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Pro 14, Leinster Munster final. Rightly so.
Two best teams in it, imo.
has there been any further news on when france v scotland is likely to be re-scheduled to? there was some commentary (in wales online i think) that it would be held the weekend after super Saturday, but not seen anything further
has there been any further news on when france v scotland is likely to be re-scheduled to? there was some commentary (in wales online i think) that it would be held the weekend after super Saturday, but not seen anything further
That's the same date that the Rugby Post suggested yesterday.
Wales have an easier, but by no means certain, game against Italy this weekend..... I think I'd quite happily bet my pension on a bonus point win!.... if you seriously don't think Wales will significantly outscore Italy you're delusional 🤪 question is how affected by covid the French are... I wasn't strong on the bike for a couple of weeks after I had it
I think I’d quite happily bet my pension on a bonus point win!
Italy have looked threatening - never count your chickens. Wales could get 2 red cards. But yes, I expect Wales will win. I'd play Sheedy at 10, with Jarrod Evans on the bench - it seems wrong to me to bring a player into the squad and not give them any game time.
I’d play Sheedy at 10, with Jarrod Evans on the bench
Sheedy played for Bristol this w/e so may need a rest. Biggar needs to at least bench so Northampton can't play him. I'd rest Faletau by putting him on bench as he played for Bath. Francis. Was a sub for Exeter so could be rested.
Might be tempted to match Italy's ploy of putting best props on bench and starting the bench two so R Jones and Brown to start with Wyn Jones and Francis on bench. Otherwise go fully loaded but sub of AWJ as early as poss if all going well.
a_a fair enough, I was unaware of those subtleties. Jarrod Evans and Biggar? I'd love to see what Evans could do.
Predictions everyone? Wales for the first game, but the other two could go either way. Much as I love watching France play, I shall be cheering on England on Saturday!
Don't waste your breath, England will get beaten hard on saturday.
Don’t waste your breath, England will get beaten hard on saturday.
This, England barely squeaked past France 3rds in the autumn and they were playing reasonably well then. The way they're going at the moment it could be a humping.
I keep hearing/seeing England described as a team in transition but I'm struggling to see where they're transitioning? It looks like the majority of the same players, the only transition appears to be from them having form to being bang out of it yet EJ is still picking them despite better options available because he's stubborn.
Even worse new , EJ has confirm subject to fitness 70% of this team will be be in the RWC.
You can thank us later for relinquishing that space on behalf of the rest of the home nations.
Wales team to face Italy: Liam Williams; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Jonathan Davies, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill, Alun Wyn Jones, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhys Carre, Leon Brown, Jake Ball, Aaron Wainwright, Lloyd Williams, Callum Sheedy, Uilisi Halaholo
wales have named their team early. pleased to see we've kept some consistency, but feel sorry for beard as i thought he was great last week. hopefuly see sheedy on with plenty left on the clock, get the backs firing and hopefully catch italy as they start to wane a little
Even worse new , EJ has confirm subject to fitness 70% of this team will be be in the RWC.
You can thank us later for relinquishing that space on behalf of the rest of the home nations.
Oh dear.
feel sorry for beard as i thought he was great last week.
I can only think he's picked up a knock!
Seriously strong and consistent selection there... wins for Wales,Ireland and probably France this weekend
It's a bit strange from EJ. Surely you sacrifice this 6N bring in some fresh blood, try a new younger squad. Let's face it the big game front row is creaking now, Billy V is inconsistent, there's a lot of youngster back doing great things.
Get Simmonds in at 8. He's too scared of losing his job because the suits want wins and world rankings, never mind that a fresh team could win WC.
England:
15. Max Malins
14. Anthony Watson
13. Henry Slade
12. Owen Farrell
11. Jonny May
10. George Ford
9. Ben Youngs
1. Mako Vunipola
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. Maro Itoje
5. Charlie Ewels
6. Mark Wilson
7. Tom Curry
8. Billy Vunipola
FINISHERS
16. Jamie George
17. Ellis Genge
18. Will Stuart
19. Jonny Hill
20. Ben Earl
21. Dan Robson
22. Ollie Lawrence
23. Elliot Daly
Daly and Hill gone to the bench, and Ollie Lawrence back on it. Otherwise, its the same 'ol. I'm not excited TBH. There a lot of people here who need better performances.
How long have youngs and Robson got as sharp 9s? But there's a few in the Gallagher who would come on great guns in the England squad.
Odogwu, young Watson/Joseph.
Do you think Farrell has compromising photos of EJ or something? Picked at 12 again. I wonder if ford will keep bypassing him to get the ball moving?
FINISHERS
FFS
I’m still super excited for this weekend’s games.
Italy v Wales. Not many are rating the Wales team highly, but putting their wins down to luck. So, with the strong team they’ve announced a 12:66 win should be enough to cause a rethink.
England v France. Whilst a number of their tries have been questionable with forward passes and leaps into the air etc, England have shown they are threatening in attack. If France have been thrown off their game by the Covid disruptions it could be enough to give England the edge. So I’m going for a hopeful 22:18
Ireland v Scotland. Hopefully the Covid disruptions and the defeat to Wales will not distract Scotland’s focus and they can live up to their recent hype. Fingers crossed for a 13:19 Scotland win.
Just to be clear, I would not suggest anyone place any bets on these results ; )
I'll take the the underdogs, Italy,France, Ireland then.
Just to be clear, in not suggesting anyone else place any bets on these results.
😉
I'll take the the underdogs, Italy,France, Ireland then.
Just to be clear, in not suggesting anyone else place any bets on these results.
😉
I'll take the the underdogs, Italy,France, Ireland then.
Just to be clear, in not suggesting anyone else place any bets on these results.
😉
My totally scientific predictions. Bet your house on these.
ITAvWAL 10-44
ENGvFRA 18-25
SCOvIRE 24-22
CFH, if England score as many as 18 or more I'll wear your shoes for a week.
😁
I'll be suprised if Scotland beat Ireland
I’ll be suprised if Scotland beat Ireland
This surprises me, I believed you when you said following the England game:
Fabulous win! its been a long time coming but that is the true potential of this Scotland team
So, I’m sticking with Scotland for the win. C’mon Scotland! Then if England beat France...
So I’ve got some new rose-tinted specs and I’m fully in (never seen before) optimistic mode. I have decide Wales’ tries will be:
L Williams 1
Zammit 2
Adams 2
North 2
G Davies 1
Wainwright or Tipuric 1
Have the other teams been announced yet?
Gauss - I think for Scotland its actually easier to beat England than Ireland and recent stats bear that out IIRC.
I also think the loss to Wales will be a big psychological blow that makes it harder to win a close game
Gauss – I think for Scotland its actually easier to beat England than Ireland and recent stats bear that out IIRC.
I also think the loss to Wales will be a big psychological blow that makes it harder to win a close game
I agree with that tj, but whilst Ireland are a good team, there’s little to separate Scotland and Ireland. Ireland still seem a little toothless. Now is the time for Scotland to step up. They cannot let a close loss to Wales affect their game, Ireland didn’t. It will be no good Scotland supporters complaining when only Hogg gets chosen for the Lions if they get so adversely affected by one loss.
Scotland main problems imho are their decision making at the time of penalties and their accuracy in the final few metres.
Ireland's game management around 8,9,10 will win them the game. Unfortunately
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster) 9
14. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 91
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 33
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 50
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 5
10. Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) (capt) 97
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster) 8
1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 107
2. Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 19
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 47
4. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster) 61
5. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 34
6. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster) 20
7. Will Connors (UCD/Leinster) 8
8. CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 49Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster) 9
17. Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 41
18. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 35
19. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster) 1
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 18
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 88
22. Billy Burns (Ulster) 6
23. Jordan Larmour (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 27
Scotland: Hogg (capt); Maitland, Harris, Johnson, Van der Merwe; Russell, Price; Sutherland, Turner, Nel; Cummings, J Gray; Ritchie, Watson, M Fagerson.
Replacements: Cherry, Bhatti, Berghan, Gilchrist, Haining, Steele, H Jones, Graham.
Just seen a fixture list for the Lions/SA.
Not in SA.
Not sharing yet...
We are a decent 8 away from having a knarly set of forwards there. Nel getting on a wee bit but I shouldn't imagine scrummaging against him is much fun. Now if only Sam Simmonds had a Scottish Grandpa.
Apart from Gilcrest on the bench and what did kebble do wrong?
tjagain
Full Member
Apart from Gilcrest on the bench and what did kebble do wrong?
Not be as good as the guys picked?
Just seen a fixture list for the Lions/SA.
Not in SA.
Not sharing yet…
the one circulating on Twitter?
Wales by a lot; France by 7; Ireland by 3.
Wales by 10+ ( I hope)
The others really are tough to call I'll go Scotland by 3-5 and France by similar
I like to see Italy do well, but not today thank you.
C’mon Wales. It’s time for things to click.
Wales by 10+
France by 10+
Ireland by 5+
That was a lovely pass for that try.