Bonus points for next year's 6 Nations it appears. Wonder how much difference it will make?
I think that if you looked back over all the 6N only one would have had a different winner with a BP system IIRC.
Teams might have played differently, however, if there had been bonus points on offer so we'll never know.
It's funny how the 6N were saying after last year's championship that they were not even going to consider bonus points and, suddenly, here they are!
* Four points for a win, two points for a draw and zero points for a defeat
* One bonus point for scoring four tries or more
* One bonus pont for finishing within seven points of the opposition in a defeat
* Two bonus points for scoring four tries or more and finishing within seven points of the opposition in a defeat
* Three bonus points for any team that wins the Grand Slam
The 3pts for winning the Grand Slam makes sense because, in theory, a team could win all five matches scoring three tries (or fewer) each time and end up with 20pts but the 2nd place team could get 4 bonus point wins and lose the decider with 2 BPs thereby getting 22pts overall.
Seems to work in the AP, teams keep aiming for the 4th try in caase someone else wins as many matches as them. Ditto the last minute plays to get within 7 points. Should encourage more try's per game which is all good.
Lions backs, my 2 pence. If h/p is fully fit he will play and will be the kicker. This is then tricky for Farrell (who may not even go on the tour ?) who I don't see as a Lions 12 and Sexton will be first choice as it's Gatland again.
This is then tricky for Farrell (who may not even go on the tour ?)
So who will go in his place then Jamba?
Cips? 😆
1/2p has been utter garbage since his injury.
Hook returning to Ospreylia???
@aa my thoughts are he is not right physically.
@namaste fly-halfs Sexton and Ford (only 2 taken last time) ... lots of choices at 12. That's not impossible.
Given that Farrell went as a 10 last time, and realistically.... You could only make a case for Ford and Sexton ahead of him....I reckon that barring injury he's pretty certain to be on the tour.
Interesting to see what happens with bonus points.....last weekend in 14/15 (I think) when points difference was crucial we didn't half see a lot of points scored! Part of me thinks that they'll mainly affect games involving Italy though.
What has Sexton actually done recently to make him a nailed on test starter?
Hook back to Ospreylia would be good, they need a 15 and a 10 for when Biggar and Sammy Davies Junior are with Wales.
As dor Wales I think they should be looking at Patchel at 12 we need a centre who can pass.
If Russell has a good 6N he will make the plane. Bearing in mind the head injury he isn't that long back from, he is progressing very well.
Cips?
An in form attacking 10 "rested" from international duties?
I wouldn't bet against Gatland taking him tbh. He's less boring than Farell, kicks better than Ford, and does have a "Lions" spirit. Just don't take him down the pub.
I wouldn't bet against Gatland taking him
I would. £20 to charity of the winners choice (as long as its not UKips).
Russel,Farrel and Sexton would be my picks for outside half. Faz can also play 12 so will be useful on tour. Then pick 3 centres, 3 Wings and 3 fullbacks 1 of whom can cover wing too so Loopy Liam or Maitland.
^I'd be happy with that. Not seen much of Russel recently....I think he'll need a good 6n's to be in contention.
Who's favourite to be captain? Going by that 'has to be a nailed on test starter' rule, Murray?! He's about the only 100% certainty IMO, can't see him as captain though. If AWJ picks up some form next spring I reckon it'll be him.
Captain is tough maybe Best, maybe Itoje.
BBC reporting that Townsend turned down the opportunity to coach with Gatland on the Lions tour.
Can't help thinking that they'd benefit from an attack minded coach like him.
I think Best will be captain. Or Gavin Henson.
Hey the Lions will have Howley as attack coach!! Whats the problem.
Townsend would have been asking for a month off a week after starting the Scotland gig. Also the way he played is totally different to his approach as a coach. In Howley we trust!
Anyone who doesn't regard Farrell as a very. very good player has a fundamental lack of understanding of the game.
He is the starting 10 for the best team in europe.
Whether Gats will tour him is a different manner altogether, but to call him boring is [i]miles[/i] wide of the mark.
I had him down as a "coached" play by numbers player, but he's developed into far more than that. He's bloody brilliant nowadays as is pretty plain to see who know what they're looking at.
Just because Farrell is the starting 10 for the best team in Europe doesn't make him the best fly half in Europe.
He's a very decent player and a fine competitor, no doubt, but if he didn't kick at 85-90% would he be in there? If EJ thought he was England's best 10 - surely he'd be playing there?
If you removed place kicking from the equation he's not as good as Biggar, Sexton, Ford, Russell or even Cipriani.
However, as you can't remove place kicking totally from the equation, he's worth his place. But he's no Dan Carter.
Just because Farrell is the starting 10 for the best team in Europe doesn't make him the best fly half in Europe.
I didn't even remotely suggest he was.
If you removed place kicking from the equation he's not as good as Biggar, Sexton, Ford, Russell or even Cipriani.
Respectfully, that's rubbish.
I've never been a Farrell fan, but he does seem to have added a bit more attack to his game. As it stands, he's done pretty damn well as a makeshift 12. He's still young so has plenty of time to keep tweaking his game.
I think he'll make the lions because he can cover 10 and 12 and has a good kicking percentage.
If you removed place kicking from the equation he's not as good as Biggar, Sexton, Ford, Russell or even Cipriani.Respectfully, that's rubbish.
I know for starters Biggars kicking is at least as good as Faz. Faz has improved a great deal in the last few years, he is certainly a better 10 than Biggar now and Cipriani is not international class. Ford still doesnt convince me but could be a better player soon but he still gets his hand held too much.
Sexton is the best 10 by far in th the NH with Farrell and BIggar on the same level. Farrell is simplyu too slow between the ears to be a very top 10. What he does is fine - its what he doesn't do that folk do not see. He is not capable of the sublime touches of the others mentioned - even Russell is a better attacking 10 but too flaky to risk for the lions yet
Sexton for me. Biggar / Ford as back up. Farrell only goes as a utility back / 3rd ten if at all.
Sexton is the best 10 by far in th the NH
Sexton is too injury prone now and hasnt played at his best for some time. Sad but true
Sexton for me. Biggar / Ford as back up. Farrell only goes as a utility back / 3rd ten if at all.
We agree TJ 😉 (Sexton/Ford are the first choice imo)
Farrell isn't even the best 12 in England, he plays for his goal kicking and experience. Lions probably don't need either. Gatland only took 2 10's last time and could do so again as attrtion elsewhere will be high on an NZ tour
If you take 2 10's and one is Sexton you are ****ed!! Especially if the other is Ford who cannot be trusted to goal kick or punt for touch.
I know for starters Biggars kicking is at least as good as Faz. Faz has improved a great deal in the last few years, he is certainly a better 10 than Biggar now and Cipriani is not international class. Ford still doesnt convince me but could be a better player soon but he still gets his hand held too much.
Quite right. Not to mention that farrell is a more effective defender than Ford and Sexton and cipriani put together.
I seem to remember TJ telling us that Sir Johnny was shit too!
Never a huge wilkinson fan - again what he did was great and a great kicker - but not able to put the backs outside of him into space with sublime passing in the way real top tens do. Fortunately Englnd at the time didn't use the outside backs much. wilko was always best with a playmaker outside him
If Farrell had a Will Greenwood playing outside him then you would all be hailing him as the Messiah. Wilkinson was a fantastic kicker but a limited passer of the ball, certainly in his England days.
The problem with Russel and sexton is they will be heavily targeted.
Watching them play is like watching "escape to victory" except rarely do the goodies win.
Russell won't be going on the lions. too soon after the head injury, not enough time playing. Unless he has a fantastic six nations of course. He is not the sort of player Gatland likes anyway. Too mercurial ( flaky?)
Glad Townsend turned down the lions. Again not the sort of chap to work well with Gatland and I would rather he concentrated on Scotland
I'll say it again - if Farrell didn't kick at 85-90% he wouldn't be in any of these teams.
Actually England played some good 15 man rugby under Woodward and JW got a great backline moving very well. He had no pace but pretty much everything else.
I'll say it again - if Farrell didn't kick at 85-90% he wouldn't be in any of these teams.Actually England played some good 15 man rugby under Woodward and JW got a great backline moving very well. He had no pace but pretty much everything else.
....because under Jones (with Farrell at 12) our backs haven't had a sniff of the ball and tries are none existent?!
Dudley phillips dear god what have you been smoking?
Another Phillips had an evening to forgot at the AJ Bell tonight! I had free tickets.....thankfully i couldn't find anyone to go with so stayed at home!
That young fullback sale have is bloody good though!
Never a huge wilkinson fan
And as for that Carter bloke... 😀
Check out the video here at 56s for the most bizare reffing decision ever!
http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38170449
I didn't like it or partake but mike phillips was jeered off the pitch last night. Stringer came on at at 39 showed how it should be done but we were well beaten in every aspect. Battered by the forwards and clueless in the backs. A few hours wasted. As a ST holder for the last 6 years that ranks as one of the poorest home games I have seen.
@aa I assume you are talking about the collision ?
Phillips. Nothing negative written on Planet Rugby, why was he so bad ?
His speed out of the ruck is glacial. I thought Cussiter in his final season was slow.
I watched it; thankfully from a comfy sofa with the wood burner on. I thought from that Phillips is bolwn. He looked tired and disinterested.
His speed out of the ruck is glacial.
I was shouting at the TV! Get the ****ing thing out! MacGinty was screaming for quick ball and MP stolls over, looks a bit, looks a bit more, puts his paws on the ball, looks again then telegraphs the most obvious pass he can make!
