Six Nations 2018

[LivingTheDream]

Derek Smith said:

LivingTheDream said:

Wow - Underhill

What a tackle

As soon as he went to ground I said it was a try. Not sure I've ever seen anything quite so good.

I actually turned away (with expletive) as its was a sure try.
Only to see the replay - incredible!

[LivingTheDream]

Twickenham sounds fab!!!!!

[LivingTheDream]

Derek Smith said:

A thoroughly entertaining and exciting match.

By far the best match so far

And maybe of the tournament

[LivingTheDream]

abzmike said:

Derek Smith said:

?

What more do you want from a match? There were a couple of really good tries and then a real battle in the rest of the match. There were individual battles all over the pitch.

Wales were unlucky, but England's defence was great. Underhill's tackle was a bit of class.

They had their chances. They didn't take them.

About 60% was pretty turgid defensive toil. Wales ran out of ideas and kicked the ball down Browns throat all afternoon, who ran it back to the forwards, and most of the time that’s as far as it got. The right team won, but match of the tournament, half way through the second weekend, I don’t think so.

Have you watched RU before?

It’s a far more tactical game than you seem to suggest - particularly in those conditions early on.

[LivingTheDream]

Derek Smith said:

Was it an exciting match?

Evenly matched sides? Tick.

Both sides doing their best to win? Tick.

End to end stuff? Tick.

Controversy? Tick.

Battle going on between the packs? Tick.

Running back line demonstrating speed? Tick.

Backs getting stuck in? Tick.

Bits of classic play? Tick.

Something memorable? Tick.

Right down to the final whistle? Tick.

Controversial referring decisions? Tick.

Disagreements amongst those watching it? Tick.

The only thing I’d criticise was lack of atmosphere, but that might be down to the presentation. I’d like to hear from those there. At least there was no Mexican wave.

There was no try disallowed. There was no try. Despite what some suggest, a decision has been made and that’s it. I reckon the Welsh pack bewildered the ref with the penalty half way through the second half in the scrum about 10m into their 22. If it was a penalty, then it was to England. The decision cost England points. Farrell would have gone for 3 points. But the penalty went to Wales. The ref was spot on because that’s what refs always are.

It's like arguing against Thursday. It happened. Move on to the interesting bits.

Yes - I’m an England fan but I don’t enjoy a one sided match nor do I enjoy a poor match.

I enjoyed Thursday

Well put Derek

[LivingTheDream]

Welshbeef said:

A question re Bonus points

Is it possible for a losing side to get 2x bonus points and the winner just the 4 points?


Let’s say final score 20-21 but the losing side scored 4T no conversion the winning side didn’t get 4T.


Last question let’s say winning side got 100points/whatever massive win but the losing side managed to get 4T do they get a Bonus point ?


Or is it 4T Bonus point is only for the winning side?

Losing side can still get 4T bonus point - that’s what Italy were trying to do late on in the game yesterday

[LivingTheDream]

Derek Smith said:

Who is fittest? There's been a lot of play time.

Not Beauxis - he looks shattered already. I guess 6 years is a long time at international level

[LivingTheDream]

Sam Simmonds out of the squad for next match due to shoulder injury

Alex Cuthbert confirmed to miss the six nations

And France have made 9 changes to the squad before the Italy match - including leaving out Teddy Thomas

[LivingTheDream]

True

Thomas was a shoe in for my fantasy team for the France V Italy game - he would have run riot!!

Now we definitely don’t know which France will turn up!

[LivingTheDream]

Back on this weekend after a week off.

Friday night game this week with Fra vs Ita, the rest play on Saturday.

Wales have players returning from Injury......

WALES TEAM TO PLAY IRELAND:

15. Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets) (75 Caps)
14. Liam Williams (Saracens) (45 Caps)
13. Scott Williams (Scarlets) (53 Caps)
12. Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets) (3 Caps)
11. Steff Evans (Scarlets) (7 Caps)
10. Dan Biggar (Ospreys) (60 Caps)
9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (29 Caps)

1. Rob Evans (Scarlets) (22 Caps)
2. Ken Owens (Scarlets) (54 Caps)
3. Samson Lee (Scarlets) (35 Caps)
4. Cory Hill (Dragons) (12 Caps)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (115 Caps) CAPT
6. Aaron Shingler (Scarlets) (15 Caps)
7. Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues) (9 Caps)
8. Ross Moriarty (Gloucester) (19 Caps)

Replacements:
16. Elliot Dee (Dragons) (4 Caps)
17. Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (7 Caps)
18. Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (28 Caps)
19. Bradley Davies (Ospreys) (59 Caps)
20. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (54 Caps)
21. Aled Davies (Scarlets) (7 Caps)
22. Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues) (13 Caps)?
23. George North (Northampton Saints) (70 Caps)

[LivingTheDream]

Ok - so round up of teams not mentioned so far.....

First up this weekend is Fra Vs Ita

France have a few changes after bad behavior

France team to face Italy:
15. Hugo Bonneval (Toulon)
14. Benjamin Fall (Montpellier)
13. Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon)
12. Geoffrey Doumayrou (La Rochelle)
11. Rémy Grosso (Clermont)
10. Lionel Beauxis (Lyon)
9. Maxime Machenaud (Racing 92)
1. Jefferson Poirot (Bordeaux-Bègles)
2. Guilhem Guirado (Toulon)
3. Rabah Slimani (Clermont)
4. Paul Gabrillagues (Stade Français)
5. Sébastien Vahaamahina (Clermont)
6. Wenceslas Lauret (Racing 92)
7. Yacouba Camara (Montpellier)
8. Marco Tauleigne (Bordeaux-Bègles)

Replacements:
16. Adrien Pelissié (Bordeaux-Bègles)
17. Dany Priso (La Rochelle)
18. Cedate Gomes Sa (Racing 92)
19. Romain Taofifenua (Toulon)
20. Kélian Galletier (Montpellier)
21. Baptiste Couilloud (Lyon)
22. François Trinh-Duc (Toulon)
23. Gaël Fickou (Toulouse)

Italy have made 3 changes up front

Italy team to face Ireland

15. Matteo MINOZZI (Zebre Rugby Club, 5 caps)
14. Tommaso BENVENUTI (Benetton Rugby, 47 caps)
13. Tommaso BONI (Zebre Rugby Club, 10 caps)
12. Tommaso CASTELLO (Zebre Rugby Club, 7 caps)
11. Mattia BELLINI (Zebre Rugby Club, 10 caps)
10. Tommaso ALLAN (Benetton Rugby, 35 caps)
9. Marcello VIOLI (Zebre Rugby Club, 10 caps)

1. Andrea LOVOTTI (Zebre Rugby Club, 22 caps)
2. Leonardo GHIRALDINI (Stade Toulousain, 91 caps)
3. Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 10 caps)
4. Alessandro ZANNI (Benetton Rugby, 101 caps)
5. Dean BUDD (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)
6. Sebastian NEGRI DA OLEGGIO (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)
7. Maxime Mata MBANDA' (Zebre Rugby Club, 13 caps)
8. Sergio PARISSE (Stade Francais, 131 caps) captain

Replacements:
16. Luca BIGI (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)
17. Nicola QUAGLIO (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)
18. Tiziano PASQUALI (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)
19. George Fabio BIAGI (Zebre Rugby Club, 20 caps)
20. Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)
21. Edoardo GORI (Benetton Rugby, 67 caps)
22. Carlo CANNA (Zebre Rugby Club, 26 caps)
23. Jayden HAYWARD (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps)

[LivingTheDream]

Ire vs Wal teams have been posted - looking forward to this game, could be a real cracker

Later on Sat is Scot Vs Eng - may be a let down after the earlier game or could be a double header of great games - stock up on beer folks!!!

No changes for Scot

Scotland team to play England at BT Murrayfield on Saturday 24 February (kick-off 4.45pm)

15. Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 57 caps
14. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 41 caps
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) – 13 caps
12. Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 30 caps
11. Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 31 caps
10. Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) – 34 caps
9. Greig Laidlaw (ASM Clermont Auvergne) – 60 caps

1. Gordon Reid (London Irish) – 29 caps
2. Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) – 14 caps
3. Simon Berghan (Edinburgh Rugby) – 6 caps
4. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) – 20 caps
5. Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 40 caps
6. John Barclay CAPTAIN (Scarlets) – 68 caps
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 17 caps
8. Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) – 34 caps

Substitutes
16. Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons) – 47 caps
17. Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) – 5 caps
18. Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) – 19 caps
19. Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) – 33 caps
20. David Denton (Worcester Warriors) – 36 caps
21. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) – 13 caps
22. Nick Grigg (Glasgow Warriors) – 1 cap
23. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped

Just Nathan Hughes in For Simmonds

England team to play Scotland:
15 Mike Brown (Harlequins 66 caps)
14 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby 30 caps)
13 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby 37 caps)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens 55 caps)
11 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers 31 caps)
10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers 42 caps)
9 Danny Care (Harlequins 78 caps)

1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens 46 caps)
2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints 91 caps)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers 79 caps)
4 Joe Launchbury (Wasps 49 caps)
5 Maro Itoje (Saracens 16 caps)
6 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints 63 caps)
7 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins 61 caps)
8 Nathan Hughes (Wasps 12 caps)

Replacements
16 Jamie George (Saracens 22 caps)
17 Joe Marler (Harlequins 53 caps)
18 Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs 7 caps)
19 George Kruis (Saracens 23 caps)
20 Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby 5 caps)
21 Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens 28 caps)
22 Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors 10 caps)
23 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs 25 caps)

[LivingTheDream]

Kermit power said:

Just watched France vs Italy.

How much longer are we going to have to put up with the woeful embarrassment that is Italy in the Six Nations?

You could say the same for France on that performance.

Although I suppose they brought upon themselves by dropping all the good players.

[LivingTheDream]

I reckon it'll be close - with Wales taking it

Just opened a beer - being sensible otherwise I'll miss the England game

[LivingTheDream]

It looks like it will be close

But only because Sexton can't see the posts

[LivingTheDream]

Kermit power said:

Right... hands up anyone else who selected the French ten as their Fantasy League kicker, not realising that their nine does their kicking!

Stupid bloody French!

Hahahaha! I did that in the first game I think

[LivingTheDream]

Well!

[LivingTheDream]

Redefined the 2 on 1

This is shocking from England

[LivingTheDream]

Scotland have been good, no doubt

But from day 1 you are told - you can’t win without the ball.

We kicked away possession with no strategy from minute 1 - this gave them momentum

That will change in the second half - keep the ball and the bench will up our momentum

I hope

[LivingTheDream]

Derek Smith said:

Less than 4 minutes. That's what they needed to do.

Good try.

But what's this with turnovers in the ruck? It's never a good to leave the ball unprotected. Really basic stuff.

It’s because the modern game doesn’t want to commit players to the ruck - they look to be protected by the ref

But players need to recognize when the game has to change - and this is one of them