Guinness SIX Nations 2021

clsmooth · 07-02-2021 11:04AM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

France will beat the green off us.

This place has an obscene belief in this Irish setup.

Not sure about that. They could well do. In Paris I’d expect them too. But it’s hard to travel away from home and win, and we don’t lose at home often. Has anyone else but England and New Zealand beaten us there in the last 5 years?

OldRio · 07-02-2021 11:33AM

Just saw this up. It's border line criminal. A 7 on 3 with the defending team down to 14..

https://twitter.com/Toolan82/status/1358215455756804096?s=20

fryup · 07-02-2021 11:40AM

^^^^^^^^^^^

what am i looking at?

lawrencesummers · 07-02-2021 11:47AM

Deleted User wrote: »

That's fair enough.

What do you think is more important - winning the six nations / grand slam or giving game time to either Billy Burns or Ross Byrne?

I'm not sure either are going to be the starting outhalf for the world cup to be honest so I'm not sure what purpose giving either game time is, when it could cost us this tournament.

Considering I think we have zero chance of winning the tournament it would be developing alternatives to Cian Healy and Sexton. Bedding in a first choice second row, giving Keenan experience at 15, working on who replaces Earls, who our second choice 9 is and who our first choice Hooker is.

Fine the 6N is still within our control so we should field our best team, I can see that, but if we are not in a position to win the championship those things listed above should be the secondary target that we go after, unfortunately we probably won’t.

Third and fourth doesn’t make any difference, but gaining experience and blooding players does.

LuckyLloyd · 07-02-2021 11:51AM

Starting all of Earls, Sexton, Murray, Healy, O'Mahony and Stander is obscene. There is obviously zero long term vision or plan. All leading up to being embarrassed at another world cup. It's beyond frustrating.

thomond2006 · 07-02-2021 11:56AM

OldRio wrote: »

Just saw this up. It's border line criminal. A 7 on 3 with the defending team down to 14..

https://twitter.com/Toolan82/status/1358215455756804096?s=20

Yikes, that's a walk-in.

sydthebeat · 07-02-2021 11:56AM

fryup wrote: »

^^^^^^^^^^^

what am i looking at?

Owen farrell has possession near the halfway line and has six of his attackers outside him.... Facing up against two defenders.

Playing "heads up" rugby would demand that you keep the ball in hand and "draw and pass" your way through

07-02-2021 11:57AM

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Starting all of Earls, Sexton, Murray, Healy, O'Mahony and Stander is obscene. There is obviously zero long term vision or plan. All leading up to being embarrassed at another world cup. It's beyond frustrating.

Something, something, Irish rugby cannot afford a rebuild...

All other nations can, but not the Irish.

clsmooth · 07-02-2021 12:06PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Something, something, Irish rugby cannot afford a rebuild...

All other nations can, but not the Irish.

Yep just like Wales are rebuilding with Lydiate, Faletau and Tipuric in their back row packing down behind AWJ. It’s a results based industry, very easy for us with no skin in the game to demand revolution when sporting success tends to be more based on evolution.

thomond2006 · 07-02-2021 12:10PM

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Starting all of Earls, Sexton, Murray, Healy, O'Mahony and Stander is obscene. There is obviously zero long term vision or plan. All leading up to being embarrassed at another world cup. It's beyond frustrating.

Stockdale is injured and Larmour had a nightmare in Thomond Park. I can see why Earls remains in the side.

No other 10 is pushing Sexton for his spot. That's the reality. Billy Burns and Ross Byrne haven't demanded selection in the minutes they've played. The hope is that the academy flyhalves like a Harry Byrne or Ben Healy will be pushing in a year or so.

Murray is the best option and he's played well recently. Craig Casey is in the extended squad and will hopefully get capped during the tournament. JGP got the majority of minutes during the autumn.

LH is a big issue and has been the most criticised in terms of the extended squad selection.

POM and Stander are both playing well. Doris would have been starting but for injury.

We can't look at everything through the prism of a RWC. If there's a Six Nations to be won, we have to go for it. The England loss last night has opened the door too. Now, if we were to lose today and lose to France then big decisions on players need to be made.

littlevillage · 07-02-2021 12:21PM

joseywhales wrote: »

I don't know the intoxicating talent can be good sometimes

Agreed, I plan on being completely (intoxicated) intoxicating by 3pm

07-02-2021 12:24PM

Deleted User wrote: »

France will beat the green off us.

This place has an obscene belief in this Irish setup.

We've won six of our last 10 games against France, drawn 2 and lost 2.

They haven't beaten us in Dublin since 2011.

I accept that they are a better team the last season and a half - but I think you are being more 'obscenely' unrealistic than I am to be honest.

Jacktheelad · 07-02-2021 12:24PM

Eddie Jones saying England want to be the greatest team in history & spending the build up giving advice to the Irish & Welsh coaches before losing to Scotland at home for the first time in 40 years in their first game of the tournament.

This made me smile

Zzippy · 07-02-2021 12:26PM

Happy Sixmas everyone!

I remember the days when we would have a thread specifically to allow posters apply to write match threads for the 6N. Some were even entertaining. Where are all the rugby forum Flank O'Briens and Spike Milligans gone?

/nostalgia

07-02-2021 12:31PM

lawrencesummers wrote: »

Considering I think we have zero chance of winning the tournament

I guess this is where our difference of opinion rests so. I think we'll beat Wales today based on their recent form (7 losses out of 10).

I think we will beat Italy. I would have us as favourites against Scotland.

Based on today's performance do I think England will roll us over in Dublin? I would say not.

If we can win 4 out of 5 games then we've a much better than zero chance of winning the tournament.

I would imagine that if Kilcoyne had more game time this season he might have pushed ahead of Healy. I suspect he'll play close to half of the match today.

I don't think Burns or Byrne are the natural successor to Sexton any more than Madigan was. Carberry gets back fit then the conversation changes.

We have pipeline issues in a few positions - we just don't have anyone in those positions screaming for first team minutes.

07-02-2021 12:33PM

Zzippy wrote: »

Happy Sixmas everyone!

I remember the days when we would have a thread specifically to allow posters apply to write match threads for the 6N. Some were even entertaining. Where are all the rugby forum Flank O'Briens and Spike Milligans gone?

/nostalgia

Everyone is still basking in the messy afterglow of England losing at home to Scotland.

Scratchly · 07-02-2021 12:48PM

Zzippy wrote: »

Happy Sixmas everyone!

I remember the days when we would have a thread specifically to allow posters apply to write match threads for the 6N. Some were even entertaining. Where are all the rugby forum Flank O'Briens and Spike Milligans gone?

/nostalgia

Probably all banned. Turns out board's policy of ban everyone for everything wasn't a great long term business plan.

The Inbetween is mine · 07-02-2021 12:50PM

Scratchly wrote: »

Probably all banned. Turns out board's policy of ban everyone for everything wasn't a great long term business plan.

Welcome back

Scratchly · 07-02-2021 12:55PM

The Inbetween is mine wrote: »

Welcome back

Thanks! I wasn't banned by the way. I fled during the purging and took refuge on Reddit. But that too fell underneath the fascist boots of "de mods".

Scratchly · 07-02-2021 12:57PM

I'm actually expecting a big Irish win. Which given previous similar expectations makes me nervous. Wales regularly somehow do us over when we're the favourites.

thomond2006 · 07-02-2021 01:14PM

Zzippy wrote: »

Happy Sixmas everyone!

I remember the days when we would have a thread specifically to allow posters apply to write match threads for the 6N. Some were even entertaining. Where are all the rugby forum Flank O'Briens and Spike Milligans gone?

/nostalgia

Ban Buer and then we'll talk.

swiwi_ · 07-02-2021 01:27PM

clsmooth wrote: »

Yep just like Wales are rebuilding with Lydiate, Faletau and Tipuric in their back row packing down behind AWJ. It’s a results based industry, very easy for us with no skin in the game to demand revolution when sporting success tends to be more based on evolution.

Lydiate has come back from the dead. So that’s an original way to rebuild. If asked I would have said he was retired!

Zzippy · 07-02-2021 01:51PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ban Buer and then we'll talk.

It's either you or him, and the mod team can't agree...

swiwi_ · 07-02-2021 01:55PM

Zzippy wrote: »

It's either you or him, and the mod team can't agree...

Better the devil you know. Adieu thomond.

07-02-2021 01:58PM

Zzippy wrote: »

It's either you or him, and the mod team can't agree...

Allow Thomond Monday - Friday and Buer at the weekends. Thomond doesn't know anything about rugby so we won't miss him in the match threads - and we'll have fewer days having to tell Buer to shut up.

win - win.

Zzippy · 07-02-2021 02:05PM

Plot twist. Buer and Thomond are the one entity. Ever seen Fight Club?

07-02-2021 02:12PM

Deleted User wrote: »

We've won six of our last 10 games against France, drawn 2 and lost 2.

They haven't beaten us in Dublin since 2011.

I accept that they are a better team the last season and a half - but I think you are being more 'obscenely' unrealistic than I am to be honest.

Our best players were in their prime during that period. None of our best players are anywhere remotely near their prime now.

This current team is going nowhere.

Our tactics consist of; carry ball into contact ---> ruck ---> aimless box kick---> chase ---> back on the backfoot.

07-02-2021 02:30PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Our best players were in their prime during that period. None of our best players are anywhere remotely near their prime now.

This current team is going nowhere.

Our tactics consist of; carry ball into contact ---> ruck ---> aimless box kick---> chase ---> back on the backfoot.

I view this as such extreme hyperbole I don't really know how to respond or if I should bother.

I think we've one or two players beyond their best days, we've a few more coming into their prime and we've a good mix of experience and youth.

I think your description of our playstyle is reductive and the main issues in my opinion are our lineout and organisation at the breakdown as opposed to kicking or carrying.

I suppose we'll just have to wait and see how we go today.

degsie · 07-02-2021 02:39PM

Who has TV rights apart from VM?

Scratchly · 07-02-2021 02:52PM

degsie wrote: »

Who has TV rights apart from VM?

Split between BBC and ITV for the UK. Game today is on BBC I think.

Guinness SIX Nations 2021

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