** The Official 6 Nations Thread **
Discussion
Flutey is back playing now. He'll be a certainty IMO.
I hope that if they must persist with Wilkinson that they get him playing more agressively to give the 3/4s some room to play in.
Ireland look strongest of the 6 currently, they'd be my bet for the title.
My lot will be realistically aiming for 5th and hoping for 4th, despite their good 'on paper' results in the autumn.
I hope that if they must persist with Wilkinson that they get him playing more agressively to give the 3/4s some room to play in.
Ireland look strongest of the 6 currently, they'd be my bet for the title.
My lot will be realistically aiming for 5th and hoping for 4th, despite their good 'on paper' results in the autumn.
Highway Star said:
France
Ireland
Wales
Scotland
England
Italy
I'd pick Ireland for the win and France as 2nd, unless they do their Frenchy thing and implode spectacularly. Saddens me to say it but Wales aren't serious contenders once again, though with some key players back (Jones, M. Rees, Ian Evans, Byrne) and youngsters like Warburton, Biggar and Jon Davies starting to shine we can at least put on a decent show. Hopefully.Ireland
Wales
Scotland
England
Italy
The most intriguing question from my POV is, what style of game are England going to play?
This is what I like about rugby...it could be anyones....down to the guys on the pitch, on the day.
You don't have to be in good form over the autumn to scrape victories in the spring.....England are capable but will let themselves down by giving away too many penalties.....and with the accuracy of kickers today, you can almost guarantee 3 points if you're in the opponants half.
I'll go for either Ireland, Wales or England - but then the French just sit about quietly and just get on with the job....sorry Scotland and Italy, I just don't think they're anywhere close....although Italy (after England) get he most support from me.....
You don't have to be in good form over the autumn to scrape victories in the spring.....England are capable but will let themselves down by giving away too many penalties.....and with the accuracy of kickers today, you can almost guarantee 3 points if you're in the opponants half.
I'll go for either Ireland, Wales or England - but then the French just sit about quietly and just get on with the job....sorry Scotland and Italy, I just don't think they're anywhere close....although Italy (after England) get he most support from me.....
England's centre pairing for me has to be Flutey and Hipkiss.
I keep wanting Gerraghty to play, but everytime we give him a chance at International level to work the magic he does at club level he doesnt perform. Impact player at best.
Fullback. I want Foden there. To my mind he is the outstanding fullback in the country and has been for the last 2 seasons as I shout long and hard to everyone. Armitage is the man in possession though and Foden is another utlity, Healeyesque back, so he will be down as a impact guy and truth be told I think he could well be an excellent impact game breaker.
Scrum half will be a good contest. Joe Simpson is the form guy. Harry Ellis probably regards the jersey as his by right. Danny Care is the man in possession.
Wingers. We seem to be blighted by a lack of consistency in our "exciting" wingers. The only consistent player we have on the wings is Cueto and he is lacking the last yard of pace these days. Big Ben is looking more and more like the player of old with every game he plays though. Given a choice I would have Big Ben and Cueto out wide for England.
The Pack simply depends on who is actually standing these days. Too much to ask for the Locks to be Shaw and Kennedy I suppose? Lawes has to be picked as an impact sub. He is the most exciting high impact forward in the world game at the moment. Back row I suppose our best balance is probably Mungo, Easter and Haskell, but Im no great fan of Easter.
Hartley has to start at hooker and whichever fit props we have left.
I keep wanting Gerraghty to play, but everytime we give him a chance at International level to work the magic he does at club level he doesnt perform. Impact player at best.
Fullback. I want Foden there. To my mind he is the outstanding fullback in the country and has been for the last 2 seasons as I shout long and hard to everyone. Armitage is the man in possession though and Foden is another utlity, Healeyesque back, so he will be down as a impact guy and truth be told I think he could well be an excellent impact game breaker.
Scrum half will be a good contest. Joe Simpson is the form guy. Harry Ellis probably regards the jersey as his by right. Danny Care is the man in possession.
Wingers. We seem to be blighted by a lack of consistency in our "exciting" wingers. The only consistent player we have on the wings is Cueto and he is lacking the last yard of pace these days. Big Ben is looking more and more like the player of old with every game he plays though. Given a choice I would have Big Ben and Cueto out wide for England.
The Pack simply depends on who is actually standing these days. Too much to ask for the Locks to be Shaw and Kennedy I suppose? Lawes has to be picked as an impact sub. He is the most exciting high impact forward in the world game at the moment. Back row I suppose our best balance is probably Mungo, Easter and Haskell, but Im no great fan of Easter.
Hartley has to start at hooker and whichever fit props we have left.
Edited by DJC on Thursday 7th January 20:50
DJC said:
England's centre pairing for me has to be Flutey and Hipkiss.
I keep wanting Gerraghty to play, but everytime we give him a chance at International level to work the magic he does at club level he doesnt perform. Impact player at best.
Fullback. I want Foden there. To my mind he is the outstanding fullback in the country and has been for the last 2 seasons as I shout long and hard to everyone. Armitage is the man in possession though and Foden is another utlity, Healeyesque back, so he will be down as a impact guy and truth be told I think he could well be an excellent impact game breaker.
Scrum half will be a good contest. Joe Simpson is the form guy. Harry Ellis probably regards the jersey as his by right. Danny Care is the man in possession.
Wingers. We seem to be blighted by a lack of consistency in our "exciting" wingers. The only consistent player we have on the wings is Cueto and he is lacking the last yard of pace these days. Big Ben is looking more and more like the player of old with every game he plays though. Given a choice I would have Big Ben and Cueto out wide for England.
The Pack simply depends on who is actually standing these days. Too much to ask for the Locks to be Shaw and Kennedy I suppose? Lawes has to be picked as an impact sub. He is the most exciting high impact forward in the world game at the moment. Back row I suppose our best balance is probably Mungo, Easter and Haskell, but Im no great fan of Easter.
Hartley has to start at prop and whichever fit props we have left.
Do you really think Cohen is back at par? I'll be interested to see how Foden slots in to the English team, I still think Armitage is the better full back.(Yes i do support L.Irish)I keep wanting Gerraghty to play, but everytime we give him a chance at International level to work the magic he does at club level he doesnt perform. Impact player at best.
Fullback. I want Foden there. To my mind he is the outstanding fullback in the country and has been for the last 2 seasons as I shout long and hard to everyone. Armitage is the man in possession though and Foden is another utlity, Healeyesque back, so he will be down as a impact guy and truth be told I think he could well be an excellent impact game breaker.
Scrum half will be a good contest. Joe Simpson is the form guy. Harry Ellis probably regards the jersey as his by right. Danny Care is the man in possession.
Wingers. We seem to be blighted by a lack of consistency in our "exciting" wingers. The only consistent player we have on the wings is Cueto and he is lacking the last yard of pace these days. Big Ben is looking more and more like the player of old with every game he plays though. Given a choice I would have Big Ben and Cueto out wide for England.
The Pack simply depends on who is actually standing these days. Too much to ask for the Locks to be Shaw and Kennedy I suppose? Lawes has to be picked as an impact sub. He is the most exciting high impact forward in the world game at the moment. Back row I suppose our best balance is probably Mungo, Easter and Haskell, but Im no great fan of Easter.
Hartley has to start at prop and whichever fit props we have left.
I am a big Simpson fan, but hasn't he or Danny Care done some serious damage to his shoulder in the Quins vs Wasps game? A dislocation i thought, would he be back in time?
TDutchy said:
DJC said:
England's centre pairing for me has to be Flutey and Hipkiss.
I keep wanting Gerraghty to play, but everytime we give him a chance at International level to work the magic he does at club level he doesnt perform. Impact player at best.
Fullback. I want Foden there. To my mind he is the outstanding fullback in the country and has been for the last 2 seasons as I shout long and hard to everyone. Armitage is the man in possession though and Foden is another utlity, Healeyesque back, so he will be down as a impact guy and truth be told I think he could well be an excellent impact game breaker.
Scrum half will be a good contest. Joe Simpson is the form guy. Harry Ellis probably regards the jersey as his by right. Danny Care is the man in possession.
Wingers. We seem to be blighted by a lack of consistency in our "exciting" wingers. The only consistent player we have on the wings is Cueto and he is lacking the last yard of pace these days. Big Ben is looking more and more like the player of old with every game he plays though. Given a choice I would have Big Ben and Cueto out wide for England.
The Pack simply depends on who is actually standing these days. Too much to ask for the Locks to be Shaw and Kennedy I suppose? Lawes has to be picked as an impact sub. He is the most exciting high impact forward in the world game at the moment. Back row I suppose our best balance is probably Mungo, Easter and Haskell, but Im no great fan of Easter.
Hartley has to start at prop and whichever fit props we have left.
Do you really think Cohen is back at par? I'll be interested to see how Foden slots in to the English team, I still think Armitage is the better full back.(Yes i do support L.Irish)I keep wanting Gerraghty to play, but everytime we give him a chance at International level to work the magic he does at club level he doesnt perform. Impact player at best.
Fullback. I want Foden there. To my mind he is the outstanding fullback in the country and has been for the last 2 seasons as I shout long and hard to everyone. Armitage is the man in possession though and Foden is another utlity, Healeyesque back, so he will be down as a impact guy and truth be told I think he could well be an excellent impact game breaker.
Scrum half will be a good contest. Joe Simpson is the form guy. Harry Ellis probably regards the jersey as his by right. Danny Care is the man in possession.
Wingers. We seem to be blighted by a lack of consistency in our "exciting" wingers. The only consistent player we have on the wings is Cueto and he is lacking the last yard of pace these days. Big Ben is looking more and more like the player of old with every game he plays though. Given a choice I would have Big Ben and Cueto out wide for England.
The Pack simply depends on who is actually standing these days. Too much to ask for the Locks to be Shaw and Kennedy I suppose? Lawes has to be picked as an impact sub. He is the most exciting high impact forward in the world game at the moment. Back row I suppose our best balance is probably Mungo, Easter and Haskell, but Im no great fan of Easter.
Hartley has to start at prop and whichever fit props we have left.
I am a big Simpson fan, but hasn't he or Danny Care done some serious damage to his shoulder in the Quins vs Wasps game? A dislocation i thought, would he be back in time?
Armitage is fine at full back, Im just biased about Foden in that I think he is special, I think he would make a superb player at the top level of the game.
Cohen? Well, its a getting better game by game job, lets just where he is by Feb. As the OP mentioned, time for Chris Ashton to get a chance?
Nom de ploom said:
here we go kick and claps again.
can't wait for the Super League season to start.
Shush!can't wait for the Super League season to start.
Although I agree that the tackles in League are hard, the fact that you stop, get up and roll the ball between your legs after been tackled means League is only one step away from American Football!
it's not the game i mind so much it's the media hype and pazazz surrounding a sport at the present I regard as being in a bit of a crisi of identity.
it's is slow particularly at club level and even sometimes at international level, it is a constant victim of it's own technicalities, much to the chagrin of speccies and tv viewers and no doubt players and coaches.
yes the game is fitter and faster than it was but League is still superior in the fitness stakes.
lets not turn this into an RL V Rah Rahs. Enjoy the 6 nations.
it's is slow particularly at club level and even sometimes at international level, it is a constant victim of it's own technicalities, much to the chagrin of speccies and tv viewers and no doubt players and coaches.
yes the game is fitter and faster than it was but League is still superior in the fitness stakes.
lets not turn this into an RL V Rah Rahs. Enjoy the 6 nations.
Unfortunately I think League is also in a bit of a quandry as to what it is at the moment. It got swamped with the massive rise of Union and hasnt known how to respond. Now, when I were a lad growing up in the wilds on Lancashire I could name you the entire regular first XIII for Wigan and (spit) St. Helens and most of the Warrington (Spit), Bradford (Spit), Widnes (Spit) and Leeds (Spit) teams.
I know Im down south/Midlands these days but I couldnt tell you a bloody thing about the teams now
Are any of the Pauls still plying their trade? I presume Harris is still playing?
It would be good to see a resurgent League game, but it needs some kind of spark. What is the name of the young English wizzkid we have, Calvin?
I know Im down south/Midlands these days but I couldnt tell you a bloody thing about the teams now
Are any of the Pauls still plying their trade? I presume Harris is still playing? It would be good to see a resurgent League game, but it needs some kind of spark. What is the name of the young English wizzkid we have, Calvin?
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