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Every match this year is a proper match where you have to be 100% to win
Wales beating France suggests not!
Saw that during the game, minimum penalty worst yellow card, but there are plenty of similar incidents in most matches, so maybe citing should be used more often to deter it.
If I could be arsed AA I’m sure I could go through every single frame of the game & maybe find something illegal from any player you care to mention. You do love to do it to England though...
Daly leaving wasps
Daly leaving wasps
Worst kept secret ever and a big reason behind his pisspoor performances for Wasps.
Graham Kitchener is returning to Worcester next season.
If I could be arsed AA I’m sure I could go through every single frame of the game & maybe find something illegal from any player you care to mention
There's only one player committing and act of foul play that should be a yellow card. I saw it live, I really dont understand why the TMO's seem to have stopped picking these things up. Rules must have changed so its only when things are referred now. Seems a backwards step.
You do love to do it to England though…
Do I really, how so, any examples? You need to get the chips off your shoulder.
The first paragraph of his now edited wikipedia page suggested he was going to stay at wasps 🙂
Beeb report no new injuries for Wales so seems Loopy Liam is ok. Same again next week then lads, this time try and ****ing play!!
It's ok, it's only 'cheeky' using an elbow deliberately to the face and neck of an oppo...
It was a brutal game full of big hits, and Manu above was pushing the envelope there. IMO it's not worthy of anything more than a penalty, but I thought there were a number of incidents that should have been looked at from both sides if that is going to get picked up. But then I had had a large number of Guinness's and was in a pub so it is a bit hazy.
Healy is a dirty **** but there nothing in that, maybe a pen at worst. Tuilagi one is a stone cold yellow. Seb Davies got a yellow for Cardiff a month or so back for similar as I recall but I cant find footage.
Daly leaving wasps
Who is staying might be a shorter list!
From Kings v Cheetahs
Reminded me of Richard Loe on the Aussie winger, at 2.20 here!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gZt95BPmVIc
Without a ball carrier at 8 our attack with the forwards is ineffective.
Is Strauss not fit? He's a brilliant ball carrier, certainly better than Moriarty.
compared to the England forwards somewhat inneffective.
Without a ball carrier at 8 our attack with the forwards is ineffective.
Compared with Billy, most are but he's still a class player. I rate him better than Stander too.
Is Strauss not fit? He’s a brilliant ball carrier, certainly better than Moriarty.
Moriarty is a 6 pretending to be and 8. He works hard but isnt a threat with the ball.
Christ, I've just seen the bath v glaws scoreline! That's a dry reeming!
Looks like Nel is broken. Thats a big loss.
Again? That’s a big miss.
Calf strain so out for a week or two. Berghan is OK but Nel is a real weapon for us. Troubles any opponent
Listening to the BBC rugby podcast thins morning. Interesting to hear how much grief Ugo got when he said that he through England would win at the weekend. When he celebrated at the end, a lady in front of him apparently stood, turned round and flipped him the bird! 😂
Nel is a loss for Scotland especially as they’ve said in the press that they can match the physicality that England produced on Saturday.
they’ve said in the press that they can match the physicality that England produced on Saturday.
I saw that - from Jamie Ritchie of all people. Utter bobbins! We should be able to match them in the set piece and with Nel even better them in the scrum - but in the loose? No way Jose. I think our best tactic will be for Wilson to go full on Rotweiler and try to niggle them off their game. Couple of yellows for their forwards and we might just match them 8 on 6
TJ - seems an odd thing to say. Pace and speed seem to be more of a strength of the Scottish boys than smashing people physically especially with the injuries they have. They have been written off by the press largely so you never know. I’m supporting Scotland this weekend because if they do win, it’ll pretty much take Ireland out of the championship race. I think it’ll be the game of the weekend.
I really don't see Scotland dominating our scrum....Mako George and Sinckler....they were all test lions in 2017....with Mako and George the first choice! I think Scotland's best hope is if England are on for the Grand Slam to be be honest mate and hope that we bottle it, otherwise I can see a bit of a pasting for you!
If we have Nel I am sure we will give you a fight in the scrums, Without him parity. YOur guys are good in the loose but our first choice front row has bested everyone they have come up against including England last year. Its in the loose we will be pasted. Mauls and pick and goes / one out passes
Mindmap - thats certainly true - our guys ( ickle "lumbering" Jonny aside) are fast indeed.
I really don’t see Scotland dominating our scrum….Mako George and Sinckler….they were all test lions in 2017…
Mako and Sinkler are both weaker in the scrums than the rest of their game but wwre both Very impressive V Ireland as 1/8 mile and Healy are both very strong in that area and didnt get any change at all.
otherwise I can see a bit of a pasting for you!
I have decided that I cannot really be English, as I have optimism, even hope, but nothing like this kind of Hubris.
Mako and Sinkler both went really well in the scrum given that this isn’t their strong point. It’ll be interesting to see if they can do as well as the Welsh pack did against the French big boys.
Quite enjoyed listening to the Rugby Pod this morning and their review of the weekend. Jim Hamilton and Goodey are quite funny together.
If you'd have asked me pre tournament for predictions, I'd have still gone for a comfortable England victory v Scotland.....their away form isn't great and there will be a big backlash after last year's result
Can't argue with that Tom. If we had Watson and Barclay I would put it 60 / 40 in Englands favour but without them - less than a 20% chance for Scotland
I hope you are right but Scotland and Wales have a way of rising to the occasion, their form against other teams is not as relevant when it comes to playing England.
We have to face France and Wales, both of which will be massive challenges. I expect us to have a fair few injuries by the end when we face Scotland, and if we are on for a slam then they will be even more fired up to stop us.
Interesting rumours appearing. You know how the best scrum halves are annoying buggers - think Austin Healey etc. For the England game its thought Laidlaw is too laid back so our most annoying player will be going to 9.........................
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.I give you our latest SH................
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Ryan Wilson!
Wilson was getting a some stick on the podcasts I listened to this morning from the English boys.
Looks like the English clubs are spending their cash from CVC on the future by plundering the AB’s... Quinn’s are causing Barrit, Retallic is supposedly in his way to Sale for £1m, Franks to Saints. FFS. These are great players but they won’t turn a shitty club into a great one on their own. They really need to be investing in junior players.
Wilson IMO had his best game in a Scotland shirt
Playing a Flanker at 9 went so well last time it was tried in the 6N......
Playing a Flanker at 9 went so well last time it was tried in the 6N……
Ha! It's about time someone tried that again. 😀
By the last round of 6N all teams are likely to have a substantial injury list. With Scotland’s smaller player pool you’d expect it to hurt them most.
Ha poor Bergamasco! Still gets mentioned in Comms nearly every Italy game!!
especially as we have 22 players out now!
Wilson at 9 - you know it makes sense 😉
This headline sucks- Isiekwe isn't actually being shooed into Itoje's jersey, he is just being pulled up from below - surely its Lawes or Launch who are most likely to start right?
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/feb/05/nick-isiekwe-replaces-injured-maro-itoje-in-england-squad-france-six-nations-rugby-union
I’m hoping that Lanchbury starts as some ballast against the French fatties. Lawes can then come on for impact. He offers more as an impact sub than either Launchbury or young Isiekwe.
Just read that the French have called up a replacement hooker who is away on holiday and can join up with the squad until Thursday! You couldn’t make it up, what a shambles! He’ll probably go on to be man of the match now....😂
Saying that, given this quote I’m not surprised;
“I did not even know I was a captain,” Vahaamahina told Midi Olympique in the aftermath of a defeat that he contributed massively to as it was his ill-advised pass that gifted George North the interception for the winning try.
“It was the referee who came to see me on a penalty to ask me my choice. I told him to address the captain. He said it was me. The staff did not warn me.”
That Vahaamahina story sums up the current Frenchs set up.
People keep saying they're improving. They're not. They got beaten by Fiji in the Autumn did they not? The same Fiji who got thrashed by SCotland. France have the capacity to play 40 minutes of decent rugby but seem to have an even greater capacity to play forty minutes of truly terrible rugby.
I'd like to see Launchbury come in. I can't recall him ever having a bad game for Wasps or England. Maybe he has? I just don't remember one. He always seems to put in a minimum of a 7/8 out of 10 performance and often higher.
Centre Jonathan Davies is set to captain Wales for the first time in Saturday's Six Nations match against Italy.
Regular skipper Alun Wyn Jones is set to be on the bench in a much-changed Wales team
Oh shit!
Resting him against Italy looks sensible to me. You’ll need to give him a game off in the RWC at some point, so experience for the next rung down is probably more important than anything else
Yeah but resting a few and lots of changes is worrying me
I doubt you’ll play perfectly, but if it means a better, more experienced RWC squad you’d take it, no?
If you win the World Cup, nobody will care that you only beat Italy by 5 Pts
This year is prob the best chance Wales/Ireland/England/Scotland have had for a long time to progress deep in a RWC. Everything else is secondary this year.
It's a very very long time since Ireland progressed deep into a RWC 😂
If you win the World Cup, nobody will care that you only beat Italy by 5 Pts
1. We wont win the world cup.
2. We are more than capable of losing to Italy.
I think this applies to all six nations.
All teams (apart from NZ) will be hoping someone else does them a favour and knocks out the ABs. If that happens, it’s suddenly wide open!
Might win the world cup if this fella setting up the try goes!! He slices thru the Saracens defence with a rapier like break 😁
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2yxSwFiu5SQ
England retained squad.
Forwards
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Jamie George (Saracens), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs), Brad Shields (Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons).
Backs
Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Owen Farrell (Saracens) captain, George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Dan Robson (Wasps) *, Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
I am no expert but it looks like, other then Maro, the starters will be the same as last week, and he is mixing up the finishers. With the emphasis on meat.
Be interesting to see the team sheet. Is that due tomorrow? Or will it be Friday as its a Sunday game?
Starters/finishers....EFF OFF!
Starting team, reserves.
Starters/finishers….EFF OFF!
Starting team, reserves.
The key to making it in the world is adaptability.
I reckon Cole will start (I’m not sure he’s really an impact player). He’s been pretty good for Tigers since getting dropped and is good in the scrum (he just does sweet FA else these days). Sinkler will have a fair old impact off the bench, carrying against what appears to be a pretty unfit French team. Guessing that Shields might replace Hughes on the bench given that he covers more positions but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him start because Eddie loves him for some reason.
Re the French, Ben Ryan has written a piece for the Guardian banging on about how they are getting their act together and most stuff is cliche, but.... they do look like a bloody shambles. Calling up a hooker on holiday, not telling the vice captain that he’ll be taking over when the captain is subbed off etc. This is all backed up by stories from the likes of Goode and Hamilton when they talk about their time in France. Maybe it’s all a big rues and they’re going to surprise us all.
Eddie loves him for some reason.
Hes not English.
The key to making it in the world is adaptability.
😀
Point proven.
Wales: L Williams; Holmes, J Davies (capt), Watkin, Adams; Biggar, A Davies; N Smith, Dee, Lee, Ball, Beard Wainwright, Young, Navidi.
Replacements: Elias, W Jones, D Lewis, Alun Wyn Jones, Moriarty, G Davies, Anscombe, Amos.
I will be watching from behind the sofa!
Ha ha. That’s a lot of changes to the team. They’re in a good mood though haveing has a nice week in Nice.
I’m pretty sure they’ll have enough to beat Italy with that team.
Mindmap - are you going to the wuss Cup semi tomorrow night?
Stoner - I’m not no, I’d like to though.
You heading down?
Stoner always enjoys a semi.
Just seen the team put out by Worcester; looks bobbins in the backs. Looks like they’re prioritising the Quine game.
fighting off manflu but I have a ticket on the fridge to go, so will try and make it down. Will see how I feel tomorrow pm.
squad pick definitely from the resting bench. Sarries squad not exactly chocker with A listers either though.
Nice to see Will Butler start though (lad from my club, Ledbury RFC, he's actually coming to train with us U12s in a week or so)
Ted Hill picked to captain the Eng U20 side this weekend too.
Scotland team out
Dell McInally Berghan
J. Gray Gilchrist
Wilson Ritchie Strauss
Laidlaw Russell
Johnson Jones
Maitland Hogg Seymour
Bhatti Brown Rae Toolis Harley Price Horne Kinghorn
Tough call on Kinghorn and Gary Graham. Big Bad Bob on the bench for a bit more physicality. Every team needs a ginger tackle monster
Got to be a good team to take on the Irish - about as strong a pack as we could put out tho losing Nel weakens the scrum. Fine set of backs who will score tries if the forwards give them some decent ball.
Tough call on Kinghorn
Its is, although Maitland maybe better in the air which will be important v Ireland.
France have naked a pretty strong looking team. Bamba in the front front row and he was immense at U20 level. Fat boy is back in the centres; the collisions with Manu are going to be monstrous.
I’m hoping that we’ll take a different approach to Ireland and avoid trying to batter them physically. If we play with pace, I don’t think the limos they’ve picked will cope particularly well. If we get dragged into a slog fest, they’ll fancy their chances.
Ashton replaces Nowell who drops to the bench, Lawes starts with Launchbury, Cole and Moon on the bench. Other than that, it’s as per last week.
so again, Wuss lose two players to the call up 35, that again dont get a cap 🙁
Anyone would think he was just grabbing some canon fodder for the lads to practice running into.
15 Elliot Daly (Wasps, 26 caps), 14 Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks, 43 caps), 13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 18 caps), 12 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 28 caps), 11 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 41 caps), 10 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 66 caps) (c), 9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 81 caps), 1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 52 caps), 2 Jamie George (Saracens, 33 caps), 3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 18 caps), 4 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 69 caps), 5 George Kruis (Saracens, 28 caps), 6 Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons, 9 caps), 7 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 6 caps), 8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 37 caps).
Finishers (249 caps)
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 8 caps), 17 Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs, 4 caps), 18 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 82 caps), 19 Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 54 caps), 20 Nathan Hughes (Wasps, 19 caps), 21 Dan Robson (Wasps, uncapped), 22 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 52 caps), 23 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 30 caps).
Gashton returns ahead of Nowell, didnt see that coming!
thats cos nowell will come on for Curry as soon as he has his yellow card.
I’m guessing that they want to see what Ashton can do with more game time. Maybe it hints at a less attritional approach?
Interesting to see that they’ve chosen some proper scrummaging props on the bench. I think there is some concern re the French front row. If Mako and Sinkler get pinged off the park there are alternatives.
One thing I did notice about Nowell in the Ireland game, and in others, was that when it is on, he has the tendency to come out of position and look for stuff. Which is kinda good, but defensively terrifying. I am no expert so perhaps you guys can tell me why coming out of position is a good thing, maybe it is a strategy, or if perhaps EJ has clipped his wings slightly because of it? He is a serious asset, but there were a few times when he had me thinking "wtf are you doing there?".
Glad to see Manu kept his spot.
"Anyone would think he was just grabbing some canon fodder for the lads to practice running into."
Stoner , he can have that tosser O'Teo all day long for that . I do feel sorry for the other chap . Hopefully his chance will come .
Mind you Gashton used to be a defensive liability so I think I am probably talking shite here.