At least Wales know:
a) Their best XV
b) How they're going to play
England don't really know the answers to either question.
Lolz at 1 drink for Brian Moore speaks latin 😆
a) Their best XV
b) How they're going to play
a) All the biggest players they can find.
b) Hulk smash!
Not much of a game plan.
I'm royally pessimistic about England this year.
Prediction-
Ireland
Wales
France
England/Scotland
Italy
I think England will go well, Wales have missed their chance to kick on from a few years ago IMO. Ireland look strong, France god knows and Scotchland could improve too
I think this years tournament is the hardest to call in years. I don't see a GS or wooden spoon.
I don't see Italy winning a game this year, although I suppose there's always the chance that they beat France!
I expect a much more competitive showing from Scotchland, and whilst I'd have Ireland as favourites, it really could go any way....should be a cracking 6N's.
Telegraphs' England "probable" (they never seem to get it wrong....)
Mike Brown; Jonny May, Jonathan Joseph, Luther Burrell, Anthony Watson; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole, Dave Attwood, George Kruis, James Haskell, Chris Robshaw, Billy Vunipola.
Not a bad side by any means. Should be a close game. Its going to be brutally physical too.
I'd like to see that team play. Put in Youngs for kiwi biter, and of course those locks are not first choice, but other than that, I'm reasonably happy. I don't even think Tuilagi should be in ahead of those centres, not until he's back playing like he did anyway.
Ireland as favourites
They're still available at bigger odds , 9/4, than England at 2/1.
So England are slight favourites.
Wales third favourites for the title, but weirdly, looking at their fixtures it's almost certain that they'll start each individual game as match favourites, like this week.
TBH, they've got ideal fixtures for a Slam with home advantage against the two higher ranked teams, England and Ireland, and the theoretically "easier" games away. Slam or bust, maybe?
Wales third favourites for the title,
Worth a punt maybe *[i]shivers[/i]* that felt dirty 😀
Its going to be brutally physical too.
That's what I thought. Reckon Dylan and Lee will manage to stay on the field?
That's what I thought. Reckon Dylan and Lee will manage to stay on the field?
Two most likely to get cards for sure.
Not a bad side by any means. Should be a close game. Its going to be brutally physical too.
You can see - according to the telegraph - that our forwards are going to be running at Wales. A lot. Its going to be a war of attrition, and any balls that go to the Welsh backs I hope England will get up fast with Brown, Youngs & May sweeping for the kick over from 1/2p.
I think the England game is obvious, they are going to carry into and set piece Wales to death. Burrell's there to mark Desparate Dan in defense, although actually Joseph from Ford and Burrell could be a very good pair of attacking centres*, I wonder if in attack they might revert to thier club positions.
*oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please oh please
England squad to face Wales:Forwards: Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), James Haskell (Wasps), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, captain), Henry Thomas (Bath Rugby) Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Backs: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints), Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks), George Ford (Bath Rugby), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
So Croft or Easter to bench cover lock? Maybe croft will start? Has he played much recently. Cole has had no game time has he? Cipriani on bench with Nowell and 36?
Croft at 6 would help the lineout but doesnt have the grunt of Haskel
I wonder if in attack they might revert to thier club positions.
I expect they will play in their club positions all the way; Burrell at 12, Joseph at 13. Easter will bench as will celebriani.
Kitchener, care, some fatties and sadly probably Goode.
Goode, Kitchiner and Care not in squad.
[url= http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/six-nations-bbc-promo-decided-8553745 ]6 Nations Advert[/url]
Not sure if this was posted up earlier but I enjoyed this 😀
Am I brave in feeling optimistic for a few good Scottish results? We definitely won't be winning but a finish outside the bottom 2 would be nice, maybe even top 3 if we're lucky?
Well, with Vern Cotter you've got your first decent coach in a long while.
I think he can get Scotland back on the map. A weak Scotland is bad for the championship.
Frank Hadden, Andy Robinson, Matt Williams. Scott wotsisname - you've had some bad ones.
Goode, Kitchiner and Care not in squad.
WTF? No sub 2nd row???
Haskell and Croft as replacement 2nd rows? Not sure about that!
Its been hinted that Easter could sub in the second row. Wrecker I have a quite hope that that centre pairing works and becomes the RWC pairing.
Good players in their natural positions who'd have thought...
[i]England:
Mike Brown, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Luther Burrell, Jonny May, George Ford, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole, Dave Attwood, George Kruis, James Haskell, Chris Robshaw (captain), Billy Vunipola
Replacements: Tom Youngs, Mako Vunipola, Kieran Brookes, Tom Croft, Nick Easter, Richard Wigglesworth, Danny Cipriani, Billy Twelvetrees
[/i]
Amazed that Kitchener isn't on the bench (or any lock for that matter) and Croft / Cole, although I rate them both massively, are very short on game time. I think Cole is simply a case of no other options, but Croft?
Back line actually looks as good as any I've seen out for England in a long time. I know Burrell didn't look good against Roberts the other week, but it's hard when the entire team is taking a kicking, and although I don't think he's a better player, he's good enough.
Really looking forward to it now, Friday night early finish and get down the pub to warm up!
[i]France:
Spedding, Huget Bastareaud, Fofana, Thomas, Lopez, Kockott, Chouly, Dusautoir (cap), Le Roux, Maestri, Pape, Slimani, Guirado, Menini
Replacements: Kayser, Atonio, Ben Arous, Taofifenua, Goujon, Parra, Tales, Lamerat
[/i]
IMO, Looks at least as strong as the other teams announced so far now they've found a good 10 in Lopez. Has the potential to make them a real top side, just in time for WC year.
Bit like Webb at 9, IMO.
Maybe not the best two players in the tournament, or even their own teams, but exactly what their teams have been crying out for to get the best of the players outside them.
Those two could turn out to be the most significant players in Europe.
I think Cole is simply a case of no other options
Brookes and Thomas are very good rugby players.
I know Burrell didn't look good against Roberts the other week, but it's hard when the entire team is taking a kicking
Agreed. Weirdly some seem to think that it was a two man game; Burrell did little wrong. They were just moving backwards at such a rate.
Like I said before, I think at last we have the best England centre pairing we are going to get, let's hope Lancaster sees it the same way. I guess it's up to JJ to prove himself, but it's a hard game to do it in and I hope Lancaster bears that in mind and doesn't shrug 36 back Onto the pitch should JJ have a muted game. I'm still not sure how 36 is so high up the pecking order.
It's a bit weird this wales england game I reckon
England's hopes seem to be to get some decent ball (are England's back row quick enough) and for their iddy biddy backs to give the mahoosive welsh backs the run around!
Who'd have thunk it?
Anthony Watson 6'2 - 14st
Luther Burrell 6'3 - 17 st
JJ 5'11 14st
Mike Brown 6ft 14st
May 6ft 1 - 14st
Oh yes they are quite tiny. 😐
14st for 6 foot plus is also pretty iddy biddy in elite rugby (if you believe the stats). That is 1/2p weight for a shorter guy, and not far off Shane Williams's quoted weights 😆
Also, I'm sure we've had this discussion before, but don't believe the quoted height and weight stats in rugby 😉
don't believe the quoted height and weight stats in rugby
Quite.
Mike Phillips
Height: 1.91 m
Weight: 104 kg
Phillips is a big lad, bigger than most opensides
Taller by a couple of cm perhaps but he isn't the same build as any decent ones. He's never just shy of 17 stone.
That puts him 2cm taller and 2 kgs heavier than dusautoir. No chance.
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
Mike Phillips, just being rolled out of a cryogenic chamber in time for a match ^^
Some things are just not surprising.
Not sure where that pic is from but he looks much smaller than when I last saw him a few years ago- it isn't height as such, just that he was massively barrel chested!
Henson is allegedly 100kg and 1.83m according to Wikipedia but he was barely taller than me at 1.75m and no way anywhere near 100kg. I think my wife said something along the lines of "look there is a teenager that looks like Gavin" when we saw him wandering around town with his beautifully shaved legs out 😆
No doubt the stats are lies but I wouldnt argue with any of them!!
Quick gif for no reason whatsoever.[img] 
[/img]
IRELAND team to play Italy - Saturday 7th February, 201515. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
13. Jared Payne (Ulster)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
11. Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster)
10. Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) Captain
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
7. Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)
8. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17. James Cronin (Dolphin/Munster)
18. Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster)
19. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
20. Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
21. Isaac Boss (Terenure/Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock/Leinster)
23. Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster)
Team looks to be coming together nicely. Decent bench too. 🙂
France playing in red, apparently.
Scotland team looks good too. Cant wait!!!
Rugby related beer PSA - Waitrose were doing Rev James for £1.50 a bottle.
I ordered plenty!
Any news yet on if the roof will be open or closed tomorrow? Lancaster seemed keen to keep it open unless there was a massive downpour
Open.
Telegraph sports pages were claiming that as "first blood" to Lancaster. Comical. Then again, same sports page was of the opinion that the English back row is better than Lyds, Faletau and Hovis.
Telegraph sports page was of the opinion that the English back row is better than Lyds, Faletau and Hovis.
Someone has been at the crack pipe.
Not a lot between the backrows. Englands carries better. Warburton is better on the floor and as a unit they defends better. Faletau hasnt played well for a while though
