The 6 Nations 2019 Thread

[1927]

Fair point, well made. You beat England fair and square (2-1 on tries is how I score these things), but you only beat France because they made two prize cock-ups. All the northern hemisphere sides have a long way to go to win the WC. But, put a tenner on it and I'll wish you luck.

The thing I see as big in Japan later this year is how injuries pan out - given the way players are falling by the wayside in the 6N, it's going to be about who has the best squad/second string. That is crap, but it is going to be key.

(Oh, and C'mon Ireland!!!)

This is a very fair point that i was discussing with u old man at lunchtime. If you loo at the groups, some are easier on paper the they will actually be, Take Wales group. it should be a straight battle between us and the Convicts for top of group, but....the likes of Uruguay,Georgia and Tonga while they wont beat us, will be very physical and the injury count could mount up. That is where this RWC could be won and lost, because right no I think there are probably 5/6 teams going there thinking they can win it.

 

[Grandma Death]

In the cold and sober light of day I genuinely can't see how we have the beating of England on the form they showed against Ireland. The power of the Vunipolas and Tuilagi matched with the control of Farrell and the foil of Wade and the back three is a serious combination even before you consider their front five. Wales have become more than the sum of their parts but of the likely XVs I'd probably select a Welsh 13, 9, 7 and 4 with 15 tied out of the combined sides. Pessimism reigns.

Sorry... Erm

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[Streathamite]

Speaking as an Englishman, it pains me to admit it....but Wales thoroughly deserved their victory.
The best team won

 

[bendeus]

Sorry... Erm

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There's also this (E2A - C&P'd from last year):

"I'll also mention that during my rants passim regarding Roger's utter defenestration of the sub international game in Wales I suggested that the hollowing out of the national side would follow soon afterwards. This is playing out before our eyes now with a team that has neither the physicality to play bosh nor the guile to play the modern game. We're a horrible hybrid of the worst of both worlds.

The last surviving members of our golden generation are old and battered. A number won't make it to the next world cup, a few more won't go beyond it. The development pathway that brings new talent through is pretty broken if you look at anyone bar the Turks, and we failed to recruit from abroad with the astuteness that Ireland and Scotland have. Far from Grandma Death ''s prediction of Wales shaping to be a formidable side I'm going to nail my colours to the mast and predict at least 6 years of mediocrity. At least."

 

[bendeus]

I will say, however, that my comments about the combined XV stand, except that I'd bump 5 (not 4) and 15 up to the starting side. I still believe England have the better players, its just that Gatland has us playing with an unprecedented level of cohesion. We really are more than the sum of our parts

 

[Smangus]

Couldn't bear to look at this thread after our loss until now. Well done Wales. Bendeus I think the impact of Gatland leaving must be the biggest worry for Wales post world cup. Whatever you think of his style he is a top top coach.

 

[bendeus]

I'm also starting to genuinely wonder whether AWJ could make it to the '21 Lions tour. He really is that good and doesn't seem to be diminishing with age. He's shoulder to shoulder with O' Connell and Johnson as one of the greatest locks of this or any other generation.

 

[bendeus]

Couldn't bear to look at this thread after our loss until now. Well done Wales. Bendeus I think the impact of Gatland leaving must be the biggest worry for Wales post world cup. Whatever you think of his style he is a top top coach.

Yeah. He really has shown his class over the last couple of years. If we win the Slam in a year when the 2nd, 3rd and 4th ranked sides in the world are all competing and in doing so beat every major side bar New Zealand in a calendar year, especially with the squad available to him, you have to say that he will have shown beyond doubt just how good he is.

 

[Grandma Death]

I'm going to nail my colours to the mast and predict at least 6 years of mediocrity. At least.

I hate to point this out. You said this last 6N thread. Yet here we are. 12 unbeaten games. Third in the world. And quite possibly heading for a slam.

I won't disagree on the development path point you make. In your opinion is some of this down to the lack of resources as well? We don't have cash rich union like the rfu and we seem to be losing players to richer club sides offering far more than the Welsh regions.

What would be your solution if you ran the wru? (genuinely interested in your answer)



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[bendeus]

I hate to point this out. You said this last 6N thread. Yet here we are. 12 unbeaten games. Third in the world. And quite possibly heading for a slam.

Yeah, that ^^^ was C&P'd from last year's thread by way of wry acknowledgement on how badly I'd misread our position then and by way of saluting the accuracy of your predictometer, which I must admit I generally dismiss as being stuck firmly in the 'wildly optimistic' zone.

I won't disagree on the development path point you make. In your opinion is some of this down to the lack of resources as well? We don't have cash rich union like the rfu and we seem to be losing players to richer club sides offering far more than the Welsh regions.

A lot of it is down to a lack of resources, IMHO, and yes, I think the paucity of the development pathways in Wales led to, for example, us not being able to field the two Vunipola brothers in the here and now. Welsh age grade products who went to England on some kind of scholarship and never came back.

What would be your solution if you ran the wru? (genuinely interested in your answer)

Genuinely? Fuck knows. I think Welsh rugby is fucked either way unless the WRU can throw its weight and resources behind getting at least two of our regions into the English league structure, which there is currently no chance whatsoever of. However you want to chop it up (a la Project Reset) it still leaves large swathes of Welsh regional rugby disenfranchised and still locked into a shit league that nobody gives a fuck about. Crowds will continue to dwindle, so will funds and so will the player base. This is well worth a read

 

[Grandma Death]

I remembered you said it last year. And I thought it was a word for word of what you said. Yet I completely missed the humour. I'm such a fucking space cadet. [emoji17]

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[Smangus]

I wish Wales were crap as i miss Bendeus's quality rants and passionate pessimism!

 

[bendeus]

I wish Wales were crap as i miss Bendeus's quality rants and passionate pessimism!

I suspect you won't have to wait long. Just after Gatland leaving sounds a likely launch point.

 

[Grandma Death]

I suspect you won't have to wait long. Just after Gatland leaving sounds a likely launch point.

Do you know what I think you may be right mate. I think we may have rushed in too quick with Pivac and our eyes were too bigger than our belly. He may have peaked!

 

[1927]

I suspect you won't have to wait long. Just after Gatland leaving sounds a likely launch point.

Coinciding with the complete disintegration of the Welsh club game that will follow the ludicrous proposal to scrap the Os. Welsh rugby will struggle to field a Tier 2 team in 10 years time!

 

[flypanam]

Ireland vs France
Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Tadhg Furlong; James Ryan, Iain Henderson; Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, David Kilcoyne, John Ryan, Ultan Dillane, Jack Conan, John Cooney, Jack Carty, Jordan Larmour.

Jesus, no Beirne. I wonder if JS is saving him for the Welsh game. Will be interesting to see how Murray goes, I think it's been mentioned that he's lost quite a bit of muscle in his left arm, as his injury involved some nerve damage. If memory serves correct it's a similar injury to the one Healy had and took an age to recover from. I think if we can get fluency and deal with the French physicality we'll win. I'd like to see more variation at first receiver with Aki shipping the ball to Sexton, and I'd like for Kearney to have a solid game, as after all he's our only fullback.

eta Beirne injured in training during the week.

 

[Supine]

I'm nervous for wales tomorrow. Playing away from home and coming off a brilliant win against england. Please don't throw it away boys!

 

[flypanam]

I'm nervous for wales tomorrow. Playing away from home and coming off a brilliant win against england. Please don't throw it away boys!

Shouldn't be, although Scotland are due an 80 minute performance, i think their saving it for England.

 

[two sheds]

Lest we forget:



I still don't understand why they were allowed to run through behind the ruck like that but is lovely anarchic sight.

 

[1927]

It wasn't a ruck.

 

[two sheds]

Aha because they didn't contest? And not offside if their players don't touch the ball?

 

[starfish]

Cant say i fancy our chances tomorrow but one can live in hope.

 

[bendeus]

Cant say i fancy our chances tomorrow but one can live in hope.

I can't say I do either. My optimism disturbs me.

 

[starfish]

Reading this on the beeb disturbed me.

Head-to-head
Scotland's 29-13 home victory in the 2017 Six Nations is their only win against Wales in 12 games, when Rob Howley was caretaker coach.

They have not scored more than two tries in this fixture for 14 years.

Scotland have beaten Wales just three times at home in the Six Nations (D1, L5).

Wales' 34-7 win during their last Six Nations meeting in 2018 was their second-biggest margin of victory against Scotland in the championship's history. Only their 51-3 victory in 2014 was bigger.

 

[flypanam]

One thing about this game, plenty of empty crisp packets on the pitch.

 

[Mr Retro]

Scotland and Wales competing to see who can make most stupid errors

 

[flypanam]

Laidlaw is the slowest, most ponderous scrum half in Europe.

 

[Threshers_Flail]

Laidlaw is the slowest, most ponderous scrum half in Europe.

And Aled Davies is the stupidest.

 

[starfish]

Tighter than i thought it would be. Annoyed we didnt score in that period between 60-70ish minutes. Plus Moriarty pass was forward, the try should have been scrubbed.

 

[wayward bob]

<breathes again>