Would add or suggest for props
Joe Marler
Dan Cole
In an immense match such as Wales and England it could be flipped to say that Nathan Hughes who kept plugging away, developed through the game shouldbe picked.
However it is hard to look past Tipuric as the stand out back row performance ( and this weekend it has been a real joy to watch all the back rows - Hamish Watson again quietly impressive)
Similarly Sam Warburton was an exemplary performance, Stander was wonderful but when a backrow is launching crossfield kicks then the opposition are not in the game.
At 8 maybe Moriarty for 60 minutes and Strauss for the 20 based on this weekend performance.
Scrum half I just think Webb gave momentum ; not sure who else played as well this weekend.
Would add or suggest for props
Joe Marler
Dan Cole
Furlong is the only prop on the boat so far. Brilliant technically in the tight, and a rampaging ball carrier. Grumpy Chops and Dank Hole pale in to insignificance next to him.
Chf...Having seen the Irish at Murray field and posted this last week I personally think they are a shoe in for the Lions....[b]But[/b] this weekend and intially left it blank on the 1 to 15 but against the Welsh both performed well enough.
The Irish have been head and shoulders the best scrummagers.
Re Russell's conversion; Scotland bench were worried the try was going to be reviewed and chalked off, so he was told to get it kicked.
That's interesting duckman - what was (potentially) wrong with the try?
Forward pass, I think.
Looked like the ball fell as he kicked it.
Only just seen highlights of the game - wasn't Russell a bit lucky to avoid yellow for hitting a French player in the air just before half time.
Arscottgate incident concluded:
http://www.englandrugby.com/news/rfu-conclude-arscott-investigation/?sf55941719=1
Following the investigation the RFU has concluded the following:Tom Arscott discussed tactical information with his brother Luke Arscott ahead of the match. This information related to Sale using some backs in their lineout on occasion and that another back would be defending in a different position at times.
The RFU has determined that this information, while at the lower end of the scale of seriousness, falls within the definition of inside information (as per Regulation 17.2).
But in the absence of any evidence of betting or fixing, there had not been a breach of RFU Regulation 17.
However, the RFU has deemed that Tom Arscott’s behaviour was inappropriate and the player has received a written warning for his conduct and he will be required to undertake a relevant World Rugby education module.
The ref can't review a try after the conversion has been taken...have a wee look at the build up on iplayer and see if "there is any reason I cannot award a try." 😉
Ok I looked.
Passes looked ok, didn't see any obstruction.
Clues?
(I think)Seymour doesn't compete for the ball on his chip ahead but just pushes the French guy as he tries to get under it.
Good to see Watson back in the England squad. Perhaps we'll see the end of Mike Brown?
Maybe Daly at 15 with Watson on the wing or vice versa?
Someone suggested Brown at scrum half because at least he'd pass the ball then. (Assuming the put-in counts as a pass.) He's given his all for England and had some good games but he's as greedy as Stuart Hogg except without the speed, step, vision or finishing ability.
It would be interesting to analyse how many tries England DIDN'T score due to Brown failing to: draw a man/give a pass/throw a decent pass/not shout angrily at someone.
Still, we'll all miss his post match interviews. 😆
The ref can't review a try after the conversion has been taken...have a wee look at the build up on iplayer and see if "there is any reason I cannot award a try."
So just to understand - the Scots were concerned some kind of foul had been committed in the run up to the try, the referee had make a mistake and was potentially going to be reviewing it, so they quickly took the kick to prevent that happening and their misdemeanour being spotted?
Isn't that - cheating?
Can't have been, rugby players don't cheat, only wendyballers 😉
Heh...google bloodgate!
Isn't that - cheating?
Not really - it's merely displaying a fine appreciation of the rules.
Anyway, as Brian Moore would say - "It's only cheating if you get caught."
George Ford back to Leicester - they must have a plan for next year or surely he wouldn't sign up to a team playing - and supposedly coached that poorly? (fingers crossed as a tigers fan!)
George Ford back to Leicester - they must have a plan for next year or surely he wouldn't sign up to a team playing - and supposedly coached that poorly? (fingers crossed as a tigers fan!)
I think it's a nuts move by Tigers - he's signed for a shed load of cash and will be on England duty at the same time as Youngs, so that's goodbye to your first choice 9 and 10 for big chunks of the season. He won't shine behind the current pack too. With Williams off too, they need to find a suitable back up. The other thing I'd be worried about is goal kicking - if Farrell is on the pitch he's nowhere near the tee and at least Barf have a back up in Homer when he does have an off day.
Given the money spent on Manu, Ford, Tooma etc, that can't leave too much left for some forwards. They need to sort the balance in the back row out.
I agree totally. The only odd bit is that allegedly he isn't on a lot more that Owen Williams is getting paid at Gloucester next year... Certainly it's a lot less than the £650k Sale were supposed to be offering.
I suspect that Toomua is the 'back up' and to be fair he's played 10 for Aus so it's not like he's going to be worse than Owen Williams...!
Shame Burns is off, but I think he wanted to go to Bath anyway - certainly I would if I lived in Leicester..... (oh wait, that's exactly what i did!)
Laidlaw out for the rest of the 6N; that's a blow for Scotland. He's a hell of a goal kicker which in tight game is very important. I wonder if they'll miss his leadership.
I think they will miss his leadership a lot.
Yes a loss for Scotland and the 6N - a fine player and the perfect midweek scrum half for the Lions.
Jack Roberts from Leicester to Cardiff.
Shame for Laidlaw. Not sure he's Lions material though. Having said that I expect Gatland will pick who he thinks are the best player regardless of six nations fitness for example Billy V will go if he gets a few games for Saracens under his belt.
AA;don't rise to it, THM is trolling about Laidlaw. See also AWJ as midweek captain earlier post by him.
You are becoming quite cynical in your old age ducks! Unlike AA I think he is good enough for the Lions but not the main test team. Others have stated that he is captain potential - you see we all can and do have different views. Some you may not agree with or like. Ditto A-WJ.
His replacement did seem overly petulant though!!
Which one of these three would you drop to take Laidlaw?
Murray
Youngs
Webb
.
Care
.
.
.
.
.
Laidlaw. He's a good player but a lot of good players will miss out.
There is a fair train of thought up here that the faster game we are looking to play isn't helped by Laidlaw. That's not to run him down; he is a fantastic place kicker and manages the game well. But...There is little attacking threat in his play, unlike the other candidates you rarely worry he is going to dart, he doesn't keep back row players honest enough. I realise that the Autumn tests were about ensuring WC seedings, but I would have liked any of the three back up 9's we have given more game time. It will be interesting to see who Townsend picks. I think it is between the exciteable Munsterman and the repaired Welshman for the test spot.
Jack Roberts from Leicester to Cardiff.
Yep, a good player, obviously wanting to be in the reckoning for international selection. Can't blame him at all.
If fit, I suspect Laidlaw will tour, I honestly think Youngs will miss out for him.
I'm just really, really hoping the mighty Tuilagi doesn't get a game under his belt prior to the plane leaving or he'll go and be crocked for another 12 months!
Laidlaw would make a good midweek lions captain but there are better candidates as SH for the test side
Ignore TJ he's just trolling - eh, ducks? 😉
Murray is the one 9 who I think in under performing so far - perhaps the going over he received from Glasgow and big old Strauss has upset his confidence. But he is far from his top game at the moment
Jack Roberts would add some much needed pace to the welsh mid field if he can make the step up.
Care has looked the best SH in the 6n's for me. Real shame for Scotland/Laidlaw himself.....also agree that he'd be a good midweek lions captain. Don't think that he'll make the plane though.
I agree to a point that Gatland will ignore 6n's fitness-especially in the case of Billy V. However, take someone like Robshaw-on Autumn form he'd have been a front runner for the 6 shirt. Now, he'll have what, half a dozen games for Quinns (none of which will be high profile European or league semi/final) so I think that he'll miss out given the strong competition in that area.
Care has looked the best SH in the 6n's for me. Real shame for Scotland/Laidlaw himself.....also agree that he'd be a good midweek lions captain. Don't think that he'll make the plane though.
Care has looked pretty good so far and is in better form than Youngs who is suffering a bit with the iffy form of Tigers as a whole - he's certainly not been anywhere near his form in the autumn although he is currently playing behind a pack struggling to win parity.
Agree that Laidlaw doesn't off much threat ball in hand - good leader though and good at controlling a game.
Robshaw will have his work cut out with
O'Mahoney
Stander
Hask
Wood
Moriarty
Warburton
Tipuric
O'Brian
Watson
Barclay
all competing for Flanker spots
Horses for courses as well, Laidlaw has been a good captain for us, his organisation and reading of the game is fantastic. But all the 9's will need to tie down NZ back rows and scrum halves, Laidlaw has never done that. I think the current best at doing that is Care as Murray has been off form the first two games, but in his defence, he has beaten the All Blacks this season. I can't see Robshaw making the plane with the competition from the three Irishmen and Welshmen and ever the odd Scottish back rower/the Wererabbit. If he does, he might make a good midweek captain.
EDIT...We are talking about the Lions AA; you seemed to have mentioned Tom Wood?
#SHCough........ Gareth Davies........ #SHCough.
...he might make a good midweek captain
It's getting to be the most competitive position of all, eh Ducks! 😉
AA; you seemed to have mentioned Tom Wood?
He is a decent 6. Not his fault he's being asked to play 7.
Faletau
Stander
Warburton
Would be my current choice. I expect most will want Billy V but I think with Stander having a top notch carrying game Faletaus all round game would be better.
Vunipola
MaHoney
Tipuric
would be pretty good too.
Oh and Gareth "the shoe" Davies is a bit pants. His fault we lost last weekend. Any 9 with half a brain would have box kicked to touch.
Possible to put together some very good back row's
Billy
Hovis
Stander
Toby
SOB
Hovis
SOB
Tips
Stander
Will be interesting to see who Gatland does pick as it's a mystery to me why Dan Robson isn't in the England squad as he's a much better SH than Youngs and probably Care on current form.
No one like Hamish Watson at 7? I'll be very interested to see how he goes against the Welsh and English. I really rate him as an old school 7. He was the best back row on the pitch against Ireland
Billy
Hovis
StanderToby
SOB
HovisSOB
Tips
Stander
Not sure Billy and Stander will work balance is out of whack the other two lack a lineout option. Billy does the carrying better than anyone but doesnt contribute much else at the very top level.
SOB and Stander can play both sides, can't they? Stander, Billy V, Warburton with SOB coming on after 50mins having been told he is in danger of losing his spot in the test squad and a Kiwi has been sexting his wife.
[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38989742 ]Three old men comment on the Lions captaincy. [/url]
What do they know, eh?
😉
