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Odds on tuilagi getting called up and injured again before the end of the six nations? Pretty bloody high I reckon, for no reason at all, we know what he does, it's bloody brilliant and he shouldn't be risked at half fitness
watching Olly Barclay play for Scarlets is a bit odd, useful player though. J Davies looking very very rusty and missing tackles cant see him playing at Twickenham next week.
Any Caerdydd supporters in?
🙂
J Davies looking very very rusty and missing tackles cant see him playing at Twickenham next week.
Stop trying to cheer us up AA.
As usual I am V pessimisitic.
If you ask me Care and the missed distribution opportunities were part of the England of old, the trundlemuppets. He was channelling Mike Tindall and looking for personal glory instead of making the best decisions for the good of the team win. Disappointed and not at all convinced by the "new england". The media piss me off with all there vaunting of us, when in fact it was luck and and fag papers difference between us and Ireland. TBH we had trouble putting those twenty points on Scotland, and it wouldn't surprise me if we get beaten by Wales and Italy.
Next year when Vern Cotter get his hands on Scotland it will be Eng and Italy vying for the wooden spoon. 🙁
Any Caerdydd supporters in?
Phil Davies shown the door today!
Vern Cotter could live to 300,and coach us the entire time and we would still be pish. Nae players.
Really looking forward to this weekend, very finely set up as it was last time but clearly hoping for a different result.
Nice to see tigers starting to look decent again - what a difference a Tuilagi makes! In this case, it was a lot to do with the space left for the other backs as Manu had 2 players on him every time he got near the ball. Nice to see the lad back. Great quote from Richard Cockerel as well
"We have been crap all season and we are joint third, whereas Bath have been awesome and they are joint third. That's how it works sometimes. We've been crap all year but look where we are. Just think where we could be if we played half-decent."
Richard Cockerill is a ****.
Glad Manu is back he's a damn fine player doubt he will start v Wales though will he. Burrel has done well and should keep the shirt. Davies on the other hand will be straight back in for Wales, fingers crossed he copes.
I've always liked Cockers, you get what it says on the tin. He's no worse than the rest of the DoR's and the constant stream of 'advice' to the match officials.
I hope manu won't be back into the England team, he could do with getting back into playing at Tiggers first, however England do have a habit of taking a half fit player and destroying them, so I sadly wouldn't be surprised.
Luther should be big enough to take on Jamie, although I don't think he's at the same level, he should be able to do a job, and to be honest, we need a second centre who can fight for the position!
Other DOR's havent been banned twice for being abusive to match officials! He's an idiot who shouldnt be allowed on the touch line.
Strictly speaking is wasn't abusive towards the official at Northampton, he said to the linesman that if the ref didn't start looking after the Leicester players, he'd tell the Leicester pack to smash the **** in the Northampton team. Seems fair to me, and nothing other DoR's haven't said. Oddly, one of the blokes who reported him has previous for telling Cockers to meet him in the car park after the game for a fight!!
Newport ban was different though I admit.
Obviously he avoids carpark confrontations since Norm Hewitt gave him a slapping 😆
Scotland XV for France
1. Grant
2. Lawson
3. Cross
4. R Gray
5. Hamilton
6. Beattie
7. Brown
8. Denton
9. Laidlaw
10. Weir
11. Lamont
12. Scott
13. Dunbar
14. Seymour
15. Hogg
deck chairs and titanic!
@tinybits - agree re Cockerill, he's not complicated and you know what youre going to get. As an aside he provided one of the best comedy moments I've ever seen live. A wet and windy day and the Aussie hooker had just lovingly wiped the ball clean prior to a line out throw in, Cockerill was stood watching intently and just as he finished drying the ball Cockerill took the drinks bottle he'd been holding behind his back and sprayed the ball !
He doesn't like yours either, it makes you a target
HasNorwell played in many Wales v England games?
Speaking of hair, the IRFU website has a BOD career gallery up at the moment.
Were there no barbers open in Dublin in 2005?
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HasNorwell played in many Wales v England games?
Might have played u18's or whatever I suppose.
Its always the english players coming out with this crap in recent years. I think what they really want to say is we hate the welsh but they know they cant.
anagallis_arvensis - Member
> http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/26443654I hate his hair
How very insightful of young Nowell.
[i]EVERY[/i] team in the World hates England! It's always been the way, in every sport!
In the league of hatred of England I reckon Wales come below Scotland and France though, surely.
Well I for one hate all this stupid "They hate us more than we hate them and we hate them more than we hate that other lot that hate us" drivel.
It's rugby. There's no hatred, IMO. Yes, of course Wales want to beat England, just as England want to beat Wales. It's called 'competition', not hatred.
*Wanders off muttering about all this being fields etc*
EVERY team in the World hates England! It's always been the way, in every sport!
yet its always the english saying "they hate us", says more about the english players imo.
Anyway fingers crossed ****gland keeps his gob shut this week!
[i]It's rugby. There's no hatred, IMO. Yes, of course Wales want to beat England, just as England want to beat Wales. It's called 'competition', not hatred.[/i]
Obviously you'd know better than the people who have actually played in the games then 😉
But yeah, hatred is a silly word for it - I'll go with: intense rivalry.
Myself and Flashy have played in as many full international games between england and wales as Nowel. Scored as many international tries as him too!
I was thinking more of what past players have said. Eg. Brian Moore and er.. well ok, Brian Moore 😀
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny (Blues); Alex Cuthbert (Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), George North (Northampton); Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Rhys Webb (Ospreys)Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro), Sam Warburton (Blues, capt), Taulupe Faletau (Dragons).
Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Paul James (Bath Rugby), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Scarlets).
He's back....!
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🙂
Davies and Webb are a gamble, I shall be watching in hope from behind the sofa!
There you have it flashy! best team in the championships. No excuses now for your boys this weekend.
When are the haterz announced?
Wales might have the nudge in the scrums, england at advantage in lineout and maul, backrow look evenly matched, half backs adv england, centres depend on how Davies goes, wales wings stronger and Brown on better frm than 1/2p. Should be close england favourites with home advantage.
Half marathon in the morning, birthday lunch at 13:00. Rugby at three. Looks like a great day ahead......
Pretty good summary there, AA.
[s]Who's the ref, BTW?[/s]
Roman Poite with the whistle. Tends to favour the dominant scrum, as it should be IMHO. Will be intriguing.....
The Hampshire Tournament for my U11s until 3, so I'll be watching on delay. Never seems quite as tense like that, so I should be able to sit and watch instead of nervously wandering about the house!
On 6N form so far, who would be the lions 15 now - 1/2p, brown or Kearney? Very close call. Brown and Kearney have both upped their games and form but 1/2 still as solid as ever.
Lineouts will be interesting, Please Lancaster! there is NO RULE saying that you HAVE to replace hookers after 60 mins. Do it at 81 mins if you must!!!!! 😉
Please Lancaster! there is NO RULE saying that you HAVE to replace hookers after 60 mins. Do it at 81 mins if you must!!!!!
What if your hooker is sent off for being a mouthy little Kiwi gobshite, though? 😉
I'd still go with 1/2p as Sexton and Farrel are both prone to the odd wobble with kicking at goal. If Dan Carter was the ten I'd pick Brown.
What for getting into a scrap with a Tongan? You never know 😉 A different type of "Ringer" in more ways than one (assuming you guys are old enough to get that one).
P.s. AA how's the knee? Agree on 1/2p, still gets the place from me. But great to see three top form 15s. (Awaits an irate Duckman........... 😉 )
[i]If Dan Carter was the ten I'd pick Brown.[/i]
Is Dan eligible? Yay!
What if your hooker is sent off for being a mouthy little Kiwi gobshite
What if he can't actually hook 😆
I am not sure who I would least like to line up against AWJ or Geoff Wheel from the old days. GWs tick would have made any nervous opposite number run back to the dressing room!!!!
Even though he has been 100% this year! AWJ has that "you would want him on your side in the trenches" look about him.
AWJ has that "you would want him on your side in the trenches" look about him.
Yep. A real workhorse of a player, and not meaning that in a bad way at all!
See also, Richard Hill (Flanker), Fabien Pelous, Victor Matfield, etc.
Tongan
You do realise who Talupe's cousins are dont you?
Here's a clue
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Hint, a 😉 normally indicates a bit of a joke (however bad) 😉
THM; Haterz gonna hate... Just because Brown is the new poster boy of the rUK press,doesn't make him better than h/p. Brown may have upped his game recently but Halfpenny has set the standard for 15 for the last three years. And besides,once Hogg leaves school and can start his driving lessons he will be able to train harder/more often.
That B&W (homo-erotic??) photo of Victor that appeared not so long ago was extraordinary. Was it photoshopped?
Agree Duckman, (see posts above)
Brown v 1/2p equal
Nowel v North wales
Burrell v Davies england (on form)
36 v Doc Jaw wales
May v Cuthbert wales
Farrel v Priestland Eng
Care v Webb Eng
Fatty M v Talupe Wales
Wood v Lydiate Eng
Robshaw v Warb even on form
Lawes v AW Jones adv eng on form
Launchbury v Charters adv eng on form
Fat bloke from Bath v Adam adv wales
Hartley v Hibbard adv eng
Marler v Gethin adv wales
Vunipola v James equal but very different players
That scrum halfs brother v Owens equal
Thomas v Rhodri both shit
Attwood v Ball adv eng
dont know v Tipuric adv wales
Who is spare 9? V Spikey adv wales
Ford v Biggar adv wales
Tuilagi? V Liam Wlliams adv eng
Mike Brown (Harlequins), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Danny Care (Harlequins), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), David Wilson (Bath Rugby), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby).
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks), David Attwood (Bath Rugby), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints), George Ford (Bath Rugby), Alex Goode (Saracens).
Damn. Twelvetrees still in there.
[s]Damn.[/s]Excellent! Twelvetrees still in there.
FTFY. 😉
It's a shame to see how he's deteriorated in form recently. Two years ago or so, I thought he was really going to progress. Seems to have gone backwards in form, and being up against a Lions centre partnership, and/or Big George, charging at him could either make or break him. (Remember Tait? One game against The Tanned One and his career stalled heavily)
[i]Excellent! Twelvetrees still in there.[/i]
Indeed! From an opposition point of view it must be great to see such an ineffectual attacking force in the line. Rather that than young Manu...
Of to twickers to see this one, English bench looks a bit crap if I'm honest. Too close to call though. As a neutral I love England V Wales games I wouldn't use hate but I would say it is the most intense rivalry in the 6N.
Long term I can see a Burrell / Tuilagi mix with 12T / being the bench option and allowing someone with a bit of pace (Yard / Wade) being on the bech ready to inject some life in the last 20 instead of the death of Goode! However, that's not realistic yet, (give it until the summer tour) so 12T is the best we're going to get.
Wales by 7 for me.
Brown's had a storming tournament but 1/2p would still be the Lions pick as we (I) now know quite how good his kicking is under pressure. It's going to be a great match, I hope the weathers good. Could be my last Eng Wales game for a long while as Mr Grumpy is not renewing his debentures after the RWC ticket fiasco (my seat neighbour who didn't care about RWC as it was too expensive had invitation to apply and Mr Grumpy did not)
On paper, wales' match to lose. Only a paper contest in the second row. But at least this time, our boys won't have the mass choirs and a goat standing right behind them turning them into lumps of jelly!!!!
We shall see, roll on Sunday!
(Jambalaya, mind the road closure on Sunday with the half mara!!. avoid town centre, spectrum and Burpham areas)
I fear England have made a big mistake leaving out Ashton. Come on Lancaster its not too late!
But at least this time, our boys won't have the mass choirs and a goat standing right behind them turning them into lumps of jelly!!!!
Nah, they'll be in the Library.
Shhhh, don't tell anyone we've only got one song!
😉
However, on a more rugby related note, this is a tough one to call for me.
Both teams have some players on great form, Brown, North, Hovis for example. Both teams have a few question marks, Davies and 36, for example. Both teams have their liabilities, Hartley and Spikey for example.
England, by a nose, sadly. 🙁
And, in the other games;
Ire v Ita - Ireland by a good handful of points, but will be made to work for it
Sco v Fra - I dunno about this one. Scotland have been written off a little too harshly for me. However, while I'd like to say they'd scrape a win, France by ten in a messy match.
@TMH - thanks but I'm coming up from Hamble, not based in Guildford post Decree Absolute 8) , lets catch up - I'll send you an email ... enjoy the run I'll be working on a large breakfast as blotting paper.
On paper, wales' match to lose.
er bookies dont agree england firm favourites. You just trying to play it down as usual.
No idea why other than odds are getting adjusting based on crazy optimism based on England on just not loosing against Ireland.
Wales have a load of BI Lions, are defending champions and basically, are a bloody good team.
As a side note, if Wales and the Welsh don't start believing they are a good side, and can go to places and beat their opponents, then they're never going to do well at the world cup. You've got to have confidence to win, the underdog mentality won't last forever.
I dont think it makes any difference what I think about the welsh team and they wont win a world cup anyway!
As for the odds I think they are based on how the teams are currently playing
nope, odds are always effected by how the bets are being placed after the initial assessment of the bookies.
Odds at kick off depend on the bookies possible losses for possible outcomes.
In a patriotic betting country like England they're always skewed massively towards English victory due to the shear number of backers.
This effect may not be as visible in Wales 😉
R Kearney, Trimble, O'Driscoll, D'Arcy, D Kearney, Sexton, Murray, Heaslip, Henry, Henderson, O'Connell, Toner, Ross, Best, Healy
Replacements: Cronin, McGrath, Moore, Ruddock, Murphy, Reddan, Jackson, McFadden
Rhys O'Ruddock on bench! Suprised Zebo hasnt made the team
Healey once again doing his best to show what a ****ing moron he is. Apart from anything else he doesnt even seem to grasp the positions Davies and Roberts play!
A Welsh reject No8 better than Faletau? Healey's just writing clickbait these days. Pathetic.
Morgan and Faletau are very different players but no way is Morgan better. As for Wilson being better than Adam!
My mate has tickets to Sunday's match, won in the local residents ticket lottery. He's not much of a rugby fan.. unlike several of his colleages, particulary the Welsh ones... 😯
Agree, tongan blokey is far better than welsh reject, but ive not seen recent form of tongan. Is he doing OK?
Adam Jones is fading force as far as I can see. Now the impacts gone from the 'hit' hes nothing like as effective at doing a number on his opersition, however I'd have him a mile ahead of Bath Fatman! Hopefully fatty is a fair bit fitter now and can last for a while. I wonder if Tom Youngs has been taught the lineout calls yet as well. If he could sort that he would be a real impact sub.
Oh, and I thought Healy got the centres pretty much right in the descriptions, even if in the wrong positions?
He said J Davies is the best 12 in europe, he's a ****ing 13, always has been. Played 12 a few times with the lions but he's a 13. I didnt read the rest of his tripe about the centres when I saw he'd got them wrong!
Fofana is the best 12
Triumph Spitfire has been at the crack pipe again.
But he is probably the best 13, which is what I'm getting at. He's been playing really well. You're just upset that your no2 man crush Mr Jones has been playing quite poorly this season!
Never mind, I think Me Henson is heading back over the bridge...
Ok welch rugby fans, if your team are so good how come you've not won the rugby world cup or even got to a final yet? These odd grand slams/championships are all well and good ( still not won as many as england) but until you actually compete for a world cup you can never be taken seriously in the wider rugby world surely?!
Here we go again.....
The welsh rugby team isnt very good as evidenced by losing to australia 240 000 times in the last two years. Winning the odd grand slam is about our level and we have over performed compared to say ireland in recent years. The more pertinant question is given their huge playing resources why are england so shit?
Ok welch rugby fans, if your team are so good how come you've not won the rugby world cup or even got to a final yet? These odd grand slams/championships are all well and good ( still not won as many as england) but until you actually compete for a world cup you can never be taken seriously in the wider rugby world surely?!
I don't think you understand them. As long as they beat us, that's all that counts.
If you look at the historical record of wales vs england [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rugby_union_matches_between_England_and_Wales ](here)[/url] you will find it is exactly 56/56.
I don't think we should be discounting them just yet..
AA to help you, england have more eligble players than all of the rest of the world added together. We should be ruddy amazing. Alas not. I wish I knew why.
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And...in case you get your talking cars muddled up....
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The best althletes in South Africa and NZ play rugby. Wales not too far behind. In England we have a huge number of other sports which take take talent. Of course we have mire grass roots players as we are a country of 45+m. Real outstanding peformers are the ozzies as league is so much bigger than union. Winners in 2003, losing finalists in 2007 not such a bad record, 2011 was a disaster as the tournament was wide open.