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Yep oh so one eyed Idle John, what could possibly make me think that Italy will lose against what looked like the two strongest sides!
Italy for the Grand Slam then John?
Looks like he's had his log-in hacked by jy 😉
Italy for the Grand Slam then John?
I'd laugh my cock off if they did!
Me too....after swearing a fair bit!
F*** Me Faro is still amusing me two days later!!!
Can't forget who won the grand slam last year, I live in Wales...however, they haven't won a match since beating the BaBas in June...something major is wrong.
I suspect Gatland going to the Lions is the root of the problem but it's being denied by all and sundry.
It's all fun to watch being an Englishman living in Pembroke!
Wales didn't look like they'd got any shape to me. Standing in a straight line was about as close as they came to any real structure! I'm guessing that is mainly a coaching issue.
no shit Sherlock 😆something major is wrong.
Agree with 36 plus Manu for England. Barrits one dimensional and think twelve trees has exposed that more than ever this weekend.
This is shaping up to be an exciting 6N which above all is a great sign for Northern Hemi rugby. A glut of talent yet not all in one team. Now, if what's his face gets the Lions selection right....
Pigface - Member
lister forgets who won Grand Slam last year shock
Living on past glories once again, I see 😉
1966. Cough cough
Ah herr zokes no doubt you are still beating yourself off over pictures of St Jonny in 2003 😆 how is Adelaide today?
66 was the wendyball, and 2003 was a long time and a lot of very good players ago. Just got to hope we can get back to that level.
However the Welsh seem to bang on about this English arrogance when you lot are the most arrogant and borderline racist of the lot.
However I wish Welsh rugby well and hope you can sort out the regions as if they don't Welsh rugby is going to be in even more trouble in years to come
Ah herr zokes no doubt you are still beating yourself off over pictures of St Jonny in 2003
Nah, no fun really as noone here in SA likes Union. Cricket on the other hand....
Though speaking of fly halfs cum centres, I find hearing my surname yelled out every time England play rather disconcerting
how is Adelaide today?
However the Welsh seem to bang on about this English arrogance when you lot are the most arrogant and borderline racist of the lot.
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Ok apologies. Will substitute that with one eyed and possessing an amazing ability to substitute reality with one apparently disconnected in every way from everyone else's when it comes to Welsh rugby. See Jonathan Davies for reference.
I meant what I said about hoping the regions get sorted out though.
Jonathan Davies irratated me more than usual today. He seems to have substituted overuse of the word "Num-bers " for the word "chance" this year.
wrecker - MemberLol.
I think idlejons been on the sauce.
Lol. Not since New Year's Eve. Just a bit peeved that I walked down to the stadium to watch Ospreys v Quins only to remember when I got there that it was in Bridgend! 🙄
Italy must surely be thinking of pushing on from one win per tournament. They've scared or beaten all of the nations now. They have a formidable set of forwards, an 8 that the rest of the world wish wasn't Italian, and a set of backs which is, whisper it quietly, better than Scotland. And England on yesterday's lacklustre performance. They were just missing a decent set of halfbacks, and judging by today they might just have found them.
I joked when I said that France didn't turn up - what I should have said was that the Italian forwards matched them.
Yep, Wales will worry especially with their history. Scotland have the advantage of being in Scotland. Ireland in Italy? I think that based on today, Italy have a good chance. And the advantage England have is that they'll be in Twickenham. But at some point they'll start winning these games.
So, Italy for the championship? No. But don't be too smug (note: not arrogant!) because the Azurri are coming for you! 😉
Lol. Not since New Year's Eve. Just a bit peeved that I walked down to the stadium to watch Ospreys v Quins only to remember when I got there that it was in Bridgend!
In that case,put down the crack pipe and pick up the pint... 😀
Zokes will you ever come on this thread to do anything but stir shit? You never mention the rugby.
You never mention the rugby.
That possibly makes two of us - it's usually pretty apparent that you've watched totally different games to the rest of us
Nice to see you can keep the shit stirring up and your keeping on message. Not sure you've watched any games you never mention them. You seem to lack the basic understanding of what this thread is about. Wrecker for example disagrees with almost everything I post but at least he has an opinion about rugby and is a good laugh. You on the otherhand just post spite and insults. Keep it up though love, everyones got to have a hobby.
Ahem, I assume your last post was ironic.
Behave please children 😆
We must be looking for different things IdleJohn...I thought that the Italian backs were pretty poor....their OH was pretty good though I thought! Very got up front, but they could do with a Mccaw type to turn over more ball (don't we all though!)
Despite results not going they i wanted that was a top weekend of 6N rugby, lets hope the rest of the tournament is just as good.
Italy looked good but need to back up their result, luckily for them, they are at Murrayfield next and i hate to say it, but have an opportunity to do so. Although Scotland will not play as lacklustre as France who appeared disinterested for chunks at a time.
Does Orquera have another performance like yesterdays in him, not sure his mixed form over the past 7 years is why he has never been a regular first choice.
Bloomin French i was happy with my France to win 6N with Zebo for top try scorer double at 60/1, could have got a new frame with the winnings.
So, Italy for the championship? No. But don't be too smug (note: not arrogant!) because the Azurri are coming for you!
I hope so. It's in the interest of rugby as a whole in my opinion. Sets an example for the 2nd tier nations, and improves the popularity of the sport in mainland Europe. The more global it is, the more exciting it will be and of course more money which will attract more athletes.
Having just watched the Italy game, it certainly looks very promising for the future of the game. It now would only take a couple of off-moments for pretty much any team to lose to them assuming they pay as well as they did on Sunday.
Lets not forget Italy have beaten France before and came close to doing over england last year.
Yep. Without charge-down Charlie I suspect England would have completed Italy's list of scalps for the 6N in recent years. It will only be a matter of time...
Tom B - MemberWe must be looking for different things IdleJohn...
That's the great thing about rugby isn't it? And the most frustrating thing...
the Welsh are border line racist??? Care to proffer an example?
The thing about Jiffy I don't get, he was one of the best to have ever played the game. Of all the players on the field on Saturday only BOD comes close to how good Jonathon Davies was. From my point of view Brian Moore or Dawson is just as biased to england.
As IdleJon says we all see if different, its a game to enjoy 😀
Not particularly no, just based on experience of living in North wales for 3 years.
I'm not knocking Davies as a player, he is unquestionably one of the best players ever, just that his commentary when wales are playing is one eyed in the extreme.
I know people hate Brian Moore but he spends just as much time having a go at england as he does other teams when they are not playing well.
And lets be honest after getting panned for giving the ref grief he did go and do a ref qualification so he actually knew what he was on about.
Guscott is a pain in the earhole though
I admire jiffy as a player and also as a bloke, I'd bet he's great company especially with a few beers. He is the very worst rugby commentator though IMHO.
NUMBERS!!!!!!NUMBERS!!!!!!
No problem with Jiffy. Moore is insufferable though. Miserable, whining, chippy and, worst of all, usually wrong.
The good thing about Jiffy I think is that he sounds like he clearly loves the game but he can be pretty annoying. Moore sounds like he hates the game but is more balanced and less annoying. Then we have the completely one eyed and deluded Andy Nicol.
Very true, but Andy Nicol has got to justify his existance as a commentator somehow
Any excuse
Listening to Jiffy commentate on non-wales games is quite amusing as he seem MUCH quieter. It's almost as if he's having to concentrate on what's going on, rather than the Welsh always being right. 😆
Is it just me or does Jiffy looked pished more often than not when commentating?
...and yes IdleJohn that is the beauty of rugby....though those that require tackling prowess from 9, 10 11, 14 and 15 are clearly in the wrong 🙂
Scotland team for Saturday Harley in at flanker and Ford at hooker. Glad to see a bit of continuity in selection.
I like Harley he is a good player. Very good at getting in the oppos faces and being in the "wrong" place at the right time as any good flanker should be. Would have liked him at 7 and Brown back to 6 maybe they will swap around.
Scotland team to play Italy:
Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors); Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh), Tim Visser (Edinburgh); Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh); Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Euan Murray (Worcester Warriors), Richie Gray (Sale Sharks), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester), Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier).
Replacements: Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors)/Pat MacArthur (Glasgow Warriors), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby), Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors), Max Evans (Castres).
Does Jiffy drink? He's turned down a beer from me on a fight to Paris before - perhaps it was a bit early 😆
He's turned down a beer from me on a fight to Paris before
Did he turn down the fight? That [i]would[/i] be out of character. 😀
Strok is injured so Harley in, Huge italian front row,so Ford makes sense, only one change really when you look at it like that.
Has anybody else read about a suggestion to introduce bonus points into the 6N? I think I read it in the local paper last week.
Bonus points have been talked about for a wee while. The big issue for me is that given the right circumstances a team could do the Grand Slam but not win the championship which aint right. For that reason i am out.
Good point, however I'm in favour of the bonus point system generally. I think it does encourage more attacking play and is better for the spectator. It also means that teams that try to play are likely to be rewarded and teams based on defence and kicking points may be forced to expand their game.
Would it make a difference to a game if, instead of the current bonus point system, the winning side was docked a point if the losing side was within 7 points of them? (In the Euro Cup for instance.)
In know that it's effectively the same but if a side knew they needed x amount of points to get a home tie and the losing side was staying irritatingly close, would they open up to score more?
(Difficult to explain when I should be working!)
It isn't broke why fix it.
No need for a bonus point system in international rugby.
It is used in leagues to help encourage positive play and ensure very few dead games, which it seems to do quite well.
No need to ensure positive play and no dead games in international rugby?
It might make final weekend jitters even more fun if theoretically three or four of the six teams could win.
There's very few international games that are dull due to nothing being at stake though is there? This isn't soccer ball!!! There's nothing to play for but pride in the Autumn internationals but most of them were pretty tasty games.
Tom B - exactly!
Think that the best side should win the championship as only a short competition. Different in a league over so many games.
Please don't knock " numbers" as I have drawn him for next weekends drinking game. I should be hammered by mid-way through 1H. I wonder if I should split " numbers" according to which side he is referring to. Then I would have a chance of making the 2H.
On the topic of stupidity, how stupid must Telfer feel know. Cliched wind up and not even very relevant at the moment (excluding Ashton obviously as a matter of course 😉 )
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France team: Y Huget (Toulouse); W Fofana (Clermont Auvergne), M Mermoz (Toulon), M Bastareaud (Toulon), B Fall (Racing Metro); F Michalak (Toulon), M Machenaud (Racing Metro); Y Forestier (Castres), D Szarzewski (Racing Metro), N Mas (Perpignan), J Suta (Toulon), Y Maestri (Toulouse), F Ouedraogo (Montpellier), T Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt), L Picamoles (Toulouse).
Replacements: B Kayser (Clermont Auvergne), V Debaty (Clermont Auvergne), L Ducalcon (Castres), R Taofifenua (Perpignan), D Chouly (Clermont Auvergne), M Parra (Clermont Auvergne), F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), F Fritz (Toulouse).
Interesting that they've kept the same half backs who were criticised after last week. Hopefully Wales will put lots of pressure on Michalak.
And they really do have a formidable back row!
They're mad not to start Trinh-Duc IMHO.
Wales: L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), G North (Scarlets); D Biggar (Ospreys), M Phillips (Bayonne); G Jenkins (Toulon), R Hibbard (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), A Coombs (Newport Gwent Dragons), I Evans (Ospreys), R Jones (Ospreys, capt), J Tipuric (Ospreys), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).Replacements: K Owens (Scarlets), P James (Bath), C Mitchell (Exeter), L Reed (Cardiff Blues), A Shingler (Scarlets), L Williams (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Perpignan), S Williams (Scarlets).
Wales captain Sam Warburton has been ruled out of Saturday's Six Nations clash against France in Paris with a shoulder injury.
Both teams missing their captains through injury.
Early wooden spoon decider? 😉
The wales/france could be a fantastic game. Both teams are capable of sublime rugby, both a little wounded coming off of losses and both with something to prove. Looking forward to it. Also looking forward to england vs ireland and watching the italians pulverize the scots 😀
Last time Bastareau and Roberts met in paris Roberts came a very distant second.
Roberts is finishing second to most at present 😀
Well, England consistent and look strong. 36 in, Tuilagi for impact later and the bench could be the difference with 20 to go. But players out of position...
15 - Goode
14 - Ashton
13 - Barritt
12 - Twelvetrees
11 - Brown
10 - Farrell
9 - B Youngs
3 - Marler
2 - T Youngs
1 - Cole
4 - Launchbury
5 - Parling
6 - Haskell
7 - Robshaw
8 - Wood.
Replacements: Hartley, Wilson, Vunipola, Lawes, Waldrom, Care, Flood, Tuilagi.
Ireland team unchanged:
5 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster/42)
14 - Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster/2)
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster/121)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster/72)
11 - Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster/4)
10 - Jonathan Sexton (St.Mary's College/Leinster/35)
9 - Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster/15)
1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster/36)
2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster/63)
3 - Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster/25)
4 - Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers/Connacht/7)
5 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster/24)
6 - Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster/10)
7 - Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster/23)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster/53) Captain
Replacements:
16 - Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster/23)
17 - David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster/3)
18 - Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon/Ulster/3)
19 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster/91)
20 - Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster/5)
21 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster/48)
22 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster/126)
23 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster/35)
Its going to be a really close game but I think that home advantage and the fact that its 10 years since England won in Dublin in the 6N should see us home.
Interesting that there's only 2 ulster players in the starting 15. With their current performance, I'd have expected to have seen more. Is Ulster a "greater than the sum of the parts" team or have a lot of non-irish players?
Wrecker I think its a bit of Ulster being a good team as opposed to outstanding individuals, having injuries to guaranteed starters (Tommy and Fez) and Ireland being selected by the Munster turnip head Deccie. Whenever Ulster were the third best team in Ireland and we had 2 starters his argument was that if Ulster performances improve in Europe then it will be reflected in the Ireland team. Not sure what his excuse is now.
However the only argument for an Ulster starter would be Chris Henry and Paddy Jackson on the bench instead of ROG.
Thanks blindmelon. I did wonder if the selectors were a bit eire-centric.
So predictions
France by 10+
Ireland by >5
Italy by a submission
France by 10+
Ireland by a single score
Italy by 10+
As much as I think AA is biased and I'm a staunch England supporter, I think he's pretty spot on with that prediction. England/Ireland and Scotland/Italy to be close.
Early Ireland try and England chasing FTW but not quite making it.
Ulster v Osp on BBC2
Exeter sale on espn too.
Alun Wyn Jones playing like a man wanting to be in Oz this summer. Ulster appalling at the moment!
I get a horrible feeling that Tom Youngs is going to get taught a very hard lesson on Sunday 🙁 Ireland by 5....
Ulster v Spreys on Scrum V is pretty dire stuff atm. AW Jones is back and is playing very well.
England to win by 10+
Italy to win but not by much
Wales to beat France by 3 points last minute
Game of the weekend Scotland-Italy
Ulster were terrible tonight. Back row were AWOL all night. Well played to the O's much more desire for the game in the night.
This weekend Ire by 5, France by 10 and Scotland by 10
Woohoo nice one Ospreys 😆
It was well deserved Pigface. Bevington was outstanding as was Wyn Jones when he came on
Crikey! Sale have come to life!
As a Sale fan - bugger me backwards with a barge pole!
that was a great game and finally Sale have figured out how to grab a game by the neck. It wont last but for tonight i'm a happy dwarf..
Unreal, muddydwarf. I was thinking of you mate!
What a comeback; shit in the 1st half, level in the 3rd quarter and really very good in the last quarter!
Confusingly, cipriani offered very little in attack but was good in defence. First chance I've had to get a good look at him, he looks scared to take the ball into contact and passes too early. But ant fault his tackling. Weird.
Great win, and made for an exciting game.
I'm glad the Exeter 7 doesn't play for my team. Total liability. Baxter was rather good though.
Sale were very, very lucky. Exeter crossed over another three times but poor handling meant they were dropped or disallowed. Why do Sale always allow teams to dominate then have to fight to get back into the game?
Exeter were lucky not to have more yellow cards though thanks to that big No7, a bit hot headed that lad.
I'd have Bevington on the bench for wales and Paul James starting. Gethins form has fallen off a cliff since he went to Toulon. Good to hear AW Jones playing well too. He is a very very good player.