[MungBean]

Originally Posted by cgpg5

We should have lost to Italy last year. The days of Italy being whipping boys are gone I'm afraid. They will give us nothing easy and it would be an insult to them to play reserve players. Also this is Kidney we are dealing with. There is no way he'll do anything extreme whether you like it or not it'll be the same squad throughout.

We whipped em pretty good in the world cup to be fair. Last year we couldnt string two passes together and didnt know what we were at. I know we are not exactly on cracking form this year but we are solid enough.

Going by their performance against France and England they havent improved on last year. They still have no back line and rely solely on their pack which keeps them in contention for 40 minutes but thats about as far as they can go.

I dont think Kidney will change the team though. POM will probably get a run out at 60 mins.

[youreadthis]

Originally Posted by Rattlehead_ie

you dyslexic idiot you spelt "vert" wrong.

vertS

[Steffano2002]

Originally Posted by MungBean

We whipped em pretty good in the world cup to be fair. Last year we couldnt string two passes together and didnt know what we were at. I know we are not exactly on cracking form this year but we are solid enough.

Going by their performance against France and England they havent improved on last year. They still have no back line and rely solely on their pack which keeps them in contention for 40 minutes but thats about as far as they can go.

I dont think Kidney will change the team though. POM will probably get a run out at 60 mins.

And don't forget they lost Castrogiovanni through injury so their pack isn't that stong anymore...

They won't be a threat to any of the 6 Nations Teams (bar Scotland of course) for another 5 years I'd say...

[JRant]

Well it seems that the IRFU's position came a long way down the list of priorities in the re-scheduling of this fixture
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012...redirect=false

[iroced]

Originally Posted by 4PP

Guy can say that quite brazenly but look at the stats. Over the last couple of years Stade are the team least affected by the "doublons" despite servicing a high proportion of the French XV. This is due to intelligent signings on the part of GN without ever prejudicing French qualified players

Yeah you're right. But Novès is also known for over-complaining about the doublons while Toulouse, as you said, is generally the least affected team as they can put on 2 XV capable of winning the Bouclier de Brennus.
Then Toulouse being comfortably ahead in Top 14 makes it easier for him to cope with the situation.

Originally Posted by 4PP

Lower ranked but amongst the most influential. Nothing happens in French rugby without Blanco's accord and even a dyed in the wool Ciste like you Iroced know that.

Héhé... Of course Blanco has a huge influence in French rugby. But I don't think he'll go against the decision despite Biarritz being in a difficult position.

[cgpg5]

Originally Posted by Steffano2002

And don't forget they lost Castrogiovanni through injury so their pack isn't that stong anymore...

They won't be a threat to any of the 6 Nations Teams (bar Scotland of course) for another 5 years I'd say...

Yet they could easily have beaten England last week only for a fortuitous charge down and that sub out half's shocking goal kicking.
I understand they're no world beaters but they'll give a few teams a headache or two over that time period. They're well overdue a home win against England and sure didn't they beat France (albeit a very out-of-sorts French team) last year?

The progress of Treviso has been refreshing and they've proven that they can be tough to beat at home. I'd imagine that Italy will only improve in the next five years. They're only problem is away form home I feel. I guarantee you though that not many will ever relish playing them in Rome.

[MungBean]

Originally Posted by cgpg5

Yet they could easily have beaten England last week only for a fortuitous charge down and that sub out half's shocking goal kicking.
I understand they're no world beaters but they'll give a few teams a headache or two over that time period. They're well overdue a home win against England and sure didn't they beat France (albeit a very out-of-sorts French team) last year?

They should have beaten England but they didnt, same as Scotland. They wont be causing us a headache this year I dont think. If Italy can make a game of it for 40 minutes they will be doing well.

[Steffano2002]

Originally Posted by cgpg5

Yet they could easily have beaten England last week only for a fortuitous charge down and that sub out half's shocking goal kicking.
I understand they're no world beaters but they'll give a few teams a headache or two over that time period. They're well overdue a home win against England and sure didn't they beat France (albeit a very out-of-sorts French team) last year?

Don't get me wrong, credit where credit is due, they are a solid team and deserve to be treated with respect!

But let me take your case in point to make mine: they were beaten by a poor english side at home when the game was there for the taking.

Sure they would have won had it not been for the charge down and the abysmal kicking in the second half but then again, the two tries they scored were due to english mistakes and still the fail to win...

And rugby is won with 22 players nowadays. That "bulk talent" in Italy just isn't there at the moment. But it's on its way!

[Thanos]

Originally Posted by JRant

Well it seems that the IRFU's position came a long way down the list of priorities in the re-scheduling of this fixture
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012...redirect=false

So does this mean that the French team will be missing a lot of players when they play us as they will be playing for their clubs???

[Rattlehead_ie]

Six Nations chief executive John Feehan

"We very much regret what has happened. This is not something anybody would have planned for or would have wished to happen," Feehan said.

That boils my blood. In an official statement to say that basically says to me "Hey we are incompetent and didn't plan things"

[rrpc]

Originally Posted by Rattlehead_ie

Six Nations chief executive John Feehan


That boils my blood. In an official statement to say that basically says to me "Hey we are incompetent and didn't plan things"

Well they didn't plan to call it off I suppose. But it sounds like he's saying they didn't plan for the eventuality of it being called off.

In case anyone's still wondering why the game was set for a 9pm kick off, it may be instructive to note that there were five Top 14 matches kicking off between 3pm and 3:30pm that day.

[phog]

Killester Travel have two trips for the re-scheduled game. Not bad value considering that you may not get great prices when booking directly with such short notice.

Package 1:
SAME DAY RETURN €275 plus taxes €65

Itinerary: Flight departs 07:30 Sunday 4th March. Arrive Paris CDG at 10:00. Transfer to central Paris. Make own way to match by RER. match Kick OFF 16:00 (local). After match assemble at designated GATE to be escorted to coach for transfer to Airport. Depart Paris CDG at 22:40 Arrive Dublin 23:20


Package 2:
ONE NIGHT TRIP €399 plus taxes €65

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[iroced]

Originally Posted by Thanos

So does this mean that the French team will be missing a lot of players when they play us as they will be playing for their clubs???

No. See previous post => http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showp...&postcount=125

Originally Posted by rrpc

In case anyone's still wondering why the game was set for a 9pm kick off, it may be instructive to note that there were five Top 14 matches kicking off between 3pm and 3:30pm that day.

Don't think there's any link to be honest. France 2 would have rather had the French game on at the same time than Canal + had the Top 14 ones than have no game at all and this farcical scenario with 80000 angry people.

Anyway, hard to know who's to blame as noone is taking responsibility. FFR, France 2, 6N Committee & ref have all been more or less blaming each other...
Though the 6N chief executive statement previously cited sounds very lame.

[Steffano2002]

Originally Posted by iroced

FFR, France 2, 6N Committee & ref have all been more or less blaming each other...

Really?

The FFR and France 2 definitely didn't blame each other and definitely didn't blame the referee either (he made the right decision as the players' safety is paramount).

However I did not see, read or hear about the 6 Nations Committee blaming France 2 or the FFR. Could you provide articles please?

[Rattlehead_ie]

Originally Posted by rrpc

Well they didn't plan to call it off I suppose. But it sounds like he's saying they didn't plan for the eventuality of it being called off.

But that's what I mean, you are the committee for the biggest NH International Rugby comp and you dont put in Plan B or other procedures / think about eventualities? I mean if Im correct the AIL here have certain weekends set a side where games can be replayed. Granted its not as big a deal as international but you get my point. Its a small comp and they even have a contingency plan.