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Yay, that’ll settle my nerves 😀
Could be a long afternoon for the Italians.
Oh, and Cubby doing his turnover thing already!
Now that's how a 10 should be treat . . . I presume that they like that sort of thing.
Good game so far..Italy will do well to keep their tempo. Wales need to get through the first 10 and then keep their tempo high and not get drawn into an arm wrestle.
Oh and in the interests of balance, that tackle was a red last year.
aa yup, I think the ref bottled that one.
Sorry, not related to present game but made I laugh when I came across it on Twitter. 😀
https://twitter.com/unrealgavhenson/status/972544847113605120?s=21
Was that not an obvious try?
Was that not an obvious try?
I guess he he could have been 2 or 3 mm short?
Italy have looked good in many ways to me. Could they win at home next week?
Good effort from a largely second string team. Some big choices to be made in the week.
Enjoyable watch. We could do with a gif of Talupe’s wink.
Dont think I have ever heard Talupe speak!!
Spain had a crowd of 15,800 to see them thump Germany.
Two big things here,
German rugby has been going very well recently.
What a great crowd!
Eddie has called up a 7.....blimey!
Still expecting to get well beaten by the Irish, if we don't get a losing bp, we could well end up fifth in the final table!!
Has he?
OK so that may be a bit mischievous, but Armand isn't an out and out 7. Armand and Robshaw would be far more effective than Lawes/Robshaw (with Robshaw at 6, obv)
Would a 6N division 2 be a good thing? Someone relegated from 6N every year and someone promoted from 6N2. Georgia/Romania deserve a shot IMO.
Let’s face it England where never going to win with a bonus point. Ireland only beat them with a drop goal at the death.
I posted up a while ago that the first two 6N post RWC where fairly meaningless. The real stuff started this tournament in terms of the build up to NZ and sadly we’ve been found wanting and rather directionless. Jones has had a great run but the pressure is really on now.
Hopefully we will turn up to spoil Ireland’s St Patricks Day party but I wouldn’t bet on it.
You have got to love french front rowers!!
CTK - I think the next best team - almost certainly Georgia - would get thumped by any 6N team.
I think however a playoff between the bottom of the 6N and the top of the 6N division 2 ( which does exist) would be fine and I also think Georgia should get games in the AIs against 6N teams
Not sure Armand is the answer, especially as the Chiefs have Salvinon the books who played a lot for them until broken. Armand is however playing well so is at least picked on form and not reputation.
Cant see anything other than a proper dicking against Ireland I'm afraid.
I also think Georgia should get games in the AIs against 6N teams
They did this year!
An interesting weekend and an interesting table.
Scotland well its another case of "nearly" Ireland would have been too good even if they hadn't butchered the chances created. Another interception try cost a lot but it was a good play from Stockdale as much as a poor pass. How many 2 on 1 chances did we miss?
Ireland controlled the breakdown - they committed men to the rucks and also kicked very intelligently' pinpoint contestable kicks and chips rather than kicking deep and thats why they would have won even if a few 50 / 50 balls had gone scotlands way.
England - Oh dear. What a difference a year makes. Why? Hangover from Scotland beating them? Devoid of ideas and belief.
4 teams each with a chance of second place. I think it will end Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England, France, Italy but the permutations are wide open. Even if we win we could end up in 4th if England win
Devoid of ideas and belief.
Is my current somethingion - either in the coaches box or on the pitch. England will lose V Ireland I'm fairly certain, but it remains to be seen if Eddie/the players can come up with a plan B. Eddie's system has been worked /out and the players aren't able to protect it. Italy were clearing far better than England yesterday.
I think the English players are just fatigued. The amount of injuries attest to this (although shouldn't be blamed for the performances). One of the dominant NH teams doesn' just become rubbish overnight for no reason.
They have mainly been flogged in the AP and by all accounts the English training camp has been like a pre-season where they have been thrashed.
The strangest AP I can remember hasn't helped either.
Coupled with some regressive selections where players have been picked on reputation, this is what they have got and let's be honest; exactly what they have deserved. I just hope that Eddie is learning his lessons.
Still going to be very tough for Ireland to win at Twickers.
Wales could get bullied up front by France
Some interesting games.
Biggest difference for England is loss of Billy Vunipola. He makes a huge difference to their momentum. Nearly always makes meters, regularly off loads, if not stays on his feet long enough that even donkeys have time to get to the breakdown. Any backrow with him in it immediately looks better.
Total aside but I thought I thought Sinkler looked good when he came on.
For Ireland I thought Ringrose was excellent, our bench is starting to look thin outside the back-row but starting 15 is pretty decent. Was hoping SOB would come through the Scarlets game unscatheed but went off injured after half an hour.
Guys like Mako are shagged - he played a fair bit for the Lions and has been flogged by Sarries this season because their back up front row is a bit shit. Itoje is having second season syndrome. Billy is a massive loss; there's not many who do what he does.
Eddie picking only two scrum halfs has been an issue too - Care is good coming on with 20 minutes to go but is poor as a starting scrum half. There are other guys in the AP who should have been given a whirl based on form - Robson being one of them. Dan Cole does sweet FA. This is the time that Jones will earn his money or the warning bout Jones failing after the first two seasons may be starting to hold some truth...
Devoid of ideas and belief.
I thought they looked far better in the last few moments of the match, when they ignored the gameplan and just played. Far too late by then, of course.
Backrow of Robshaw, Haskell and Simmonds v Ireland I reckon.
I'd like to see a front row of Marler, George and Sinckler too.
You know what comparing wales and england it may have been better for us having loads of Lions injured rather than just underperforming.
BBC article says EJ has figured it out, the attack's not working because they're loosing the break down.
Well who'd have thunk it. I'm sure serge betsen pointed that out and also maybe the Scotland pack.
BBC article says EJ has figured it out, the attack’s not working because they’re loosing the break down.
Obviously Eddie is reading the Ladybird book of rugby and has made it past passing the ball, scrums and tackles. Next week he will be onto line outs. I don't think it has a chapter on correct team selection so he may have to buy The Bluffers Guide..
Lawes and Hughes both out for c.3 months with knee injuries - Wasps will be pissed with Highes only just coming back from injury.
Jamie Roberts off to Bath next season.
Enjoyed this
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09w01q4/the-rugby-codebreakers
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Recorded and will be watched this evening. I'm hoping they show footage of Lewis Jones. He's my father's great uncle, or something like that. First Lion to be flown rather than shipped, and from what I've read he was the Jiffy of his day.
Ummm...
Rarely has a gif been more appropriate
Oh, and remember those French U20 thugs?
Five weeks.
FFS.
Apparently if you find the full video he calls Wales a shit little country!!!!
We've only lost one test to the scummy Irish...we'll get em back" - Eddie Jones, 2017. Our scummy hands are just going to leave this here😬.
So why does he get abused by random people in the street? 🙄
Dont worry he has apologised!
At a sponsors' talk in July 2017, the Australian described Wales as a "shit little place" and spoke about how disappointed he was by a recent defeat by the "scummy Irish".
Jones, 58, said he was "very sorry for any offence caused" and added: "No excuses. I shouldn't have said what I did."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43409476
As an Englishman, may I add - what a prick!
never liked the Aussies!
In the good week/bad week stakes, he's having a bit of a stinker isn't he.
Not his best moments....
What a dick, especially saying at some form of official function that is being filmed. Not his fines few weeks.