scotland missing 8 or 9 players in tight 5 alone. If they had a scrum i would fancy them to win but think wales will grind a win from this one.

swiwi_

Midfield of Hadleigh Parkes and Scott "Recreation" Williams...

sydthebeat

swiwi_ wrote: »

Midfield of Hadleigh Parkes and Scott "Recreation" Williams...

Jeez... I hope you are finding these hilarious....

swiwi_

sydthebeat wrote: »

Jeez... I hope you are finding these hilarious....

Just for you syd

"I heart Irish rugby, totally schmidtten".

PTH2009

Scarlets featuring 5 others vs Scotland

a draw would be grand for us

sydthebeat

swiwi_ wrote: »

Just for you syd

"I heart Irish rugby, totally schmidtten".

dont quit the day job :p:p

razorblunt

That midfield is an area that Wales might actually look to do some damage. Parkes is a shrewd operator and with Williams alongside him they'll keep the inexperienced Jones - Harris pairing on their toes.
This could be game of the weekend.

andymx11

England won't beat the handicap.. there I said it..

errlloyd

Where are the England and Italy teams? Are we waiting till tomorrow for them?

errlloyd

errlloyd wrote: »

Where are the England and Italy teams? Are we waiting till tomorrow for them?

Apparently Jones has the entire English squad sitting down now to do a theory test and only those who pass are available for selection this weekend:

NollagShona

I wish Conor would stop killing off half the Corrie Cast tho!

Synode

https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/status/959354851338702848

I love that #injurycrisis is flying around on twitter as this team sheet is getting shared.

Conor O'Shea has inadvertently created a new meme.

errlloyd

4 Tommaso's in that Italian backline. If they score a **** load of tries I am calling them the Tommy Guns.

pickarooney

I believe ya...

Buer

errlloyd wrote: »

4 Tommaso's in that Italian backline. If they score a **** load of tries I am calling them the Tommy Guns.

Found Mark Robson's account.

NollagShona

My Spotify Playlist for the 6 Nations

https://open.spotify.com/user/1155734015/playlist/4JIRwKl0mIMpbUxyJbqmoC?si=5hfamDHgTgO8Z8cUYqDAmA

razorblunt

NollagShona wrote: »

My Spotify Playlist for the 6 Nations

https://open.spotify.com/user/1155734015/playlist/4JIRwKl0mIMpbUxyJbqmoC?si=5hfamDHgTgO8Z8cUYqDAmA

Jokeshop.

There’s no Hymns and Arias.

thomond2006

Dupont's season is over (ruptured ACL). Jalibert is out for 1-2 months (partially ruptured PCL).

Bazzo

thomond2006 wrote: »

Dupont's season is over (ruptured ACL). Jalibert is out for 1-2 months (partially ruptured PCL).

Which part of the brain is the ACL?

Peregrine

Bazzo wrote: »

Which part of the brain is the ACL?

The knee. Highly misunderstood and crucial part of the brain.

NollagShona

Forza Italia!

ELM327

Lets go italy!

sydthebeat

That's how you create space out wide

Buer

sydthebeat wrote: »

That's how you create space out wide

Play Italy?

ELM327

And that didnt last long....

Bazzo

Dave_The_Sheep was good enough to make a match thread, we may as well use it. :P

Burkie1203

6n have launched an investigation into the French KIA incidents yesterday

NollagShona

What can they do?

Impossible to prove

Squidgy Black

NollagShona wrote: »

What can they do?

Impossible to prove

I'd imagine there'll be a review of all footage to see if there was anything to merit calls of a HIA at all, and if nothing was there then who was it that called for it.

Buer

NollagShona wrote: »

What can they do?

Impossible to prove

Obtain the medical reports. There's an independent medical official there.

If nothing else, they'll be reluctant to do it again.

Bazzo

Buer wrote: »

Obtain the medical reports. There's an independent medical official there.

If nothing else, they'll be reluctant to do it again.

Any medical professional will err miles on the side of caution if a player claims to have a head injury, there's no way the doctor did anything wrong, it's the players/coaches/French team who are abusing the system, and how do you punish that without also possibly discouraging players from reporting possible head injuries in the future which is obviously a huge no no.

Will they really be reluctant to do it again? I seem to recall them pulling something similar in last year's 6 nations. And I remember looking at Rabah Slimani's club substitutions at some point last season and he'd come back onto the pitch in somethling like 50% of his games played at the time which is nuts.

pickarooney

Bazzo wrote: »

Which part of the brain is the ACL?

Antecerebral lobe