The Urban 6 Nations 2018 Thread

[flypanam]

I wouldn't be so confident of an Irish grand slam as we still have to travel to Paris and London saying that we're in a pretty good place I terms of depth but if we lose Besty it's a big drop in standards when Herring comes on. Same with Sexton and Keatley.

I think Webb is out, the Guardian is reporting a knee injury.

 

[bendeus]

First receiver at 12 playing Warrenball? Good luck sir!

Wales are fucked really, injury after injury to key men. Has Webb played his last game in the red jersey given the eligibility change?

England have been decimated as well, I think we're down to 7th or 8th picks at loosehead, both number 8's borked, no flankers with any caps fit, wingers queuing up for the treatment table. Its been a terrible season for injuries, if Ireland can keep their players fit the grand slam is theirs for the taking.

Well, I am about the right weight for a professional centre but unfortunately it's all in the wrong places.

We are probably fucked, but unusually for me I'm seeing the injuries as some ground for optimism. We just don't have the right players in the right places to play Warrenball but we do, if we pick bravely, have the right players for Turkball. It will require the slaying of a few sacred cows, e.g. 1/2p being nowhere near the 15 shirt and a distributor there instead, and a really mobile, ball playing backrow, but it could yield something interesting. Here's who I'd pick (Turks in red)

Evans, Owens, Lee
AWJ, Bradley
Shingler, Moriarty/Navidi, Tipuric

Patchell, Steff Evans, Williams S, Parkes, Anscombe, Davies G, Halfpenny (for his boot)

Fully Turktastic selection. Beirne would add a lot to that side (as he does to the Scarlets) in terms of carrying and breakdown presence as would Barclay, but AWJ and Moriarty are no slouches. Anscombe is an improvement on Dan Jones, who Llanelli have been playing at 10 and Patchell slots in as distributor able to come into the line at 15. Otherwise your entire threequarters is sospan fach personified. If that pack can generate quick ball and force turnovers the backline could do a serious amount of damage to any side they line up against.

Will Gatland do it, is the question. It all hinges around what he does with Halfpenny. If he starts at 15 then expect us to keep it tight and try to beat the Jocks up front. If he's on the wing, however, we could see the emergence of a post Warrenball gameplan in full.

 

[Teaboy]

I wouldn't be so confident of an Irish grand slam as we still have to travel to Paris and London saying that we're in a pretty good place I terms of depth but if we lose Besty it's a big drop in standards when Herring comes on. Same with Sexton and Keatley.

Yes, that's it with Ireland. It does hinge on a few key men.

 

[bendeus]

North now out. We are now missing:
Foxy, North, Webb, Liam, Biggar, Faletau and Warburton, that's seven Lions. We've also got another Lion, Moriarty, only just back from injury.

We're now getting to decimation levels. Why do Lions tours always seem to disproportionately impact on Welsh players in the subsequent season? Of those who toured only AWJ, Owens and Tips are fully fit and available.

Only silver lining is that we may get to have a look at Josh Adams on the wing.

 

[Ponyutd]

Webb now out of the 6N and Liam highly unlikely. I've just received a call from Gatland based on my stellar achievements as a sub for Llantwit Comp's second XV in 1990 and have been up in the loft looking for my boots. Wish me luck, Urbz.

Try this crowd funding lark for a new pair. I'm in for 50p.

 

[bendeus]

Try this crowd funding lark for a new pair. I'm in for 50p.

You can contribute towards my reconstructive surgery after I've been run over by Itoje.

 

[Smangus]

seems

You can contribute towards my reconstructive surgery after I've been run over by Itoje.

There won't be much left

 

[Smangus]

The injury list for Wales and England going into the 6N this year is horrendous, what's it like for the other countries

 

[sleaterkinney]

The injury list for Wales and England going into the 6N this year is horrendous, what's it like for the other countries

Sean O'Brien and Garry Ringrose will miss a few weeks. Heaslip and Payne are out long term.

 

[bendeus]

Sean O'Brien and Garry Ringrose will miss a few weeks. Heaslip and Payne are out long term.

Is this because Irish provinces, being IRFU owned, are able to manage players better? I'm assuming that if central command were to stipulate that, say, Sexton were only to play 15 games a season (roughly equivalent to what the WRU requires Cardiff to do with centrally-contracted Warburton) then Leinster would make it so, a luxury that the RFU and, to a lesser extent, the WRU, would be unable to do lest it bring them into direct conflict with privately owned clubs.

It's no coincidence that seven out of Wales' ten key injuries were all players who toured NZ in the summer. England have lost Sinckler and Daly from the same crop, you guys SOB and Payne. Given the fact that Ireland and Wales contributed roughly the same number of players and test starters is this coincidence or a difference in how players' seasons are structured to give them more time for recovery?

 

[sleaterkinney]

Is this because Irish provinces, being IRFU owned, are able to manage players better? I'm assuming that if central command were to stipulate that, say, Sexton were only to play 15 games a season (roughly equivalent to what the WRU requires Cardiff to do with centrally-contracted Warburton) then Leinster would make it so, a luxury that the RFU and, to a lesser extent, the WRU, would be unable to do lest it bring them into direct conflict with privately owned clubs.

It's no coincidence that seven out of Wales' ten key injuries were all players who toured NZ in the summer. England have lost Sinckler and Daly from the same crop, you guys SOB and Payne. Given the fact that Ireland and Wales contributed roughly the same number of players and test starters is this coincidence or a difference in how players' seasons are structured to give them more time for recovery?

They seem to, we do pick up injuries of course but that happens.

I found this, the premiership puts quite a load on players:

 

[bendeus]

They seem to, we do pick up injuries of course but that happens.

I found this, the premiership puts quite a load on players:

Great find! Really interesting stuff there. It would seem based on this that Wales have just been plain unlucky (though it does seem to happen to us the season after every single tour).

 

[bendeus]

(((((Courtney)))))

 

[Threshers_Flail]

I hope for his own sake that George North isn't fit to start on Saturday, there's no way that someone who has played as little rugby as him should be starting a test match. He won't last 20 mins.

Getting quite excited! The forced changes could lead to us playing slightly less turgid rugby!

 

[bendeus]

I hope for his own sake that George North isn't fit to start on Saturday, there's no way that someone who has played as little rugby as him should be starting a test match. He won't last 20 mins.

Getting quite excited! The forced changes could lead to us playing slightly less turgid rugby!

The massive irony is that first up we're facing a side shorn of its first (and in places second) choice front row and Richie Grey. Keeping it tight would probably be more sensible.

You can't help but feel that Gatland would probably pick North on one leg over Josh Adams, which says a lot about Gatland's approach to trying and blooding talent. We've only capped three new players since the WC apparently, which if true is fucking criminal.

 

[bendeus]

Tim Cymru (My WTF selections in bold):

Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets);
Josh Adams (Worcester),
Scott Williams (Scarlets),
Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets),
Steff Evans (Scarlets);
Rhys Patchell (Scarlets),
Gareth Davies (Scarlets);
Rob Evans (Scarlets),
Ken Owens (Scarlets),
Samson Lee (Scarlets),
Cory Hill (Dragons),
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys capt),
Aaron Shingler (Scarlets),
Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues),
Ross Moriarty (Gloucester).

Replacements:
Elliot Dee (Dragons),
Wyn Jones (Scarlets),
Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs),
Bradley Davies (Ospreys),
Justin Tipuric (Ospreys),
Aled Davies (Scarlets),
Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues),
Owen Watkin (Ospreys).

What in the world the coaching team see in Cory Hill is utterly beyond me. And Navidi rather than Tipuric at 7???? If they want to play Turkball, which the rest of the selection would indicate, then why Navidi over Tips/Cubby and why Halfpenny at 15? It looks like they wanted to go expansive but their conservative instincts stopped them from selecting the right players in the two positions that would really enable that to happen.

Josh Adams on the wing shows a bit more endeavour and I'll be excited to see what he can do. Otherwise it's as expected

 

[Teaboy]

I see we've been reduced to calling up players who are both suspended and out of form.

We're on Sunday this week. I have mixed views on the Friday v Sunday debate. In some ways the 6N feels better when its two games on a Saturday and one on a Sunday, the atmosphere sometimes feels a bit off on a Friday night - like the atmosphere hasn't had time to build? Everyone rushing home from work and all that. I think for me it's just that I don't really like my team being the one that plays on Sunday probably for selfish alcohol related issues.

 

[bendeus]

Team Haggis:

15. Stuart Hogg VICE CAPTAIN (Glasgow Warriors) – 55 caps

14. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 39 caps
13. Chris Harris (Newcastle Falcons) – 1 cap
12. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) – 11 caps
11. Byron McGuigan (Sale Sharks) – 2 caps

10. Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) – 32 caps
9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) – 11 caps

1. Gordon Reid (London Irish) – 27 caps
2. Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) – 12 caps
3. Jon Welsh (Newcastle Falcons) – 11 caps
4. Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby) – 7 caps
5. Jonny Gray VICE CAPTAIN (Glasgow Warriors) – 38 caps
6. John Barclay CAPTAIN (Scarlets) – 66 caps
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 15 caps
8. Cornell du Preez (Edinburgh Rugby) – 5 caps

Substitutes
16. Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons) – 46 caps
17. Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) – 3 caps
18. Murray McCallum (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped
19. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) – 18 caps
20. Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) – 32 caps
21. Greig Laidlaw (ASM Clermont Auvergne) – 58 caps
22. Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 28 caps
23. Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 29 caps

Really dangerous backline (though don't know much about Harris at 13) and decent back row, but a pretty meh tight five with more meh on the bench. I think if it's close with 60 on the clock home advantage and a stronger pack and better forwards on the bench should theoretically see Wales home.

 

[flypanam]

Ireland (v France)

15. Rob Kearney
14. Keith Earls
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray

1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best (captain)
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. James Ryan
5. Iain Henderson
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. CJ Stander

16. Sean Cronin
17. Jack McGrath
18. John Ryan
19. Devin Toner
20. Dan Leavy
21. Luke McGrath
22. Joey Carbery
23. Fergus McFadden

Relived but also pissed of that Jordan Larmour is not on the bench instead of Ferg. Overall it's a good team, great to see Aki and Henshaw together again, and hopefully Aki will have a little more freedom to influence play.

 

[Teaboy]

Certainly too good for France.

 

[bendeus]

Ireland (v France)

15. Rob Kearney
14. Keith Earls
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray

1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best (captain)
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. James Ryan
5. Iain Henderson
6. Peter O’Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. CJ Stander

16. Sean Cronin
17. Jack McGrath
18. John Ryan
19. Devin Toner
20. Dan Leavy
21. Luke McGrath
22. Joey Carbery
23. Fergus McFadden

Relived but also pissed of that Jordan Larmour is not on the bench instead of Ferg. Overall it's a good team, great to see Aki and Henshaw together again, and hopefully Aki will have a little more freedom to influence play.

Is Kearney still your best FB or are there injuries?

 

[bendeus]

Certainly too good for France.

Ah, but which random, confused and disgruntled France will turn up?

 

[Teaboy]

Ah, but which random, confused and disgruntled France will turn up?

The same one that always turns up.

The one with an absolutely massive pack that gets obsessed with the scrum and creates zero behind it. The one that'll continually give penalties away and get kicked out of the game shortly before the wheels really start to come off in the last quarter of the game.

 

[flypanam]

Is Kearney still your best FB or are there injuries?

I'd say he's Joe's favourite fullback. O'Halloran is a much better attacker, but is not a solid tackler. Zebo is out to pasture for the move to France, and Larmour is too green.

 

[Grandma Death]

So the eve of sixmas. Lets have your predictions

Wales by 7
England by 12
Ireland by 10

 

[bendeus]

So the eve of sixmas. Lets have your predictions

Wales by 7
England by 12
Ireland by 10

Scotland by 4
England by 24
Ireland by 14

I'm feeling a bit four-y today.

 

[Grandma Death]

Scotland by 4
England by 24
Ireland by 14

I'm feeling a bit four-y today.

I hope Italy play their mind games again this year. Last years fiasco was the funniest thing Ive ever seen in the 6N. Haskall asking the ref about the rules will remain my ultimate LOL moment in 6N history

 

[bendeus]

I hope Italy play their mind games again this year. Last years fiasco was the funniest thing Ive ever seen in the 6N. Haskall asking the ref about the rules will remain my ultimate LOL moment in 6N history

Well, they'll have to do something inventive as they're certainly not going to be able to win using orthodox methods

 

[Grandma Death]

Well, they'll have to do something inventive as they're certainly not going to be able to win using orthodox methods

England are the only team unbteaten by Italy in the 6N arent they?

 

[bendeus]

England are the only team unbteaten by Italy in the 6N arent they?

Yes, in part due to the utter cowardice of Roman Fucking Poite a few years ago at Twickenham