Rugby 2016 6N

[a311]

I wouldn't write Wales off, lot of experience in that time and there's always that chance that the stars align and Warren-Ball is executed to the letter.

I would agree that they seem happy just to sit back and defend, which giving England's discipline so far they could sit back and knock over the 3 pointers all night.

I'm cautiously optimistic though.

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basherX said:

Gah. Gah gah gah gah gah. Gah.

Bad times.

I'm having knee surgery Thursday so I'll be watching it from the comfort of my home but hope to get down the rugby club to watch it if I feel up to it. Did the original injury the day of that fateful Saturday at Twickenham in the WC so I'm hoping it's not some sort of omen.

Lawes is out, Slater in. I'm not sure on Launchburys status but would expect him to come in and Itoje to bench if Launch is fully fit.

EJ will continue to go with experience, to an extent over form so Haskell and Robshaw in the backrow. If you looked at all the backrows in the 6N you'd fancy Wales' to have the best chance of stopping Billy Vunipola. England definitely look more enterprising in attack.

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Fark our second team game has just been called off due to the other team crying off with low numbers, even after arranging an early kick off with the ref to catch the game. Hate it when games get called off when food etc has been ordered!

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Welshbeef said:

So who's boozing hard now?

Imagine Ireland losing another game today...

Not looking like it after half an hour. Is it just me/the broadcaster or does the Aviva seem to have all the atmosphere of a wake?

[a311]

Ben Youngs has been dross. That's all I have to say for now will say more later.....

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I can't believe the score that finished-squeaky bums at the end.

I don't know how much of a case that was of England being good or Wales being poor for most of that game? May have to watch it again. England seemed to forget how to clear their lines continually throughout the game putting pressure on themselves-where were Ben Youngs box kicks from the base?

England did a lot very well- Itoje immense and living up to his hype, snagging players, winning line out ball against the thorw, carrying it goes on.

I thought Ford was OK, on one hand he showed that he isn't a totally liability in defence but remains out of form, low on confidence and flaky.

Kruis didn't put a foot wrong all match

I'd say ultimately we're a settled 9, 10, 12 combo away from building a competitive team. You can see the press cooing over this and it being the second coming but I thought Wales were pretty bloody poor and England still lacking a bit of brains and game management to put a side to the sword. For example I can see this side going to Paris next weekend and being beaten!

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I can't work that penalty reversal out? If it was a pen to England shouldn't he have been off and Cole's yellow reversed?

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EJ sums it up well, very strange performance.

I'm just not comfortable with Ford being around at the moment in the form he's in.

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irocfan said:

a311 said:

I thought Ford was OK, on one hand he showed that he isn't a totally liability in defence but remains out of form, low on confidence and flaky.

I remember when Cips did exactly the same in one of his England matches & he got totally flayed. BY today was.... <ahem> sub-optimal and DC added a lot of zip when he came on

I've never been a huge Farrell fan but with no one else close to the 10 shirt at the moment, he's solid and dependable.

Brookes > Walking pen machine also.

I thought Haskell and Robshaw went well today but hope next weekend is the last time we'll see either start in an England shirt.

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Matt172 said:

a311 said:

I've never been a huge Farrell fan but with no one else close to the 10 shirt at the moment, he's solid and dependable.

Brookes > Walking pen machine also.

I thought Haskell and Robshaw went well today but hope next weekend is the last time we'll see either start in an England shirt.

Brookes penalty machine? I missed the last 8 minutes when he came on, how many did he give away?

What I meant was Brookes is > (greater than) Cole who is just too much of a liability for me. It was a team penalty to take when he was carded to be fair. I think Brookes will taking the starting tight head jersey, probably not next week though.

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Matt172 said:

h apologies, totally misunderstood that

I agree, Cole is a complete liability. Brookes has been awesome for us at the saints, as has Paul Hill, I'd take either of those over Cole

He's the oldest 28 year old I've ever seen too

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0000 said:

28? There's a lot more penalties left in him yet then.

He's played a lot of Rugby in his career for Leicester it's bound to catch up with you. He's moving into the stage of his career where he should be approaching the game and the scrum with a bit more nounce to get the upper hand but he's not.

Like I've been saying since EJ announced his EPS I'm hoping a lot of these guys are stop gaps to keep some experience around rather than cutting too deep too fast (which I believe isn't allowed by the EPS set up anyhow).

Win or loose next week I think the front row positions are all up for grabs, locks are nailed on with Launch to push hard for a starting berth, loose forward is Billy's, 6, 7 up for grabs.

I prefer Care over Youngs, 10 god knows, 12 same, 13 Joseph seems to have one hand if not two on the jersey, Watson and Nowell look solid enough. I think Brown is possibly just past his peak and if your building for the next WC cycle will be too old IMO so is a place holder for a season of two.

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Welshbeef said:

Last 6N game against England - first half were not in the game at all, second half came out firing but just lost (that would have been a grand slam year for Wales too 2015 but for 40 mins of utter dire Rugby).



Are Wales fearful of England?

I don't think so. An odd performance as they didn't turn up for the first hour and IMO England's inexperience let them back in the back. Warren-ball wasn't really on show today, for all the talk of Roberts targeting Ford's channel I thought he was very average today. England were better across the park for that hour, odd odd game.

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steveT350C said:

I have talked with Mike Brown recently, he does believe that he has peaked and is too old for Japan.

England 1st half was very good, 1-15. Wales looked a bit surprised with England's continual intensity and execution in all areas of the game. England's lineout, including Itoje, was hugely dominant and stopped Wales getting any momentum, even after penalties on Wales' throw in.

Last 20 mins, England's relatively young and inexperienced 3/4 line went to sleep a bit, The nous and power of North et al showed how dangerous Wales still are, they looked like the ABs in the last 10mins, credit to them, but the hard work was already done, just!

Cracking game!

Small margins, on one hand I like his abrasiveness and the fact more often than not he beats at least the first man (although he often trys to run it back from too deep IMO). He should have backed himself and took his chance in the corner-no questions.

Watson looks very solid in the air and has pace to burn. Just glad Goode looks out of the England set up good club player but not going to take England into the future.

Going to watch Saracens and London Irish game in NYC.....

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No way Scotland will simply chuck it today just to piss England off, bit ludicrous really. They're on their own development/improvement curve and a win today against a very much one dimensional French side would be a another step forward. Of course if they do get beat and the performance is poor some will point the finger no doubt.

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Joey Ramone said:

Youngs was abysmal.

His passing just isn't up to scratch, the pass to Ford was ste but delve deeper and you'll see the forwards having to catch his passes above their heads etc which severely limits the speed and power it can be taken into contact. Like a 10 who's place kicking lets them down a scrum half that can't do the basics of the position right surely cant be selected?

Madness60 said:

After the Aus tour and autumn internationals I reckon this will be close to the 23.

Marler, Agreed I think Vunipola is more of an impact player
George, Looks like he'll be out potentially for the rest of the domestic season, I think Hartley will be around for a year or two yet.
Brookes, Agree younger, hungrier stronger scrummager than Cole and better around the park IMO
Launch, I think he and Itoje will compete for second row
Kruis, most improved player
Itoje, depends where he plays for Sarries. I still want to see someone like Ewers come in to help in the carrying department-or Billy Vunipola goes to 6 when Hughes is eligible.
Underhill-looks a talent but that's it at this stage, should get him involved to prevent potentially poaching from Wales
Hughes-as above
Robson-would like to see what someone other than Youngs or Care can bring, hope 3 9's go to Australia in the summer.
Slade-Again depends where he goes in his club medium to longer term
May-I think Nowell lacks a bit of pace and got done by North a couple of times yesterday but is generally solid, could potentially develop longer term at FB. Why do we not seem to have more wingers who are quick but solid defensively too?
Manu-Lot of questions marks whether he can develop and learn to play 12.
Joseph-Made the 13 shirt his IMO
Watson-Showing if you're good enough you're old enough and is reaping the rewards of being introduced.
Brown-Think he'll gradually be pahsed out over a year or two to the bench then completely

Mako, Hartley, Hill, Clifford, Billy V, Simpson, Farrell, Daly-short a lock on the bench.

Edited by a311 on Sunday 13th March 11:14

[a311]

Lawes is starting to look a bit of a flat track bully, I think when he's fit he'll come back into the squad and go to Australia. At the moment anyone is going to have a hard time dislodging Kruis and Itoje. Kruis is a bit of an unsung hero really just goes about his job quietly, Lawes was only grabbing headlines it seems when he was putting big hits in on 10's....

I'm not sure how big the squad will be for Australia. Jones IMO and this team have already done as well as you can expect in the time they've been together. I hope he sees he'll have a bit of leeway to be a bit bolder in his selections etc and we'll find out how much selections have been hit by injuries.

Starting XV wise 9 up for grabs, 10,12, 6 & 7.

ETA It's quite nice to see EJ has stuck with Ford to allow him to play himself back into form. I'd rather he do it from the bench though to be perfectly honest.

Edited by a311 on Sunday 13th March 11:47

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Smollet said:

Madness60 said:

Uncapped or low caps to have a look at on tour.

Auturac if fit
Cooper Woolley
Taylor
Attwood
Underhill - stop Wales poaching
Kvesic to see if he can hack it at an international level
Ewers
Hughes
Robson
Slade
Daly for some decent game time
Pennell

Wallace. A natural 7. Something we don't have many of.

I just hope we see someone who's classed as a specialist open side at 7 then we can all either pat ourselves on the back and say we told you so or dispel the myth that we need a specialist I suspect it will be the former. As a team England were as impressive at the breakdown as I've seen in a while yesterday, there's a few of them who decent over the ball, particularly Itoje but also Kruis getting one turn over that resulted in a penalty.

Auterac has been looking a prospect for a while now, problem is he's in a side that's struggling. He seems to be naturally strong expect he'll feature during the Jones tenure.

Can't believe they're making something of Samson Lee being called Gypsy Boy.......

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Just when you thought it was going to be a long afternoon for the Scots. Some dodgy place kicking from France they should really have been 10 up but Scotland well worth their lead!

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Good performance from Scotland to claim the first victory against a side they haven't beaten in 10 years is some achievement.

Weird England being champions. Need to put the icing in the cake next week. France have more than enough to have me nervous.