Six Nations 2018

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Discussion

irocfan

40,587 posts

191 months

Monday 19th March 2018
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Kermit power said:
It's a bit of a conundrum, really...

I don't think he passed even once for England in last year's Six Nations, yet he did so several times for his first game back at Quins afterwards, and usually offloads two or three per game for us.
he is a conundrum - every time I see him take it into contact he makes yards. I really have no idea how he manages to make as much ground as he does. If only the bugger would pass!!!

Europa1

10,923 posts

189 months

Monday 19th March 2018
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TTmonkey said:
Jesus, that's inciteful.
It wound you up, so yes, it was.

It wasn't that insightful, however. wink

Kermit power

28,705 posts

214 months

Monday 19th March 2018
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irocfan said:
Kermit power said:
It's a bit of a conundrum, really...

I don't think he passed even once for England in last year's Six Nations, yet he did so several times for his first game back at Quins afterwards, and usually offloads two or three per game for us.
he is a conundrum - every time I see him take it into contact he makes yards. I really have no idea how he manages to make as much ground as he does. If only the bugger would pass!!!
If only he would pass for England, I think you mean!

I can't really imagine that he trusts his Quins teammates in a way that he doesn't with England, so are the England coaches telling him to retain possession and wait for the support to come to him?

DocJock

8,360 posts

241 months

Tuesday 20th March 2018
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That is certainly how it appears to be.

barryrs

4,393 posts

224 months

Tuesday 20th March 2018
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Shamrock_ said:
I attended my first ever Rugby game yesterday at Twickenham and it was fantastic!

I am used to attending football matches as an away fan and the experience at London grounds is normally very unpleasant however yesterday was very similar to attending an Irish football match or a Merseyside derby.

Both sets of fans mixed and created a wonderful positive atmosphere unlike anything I have ever witnessed as an away supporter in this country.

I found the game very entertaining despite trying to figure out the rules on the fly and being there in the flesh to witness an amazing historic event will be something I always treasure.

However the respect, warmth and sportsmanship of the players and fans will stick with me forever and may have well created a new rugby fan.

I am looking forward to attending my next rugby game. Is club rugby similar in terms of the fans mixing and sporting respect?

A great tournament and incredible fans. Football could learn a lot from rugby, fans and players alike.
As an England supporter who also attended I can agree to a point.

Ireland won the match and lifted the trophy to great applause as it should be however the boo's coming from the Irish as the England players acknowledged the crowd afterwards was disappointing.

Kermit power

28,705 posts

214 months

Tuesday 20th March 2018
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barryrs said:
As an England supporter who also attended I can agree to a point.

Ireland won the match and lifted the trophy to great applause as it should be however the boo's coming from the Irish as the England players acknowledged the crowd afterwards was disappointing.
Are you sure it was the Irish? I've read a few reports of England fans booing Eddie Jones and England.

No more acceptable, of course, but I really can't see any reason why Ireland fans would be sparing the time to do anything other than celebrating their Grand Slam.

Shamrock, yes, club rugby is just the same. My youngest and I have season tickets for Quins, and the atmosphere is never anything other than cheerful, civilised and exactly the sort of place you'd want to take a ten year old.

epom

11,568 posts

162 months

Tuesday 20th March 2018
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Player of the tournament ? Who you guys thinking ? I'm thinking Conor Murray...

Ructions

4,705 posts

122 months

Tuesday 20th March 2018
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epom said:
Player of the tournament ? Who you guys thinking ? I'm thinking Conor Murray...
Either Murray or RIngrose for me, but I only have a passing interest in rugby so may be some of those more in the know might be better placed to comment.
But we may not be having this conversation if Sexton hadn't managed to score that drop goal against France.

gshughes

1,282 posts

256 months

Tuesday 20th March 2018
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I would go for Stockdale. To score seven tries (a new record) in his debut season is pretty awesome. Ringrose was good but only played two games. Huw Jones was also excellent, but only in two games. Doing it purely on stats, Hogg made more yardage than any other player - 479 in the tournament but he wasn't as clinical as last year. Jonny Gray was top tournament tackler with 100. In the hall of shame, step up Owen Farrell with a record 17 missed tackles!

Bonefish Blues

26,895 posts

224 months

Tuesday 20th March 2018
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epom said:
Player of the tournament ? Who you guys thinking ? I'm thinking Conor Murray...
Guscott's pick, too.

steveT350C

6,728 posts

162 months

Tuesday 20th March 2018
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gshughes said:
In the hall of shame, step up Owen Farrell with a record 17 missed tackles!
Surprising stat. Farrell loves a tackle, would be interesting to see his % of missed tackles to attempted.

irocfan

40,587 posts

191 months

Tuesday 20th March 2018
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slightly O/T - seems there is a whiff of skulduggery WRT to the Belgium-Spain game....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43478754

barryrs

4,393 posts

224 months

Tuesday 20th March 2018
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Kermit power said:
Are you sure it was the Irish? I've read a few reports of England fans booing Eddie Jones and England.

No more acceptable, of course, but I really can't see any reason why Ireland fans would be sparing the time to do anything other than celebrating their Grand Slam.

Shamrock, yes, club rugby is just the same. My youngest and I have season tickets for Quins, and the atmosphere is never anything other than cheerful, civilised and exactly the sort of place you'd want to take a ten year old.
Yeah, it was pretty clear unfortunately.

As an Englishman I sadly expect it from the Scottish and more recently the Welsh but I still felt the mutual respect was there with the Irish.

Perhaps I’m just sore as the tickets cost £90 laugh

Kermit power

28,705 posts

214 months

Tuesday 20th March 2018
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barryrs said:
Yeah, it was pretty clear unfortunately.

As an Englishman I sadly expect it from the Scottish and more recently the Welsh but I still felt the mutual respect was there with the Irish.

Perhaps I’m just sore as the tickets cost £90 laugh
That's a shame. As you say, you'd expect the Scots fans to have an unpleasant edge to any banter, but I've never experienced anything other than good natured stuff with fans of every other country.

I'd agree on the price of the tickets though! I just won't go any more, as I resent paying upwards of a pound a minute to watch a game! I just make do with a Quins season ticket and internationals on TV now.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

199 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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Kermit power said:
That's a shame. As you say, you'd expect the Scots fans to have an unpleasant edge to any banter, but I've never experienced anything other than good natured stuff with fans of every other country.

I'd agree on the price of the tickets though! I just won't go any more, as I resent paying upwards of a pound a minute to watch a game! I just make do with a Quins season ticket and internationals on TV now.
Internationals on TV with a cask of ale to Hand

Leins

9,482 posts

149 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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epom said:
Player of the tournament ? Who you guys thinking ? I'm thinking Conor Murray...
Sexton for me, despite a couple of issues from the tee. Closely followed by Furlong

Interesting to note that Guscott doesn't deem any of the Ireland team to be "world-class" though: http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/43451007

barryrs

4,393 posts

224 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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Jacob Stockdale was stand out for me.

DocJock

8,360 posts

241 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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In a poor team, Yacouba Camara was very good as well.

TheGreatSoprendo

5,286 posts

250 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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DocJock said:
In a poor team, Yacouba Camara was very good as well.
Yep, and Grosso on the wing and Minozzi, the Italy full back.

Kermit power

28,705 posts

214 months

Wednesday 21st March 2018
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With the Six Nations over for another year, what changes (if any) would you like to see made in your team's lineups for the Autumn games?

From an England perspective, apart from the much discussed need for a proper openside, I actually think the area we've got the biggest issue is at ten.

Farrell's kicking hasn't been as reliable as usual, and he missed more tackles than any other player not only in the Six Nations, but also in the Lions tour. Even if other players are able to get in and cover for him because he's generally in a congested area of the pitch rather than last man on the wing or at the back, surely that's still a liability, given that it's dragging at least one other man out of position to make the covering tackle?

Ford seems to constantly struggle if the pack are doing so, more than pretty much anyone else, and it wasn't too much of a surprise to see him dropped to the bench last time out.

Question is, who would you put in their place?

Marcus Smith has been great for Quins this season, and I reckon he's probably going to be the default choice for the '23 RWC, but I'm not sure he's ready for an England test against the Boks just yet, and we certainly don't want him coming back broken!!


Is Henry Slade worth a crack, as another player who can cover both 10 & centre?

The only other player I can see on the radar (on the basis that Cipriani is really too old to be building around now) is Harry Malinder at Saints. He can again cover 10 & 12, so could be an interesting option?

Apart from that, any chance we could persuade Lewis Moody out of retirement? I still reckon he'd be worth 5 points a match, just for his ability to chase down restarts! hehe