The Rugby Thread

[Bit on the shaggies]

So where do England go from here? I'm actually quite happy that we've lost in one respect, now we don't have to worry about winning streaks any more and EJ can maybe take a few more gambles when selecting his team.

I'd hope that Cole, Brown, Wood and Hartley will not get much more time in an England shirt, it's time for new blood in those positions. The tour to Argentina is the perfect opportunity for this.

 

[Dinowolf]

Well played Ireland. They were the better side, had a better plan and executed it better. Deserved to win.

 

[jd1981]

I'd put it down to just a bad day at the office, nothing major to be concerned about from an England point of view had to lose sometime.
Ireland were excellent today and did a job on England, just makes you wonder if they'd played with the same intensity against Scotland and Wales they'd be champions.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Maybe.

I think Ireland actually caught Wales on a rare (under Howley anyway) good day. We were bloody excellent, and yet we were abject against the Scots and not a lot better today really.

 

[jd1981]

Like all the times we've won it in the last few years you mean?

We had a shocker against Wales and Scotland, but as I've said before, it is always sweet to beat the English to Ill be celebrating tonight regardless.

There lies the problem if you'd played with the same conviction as you did today against Wales and Scotland you'd be lifting the trophy. Ireland were excellent today and stifled England at every corner.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

There lies the problem if you'd played with the same conviction as you did today against Wales and Scotland you'd be lifting the trophy. Ireland were excellent today and stifled England at every corner.

I think your dead right which makes the thing more frustrating but probably makes us about right not good enough to be right at the top table like england and new zealand but good enough if circumstances are right to knock them off their perch as we have done to the 2 of them in the last 6 months.
As for raising the game against England your right as far as the fans, as for the players its a load of lazy shite journalism. Did wales lay down against scotland and raise their games because it was Ireland or was it very good professional players following up a bad away performance wirh a very good one when their backs are to wall with a home support.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

First half at Murrayfield Wales were great. Bossed the game. I still have no idea what the hell happened at half time. No idea at all.

My main conclusions of this championship

1. England are very good
2. Italy are dreadful
3. Ireland are still a force
4. Scotland and France are improving
5. Howley isn't even 10 per cent of the motivator and coach that Gatland is.

 

[Jabbawolf]

My main concern about England is they seem to be very well coached but not that bright on the pitch - they have struggled to fathom out how to deal with their opposition in 4 of the 5 games - I don't really see them having a Martin Johnson (or two) on the pitch who has the strength of character to turn the game around more quickly - could easily have lost 3 matches.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

First half at Murrayfield Wales were great. Bossed the game. I still have no idea what the hell happened at half time. No idea at all.

My main conclusions of this championship

1. England are very good
2. Italy are dreadful
3. Ireland are still a force
4. Scotland and France are improving
5. Howley isn't even 10 per cent of the motivator and coach that Gatland is.

Would agree with that, with presumably Gatland back in Wales next year wont be that much between 5 teams.

This year also showed how important home advantage (ignoring the Italian matches) England were the only team to manage an away win (and 2 at that), that shows the difference between themselves and the rest at the moment.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Italy are abominable this season. I really think we might have to look at relegation. I would expect Georgia to beat them, and Romania would probably run them close.

Romania beat Georgia today to win the 2nd tier 6 Nations, Georgia had won the last 6, Georgia had already overtaken Italy in the World Rankings and Romania are now level with them. Unfortunately for the 2 of them the 6 Nations is not based on merit but an exclusive club and need an invite into. Sad to say neither of the 2 of them would be bringing a lot of money to the table, no sensible organisation is going to swap a potential market of 60 million in Italy for one of 5 million from Georgia. Now if the 3 teams below them in Europe, Spain, Russia and Germany continue improving then we might see a shake up.

 

[Nando]

:ursofunny:

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I assume he was pissed. That sort of shit does him no favours.

 

[Nando]

It's a shocking article all round to be honest.

Guscott calls Farrell out as his player of the tournaments, states the Lions XV needs to be picked on form, then leaves him out...

Keith Wood, in an article about how the 6N impacts upon Lion's selections, says its too early to consider.

Outstanding journalism all round.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Yep. Read it. Thought is was bollocks throughout, moved on.

 

[Bit on the shaggies]

Typical shite from the beeb.

Come on then Nando, let's see your pick...

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

What size is the touring party this time?

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Gatland has said 36/37 ish

 

[Nando]

Hogg, Nowell, Henshaw, Farrell, North, Murray, Sexton, Vunipola, Warburton, Tipuric, Launchbury, Itoje, Vunipola, Owens, Furlong

Bloody tough to be honest.

Webb, Stander and Joseph particularly unlucky to be out of that.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I can't see any way you play Warburton and Tipuric at the expense of Stander.

AWJ will be in there for sure. I think Launchbury might be the unlucky one (and that is before considering Gray as well).

Personally I am not a big Nowell fan.

 

[Johnny75]

Hogg, Nowell, Henshaw, Farrell, North, Murray, Sexton, Vunipola, Warburton, Tipuric, Launchbury, Itoje, Vunipola, Owens, Furlong

Bloody tough to be honest.

Webb, Stander and Joseph particularly unlucky to be out of that.

I wouldn't start either Welsh flanker, Itoje and Stander for me with AWJ or Gray at lock.