MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
That's a good read AA.
Thats a great read, and shows whats said here vs the EJ speeches - that the on-field leadership is lacking enough to change the play. They had to go to the dressing room to be told what to do.
OR
Is it that EJ dictated the style of play? Would a captain - or another team member not have questioned the tactics 20 mins in the first half and changed it - especially the 1 pod forward issue which cost us dearly.
So, Hartley should be doing this, Farrells taking guidance from JJ, Ford is unable to play on the back foot, and England just aren't proactive? Oh well, I'll join you on the side lines as we watch NZ vs someone else in the RWC.
Rather sad to read that Eli Walker is having to retire at only 25. Back problems.
Good article AA - ta
Eli Walker retires with injury age 25. How someone with his talent can come to end with just 1 wales cap is so sad.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ogeSbgkH8pM
That article was pretty level headed and at least pointed out some of the OK stuff England do rather than just panic and full doom and gloom.
Good article on Farrell too on that site.
Dregs drubbed!
Oh well, maybe they should let him go early!! Scarlets need a wing with Prydie and McNicoll broken.
Wow - thats an outrageous quote about North. Is he carrying a knock?
Is he carrying a knock?
Who knows. He has just come back from a long injury and is heading back home next season. Maybe he has been tipped a wink by Gatlandabout next week and has come up with a calf strain!!
Saints have tried to flog him into the ground rather
Scotland squad out. a big extended squad as no club games. Big Ritchie back, ~Fagerson the choirboy, Dunbar ( but will he be match fit?) couple of youngsters and Hardie headbanger
Plenty of choice for once in most positions makes for some tricky selections. Looking at the squad I am feeling more optimistic. Odd for a Scotland side to have more choice halfway thru the championship. One puzzle - asuming Seymour is out do we play Kinghorn on the wing - a very exciting attacking player but usually full back or 10 or a specialist winger who is not nearly so exciting in Lee Jones?
BTW - did you know our snarling beast of a young prop Zander Fagerson really was a choirboy and also scottish downhill MTB champ at age group level?
Full squad
FORWARDS (22)
John Barclay (Scarlets) CAPTAIN
Simon Berghan (Edinburgh Rugby)
Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors)
Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby)
Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors)
David Denton (Worcester Warriors)
Cornell du Preez (Edinburgh Rugby)
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors)
Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby)
Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors)
Richie Gray (Toulouse)
Luke Hamilton (Leicester Tigers)
John Hardie (Edinburgh Rugby)
Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons)
Darryl Marfo (Edinburgh Rugby)
Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby)
Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby)
Gordon Reid (London Irish)
Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors)
Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby)
Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby)
Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors)
BACKS (18)
Mark Bennett (Edinburgh Rugby)
Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors)
Nick Grigg (Glasgow Warriors)
Chris Harris (Newcastle Falcons)
Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors)
George Horne (Glasgow Warriors)
Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors)
Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors)
Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors)
Lee Jones (Glasgow Warriors)
Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby)
Greig Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne)
Sean Maitland (Saracens)
Byron McGuigan (Sale Sharks)
Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors)
Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors)
Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors)
Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors)
Surely that's not a squad. It looks more like every player eligible for Scotland 😀
Including the coke head!!
He needed that little pick me up as he leads with his head every tackle!
The North situation at the Saints is a bit odd - apparently he had an agreement with Mallinder that he would not need to play or be available on fallow weekends in the 6N which no one told Gaffney about...
Article on the BBC about the Welsh 'stealing' English born players... Apparently getting more organised through their 'Exiles' program
Seems a bit rich given the 'English' players fielded over the years (and indeed today!)
AA spot on about Eli Walker, fantastic talent. A real shame.
Article on the BBC about the Welsh ‘stealing’ English born players… Apparently getting more organised through their ‘Exiles’ program
Seems a bit rich given the ‘English’ players fielded over the years (and indeed today!)
Might be less of an issue if there was more chance that the same players didn't keep on getting picked despite not really performing...
No pro14 on beeb next season 😭
Varndell to Scarlets till end of season
Underhill and Nowell out of the match against France. Mercer is crooked too.
Hartley a doubt with Cowan-Dickie called up as cover. But no backrow cover called up, so I guess Lawes will continue at six with the Haskell good big to the bench?
Pro14 deal seems short sighted. They may have more money from this deal but viewing figures can only decline as a result, unless someone has a credible argument that PPV increases them..
i wonder what the position of Guinness as main sponsor will be? And the various on field sponsors at club grounds for that matter? Will they pay the same for reduced exposure?
the welsh and gaelic channels may stillhave them. ONly ever been very occasional pro14 matches in scotland on mainstream beeb
Hartley an injury doubt for Sat....Don't call me a cynic,but isn't that a cooncidence?
the welsh and gaelic channels may stillhave them. ONly ever been very occasional pro14 matches in scotland on mainstream beeb
Yeah but there's a game a week online. All that looks to have gone including Alba and S4C and BBC Wales. Real shame imo.
According to beeb wales to make 10 changes...including a TJ'esque backrow.
James Davies is expected to make his debut, with Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau returning to the side.
George North is expected to start on the wing after impressing from the bench against England and Ireland.
Williams could move to full-back instead of Leigh Halfpenny, with Ospreys centre Owen Watkin partnering Parkes, while Gareth Anscombe replaces Dan Biggar at fly-half.
The new front row could see Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee and Tomas Francis packing down, with Bradley Davies lining up as Hill's second-row partner.
And in other new Rhodri Jones back in Wales squad as a loose head
So after spending 4 years trying to be a tighthead and endig up as about 4th choice for Ospreys he plays a couple of games at 1 and he's an international again...odd, very very odd.
Hartley a doubt, Farrell may play 10, Nowell out, Hask in, Itoje has been nullified says Jones, as have England tactics says Scotland.
Challenges ahead for England? Having worked on their own game plan, have they now 12 months having to defend / change it up and surprise a few people in RWC or is that it - the oppo have 12 months to review the Scots game to come up with a counter?
IMO, with all thats happened England need to bludgeon France in what I suspect will be an up the jumper match and defeat Ireland at their own game to be seen as viable finalists. If that doesn't happen, could their be a decline ahead maybe...
BTW that 1014 site is a wealth of an education into modern rugby, thanks for posting.
CUBBY!
Wouldnt want to be Dee chucking in to the lineout at that pack. Obviously the game plan is centred around not winning lineouts!!!
I fear a Nov tier 2 nation shambles, the Italians will be looking to win this!
Kinghorn in for Scotland. Will they capitulate away from home again?
Jones finally gives us what we want? Jamie George starts, Daly in at 13 and Watson at full back. We just need Simmons to earn a regular place at 7 now and the back row will look a bit more dynamic.
Looking forward to watching this without the drudgery of Brown and Hartley on the pitch.
Farrell Capt - is that the first centre Captaincy since Carling?. Slight nervousness there, certainly needs a cool head and the French will spot that and try to rile him up for sure.
Daly is in on the wing.....Teo is in at 13, JJ dropped along with Brown.
We just need Simmons to earn a regular place at 7 now and the back row will look a bit more dynamic.
That's unlikely to happen with Exeter seeing him as an 8 and playing him there week in, week out - we need to stop playing people out of position.
Glad that Watson is getting a run out at full back - hopefully he can show Eddie that he can do it. Trouble is, it'll probably piss down with rain and be a day that would suit Brown.
I've got to make post no. 3000!!
it’ll probably piss down with rain
I believe that is the forecast.
I know Brown has a lot of haters, but I certainly aren't one of them.....I'd have dropped May for Daly (I think that we've really missed him) kept Watson on the other wing and Brown at 15. Still sticking with a 5.5, 6.5 and an unfit 8 that isn't great at international level as the backrows.. ...that massive French 7 has to be excited about this!
I agree - Brown is a limited player (he's not that quick, doesn't look to pass much and often seeks contact) but he is combatitive and very solid under the high ball with a pretty bog boot for clearing kicks. Looking at the weeken'd forecast, you can't help feeling that the conditions and type of game that we are likely to see would suit him better than Watson. I also don't think he's suited to being a bench player - he doesn't cover that many positions and isnt someone that you'd describe as a gamechanger (Wigglesworth lacks this too).
Care needs a bog game to prove that he an start, control a game as well as come on and inject pace as he has done for England.
Backrow is a concern again - the French are pretty good at the breakdown and having seen how Scotland dicked us there, will no doubt be eyeing that area big time.
I think Itoje is due a performance Sat. Pleased to see AW at fullback and Jamie George starting, with Cowan-dickie able to make an impact as a finisher - he was fantastic for Exeter at the weekend.
Definitely agree that Brown doesn't suit the EJ ''finisher" tag.....hard to see what he'll offer if it's a level game at 60 minutes....
Looking forward to the Ireland Scotland game mind, hopefully Scotland can find some form away from home. Scotland are becoming a bit like the French of a decade of so ago.....you never know whether they're going to be brilliant or shite!
Farrell Capt – is that the first centre Captaincy since Carling?
No - Philip de Glanville and Mike Tindall for a start.
No massive surprises for Ireland v Scotland. Thought maybe Henderson might start as soon as fit again but he’s on the bench and will provide good 2nd row cover. Happy to see Furlong back in the front row. Liking the look of Murphy and Larmour on the bench. A win and not losing any more centres will do nicely thanks 🙂
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The 1980's want their graphic back ^^
A win and not losing any more centres will do nicely thanks 🙂
How dare are you suggest that Ireland might beat the best side in the world. 😀
The 1980’s want their graphic back ^^
I thought something similar. 😀
i think it’s just the image put out for easy sharing on Twitter, etc. 😀
Ospreys keen to get North for rest of season.
I thought he was a Scarlets bound next but apparently thats still to be decided.
If you thought Ireland’s graphic was bad... 🙂
France team to play England. I see Trinh Duc’s back...again. For the 19th time.
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No, that’s really sophisticated compared to the Irish effort. 😛
WRU pushing the boat out in the graphics department...
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Scotland’s effort is a bit, err, busy.
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Wales - understated but effective.
And edit - Scotland, a world-beating effort, I’m sure we’ll all agree.
Busy and confusing to the opposition and their own fans - thats Scotland for you
And HQ’s effort...
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So for me, if the 6N was decided on the quality of the team sheet graphic, Wales win it. (Even if there is an element of Warrenball about it)
People shat a brick at England playing a blindside flanker at open side during Lancasters reign, now we have a blindside at open side and a ****ing second row on the flank. How good is a 6ft7 lock going to be on the ground or getting to the BD quickly? It's ridiculous and it winds me up. Neither Lawes or Itoge are going to be international quality back rows. Not ever. Robshaw isn't quick enough to cover for Fords defensive frailties which leads to Farrell having too much defensive work to do. That french 7 is an excellent player - I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him do to England what Barclay did.
That Wales team worries me. Its either going to run Italy ragged from the start or be utterly shite and lose and I'm not sure which.
Pleased with the selection then wrecker...? 🙂
As for worst team graphic this wins by a country mile;
Really looking forward to Scotland Ireland now. Thats about as good a team as we could put out. I feared by this point we might be really badly affected by injuries but in actual fact we have more to chose from than we did the first match. Speed all over the park bar Ickle Jonny. Plenty of really smart players like Barclay and Horne. Exciting fast and elusive runners in the backs and even Impact off the bench with Denton and Grigg to come on. The Irish seem to hate Barnes as well. My only real worry is tiny tim ( Swinson) as bench lock. We even have Nellie the scrumephant to come on!
Presumably this means Russell will revert to being rubbish and we will get pinged off the park at the breakdown 🙁
AA - every welsh team worries you!!
Wrecker..how about a swap, you can have Tipuric and we'll have Itoje...or Lawes, I'd settle for Lawes, or even Kruis, shit OK then whats Attwood doing these days?
AA – every welsh team worries you!!
True, but when AWJ is fit and not picked it has the potential to go very very wrong. Especially with the second choice front row. Combined with a back row containing 2 7's with another on the bench we could well be dicked up front by italy
Hope it stays dry for you teej.
AA - 2x7 worked well for Scotland.
So do I DD - however even if it does not I think both teams will be equally disadvantaged. also if Ireland kick deep a lot that will just allow scotland to counter
Wrecker..how about a swap, you can have Tipuric and we’ll have Itoje…or Lawes, I’d settle for Lawes, or even Kruis, shit OK then whats Attwood doing these days?
It's tempting. The truth is, we have plenty of open side talent even with Underhill injured. I'd even prefer to have seen Hask(tm) playing than a 2nd row. Eddie's doing something even worse than what he took the piss out Lancaster for doing. Itoge is ball bagged at present, I'd have dropped him. Attwood is "on loan" at Toulon. It seems he's suffered a bit (mentally) having been injured for so long so he's gone for some Vit D.
Yeah Itoje is probably the 'biggest hangover' from 2017 Lions.....quite a few of the test team have missed the 6n's actually! Fantastic to see you as optimistic as ever a_a!
Lawes at six didn't bother me initially because he's done really well for Saints in the back row this season, but it was really shown up against Scotland. Robshaw has proved so many times that he works at six not seven, yet Jones is doing a Lancaster. Haskell worked well at seven initially but his form had been poor since his injury. I was really surprised that Jones didn't look at other options after Scotland highlighted our biggest weaknesses.
Agree re Itoje. Mako is the same. They've both played a lot of rugby for Sarries due to injury etc and need some time off.
Agree re playing guys out of position yet there's a lot of people calling for Simmonds to play at seven despite Exeter using him exclusively as an eight...
Agree re playing guys out of position yet there’s a lot of people calling for Simmonds to play at seven despite Exeter using him exclusively as an eight…
But he is clearly not an 8. Barclay plays 8 for Scarlets mostly and is clearly not an 8. Tips has been playing 8 for Ospreys and is clearly not an 8.
The number on your shirt matters less than the role you play.
So is Teddy Thomas broken or still on the naughty step? Hope he stays there v Wales!!
The number on your shirt matters less than the role you play.
True but more importanter is the balance of the backrow. Chucking a 5 at 6 is not helping Robshaw at 7. If a 6 was at 6 Robshaw would be ok at 7.
Scotland seemed to play with 2 7s and a 7.5 🙂
Well, thats why Simmons is on the bench. If we start getting turned over like the Scotland match - and the team say they’ve address that - maybe Simmons will come on. I suspected we’ll sick a 3 rather than 2 man pod system against France, although the general tone in the media from England is that they expect France to be slower to the ball.
Re Itoje - whilst I’m in general agreement I think theres an element of truth regarding Jones view on the subject. Sure he’ll want to inject confidence in Itoje, but he’s stated that other teams have worked him out / are marking him. We’ve seen this many times - new/star players come into teams and do brilliant things and then seem to be less and less prominent. IIRC over the last few games Itoje has been less prominent in the breakdown also - is this becuase Jones has requeasted that, or that Itoje is indeed tired/less enthusiastic?
I do think this - especially a loss to France, Ireland or both will be the winning or losing of this England team and the real test of Jones tenure. The gloss has worn off, new tactics played with success yet discovered, individual roles and skills made aware, how now to ensure we don’t get predicated over the coming year.
My memory isn’t good enough to compare the path to the RWC with the 2003 crowd but it’d make an interesting comparison.
Scotland seemed to play with 2 7s and a 7.5
And got pumped by Wales
"Re Itoje – whilst I’m in general agreement I think theres an element of truth regarding Jones view on the subject. Sure he’ll want to inject confidence in Itoje, but he’s stated that other teams have worked him out / are marking him. We’ve seen this many times – new/star players come into teams and do brilliant things and then seem to be less and less prominent. IIRC over the last few games Itoje has been less prominent in the breakdown also – is this becuase Jones has requeasted that, or that Itoje is indeed tired/less enthusiastic?"
I read that he has an awful lot of sponsors to keep happy and is spending more time than he maybe should "growing his brand"
The number on your shirt matters less than the role you play.
I’m going to base a series of motivational talks on that one phrase, maybe a poster or two as well and then a book.
I now see TJ as a loin-clothed Scottish swami who speaks spiritual truth. (And no, you’re not having any royalties when my book is an international bestseller! ) 😁
But he is clearly not an 8. Barclay plays 8 for Scarlets mostly and is clearly not an 8. Tips has been playing 8 for Ospreys and is clearly not an 8.
But from what I've seen he's not really played like a traditional seven, so I'm not sure why people think he'll be the answer for us in that position. Yes he's quick, but he's not really prominent at the breakdown which remains one of our biggest weaknesses.
Betsen doesn't think too much of our back row.