[Closed] Rugby - 6 nations.

I know that 🙂

Can't feel my bleeding toes

In terms on management, Robinson will stay regardless of how Scotland do, the SRU cannot afford to fire him.

Not actually true any more. Nobody to replace him would be closer, however if a certain coach, who I have heard a whisper might be Irish, continues to do well at Embra,(and finally they are being funded by the no-longer-paying-for-Murrayfield SRU.) Robinson will be on a shoogly peg.

Can't feel my bleeding toes

Jacobsen can't touch his! 🙂

Or see them 🙂

France team has been announced, looks pretty tasty.

France team: M Medard (Toulouse); V Clerc (Toulouse), A Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), W Fofana (Clermont Auvergne), J Malzieu (Clermont Auvergne); F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), D Yachvili (Biarritz); V Debaty (Clermont Auvergne), W Servat (Toulouse), N Mas (Perpignan), P Pape (Stade Francais), L Nallet (Racing Metro), T Dusautoir (capt, Toulouse), J Bonnaire (Clermont Auvergne), L Picamoles (Toulouse)

Replacements: D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), J-B Poux (Toulouse), Y Maestri (Toulouse), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz), M Parra (Clermont Auvergne), L Beauxis (Toulouse), M Mermoz (Perpignan)

^^Grand Slam winning squad^^

[u]Fantasy 6 Nations Rugby[/u]

There's usually a fair bit of rugby banter round here but who really knows what they're talking about?

To settle this, I've started a STW Six Nations Fantasy Rugpy League and extend an ivite to anyone here who feels they're up to the challenge.

Entry is via the ESPNscrum website, and is free. They do supply some prizes for the overall winner, but nothing to compare with the pride of finishing as STW Six Nations Grand Slam Champion.

Set up a team here: http://espnscrum.fantasyleague.com/Index.aspx
then join the private league below.
League Name: STW Six Nations
League PIN: 8664

Good luck,
loum

[b]AW FFS - HE HAS DONE IT[/b]

that the end of Robinson as Scotland coach and the end of our chances of a Calcutta cup win.

Can someone go and injure Parks for us please? Maybe from the kickoff?

15 Rory Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 26 caps, 6 tries, 30 points

14 Lee Jones (Edinburgh Rugby) new cap
13 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby) 29 caps, 1 try, 5 points
12 Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 60 caps, 8 tries, 40 points
11 Max Evans (Castres) 24 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

10 Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues) 66 caps, 4 tries, 15 conversions, 53 penalties, 17 drop-goals, 260 points
9 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 55 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh Rugby) 60 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) 53 caps, 2 tries, 10 points CAPTAIN
3 Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons) 41 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
4 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 16 caps
5 Jim Hamilton (Gloucester) 34 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester) 23 caps, 1 try, 5 points
7 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) 11 caps
8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 1 cap

Substitutes
16 Scott Lawson (Gloucester) 29 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
17 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 caps
18 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) 36 caps, 1 try, 5 points
19 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
20 Mike Blair (Edinburgh Rugby) 75 caps, 7 tries, 35 points
21 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps
22 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

I have £10 on Jim Hamilton being a Lions Lock.

The rest of the team is fine but why Parks?

I get he will be booed as will Robinson

You may not like it TJ, but that is a choice at 10 designed to take advantage of an expected forward advantage.All in all that is a pretty nasty tight 5, even allowing for Gray; I would have picked Kellock. Laidlaw's time will come; the Calcutta cup isn't that time. Looking forward to seeing Denton play; he reminds me of 21yo Jason White.

Duckman - Laidlaw is as good a kicker as Parks as well or we have Weir if you really want to play a kicking game who is far far better than Parks.

Both Weir and laidlaw are perfectly able to control the game and territory

Parks is also a revolving door in defense, is not on form for Cardiff and is brittle mentally

Barclay on the bench? Thought he would of started. Not a bad looking team, but I do worry about the style of rugby we're planning on playing with Parks in the team 🙁

The type of rugby is going to be quite simple; sound of Park's leather boot on laminate rugby ball, followed by the ground shaking as the Scottish pack chases it. I will have to disagree with TJ, I think we are setting out the stall of a positional game based on a percieved impression of forward dominance at which I think Parks is better. My worry is, while the English may be playing their 4th and 5th best props to give us a chance, I am not convinced we will be best suited by having Parks play for territory. I would still rather have Laidlaw moving them about as well.However despite TJ's hatred of Parks, better judges than either of us think he provides a better kicking game. The short yard game that suited Edinburgh so well is too high risk for international rugby.

Duckman - have you seen laidlaw play? he is better at controlling territory than Parks even when Parks is at the top of his game and Parks is not on good form this season. Weir is better than both with a lot mor range on his kicks

We could still play a territorial gameplan with Laidlaw. But we would also have a variety in attack and somone who can tackle in the 10 channel.

Tis better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all.

Very dissapointing i think Parks is the wrong choice he has killed Cardiffs backline which should be one of the most exciting in the Pro12.

Picking Parks makes me worry about the game plan they are going out with as well. I think most outsiders have said they should be looking to move England about with quick ball and then unleash the backs.

I fear good progress by the forwards followed by drop goal attempts from Parks and Jones and Evans having no ball.

I am booing already

EDIT: I think the rest of the team looks pretty good, glad to see S Lamont at 12

Sorry teej; I saw this

Weir is better than both with a lot mor range on his kicks

And ignored the rest of your post.

Weir is a better kicker for controlling territory IMO with a longer rage than Parks or laidlaw. Certainly Parks can do nothing that Weir cannot and both Wier and Laidlaw can do things that parks can never do

Have you actually watched the HC games this year?

Parks is not even taking the place kicks for Cardiff half the time.

And anything on any of the other teams? 😉

Wales - Priestland possibly out? G. Jenkins questionable? I think this is a huge worry for the Welsh. Jenkins obviously brings experience and quality to the front 3, but I must admit I'm more concerned about Priestland. After the way he played at the RWC, what Jones did in the Semi as a replacement, and the way Hook played...I think the number 10 shirt could be a game-changing point. In years past, a Welshman would be happy with either Hook or Jones. Now, I'm not so sure.

Roberts could well be the biggest loss to wales.
For the scots you should note that1/2p taking all the kicks is most likely being done at the request of team wales rather than him beinv better than Parks, it says more about Priestland and Hooks kicking than Parks.

I found this quite an interesting read:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tomfordyce/2012/01/why_scotland_are_better_than_e.html

Hopeful that the Ireland team to be announced later today has some bold selections, however I doubt it. Would like to see Ryan or Tuohy in instead of DOC and Sexton over ROG. Will be interesting

Ireland team announced, nothing too surprising. Good to see Sexton start hopefully we will play a good running game and take it to the Welsh. 5 point win to the Irish!

IRELAND Team & Replacements (v Wales, RBS 6 Nations Championship 2012, Aviva Stadium, Sunday, February 5th, kick-off 3pm):

15 -Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
10 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
9 - Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3 - Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) Captain
6 - Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
7 - Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:

16 -Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
18 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
19 - Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)*
20 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
22 - Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

I too hope ireland play a running game but somehow doubt they will be so daft.
Rees the karest injury for wales
So thats:
Rees
gethin
Aw jones
girafferis
lydiate
prirstland
roberts
and my hopes and dreams all currently crocked.

Also very worried by reports that Ashley Beck is set to start!!!!!!!!

Is Henson injured just now then?

No but it would be a massive gamble to play him. I'd pick Hook, Davies and Williams

Welsh Dublin Go-ers advised: “Bring ewer kit”.
Feb 1st, 2012 by Davster

Warren Gatland asked all travelling Welsh supporters heading for the smouldering euro-rubble that used to be Dublin if they wouldn’t mind packing their Wales shorts, socks and boots as well as their 2XL shirts.

Gatland issued the desperate plea as he compared the Welsh training camp to a scene from Platoon. At the rate players were dropping out, the beleaguered coach calculated that he would be through the entire squad, the under 20s, the regional players, the entirety of Welsh-qualified club players, promising school kids and Steve Shingler by 9.30 on Saturday night. Meaning that Gatland was looking solemnly at the travelling army of pie-chomping amateur lager drinkers and their harem of shrieking glittery cow-girls, lurking at the bottom of the barrel. “Four sucks fake”, said Gatland, or something similar.

Far from being downhearted at this turn of events, a significant number of fans were in exuberant mood at the prospect of earning their first cap. “I’d prefer it to be in Cardiff, natch”, said Lee ‘Burger King’ Jones of Tredegar. “At 39 I’d started to think the chance might have gone, but I knew if I just hung around stadiums long enough with my kit underneath my pulling clothes, the door was always open. I’m putting my hand up big time, and in all fairness, I slept in a hedge last Saturday on the way home from the curry house. In these temperatures that’s got to be on a par with anything the boys did in Poland”.

Kate Roberts, 27 of Port Talbot was similarly undaunted: “My Grandkids say I’m the easiest-going girl around, but if you chuck four Smirnoff ices down me on an empty stomach and a sight of Ronan O’Gara I go ‘Nagasaki’ big-style. Stick me at 7 and I’ll have him on toast.”

Others like 54 year old builder ‘Tubs’ Parry of Llanishen, were a little more realistic. “This time of year my arthritis means I take a while to get going, but if it’s holding up a scrum against Cian Healy that’s wanted, I reckon I can give them 60 minutes tops.”

😆

AA I assume that is a Gwlad offering 🙂 brilliant.

but if it’s holding up a scrum against Cian Healy that’s wanted, I reckon I can give them 60 minutes tops.”

Doh!

England side to face Scotland

Ben Foden; Chris Ashton; Brad Barritt, Owen Farrell, David Strettle; Charlie Hodgson; Ben Youngs; Alex Corbisiero, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole; Mauritz Botha, Tom Palmer; Tom Croft, Chris Robshaw (captain), Phil Dowson.

Replacements: Rob Webber, Matt Stevens, Geoff Parling, Ben Morgan, Lee Dickson, Jordan Turner-Hall, Mike Brown.

Backs look decent not sure the forwards are anything to worry about

Looking forward to seeing Barritt and Robshaw play. Shame Morgan isn't starting, hopefully he'll get a good run out. Always a shame to see catflap on the teamsheet but he has been given another chance.
Can't see england winning this one. It's for the scots to lose IMHO.

Can't see england winning this one. It's for the scots to lose IMHO.

Please don't say that. Not many caps in tha England side, I wonder if that will make a difference. I am not sure Barritt is any more an international centre than ours. Negative, but I am looking forward to seeing Hartleys red face trying to con the ref as he pops up for the 20th time in the first half.

Give Ashton 1 game and if he does not perform, sling him. Little recent game time, let alone form last time i looked.

Where is Skinny Armitage? 😆

I agree with Duckman, think the Scottish front 5 may enjoy themselves

A fantasy 6 nations game here

http://espnscrum.fantasyleague.com/

I am not sure Barritt is any more an international centre than ours.

Only one way to find out!
Shame Ansbro is out; I enjoy watching him play.
I don't think catflap is any more an international FH than Parks!

I wouldn't be so assumptive of Englands weakness. There's a fair few form players in there, experience in the front 5, and options for line out. The backs have mixed options with Hodgson/farrell, and form attacking players as well.

IMO, Scotland could well be easily confused about which pattern England will play as they have the capability to mix it up. The questions are Ashton, and our ability to give the Scots a kicking in the first 15 mins. If we do that the games ours as their confidence in England being a weak team erodes/penalty count increases (assuming Hartley can keep his head down and not get rattled).

I think the scotland pack will beast them but that the England back 3 will make hay running kicks back all game.

I think England will win relatively easily as Scotland will dominate possession but do nowt with it. Foden / Ashton / strettle is a combination to strike fear into anyone. No more trundlemuppets

I'm with you TJ - as long as our (England) backs have learned to ofload (safely) and support each other in attack.

No more solo runs into no mans land, giving away 3 points in the process....

I'd like to say its nice to see Strettle getting a game - I have thought he was deserving of far more caps than he has got. Just hope he don't show it on sat

As ever in Sco vs Eng the weather will play the major part; the Scots seems to prefer 'proper' weather as a factor in defeating England

I think England will win relatively easily

The Pre-emptive Embra Defence? 😉

Not sure Ireland would have risked Earls in the centre if Roberts had been playing, would also worry if we had to bring O'Gara on. Darcy, O'Gara and Earls would be a softer centre than a chocolate covered marshmallow.

I like this bit;

TJ - as long as [b]our[/b] (England)

Heh Heh...TJ; Agent Provocateur

I think England will give Parks plenty penalty kicking opps. And it would appear teh weather is going to be fairly Northern. What is this about England running kicks back all day? Did Parks run off with your first love or something? Last year you spent most of the 6N thread trying to advance the cause of the jelly that is/was Jackson. Parks has been picked to kick. He is crap...but he is crap because he excludes the rest of the backs from the game...with his kicking game.