2015 RBS Six Nations General Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

Benvenuti fell off the radar when he moved to Perpignan. He signed with Bristol recently.

If England win a 6 Nations and/or World Cup with Armitage playing a key role than nobody will give a monkeys about the consequences / can of worms of picking him.

When do we actually pick our squad?


We picked a 34-man squad last year, so assuming a similar format, I'm gonna guess, we go for the following:

Hooker: Rory Best, Sean Cronin
LH Prop: Jack McGrath, James Cronin (just on the basis he was ahead of Buckley before, Buckley might get the nod)
TH Prop: Mike Ross, Martin Moore
Lock: Paul O'Connell, Devin Toner, Dave Foley, Mike McCarthy, Mick Kearney
Back Row: Peter O'Mahony, Robbie Diack, Dominic Ryan, Tommy O'Donnell, Jordi Murphy, Jamie Heaslip, Robin Copeland
Scrum Half: Conor Murray, Eoin Reddan
Out Half: Johnny Sexton, Paddy Jackson, Ian Madigan
Centres: Gordon D'Arcy, Stuart Olding, Robbie Henshaw, Luke Fitzgerald, Jared Payne
Wing: Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls, Fergus McFadden, Simon Zebo
Full-Back: Rob Kearney, Felix Jones



That's purely based on the format of last year's squad, which I did think was slightly odd at the time. As in, we picked 5 2nd rows, 7 back rows... including 2 out-and-out number 8s in Copeland and Heaslip (poor Coughlan), 5 centres. Yet we only picked 2 players in essential positions such as hooker, both props and scrum-half. We did call up players after

If I was picking it myself, I'd trim down down on 2nd row and back row, drop Kearney, Ryan and Copeland from there, maybe take Jones out of the backs (although I think he'll make it) and bring in Duncan Casey, Denis Buckley, another TH prop and Kieran Marmion.

Fireball07 wrote: »

When do we actually pick our squad?

That's purely based on the format of last year's squad, which I did think was slightly odd at the time. As in, we picked 5 2nd rows, 7 back rows... including 2 out-and-out number 8s in Copeland and Heaslip (poor Coughlan), 5 centres. Yet we only picked 2 players in essential positions such as hooker, both props and scrum-half. We did call up players after

If I was picking it myself, I'd trim down down on 2nd row and back row, drop Kearney, Ryan and Copeland from there, maybe take Jones out of the backs (although I think he'll make it) and bring in Duncan Casey, Denis Buckley, another TH prop and Kieran Marmion.

Before I read this the first thing I was thinking pretty much exactly what you said that we'd need another person in each of the front row positions and another scrum half.

I'd imagine White or Ah You will go as the third Tight head if one is brought. Strauss surely as the third Hooker and Buckley would certainly appear to be the best choice for a third LH.

On the second rows was Henderson listed as a second row last year? He got some game time at 6 as well didn't he. Maybe it might be only 4 locks this year, 5 seems a bit overkill to me.

.ak wrote: »

I can see Strauss featuring, has been pretty solid since his return.

That backrow selection looks poor, no matter what way you spin it. The lads are all top players, but not international class bar Heaslip and POM. Whoever players 7 will be playing keep up.

Very solid. If Best was to get injured he would be next in line for me and I'd have started him for Leinster this week

.ak wrote: »

I can see Strauss featuring, has been pretty solid since his return.

That backrow selection looks poor, no matter what way you spin it. The lads are all top players, but not international class bar Heaslip and POM. Whoever players 7 will be playing keep up.

There is no denying it... we are missing Ruddock, Henderson, SOB & Henry who I'm guessing would all be ahead of the rest. And then you have the retirement of Ferris too. But maybe in general we don't have the depth of back row that we once had?

There are some promising young players around the provinces but I'd say most are at least 2 or 3 years from being international contenders. I would expect TOD to do a good job, and Murphy is a good impact player, even if neither are at the level of POM & Heaslip.

.ak wrote: »

I think the over all depth is there, and better than ever in the sense you've got players that can all do a good job there at international level, but we would generally have a massive star fit in the form of Wallace, SOB, Ferris etc.

Around 2009 though, the back rows we had available:

A great Munster back row in Quinlan, Wallace and Leamy; all well capable of playing at international level.
You had a Leinster Heineken Cup winning back row, with SOB having a super season, you had Heaslip and then you had Jennings and Locky who perhaps weren't on the level of some of the others but I would say they'd have done as much of a job as the likes of Murphy & TOD now, if not better. They were both playing really well.

Then you have the monster that is Ferris. And I think Muldoon had been called up to international squads around that time too, always an option.

Fireball07 wrote: »

Around 2009 though, the back rows we had available:

A great Munster back row in Quinlan, Wallace and Leamy; all well capable of playing at international level.
You had a Leinster Heineken Cup winning back row, with SOB having a super season, you had Heaslip and then you had Jennings and Locky who perhaps weren't on the level of some of the others but I would say they'd have done as much of a job as the likes of Murphy & TOD now, if not better. They were both playing really well.

Then you have the monster that is Ferris. And I think Muldoon had been called up to international squads around that time too, always an option.

In 2009 the Leinster back row was Rocky, Jennings and Heaslip.

Given you're talking about SOB having the great season and Locky being involved I think you might be confusing that season with 2011, which was when SOB broke through as truly world class.

The Pheasant2 wrote: »

Looks like Courtney Lawes will be missing for England for the first few weeks of the 6N.

That's a blow losing both Launchbury and Lawes in the row

Atwood/Kruis to start so? Certainly not as intimidating as Launchbury & Lawes. Who were both brilliant against us in the 6N iirc, will be a big boost to us this time around if they are missing.

I think England will win the championship this year

Wales will win the Triple crown

Ireland will finish 3rd or 4th

We are not that concernced about the six nations its all about the world cup

PTH2009 wrote: »

I think England will win the championship this year

Wales will win the Triple crown

Ireland will finish 3rd or 4th

We are not that concernced about the six nations its all about the world cup

We (as in the fans) or the team? I'm very concerned with winning it with a WC on the horizon and so are the IRFU (€€€) historically. We've only won two in the 6N era, not gonna start turning a nose up at it now.

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Joe Schmidt isn't the type to neglect the 6Ns for the World Cup. It'll be very much a priority for us.

Personally I think we'll win both the 6Ns and the WC and also Leinster will win the Champions Cup and the Pro 12, Connacht will win the Challenge Cup, Conor McGregor will be the champion of everything and the Irish soccer team will be undefeated for the next 20 years. But then I suppose I'm a little optimistic at times.

Munster get nothing

Duncan Weir out for 4 months, bicep injury.