The Rugby Thread

[Nando]

Lawes at 6. FFS.

 

[Tredman]

Lawes at 6. FFS.

Who would you have instead? I quite like him there, with Billy injured we are a bit light in the back row.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I’m really surprised you haven’t called up a specialist number 8

 

[Tredman]

Don’t know who we would call up.

 

[Nando]

Dombrandt or Simmonds, or Ludlum from those in the squad and leave Curryhill alone.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Quite looking forward to the England France game. Clearly a new broom is sweeping through the France squad and most of the team lining up against you will be different from the team we faced in the Rugby WC QF. Plus Shaun Edwards and super-pragmatic defensive systems and French fluid rugby seems a difficult mix. Could be a decent watch.

It looks like a standard six nations of the last few years

England Wales Ireland
France





Scotland














Italy

 

[lemonjelly]

Looking forward to this opening weekend. Can see me not leaving the house for 2 days, with all the sport this weekend.

 

[Jabbawolf]

Looking forward to this opening weekend. Can see me not leaving the house for 2 days, with all the sport this weekend.

That housecoat is going to get a hammering this weekend.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

First impressions of Pivac-Ball.

Not as defensively sound as Gatland-Ball, but seems to have a little more flair. We shall see.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

This has gone a bit dull.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I liked that second try though.

 

[Tredman]

Yes not bad. Terrible defending through.

Think it will need to be the next game before we learn anything about Wales.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I agree. Italy look like absolute cannon fodder as usual.

 

[Tredman]

Dodgy refereeing not helping either.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Second half is rubbish.

I quite like the fact that they are trying to force teams to use the ball more quickly from the back of the ruck, but otherwise the refereeing today is pernickety and seems to be doing everything to stop the flow of the game.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Thank God for that. Failure to get a bonus point here would have been criminal.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Josh Adams is one hell of a finisher.

5 tries. Not a point against. And we were crap by our standards.

Not sure anybody has learned a lot from this as Italy are abominable.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Ireland v Scotland was a really terrible game, lit up by the truly abysmal drop over the line by Hogg. Ireland will have to improve a lot to beat Wales.

On to today. I think this will be the best game of the weekend as it doesn't involve Scotland or Italy. Intrigued to see how the improvised England back row shapes up, and also looking forward to seeing the French backs in action, as they will either be stupendous or drop the ball all over the place. I don't see a lot of middle ground with them!

I think England have enough to bring home the spoils from Paris. Probably by 5-8 points.

 

[sycophantia]

Interesting one this, will Shaun Edwards have enough of an impact on their defence? probably but you know France are always on the edge of a Gallic meltdown. How will we react to being mostly excellent at the world cup....until blowing the final

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

France couldn't defend for shit under the old management and coaching. Edwards is a superb defensive coach. If the players buy into his ideas, then France have to better at the back. Have to be.

As I said above, I expect an England win. Not convinced you will get the try bonus point though.*


*now I have said this, you will probably win by sixty!!!