Discussion
Welshbeef said:
When are we going to see a ROI and a N Ireland Rugby sides?
Is there actually any demand for that from the Irish fans? Gettin Georgia and Romania in to form the 8 nations would add about 3 weeks onto the completion if you allow for a weeks rest. Advantages would be increasing the new teams exposure to world rugby with an increase in ticket and TV revenue for everyone. the main downsides would be the amount of time that international players are away from their clubs.
The British sides should definitely try and play regular friendlies against them both though. Or how about Welsh, English, Irish and Scottish B teams v Georgia and Romania as a start?
Well done England, as a Slam is a Slam as you can only play what is put in front of you.
I love the 6N and enjoy taking my lad to all the Scotland games at Murrayfield. We always make a weekend of it and the atmosphere and the craic are magnificent.
To see his face as they beat France was fantastic. Probably went some way to make up for his dad going mental at the England game in Feb 😀
Bring on the Autumn Tests!
I love the 6N and enjoy taking my lad to all the Scotland games at Murrayfield. We always make a weekend of it and the atmosphere and the craic are magnificent.
To see his face as they beat France was fantastic. Probably went some way to make up for his dad going mental at the England game in Feb 😀
Bring on the Autumn Tests!
Enjoyed yesterdays game with one or two many pints....
England deserved winners on the night and the Grand Slam. I couldn't believe how France tallied that many points and at one point it was squeaky bum time getting within a score, despite the fact they never really looked like crossing the white wash. I'd like to see the points reduced for a penalty to 2.
France aren't in flux they are officially just pretty s
t. They've now finished in the bottom half for something like the last 5 6N's? No doubt their national side continues to suffer with the influx of foreigners and lack of cooperation with the clubs and the union.
The ceiling of this potential England team is high, I say potentially as some of the young ones need further development while some of the more experienced heads need to be slowly phased to the bench and then out of the squash in time for the next WC.
Australia will be an interesting tour. At this time of year in the UK when the pitches are starting to firm up the difference really tells in fitness etc. I'm pretty sure EJ will have the team in the best shape possible. What is most encouraging from England is we seem to have plenty of creativity and are scoring trys.
England deserved winners on the night and the Grand Slam. I couldn't believe how France tallied that many points and at one point it was squeaky bum time getting within a score, despite the fact they never really looked like crossing the white wash. I'd like to see the points reduced for a penalty to 2.
France aren't in flux they are officially just pretty s
t. They've now finished in the bottom half for something like the last 5 6N's? No doubt their national side continues to suffer with the influx of foreigners and lack of cooperation with the clubs and the union.The ceiling of this potential England team is high, I say potentially as some of the young ones need further development while some of the more experienced heads need to be slowly phased to the bench and then out of the squash in time for the next WC.
Australia will be an interesting tour. At this time of year in the UK when the pitches are starting to firm up the difference really tells in fitness etc. I'm pretty sure EJ will have the team in the best shape possible. What is most encouraging from England is we seem to have plenty of creativity and are scoring trys.
I enjoyed that, sort of.
Have posted previously about this being a weak championship but any side that wins all five games deserves the accolades. It's easy to chuck bricks but what's more interesting is where this actually leaves England. In a good place, I think. Winning a pressure game like that, taking the championship and Grand Slam is a massive step forward for this team especially given that it still has a relatively young core with scope for managed entry of some of the upcoming talent. Allied with the way they played (at times), the development of Kruis, Billy Vunipola, Itoje etc and the fact we could genuinely see development over an 8 year cycle (halfway through) I'm genuinely enthusiastic about the future of this side.
As for the other Home Nations: Wales continue to be a good team, a bit off form at times, but they'll be back. Ireland can reasonably write this off as an injury induced aberration and Scotland have shown good progress under Cotter. So it's not all doom and gloom. Roll on the Lions...
Have posted previously about this being a weak championship but any side that wins all five games deserves the accolades. It's easy to chuck bricks but what's more interesting is where this actually leaves England. In a good place, I think. Winning a pressure game like that, taking the championship and Grand Slam is a massive step forward for this team especially given that it still has a relatively young core with scope for managed entry of some of the upcoming talent. Allied with the way they played (at times), the development of Kruis, Billy Vunipola, Itoje etc and the fact we could genuinely see development over an 8 year cycle (halfway through) I'm genuinely enthusiastic about the future of this side.
As for the other Home Nations: Wales continue to be a good team, a bit off form at times, but they'll be back. Ireland can reasonably write this off as an injury induced aberration and Scotland have shown good progress under Cotter. So it's not all doom and gloom. Roll on the Lions...
If we're going to go for flakey we might as well have Wade IMOFrance being France - they actually showed up and gave us a game. Not pretty but a result ground out and deserved winners of the slam whether vintage or not. Yes, they will struggle against top flight Southern Hemisphere teams at present, but there are glimpses of great talent in the team and it looks like EJ has a plan. I thought the ref was overly harsh on England too - not the best game from a well thought of referee.
I don't think Ford had a great tournament. But I'm not sure playing him and Farrell on the pitch at the same time is wise. Youngs is another player I've rated in the past who was very mixed. Cole needs putting out to pasture.
Be interesting to see what the team is like 12mths from now when EJ has had a good go at them.
Italy were poor against Wales. Perhaps the other games taking their toll on them?
Ireland/Scotland was a rubbish game and not a good advertisement. It would have been significantly closer without the yellows, but a messy game. Sexton seemed to want to emulate footy players - yes he was handled badly by the Scot, but no need for the theatrics. Of all the sides I get the impression Ireland are going to have the toughest time...For a team coming off the back of two consecutive wins they looked poor IMO.
We England fans need to keep a lid on expectations for the rest of this season...wouldn't bother me if we were whitewashed as long as the improvements seen in this tournament are still evident....this tournament next year will be where it starts getting interesting.
I don't think Ford had a great tournament. But I'm not sure playing him and Farrell on the pitch at the same time is wise. Youngs is another player I've rated in the past who was very mixed. Cole needs putting out to pasture.
Be interesting to see what the team is like 12mths from now when EJ has had a good go at them.
Italy were poor against Wales. Perhaps the other games taking their toll on them?
Ireland/Scotland was a rubbish game and not a good advertisement. It would have been significantly closer without the yellows, but a messy game. Sexton seemed to want to emulate footy players - yes he was handled badly by the Scot, but no need for the theatrics. Of all the sides I get the impression Ireland are going to have the toughest time...For a team coming off the back of two consecutive wins they looked poor IMO.
We England fans need to keep a lid on expectations for the rest of this season...wouldn't bother me if we were whitewashed as long as the improvements seen in this tournament are still evident....this tournament next year will be where it starts getting interesting.
Joey Ramone said:
Notwithstanding my earlier points about Italy, there is a presumption that, had there been relegation and promotion this year, then it would be Italy departing the 6N. Yet, had Parisse slotted that drop goal in Paris, and had Ireland slotted an extra penalty in their game against them, then it would be France being relegated. You'd be presented with a 6 Nations championship next year that would comprise Wales, Scotland, Ireland, England Italy and Georgia. Not only would it be an even weaker competition that it is now, but France's national team's rugby would suffer even more. Not a remotely satisfactory outcome.
Not necessarily. There is a proposal that instead of direct relegation, the bottom team would play a play-off over two legs against Georgia, thereby giving them a chance to redeem themselves. The current situation of a glass ceiling for Georgia (or whoever else might win the European Nations Cup) is unsatisfactory, unfair and unsporting.
Having a play-off arrangement would give Georgia a crack at a chance of playing in the 6 Nations, but would also give Italy (or Scotland or France or whoever) a chance to save themselves. And if they fail to save themselves, then so be it. That's sport. It's not healthy to maintain the current cosy closed shop. If for example, Georgia beat Italy in a play-off over two legs then they deserve to be in the 6 nations and Italy don't.
TheGreatSoprendo said:
1-McGrath
2-Best
3-Nel
4-AWJ (c)
5-Itoje
6-Stander
7-Hardie
8-Faletau
9-Webb
10-Biggar
11-Watson
12-Roberts
13-Joseph
14-North
15-Hogg
Subs:
16-Care
17-Vunipola
18-Owen
19-Lee
20-Sexton
21-Vunipola
22-Taylor
23-Williams
Apart from a few differences, pretty much what I think. Genuinely interested to hear your justification for Robert's at 12 though. He's a great player with the ability to get over the gain line. However as a 12, I feel he doesn't really distribute as much as he should (preferring to take it into contact). The times when Wales went wide against England and Italy, they looked very dangerous. Perhaps moving Robert's to 13 and Henshaw or (god forbid) the Scottish offerrings of Scott or Dunbar at 12? Just my penny's worth. 2-Best
3-Nel
4-AWJ (c)
5-Itoje
6-Stander
7-Hardie
8-Faletau
9-Webb
10-Biggar
11-Watson
12-Roberts
13-Joseph
14-North
15-Hogg
Subs:
16-Care
17-Vunipola
18-Owen
19-Lee
20-Sexton
21-Vunipola
22-Taylor
23-Williams
Murph7355 said:
I don't think Ford had a great tournament. But I'm not sure playing him and Farrell on the pitch at the same time is wise.
It's frustrating to watch. Even with Ford off his game I still think he distributes the ball from 10 better than Farrell though and you wouldn't want to leave Farrell's boot off the pitch at the moment. Difficult position for Jones but with a GS in the bag I think he's probably made the best of it.rb26 said:
Apart from a few differences, pretty much what I think. Genuinely interested to hear your justification for Robert's at 12 though. He's a great player with the ability to get over the gain line. However as a 12, I feel he doesn't really distribute as much as he should (preferring to take it into contact). The times when Wales went wide against England and Italy, they looked very dangerous. Perhaps moving Robert's to 13 and Henshaw or (god forbid) the Scottish offerrings of Scott or Dunbar at 12? Just my penny's worth.
Six nations 2016 top points scorer wore a 12 shirt. 
I wouldn't put Roberts in the XV, no one seems to struggle with his game anymore. I'd rather Henshaw or even try someone from further down the line where there seems to be more competition for places.
rb26 said:
Apart from a few differences, pretty much what I think. Genuinely interested to hear your justification for Robert's at 12 though. He's a great player with the ability to get over the gain line. However as a 12, I feel he doesn't really distribute as much as he should (preferring to take it into contact). The times when Wales went wide against England and Italy, they looked very dangerous. Perhaps moving Robert's to 13 and Henshaw or (god forbid) the Scottish offerrings of Scott or Dunbar at 12? Just my penny's worth.
He's playing to a gameplan but he's very capable of playing a wider, passing based game as evidenced by Saturday's game and his partnership with BOD for the Lions. These selections, whilst great fun, are always a bit spurious as the final selection will depend on who the head coach is and the style they want to play. One thing's for sure though, if Gatland is head coach, the good doctor will be an absolute shoe in as he's pivotal to Gatland's gameplan.
Here are the tries of the tournament, pick your faves. For me it's:
1. Heaslip v Italy
2. Hogg v Ireland
3. North v Scotland
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35856994
1. Heaslip v Italy
2. Hogg v Ireland
3. North v Scotland
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35856994
Sorry, I just don't get what justifies Eddie Jones talking about the All Blacks and beating them? Let's get it right. England beat Wales on two very dodgy penalty decisions and the linesman ruling North out of play when he slipped the winning inside pass at the death. Add the 5 minutes resetting the scrum under the posts due to constant England transgressions which I think is cynical foul play (Hence the moron Cole being binned eventually). Suddenly world beaters! My wobbly eye.
Hartley? A cheat. Every time the opposition weer penalised for not rolling away, he was there, doing nothing to contribute to the ruck except stopping the player moving away. I counted 4 occasions when he did this against Wales alone. If you are not active in the ruck WTF are you doing there if not to cheat?
Hartley? A cheat. Every time the opposition weer penalised for not rolling away, he was there, doing nothing to contribute to the ruck except stopping the player moving away. I counted 4 occasions when he did this against Wales alone. If you are not active in the ruck WTF are you doing there if not to cheat?
Gassing Station | Sports | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff