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Scottish hooker looks like Ken Owens was on the money with his darts and all over the field.
In the ireland game? I see that much more as superb lineout work by ireland
duckman - if you want power then surely you need Duhan in there not loopy Liam or May?
Davies has been poor since injury, he may come good but I'd go with Henshaw at 12 and North at 13.
You need a 9 on bench imo rather than Faz/North. Hogg Covers 10, Williams 15 and North Wing if he started so a Centre and a 9 would be a better on the bench say Faz and a 9
That's a better mix agreed, going to go with another 9, God knows who and lose Simmonds as others can play 8. Still starting Davies as I thought he was coming good.
Duckman and others.
That’s a fair assessment. I suspect Gatland will go with Faz at 10. Possibly.
Although Watson does a good job at 6 I’d prefer Navidi. Watson seemed to go backwards in every contact during the France game. That might be because France targeted him, but Navidi carries well and tackles like a demon.
Curry would shine in a back row with Navidi and NotToby. Tips will have the lack of size as a reason not to play him, I’d just play him in the centre, being as he’s the best centre in Europe. 😉
Just watched that - annoying barstewards is right.
We are all scatching around for scrum halves - heres the outside bet Wee Greig is playing in japan so still match fit. Midweek captain and 9. Only gets in the test team if the others are injured
Curry Watson falataou ( watson is a 7 not 6) too light? Mobile, good over the ball but too lightweight?
Bigblackshed Watson made the most yards and the most yards per carry of Curry Watson and tiperic - and he doesn't hang out in the backs for the easy yards like tips 🙂
Back row is so difficult because you want balance as well. Ritchie had a good series and I am a real Navidi fan - he is playing some great rugby Beirne could also be at 6 Underhill? simmonds?
Beirne
Curry
Faletau
Best balance and round pegs in round holes. Big work rate and attack the line out.
Bench: navidi or stander , both can cover all 3 positions.
Watson comprehensively outplayed Curry. Ok curry was trying to do two mens job but even so.
Watson was not most yards per carry all very similar all 3 of the 7s candidates are very good players with slightly different attributes and used in different ways in their teams
Curry 217 m in 41 carries, 63 tackles made, 11 missed, turnovers won 1, conceded 6, broken tackles 8 pens conceded 6
Tips 112 m in 22 carries, 86 tackles made, 2 missed turnovers won 3, conceded 1. broken tackles 1 pens conceded 1
the Mish 321 m in 67 carries. 55 tackles made. missed none. turnovers made 4. conceded 3. broken tackles 14 pens conceded - zero
Looking forward to the womens 6N starting 2 of our girls started training again tonight Pleased to see its mostly all live on tv this year.
Loum,you need second row cover on the bench if you start Beirne. He is probably more physical than Falatau, but like choosing Davies over North, I think he knows the position better. (Which is no disrespect to North) Also Falatau's open field play is amazing. I think we have got too much into the idea that the no8 picks and goes to ground six feet to the left and in line with the middle of the scrum. I want my lions forwards dragging the boks all over the midfield then in the second half presenting them with the problems of dealing with Tuipric and Zammit who both LOVE an open game.
Also Falatau’s open field play is amazing.
Faletau is simply a bloody amazing rugby player, the way he uses his feet to beat players in tight spaces is amazing. His return to form this season has been a joy to watch.
TJ, your stats prove nothing other than each player was in a different team and that Tips isn't used as a carrier much. I bet Tips won more lineouts than the others combined for example.
the way he uses his feet to beat players in tight spaces is amazing. His return to form this season has been a joy to watch.
You are going to have to explain/expand this.
You are going to have to explain/expand this.
He runs around people rather than over them
AA - Tips had a great series I thought - after previous conversations I watched him carefully.
I think the stats show Tips and Mish operating at a similar high level with curry a step behind
Faletau uses footwork to alter the point of contact at the last minute giving him more opportunity to break a tackle, create an off load or draw a defender towards him to create space for others. Opposite of Billy who just looks to run over people and arguably that is all he can do. Teams know that and double or triple tackle him. He’s then out of the game for a few phases. To me Billy looks too heavy and unfit. Faletau is a much better all round player and has come back into form.
TJ what is your source of stats?
Faletau uses footwork to alter the point of contact at the last minute giving him more opportunity to break a tackle, create an off load or draw a defender towards him to create space for others. Opposite of Billy who just looks to run over people and arguably that is all he can do. Teams know that and double or triple tackle him. He’s then out of the game for a few phases.
Cheers this makes sense.
Vermuelen will be 35 and coming off a pension boosting year in Japan and little rugby since.Faletau will be neither of those things and nicely seasoned off a triple crown/ best domestic league in the world.If he is playing his usual game it will be Hogg/May/Williams/Zammit he is shipping clever offloads to instead of whoever Bath have out wide that week. Good luck covering that Duane. Thor? I expect him to be aching all over. ( try the fish)
And I claim the 2000th post in the name of Scotland.
Knew there would be a Scottish victory this year. 😉
Hogg/May/Williams/Zammit he is shipping clever offloads to instead of whoever Bath have out wide that week.
Which helps me explain why those stats TJ talks about aren't helpful. Wales use Tips and Faletau out wide in attack Scotland use Watson through the middle, this means T and F get better carrying stats as the are running into less defenders and smaller ones and get more space. In defence they work differently too. Neither T or F go for many turnovers, that's a team job now, whereas Watson is more focussed on that so he gets more turnovers but completes less tackles.
All these names suggested for the back row are undoubtedly great players. It’s a struggle to know who Gatland will go for.
The stats don’t give you a great picture of what skill-set each player brings.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ydZful_AnYc
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cYPy7nwPtGc
From what I see JT has a skill-set unmatched by the others named. Hamish Watson is like a human pinball, making his way through by bouncing everyone off him. Whom is better is debatable I guess.
Stats are from here https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/statistics/
of course they don't tell you everything but its a useful indicator
IIRC Tips also made 22 m from a kick! Not many forwards do that.
this means T and F get better carrying stats as the are running into less defenders and smaller ones and get more space.
Only watsons stats are better despite Tips farting about pretending he is a back 🙂
loum
Free Member
Knew there would be a Scottish victory this year. 😉
Thanks, We will keep it next to the Calcutta cup.
That first Tipuric try was amazing.
I wish we had forwards that played like that.
See how Sexton was fully committed to stopping him and the offload was so unexpected, then he wrongfooted the last defender. Proper rugby.
Only watsons stats are better
Er
Tips 112 m in 22 carries, 86 tackles made, 2 missed turnovers won 3, conceded 1. broken tackles 1 pens conceded 1
the Mish 321 m in 67 carries.
Tip 5m per carry
Watson 4.8 per carry
112 m 22 carries. 321 m 67 carries. Even lurking in the backs looking for easy yardage he don't do much.
Surely he should be getting 20+ m a carry not a pathetic 0.2 m more than a man doing that hard work. shows lurking out in the backs pretending you are one of the pretty boys don't work if you want to be considered as a forward.
😉
One thing I thought I noticed in the highlights for each was that almost all Tipuric’s moves ended in tries, whilst a lot of Watson’s cut away as they came to nothing.
Media bias!
How many tries this series?
So hard to compare them, they are both totally different players mainly be they play in different systems. Suspect they would be similar if they played in the same system. Tipuric is a ridiculous player all round though. Not many back pass as well as he does.
And Watson has been very impressive too just not sure he would be the sort of ball carrier you want running into SA. Think you either have to out muscle them over the gain line or play fast and around them.
One thing I thought I noticed in the highlights for each was that almost all Tipuric’s moves ended in tries, whilst a lot of Watson’s cut away as they came to nothing.
You have to remember one plays for Scotland
the one who SCORED A TRY THIS SERIES!
Squidge lions 15. Possibly a bit controversial
the one who SCORED A TRY THIS SERIES!
Who won a triple crown, again, to go with his grand slams?
Possibly a bit controversial
Not as controversial as the real list! I do not know what it will be (obv), but this is pretty much guaranteed.
I did smile when I heard Hogg say the other day (something like iirc) “apparently the choice is made on away form so Scotland players are in a good position”. Nobody had told him it’s a given you’re meant to win at home too 😂
Who won a triple crown, again, to go with his grand slams?
He who tried to look good loitering out in the backs trying to beat them up? He ain't pretty enough to be out there and he hasn't got the power of the mullett with him
Speculation on NH lions to include France. So 9 is settled then. Another winger to contemplate though and a back row or two.
Pretty sure that was an April’s fool joke
Aw bugger. I hate April fools.
I did like the idea. I’d like to see NH v SH.
The Watson one got me too.
😉
The funny bit about TJ trying to prove that Watson should be 7 over Tips is that if Tips were a Scot he'd be falling over himself with excitement that Scotland had another highly skilled attacking player to go with Hogg and Russell etc. He'd be the first name on any TJ Lions 15. One thing those highlights reels show is that Tips is, simply, an amazingly skilled player with huge rugby intelligence. He is a far more talented rugby player than Watson, but then he is and was a more talented player than Warburton who kept him out of the Welsh team for years. The question is do you need a talented rugby player at 7 or a a more powerful warrior type player.
I have never actually said Watson should go over Tips!both had great seasons.
I have never actually said Watson should go over Tips!both had great seasons.
Come on, don't spoil it 🤪😀😀😀😀😀🤪😉