[Closed] Rugby Thread 2018/19

Edinburgh beat the kings to go 2nd in their conference while Glasgow lose to Benneton to fall to second. Edinburgh now 3 in a row despite rotation and looking in good form.

Edinburgh away to Toulon next which I really fancy for an away win. comming good at the right time

Any one see the Worcester match? sounds a bit crazy!

Denying that try was a really poor decision. Tigers looked a bit more fluent again and appear to be getting their shit together. Ford had a pretty good game too. Gloucester look rudderless without Cipriani; he makes their attack so much more fluid and accurate.

Exeter were really poor and struggled against Bristol.

I didn’t see the Worcester game but it sounds a bit nuts. Bath ending the game with 11 players on the pitch with 19 minutes of extra time.

TJ - didn’t Edinburgh end up playing kids as well?

Indeed they did. A lot of rotation for this game as we have crucial euro cup games coming up. Not necessarily a weakened side but not the first choice . Kings have been pretty dire this season tho.

Edinburgh are getting to the point where they can rotate without being grossly weakened - which is what you need to do well over a season of rugby now

Ospreys beat the Blues

To be fair to Glaws they are ravaged by injuries.

And Scarlets beat Dregs, with Ken Owens at 8!!

Ford had a pretty good game too

As always when going forward...

Cipriani; he makes thier attack so much more fluid and accurate

Eddie, are you listening...

1/2p to miss start if six nations as still concussed from a "fair charge down"

The length of time he's been off, and looks like continuing to be, is deeply worrying. Fingers crossed for him.

Preistland leaving Bath at the end of the season, with lots of rumours linking him to the Scabs.

Six nations time approaches. Your predictions and the state of your team?

Please note my record of prediction on here is utter pish thus reverse what I think perhaps?

So Scotland. Injuries are not too much of an issue but still a number of broken centres and Barclay is going to miss some / all the 6N and that will be a huge loss. Edinburgh in good form but Glasgow in a slump ( for them 😉 - only second in their conference and second in their euro cup pool)

Team -
front row - we now have plenty of internationalists and our first choice front row will stand up to anyone. Nice to see WP coming back to his destructive best. McInally is just getting better and better

Second Row - ickle jonny looks a bit off his best, who partners him is a question with no first rate answers
Back row - a swathe of good players but no big ball carrier. This cost us in the AIs as with no one to get go forward from the back row carrying then our quick recycling and fast paced game falls apart. Watson is playing really well and will be a pain in the arse to anyone and everyone. Stealing the ball several times per game and tackling like a demon - fantastic stuff considering he would be considered by many small for a back.

Halfbacks - here in lies some fun. Does wee Greig start for his calm head and kicking? or Wee George Horne for his running threat and zip? Russell is obviously no1 at 10 - but his time in France where we hoped he would be taught control and playing the percentages seems not to have worked. He is playing well but even more of a box of frogs than he was. Hastings as sub ? Going thru a loss of form right now and hardly a controlling player either. Weir? again in good form and a more controlling 10 so could be in with a shout. Peter Horne for his versatilely? and he seems to be one of those players who makes others around him play better. Hard to tell what way Tooonie will go.

Centres? Its all about last man standing I think. Hopefully Dunbar is back 'cos we need him badly. Taylor would be useful but I think still broken? Nick Gregg is playing very well but we really need someone approaching 6' and more than 13 st dripping wet in the centres - a pairing of P Horne and N Gregg must be the smallest centre pairing in the world in an adult team

Back 3 - here we haver riches. Its all about combinations. Hogg obviously the star and although injured should be back this week or next. Kinghorn a very different 15 but almost an equal attacking threat but not so good in defence. Perhaps he gets a wing spot. Tommy Seymour is what he is - but in good form right now. Maitland ditto and we also have Darcy Graham who is a real attacking threat but another midget although he did get a tackle and steal off a Glasgow forward in the 1872 cup

Scotland could actually put out virtually an entire set of backs who are under 5'10" and 13 stone! Lets milk those high tackle pens boys!

Scotland must be aiming to win 3 games at least but that means winning on the road in France or England or beating Wales which we haven't done since AA was a boy! but anything less will be a disappointment

1. Dell
2. McInally
3. Nel
4. J.Gray
5. Gilcrest
6. Ritchie / wilson
7. Watson
8. Ashe
9. Laidlaw
10. Russell
11. Seymour
12. Johnson / dunbar
13. Jones
14. Maitland
15. Hogg

16. Allan
17. Ford ( others too broken)
18. Berghan
19. Fagerson M
20. Wilson
21. Horne / McDowell / graham
22. Hastings
23. Kinghorn

Final 6N table
Ireland
Wales
Scotland
England
Italy
France

Others - England - Farrell is now going to be watched for his petulance and high / no arms tackles. 2 yellows at least and they still don't have a captain or whatever it is who can change tactics on the field. too inflexible slow and ponderous. Jones is a nitwit.
Wales seem to have injury issues but Gatland always seems to make them more than the sum of their parts but the welsh pro14 and euro form is pure pish
Ireland - the best in the NH by a long way. Hard to see who can beat them. Grand slam?
Italy - Pro 14 form is not bad and I think they might surprise a couple of teams
France - who knows?

Finally - I bet Scotland surprise with some trick plays. Townsend loves a trick play.

Wales...****ed everyone's broke.

15 Liam
14 George
13 Davies
12 Scott Williams or Parkes
11 Adams
10 Anscombe
9 Tomos Williams ( Davies playing shit)
8 Dont know Maybe Navidi
7 Tipuric
6 Wainwright
5 AWJ
4 Beard
3 Francis
2 Owens the 8
1 Rob last man standing Evans

16 Wyn Jones
17 Dee
18 Lee
19 Cory BIL Hill
20A N Other backrow who is fit
21 G Davies
22 Biggar
23 Amos

Wales…**** everyone’s broke.

Does that mean we have a chance AA?

Always a chance! If we win first up in Paris its all on. Lose and we will struggle same for England in Dublin fisrt week.

I'll be honest sadly I don't think Scotland can sustain form, I am honestly expecting them to be 5th or 6th behind England and Italy. Other than that Wales France and Ireland vying for top spot will make things uber interesting, but the Irish will pip it, despite their only losing game to England.

despite their only losing game to England.

Cant see England winning first up in Dublin but they look to be the second best team imo.

I get you, but I think it will be their only bit of form after the improvement at the end of the autumn, then it will be back downhill again..

England will get beaten by Wales for sure and will struggle like hell against Scotland and Italy. Its only because they are last that we will have a chance of beating them as there will be need to redeem crapness agasint Wales and Ireland... France will depend on which french team turns up..
Just my opinion, from reading the tea leaves..

Ireland 4 wins. Lose to England by 1 -3 points so Ire get losers BP
Wales 4 wins. Lose to Ireland.
France 3 wins. Lose to Ireland and Wales Try BP against Italy and Scotland
England 3 or 2 wins. Lose to Wales and France, may lose to Scotland, but it will be super close and embarrassing for England.
Scotland 0 or 1 or 2. May win against Italy, may beat England.
Italy 0 or 1 wins. May beat Scotland but losers BP to England who struggle to prove they can even beat Italy who will look soooooo close.

If England beat Ireland away first up Wales wont beat them!.
Bookies have it Ireland then England then Wales

If England beat Ireland away first up Wales wont beat them!.

Ha ha it is so funny how local confidence varies. See I reckon we will be all nervous about Ireland and play really well. Then be all swagger and cool after beating Ireland away and assume Wales will be a breeze- call it the return of English arrogance. Wales will think, OMG England look awesome, **** it nothing to lose, lets relax and play our best, no stress. Plus its in Wales.

Never discount Wales when they are the underdog, its when they play best, in fact I think Gatland probably tries to undermine everyone else's opinion of them.
Also England have to get past France before you lot.

If we get stuffed by Ireland then I would be more confident in beating Wales. But I have a feeling that Ireland will be in for a small disappointment.
PS bookies want England fans to think that, we have got the biggest population so more people will bet on England coming 1st or 2nd.

No one will beat Ireland especially England. 5th place last year for England and they have only got worse since then with still no idea of tactics or team they should be playing

Ireland are clearly the best team in the NH by a long way.

Well I shall be looking forward to coming back here in 9 weeks time to see how our predictions have fared.

My record of predictions on here is pretty poor!

Ireland clear favourites....could Grand Slam again

2nd-5th is close......Wales slightly ahead, England/Scotland very close and France could either be good or garbage.

Italy to lose all 5 again, although they may beat France.

Ireland 1st yes but England a clear second easily.

Ireland clear favourites….could Grand Slam again

Could?

Should.

Really Kryton? What do you base that on?

Ireland 1st yes but England a clear second easily.

England are away v Ireland and Wales so could find it tough. Wales have a decent set of games if we assume the crap version of France turn up in Paris first week.

Really Kryton? What do you base that on?

Its just my humble opinion that England are a better more experienced team and will want to make a statement. We also have a lot of returning talented players and now an amazing amount of experienced depth.

Fair enough

It’s hard to look past Ireland winning (again) this year. A good autumn and good form in Europe for key players means they’ll be full of confidence. I may not enjoy the rugby that they often end up playing but they’re accurate, disciplined, have a quality set piece and are good at the breakdown. There aren’t many holes in their game.

England? God knows. If we play like we did for 40 mins against the AB’s every game then we could have a good tournament. Revert to type and it’ll be another disappointment.

The welsh are mostly broken but they’ll still do Ok.

Scotland will be confident and players seem to generally be in good form.

France I think will spring a surprise or two but will come undone against Ireland.

Italy will prop the table up.

I may not enjoy the rugby that they often end up playing but they’re accurate, disciplined, have a quality set piece and are good at the breakdown. There aren’t many holes in their game.

Our only hope is that they get bored themselves and try to open up.

Underhill out for the 6N.

A big loss for England, that.

Indeed it is CFH - but would he have been picked? JOnes seems allergic to playing a ball stealer

Underhill out for the 6N.

A big loss for England, that.

Although Tom Curry is playing well, and suddenly we have a glut of locks & back row forwards again. Underhill has one excellent game, I'd have loved to see if he could repeat that through the 6N.

Cips back playing this weekend as well, just sayin'

JOnes seems allergic to playing a ball stealer

Underhill isnt a jackler, he's a typical English 6.5. Bloody good one but winning turnovers is his weakness. Tackles like a bulldozer and built like a rhino.

I thought that was him that was their only jackler - who am I confusing him with? England need a jackler!

Shame about Underhill after a very good autumn.

As for replacements, Curry is going well and Kvesic has had a good season but plays for the wrong club.

Sobering night for Gloucester who got dicked by Munster. Cipriani outplayed by young Carbery.

Underhill is an immense talent and if he keeps fit will be one of the best England has produced.

one of the best England Ospreylia has produced.

FTFY.

Carbery performance a bonus . Have to see how Byrne goes today against Toulouse with sexton out.
McGrath , toner, sob, leavy, sexton, henshaw, Kearney all missing for probs the biggest game of Leinster's season so far.

Not expecting too much from the six Nations. Remember the last one in WC year and it was all about not giving anything away. They won't show be moves now, they'll keep things back. One out, maybe two and bosh.
Ireland had France in the group's any that years six Nations match was just battering rams

Ospreys Warriors today, not hopeful.

Reports of Glaws last night, pack got smashed but according to my mate had an academy player at hooker. Irish provences very strong and great fans.

I really can't see how you make England clear second favourites Kryton?! 5th last year, had a better than expected Autumn, but I didn't see anything to suggest we're clearly better than all the others bar Ireland.....we could finish 2nd, but equally we could finish 5th again, it really is that close imo.

Big game for Sale today, we're the form English team, and clearly now targeting the Challenge Cup as we've sent our strongest team today over to Connacht....the final is only a short drive away and it'd be a big deal for us to get some silverware.

Not putting any "favourite" tag near them, but I really think France are going to do well this year.
The team that Toulouse beat Leinster with was full of younger French players, most from their academy, and they look really strong up front and quick out back. It's WC year and if they do it again today...

one of the second best England Ospreylia has produced.

Falcons getting spanked by Montpellier; Toulon our as a result.

Leinster Toulon is tighter than I expected.

Not any more it’s not; they’ve scored two tries since I wrote that!

Congrats Stoner, things really not good at the Liberty and the natives are getting restless.

cant even say I know what kind of game it was. Only had a twitter feed to follow. Its a real shame they cant find away of sticking up a vt feed online for these minor european matches. Will probably go and watch the home match vs Stade F next saturday with the boy.

Bath v wasps was scratty but tense from the closeness.

Going from North to South...
Well played Ulster.
Well played Connacht.
Well played Leinster.
Well played Munster.

Some smashing individual performances in all four. Standouts for me were Stockdale and Carbery.

My god Leicester are really shit! They’re going to get nilled!

Stoner et al, the ECPR site has a live stream of some games. It's not great, but it's there.

Anyone know anything about this new young lad playing at 8 for the Scarlets? Seems a bit handy. Leicester getting dry humped in to next week!

Given events elsewhere, and the way Embra are playing, I assume TJ has developed tennis elbow...

Anyone know anything about this new young lad playing at 8 for the Scarlets?

No idea, bit chubby for a backrow I thought!

Dan Davies at 7 is starting to impress me a lot!

Wooooooohoooooooo
The luvvies win away in France
'does the happy dance.'

Now let's see if the soapdodgers can win tomorrow

Saints continuing the English tradition of being shit at the breakdown. They’re getting absolutely dicked there by Clermont. In their defence, the have scored a couple of cracking tries.

Good win for Exeter who managed to score some tries through the backs. They looked much better with Nowell back (he played 15 pretty well). Slade has a good game too.

Soapdodgers get their bonus point win. Neither Scots team certain to get through but both have a good chance. By my reckoning if the luvvies beat Montpellier Glasgow will go through as a best loser or of course if the weegies beat saffercens they go through
Who would have thought it.
I wonder what odds you could have got for Edinburgh beating Toulon home and away?

he played 15 pretty well

He did. And he was a class above everywhere also as well. I can’t help wondering if this sorts England’s 15 conundrum. We’ve too many wings, so if we can keep Nowell on at 15 there’s room for May and Daly with big Joe as a finisher.

Sarries did ok but managed not to look very good. Yet another high tackle for Farrel, who seems to recognise he’s doing it now. Billy V does not look up to par at all - by his standards.

Launchbury very good for Wasps this week as week, England forwards starting to look strong again.

Soapdodgers get their bonus point win.

JP Doyle and his random rule book. If the ball crosses the 10m line in the air from kick-off it doesn’t matter if it lands 7m from the centreline. Clasping your hands around a player who is on the ground isn’t the same as tackling a player on the ground. Being onside is exactly the same as being offside if you’re wearing a blue shirt. And, as the commentator said, it’s almost like his decisions are a reaction to the way the crowd shouts.

I enjoyed was it Nicol in the co commentry? Grieg made the right decision when he tackled someone without the ball and got pinged, jesus theyvsayvtyecWelsh are one eyed. Lane looked sharp, World Cup bolter?

Nicolas is awful. No understanding of the laws of the game

Idlejohn. IIRC aa recent alteration to the guidance to refs. Same applies to the touchline. if a kick goes over the plane of the line and curves back infield it's considered to have gone into touch

And the clasping s player on the ground is seen as jackling. Players do it all the time

TJ, they are both examples of the inconsistent way the game works - the bits that infuriate me
You are right that if a ball is kicked 10m at a restart and blown backwards then the ball is playable. Taking your example and twisting it slightly, if a kick goes over the plane of the touch-line and is knocked back into play by a player (who start on field) then the refs are currently ruling it as out of play. Why the difference between a player and the wind?

As to clasping a player on the ground vs jackalling.... the chasing player isn't going to win the ball on the ground by putting both his arms around the prone player. All he is doing is preventing that player from playing the ball, or getting up. And all he needs to do, according to the law, is to reach over the prone player and take the ball. If the prone player doesn't immediately release the ball he should be penalised. We all know this, as do the players, as do the referees. But we get this ridiculous pantomime where players hold on, squirm, move the ball three times, and eventually the defence arrives.

And all he needs to do, according to the law, is to reach over the prone player and take the ball. If the prone player doesn’t immediately release the ball he should be penalised. We all know this, as do the players, as do the referees.

And if everytime the ref shouted "release" he pinged the guy holding the ball on the floor or the player with hands in the ruck the players would soon learn!

Faletau is borked.

Aaargh. Especially seeing his skillz on display at the weekend.

Arse, hope its not the same injury...6 Nations written off!!

AA same injury; broken arm again. Looks like Ken will be playing eight for Wales!

Faletau is borked.

Did he do that during the game? I didn't watch much of that one because it wasn't very interesting.

I did watch the game and strangely didn't notice it. He was another stand out player of the weekend, what a shame.

Seems a bit of a worry if its the same arm. Wales backrow will be without Shingler, Ellis Jenkins, James Davies, Lydiate, Faletau and maybe Moriarty. Could be looking at Navidi at 8, Tips at 7 and Wainwright at 6 v France. Two 6.5's and a 7, very lightweight, hopefully Moriarty will be back then its a choice between Navidi and Wainwright at 6.

Nathan Hughes going to Brizzle

Thomas Young in the squad!

Smith, Moriarty and 1/2p all in despite being injured.

Thomas Young deserves his call up; he’s been the one shining light for a piss poor Wasps team.

I wonder if Hughes will pull his finger out and Bristol or if he’ll take the cash and be poo. He was playing really well for Wasps until he was called up by England. Since then he appears to have gone backwards whilst getting paid a load of cash.

Scotland squad out. No real surprises bar Kerr and even then we have heard of him. Looks fairly strong even though we have 13 first / second choices out injured

England Squad announced.

Jones seems to have selected on form and experience with the exception of an obvious couple. Please to see Devoto back in the mix, he's playing really well. I'd expect to see him & a couple of other s starting vs Italy for experience. But But But.. Mr Angry is back...

So suddenly, England have a lot of depth in the forwards and cor blimey, the centres as well, yet still no chance for Cips and the big news is probably that Care has been omitted.

Forwards

Jack Clifford (Harlequins), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Ben Earl (Saracens) *, Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers), Jamie George (Saracens), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs), Brad Shields (Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Jack Singleton (Worcester Warriors) *, Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)

Backs

Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Ollie Devoto (Exeter Chiefs), Owen Farrell (Saracens) captain, George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Dan Robson (Wasps) *, Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors), Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby) *, Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

When will the announce Tuilagi's latest injury?
What is Englands likely backrow? Scrum half must be a concern?

What is Englands likely backrow?

Lawes/Curry at 7, Shields/Curry/Earl at 6, BillyV/Hugues at 8 would be my guess.

Itoje's a dead cert but who with to start? Launchbury or Kruis? I'd go with the former vs Ireland with Kruis benched, and reverse that for Italy.

Curry, Shields, Hughes.....would be obliterated v Ireland. Vunipola at 8, curry at 7 and Itoje/Shields would be my guess.
Daly at 15 in Dublin could be funny too, will Jones put Brown back in? I hope Ashton plays 15!!

I see him starting having Brown at FB and Daly & May on the wings with Nowell on the bench. I am less sure on how he sees the centre and whether tuilagi can get through a week in Portugal

I'd guess at Farrell 10, Slade, Teo, May and Daly and Brown for Ireland. Manu & Nowell as finishers.

Daly has been shit for Wasps. He’s a lucky boy to be called up.

Farrell as sole captain is a massive worry because having watched him recently for Sarries he still can’t tackle and seems to wind the refs up. Given the form of the English teams in Europe, I’m not expecting too much. We’ll get well beaten in Ireland and middle along from there.