The Rugby Thread

[Newbridge Wolf]

Wayne Bennet was named as the new England RL coach yesterday, bit hard on the departing McNamara after a good series win against NZ but I think they've wanted him for a while.

Going to take a bit of adjusting to as he'll keep his role on at Broncos

And brace yourself, but this now means we have an Aussie as head coach for Rugby Union, Rugby League & our National Cricket teams.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Gatland has named his side nice and early for Sundays game, Jonathan Davies is back and starting both Warburton & Tiperic in the backrow.

Luke Fitzgerald out of 6N, Kearney and Sean O'Brien doubts for Sunday! we will have no fuckers left if this keeps on.

Reports that Cian Healy is in talks with Worcester about joining them next season.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

England starting both Ford and Farrell on saturday

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rug...d-lineup-for-six-nations-opener-34423198.html

 

[North West Wanderer]

Farrell deserves to arguably start at 10

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Ford is a much better ten than Farrell.

Having Farrell at 12 hasn't worked that well in the past either. Apart from that I quite like the team. Front row is very powerful.

 

[Dublin Drummer Wolf]

Gatland has named his side nice and early for Sundays game, Jonathan Davies is back and starting both Warburton & Tiperic in the backrow.

Luke Fitzgerald out of 6N, Kearney and Sean O'Brien doubts for Sunday! we will have no fuckers left if this keeps on.

Reports that Cian Healy is in talks with Worcester about joining them next season.

Yeah, its a real test of Schmidts actual coaching ability as there are so many unproven newcomers in the squad this year. Schmidt was the rugby coach at the school I went to in the 90's and his reputation was excellent for taking newcomers and bedding them in to their positions, so it will be interesting to see how the replacements do.

Having said all that, I can see Wales, France and England beating us this time round.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Ashton's appeal has been rejected so he will miss the entire six nations.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Yeah, its a real test of Schmidts actual coaching ability as there are so many unproven newcomers in the squad this year. Schmidt was the rugby coach at the school I went to in the 90's and his reputation was excellent for taking newcomers and bedding them in to their positions, so it will be interesting to see how the replacements do.

Having said all that, I can see Wales, France and England beating us this time round.

We have them as our first 3 games as well! Lose to Wales and then have France away, it could be all over for us this year by mid-afternoon next saturday.

Hopefullythe injuries might not be a bad thing, if Kearney is out, it might force his hand to change things around put Payne in his best position at full back and bring in McCloskey at centre

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Ford is a much better ten than Farrell.

Having Farrell at 12 hasn't worked that well in the past either. Apart from that I quite like the team. Front row is very powerful.

Talking to a couple of people who closely follow the club game, and they say that Ford is struggling this season especially defensively.

 

[Dinowolf]

Ashton's appeal has been rejected so he will miss the entire six nations.

What a fool he was. Just got back into contention and he makes a challenge like that.

 

[Dinowolf]

It's not just Ford that is struggling at club level, but Bath as a whole, which includes Joseph and Watson, and Ollie Devoto, who is on the bench.

Ford & Farrell have started once before together and that was with Brad Barritt outside them, when they tried the dog-leg defensive line ploy against Wales ( ).

Farrell's defence is better than Ford who has a better kicking game, if he has room.

 

[Dinowolf]

Farrell deserves to arguably start at 10

On form, you're right NWW, but Eddie Jone's problem is a shortage of inside centres. He only has Devoto in his 23 so he chose Farrell for his match experience by the look of it.

 

[North West Wanderer]

Ford is a much better ten than Farrell.

Having Farrell at 12 hasn't worked that well in the past either. Apart from that I quite like the team. Front row is very powerful.

He is but not this season.

 

[North West Wanderer]

On form, you're right NWW, but Eddie Jone's problem is a shortage of inside centres. He only has Devoto in his 23 so he chose Farrell for his match experience by the look of it.

Slade all of a sudden looks a big loss.

 

[Dinowolf]

Good win for Saracens at Exeter today after being 11-0 down. A real game of two halves thanks to the wind.
Sam Hill and Maro Itoje both had a run out.

 

[Dinowolf]

Kvesic and Beaumont added to the 25 who went to Scotland to make a large training squad for Italy.

 

[Dinowolf]

Paul O'Connell announces his retirement from rugby.
A giant of a player, he'll be missed.

 

[Dinowolf]

Kvesic and Daly released back to their clubs, leaving a squad of 25 now for Italy.
The 23 for the Scotland game plus Beaumont and Itoje, with Eddie Jones saying he will probably 'change the batting order' to make the pack faster.

 

[Dinowolf]

Just noticed, Kvesic was only with the squad for 1 day. WTF is that all about??

 

[Dinowolf]

Biggar selected for Wales, meaning an unchanged side.
Anscombe replaces Cuthbert on the bench.