The Rugby Thread

[Tredman]

Jim Mallinder for me, if outside national coaches are allowed.

I'm equally not sure about Lancaster, but its very difficult to judge him as he's not coached at top level outside the national team. He's definitely improved the england team though and surrounds himself with good coaches (something woodward did too)

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

What would our Lions team be if we were picking today?

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Now THAT is a question!!!

Certainties: Fly Half - Sexton. Full Back: Halfpenny. Lock: O'Connell

Areas of dispute: Back row as always: Pick from Faletau, Warburton, Tupuric, Robshaw, Heaslip etc etc etc. An area where there Northern Hemisphere are full of brilliant options.

Front Row: Jenkins, Best + AN Other?

Wings - I am obviously going to want to get North in there but is he really worthy at the moment?

Centres: Bloody hell that is stupidly tough.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Could ANYONE find a spot for a Scot at the moment?

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I can't find a spot for a Scot.

Tommy Bowe for one of the wings?

I'd want Dan Cole in my front row. He is fucking nails.

 

[Tredman]

Stuart Hogg is a great attacking full back and would have to be at least on the bench.

Quite like Finn Russell too, but it's very early days for him.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I think the partner lock for O'Connell is probably Alun Wyn Jones. Had a superb six nations so far.

Scrum half isn't easy to pick.

Finn Russell is a possible reserve to Sexton maybe, but Biggar and Ford would be correctly ahead of him.

Centres: Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Joseph?

 

[Tredman]

I think the partner lock for O'Connell is probably Alun Wyn Jones. Had a superb six nations so far.

Scrum half isn't easy to pick.

Finn Russell is a possible reserve to Sexton maybe, but Biggar and Ford would be correctly ahead of him.

Centres: Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Joseph?

That would be a great centre partnership.

I'd go for (a fit) Courteney lawes at lock - on his day he's a complete player, like having an extra back row forward on the pitch.

No idea on scrum half, no one has really stood out.

Simon Zebo on one wing? With Anthony Watson on the bench. Would have normally had George North on the other, but not been on form for a while (I'd say the same for halfpenny too, if you ignore his kicking)

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Really? Thought 1/2p had been stupendous under the high ball and pretty attacking so far, as well as lethal with the boot.

 

[Tredman]

Really? Thought 1/2p had been stupendous under the high ball and pretty attacking so far, as well as lethal with the boot.

I think it depends on what you look for in a full back - I like a full back who can run, go past people and get in with a few tries, I don't see him doing this.

Agreed, though, if you want a full back to take the ball well, hoist it up with some good kicks and chip in with the odd crash ball he's the best out there. That's just not what I want to see though.

Edit - goes back to DW thinking Goode was poor and Sunday and me liking him - for me he made good yards and went past people.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I think halfpenny is a shoe in for the slot, but a fit Mike Brown would be an excellent reserve. I take your point on Courtney Lawes, but (if fit) I also really like how Geoff Parling plays in the second row as well.

 

[Tredman]

I think halfpenny is a shoe in for the slot, but a fit Mike Brown would be an excellent reserve. I take your point on Courtney Lawes, but (if fit) I also really like how Geoff Parling plays in the second row as well.

Agreed, I think I he is a shoe in, I'd personally just prefer a more expansive player and type of game overall.

I like geoff parling, but lawes is immense - went to the England ABs game last year and, for the time he was on, lawes's tacking was phenomenal, as was his athleticism. For same reason I'd have a fit Tom Croft in too, if he ever gets back to where he was.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

As you said Lawes workrate and tackling is top class, they missed him sunday, England's back-row werent as athletic as Ireland's and Lawes would have helped them out in that regard. Between Brown and Halfpenny suppose it depends what you want from a full-back in the style they play but either are excellant, with Kearney and Hogg as back-up there is plenty strength in depth in that position.

Surprised by the comments concerning scrum-half (maybe its green-tinted spec), but I would have though Murray would have be in the certainty catorgory, is as key as Sexton in making things tick for Ireland and probably best player overall in the 6N so far for us.

I cant find a place for a Scot either, do like Russell but he is too inexperianced at the moment.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Jim Mallinder for me, if outside national coaches are allowed.

I'm equally not sure about Lancaster, but its very difficult to judge him as he's not coached at top level outside the national team. He's definitely improved the england team though and surrounds himself with good coaches (something woodward did too)

Funny when I was posting about this, Mallinder was the one name that I did think of as well, actually thought of another one last night in Conor O'Shea who ticks most of the boxes (has plenty of friends in the RFU and IRFU as well).

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Strong start by Wales here.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Really impressive. Losing Samson Lee is a big problem though.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Ireland doing what we did well to avoid in Cardiff, cheapish penalties and anything within 50 yards is within range.

Hope Lee isn't too badly hurt. Seemed pretty innocuous.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Wales determined to allow Ireland onto the scoreboard. Stupid tackle.

 

[Stan Hullis]

Enjoyable game this

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

It is intriguing, rather than thrilling. Ireland were the stronger side in the end of that first half.