Is Jones playing way to smart with players?
I hope not - it'd be a shame to cap someone once and discard them just to prevent them playing for an opponent. Not seen much / noticed much about Graham so can't comment on his ability. Only thing I can think of that is preventing Armand getting picked is the fact that he's 29.
Jones hasn't selected armand because he's not what he wants in a 7 and he's not good enough to take the 6 shirt from robshaw.
Will Gatlands law go out of the window with guys like Young and Adams getting a look in?
Young and Adams are not covered by Gatlands law as they have not turned down contracts in Wales.
Young was capped last summer v Fiji. Thats how Francis can be picked.
Just seen Lee is back for Scarlets this week so thats good.
Oh I could have added Lydiate and Tyler Morgan to the list though.
1/2p
Cuthbert
S Williams
O Williams/Parkes
Stef Evans
Biggar
Webb
?
Tipuric
?
AWJ
AN Other
Francis/Lee
Owens
R Evans
Looks week
Aye AA - I would fancy us to beat that team first game up.
I've just found out our company will have a box and hospitality at the England v Ireland 6N game, and I'm going, how bloody lucky!
Won't be drinking as I'm racing the next day, but still a brilliant free day at Twickers, for what I'm sure will be an excellent match and perhaps an Ireland win.
Fagerson out for the six nations. Now we are in trouble. Starting the tournament minus our best three tightheads. Frazer Brown also out at Hooker.
Tighthead is the most important position on the pitch. Losing three is hard to get past.
Yup. We are doomed.
Thank goodness Robshaw has a fat a*** 😀
Tipuric and Biggar may well be godlike geniuses, but the Ospreys really are poo.
But a win is a win
Serious question: Roberts clearly ripped the ball out when he and the Sale player where on the ground. The TMO had a look but the try that came from the following play was allowed. Why?
Owen Lane looks promising. Apparently he's a 13 rather than a winger too. Outside bet for a 6 nations cap?
Ospreys without Biggar, Webb and Arhip are going to be a horror show next season unless some big bucks are spent.
Bear shits in the woods.
Pope is Catholic.
Sun rises in the morning.
Marler gets a red card.
Some things just 'are'.
Just seen that Wayne a Smith had been diagnosed with cancer but will still mentor Itslian coaches after his operation.
Marler is a tit. Guessing that he'll get a reasonable ban given the fact that he's been a dick in the past...
Gutsy win for saints today.
Any help with my question above? Is it to do with the tackle not being complete etc??
Glaws handed that one to saints - poor game management at the end, turning down points and missing kicks. A top 4 side don’t do that.
Blues no longer wanting to sign North and Scarlets are only really interested in signing forwards. Either of the other two Welsh teams likely to sign him?
Saw that Sinoti Sinoti try on Highlights last night. He’s like a supersized Jason Robinson!! Him & Goneva aren’t a bad pair of wings.
Gloucester & Newcastle certainly shaking up the AP this season - injury lists are awful though - the lack of off season down Time catching up?
Gloucester & Newcastle certainly shaking up the AP this season - injury lists are awful though - the lack of off season down Time catching up?
Hell of a result for Newcastle. Richards doing some good stuff up there. Gloucester seem to have some backbone this season, but the game against Saints they reverted to type a bit losing a game that they should have won.
Richards doing some good stuff up there
Agreed. The whole "bloodgate" episode was madness (not least for the player) but Richards is a class act as a coach
Surfer - I saw that too. I think we just have to accept that the officials believed the rip to have taken place "before" the completed tackle is called (i.e. legally during the tackle itself)
That Sinoti try was pure class. Deano is a superb coach and Leicester should never have got rid of him.
Talking of which, rumor mill is grinding that Matt O'Conner will soon be out of Tiggers - I can only dream!
Oh,and Cutherbert just stated that he's leaving Blues end of this season - wonder which French side he'll pop up in?
Thanks Stoner. It was so blatant I really did think their was something in the laws that I wasnt aware of. Particularly as it was replayed at the request of the ref. Anyway a win is a win.
My take from the weekend is you might as well let a driving maul 5m out walk over the line as at leas that way the opposition has a difficult conversion and you get to keep 15 men on the pitch.
Also no condemnation of Marler doing a Healy?
Loose head prop in thuggish behaviour shocker! He's still a hell of a player, and bar the 'gypsy boy' incident usually keeps a lid on it for England. Doubt he'll be banned for long enough to miss the 6 N's....or at least not to miss week 2 onwards.
This is the list of injured / banned scottish front row
LH - Dickinson, Dell, Marfo
H - Ford, Brown
TH - Nel, Fagerson, Berghan
Fagerson ruddy well dropped a bench on his foot!
Were doomed I tell you - doomed
Marler is a tit. He was banned leading up to the autumn internationals as well. Total bellend. It's only a matter of time before he blows it for England as well. I wouldn't be surprised if he get a longer ban this time - I understand that he did the deed a couple of minutes after the other player had a dig at him - totally pre meditated.
Shame Genge is injured as there's a slot opening up there...
Marler is a proper tit.
He just can't help himself getting involved in silly / thuggish stuff. Luckily he's been OK at international level, but I do wonder if it is just a matter of time before he blows it.
Meh I look at it as getting it out of his system at club level....same with Hartley.
6 weeks out for the tit. Probably won't make Scotland match but back for France and Ireland.
He's still a tit.
So, Mako is in poll position, with the out of form Kiwi biter and the penalty machine on the other side.
Not a clue who else is around, I assume we'll play Itoje in the front row as he's our savior and will batter anyone in any position including prop, hooker and flyhalf.
6 weeks. With his previous that seems a little light to me. How many weeks were removed for his remorce, previous good behaviour and excellent biscuit choice?
Plus 1 week due to record and then apparently time removed for 'conduct since event and pleading guilty' I mean, what the hell? It's not like he can get good behavior for failing to assault someone in the street in a similar way!
[img] http://asset1.cxnmarksandspencer.com/is/image/mands/HT_FD_F18A_00947213_NC_X_EC_0?$PDP_PROD_IMAGE$ [/img]
yep. It seems a tad silly!
conduct since event
He probably sent an apologetic email.
He probably sent an apologetic email.
The Hask helped him. Footage here.
[img] 
[/img]
It's almost as if those citing boards are trying to look like they're doing something without annoying the rugby unions.
Time and time again players with plenty of previous getting a reduction for previous good behaviour and contrition in the hearing.
"hi, have a biscuit I'm very very sorry please let me continue to earn big bucks"
Matt Banahan off to Gloucester after a long career at Bath.
Rumour has it that Wasps have signed Lima Sopoaga, which I guess means that Cipriani will be off to France.
Leinster production line seems to be in rare form, Tadgh Furlong went off injured in their annihilation of Ulster and they brought on Andrew Porter who seems to be a chip off the old block,
Check out the video clip in the attached match report, [url= https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/leinster-rugby/watch-leinsters-andrew-porter-flattens-two-ulster-tacklers-to-set-up-stunning-try-as-jordan-larmour-shines-in-derby-rout-36464041.html ]Andrew Porter[/url] also Jordon Lamour seems to be a real prospect at 15
Good news for Wales with both Moriarty and Loopy Liam on the verge of returns.
Lydiate out for the season, that lad has had awful injury problems!
To add a bit of balance/mitigation to the Market ban....Ioane (sp) also got a 3 week ban for elbowing Marler in the head just prior to the clearout incident. Not that two wrongs make a right mind.
Sounds like Laidlaw should be fit for the 6N - but does he get a place? Ali Price i now the incumbent and clearly a better 9 at gettng the ball away quickly and a better runner. Pyrgos is the closer / steady hand ( but a dip in form) G. Horne is very young nad experienced but looks th best 9 we have.But Laidlaw was the captain, has a great record and is a very competent 9 and a very cool head.
Myself I think he should have played his last game for scotland but can we do without his experience?
Lima Sopoaga signs a 3yr deal with Wasps.
Why is this important? I think it signals the likely end of All Black supremacy.
He's their no2 fly-half and the only back up to Beauden Barrett with any test experience at 10 (that I can think of). If they can't keep him in NZ then the ABs are really gonna struggle. In the future they'll be able to keep their starting 15/23 but not much else as the talent drain to England and France sucks them dry.
Aaron Cruden is already in France along with Dan Carter (Colin Slade too). Tawera Kerr-Barlow has followed. Charles Piutau is probably lost to the ABs for ever and Stephen Luatua too. Brad Shields might turn out for England in time for the RWC.
It's no longer over-the-hill players looking for a last payday. It's serious contenders for the current ABs who are defecting.
Presumably this means Cipriani is off to France next year too?
Price at 9 for me for Scotland TJ. How Laidlaw got in the original Lions squad over Care I'll never know!
Scarlets giving Bath a bit of a kicking. Bath failed to take advantage of Barclay's yellow card and are no where near as aggressiveatvtge breakdown as they were last week.
Wasnt expecting that!!
Scablets have been playing some fine rugby and given Glasgows general patheticness in the euro cup this year its fine to see another pro 14 team put an ap team out.
I would laugh myself silly if after the PRL attempting to make the euro cup easier for their teams to qualify and all the crowing I see from ap fans on the rugby forum I am on not a single ap team makes the quarters and at this rate that is well possible. Not probable however - I think Sarries and Exeter ( p[ossibly bath?)might go thru.
As things stand bath are the only ap team not in the bottom two in their group and Bath are almost certain to be 3rd in the group after tomorrow.
I know its not gracious of me but you reap what you sew.
What happens if Scotland run out of props? I think 4 more injured props might mean we have no pro props left for the bech. Would we have to default? Can't play a semi pro prop - that would be unsafe.
Personally, I think the Sarrries dominance in recent years is the outlier. We have too many teams compared to the other Home nations. The French just throw money at world class players, so have some great teams. AP teams will mainly struggle for years to come I believe. The only good point is it exposes a large pool of Home talent to a higher level rugby.
I'm getting old and I've found another thing I don't like about the professional game.
Read the match report for Edinburgh stade game. Half way through realised I had no idea who was playing for what team.
And this is my main moan. So many imports that local talent struggles, how do we encourage grass roots when imported players hang around for 3 years for a national team slot? I suppose I'm thinking specifically Scotland here. I know we've always had kilted kiwis etc but I'm losing to love when commentators are calling players on the national team Australian players. I suppose it galls even more that these guys didn't make their own national team, so we've got second rate kiwis and south Africans.
Was great to see Scarlets pack run the legs off the bigger Bath pack. The difference in physique between Underhill and James Davies is huge and to be fair Underhill was good but Davies hung on the tight and was immense as a 3rd centre on turnover ball accelerating into gaps...thats a gap...not contact.
As for Beirne he is turning into a player of top quality. Any chance of Ireland picking him now he's going back?
As for Beirne he is turning into a player of top quality. Any chance of Ireland picking him now he's going back?
If they won't, I'm sure there'll be a welcome kept in the hillsides for him!
That step last night...! Class.
https://twitter.com/btsportrugby/status/951907309504012288
Early bath for Headshot Hask.
Not clever by Haskell. Guessing that he'll miss some of the 6N.
Sarries being given a tough time by the Ospreys tonight, especially at scrum time. Sarries look knackered.
I suspect The Hask is currently browsing the biccie selection at Fortnum & Mason. Could be in for a rest...
Ospreys holding out for a draw in a game they should have won. Standard.
I'm getting old and I've found another thing I don't like about the professional game.
Read the match report for Edinburgh stade game. Half way through realised I had no idea who was playing for what team.............So many imports that local talent struggles,
I think the two Scots teams do pretty well in that regard. Certainly the record of bringing thru good youngsters is good. 11 of the starting 15 are Scotland qualified players with two being "youngsters" with another couple of young guys on the bench. Its not a team stuffed with journey men from south africa or pacific islands although there are a few
Such a short memory.... kilted kiwis anyone?
Believe over a third of the 2015 Scottish squad we’re non Scottish in fact, just had a scan through and something like 12 or 13 players in the Edinburgh squad aren’t Scottish. Not saying that they are worse than others, they may well be better but they sure play the same game!
Exeter looked the business today. They just do everything right. Not flashy but winning rugby.
Yes we have a bunch of scottish qualified but non native players - as do most nations. However the way things have been organised over the last ten years this has not been at the expense of home grown talent. 12 or 13 out of a squad of what - 35?
Find a single promising youngster that has not got a contract and look at the young talent coming thru. Adam Hastings, George Horne, Damian Hoyland, Blair Kinghorn, Matt Fagerson are just a few I can think of off the top of my head that have stepped up to pro team level inthe last year or so and are now knocking on the door of the international side.
Yes we recruit scots qualified players but not at the expense of home grown talent and mainly in positions where we have no or little home grown talent.
Billy V has injured his arm. Will be interesting to see what pans out for him and the 6N.
As an English fan, I'm not too confident about the 6N. We stuttered a bit through the autumn and the English teams have struggled in Europe this year. The breakdown remains an issue (Sarries struggled in this department yesterday) and if Billy is broken we lack ball carriers. Ireland look to be in good fettle and are very very organised and clinical, Scotland are playing some great rugby and are confident and if Wales can harness some of the Scarlets approach they'll probably do well.
Call the doc a doc!
https://mobile.twitter.com/RugbyLAD7/status/952259855984848896/video/1
Ospreys did well yesterday. A team who start with McCusker at 8 drew with a team who start with Billy V!
if Billy is broken we lack ball carriers
Thats a joke right?
Pretty sure it was McCusker (spl?) who broke Billy as well!
Was good to see both Scarlets and Ospreys having the upper hand in scrums.
Backrow still looks a mess for Wales though.
"The Clermont fans on the far side are wearing the same shade of yellow as referee Clancy"
25 minutes into the game and I'm not sure whether the commentator is making a veiled comment on Clancy's neutrality? 😆
Call the doc a doc!
Lazy cheap shot shocker from The Hask. I like The Doc's reply
Hope your shoulder is ok after colliding with this jaw @jameshaskell - Good man for apologizing....just bend those arthritic knees next time pal 😉
if Billy is broken we lack ball carriers
Thats a joke right?
Not really. Hartley does sweet FA, Robshaw doesn’t really make many yards, neither does Haskell, Hughes is better in the open spaces. Lawes carries well at the mo but he’s not going to do much in heavy traffic. There’s no carrying option in the centres without T’eo.
Leinster handed out a dicking to Glasgow.
Fractured forearm for Billy V so he'll probably miss the 6n's. Terrible run of injuries for him in the last 18 months.
Not really. Hartley does sweet FA, Robshaw doesn’t really make many yards, neither does Haskell, Hughes is better in the open spaces
Mako Vunipola is a monster carrier as is Hughes every other team would want those two in at least their 23. Kruis and Itoje are bloody good carriers too and Lawes isnt great but puts a shift in. Even Robshaw and Hask aint bad.
Fractured forearm for Billy V so he'll probably miss the 6n's.
Bad news for him hope he's better soon. Him and his bro are amongst the few likeable members of the Orc horde!! 😆
Is it too early to start getting excited about the 6Nations?
Too early for predictions?
Too early for predictions?
Wales to be shit, Scotland to look good until they get hammered by someone or other, England to look like getting a grandslam until ireland beat them!
Okay, here goes
1 England
2 Ireland
3 Wales
4 France
5 Scotland
6 Italy
But, it seems quite open this year, so I may only get one at most correct. More interested in other’s (who know more) predictions.
Interesting that you rate the Vunipola's as likeable a_a. I've always thought that they come across as a pair of tools. Met Mako at Twickenham on the opening day of the season and he refused to have a picture with me....fair enough I guess, wouldn't have hurt would it!
Mako Vunipola is a monster carrier as is Hughes every other team would want those two in at least their 23. Kruis and Itoje are bloody good carriers too and Lawes isnt great but puts a shift in. Even Robshaw and Hask aint bad.
Mako is good but he looked off the pace yesterday. Hughes is good in the open spaces, less hood in traffic and can be bloody lazy too (Wasps v Quinn's last September being a prime example). Kruis hasn't been in the training camps and is a shadow of himself since being injured. Lawes has been carrying well. Maybe the bigger issue is that the game plan is so heavily based on Billy making yards even when he shouldn't that we struggle when he is crooked.
Him and his bro are amongst the few likeable members of the Orc horde!!
Surely your list should also include Hartley, Haskell and Brown too? 😆
Has Bastereau got himself into ht water or is it an old story?
Met Mako at Twickenham on the opening day of the season and he refused to have a picture with me....fair enough
He's a good welsh boyo. It was most likely your England shirt that put him off!!
Surely your list should also include Hartley, Haskell and Brown too?
Hartley, Teo, Hughes Vunipola 1, Vunipola 2 !!