6N Tournament 2018 (non-Irish TT)

stephen_n

Who comes in, is Liam Williams being added to the 23?

Synode

stephen_n wrote: »

Who comes in, is Liam Williams being added to the 23?

Did he not make the squad? That's mad

MDunne14

Synode wrote: »

Did he not make the squad? That's mad

He’s just back from injury

swiwi_

Deleted User wrote: »

Big weekend for both teams though, England have been on a downward since their first season in my opinion, will be a defining tournament for them.

What is that now, 23 wins from 24 games?

If that's your definition of "downward" than you are one tough bastard Venjur :pac:

swiwi_

Based on the first 2 rounds: England => Wales => Ireland => France & Scotland ===> Italy.

Ireland vs Wales is the game of the next round IMO, I think Wales have got a more than decent chance. A lot of what is good about Ireland comes from Sexton, although Aki also put his hand up, but there is not a lot of creativity from the Irish pack. Wales generally defended pretty well against England. We shall see, I suppose.

swiwi_

swiwi_ wrote: »

What is that now, 23 wins from 24 games?

If that's your definition of "downward" than you are one tough bastard Venjur :pac:

They were much more convincing their first season with the Slam followed by a white wash in Australia.

Narrow wins to France and Wales last year along with a fairly comprehensive beating by Ireland and then struggling over the Summer to get on top of Argentina is a marked step down from Jones' first year in charge.

They are still winning, but I would argue no where near as convincingly as they were in 2016.

That is all.

swiwi_

Deleted User wrote: »

They were much more convincing their first season with the Slam followed by a white wash in Australia.

Narrow wins to France and Wales last year along with a fairly comprehensive beating by Ireland and then struggling over the Summer to get on top of Argentina is a marked step down from Jones' first year in charge.

They are still winning, but I would argue no where near as convincingly as they were in 2016.

That is all.

Argentina with their first team, England sans Lions.

I think the other 6N sides have improved, barring the hapless Italy, but if Ireland win all their remaining fixtures, then I concede the point.

From an exclusively neutral POV, Scottish and Welsh wins in round 3 would put the tournament on a knife-edge, with 4 teams having 2 wins and a loss.

jr86

Deleted User wrote: »

They were much more convincing their first season with the Slam followed by a white wash in Australia.

Narrow wins to France and Wales last year along with a fairly comprehensive beating by Ireland and then struggling over the Summer to get on top of Argentina is a marked step down from Jones' first year in charge.

They are still winning, but I would argue no where near as convincingly as they were in 2016.

That is all.

In fairness the home and away element makes one year very different from the next

I'd always expect England to be much less emphatic in a year they play in Cardiff and Dublin than when they have Ireland and Wales at home

So comparing their 2016 and 2017 campaigns does not tell the whole story

Judging that Argentina summer tour is a bit mad they were capping complete no-hopers they'd have been missing what 15 first choice players at least?

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

They were much more convincing their first season with the Slam followed by a white wash in Australia.

Narrow wins to France and Wales last year along with a fairly comprehensive beating by Ireland and then struggling over the Summer to get on top of Argentina is a marked step down from Jones' first year in charge.

They are still winning, but I would argue no where near as convincingly as they were in 2016.

That is all.

We beat them by 4 points. Yes we were certainly the better team but they were within a score and certainly could have won.

turnikett1

23/24 is all that needs to be said, really.

jr86

turnikett1 wrote: »

23/24 is all that needs to be said, really.

Agree. The nature of the wins is pretty irrelevant when you see a stat like that based over such a long period

They've become master at grinding out wins and have much more of a steel to them than under Lancaster

Birdie Num Num

Did anyone else have doubts about Jonny May grounding his first try on Saturday?

Quintis

Birdie Num Num wrote: »

Did anyone else have doubts about Jonny May grounding his first try on Saturday?

Yep, was in the pub, didn't have a great view but didn't see any actual grounding, gave him the benefit of the doubt...

Buer

A number of French players got into a brawl in Edinburgh last night. Some minor injuries were sustained allegedly and Scottish police have prevented the French flight from departing this morning as they make inquiries.

Sangre

Birdie Num Num wrote: »

Did anyone else have doubts about Jonny May grounding his first try on Saturday?

From the kick? He definitely grounded it when he flipped over after crossing line.

Sangre

Buer wrote: »

A number of French players got into a brawl in Edinburgh last night. Some minor injuries were sustained allegedly and Scottish police have prevented the French flight from departing this morning as they make inquiries.

The ill-discipline continues!

Elvisjuice

Buer wrote: »

A number of French players got into a brawl in Edinburgh last night. Some minor injuries were sustained allegedly and Scottish police have prevented the French flight from departing this morning as they make inquiries.

They found out nutella was sold out in Edinburgh

Birdie Num Num

Sangre wrote: »

From the kick? He definitely grounded it when he flipped over after crossing line.

Yes from Farrell's kick. Haven't seen anything to suggest he grounded it. Looked like his arm was under the ball from all angles I have seen. Like the other poster I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

razorblunt

Flight is still grounded:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-43034102

Bazzo

razorblunt wrote: »

Flight is still grounded:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-43034102

Not sure if this changed since you posted but it says no crime has been committed and their flight left at 1?

Larbre34

This plane should have been detained in Paris last week on suspicion of theft of a rugby match.....

Larbre34

Buer wrote: »

A number of French players got into a brawl in Edinburgh last night. Some minor injuries were sustained allegedly and Scottish police have prevented the French flight from departing this morning as they make inquiries.

Despite being treated for minor cuts and bruises, the whole squad were sent for HIA's and resumed the brawl ten minutes later.

Burkie1203

Larbre34 wrote: »

Despite being treated for minor cuts and bruises, the whole squad were sent for HIA's and resumed the brawl ten minutes later.

Them french lads need their knees examined.

thomond2006

New French squad. All players involved in l'épisode écossais are dropped, including Teddy Thomas.

Serin (UBB), Machenaud (Racing 92), Couilloud (Lyon),
Beauxis (Lyon), Trinh-Duc (Toulon),
Doumayrou (La Rochelle), Bastareaud (Toulon), Chavancy (Racing 92), Fickou (Toulouse),
Fall (Montpellier), Vakatawa (Racing 92), Grosso (Clermont),
Bonneval (Toulon), Palis (Castres).

Chat (Racing 92), Guirado (Toulon, capitaine), Pélissié (UBB),
Priso (La Rochelle), Ben Arous (Racing 92), Poirot (UBB), Slimani (Clermont), Gomes Sa (Racing 92),
Vahaamahina (Clermont), R. Taofifenua (Toulon), Gabrillagues (Stade français),
Le Roux (Racing 92), Babillot (Castres), Camara (Montpellier), Tauleigne (UBB), Galletier (Montpellier), Lauret (Racing 92)

https://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/xv-de-france/2017-2018/9-changements-pour-l-italie_sto6614281/story.shtml

Clegg

Cross-posting from the general rugby thread.

France have dropped the players who were involved in the altercation in Edinburgh after the Scotland game. They are Teddy Thomas, Lamerat, Picamoles, Belleau, Danty, Iturria, Lambery, Lapandry and Macalou.

So their only attacking threat from the opening fixtures in Thomas is gone as is their best centre in Lamerat and starting second row in Iturria.

DGRulz

Could they not have waited until after their game with England to stop being competitive ?

jr86

LOL England will absolutely paste them and Wales should give them a good hiding too.

I think the former would have happened anyway though

ForstalDave

jr86 wrote: »

LOL England will absolutely paste them and Wales should give them a good hiding too.

I think the former would have happened anyway though

At this point Italy stand a chance of beating france and then its wooden spoon for them

jr86

ForstalDave wrote: »

At this point Italy stand a chance of beating france and then its wooden spoon for them

To be fair they'll likely be fine v Italy even though they struggled two years back

Yeah_Right

Clegg wrote: »

Cross-posting from the general rugby thread.

France have dropped the players who were involved in the altercation in Edinburgh after the Scotland game. They are Teddy Thomas, Lamerat, Picamoles, Belleau, Danty, Iturria, Lambery, Lapandry and Macalou.

So their only attacking threat from the opening fixtures in Thomas is gone as is their best centre in Lamerat and starting second row in Iturria.

Does anyone know what happened? I've seen reports of an altercation, a brawl and a sexual assault.

pickarooney

Still a bit tempted to go to the France Italy game, but it will be Baltic in the velodrome at that hour.

Bazzo

If we had any hope of winning the tournament on points difference I'd say that's it gone up in smoke.

Wales management saying World Rugby have told them the TMO got it wrong in the England game.

irelandrover

Isnt the French squad named only for the Italy game? I'd be shocked if Thoams is left out for England/Wales.

turnikett1

irelandrover wrote: »

Isnt the French squad named only for the Italy game? I'd be shocked if Thoams is left out for England/Wales.

That's what I was thinking, he would hardly drop the likes of Picamoles, Lamerat, Belleau and Thomas just to send a message over drunken idiocy. It would be total sabotage.

razorblunt

Yeah_Right wrote: »

Does anyone know what happened? I've seen reports of an altercation, a brawl and a sexual assault.

Sexual assault was dropped. I’ve heard conflicting reports of an internal fight and something involving other lads in that bar. It’s a common post game spot though so usually they’re tight on who they let in.

I think it may also have been the spot for the Bradbury and Hardie escapades.

Sangre

razorblunt wrote: »

Sexual assault was dropped. I’ve heard conflicting reports of an internal fight and something involving other lads in that bar. It’s a common post game spot though so usually they’re tight on who they let in.

I think it may also have been the spot for the Bradbury and Hardie escapades.

Really? I always got the impression Tigerlilys was closer to Coppers more than anything.

razorblunt

Sangre wrote: »

Really? I always got the impression Tigerlilys was closer to Coppers more than anything.

No. It's a proper upmarket place.
All of George Street is, you'd have the more laid back places just off George Street. Closest to Coppers would be Espionage or 3 Sisters, you'd never see the players there.

prawnsambo

irelandrover wrote: »

Isnt the French squad named only for the Italy game? I'd be shocked if Thoams is left out for England/Wales.

It seems poor Teddy is getting a fine on his wages from Racing as well. Apparently they pay an 'ethics' bonus, which is now forfeit due to his getting caught up in the contretemps in Edinburgh.

An ethics bonus?

Bazzo

prawnsambo wrote: »

It seems poor Teddy is getting a fine on his wages from Racing as well. Apparently they pay an 'ethics' bonus, which is now forfeit due to his getting caught up in the contretemps in Edinburgh.

An ethics bonus?

Considering the amount of skulduggery that has been ongoing at Racing over the last few years I don't find that hugely surprising.

Try_harder

HIA investigations decide France have no case to answer

Quelle surprize!

Bazzo

According to the French there was no brawl involving the players.

Iturria broke his nose and burst his lip jumping in to bed and Palis split his forehead open by running in to a lamp post.

.ak

Bazzo wrote: »

According to the French there was no brawl involving the players.

Iturria broke his nose and burst his lip jumping in to bed and Palis split his forehead open by running in to a lamp post.

Sounds like a couple of nasty knee injuries there.

Former Former

A few enforced changes for the French, obvs...

Bazzo

Serin gone again. I'd say he'd make the 23 for any other 6 nations side fairly handily but Brunel doesn't seem to rate him.

Dog Botherer

Former Former wrote: »

A few enforced changes for the French, obvs...

"Hello darkness my old friend..."



Caption contest?

Former Former

Mental stat of the day: Dylan Hartley becomes England's second most capped player of all time this weekend.

What the actual f**k?

Brown; Watson, Joseph, Farrell, May; Ford, Care; Vunipola, Hartley, Cole, Launchbury, Itoje, Lawes, Robshaw, Hughes.

Replacements: George, Marler, Williams, Kruis, Underhill, Wigglesworth, Te'o, Nowell

prawnsambo

I note they're back to being called 'substitutes' and no longer 'finishers'.

Splinters methinks.

swiwi_

Bazzo wrote: »

Serin gone again.

Gas, isn't it

(well, almost)

Burkie1203

Former Former wrote: »

Mental stat of the day: Dylan Hartley becomes England's second most capped player of all time this weekend.

What the actual f**k?

Brown; Watson, Joseph, Farrell, May; Ford, Care; Vunipola, Hartley, Cole, Launchbury, Itoje, Lawes, Robshaw, Hughes.

Replacements: George, Marler, Williams, Kruis, Underhill, Wigglesworth, Te'o, Nowell

Considering his bans, thats remarkable