SpackleFrog
Smash showy bell-bottom pants and sporty haircuts
Yes, but they chose to go through the middle many times with acres of space out wide - Ireland were often sucked in and they didn't stretch them as much as they could.
The 6 Nations 2019 Thread
- Thread starter Grandma Death
- Start date
Yes, but they chose to go through the middle many times with acres of space out wide - Ireland were often sucked in and they didn't stretch them as much as they could.
SpackleFrog
Smash showy bell-bottom pants and sporty haircuts
Mr Retro
Beware hedgehogs
This weekend will tell a lot but I think that manic intensity England showed against Ireland is very hard to replicate game after game consistently across the team. Take that away and England are beatable. The pressure is on England a bit to show they can repeat last week.
I also think that England game plan of last weekend is easy enough to plan for and negate if you expect it. If your favourite-player-of-all-time-bar-none O’Gara was playing last weekend I think he would have brought much more control by stepping back and booting accurate balls in behind that English defence, turning them again and again. Sexton is brilliant when things are going his way and game plans are being executed. Not so much when he has to think on the hoof.
I really don't think there is much between the top 4 sides in the 6N. For that matter I think a full strength Scotland can give anyone a run but the team that took to the field against Italy are far from full strength.
Ireland haven't become a bad team overnight, England have had a couple of quiet seasons but they are still fundamentally the same squad that went on that long unbeaten run. Wales have been consistently competitive and look to have a decent production line coming through. France are very strong physically but weak mentally.
As I say not much to choose really. I still think Wales will win this year but mostly because the way the fixtures work and having scraped that win against France the door is firmly ajar.
My predictions for this week are Wales by 25, Ireland by 20 (I wouldn't want to be a Scotland fan this weekend as I fully expect an Irish reaction to last weekend) and probably England by 7, though this is mainly due to France being poor on the road.
Ireland haven't become a bad team overnight, England have had a couple of quiet seasons but they are still fundamentally the same squad that went on that long unbeaten run. Wales have been consistently competitive and look to have a decent production line coming through. France are very strong physically but weak mentally.
As I say not much to choose really. I still think Wales will win this year but mostly because the way the fixtures work and having scraped that win against France the door is firmly ajar.
My predictions for this week are Wales by 25, Ireland by 20 (I wouldn't want to be a Scotland fan this weekend as I fully expect an Irish reaction to last weekend) and probably England by 7, though this is mainly due to France being poor on the road.
flypanam
Sausage to fortune
Aye, England were excellent and there is no denying that. Their coaches out coached Schmidt and with the targeting of Earls was excellent. Earls is one of the reasons Murray's box kick can be so good. Without Earls chasing, his kicks looked poor (as well actually being poor).
As for the back three I wonder if Henshaw was loud enough? After all the back three take their lead from the full back? If he's not communicating no matter how good they are the defense will get pulled. I mean nevermind that his postioning was awful. Your reference oto O'Gara is spot on as he always found space, but did so in relation to how far the full back was from hs posts, then took the kick behind.
The biggest worry for me was that as a leadership group, Best, Sexton and POM should have kicked to the corner. Failure to do so is a worry. As is the fact that our first game is always shit, a loss in Scotland, a very narrow win in Paris, a loss in Australia, and a loss to England.
My bright spot is that I'm actually surprised that we didn't lose by more especially with England being physically dominant.
Mr Retro
Beware hedgehogs
England’s discipline was better but still relatively poor kept us in it especially in the first half. A yellow and 8 penalties against Ireland 4 penalties. They should have had another yellow too in the first half.
flypanam
Sausage to fortune
So it will be Roux and Ryan with Roux calling the lineout? I'd like Farrell and Aki to get a run but probably Henshaw at 13 (although I'd like him at 15 for Italy). The big call is the back row, keep SOB for the last 25? So at 8 we have Conan? Its a big game for him, might get his toe on the plane to Japan if he goes well.
Grandma Death
Reconfiguring & Reconstructing
Grandma Death
Reconfiguring & Reconstructing
Predictions for the weekend?
I think England by 10. I think this match is gonna be closer than we think-and France were spectacular first half against Wales. There is a tiny part of me thinking France would win. It is a very small part I hasten to add
Wales by 30 points. Itll be an arm wrestle first half. Gats will empty bench last 20 minutes and we'll run rings around them
Scotland/Ireland-Im finding this hard to call actually. Ireland will be wounded and know they have to win this and get a bonus point if they are gonna win on points....but Ive got a sneaky suspicion Scotland could nip this?
I think England by 10. I think this match is gonna be closer than we think-and France were spectacular first half against Wales. There is a tiny part of me thinking France would win. It is a very small part I hasten to add
Wales by 30 points. Itll be an arm wrestle first half. Gats will empty bench last 20 minutes and we'll run rings around them
Scotland/Ireland-Im finding this hard to call actually. Ireland will be wounded and know they have to win this and get a bonus point if they are gonna win on points....but Ive got a sneaky suspicion Scotland could nip this?
I think on their day France can beat anyone.
It remains one of the great mysteries of international rugby how the country with the richest league, a great history and a big fan base can be so ordinary of late. When I was growing up France were the team to beat, these days they seemed to have settled into also rans.
SpackleFrog
Smash showy bell-bottom pants and sporty haircuts
France were not spectacular against Wales. Wales were just awful first half. Don't think they'll trouble England.
Grandma Death
Reconfiguring & Reconstructing
I disagree. Yes Wales were gash. But Frances kicking game was on the money-they played great rugby.
If I were to be playing England (as France are) with a massive physical team (as France do) in the wind and rain (which it is likley to be) I'd be sticking the ball down Daly's throat all afternoon.
I remain very unconvinced about him under a high ball. Ireland spent an afternoon picking out May who is reliable, get it at Daly and see what happens.
I remain very unconvinced about him under a high ball. Ireland spent an afternoon picking out May who is reliable, get it at Daly and see what happens.
flypanam
Sausage to fortune
I thought France were excellent, great passing, great hands, tatically astute...they'll lose on Saturday. Wales will romp hom in the last twenty, as for Scotland v Ireland, one thing I forgot about last week was that Murray hadn't played for Ireland since the summer, and Sexton has played very little in the recent months. Maybe the cobwebs are cleared but Scotland are dangerous so I'm pumping for an Irish win.
SpackleFrog
Smash showy bell-bottom pants and sporty haircuts
We'll have to agree to disagree - maybe England v France will tell us more! Agree that France kicked well in 1st half but that fell apart in second. Same with tactical astuteness! Outside of the front 5 and Morgan Parra I'm not sure they're good enough.
flypanam
Sausage to fortune
That first half was a lesson in composed yet flair rugby. In really poor conditions. Yes it fell apart in the second which to my eyes seemed to be caused by mental fragility and inexperience.
I too thought wales were poor but the dumb South African second rows inability to move to the right allowed for a gap to open up. It was French errors and the Welsh tackle that won the game for Wales.
Which means there is some truth Gatland’s assertion that wales have forgotten how to lose.
I too thought wales were poor but the dumb South African second rows inability to move to the right allowed for a gap to open up. It was French errors and the Welsh tackle that won the game for Wales.
Which means there is some truth Gatland’s assertion that wales have forgotten how to lose.
flypanam
Sausage to fortune
Probably but I’m pessimistic about us especially after last year not as if we haven’t peaked prior to a WC.
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
Very much agree. French precision and execution in appalling conditions was as good as ours was poor. They made the right calls, retained possession, kept the error count low and were very accurate. It was as impressive a performance by them as I've seen in a while.
Then, of course, they left the gap open for Adams to waltz through to feed Williams for the try and suddenly all their latent psychological frailty came rampaging to the fore.
