2017 Six Nations

Author
Discussion

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
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London424 said:
And one of the first choice props! 6 of the 8 are either the second string or in 1 case out of position.
Yes, I was thinking just that: how far that pack is from Jones' likely first choice 8.

The backs. I reckon 9/10/12/15 on Saturday were his current first choice picks for those spots. There's may be a longer term question mark over Brown at full back with the way Daly is playing but that's for the future.

What about 13/14/11 though - who are likely to be his long term first choice picks there?

Legend83

9,947 posts

221 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
quotequote all
It was my first ever trip to the Millenium / Principality Stadium on Saturday, and despite the result being a Wales fan (and my accompanying mate being an England fan), it was an incredible experience and a fantastic game of rugby.

That rendition of Land of My Fathers will stay with me until death.

Some observations on the game from the heavens:

- Wales try and England winning try were both things of beauty to behold right in front of us.
- Biggar must have been absolutely fuming having taken that brilliant interception and made 70 metres of territory from nothing...only for Scott Baldwin to throw the lineout wonky. Probably the turning point of the game.
- Everyone just seemed to watch the ball after Davies kick...and then Daly was over the line in the blink of an eye.
- From a neutral perspective I thought the ref was good, from a partisan perspective I would say he seemed to be barking at our defensive line to stay onside a lot more than he was the England lot who seemed to be remarkably "quick" out the line...

Sore head on Sunday was dealt with by a 5 mile walk around Crickhowell and a pub lunch.

Happy days.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
quotequote all
Legend83 said:
It was my first ever trip to the Millenium / Principality Stadium on Saturday, and despite the result being a Wales fan (and my accompanying mate being an England fan), it was an incredible experience and a fantastic game of rugby.

That rendition of Land of My Fathers will stay with me until death.
I'd say it's the best place I have ever watched major Rugby and Football matches in.

The design of the stadium and the proximity to the city are just perfect.

0000

13,812 posts

190 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
quotequote all
I haven't been back since going with the Welsh FiL to England Wales in 2013. Didn't particularly enjoy it that day, but I can see why he did. Access in and, more importantly then, out is good too. Tough place to get a win against the home side.

Kermit power

28,634 posts

212 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
quotequote all
I found that I drank less at the Millenium Stadium. It's so bloody steep that I was worried if I got pissed I might trip on the steps and not stop until I landed on the pitch in a bloody mess! hehe

ETA - Still to this day my favourite day out was probably England beating the Saffas 53-3 in 2002. As I recall, it was the last game played in the old fully-open-to-the-elements South stand before they knocked it down. I was cold enough, my mate who'd left his jacket on the back seat of his dad's car when he got out and ran to get to the stadium on time was absolutely frozen, but we didn't care! The highlight was watching Ben Cohen (iirc) waving his arms on the right wing coming towards us to show that he was clear in acres of space, with all the England fans pointing to him shouting "he's over there", and the Saffas replying with "Oh no he isn't"! biggrin

Edited by Kermit power on Tuesday 14th February 17:27

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
quotequote all
Legend83 said:
It was my first ever trip to the Millenium / Principality Stadium on Saturday, and despite the result being a Wales fan (and my accompanying mate being an England fan), it was an incredible experience and a fantastic game of rugby.

That rendition of Land of My Fathers will stay with me until death.

Some observations on the game from the heavens:

- Wales try and England winning try were both things of beauty to behold right in front of us.
- Biggar must have been absolutely fuming having taken that brilliant interception and made 70 metres of territory from nothing...only for Scott Baldwin to throw the lineout wonky. Probably the turning point of the game.
- Everyone just seemed to watch the ball after Davies kick...and then Daly was over the line in the blink of an eye.
- From a neutral perspective I thought the ref was good, from a partisan perspective I would say he seemed to be barking at our defensive line to stay onside a lot more than he was the England lot who seemed to be remarkably "quick" out the line...

Sore head on Sunday was dealt with by a 5 mile walk around Crickhowell and a pub lunch.

Happy days.
Sounds like an awesome weekend smile

schmalex

13,616 posts

205 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
quotequote all
Legend83 said:
It was my first ever trip to the Millenium / Principality Stadium on Saturday, and despite the result being a Wales fan (and my accompanying mate being an England fan), it was an incredible experience and a fantastic game of rugby.

That rendition of Land of My Fathers will stay with me until death.

Some observations on the game from the heavens:

- Wales try and England winning try were both things of beauty to behold right in front of us.
- Biggar must have been absolutely fuming having taken that brilliant interception and made 70 metres of territory from nothing...only for Scott Baldwin to throw the lineout wonky. Probably the turning point of the game.
- Everyone just seemed to watch the ball after Davies kick...and then Daly was over the line in the blink of an eye.
- From a neutral perspective I thought the ref was good, from a partisan perspective I would say he seemed to be barking at our defensive line to stay onside a lot more than he was the England lot who seemed to be remarkably "quick" out the line...

Sore head on Sunday was dealt with by a 5 mile walk around Crickhowell and a pub lunch.

Happy days.
Sounds awesome!

I took my wife tocTwicken for the time in October to watch the autumn internationals and she shed a tear when everyone sang the National Anthem and again when the stadium belted out a huge "swing low". We go to the Ricoh wuite often to watch Wasps but there is something very special about watching an International live in a sell-out crowd of 80,000+

Derek Chevalier

3,942 posts

172 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
quotequote all
Kermit power said:
spikeyhead said:
Cheib said:
Mako Vunipola is apparently going to be fit for the Italy game (due to play this weekend) and Billy fit for Ireland according to Jones. Hakell will surely be fully match fit for the Scotland game.

Never, ever thought I'd be desperate to see Haskell back in the side!
We've beaten both France and Wales without our first choice back row.
And without our first choice second row!
I would argue Launchbury has played himself into a starting spot for England and close to a start/bench for Lions

spikeyhead

17,222 posts

196 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
quotequote all
Derek Chevalier said:
Kermit power said:
spikeyhead said:
Cheib said:
Mako Vunipola is apparently going to be fit for the Italy game (due to play this weekend) and Billy fit for Ireland according to Jones. Hakell will surely be fully match fit for the Scotland game.

Never, ever thought I'd be desperate to see Haskell back in the side!
We've beaten both France and Wales without our first choice back row.
And without our first choice second row!
I would argue Launchbury has played himself into a starting spot for England and close to a start/bench for Lions
The reason that I didn't mention the second row was I don't think it really matters who out of Lawes, Launch, Kruis, Itoje plays there. They are all capable of doing an excellent job, albeit in their own way.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
quotequote all
spikeyhead said:
The reason that I didn't mention the second row was I don't think it really matters who out of Lawes, Launch, Kruis, Itoje plays there. They are all capable of doing an excellent job, albeit in their own way.
Same for Wales really
AWJ
Jake the Ball
Bradley Davies
Luke Charteris
Cory Hill


phil_cardiff

7,041 posts

207 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
quotequote all
Welshbeef said:
spikeyhead said:
The reason that I didn't mention the second row was I don't think it really matters who out of Lawes, Launch, Kruis, Itoje plays there. They are all capable of doing an excellent job, albeit in their own way.
Same for Wales really
AWJ
Jake the Ball
Bradley Davies
Luke Charteris
Cory Hill
This is some sort of joke right?

Our first choice is AWJ and Charteris. Ball isn't too bad.

Be then there's a huge drop off in quality. There's a reason Hill didn't come on until he absolutely had to against England.

Cheib

23,110 posts

174 months

Friday 17th February 2017
quotequote all
spikeyhead said:
Derek Chevalier said:
Kermit power said:
spikeyhead said:
Cheib said:
Mako Vunipola is apparently going to be fit for the Italy game (due to play this weekend) and Billy fit for Ireland according to Jones. Hakell will surely be fully match fit for the Scotland game.

Never, ever thought I'd be desperate to see Haskell back in the side!
We've beaten both France and Wales without our first choice back row.
And without our first choice second row!
I would argue Launchbury has played himself into a starting spot for England and close to a start/bench for Lions
The reason that I didn't mention the second row was I don't think it really matters who out of Lawes, Launch, Kruis, Itoje plays there. They are all capable of doing an excellent job, albeit in their own way.
Based on what Jones said post match I think Kruis is first name on the team sheet at lock...the reason Itoje scrummaged at lock is that he is apparently the best scrummager of the three that played at the weekend but Kruis is stand out the best scrummager in England (according to Jones) given he's also the man that runs the lineout its surely who plays with him.

I think that means Kruis and Lunchbury at Lock with Itoje at 6 is Jones favoured pick. Launchbury is just too good not to start.

What will be interesting is who gets the No 2 shirt against Italy. Hartley needs the minutes but surely a game for George to start with his skill set.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Friday 17th February 2017
quotequote all
Cheib said:
Based on what Jones said post match I think Kruis is first name on the team sheet at lock...the reason Itoje scrummaged at lock is that he is apparently the best scrummager of the three that played at the weekend but Kruis is stand out the best scrummager in England (according to Jones) given he's also the man that runs the lineout its surely who plays with him.

I think that means Kruis and Lunchbury at Lock with Itoje at 6 is Jones favoured pick. Launchbury is just too good not to start.

What will be interesting is who gets the No 2 shirt against Italy. Hartley needs the minutes but surely a game for George to start with his skill set.
Has to be Hartley - frankly it should be Englands strongest side otherwise it will be a month before they play the game following Italy.

Kermit power

28,634 posts

212 months

Friday 17th February 2017
quotequote all
Good to see Mako putting in over 70 minutes against Gloucester tonight!

Kermit power

28,634 posts

212 months

Monday 20th February 2017
quotequote all
Not directly Six Nations, but bloody well done Wales for lining up to play Georgia in Cardiff during the Autumn Internationals. smile

With Scotland having already done so, maybe Twickenham will be next?

tight5

2,747 posts

158 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
6N relegation ?
Bottom side out Georgia in ?

Ian Lancs

1,126 posts

165 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
tight5 said:
6N relegation ?
Bottom side out Georgia in ?
So Georgia will be in 6N for 1yr then...
I agree that something needs to be done, but as the CEO says be careful what you wish for. Since the ^N formed, only Ire and Eng havent been in the wooden spoon position - can you imagine 6N without one of the home nations?

Joey Ramone

2,150 posts

124 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
Georgia played Germany last week. They won 50 - 6

If a team can only stick 50 points on Germany I don't see them causing any of the five nations any significant problems. As stated above, they'd just get relegated after a year and Italy would be in, ad infinitum

tight5

2,747 posts

158 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
So are we any better having Italy bottom nearly all the time ?

Highway Star

3,573 posts

230 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
tight5 said:
So are we any better having Italy bottom nearly all the time ?
Exactly. Perhaps the threat of relegation might give the Italians a kick up the backside. Not that it counts for much, but Georgia are ranked higher than Italy at the moment.