6 Nations 2017 General Discussion Thread

b.gud

Didn't see another thread for the 6 nations and as Wales have just announced their squad I thought I'd get things rolling

Fixtures



Squads

Wales


Italy


France


Scotland


England

b.gud

Scotland

Quin_Dub

Why are Faletau , Roberts and North listed as "Wildcard selection" but Moriarty and Young aren't?

deadybai

The fixtures really suit us with the two 'easy' away games and then bringing France home. By the time the Wales game comes round we should be in contention for the GS. It looks like the last game will be winner takes all. However, I cant see us beating England. They have been unreal since last year.

b.gud

Quin_Dub wrote: »

Why are Faletau , Roberts and North listed as "Wildcard selection" but Moriarty and Young aren't?

Is it something to do with them leaving Wales before Gatlands law came into effect?

Edit: Yeah think that's what it is source. This seems like the important bit

The regulation doesn’t apply to people who were already contracted to clubs outside of Wales when the policy came into effect.

The agreement was that the law would be formally implemented once six senior players had signed WRU national dual contracts and that point was reached in March 2015.

Quin_Dub

b.gud wrote: »

Is it something to do with them leaving Wales before Gatlands law came into effect?

Edit: Yeah think that's what it is source. This seems like the important bit

Ok - So because those guys never "left" Wales - They've only ever been with English clubs, the rule doesn't apply..

I guess it kinda makes sense...but still.

razorblunt

Interested to see how young Young gets on, he's been going very well for Wasps.

sydthebeat

Thats quite a poor italian side.

Interesting to see if O Shea can get one big performance from them against anyone bar scotland.

thomond2006

The schedule is really good for Ireland. They can afford to look rusty in the first two games and then have a week off to prepare for a proper opponent in France.

With their injuries England could be in trouble and have France and Wales first up.

Losty Dublin

sydthebeat wrote: »

Thats quite a poor italian side.

Interesting to see if O Shea can get one big performance from them against anyone bar scotland.

It's strange seeing no Castrogiovanni in the Italy panel, even if he was a bit player last year.

thomond2006

Losty Dublin wrote: »

It's strange seeing no Castrogiovanni in the Italy panel, even if he was a bit player last year.

He retired from rugby after that debacle with Racing 92.

Losty Dublin

thomond2006 wrote: »

He retired from rugby after that debacle with Racing 92.

Of all people to rat him out of it in Vegas but a entire soccer team

PTH2009

All our games will be tough

Scotland away cant be taking lightly and we have to be 100% focused or we could be in for a shock defeat eliminating our GS and triple crown hopes

Bonus point wins in Scotland and Italy are a must

sydthebeat

I hope young and cracknell get some decent game time for wales, good up and coming players.

thomond2006

PTH2009 wrote: »

All our games will be tough

Scotland away cant be taking lightly and we have to be 100% focused or we could be in for a shock defeat eliminating our GS and triple crown hopes

Bonus point wins in Scotland and Italy are a must

Why? Genuine question.

Scotland have been the 'dark horse' every year for many years and have never delivered. Their autumn series was only ok: Narrow loss to Australia and a narrow win over Argentina.

PTH2009

thomond2006 wrote: »

Why? Genuine question.

Scotland have been the 'dark horse' every year for many years and have never delivered. Their autumn series was only ok: Narrow loss to Australia and a narrow win over Argentina.

IMO They have no fear of us and will be troublesome in Murreyfield.

heres are championship results away to them the last 10 years

2007- Scot 18- Ire 19
2009- Scot 15- Ire 22
2011- Scot 18- Ire 21
2013- Scot 12- Ire 8
2015- Scot 10- Ire 40

We will be expected to beat them and beat them well but rugby is a crazy game. A loss will be a huge disaster after our amazing Autumn run and with so expectation on our shoulders

I think England could win the whole lot this year but if we win our first 4 games i think we have a very good chance of beating England on the last day. France and Wales could be there or there abouts the last day too. Scotland and Italy the dark horses

cant wait for it to start (only griple is im not going to any games :()

kuang1

PTH2009 wrote: »

Scotland and Italy the dark horses

Ahh PTH ffs. I genuinely think you're a nice fella.
But you lose all credibility when you include stuff like this in your posts.

pickarooney

I think Italy will be absolutely hockeyed in all 5 games. They appear to have nobody coming through.

PetKing

Is there anything to be said for capitalising the N in nations in the thread title? My OCD is bubbling! :pac::p

Boscoirl

I can feel my hangover beginning just looking at the last day's running order, if it's anything like last year, I won't remember the Irish game.

thomond2006

PTH2009 wrote: »

IMO They have no fear of us and will be troublesome in Murreyfield.

heres are championship results away to them the last 10 years

2007- Scot 18- Ire 19
2009- Scot 15- Ire 22
2011- Scot 18- Ire 21
2013- Scot 12- Ire 8
2015- Scot 10- Ire 40

We will be expected to beat them and beat them well but rugby is a crazy game. A loss will be a huge disaster after our amazing Autumn run and with so expectation on our shoulders

I think England could win the whole lot this year but if we win our first 4 games i think we have a very good chance of beating England on the last day. France and Wales could be there or there abouts the last day too. Scotland and Italy the dark horses

cant wait for it to start (only griple is im not going to any games :()

Very very glass half-empty. If either Scotland or Italy finish in the top 3 I would be shocked. They aren't good and Ireland should win. Recent form (ie autumn internationals) is relevant. Results from years ago aren't really.

b.gud

PetKing wrote: »

Is there anything to be said for capitalising the N in nations in the thread title? My OCD is bubbling! :pac::p

I'm disappointed in myself to be honest

phog

I'm heading to Rome for our game there and was lucky in the MRSC lottery to win two tickets for the England game in the Aviva - I could be at my 2nd Grand Slam win

razorblunt

phog wrote: »

I'm heading to Rome for our game there and was lucky in the MRSC lottery to win two tickets for the England game in the Aviva - I could be at my 2nd Grand Slam win

Don't fúcking jinx it.

I'm going to be in Boston for the final round of games, I can feel my liver hyperventilating at the thought!

kuang1

kuang1 wrote: »

Ahh PTH ffs. I genuinely think you're a nice fella.
But you lose all credibility when you include stuff like this in your posts.

He's performing the valuable service of appeasing the mocker god, now let the man do his work.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

He's performing the valuable service of appeasing the mocker god, now let the man do his work.

phog wrote: »

- I could be at my 2nd Grand Slam win

...and just in time too...!

razorblunt

Scotland team announced, Matt Scott is back in the center, he's in pretty good form for Gloucester.

https://twitter.com/Scotlandteam/status/821658486933164032

Their centers are pretty decent all round really.

Peregrine

Does anyone know when the Irish squad will be announced? I remember ours usually being a little later than the rest. Before Friday, I presume.

Edit: That's a lot of props on the Scotland squad!

b.gud

French team added to the first post

b.gud

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/821676337362505729

sydthebeat

b.gud wrote: »

French team added to the first post

by my count 4 "non french born" players in that french squad??

noves staying fairly true to his word

pickarooney

Not sure how many others could be considered on current form.

phog

phog wrote: »

I'm heading to Rome for our game there and was lucky in the MRSC lottery to win two tickets for the England game in the Aviva - I could be at my 2nd Grand Slam win

Heading to Rome as well so I'll keep an eye out for you. Will you be the one in red?

What happened to that tanned skinned Italian outhalf from a few years back?

pickarooney

[Deleted User] wrote: »

What happened to that tanned skinned Italian outhalf from a few years back?

Haimona Plane? Or the other one, I canna remember his name.

b.gud

Deleted User wrote: »

What happened to that tanned skinned Italian outhalf from a few years back?

Kelly Haimona? He moved back to NZ and is currently with Bay Of Plenty AFAIK.

Yeah it was the proud Italian Kelly Haimona

Peregrine

b.gud wrote: »

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/821676337362505729

That's good. Early next week wouldn't leave nearly enough time for all the outrage to subside.

Peregrine

Peregrine wrote: »

That's good. Early next week wouldn't leave nearly enough time for all the outrage to subside.

I don't care if he plays or not, but I really hope Dave Kearney gets picked. It will be the fountain of rage that never stops giving.

Cosmo Kramer

I'd imagine Dave Kearney is a cert to make the extended squad if fit. There are rarely too many surprises in the initial squad announcement - not too many back up options in the second row these days so there might be a new name there if Dillane doesn't make it back in time.

Probably something along the lines of:

J McGrath
Healy
Furlong
Bealham
J Ryan
Kilcoyne
Best
Tracy
Strauss

Toner
Henderson
D Ryan
Dillane

Stander
O'Brien
Heaslip
O'Mahony
van der Flier
Conan

Murray
Marmion
L McGrath

Sexton
Jackson
Carbery

Henshaw
Ringrose
Marshall
McCloskey

Zebo
Trimble
Earls
D Kearney

R Kearney
O'Halloran

It's usually around 35 or 36 players.

Bazzo

sydthebeat wrote: »

by my count 4 "non french born" players in that french squad??

noves staying fairly true to his word

Was just about to say this, I knew it would be bull**** as soon as I saw it but it's still funny. NO residency players in the French team from now on! Apart from Spedding, Atonio, Vakatawa and Nakaitaci... they don't count...

Reminds me of smokers constantly talking about this being their last ever box.

thomond2006

Bazzo wrote: »

Was just about to say this, I knew it would be bull**** as soon as I saw it but it's still funny. NO residency players in the French team from now on! Apart from Spedding, Atonio, Vakatawa and Nakaitaci... they don't count...

Reminds me of smokers constantly talking about this being their last ever box.

I don't think they ruled out already capped players, just new players going forward. It gives them time to adjust I suppose.

irishbucsfan

thomond2006 wrote: »

I don't think they ruled out already capped players, just new players going forward. It gives them time to adjust I suppose.

Also there's a fair amount of reported animosity between Noves and Laporte (because he was supposedly caught out promising to fire Noves if he was elected).

Could be that Noves is just not going to follow the leader on this particular issue, and it'll be fairly controversial if he's dismissed for it!

Bazzo

thomond2006 wrote: »

I don't think they ruled out already capped players, just new players going forward. It gives them time to adjust I suppose.

Technically they didn't rule out residency players at all, they just ruled out players who didn't hold a French passport. It just seems to me like they're trying to do a bit of finger wagging from a high horse when in reality they are and will continue to be as complicit as anybody else.

errlloyd

Pretty sure Spedding and Atonio do hold french passports, and Nagataci is working on it,

paulie21

Will Carbery be back in time?

sydthebeat

spedding certainly does

Bazzo

Murray Kinsella just tweeted saying the squad will be announced Sunday.

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/821746786381524992

EDIT: Also,

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/821747025188388865

That means Dillane will probably not be included and I suppose we may see some more fringe selections?

paulie21

paulie21 wrote: »

Will Carbery be back in time?

Yep, he's back training with Leinster

https://twitter.com/leinsterrugby/status/821045248847675392

CMOTDibbler

Bazzo wrote: »

Murray Kinsella just tweeted saying the squad will be announced Sunday.

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/821746786381524992

EDIT: Also,

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/821747025188388865

That means Dillane will probably not be included and I suppose we may see some more fringe selections?

I'd say they're waiting to see who comes out of the weekend's Champions Cup matches still standing.

Squad for the first two matches is how they did it last year as well. With a two week break between the 2nd and 3rd matches there's time to get players up to speed if they're needed later in the competition.

pickarooney

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Yeah it was the proud Italian Kelly Haimona

Now I have Craig McLachlan in my head

Heeeey Mona, oooooo Mona