6N Tournament 2018 (non-Irish TT)

razorblunt

razorblunt wrote: »

Focking Laidlaw. This is going to ruin my Sunday.
If the French keep their focus as well as they did last week, they could really suffocate the Scots with Laidlaw standing at the rucks.
I don't think he's an "organised chaos" player.

Toolis dropped is another strange one, not sure what they think Gilchrist offers over him. Toolis is Mr Reliable.

Ali Price had one of the worst scrum half performances I've seen at this level in a long time against Wales. He was at fault for so much that went wrong.

mogwai81

prawnsambo wrote: »

Yeah, it's a possibility alright. But I don't see Eddie Jones taking that kind of risk against Wales. And clearly he hasn't.

Yeah, fair call. I just think Watson would add a bit more going forward so I'd be happier to see Brown start against us on Paddy's day.

razorblunt

Deleted User wrote: »

Ali Price had one of the worst scrum half performances I've seen at this level in a long time against Wales. He was at fault for so much that went wrong.

Yes, but he was integral to what Townsend's game plan / ethos was. Russell was equally as shambolic and bird brain. Price hasn't really started ahead of Laidlaw when there's not been an injury so I thought he would have been afforded the opportunity to go again.

jr86

I really don't get all the criticism Brown gets over here pretty much every 6n

I'm guessing it's down to his play-on-the-edge persona because as a player he's extremely solid, holds his position very well, big left boot, is a dangerous counter attacker from deep and is good in the air

His best days may be behind him, but stuff like explicitly hoping he's in the team against Ireland is madness. He's done far more at International Level than Jonny May ever will

Honestly, putting a raw player at this level like Solomona over Brown in such a key match could be a recipe for disaster

Sangre

jr86 wrote: »

I really don't get all the criticism Brown gets over here pretty much every 6n

I'm guessing it's down to his play-on-the-edge persona because as a player he's extremely solid, holds his position very well, big left boot, is a dangerous counter attacker from deep and is good in the air

His best days may be behind him, but stuff like explicitly hoping he's in the team against Ireland is madness. He's done far more at International Level than Jonny May ever will

Honestly, putting a raw player at this level like Solomona over Brown in such a key match could be a recipe for disaster

He is the English Rob Kearney?

I recall Brown had a MOTM performance the last time we played in Twickenham.

prawnsambo

jr86 wrote: »

I really don't get all the criticism Brown gets over here pretty much every 6n

I'm guessing it's down to his play-on-the-edge persona because as a player he's extremely solid, holds his position very well, big left boot, is a dangerous counter attacker from deep and is good in the air

His best days may be behind him, but stuff like explicitly hoping he's in the team against Ireland is madness. He's done far more at International Level than Jonny May ever will

Honestly, putting a raw player at this level like Solomona over Brown in such a key match could be a recipe for disaster

He hasn't got the nickname 'Mr. Angry' for nothing though.

Even Conor O'Shea calls him that and he was his coach at Harlequins. He's an excellent full back though, will always remember his goalkeeper's dive to stop the ball and prevent a certain try. But he can be wound up and that's when he can become a bit of a liability.

Yeah_Right

Sangre wrote: »

He is the English Rob Kearney?

I recall Brown had a MOTM performance the last time we played in Twickenham.

Was that the game where he kicked an Irish player in the head? Was it Conor Murray?

razorblunt

His short fuse is crazy though. It wouldn't even need to be anything that 'big' to set him off, he flies off the handle at the slightest of things.

Trojan

He's a thug. I don't like him.

Mind you, I said the same about Nathan Hines... up until 2009. After that, he became an "enforcer".

jr86

I don't understand May's constant selection however and fail to see Jones' fondness for him

He's gone out of his way before to give him special praise, and had him still close to the squad when he was injured.

He's meant to be a phenomenal trainer but bar a worldie try v NZ and running over Tommie Bowe to nab a try in the corner from an insanely tight space I think he's been well below international standard any time he's played.

I've seen him feck all for Leicester this year, granted, but he was a very solid club player for Gloucester and it never translated over to international.

He's one of the only players in that English 23 I could never really see pushing for an Irish Squad place, and Ireland are hardly blessed with world class wingers. I'd doubt he'd start for Leinster, Ulster or Munster

He's prepared to keep Nowell - a Lions tourist and League winner - on the bench? I don't get it

Sangre

jr86 wrote: »

I don't understand May's constant selection however and fail to see Jones' fondness for him

He's gone out of his way before to give him special praise, and had him still close to the squad when he was injured.

He's meant to be a phenomenal trainer but bar a worldie try v NZ and running over Tommie Bowe to nab a try in the corner from an insanely tight space I think he's been well below international standard any time he's played.

I've seen him feck all for Leicester this year, granted, but he was a very solid club player for Gloucester and it never translated over to international.

He's one of the only players in that English 23 I could never really see pushing for an Irish Squad place, and Ireland are hardly blessed with world class wingers. I'd doubt he'd start for Leinster, Ulster or Munster

He's prepared to keep Nowell - a Lions tourist and League winner - on the bench? I don't get it

He was tearing it up for Leicester early this year. I agree with the above though. English wingers often flatter to deceive in the Avici Premiership.

razorblunt

Sangre wrote: »

He was tearing it up for Leicester early this year. I agree with the above though. English wingers often flatter to deceive in the Avici Premiership.

Not just English, McGuigan came crashing back to earth for Scotland last weekend too.

prawnsambo

Eddie Jones trying to get at Rhys Patchell. If I was Patchell I'd be taking it as a compliment.

Every time Rhys Patchell looks up, he's going to see Jonathan Joseph in his vision - it's not a great sight. Wales have to get the ball wide and Patchell hasn't played much Test match rugby. He's a young guy, he's inexperienced and is their third-choice 10. He's got to get the ball wide and that's going to be a big job. It will be different to playing against Scotland. Scotland couldn't cope with the expectation and now he's got to cope with the expectation of playing well.

:rolleyes:

I'm not sure how Jonathan Joseph likes being called 'not a great sight'.

sydthebeat

prawnsambo wrote: »

Eddie Jones trying to get at Rhys Patchell. If I was Patchell I'd be taking it as a compliment.


:rolleyes:

I'm not sure how Jonathan Joseph likes being called 'not a great sight'.

Im sure most 10s are used to seeing the opposition 13 in their vision when they look to play the ball.....

Clegg

jr86 wrote: »

I don't understand May's constant selection however and fail to see Jones' fondness for him

He's gone out of his way before to give him special praise, and had him still close to the squad when he was injured.

He's meant to be a phenomenal trainer but bar a worldie try v NZ and running over Tommie Bowe to nab a try in the corner from an insanely tight space I think he's been well below international standard any time he's played.

I've seen him feck all for Leicester this year, granted, but he was a very solid club player for Gloucester and it never translated over to international.

He's one of the only players in that English 23 I could never really see pushing for an Irish Squad place, and Ireland are hardly blessed with world class wingers. I'd doubt he'd start for Leinster, Ulster or Munster

He's prepared to keep Nowell - a Lions tourist and League winner - on the bench? I don't get it

May is blisteringly fast. He's easily faster than any Irish winger and indeed most back 3 players in world rugby. I agree that he's never really stood out at test level, but I think his speed is so great that it's worth getting him into the side to try and get the most out of him.

pickarooney

Clegg wrote: »

May is blisteringly fast. He's easily faster than any Irish winger and indeed most back 3 players in world rugby. I agree that he's never really stood out at test level, but I think his speed is so great that it's worth getting him into the side to try and get the most out of him.

It's all very well running fast but when you're going sideways it's not much use to anyone.

prawnsambo

pickarooney wrote: »

It's all very well running fast but when you're going sideways it's not much use to anyone.

It does stave off that awkward getting tackled moment though.

Sangre

Clegg wrote: »

May is blisteringly fast. He's easily faster than any Irish winger and indeed most back 3 players in world rugby. I agree that he's never really stood out at test level, but I think his speed is so great that it's worth getting him into the side to try and get the most out of him.

He's an excellent scrummager as well.

prawnsambo

Sangre wrote: »

He's an excellent scrummager as well.

I wouldn't say excellent. Sticking your head between a prop's legs is slightly unorthodox.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS9OTXqRhbE

irishbucsfan

prawnsambo wrote: »

I wouldn't say excellent. Sticking your head between a prop's legs is slightly unorthodox.

I was once called out on this forum by someone who claimed I must never have played in the back row if I thought that a flanker binds onto a prop. So this sort of thing may well not be as commonly understood as we think!

stpaddy99

I foresee wales winning at twickenham better scrum better breakdown dangerous back line

prawnsambo

stpaddy99 wrote: »

I foresee wales winning at twickenham better scrum better breakdown dangerous back line

If Wales are as loose as they were against Scotland, Engalnd will punish them. Ford and Farrell are basically two sets of eyes looking for a gap and they are very quick to exploit one. It'll be a full on test of Wales' defence.

jr86

stpaddy99 wrote: »

I foresee wales winning at twickenham better scrum better breakdown dangerous back line

If that's the case it is amazing they've only beaten England once since 2013 - in a pure smash and grab

prawnsambo

jr86 wrote: »

If that's the case it is amazing they've only beaten England once since 2013 - in a pure smash and grab

To be fair, they've been a bit predictable in that period. There's a bit more to them at the moment and it's going to be interesting to see how they fare.

thomond2006

FRANCE :
Palis - Thomas, Lamerat, Doumayrou, Vakatawa - (o) Beauxis, (m) Machenaud
Tauleigne, Camara, Lauret - Vahaamahina, Iturria - Slimani, Guirado (cap), Poirot

Pelissie, Ben Arous, Gomes Sa, Gabrillagues, Picamoles, Serin, Belleau, Fall

Lionel Beauxis, only back in the squad for a week, starts against Scotland.

jr86

prawnsambo wrote: »

To be fair, they've been a bit predictable in that period. There's a bit more to them at the moment and it's going to be interesting to see how they fare.

But in fairness this is only based on one match - against an awful Scotland. England battered them last year too, when they were actually in the hunt for the Championship

Wales were poor for all of 2017

Buer

Christ. Lionel Beauxis. This really underlines how screwed France are for outhalves and need to keep working on bringing through a new generation.

Curious that he leapfrogs Belleau entirely who remains on the bench.

OldRio

England lodge complaint about Wales captain AWJ?

Surely this is clickbait?

Quintis

thomond2006 wrote: »

FRANCE :
Palis - Thomas, Lamerat, Doumayrou, Vakatawa - (o) Beauxis, (m) Machenaud
Tauleigne, Camara, Lauret - Vahaamahina, Iturria - Slimani, Guirado (cap), Poirot

Pelissie, Ben Arous, Gomes Sa, Gabrillagues, Picamoles, Serin, Belleau, Fall

Lionel Beauxis, only back in the squad for a week, starts against Scotland.

OldRio

OldRio wrote: »

England lodge complaint about Wales captain AWJ?

Surely this is clickbait?

hardly a complaint

"It's not great for the game and I've said something to World Rugby about it, I feel that strongly.

Bazzo

OldRio wrote: »

England lodge complaint about Wales captain AWJ?

Surely this is clickbait?

It is. Jones had a moan about him stopping Russell taking a quick conversion to ask Gauzere to check a try. Said it was disrespectful or something.

sydthebeat

Buer wrote: »

Christ. Lionel Beauxis. This really underlines how screwed France are for outhalves and need to keep working on bringing through a new generation.

Curious that he leapfrogs Belleau entirely who remains on the bench.

i think promoting Ntamack from the 20's would actually be better for France all round than bring Beauxis back.

Buer

Just some prep work from EJ to put a little pressure on the referee. Maybe not the most appropriate thing but Garces will be aware of it going into the game.

irishbucsfan

It's just classic Eddie Jones. You're right though he certainly hasn't lodged a complaint.

But what he's saying basically is that AWJ trying to stop someone taking a quick conversion is unsportsmanlike. But the whole reason you take a quick conversion in the first place is so that there's no time to review a try that might potentially be disallowed, which is just as unsportsmanlike!

Instead of complaining about AWJ here, they should consider that the whole situation is ludicrous and just make it so that tries can still be reviewed after a conversion is taken all the way up to kickoff.

OldRio

Thought as much IBF. I have to say I find Eddie Jones tiresome in the extreme.

prawnsambo

OldRio wrote: »

Thought as much IBF. I have to say I find Eddie Jones tiresome in the extreme.

Yeah, it's got to the point that he's a parody of himself and people just ignore what he's saying. He's expected to come up with some crap about whatever team England are facing and it's just white noise at this stage.

I was hoping for a draw. Now I think I almost want Wales to beat England.

No, I still want a draw. I just can't do it.

pickarooney

A draw via a 50m penalty from Patchell that lands in Eddie Jones' lap somehow?

Bazzo

pickarooney wrote: »

A draw via a 50m penalty from Patchell that lands in Eddie Jones' lap somehow?

Or maybe if it just sailed over the bar and bounced off the top of his head?

thomond2006

https://twitter.com/BoucherieOvalie/status/961937363231498240

French rugby joke/troll account nails BOD.

stpaddy99

Englands defence was all over the place in the midfield and wings. Id also add most england fans think their back row is a mess with no specialists and no billy v. They are weak at the breakdown. All their strength is the locks and 10/12 axis. With no youngs, no billy v, no haskell, no tuilagi and a loosehead who cant scrummage theyre way from the finished article

stpaddy99

stpaddy99 wrote: »

Englands defence was all over the place in the midfield and wings. Id also add most england fans think their back row is a mess with no specialists and no billy v. They are weak at the breakdown. All their strength is the locks and 10/12 axis. With no youngs, no billy v, no haskell, no tuilagi and a loosehead who cant scrummage theyre way from the finished article

I think Watson is a quality player, I'm a big fan and he'd start for Ireland.

Listening to Corbisiero on the left wing and he seriously rates Simmonds also and he seems to have gone well against Italy.

Big weekend for both teams though, England have been on a downward since their first season in my opinion, will be a defining tournament for them.

prawnsambo

thomond2006 wrote: »

https://twitter.com/BoucherieOvalie/status/961937363231498240

French rugby joke/troll account nails BOD.

To be fair, questioning Lionel Beauxis' selection shouldn't be reserved for players who've beaten the ABs.

BOD's response should be: "Hold on, I've got Tony Ward on the line and he seems to have something to say about this..."

Route1

That Wales +12 looks very appealling, Wales looked great last week and English defence looked porous enough. Wales don't fear Twickenham either, what are others thoughts on the matter?

Dog Botherer

prawnsambo wrote: »

To be fair, questioning Lionel Beauxis' selection shouldn't be reserved for players who've beaten the ABs.

BOD's response should be: "Hold on, I've got Tony Ward on the line and he seems to have something to say about this..."

A brief list of players who've (relatively) recently beaten the All Blacks, presented without comment.

Will Skelton
Freddy Burns
Fabien Barcella
Ned Hanigan
Julien Puricelli

Buer

Dog Botherer wrote: »

A brief list of players who've (relatively) recently beaten the All Blacks, presented without comment.

Will Skelton
Freddy Burns
Fabien Barcella
Ned Hanigan
Julien Puricelli

In fairness, Barcella was world class for a period before injury utterly destroyed him.

Yeah_Right

Dog Botherer wrote: »

A brief list of players who've (relatively) recently beaten the All Blacks, presented without comment.

Will Skelton
Freddy Burns
Fabien Barcella
Ned Hanigan
Julien Puricelli

You forgot Rob Kearney. Did he scored a try?

stephen_n

Route1 wrote: »

That Wales +12 looks very appealling, Wales looked great last week and English defence looked porous enough. Wales don't fear Twickenham either, what are others thoughts on the matter?

Wales won’t get anywhere near the sort of go forward ball or possession the Scots afforded them. England’s lack of quality backrow might impact on their ability to slow down Welsh ball, but I’d still expect them to do better than Scotland.

ongarite

HP ruled out for Wales.

Scythica

ongarite wrote: »

HP ruled out for Wales.

I'm in a quandary as to whether tell others in my other fantasy league this information