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Predictions?
France by 5
Ireland by 10
Scotland by 1 pt ( maybe)
Ospreys beat Leinster in Dublin last night 😮😲😳😮
Looks like the result could shaft Glasgow.
I see Hastings is playing 15 v Dregs this weekend...TJ you were so dismissive of my suggestion that he looks like a 15 playing 10.....meanwhile Hogg starts at 10 for Scotland, mind you he was better than Russell at 10 last week.
I do hope AA was Watching the Ospreys tonight
I watched most of the first half but have not been sleeping well this week and was knackered so went to bed 🙄
Got to stay up late tonight!
No predictions other than I will be slightly overwrought!
When Hogg got his first call up there was talk of him at 10 but then Russell appeared. Not sure how good his pass is off his left and given a little room he'll be tempted into running everything.
TJ you were so dismissive of my suggestion that he looks like a 15 playing 10
Don't remember that. I have never been a part of the Hastings fan club. I'd rather have Weir playing 10 for Scotland. Hastings runs up blind alleys all the time and makes far too many mistakes
I sort of see the point with giving Hogg a run at 10. With Russell he is only ever going to be subbed if injured so there is no point in having a 10 on the bench - better to get one or two of our other players primed to play 10 if Russell gets injured.
What’s being poured for tomorrow?
A couple of bottles of French red, and if Wales beat France (channelling my 1/8 Welshness cos England I predict will lose as a) its a French referee and b) we is England so we think we rule the rugby world innit but aren't actually that good 🤔🤣) I may even treat myself to an Irish whiskey.
PS - one, or more, of my comments is tongue in cheek 😂
mind you he was better than Russell at 10 last week.
The Biggar hype train is up early this morning.
LCD good at darts.
https://twitter.com/OptaJonny/status/1372973415712325643
Yes but ireland are good at reading the throws - or were excellent against Scotland. It wasn't poor throwing - it was excellent lineout defense
Given the way England have been playing I think ireland have the perfect game to counter them
Calm down calm down - its like two bald men fighting over a comb!
Given the way England have been playing I think ireland have the perfect game to counter them
Having Beirne at 6 helped Ireland as did England having Lawes at 6, both teams are back to playing real 6 at 6 rather than locks are they not?
Could we please enjoy a great Saturday of rugby today?
England by 5
Scotland by 15
France at the death by 3
tjagain
Predictions?France by 5
Ireland by 10
Scotland by 1 pt ( maybe)
If wishful thinking to suit your preferred outcomes is what we are doing then:
France by 5
England by 20
Italy by 7
It was probably me who said that I’d chose Liam (and 1/2p) over Hogg. I did at the time however point out that Gatland has said how much he rates Hogg and he knows more about it than me.
I do not understand why anyone cares what anyone else on here thinks. If you like Darcy and Van De Merwe, but I’d chose Adams and LRZ (or maybe Watson) why get annoyed?
Ah; so I am a sore loser for slagging your running down of Russell
Don't fret I'm sure he'll get you a grand slam next year
Saucer of cream? for 5 plus?
Italy have been poor this season - it would be a major upset if they win
France have too much firepower for Wales I think and surely wales luck will run out 😉
Ireland have the perfect game to counter Englands stodge Kick deep and hope for mistakes or kick to touch and pressure lineouts just will not work against ireland and Farrell in the centres takes away all the pace from the attack
France at the death by 3
I have a dream of a Wales drop goal in the 81st minute to win the game after being 9 points behind at 78 minutes 😀
Scotland by 30+
England by 10 to 15
France by 5 to 13
But I still think Wales might pull of the Grand Slam with a performance that people will acknowledge was outstanding.
Again AA; "I can't" would have saved you time.
tjagain
Full Member
Predictions?France by 5
Ireland by 10
Scotland by 1 pt ( maybe
Scotland by 10+ pts
Ireland by 3 pts
France by 8 pts
Ireland have the perfect game to counter Englands stodge Kick deep
You didn’t watch last weeks match? It’s the perfect setup to make Ireland wonder how we will play. I predict a frantic first 20 mins but England to have slightly too much for Ireland IF they play well. But a close match for sure.
Again AA; “I can’t” would have saved you time.
So me saying Hogg was better than Russell at 10 last week, means I think Williams is better than Hogg and Biggar is better than Russell and warrants calling me a bell end does it, other than that no I can't be bothered with your bitterness and acting like a sore loser.
France have too much firepower for Wales I think and surely wales luck will run out 😉
I agree but when France get 2 reds and yellow in the first half the jam Slam will be on!
Kryton - I did watch Englands last match but could not detect anything different in substance from how they have played thew last couple of years. Just executed a bit better. I still say Ireland have the skills to counter englands kicking game and the better breakdowna dn lineout. england will not be able to do anything without the ball.
AA -
Biggar is better than Russell
Now that is some deluded nonsense right there
personally i would play biggar at 10 for the lions - not because he is a better player but because he plays a much more conventional game that would fit a gatland game plan and limited training time better
Russell is clearly the best home nations 10 by a long way.
Can the children please stop fighting at the back.
Russell is clearly the best home nations 10 by a long way.
No. No he is not, imho. You would have to define what makes one 10 better than another. There are things that Sexton, Ford and Biggar do better than Russell. He is far too inconsistent, again imho.
Ps a_a was not the first person to suggest that Hogg had a better game at 10 than Russell. I’m pretty sure I saw that written in a piece in the Guardian and elsewhere.
Biggar is better than Russell
I didn't say that Duckman, wet his knickers because I said Hogg was better at ten last week and tried to bring Biggar into it.
Russell clearly has more talent in his little finger than Biggar, he just come up with too many daft errors at key points.
personally i would play biggar at 10 for the lions – not because he is a better player but because he plays a much more conventional game that would fit a gatland game plan and limited training time better
I agree but would go for Fax. With Garland coaching and limited game time to bed in any complex plans most selection will be done on weight!! See also Tips and Watson missing out.
Russell is clearly the best home nations 10 by a long way.
Potentially, but I think Ford is a better option, although Russell's defence is much better than his.
I'd take
Ford
Russell
Faz
I think Garland will take
Faz
Russell
Sexton/Biggar
Gauss - Sexton is beyond his best. russell is no longer the inconsistent man of a few years ago - I suggest you watch Racing play. what does ford do better than russell?
Biggar plays the conventional game well and has the best kick chase in the game
Off for a bike ride now. Want to get everything done in time to see Hogg at ten v Italy, could be epic!!
what does ford do better than russell?
Doesn't kick 50:50 cross kicks or kick the ball touch in goal from pens....(yes I know he doesn't kick to touch for England). IMO he organised things better.
Watch squidges video on him
Haha, I wet MY knickers? Anybody new here should just click on page 4 for the full AA experience.
The problem with Ford for Lions as highlighted by Squidge you need a forward to help him out in defence, and you'll need a very solid defence vs SA.
The potential there to pull players in from the wing is large.
Off for a bike ride now. Want to get everything done in time
+1!
I have to shop, get diesel, walk the dogs, do the census. No time for a ride.
Ireland have the perfect game to counter Englands stodge Kick deep and hope for mistakes or kick to touch and pressure lineouts just will not work against ireland and Farrell in the centres takes away all the pace from the attack
This is just very wishfull thinking, they really don't.
That's why England keep winning v Ireland.
Ireland have done well when their pack can dominate. It's not happened v England recently and England know that. Ireland attack is not flowing at all under Catt, good lineout defence doesn't mean point's..
and the forwards don't grind through the bigger England pack so can go 20 phases and make no gains. defence hasn't coped well with being kicked over and turned by fast wingers like may, Watson, Daly.
England, like Wales, can beat Ireland on 30%possesion. Ireland will need some bounce to go there way and to play like it's a final.
Some hope - Keenan covers back field better than Stockdale or henshaw so maybe less tries for may. And Billy v looked a bit less on form this year , Ireland hasn't coped with his running before. And Ireland players know their attack isn't working so might just ignore Catt and let henshaw and aki play like they used to for Connacht. And stander might get a few tries in with his thirty carries and tackles 😉
We will see Loum but my money is on Ireland
Scotland by 15 after going a try down in the first 5 minutes
France leading by 8 with 20 minutes to go then a French player get binned and Wales nick a quick try and pen to sneak it by 2
Ireland England is such a turgid grind of endless rucks, rolling mauls and penalties that nobody watches long enough to see the final score
Anybody new here should just click on page 4 for the full AA experience.
What was so wrong on page four?
TJ would love it to happen, and it's possible, but it's easy to see how England are confident.
Still, best when underdogs - not favourites.
It's crazy the difference that Cullen and Lancaster get out of the same players compared to Catt.
Silver lining might be a change there.
I hadn’t realised that Scotland are at home today. And the Sun is shining. Scotland could put 60+ on Italy, so long as they’re patient/don’t try to force things.
Scotland could put 60+ on Italy
Lol
The are interviewing Hamish Watson now, he's obviously from the home counties, is that near Selkirk?
(His roots look to be Cheshire and Manchester, but he sounds like he's from Reading.)
Anyone watch league? I’ve seen a couple of minutes here and there, but never really given it a chance. Tomorrow however: West Wales Raiders v Widnes Vikings is live on BBC Sport this Sunday. A chance to watch Henson play 😀
The Mish - he is from the Glens!
HOme advantage without crowds is not really there
😂😂😂😂😂
The comeback begins 😂
Scotland looking like they might get those 60 points. I just hadn’t anticipated Italy doing the same!
Boom!
Tackle of the tournament. Ouch!
8)
Well thats exciting.
this is much closer to our best backline and should have been playing all tournament. Johnson and Jones, Duhan and Darcy How many players has Duhan run thru already?
670 m made already and 4 tries.
Other than that amazing tackle, it's a shame about the Italian defence, the rest of their game is matching up to Scotland nicely.
As much as people talk (not on here) about removing Italy from the 6Nations, I enjoy watching their games. The Ireland v England game could be very dull in comparison.
Yeah when they attack it looks great.
5plusn8
Free Member
Other than that amazing tackle, it’s a shame about the Italian defence, the rest of their game is matching up to Scotland nicely.
Ah;This is another one of your "Scotland aren't good, their opposition is crap." statements, isn't it? If it is just their defence at fault, why haven't they scored 4 tries?
Italy are also doing a bit of " three sprats to catch a mackerel" ie blooding young Italians and getting them experience and looking towards the next WC rather than maximizing their chances now
Umm by my definition Scotlands defence is good, ergo they haven't let Italy in. You understand that's how the game works right?
You are winning, why more of the much denied bitterness you strange little man?
A man called Huw Jones scoring a try for Scotland...think I started on the wine too early 😂😂😂
Who made Russell waterboy? what odds he has sneaked a wee cheeky vodka into one of the water bottles?
I was actually highlighting YOUR bitterness. I am perfectly happy with how it is going. You are unable to get over the Calcutta Cup match, hence posts like your one above. Italy were never matching us. Go on; just for once, give credit where it is due, even when it is Scotland.
Umm by my definition Scotlands defence is good
I already did. You can only see what you want to see.
And you are still being sad and bitter about beating England. I just don't get it.
I have two questions for the adults of the forum.
1) Ken Owens and Cherry - related/separated at birth?
2) What needs to happen in Italy to raise their game? Is it structural, grassroots, or what? They only have two premier club sides, but then so do Scotland.
5plus8. You may not intend it but your posts did come over as Italy are shite not Scotland are good
re Italy - this is a rebuild season with playing a lot of youngsters. the last couple of years the clubs have been much more competitive and I think they have a good crop of young players
Right. I see no reason why Tipuric and Watson could not play for the lions. Aus played Hooper and Pocock and the stats are very similar on size. Interestingly Tips is the tallest of them all
What's wrong with saying Italy were shite now?
Nothing
Eeek, late England news; Mallins out & Daly back to 15, Sexton will target Daly for sure. Lawrence comes into centre, lets hope he gets some ball and can show an attacking impact outside of Farrell, without Farrell kicking it away all the time.
(before todays game)
"Hamish Watson (44) and Jonny Gray (39) are yet to miss a tackle in the 2021 Six Nations, no one else has made more than 30 tackles without missing at least one, Watson also didn’t miss a tackle in 2020 (73); in fact he has made 133 consecutive tackles in a row in the tournament without missing one, the second longest such run in Six Nations history (Lionel Nallet 154)" - SRU Website
Van der Merwe beat 15 players today - surely he must go on the lions!
Can we please just freeze the tournament now?
Scotland second in the table 🙂
Looks like player release for Friday is yet unresolved. PRL insisting on being paid huge sums. SRU refusing
there is no way Scotland should be disadvantaged by this in any way - and we simply do not have the money the PRL are looking for nor should we be paying it
I have a feeling England are gonna get a lesson today. Ireland massively up for it.
That was a lovely try.
Yes, very good.
Classy try indeed..
England getting well beaten in the air, breakdown, scrums. That try was well worked.
England not getting the rub of a French ref again, but Ireland are indeed better.
Earls dropped that ball btw, very dodgy grounding and it should have been reviewed.
England havent played this shit for years, tired, uninterested penalty magnets with nothing to offer as a team on the pitch.
Apart from the second half last week, England have been exceedingly poor this tournament, regardless of refereeing decisions. All round discipline is woeful.
England don't appear very good against the home nations do they?
What did I say earlier?
If ireland don't make mistakes on the kicks then england have no way of going forward
England don’t appear very good against the home nations do they?
They were not that great against France either TBH, lucky with try at the end.