Guinness SIX Nations 2021

pickarooney

prawnsambo wrote: »

Another French player tested positive. Baptists Pesenti who was supposed to replace another covid positive player has basically failed just as he arrived to join the squad.

Baptiste Absenti then

ongarite

Game is going ahead.

randomname2005

Just as well they France have a bunch of players who know what it is like to play in a crunch match (ANC Final vs England). Hopefully it will stand to them as there will be a lot of disruption this week before the game.

Ardillaun

BonnieSituation wrote: »

Wales are gonna win a Grand Slam aren't they?

It is written.

Thrashssacre

French team sent into isolation, another player tested positive. Considering they trained together yesterday surely thats the whole squad as close contacts now. Game has no chance.

Cookiemunster

I find it quite amusing that it's the French, whose government demanded strict protocols from the UK and Irish teams before allowing France to play them, who are the ones with the major outbreak after mixing their bubble with the French 7s squad.

ongarite

Le goose is cooked now
They are all close contacts now as mentioned above so game will have to be postponed.

CONSI

Will game be postponed or will Scotland get a 28-0 win

joficeduns1

CONSI wrote: »

Will game be postponed or will Scotland get a 28-0 win

I'm fairly sure it'll be postponed.

ongarite

joficeduns1 wrote: »

I'm fairly sure it'll be postponed.

Bernard Jackman reporting that game has been postponed

Pudsy33

This could get messy, will French and English clubs willingly release players for next weekend? I'd feel aggrieved if I was Scotland.

Pudsy33

This could get messy, will French and English clubs willingly release players for next weekend? I'd feel aggrieved if I was Scotland.

Eod100

Wonder when it will get rescheduled to so

Zzippy

Pudsy33 wrote: »

This could get messy, will French and English clubs willingly release players for next weekend? I'd feel aggrieved if I was Scotland.

They would have to release them for a test match IIRC but Scotland would have to pay them for their release as it's not part of the international window.

Hurrache

It's officially off now anyway.

ionadnapokot

Balls

Eod100

Ah thats a dose but inevitable

Podge_irl

Zzippy wrote: »

They would have to release them for a test match IIRC but Scotland would have to pay them for their release as it's not part of the international window.

I don't think its quite so clear cut

(ii) The Northern Hemisphere Release Period shall operate each year. It shall run from the first weekend of February each year and conclude on the third weekend of March. Players shall be released prior to the Northern Hemisphere Release Period in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 9.9.

(iii) Subject to the provisions of Regulation 9.32 and Regulation 9.33, during the Northern Hemisphere Release Period Unions may only exercise the Right to Release pursuant to this Regulation 9 for five weeks out of the seven week period. The five weeks shall be the same weeks for each of the senior National Representative Team, the next senior National Representative Team and the Under 20 National Representative Team.

(iv) Unless Council approves otherwise for the purposes of this Regulation 9, Northern Hemisphere Union shall mean the Unions listed in Appendix 1, Part A and Northern Hemisphere International Match(es), International Tour or International Tournament shall mean those Matches, Tours or Tournaments listed as such in Appendix 1, Part B.

I suspect WR will simply mandate it as part of the international period.

Zzippy

Podge_irl wrote: »

I don't think its quite so clear cut



I suspect WR will simply mandate it as part of the international period.

Technically Scotland can release players back to the clubs for this weekend and still only be calling them up for 5 out of the 7 weeks.

penybont exile

Wales team to face England

Liam Williams; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Jonathan Davies, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Kieran Hardy; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhodri Jones, Leon Brown, Cory Hill, James Botham, Gareth Davies, Callum Sheedy, Willis Halaholo.


Not quite the line-up I'd have gone for .... but going in the right direction.

Podge_irl

Zzippy wrote: »

Technically Scotland can release players back to the clubs for this weekend and still only be calling them up for 5 out of the 7 weeks.

Yeah exactly. Would have been easier if it was postponed earlier in the week, but if they released them all today then they can just call next week the international period I guess.

aloooof

penybont exile wrote: »

Wales team to face England

Liam Williams; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Jonathan Davies, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Kieran Hardy; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhodri Jones, Leon Brown, Cory Hill, James Botham, Gareth Davies, Callum Sheedy, Willis Halaholo.


Not quite the line-up I'd have gone for .... but going in the right direction.

That's a pretty tasty back 3.

Bazzo

penybont exile wrote: »

Wales team to face England

Liam Williams; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Jonathan Davies, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Kieran Hardy; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhodri Jones, Leon Brown, Cory Hill, James Botham, Gareth Davies, Callum Sheedy, Willis Halaholo.


Not quite the line-up I'd have gone for .... but going in the right direction.

Not sure I've ever even heard of Kieran Hardy. What ever happened to that 12 year old who was starting at 9 for Dragons in a string of matches a few years back?

Eod100

That would be mad

https://twitter.com/RuaidhriOC/status/1364935084206399489

Former Former Former

Eod100 wrote: »

That would be mad

https://twitter.com/RuaidhriOC/status/1364935084206399489

In 2001, we rescheduled Six Nations games from March to October because of a disease that doesn't even affect humans.

Cookiemunster

Former Former Former wrote: »

In 2001, we rescheduled Six Nations games from March to October because of a disease that doesn't even affect humans.

Yeah, July's not that big a deal. Only last year we postponed 5 games from March to November for the very same disease that cancelled this one. Never min back in 2001.

The Inbetween is mine

Even the French don't think they Lions tour is happening

Podge_irl

Former Former Former wrote: »

In 2001, we rescheduled Six Nations games from March to October because of a disease that doesn't even affect humans.

Yeah, but if France are back playing in 2 weeks then it makes no sense.

Akrasia

Former Former Former wrote: »

In 2001, we rescheduled Six Nations games from March to October because of a disease that doesn't even affect humans.

And it cost us the grand slam, An on form Irish team would almost certainly have beaten Scotland if we played them in the normal 6 nations schedule (Scotland almost lost to Italy at home that year), A rusty Irish team lost away to Scotland in October

CMcsporty

penybont exile wrote: »

Wales team to face England

Liam Williams; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Jonathan Davies, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Kieran Hardy; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhodri Jones, Leon Brown, Cory Hill, James Botham, Gareth Davies, Callum Sheedy, Willis Halaholo.


Not quite the line-up I'd have gone for .... but going in the right direction.

I wouldn't change any of these for an English match.
What change would you make? Sheedy & GDavies?

penybont exile

CMcsporty wrote: »

I wouldn't change any of these for an English match.
What change would you make? Sheedy & GDavies?

The pack is fine ......

In the backs i would have started Sheedy, Johnny Williams & Halaholo. Put North back on the wing. Biggar & Adams on the bench.

Jon Davies is lucky to get back in. Needs to perform.

These players brought home the bacon in Murrayfield. The more established players need to understand they don't automatically get back in ......

pickarooney

The Inbetween is mine wrote: »

Even the French don't think they Lions tour is happening

Neither team is involved in that tour so it doesn't affect them.

Lost Ormond

suspension of 4 weeks remains for Z Fagerson, but the games that the ban covers altered - now taking in Glasgow matches with Ulster + Zebre + Scotlandteam matches with France + Ireland

The Inbetween is mine

pickarooney wrote: »

Neither team is involved in that tour so it doesn't affect them.

Nope, but there's at least 6 Scottish players that would expect to be in the Lions squad... can't really expect Scotland to play France with the spine ripped from their team

aloooof

Lost Ormond wrote: »

suspension of 4 weeks remains for Z Fagerson, but the games that the ban covers altered - now taking in Glasgow matches with Ulster + Zebre + Scotlandteam matches with France + Ireland

Does this mean Ireland missed a trick? In theory POM could've been available for last weekends game, but I don't think it was counted towards the ban?

The Inbetween is mine

aloooof wrote: »

Does this mean Ireland missed a trick? In theory POM could've been available for last weekends game, but I don't think it was counted towards the ban?

POM's ban didn't include Munster games.... Fagersons ban includes club and international games ...it's a complete coin toss at times

aloooof

Eddie Jones being Eddie Jones:

Jones puts England players on alert for Welsh mind games

Given the situation with Marler last year, this is the stand-out line:

"At times [AWJ] has targeted players in our team. We've spoken about him and we understand what he'll be trying to do. It's just about making sure we maintain our composure and our control.

Forgot to update my team....

BonnieSituation

BonnieSituation wrote: »

Wales are gonna win a Grand Slam aren't they?

Eugh

Dubinusa

Was England's discipline that poor, or was the officiating shyte? I can't understand how a top international side can repeat the same penalties over and over. I counted 4? for Itoje. It's beyond shocking.

Also, the regions in Wales form means nothing atm. I know Wales have lady luck with them, but they played fairly well today.

Digifriendly

Dubinusa wrote: »

Was England's discipline that poor, or was the officiating shyte? I can't understand how a top international side can repeat the same penalties over and over. I counted 4? for Itoje. It's beyond shocking.

Also, the regions in Wales form means nothing atm. I know Wales have lady luck with them, but they played fairly well today.

Refereeing wasn't great tbh but England discipline was very poor and they were deservedly beaten by a Welsh side that was clinical. Pivac's decisions re using the bench were inspired as they had been vs Scotland.

OldRio

I wonder if Jones will buckle and call up the form players in the Premiership or stick with his favourites. Stubbornness or Pragmatism.

Interesting times.

irishbucsfan

OldRio wrote: »

I wonder if Jones will buckle and call up the form players in the Premiership or stick with his favourites. Stubbornness or Pragmatism.

Interesting times.

I remember he was being lauded for being ruthless and casting aside players based entirely on form. Amazing how things change

OldRio

Another thought. The officiating of this year's tournament is probably the worst I've seen in many many years.

OldRio

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I remember he was being lauded for being ruthless and casting aside players based entirely on form. Amazing how things change

I read some crazy Stát about the huge number of players that got only one cap and then never seen again.
Maybe all coaches after a time go back to what has worked for them before. (A comfy blanket of sorts)

The English press will have the knives out that's for sure

aloooof

OldRio wrote: »

I read some crazy Stát about the huge number of players that got only one cap and then never seen again.
Maybe all coaches after a time go back to what has worked for them before. (A comfy blanket of sorts)

The English press will have the knives out that's for sure

Jones has finished 5th in 2018 and then got them to a RWC Final in 2019. The knives will be out, but I can’t imagine they’ll change coach before 2023, he deserves some benefit of the doubt, imo. Will be interesting to see what he does selection-wise, tho.

hahashake

What was the best Italy team in 6N?

hahashake

hahashake wrote: »

What was the best Italy team in 6N?

Surely 2013 is up there. Front row of Lo Cicero, Ghiraldini and Castrogiovanni, prime Parisse, Masi at fullback and even Venditti on the wing.

sydthebeat

hahashake wrote: »

What was the best Italy team in 6N?

The very first one in 2000 in my opinion

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_Six_Nations_Championship_squads

Troncon, dominguez, bergamasco, mazzi,

Beat Scotland well and put 31 points up on France in Paris

hahashake

A shame that they have been whipping boys for a while, I know rugby is a minor sport there but they have a large population and it is fairly popular in the northeast.