The 2020 Urban 6 Nations Thread

[Grandma Death]

So here we go. Its that time of the year and a while since I posted. Expect reserved posts. Less shouting. No drunken posts. No scoffing (exceptions will be given for any England loss under any circumstances)

So you know the drill. 2 sets of predictions. Likely and wildcard

LIKELY

1. England for the slam.

2. Wales.

3. France.

4. Ireland

5. Scotland

6. Italy

WILDCARD

1. France for the championship on points

2. England

3. Wales

4. Ireland

5. Scotland

6. Italy

Six Nations Rugby

www.sixnationsrugby.com

 

[Supine]

I've got tickets for Wales vs Scotland

 

[stavros]

Twickenham hosting Wales and Ireland has to improve England's chances, right?

 

[gawkrodger]

this feels weird to type but quite looking forward to seeing what we get from France

 

[flypanam]

Hum, am actually looking forward to the Six Nations. From an Irish point of view I'll be interested to see what kind of coach Farrell is, and the ways in which he thinks the game should be played. I'm slow to this but I'm starting to think that the central contracts system is a noose around the coaches neck in so far I'm sure the Union puts pressure on the coach to select the 15 players on those contracts. That said I think I have enough hope that Farrell will be able to pick on form, which should put Larmour in at FB, Cooney in at 9, with Gibson Park benching for that position. The area I'd like to see changes over the championship is the backrow, where I'd like Connors to share gametime with POM at 7, Deegan and Doris to take the 8 shirt, while Stander covers 6. I'd like to see Furlong/Moore at tighthead with Healy/Porter at loose. We're a bit fecked for hookers so it will be Herring/Scannell with Kelleher on the bench.

In short from over pay grade...with a bits of heads up rugby, like the provinces are playing. However I'm not expecting too much this season.

Predictions
1. England
2. Wales
3. France
4. Ireland
5. Scotland
6. Italy

Wildcard
1. England
2.France
3. Wales
4. Ireland
5. Italy
6. Scotland

 

[bendeus]

Predictions:

All teams tied on 10 points after playing out 30 no-score draws. England awarded the spoon after the other participants vote unanimously.

Wildcard:

Grandma Death not to soil himself and end up in a ditch.

 

[bendeus]

Twickenham hosting Wales and Ireland has to improve England's chances, right?

Yeah, but I think Paris might be a tricky away match for everyone this year, England included.

 

[gawkrodger]

Yeah, but I think Paris might be a tricky away match for everyone this year, England included.

France at 7/1 may be worth a small flutter

 

[bendeus]

gawkrodger - thoughts on Rowlands, the Wasps lock? He's just been called up to the Wales 6N squad alongside Ap Tompkins from Saffacens (Welsh gran) and, unsurprisingly, Rees-Zammitt.

Looks like Pivac is casting the net wide.

 

[sleaterkinney]

Sexton as captain, but he's 34?

flypanam 4th?.

 

[gawkrodger]

gawkrodger - thoughts on Rowlands, the Wasps lock? He's just been called up to the Wales 6N squad alongside Ap Tompkins from Saffacens (Welsh gran) and, unsurprisingly, Rees-Zammitt.

Yeh, was a bit of a surprise this morning (the pretty decent rugby reporter for Cov Live also clearly wasn't expecting it - he was tweeting he'd booked today off work, put in a bit of blurb re: Thomas Young in his out of office email and then buggered off on leave, only to be disturbed by his twitter DMs exploding!)

Always assumed he would be one of those great players who are just below international level (and thus vital to clubs). Had no clue he was Welsh eligible. I think everyone thought that if there was anyone called up to the Welsh square it'd be Thomas Young,

He's a big lad who's athletic (deceptively fast), good carrier, one of our key tacklers. Decent lineout option as well. Very consistent performer. Behind Launchberry, probably our most consistently decent front five player. Won players player of the year last season I think. We're noticeably better when he and Launches are our starting locks.

 

[flypanam]

A couple of surprises in Farrell's first squad:

Ireland’s 2020 Six Nations squad:

Hookers: Rob Herring, Dave Heffernan, Rónan Kelleher
Props: Cian Healy, Dave Kilcoyne, Jack McGrath, Tadhg Furlong, Andrew Porter, Tom O’Toole
Locks: James Ryan, Iain Henderson, Devin Toner, Ultan Dillane
Back rows: Josh van der Flier, CJ Stander, Jack O’Donoghue, Peter O’Mahony, Caelan Doris, Max Deegan
Scrum-halves: John Cooney, Conor Murray, Luke McGrath
Out-halves: Johnny Sexton (captain), Ross Byrne, Billy Burns
Centres: Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose, Chris Farrell
Back threes: Jordan Larmour, Jacob Stockdale, Andrew Conway, Keith Earls, Will Addison, Dave Kearney
Development Players: Ryan Baird, Robert Baloucoune, Harry Byrne, Will Connors.

I feel a couple of players didn't warrant inclusion namely Henderson, PO'M, Murray, Farrell, and Luke McGrath. Three of them on central contracts. The postives there are some form players included, and the development players are exciting.

 

[gawkrodger]

gawkrodger - thoughts on Rowlands, the Wasps lock? He's just been called up to the Wales 6N squad alongside Ap Tompkins from .

article

OPINION: Why Will Rowlands deserves his Six Nations shot

Wales head coach Wayne Pivac named second row in his 2020 Six Nations squad

www.coventrytelegraph.net

 

[bendeus]

article

OPINION: Why Will Rowlands deserves his Six Nations shot

Wales head coach Wayne Pivac named second row in his 2020 Six Nations squad

www.coventrytelegraph.net

Really appreciate this and your last post, gawkrodger . He sounds like a very decent acquisition.

I'd say that it's a shrewd move all round. He gets his day in the international sun, which would be challenging with England given their embarrassment of riches in that position, and Wales get a proven elite-level lock who can do all the basics well.

The yawning cliff between AWJ and the next-up contenders here in Wales is vast. Beard, our second choice, wouldn't be in the top ten locks in England so Rowlands will immediately add grunt and dog, IMO. Really smart move by Pivac's team.

 

[gawkrodger]

Really appreciate this and your last post, gawkrodger . He sounds like a very decent acquisition.

I'd say that it's a shrewd move all round. He gets his day in the international sun, which would be challenging with England given their embarrassment of riches in that position, and Wales get a proven elite-level lock who can do all the basics well.

Stoked for him, just a shame we will be without our 2 starting locks for some vitally important games in a dire season

 

[flypanam]

Sexton as captain, but he's 34?

flypanam 4th?.

Yeah, I'm just really hedging bets, the fact that we have to go to London and Paris means that I think we'll struggle. However the fact that Billy V is out gives me some hope and although the French side looks dazzling, we've not seen them play. We've a fair idea how wales will play, but those games are the tightest in the 6N, could go either way.

More to the point, we're not sure how we will play, from the squad selection Farrell wants aggression, defence and from the selection of Addison, Cooney and addition of McCloskey maybe farrell wants players who can go off script. However there are players in squad who are not performing well, POM, Henderson and Henshaw, will they get selected because their on central contracts or will they be dropped? There are just too many variables to say how we'll do.

I think Sexton as captain is the right choice until Deegan or Ryan step up. Ryan has been talked about a lot but Lancaster says he's too quiet for the job.

 

[flypanam]

Seems to be some disquiet at home over the appointment of Farrell, the selection of Catt as backs coach and poaching of Fogerty from Leinster. some in the IRFU wanted to approach Scott Robinson and O'Gara for the job but the big blazers said no. Seems like due process didn't exist.

There is also the curious case of no manager being appointed either. In his book Eddie Jones talks about Lancaster telling him one of his biggest regrets was not appointing a manager to free him up to coach and that the first thing Jones should do is appoint one. Looks like Farrell might be about to have a huge mistake foistered upon him.

 

[stavros]

Just a thought, will the goings on at Sarries affect the performances of their England contingent in the 6N at all, or for that matter Liam Williams?

 

[bendeus]

Just a thought, will the goings on at Sarries affect the performances of their England contingent in the 6N at all, or for that matter Liam Williams?

Doubt it. Wales won the slam last year with a number of key players staring down the barrel of their club (the Ospreys) being wrapped up, with all the uncertainty about their own personal futures that came with it.

They were all pretty clear that the issue was on their minds but it seemed like they managed to fashion a backs against the wall mentality as a result, which may even have helped.

 

[flypanam]

Happy not happy with the Ireland team for Saturday. It’s imposing enough with a back row of stander VdF, and Doris. Not happy about Murray starting nor Addison failing to even bench, would have thought he’d be more useful than Henshaw.

 

[flypanam]

Weekend predictions


Wales 42 Italy 14
Ireland 28 Scotland 22
France 14 England 13

ETA I’ll give reasons tomorrow, focusing on cooking dinner a la Keith Floyd.

 

[Smangus]

Pretty inexperianced side for France , be interesting to see how they go.

 

[flypanam]

Pretty inexperianced side for France , be interesting to see how they go.

It is but Dan Schofield (Daily Tele) was putting it about that the French were gonna get bashed and bullied by England. They might. However with no BV and I have to admit I've not seen the team (Is Manu playing?) to say England are gonna bully France doesnt get the point in that French Rugby is build on thugs and every single one of those players get endless amount of digs thrown at them in the league. But I digress that French side is callow but I think they've finally got a good coach who has an excellent coach working with him, Shaun Edwards, if he transfer his defense to France they will be hard to break down.

As for Ireland, I think the Farrell Era is going to be rough for us, we'll win less and lose more, out penalty count will he sky high comapred to what we had under Schmidt. I think on Saturday we'll see one of our players sent off. I'm disappointed in the team selection even more so now than Tuesday. Henshaw at 23 is a nightmare, unless he replacing one of the centres, he's just causing chaos in the back line as everyone has to move to accomodate him, Farrell should have had Addison at 23. Hendo, never has a good game for Ireland. Before the WC Schmidt called him out, and what did Hendo do, he had a shit WC.

 

[Smangus]

Don't think we'll bully the French , not sure our back row works without BV. Also Anthony Watson not playing so who will be full back, Daley to go to wing? I have a feeling that a young French side with nothing to lose , lots of flair and a sense of adventure allied with some of Mr Edwards bulldog spirit might cause a few headaches. Or it might just be a couple fo games to soon for them. Should be good anyway (crosses fingers!).

Ireland , new coach new philosophy and are in transition, can see why you might be nervous but there is enough experience in the side to carry you through games. Faz is a top coach and he'll come good , at least in the medium term I think.

 

[wayward bob]

wales.

 

[Teaboy]

Some bloke called Furbank is starting for England apparently. Furbank sounds like a West Midlands satellite town of Birmingham.

Mind you Wales have that kiwi who's name sounds more like an electoral ward. Maybe its a growing trend.

 

[bendeus]

Some bloke called Furbank is starting for England apparently. Furbank sounds like a West Midlands satellite town of Birmingham.

Mind you Wales have that kiwi who's name sounds more like an electoral ward. Maybe its a growing trend.

Really odd backrow selection by the poisoned uncle. Lawes at 6 and Curry at 8. Surely to god in the home of the oaken-thighed yeoman there are a few bullocking backup specialist 8s worth their salt rather than a converted 7? Lawes at 6 is also strange to say the least.

 

[Smangus]

Really odd backrow selection by the poisoned uncle. Lawes at 6 and Curry at 8. Surely to god in the home of the oaken-thighed yeoman there are a few bullocking backup specialist 8s worth their salt rather than a converted 7? Lawes at 6 is also strange to say the least.

There are , Hughes, Dombrant to name a couple. Lawes has played 6 before so no worries there but Curry at 8 is a real wtf ? Weird back row balance and Curry never played 8 let alone at test level. Obviously there is an Eddie master genius plan at work and we will all be amazed at his tactical nous come tea time Sunday

Wale on the other hand a have a terrible back row with Tipuric , Faletau and some other geezer in there , can't see them doing much , oh no not them.

 

[bendeus]

There are , Hughes, Dombrant to name a couple. Lawes has played 6 before so no worries there but Curry at 8 is a real wtf ? Weird back row balance and Curry never played 8 let alone at test level. Obviously there is an Eddie master genius plan at work and we will all be amazed at his tactical nous come tea time Sunday

Wale on the other hand a have a terrible back row with Tipuric , Faletau and some other geezer in there , can't see them doing much , oh no not them.

Wainwright will be a multiple test Lion. He's got the lot, and considering he only converted from football about 4 years ago his potential given where he is already is huge.

E2A: he's also a ball carrier, who can legitimately play 8. Something rare and special in Wales atm. Gatland reckons he's the best ball carrying backrow he's worked with over his time in Wales - a rangier SOB type player.

 

[Smangus]

Sounds interesting, looking forward to seeing how Wales go, how is your annual 6n pessimism level this year
I await the 1st Bendeus fan rant with anticipation.....