Telfer was talking to the Daily Mail originally
I didn't know that. Target audience and all that, eh?
He sounds like a typical reader.
Telfer also laid into England's Six Nations rivals Wales saying: "Wales is not an easy country to coach because, basically, the Welsh are lazy.
fixed it for Jim:
Telfer also laid into England's Six Nations rivals [s]Wales[/s] Scotland saying: "[s]Wales [/s]Scotlandis not an easy country to coach because, basically, the [s]Welsh[/s] Scottish are [s]lazy[/s] shit.
Ireland intrigue me this season as their backs look stronger than their pack.
Coaching them, playing against and with them, I realised they had reached the top because they were the cream and had not necessarily worked all that hard to get there. Wales do produce very good rugby players.
fixed it for Jim:
Coaching them, playing against and with them, I realised they had reached the top because they [s]were the cream and had not necessarily worked all that hard to get there[/s] cheat. Wales do produce very good rugby players.
A_A Scotland are not sh1t. We just look it because all the grease on our fingers from the deep fried salads makes it hard to catch a ball, hang on to a tackle etc. Saying it before someone else does 😉
Besides if last years BBC blog stats are to be believed, Scotland are pretty decent.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tomfordyce/2012/01/why_scotland_are_better_than_e.html
Joking apart that Scotland pack looks strong and could well cause england problems
Stop believing all the shite spouted on here, the 6 nations defies prediction based on form, especially Wales. There is all kind of possibles and could well do's, most people on here just use the forum as as a vehicle to be one eyed and try to piss off their favourite enemy.
Yeah joking aside I am pretty happy with scotland team and i think most of the matches will be close.
However I think France may just do the slam this year they have the potential to have one of the great backlines with fofana, fickou, michalak, buttin, parra, bastareaud...the list goes on and their forwards are not to shabby either.
Stop believing all the shite spouted on here, the 6 nations defies prediction based on form, especially Wales. There is all kind of possibles and could well do's, most people on here just use the forum as as a vehicle to be one eyed and try to piss off their favourite enemy.
How wrong you are. Its quite sad for you. Most here enjoy the endless debate and piss taking and dont take it too seriously.
the 6 nations defies prediction based on form, especially Wales.
the 6N rarely defies predictions based on form*, other than throwing up the odd result like Italy beating Wales (repeatedly! 🙄 )
But if you mean based on form as seen by the normal 6N viewer who watches no rugby at all through the year apart from the 6N and expects England or France to romp it [i]just because[/i], or Wales to sneak it because they did last year, take breath, then you might be right. 🙂
*England squad:**Forwards (13):* Dan Cole, Dylan Hartley, James Haskell, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Joe Marler, Ben Morgan, Geoff Parling, Chris Robshaw, Mako Vunipola, David Wilson, Tom Wood, Tom Youngs,
*Backs (10):* Chris Ashton, Brad Barritt, Mike Brown, Danny Care, Owen Farrell, Toby Flood, Alex Goode, David Strettle, Billy Twelvetrees, Ben Youngs.
"Players released:" Mouritz Botha, Lee Dickson, Ben Foden, Jonathan Joseph, Matt Kvesic, Ugo Monye, Henry Thomas, Billy Vunipola, Thomas Waldrom
so either 12trees starts or Flood and Farre start, intresting.
so either 12trees starts or Flood and Farre start, interesting.
Interesting in the sense that England are liable to revert to type and bosh it up front then kick it in the air and run after it - unless Scotland are inept enough to let them score a bunch of tries.
Tuilagi is the only player who can (literally) break the gain-line and he's not there so it's the same old problem in midfield.
I think 36* could be a great England player, especially alongside his old tigers back line, Farrell could make any centre look awful! He's strong and very creative with an awesome boot. First test though so won't make a huge impact.
* twelvethrees geddit?
As a Scotsman i look at that England squad and think man for man Scotland save for a couple of positions are a match for them. However i would also say that England as a team are greater than the sum of their parts at present.
Lets hope we get some good rugby this weekend.
Predictions
England by less than 7
Ireland by 5-10
France by 7-14
@stephenjones9: Have it on good authority that Wales team more hit by injury than we thought and dramatic new cap up front from the Parade ..__________________
Coombs.... Shit
Concensus of the boys in the Office in Swansea is that we will turn over the Paddies, I am not convinced at all. I fear a bleak 6 Nations 🙁
Pigface the consensus in my office in Belfast is the same! I'm really worried that we won't see much of the ball, despite turnip head Deccie protesting that a back row with two 6's is the best combination. Its possible that Wales will play with two 7's so how we are going to win ruck ball I don't know. Chris Henry has been in outstanding form and should have been starting at 7 with POM or SOB at 6.
I think we could struggle at scrum time especially if Healy or Ross were to get injured. The replacement props are iffy to say the least. Kilcoyne is a young prop who would struggle with Adam Jones and Fitzpatrick has played about 10 mins of rugby this season.
We have the backs to do a bit of damage but we will need the ball to do so.
Being suggested on gwlad
15. Halfpenny
14. Cuthbert
13. Davies
12. Roberts
11. North
10. Biggar
9. Phillips
1. Jenkins
2. Rees
3. Jones
4. Evans
5. Coombs
6. Shingler
8. Faletau
7. Warburton__________________
Irish backs are midgets by comparison. If welsh forwards do their job welsh backs could do a number on the irish like they did last year. If Bod breaks and Earls replaces him ireland are screwed. That said i still favour ireland.
The odd thing is Ireland have picked a fast exciting backline but no 7. If Wales pick Tips and Warbs or Warbs and Shingler all of whom are very rapid and ireland spread it wide they might come unstuck. But then sending the irish backs down the middle against Roberts and Davies et all could be messy too. Best just kick it to the corners and pressure the shit welsh lineout. Too close a game to call imo.
And the consensus in my office in Swansea is that the Swans had a huge queue for tickets. No talk at all about the 6N!
Its possible that Wales will play with two 7's so how we are going to win ruck ball I don't know.
Drive [s]over the top[/s] in from the side and flop on the ball same as Ireland have done for years? 😉
Too close a game to call imo.
+1.
No Toby Flood for england seems crazy to me. What do the Englanshire fans think
If Scotland can keep the penalty count down i think we have a chance. I think our backrow and back three are better.
Another question: DO you view the Scottish as unfit? (the rugby team not the nation in general)
Beattie definately has performed well this season, but at club he is alongside Ouedraogo, Gorgodze, Tulou, Galletier, Bias (there's a lot of choice at Montpellier for the 3rd row and they're arguably the best in the top14)
I'd like to see what he can offer with a less rehearsed group.
ijs445ra - MemberIf Scotland can keep the penalty count down i think we have a chance.
The problem is that playing at Twickenham the penalty count will be in England's favour - home advantage, noisy crowd, English team constantly whinging at ref and all that.
If Scotland can keep the penalty count down i think we have a chance. I think our backrow and back three are better.
Although I don't agree that your backrow is better (although your second row is very impressive indeed), I think you have more than a chance. With marler and youngs in the front row, we will get smashed in the scrum.
We have a OH who doesn't play the position full time, a wing who is out of position, a debutant outside centre and a SH with little imagination.
The problem is that playing at Twickenham the penalty count will be in England's favour - home advantage, noisy crowd, English team constantly whinging at ref and all that.
Have you seen who the ref is?
Is the ref Jim Telfer? 🙂
Even worse than that....
A man who is near the front of the queue for my fantasy mass grave.
Is it Alain???
It is indeed.
😆 I feel your pain.
As a Scotsman i look at that England squad and think man for man Scotland save for a couple of positions are a match for them. However i would also say that England as a team are greater than the sum of their parts at present.
I agree with everything other than the first sentence.
England more than 20 points clear, easy.
WALES: Leigh Halfpenny (Blues); Alex Cuthbert (Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Blues), George North (Scarlets); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Bayonne); Gethin Jenkins (Toulon), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Sam Warburton (Blues, capt), Toby Faletau (Dragons).REPLACEMENTS: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Paul James (Bath), Craig Mitchell (Exeter), Olly Kohn (Harlequins), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Blues), James Hook (Perpignan), Scott Williams (Scarlets).
IRELAND: R Kearney; C Gilroy, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, S Zebo; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best, M Ross; M McCarthy, D Ryan; P O'Mahony, S O'Brien, J Heaslip (capt).
REPLACEMENTS: S Cronin, D Kilcoyne, D Fitzpatrick, C Henry, D O'Callaghan, E Reddan, R O'Gara, K Earls.
welsh bench looks stronger especially front 5 wise this could be crucial.
Not sure why Tom Court's not there.
He did get mangled by England last time, but that was on his wrong side, and he's been a big part of a pretty dominant Ulster front row this year. Still, Kilcoyne's pretty highly rated by his supporters and "one for the future" too. Think I'd have preffered the Kiwi as the other back up prop too.
Does feel like a slightly weird "light" front five/heavy back 3 pack though, but they did a good job on the argies. Could get messy if Ross get's a knock and Wales bring on their new 21 stone lock.
IMO, Henry deserves to keep his spot after the autumn. But so does O'Mahoney. And SOB is pure class. Shame Heaslip's captain really, but he is playing better than the last couple of seasons.
In the other game, I'd be surprised if the Scot's don't do them in the front row. 3 quality players with experience. And they should hold there own in the lineout too with them locks. A bit of shitty weather and it could be another game like the 6-3 in Oz last year.
wrecker - MemberHave you seen who the ref is?
Haha, Rolland hates everyone equally though - he just hates the game of rugby, I'm convinced. And it could be worse, could be Steve Walsh.
Oh hold on, Steve Walsh is the ref for Wales v England! He's best friends with some of the English boys, isn't he? 😆
The Welsh team looks much better than I thought it would, bench included.
Big gamble Ian Evans starting his first game since November and I cannot see how Rees has been picked over Owens as he isnt at the Scarlets and Hibbard is in the best form anyway.
The Welsh team looks much better than I thought it would, bench included.
Wise words just hope that Howley can get them in he right frame of mind.
Howley, MacBryde and HLF the unltimate nightmare coaching team 😥
England with Marler in the front row, not good. Youngs with Cole + some other monster on the other side is brilliant with Leicester, but Marlers no scrummager. I think the England backs? well, I think the with Farrell, who doesn't play FH for saffacens, they may be so starved of ball that it doesn't matter who's there. Lots of work for Billy in his first test, I'd love to see him with the wrecking ball outside, but that'll have to wait.
England by 10.
Ireland by 5
Youngs and Marler in the front row is bad news....it didn't work in the autumn. You know what you're getting with Ferrell though....if you're going to pick a load of backs that could realistically all play in the scrum, then a FH that is good at kicking for territory and goal kicking is no bad thing.
Gethins 100th test on sat. 95 for wales 5 for Lions.
anagallis_arvensis - MemberHowley, MacBryde and HLF the unltimate nightmare coaching team
Not quite.
For the full-on waking nightmare you need to have Nigel Davies and Gareth Jenkins as advisors.
I may have missed the discussion but the England bench is quite something. I think what we saw with the AB's is a strong posession orientated carrying game 4-8 and a quicker turnover. Haskill will be on at 8 for sure.
Hartley, Lawes, Haskill and Flood coming on using that tactic could have quite an impact on tired Scots at 60 mins - Lawes and Haskill in attack pose a big physical threat, and even the angry man got's quite a straight half-break game when it gets loose.
It could be fairly close at H/T with Haskill and Lawes rampaging through broken Scots 2h maybe....
Haskel is shit. The other option is the scots rinse england at the breakdown and england only have haskel on the bench. If you start with two 6.5's a proper 7 on the bench would be good surely?
I wouldn't say Haskell is shit but for sure he has never lived up to the potential his physique suggests.
Haskill and Lawes rampaging through broken Scots 2h maybe....
Don't know why you think the English will have lots of tired Scots to run at. One thing we are not short of is second/back rows. Ally K will come on for the show pony at half time(or earlier I hope)and we will see how much "rampaging" gets done by Courtney* Lawes
* Who calls their male child "Courtney" anyway? 😀
AA has a point - Haskill isn't the most skilled play and we miss a natuaral 7.
However, I've stood next to Haskell and Worsely, and I'm sure I'd not like either running at me at pace. Haskell can be very good at imposing his size and elbows through the 9/10 channel. Impact wise against a tired team its an option.
Sorry AA but I don't think the Scots are going to cope if England produce an attacking onslaught of any quality in the last 20.
Tom Croft has the ability to take the ball further though IMO.
