RWC 2019 Boards.ie Prediction Game

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Forget RWC, Champions Cup & Christmas. Just over 6 wks until the 6 Nations - 1st Feb.

I don’t think there has ever been a 6N with such an amount of change in personnel from the previous championship.
Some real stalwarts have also departed the scene: Parisse, Zanni, Best, Kearney, O'Brien, Hartley, Gatland, Ghiraldini, Guirado, Fofana, Brunel & I think Picamoles (load of Hookers & 8’s in that group)
Joe and O’Shea gone. Scotland, England and then Ireland probably have the least amount of change following the RWC.

England: Captain: Farrell.
Head Coach: Jones. Forwards: Borthwick. Attack: Simon Amor. Defence: Mitchell.
Ireland: Captain: TBC. 4 Options: POM,Ryan,CJ & Sexton(would prefer him to just play)
Head Coach: Farrell. Forwards: Fogarty. Attack: Catt. Defence: Easterby. H2O: Murphy. Manager: ?
Italy: Captain: TBC.
Head Coach: Franco Smith. Forwards: De Carli. Defence: Goosen. Fitness: Atkinson/Sanguin
Scotland: Captain: McInally?
Head Coach: Townsend. Forwards: Wilson. Attack: ?. Defence: Taylor. Skills: Blair
Wales: Captain: Jones.
Head Coach: Pivac. Forwards: Humphreys. Attack: Jones. Defence: Hayward/Warburton
France: Captain: TBC.
Head Coach: Galthie. Forwards:?Scrum: William Servat & Karim Ghezal. Attack: Labit. Defence: Prick with clipboard looking furious all of the time. Manager: Ibanez

Even though England start with two away games & might feel that they have little to prove, its hard not to see them winning it.
Ireland have a nice start with two home games v Scot & Wales. Win those “Momentum” and then on to Twickenham and finishing in Paris in the final match.
“Which France will turn up?”
I'll go with France to win it & Dupont player of the championship.

Preferred Ireland XXIII
Larmour; Conway, Ringrose, Aki, Stockdale; Carbery, Cooney;
Healy, Kelleher, Porter; Henderson, Ryan(vc); POM(C), VdF, Dorris.

Reps: Scannell, Kilcoyne, Furlong, Toner, CJ, Murray, Sexton (if played for Leinster), Addison.
https://www.the42.ie/rob-kearney-andy-farrell-ireland-squad-4935755-Dec2019/

ROUND ONE
1/2 February:
Wales vs Italy – Saturday 2:15pm
Ireland vs Scotland – Saturday 4:45pm Referee: Raynal
France vs England – Sunday 3pm

ROUND TWO
8/9 February:
Ireland vs Wales – Saturday 2:15pm Referee: Romain Poite
Scotland vs England – Saturday 4:45pm
France vs Italy – Sunday 3pm

ROUND THREE
22/23 February:
Italy vs Scotland – Saturday 2:15pm
Wales vs France – Saturday 4:45pm
England vs Ireland – Sunday 3pm Referee: Jaco Peyper

ROUND FOUR
7/8 March:
Ireland vs Italy – Saturday 2:15pm Referee: Nic Berry
England vs Wales – Saturday 4:45pm
Scotland vs France – Sunday 3pm

ROUND FIVE
14 March:
Wales vs Scotland – Saturday 2:15pm
Italy vs England – Saturday 4:45pm
France vs Ireland – Saturday 8pm. Referee: Barnes
https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/fixtures/
https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/2019/12/04/refereeing-appointments-for-2020-guinness-six-nations-announced/

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The Uncapped Back Row “Stocktake” - 2020 & Beyond

Cant recall such an amount of promising loose forwards breaking through at the same time.

Fair to say that the best of them are all at Leinster? Probably making it that more difficult for the rest to pick up caps.
Cant see any really exceptional (SO'B/Ferris) talent amongst them. Maybe Connors? Dorris looks to have the height, strength, skills and engine to make an excellent 8

I've had a stab at trying to project their careers for the craic. (completely guessing with Ulster young lads)
All comments & corrections are welcome!
And particularly If im leaving anybody out.

PLAYER|AGE|2020 Caps|2021 Lions|2023 WC*|+25 Caps|+50 Caps
Will Connors|23|0|0|4|Yes|Yes
Max Deegan|23|1|0|0|Yes|No
Caelan Doris|21|5|1|5|Yes|Yes
Scott Penny|20|0|0|0|Yes|No
Paul Boyle|23|0|0|0|No|No
Gavin Coombes|22|0|0|0|No|No
John Hodnett|21|0|0|0|No|No
Fineen Wycherley|22|0|0|3|Yes|No
Azur Allison|20|0|0|0|No|No
David McCann|19|0|0|0|Yes|No
Marcus Rea|22|0|0|0|No|No


* WC 2023 Squad
Will Connors
Jack Conan
Caelan Doris
JvdF
Fineen Wycherly

2019 WC Squad: Conan 27/17 caps, CJ 29/38, JvdF 26, PO'M 30/64, Ruddock 29/26,

I see David McCann was named as captain of the U-20s
https://www.the42.ie/ireland-u20/news/

David McCann (RBAI / Banbridge RFC / Ulster)
Joshua Dunne (Denstone College / Galwegians RFC / Connacht).
Joshua Dunne, 19 (Denstone College / Galwegians RFC / Connacht).
Mark Hernan (St Michael’s College / Lansdowne FC / Leinster)
Cian Hurley (CBC Cork / Garryowen FC / Munster),
Sean O’Brien (Blackrock College / UCD RFC / Leinster),
Mark Hernan (St Michael’s College / Lansdowne FC / Leinster),
Anthony Ryan (Clongowes Wood College / Dublin University FC / Leinster),

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U20 6N Squad|Province|Position|2020 Caps|MOM|Tries|Senior Cap
Alex Soroka|Leinster|6,8,4?|tbc|0|0|?
Anthony Ryan|Leinster|7,6,8|tbc|0|0|Yes
Mark Hernan|Leinster|7|tbc|0|0|?
Sean O’Brien|Leinster|6,8?|tbc|0|0|?
Cian Hurley|Munster|6,8?|tbc|0|0|?
Joshua Dunne|Connacht|8,6,7?|tbc|0|0|?
David McCann (c)|Ulster|8,6,7?|tbc|0|0|Yes

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d8

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A preview of the match using WWF characters:

Ireland have picked a side to play as Demolition and Tonga are more The Islanders than The South Pacific Savages

Gone are the days of Diving Headbutts but The Islanders do have a rich tradition of attempting to destroy everything in their path in the most brutal manner possible.

There is little doubt that Haku and Tama will deliver an early onslaught of diving splashes, hip attacks and savate kicks to try and put Demolition up against the ropes.

Demolition are wily old campaigners and will try and take the legs out of The Islanders with nerve holds at scrum and thrusts from mauls.

Ax and Smash will then start to launch their wide variety of strike moves and implement their combination attack game. Its hard to see how The islanders can survive.

_________________________________Ax_____(🎩 )_____Smash________________________

Ireland:

Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Gary Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Jonathan Sexton (capt), Conor Murray; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan; Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris

Replacements: Rob Herring, David Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird, Craig Casey, Ross Byrne, Robbie Henshaw.

Tonga:

Charles Salesi Piutau; Afusipa Taumoepeau, Malakai Fekitoa, Pita Ahki, Solomone Kata; William Havili, Augustine Pulu; Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, Paula Ngauamo, Ben Tameifuna (capt); Samiuela Lousi, Halaleva Fifita; Tanginoa Halaifonua, Sione Talitui, Vaea Fifita

Replacements: Samiuela Moli, Tau Koloamatangi, Sosefo Apikotoa, Semisi Paea, Solomone Funaki, Sione Vailanu, Sonatane Takul, Fine Inisi

Officials:

Ref: Barnes

Assistants: Craig Evans and Matthew Carley

TMO: Tom Foley

https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/match/pool-b-ireland-tonga#match_details

TV: RTÉ 2 (coverage starts at 19.00), ITV 1 (19.15).

“We need to come up with a bit of a plan and I think we’ve got one; it’s going to be good.” – Toutai Kefu (aka Bobby The Brain Heenan)

_____________________________Hopefully nobody gets Kefu'c#ed up_____________________________

___________________________________50th minute mark_____________________________________

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