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Ireland might not be as worried about Wales as England are but we've done well recently.
22-9
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z1lHdVGTXms
16 all away
23-16
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lUDHZVOfdw0
I am convinced Wales will beat Ireland, they have been clinical throughout. They never looked worried against us and I think Gatland is a master tactician.
I also would not be surprised to see Scotland make life very hard for England.
As usual the 6N makes for a great competition I am glad there are still permutations at this stage.
The problem is the Wales game will fix it too early in the day. They will win and the rest of the competition becomes boring then. I'd rather it was last.
They will win and the rest of the competition becomes boring then
I wish I shared your certainty!!
This was my prediction before, when you all said England had no chance of beating Ireland...
That and Scotland performance have been my only correct calls.
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.
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/rugby-thread-2018-19/page/37/#post-10431237
In fact, I am going to put a bet on Scotland beating England. By 1-3 points.
What odds did you get?
Wales have never lost a GS decider played in Cardiff! (Like they’ve never lost to England in a year ending in 9, and Adam Beard has never lost in a Welsh shirt, this means the game is already won. 😂 )
Apologies to all Scots. I said up there ^ that they have not beaten England for over a decade. I obviously blanked out a game for some reason. ☺️
There's a few people on here that could possibly look very silly Saturday night. As I had low expectations of my own national team I'd already practised my Irish accent and am warming it up again.
There’s a few people on here that could possibly look very silly Saturday night
Believe me whatever he result I will be looking silly!!
Robson is out of Saturday’S game due to illness with Ben Spencer being called up as a replacement.
Robson can’t seem to catch a break on the international stage. It’s worrying that our back up scrum halves are pretty short on experience given that Care has proved many times that he’s not a starting mine and is best suited to being a sub.
Scrum half situation is a bit of a nightmare heading into the RWC.
Scrum half situation is a bit of a nightmare heading into the RWC.
Same with Wales Gareth Davies playing shit v Scotland and then Aled Davies came on to be even worse. Shame Tomos Williams got injured.
Webb will have a contract with Bedwas in time for the world cup, AA.
I get the feeling Rhys Webb will improve your situation somewhat! Surely he's going to pack in a Toulon?! Otherwise, yeah I'd say we look better than you at 9.
Webb will have a contract with Bedwas in time for the world cup, AA.
I hope so!!
Should Wales scrap the 60 cap rule?
It's an arbitrary copy of other nations' rules but if there is money for decent central contracts then it makes sense to keep it. If you are expecting players to stay in Wales but paying them peanuts then it is a little one sided. That said, those players who have gone abroad in recent years have been a shadow of their former selves and only really started to get back in to form having come back so I can absolutely see the need for control over game time to build form and ensure they aren't just bench warmers, but also not over use the poor guys. There's no easy answer and it does seem to be that as a Welsh player you can either have money or be really looked after and hit form but it is tough to do both.
It probably wouldn't hurt to have Webb as an option but he hasn't been on fire. It also doesn't help that he seems to be keen to tell anyone who will listen that he is easily the best Welsh 9 and would stroll in to the team. I can't see Gatland being enamored with that attitude, nor the circumstances with his move to Toulon
When you look at pairings too, Webb and Biggar are a pretty similar match with more of a controlled game with a bit of snipe, which is a bit of a backward step for Wales and probably isn't best suited to Japan, at least not as starters. Williams/ Anscombe and A Davies/ Patchell are the direction the team would probably want to go in but while the first was working the second has so little form and game time. It is a real shame IMO that Patchell hasn't has the run Anscombe has but that is just the nature of injuries and I guess he is now more likely to be cover at 15 if anything now. I've said it before but I really believe he could be a 2011-esque Priestland who really got Wales moving and was key to their success. I guess the outcome of those musing is Williams/ Anscombe as starters with Webb/ Biggar on the bench is probably the ideal???
Should Wales scrap the 60 cap rule?
The WRU are pressing for a north Wales region, which is a four hour drive from Cardiff. Meanwhile if a player signs for Bristol, Bath or a London club they won’t play for Wales, despite all of those clubs being easier to get to than bloody Colwyn Bay! It can’t be much longer to get to Toulon from Cardiff by plane?
Webb forme is a class above.....I'd say he's clear 2nd choice Lions scrum half. Yes he's not been in great form, but name me a Toulon player that has?! Whole environment seems to be a total joke.
The WRU are pressing for a north Wales region, which is a four hour drive from Cardiff. Meanwhile if a player signs for Bristol, Bath or a London club they won’t play for Wales, despite all of those clubs being easier to get to than bloody Colwyn Bay!
Think you have missed the point, the two arent related and its nowt to do with distance.
Whole environment seems to be a total joke.
Therin lies the problem of a player moving to a club outside Wales- no control of how game time/ workload/ injuries/ etc are managed not to mention being called back to the club in certain weeks where the rest of the Welsh squad would stay together
Tuilagi just resigned for Leicester
Ooh I'd heard rumour of it happening. To be fair as long as he stays vaguely fit (huge ask I know) he could always cash in over in France in another couple of years. RWC and Lions 2021 will both be huge targets for him. Given his history I just can't see him making it to the 2023 RWC even though he still won't be that old!
Glad to here that Manu is staying put and will be available for England (assuming that he can stay fit).
I’m somewhat surprised - it’s not like he’s going to win anything with Leicester, would have stilll been able to do this World Cup and was still eliigable for the lions!
Very happy though as a Tuilagi fan boy (love all the bothers) and massive Leicester fan!
Just found out my daughter has a birthday party to go to at 4pm on Saturday - right in the middle of the game FFS.
Rumour is that Joe's continuing to select for " a slightly different brief" building depth for Japan.
Young lad Tagh Beirne getting a run out at lock on Saturday.
Joe Cokanasiga dropped from the matchday 23??
Back to the kick & chase game.
Don't forget, Nowell is pretty decent...
At the moment, Nowell is the better player. Not as exciting, but all round, better.
Worrying lack of depth at scrum half for England as well, but at least we've now got centres!
I fancy Wales for the Grand Slam, England for the win at Twickers, but would have gone for Scotland in Murryfield.
Surprised that Cock and a cigar isn't even on the bench, surely he's the very definition of an 'impact sub' (finisher 😂)
Otherwise, as expected.....I'm expecting a comfortable England win still.
I wonder what plays Ireland have dreamt up for the weekend? I hope they don't take inspiration from this 😀
https://www.rugbydump.com/news/backs-take-over-to-perfectly-execute-genius-lineout-move
Young lad Tagh Beirne getting a run out at lock on Saturday.
Bad news for Wales as he's a heck of a player. Henderson is a PITA too so I'm not sure either is great to line up against 🙂
Ireland (v Wales)
15. Rob Kearney
14. Keith Earls
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Bundee Aki
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best (captain)
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Tadhg Beirne
5. James Ryan
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Sean O’Brien
8. CJ StanderReplacements
16. Niall Scannell
17. Dave Kilcoyne
18. Andrew Porter
19. Quinn Roux
20. Jack Conan
21. Kieran Marmion
22. Jack Carty
23. Jordan Larmour
Confirmed Beirne in, Henderson injured.
Right game for it with his background.
And Joe's still spreading the Caps around ahead of Japan. Building nicely.
Slam chasing Wales still strong favourites at home on their winning streak, but that team should give them a good game with the pressure off.
😉
That Ireland team looks so good on paper, really looking forward to that game as for me it's just too close to call
Irish pack looks very strong, only AWJ and Tips would trouble a combined selection. Glad to see Lamour on bench. Guess Ireland will keep roof open then!
Scotland - decent pack with a surprisingly good back row that has been dug up. Backs - hardly a first choice player bar Russell.
Had to see beyond a comprehensive defeat and could be slaughter. Maybe our special tactic of playing midgets will succeed in winning us a bunch of penalties
That Ireland team looks so good on paper, really looking forward to that game as for me it’s just too close to call
Agreed. Going to be stressful/anxious viewing.
Agreed. Going to be stressful/anxious viewing.
For Irish Welsh and English supporters...
Agreed. Going to be stressful/anxious viewing.
For Irish Welsh and English supporters…
I’d love Wales to win the Grand Slam, but whatever the results on Saturday there’s little between Wales, England and Ireland, and all are looking at least reasonable contenders for the World Cup.
Scotland need to do better than Italy did against England on Saturday - this may not be easy. England it would appear are still hurting from there loss last year and the subsequent ribbing.
Agreed. Going to be stressful/anxious viewing.
For Irish Welsh and English supporters…
Whilst I'll congratulate any winners on saturday, its Grand Slam or nothing for me, bonus points are bollocks in the six nations.
If Wales loose I couldn't give a stuff if they finish first, second or third in the championship - grand slams is what it's about, not who puts the most points past Italy. I think it was 1994 when Wales lost to England in the last match but still won the championship and Ieuan Evans sheepishly lifted the trophy.
I would dearly love for Wales to win tomorrow but they aren't robots and have been on the end of some immensely physical matches. Ireland look like a team in the middle of a tournament still building whereas Wales must be battered and tired and I'm not sure they can afford to keep defending in the same way against a powerful Irish side. Going to be a tight one!
Ireland had a day less training than Wales (played on Sunday) and another day out for travel with hopefully a really crap trip across to Cardiff. 🙂
The bookies are showing Wales as slight favourites. A good bet would be a draw, imo. (Around 20:1!)
Ireland by 5
Italy by 3
England by 15
France by 10
Ireland by 3
England by 20
Roof is open.
In other news Faletau says he has been seeing the same arm specialist as big Billy... I hope he has better luck that Vunipola and is ready for the RWC!
Whilst I’ll congratulate any winners on saturday, its Grand Slam or nothing for me, bonus points are bollocks in the six nations.
This sums it up.
Ireland's competition was over in the first week when England battered then at home. Since then it's been about building for something else.
Wales still have the biggest prize to play for.
When that happens, it's usually the team with something to play for.
But its a bit ironic that it's the size of that England victory , getting the try bonus point away and leaving Ireland with nothing, that's left Ireland with nothing to play for handing Wales the easiest of slam chances.
😉
But its a bit ironic that it’s the size of that England victory , getting the try bonus point away and leaving Ireland with nothing, that’s left Ireland with nothing to play for handing Wales the easiest of slam chances.
😉
I’m not sure I understand this, but if Ireland could just go easy on Wales tomorrow that would be appreciated ; )
handing Wales the easiest of slam chances.
Bit disrespectful to Ireland IMO. Theres a statement to be made for the RWC, I'd want my players knowing they just recently beat Wales if I were Schmidt.
Wait - roof open tomorrow? FFS
shame about the roof.
Simple...
About to watch Italy v France and I don’t know what to expect. Both sides have been better than they’ve been given credit for imho. Think I’ll support Italy, as it would be good to see them win.
Italy haven't won a 6n's game for years!
😀 c’mon Italy
Two shitty teams. France are causing Italy all sorts of problems at the breakdown though. Italy have zero composure when in a try scoring position. T seems odd that the national team is utter bobbins when the domestic teams are actually playing pretty well at the mo.
Ref is finally calling France on the offside line, they've been offside all game!
Well that was a pretty decent starter. Let us hope the main course delivers as much excitement. Hopefully we will be full afterwards and won't even need pudding 🙂
Is that a broken leg? It looked as though it buckled in a weird way.
😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
Well that could make for a shorter afternoon.... Come on Ireland get into this now
Its all happening!!
Wales tearing into Ireland; they look well up for this and look on course for the GS.
AWJ looked in a lot of pain then.
Haha Gareth Davies shat himself then!!
Looks like Ireland don't want England to win the 6N eh? What an odd poor performance so far.
Ireland certainly on the wrong end of the ref!!
Looks like Ireland don’t want England
No one does!
Ireland will be really regetting the roof decision - three scores down and it's pissing down.
Ireland are really forcing it too - need to reset for 2nd half
Ireland really aren't getting much from the ref.....I've thought a couple of breakdown decisions were wrong. However.....Wales look very good.
Looks like Ireland don’t want England to win the 6N eh? What an odd poor performance so far.
Yeah, Ireland must be poor, because Wales are not that good ; )
Still it’s not over yet, great teams can come back from being 16 points down at halftime 😁
No one does!
I do! 😂
Ireland look properly rattled. A good performance by Wales so far. One hand on the GS.
Wasn't expecting this...
I think it’s the ref that doesn’t want Eng to win. Some of his decisions are very puzzling