Rugby – 6 nations.

Merely debating / asking if others think this is a dangerous way to play?

Not at all, in my opinion.

The opposing player has to decide between competing legally for the ball in the air, or making a lawful tackle once the fielding player is on the ground. If the opposing player decides to run headfirst into someone’s studs, that’s unfortunate, but the danger is of their own making.

Boxfish – thinking more of when there is a crowd of players and guys jump for the ball studs first into the crowd.

Garryowens tend to produce a one-on-one between two opposing players, both of whom are entitled to compete by jumping studs up/down/sideways. Fortunately, injuries such as sustained by Southwell are rare and I believe they are an acceptable risk in the game.

Fairy snuff

Watch Kearney. That’s how it should be done.

So – back to the 6 nations.

Scotland seem to be being a little careless. to lose one player is unfortunate but more than one – distinctly careless

Ansbro and Dickenson now both confirmed out.

We are running out of props and outside backs. However the good news is “Dozer” Denton is back in full training

Not that you will listen TJ 😀 ….

Emphasis is on protecting the player(s) in the air.If two players are competing together in the air for a high ball legally, neither can get a boot in the air. If you are hitting a raised boot,you are running into a player still in the air and you are a silly boy. Who will get at least 10 mins to get stitches put in/nose wrenched into shape/teeth put into milk for the dentist to repair after the game.

TJ there should never be a crowd of players, the kicker is alowed to chase if anyone is infront of him from his own side then touches the ball they will be offside. Dont think I have explained it very well there but hope you get the gist.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/scotland/9049601/Scotland-v-England-SRU-red-faced-after-selling-Calcutta-Cup-winners-T-shirts-online-ahead-of-Six-Nations-opener.html

Mistake or psychological warfare?
The cynic in me says it wasn’t an accident.

The press are suggesting that Armitage could now become an England pariah.

Why are England being labelled arrogant? After a horrendous WC (and that is if you ignore the off the field antics) I don’t think that they could ever be labelled arrogant. Lancaster may be untried at this level (in fact untried at most levels) but he seems to have his feet firmly on the ground and sorting out the biggest idiots.

Armitage is a fool. Lifting you foot while jumping is common throughout the game, the SH countries do it as well. However his behaviour on and off the pitch is getting to the stage where his proposed move to France will be welcomed by both England and the London Irish fans (which foolishly includes me!)

In terms of who will do well this year, I am expecting a mixed bag of results for all teams. France should win, but will lose at least once. England will win a couple (probably Scotland, Italy) and blow the rest. Wales will be the best of the home nations – but a couple of defeats (one being very close and caused by the ref!) will spoil their season. Scotland will win at least one, but their inability to score tries is going to hurt them. Italy will be taking home the wooden spoon. Ireland will need to start moving on and dropping the old warhorses and trust the new guard

My ‘prediction’

France
Wales
Ireland
England
Scotland
Wales

In terms on management, Robinson will stay regardless of how Scotland do, the SRU cannot afford to fire him. Lancaster will be replaced as England Coach and go back to do Saxons. The rest should be static

My ‘prediction’

France
Wales
Ireland
England
Scotland
Wales

Awesome! 2nd, and yet we still get the wooden spoon as well! 🙂

Can everyone please think positive thoughts for the announcement of the Scotland team. No matter your allegiance no one can want to see anything but he most exciting and attacking Scotland team out there

So please everyone – think “no to Parks”

Ah, just read that Joe Ansbro is out. Thats a shame, he’s always impressed me when he’s played.

Aye – Hopefully that means one or both of Lee and Hogg get a game – two exciting runners

Havn’t seen a lot of Lee, guess we’ll probably find out soon.

John Beattie seems to think Cusiter and Parks will get the nod. I’d much rather see Blair and Laidlaw personally.

If Parks plays there will be a massive backlash – I would expect him to be booed onto the pitch and Robinson to be booed as well.

The fans will turn on Robinson and he will have to go

Think Chunky

Brrr that was a chilly training session. -1 😡

Coffee at PennyHill is awesome though 😮

Are you Jacobsen in disguise?

Afraid not TJ. I’m Dibbs…

I know that 🙂

Can’t feel my bleeding toes

In terms on management, Robinson will stay regardless of how Scotland do, the SRU cannot afford to fire him.

Not actually true any more. Nobody to replace him would be closer, however if a certain coach, who I have heard a whisper might be Irish, continues to do well at Embra,(and finally they are being funded by the no-longer-paying-for-Murrayfield SRU.) Robinson will be on a shoogly peg.

Can’t feel my bleeding toes

Jacobsen can’t touch his! 🙂

Or see them 🙂

France team has been announced, looks pretty tasty.

France team: M Medard (Toulouse); V Clerc (Toulouse), A Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), W Fofana (Clermont Auvergne), J Malzieu (Clermont Auvergne); F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), D Yachvili (Biarritz); V Debaty (Clermont Auvergne), W Servat (Toulouse), N Mas (Perpignan), P Pape (Stade Francais), L Nallet (Racing Metro), T Dusautoir (capt, Toulouse), J Bonnaire (Clermont Auvergne), L Picamoles (Toulouse)

Replacements: D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), J-B Poux (Toulouse), Y Maestri (Toulouse), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz), M Parra (Clermont Auvergne), L Beauxis (Toulouse), M Mermoz (Perpignan)

^^Grand Slam winning squad^^

Fantasy 6 Nations Rugby

There’s usually a fair bit of rugby banter round here but who really knows what they’re talking about?

To settle this, I’ve started a STW Six Nations Fantasy Rugpy League and extend an ivite to anyone here who feels they’re up to the challenge.

Entry is via the ESPNscrum website, and is free. They do supply some prizes for the overall winner, but nothing to compare with the pride of finishing as STW Six Nations Grand Slam Champion.

Set up a team here: http://espnscrum.fantasyleague.com/Index.aspx
then join the private league below.
League Name: STW Six Nations
League PIN: 8664

Good luck,
loum

AW FFS – HE HAS DONE IT

that the end of Robinson as Scotland coach and the end of our chances of a Calcutta cup win.

Can someone go and injure Parks for us please? Maybe from the kickoff?

15 Rory Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 26 caps, 6 tries, 30 points

14 Lee Jones (Edinburgh Rugby) new cap
13 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby) 29 caps, 1 try, 5 points
12 Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 60 caps, 8 tries, 40 points
11 Max Evans (Castres) 24 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

10 Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues) 66 caps, 4 tries, 15 conversions, 53 penalties, 17 drop-goals, 260 points
9 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 55 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh Rugby) 60 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) 53 caps, 2 tries, 10 points CAPTAIN
3 Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons) 41 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
4 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 16 caps
5 Jim Hamilton (Gloucester) 34 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester) 23 caps, 1 try, 5 points
7 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) 11 caps
8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 1 cap

Substitutes
16 Scott Lawson (Gloucester) 29 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
17 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 caps
18 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) 36 caps, 1 try, 5 points
19 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
20 Mike Blair (Edinburgh Rugby) 75 caps, 7 tries, 35 points
21 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps
22 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

I have £10 on Jim Hamilton being a Lions Lock.

The rest of the team is fine but why Parks?

I get he will be booed as will Robinson

You may not like it TJ, but that is a choice at 10 designed to take advantage of an expected forward advantage.All in all that is a pretty nasty tight 5, even allowing for Gray; I would have picked Kellock. Laidlaw’s time will come; the Calcutta cup isn’t that time. Looking forward to seeing Denton play; he reminds me of 21yo Jason White.

Duckman – Laidlaw is as good a kicker as Parks as well or we have Weir if you really want to play a kicking game who is far far better than Parks.

Both Weir and laidlaw are perfectly able to control the game and territory

Parks is also a revolving door in defense, is not on form for Cardiff and is brittle mentally

Barclay on the bench? Thought he would of started. Not a bad looking team, but I do worry about the style of rugby we’re planning on playing with Parks in the team 🙁

The type of rugby is going to be quite simple; sound of Park’s leather boot on laminate rugby ball, followed by the ground shaking as the Scottish pack chases it. I will have to disagree with TJ, I think we are setting out the stall of a positional game based on a percieved impression of forward dominance at which I think Parks is better. My worry is, while the English may be playing their 4th and 5th best props to give us a chance, I am not convinced we will be best suited by having Parks play for territory. I would still rather have Laidlaw moving them about as well.However despite TJ’s hatred of Parks, better judges than either of us think he provides a better kicking game. The short yard game that suited Edinburgh so well is too high risk for international rugby.

Duckman – have you seen laidlaw play? he is better at controlling territory than Parks even when Parks is at the top of his game and Parks is not on good form this season. Weir is better than both with a lot mor range on his kicks

We could still play a territorial gameplan with Laidlaw. But we would also have a variety in attack and somone who can tackle in the 10 channel.

Tis better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all.

Very dissapointing i think Parks is the wrong choice he has killed Cardiffs backline which should be one of the most exciting in the Pro12.

Picking Parks makes me worry about the game plan they are going out with as well. I think most outsiders have said they should be looking to move England about with quick ball and then unleash the backs.

I fear good progress by the forwards followed by drop goal attempts from Parks and Jones and Evans having no ball.

I am booing already

EDIT: I think the rest of the team looks pretty good, glad to see S Lamont at 12

Sorry teej; I saw this

Weir is better than both with a lot mor range on his kicks

And ignored the rest of your post.

Weir is a better kicker for controlling territory IMO with a longer rage than Parks or laidlaw. Certainly Parks can do nothing that Weir cannot and both Wier and Laidlaw can do things that parks can never do

Have you actually watched the HC games this year?

Parks is not even taking the place kicks for Cardiff half the time.

And anything on any of the other teams? 😉

Wales – Priestland possibly out? G. Jenkins questionable? I think this is a huge worry for the Welsh. Jenkins obviously brings experience and quality to the front 3, but I must admit I’m more concerned about Priestland. After the way he played at the RWC, what Jones did in the Semi as a replacement, and the way Hook played…I think the number 10 shirt could be a game-changing point. In years past, a Welshman would be happy with either Hook or Jones. Now, I’m not so sure.