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2015 RBS Six Nations General Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

12467…33

Comments

  • #92
    aimee1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,290 ✭✭✭aimee1


    penybont exile wrote: »
    18 sleeps till we get under way ..... can't wait!

    Not a fan of regional rugby - disenfranchised by the shoddy treatment of the Celtic Warriors ........ so this is my only outlet when it comes to the professional level.

    Injuries seem to be shafting both Ireland & England ..... I'm sure the coaches will have fingers crossed this weekend.

    Feeling kinda lonely as the only person on the poll who thinks Wales will prevail .....

    Looking forward to some banter. May the best team win.



    Ireland arent in too bad a state.

    Lot depends on this weekend injury wise and Conor Murray being ok for the Italy game. We have got some players back recently too so time for some good fortune on that front hopefully


  • #93
    Zzippy
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 14,166 Mod ✭✭✭✭Zzippy


    England
    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.

    You probably think you'll get laid this year too. ;)


  • #94
    Flipper22
    Registered Users Posts: 811 ✭✭✭Flipper22


    Tuilagi likely to miss the whole tournament. He's had a very bad run of injuries.


  • #95
    total former
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,784 ✭✭✭total former


    England
    No major surprises, Anscombe is included. 9 of the 34 playing outside Wales. 19-year old centre Tyler Morgan included, unlikely to see game time.

    Notable omissions maybe are Adam Jones, James Hook but the one I'm most disappointed in is Owen Williams, certainly looks a better OH than Anscombe.

    Forwards: Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Paul James (Bath), Rob Evans (Scarlets), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Richard Hibbard (Gloucester), Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), James King (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, captain), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

    Backs: Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon).


  • #96
    Webbs
    Registered Users Posts: 1,645 ✭✭✭Webbs


    Anscombe is a direct replacement for Hook in that he can play across most of the backline. I would prefer O Williams over Priestland any day.
    I was surprised that Josh Navidi was left out has been having a storming season for Cardiff, there is no specialist backup at No8.


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  • #97
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 40,947 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    England
    absolutely ridiculous that Navadi wasnt included.

    Thats a quite an aging set of forwards selected....


  • #98
    irishbucsfan
    Registered Users Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    England
    It's really weird that there's noone else capable of playing 8 in the Welsh squad and they've left Navidi out. He's not necessarily superior to the guys they've selected, but you'd assume there's room for one more to cover 8.


  • #99
    Webbs
    Registered Users Posts: 1,645 ✭✭✭Webbs


    sydthebeat wrote: »
    absolutely ridiculous that Navadi wasnt included.

    Thats a quite an aging set of forwards selected....

    I'd say the forwards average 27 which I wouldnt say is that old.


  • #100
    ssaye2
    Registered Users Posts: 4,632 ✭✭✭ssaye2


    http://www.the42.ie/scotland-six-nations-ireland-vern-cotter-1892033-Jan2015/?utm_source=twitter_self

    32-man Scotland squad for Six Nations:

    Props: Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby), Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors), Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors) Geoff Cross (London Irish), Euan Murray (Glasgow Warriors)

    Hookers: Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors)

    Locks: Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Jim Hamilton (Saracens), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby)

    Back rows: Hugh Blake (Edinburgh Rugby), Blair Cowan (London Irish), David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby), Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby)

    Half-backs: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby), Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester, captain), Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby)

    Centres: Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby)

    Back threes: Dougie Fife (Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby).


  • #101
    Fireball07
    Registered Users Posts: 13,264 ✭✭✭✭Fireball07


    England
    Has Kelly Brown retired from internationals?


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  • #102
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 40,947 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    England
    Webbs wrote: »
    I'd say the forwards average 27 which I wouldnt say is that old.

    you're on the ball there!!!

    i suppose i assumed they were aged as they seem to have been around a long long time.
    But actually they just started very early.
    AWJ for example is only 29, though he looks 37
    Jake Ball is only 23 and looks 40!! :)


  • #103
    .ak
    Registered Users Posts: 30,308 Mod ✭✭✭✭.ak


    Fireball07 wrote: »
    Has Kelly Brown retired from internationals?

    Pretty sure he announced something to that effect, not 100% sure tho.


  • #104
    irishbucsfan
    Registered Users Posts: 37,978 ✭✭✭✭irishbucsfan


    England
    Fireball07 wrote: »
    Has Kelly Brown retired from internationals?

    He's been dropped supposedly, which is a really bizarre decision. It would make more sense to me if he had retired!


  • #105
    errlloyd
    Registered Users Posts: 12,598 ✭✭✭✭errlloyd


    England
    And Jonnie Beattie too, changing of the guard.


  • #106
    its_phil
    Registered Users Posts: 5,442 ✭✭✭its_phil


    irishbucsfan wrote: »
    He's been dropped supposedly, which is a really bizarre decision. It would make more sense to me if he had retired!

    Didn't get picked for AI's either if IIRC?


  • #107
    its_phil
    Registered Users Posts: 5,442 ✭✭✭its_phil


    .ak wrote: »
    Pretty sure he announced something to that effect, not 100% sure tho.

    Don't think so. Pretty sure he said he wanted to play at RWC.


  • #108
    Fireball07
    Registered Users Posts: 13,264 ✭✭✭✭Fireball07


    England
    Just read that Ross Rennie had to retire from rugby, aged 28, last week. I rated him pretty highly too, maybe not a top-class back row but he could cause havoc at the breakdown, maybe a bit like Jennings.

    It's also a bit of a pity that Hines retired so early when he was still playing great stuff for Clermont. Even now, at Sale, he could offer a lot to Scotland imo.


  • #109
    Teferi
    Registered Users Posts: 6,320 ✭✭✭Teferi


    Fireball07 wrote: »

    It's also a bit of a pity that Hines retired so early when he was still playing great stuff for Clermont. Even now, at Sale, he could offer a lot to Scotland imo.

    It was rumoured the move to Sale was because it was closer to Edinburgh for Scotland squads. I thought he might have been coaxed out of retirement by Cotter.


  • #110
    OldRio
    Registered Users Posts: 5,907 ✭✭✭OldRio


    Ben Foden out for England. Not sure if he was in Lancasters plans but his form was good for Northampton.

    http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/30903697


  • #111
    .ak
    Registered Users Posts: 30,308 Mod ✭✭✭✭.ak


    Sam Burgress included in the Saxon's squad to face the Irish wolfhounds... as a back.


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  • #112
    Fireball07
    Registered Users Posts: 13,264 ✭✭✭✭Fireball07


    England
    The England squads just for convenience in-thread:



    England Senior Training Squad (34):

    Forwards: D Attwood (Bath), C Clark (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), A Corbisiero (Northampton), N Easter (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), G Kitchener (Leicester), G Kruis (Saracens), J Marler (Harlequins), G Parling (Leicester), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), B Vunipola, M Vunipola (both Saracens), D Wilson (Bath), T Wood (Northampton), T Youngs (Leicester).

    Backs: B Barritt (Saracens), M Brown (Harlequins), L Burrell (Northampton), D Care (Harlequins), D Cipriani (Sale), K Eastmond (Bath), O Farrell (Saracens), G Ford (Bath), A Goode (Saracens), J Joseph (Bath), J May (Gloucester,), S Myler (Northampton), J Nowell (Exeter), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester), A Watson (Bath), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), B Youngs (Leicester).

    England Saxons squad: (23)

    Forwards: K Brookes (Newcastle), T Croft (Leicester), C Day (Northampton), L Cowan-Dickie, D Ewers (both Exeter), M Garvey (Bath), R Harrison (Sale), M Itoje (Saracens), M Kvesic (Gloucester), M Mullan (Wasps), H Thomas (Bath), T Waldrom (Exeter), A Waller (Northampton), R Webber (Bath).

    Backs: C Ashton (Saracens), S Burgess (Bath), E Daly (Wasps), O Devoto (Bath), L Dickson (Northampton, capt), J Simpson (Wasps), H Slade (Exeter), M Yarde (Harlequins), C Wade (Wasps).


  • #113
    Fireball07
    Registered Users Posts: 13,264 ✭✭✭✭Fireball07


    England
    Just looking at the Saxons squad, they've only picked 23 players, if that's the final squad, it's pretty strong. Going for a 6-2 split on the bench.

    You've got the likes of Croft & Kvesic up front, and a backline which includes Ashton, Yarde, Wade, Daly... Dickson & Simpson as the scrum-halves. Plenty of experience, plenty of talent.


    In the senior squad, obviously no Launchbury or Lawes there- Attwood, Kitchener, Kruis and Parling is still a solid setup, but not the same class.

    Eastmond & Joseph both there, as well as the likes of Twelvetrees, Barritt and Burrell.

    Myler in at OH, but so is Cipriani and Ford & Farrell. Wonder who'll get the start.


  • #114
    Cosmo Kramer
    Registered Users Posts: 3,989 ✭✭✭Cosmo Kramer


    England
    ssaye2 wrote: »
    http://www.the42.ie/scotland-six-nations-ireland-vern-cotter-1892033-Jan2015/?utm_source=twitter_self

    32-man Scotland squad for Six Nations:

    Props: Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby), Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors), Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors) Geoff Cross (London Irish), Euan Murray (Glasgow Warriors)

    Hookers: Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors)

    Locks: Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Jim Hamilton (Saracens), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby)

    Back rows: Hugh Blake (Edinburgh Rugby), Blair Cowan (London Irish), David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby), Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby)

    Half-backs: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby), Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester, captain), Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby)

    Centres: Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby)

    Back threes: Dougie Fife (Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby).

    No real cover at 10 there if Russell gets injured. Someone called Hugh Blake picked in the back row ahead of all three 'killer bees'. He has more or less been plucked straight from Otago - he doesn't seem to have ever played Super Rugby or appeared for the Edinburgh first 15, potentially an even more obscure pick than Michael Bent was for Ireland a few years ago.


  • #115
    Fireball07
    Registered Users Posts: 13,264 ✭✭✭✭Fireball07


    England
    Cosmo Kramer wrote: »
    No real cover at 10 there if Russell gets injured. Someone called Hugh Blake picked in the back row ahead of all three 'killer bees'. He has more or less been plucked straight from Otago - he doesn't seem to have ever played Super Rugby or appeared for the Edinburgh first 15, potentially an even more obscure pick than Michael Bent was for Ireland a few years ago.

    Well, Tonks is there but I imagine Laidlaw will also cover 10.


    That Blake one is a bit odd, it's not as if Scotland are short of back rows, so unless he's really good, it's a bit weird. At least Ireland were pretty short at prop at the time.


  • #116
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 40,947 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    England
    4 outhalfs for the main england squad?

    is farrell been seen as the most realistic 22 jersey ?


  • #117
    its_phil
    Registered Users Posts: 5,442 ✭✭✭its_phil


    sydthebeat wrote: »
    4 outhalfs for the main england squad?

    is farrell been seen as the most realistic 22 jersey ?

    Telegraph saying Cipriani in as cover for two Bath centers


  • #118
    errlloyd
    Registered Users Posts: 12,598 ✭✭✭✭errlloyd


    England
    I don't really get into the 6n mood until zero tolerance moderation comes into affect. Now I am beginning to get a bit giddy!


  • #119
    .ak
    Registered Users Posts: 30,308 Mod ✭✭✭✭.ak


    errlloyd wrote: »
    I don't really get into the 6n mood until zero tolerance moderation comes into affect. Now I am beginning to get a bit giddy!

    Banned.








    .... Just to get you in the mood!


  • #120
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 25,207 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    I have idiotically timed a visit to London with the gf for 6N opening weekend. Will get away with the Ireland game but I fear that's it.


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  • #121
    mfceiling
    Registered Users Posts: 12,772 ✭✭✭✭mfceiling


    Podge_irl wrote: »
    I have idiotically timed a visit to London with the gf for 6N opening weekend. Will get away with the Ireland game but I fear that's it.

    Be a shame that the pub you happened to stop into for a quick bite to eat was showing the 6N...


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