The Urban 6 Nations 2018 Thread

[bendeus]

That was so bloody predictable, pack far too lightweight and the whole team playing like strangers.

Parkes and Faletau in a different league. North has responded well to being dropped, think staff evans could do with sitting next week out.

Thing is, Gatland's selection was thoroughly vindicated. Loads of frontline players rested with a six day turnaround, the BP victory secured and a number of new players and combinations blooded.

Our lack of carriers was once again exposed, especially in the first half.

Thought as you did that Talupe, Parkes and North were the standouts. Also though Francis was surprisingly impressive in defence and on the deck. Dee went ok. Thick fucker of the year award shared by Davies and Williams, whose idiocy was inexcusable.

Steff Evs was excrement today. Trying to do it all himself and constantly getting stripped, which led to their second try.

As gawkrodger mentioned, Italy were just awful. I wonder at what point we need to start discussing promotion and relegation again because at present they are offering nothing to the competition and haven't done so for three years. Parisse sadly a shadow of the player he once was.

 

[Threshers_Flail]

Thing is, Gatland's selection was thoroughly vindicated. Loads of frontline players rested with a six day turnaround, the BP victory secured and a number of new players and combinations blooded.

Our lack of carriers was once again exposed, especially in the first half.

Thought as you did that Talupe, Parkes and North were the standouts. Also though Francis was surprisingly impressive in defence and on the deck. Dee went ok. Thick fucker of the year award shared by Davies and Williams, whose idiocy was inexcusable.

Steff Evs was excrement today. Trying to do it all himself and constantly getting stripped, which led to their second try.

As gawkrodger mentioned, Italy were just awful. I wonder at what point we need to start discussing promotion and relegation again because at present they are offering nothing to the competition and haven't done so for three years. Parisse sadly a shadow of the player he once was.

Yeah totally vindicated, but that was a very frustrating watch, feel for whoever paid money to watch that. We've got depth now, albeit not at 9 or in the second row! I hope Seb Davies and Tomos Williams get some game time in the summer, we need them both to crack on.

I dunno what to say about the Italians, who would come in for them? The are indeed pants but they do have two professional clubs that have marginally improved this year, they seem to have a half decent youth set-up, and they're a modern, affluent country. None of the other teams that are knocking on the door have any of this infrastructure in place.

People were asking the same about Scotland not too long ago!

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Who would win in a match between Italy and Georgia?

 

[stavros]

So, performance at the breakdown was woeful again.

Why is that? The last two years that's been England's greatest strength. In 2016 Itoje and Kruis seemed to win everything.

 

[stavros]

I dunno what to say about the Italians, who would come in for them? The are indeed pants but they do have two professional clubs that have marginally improved this year, they seem to have a half decent youth set-up, and they're a modern, affluent country. None of the other teams that are knocking on the door have any of this infrastructure in place.

Is anything stopping their players coming over to the UK for their club rugby? Ghiraldini and Parisse play in France, so I presume they don't have any rules about overseas players. Do any of the Prem teams scout up and coming youngsters from the continent? You'd think weekly rugby in the Premiership or Pro14 would improve them.

 

[Threshers_Flail]

Is anything stopping their players coming over to the UK for their club rugby? Ghiraldini and Parisse play in France, so I presume they don't have any rules about overseas players. Do any of the Prem teams scout up and coming youngsters from the continent? You'd think weekly rugby in the Premiership or Pro14 would improve them.

The Italians already have two teams in the Pro14, so they must have 70-80 players on full-time contracts, far more than Georgia or Russia.

 

[Threshers_Flail]

Who would win in a match between Italy and Georgia?

It would be close, but probably Italy.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

It would be close, but probably Italy.

Ta. So there is still a big gap then? Aren't Georgia the next best team by some distance?

 

[1927]

We've got depth now, albeit not at 9.....

Which makes the self inflicted ditching of Webb even more scandalous!

 

[Threshers_Flail]

Ta. So there is still a big gap then? Aren't Georgia the next best team by some distance?

Yep, they convincingly beat the likes of Russia and Canada but are still some way behind the next rung up.

What I'd like to see would be for the IRB to bring in some sort of seeding system to force Tier-1 nations to play the Tier-2 nations every year.

I'd also like the Tier-2 nations to get 50% of the gate receipts but that might be overly optimistic.

 

[1927]

Who would win in a match between Italy and Georgia?

We will find out soon enough, they are playing each other during this years autumn international window!

 

[littlebabyjesus]

We will find out soon enough, they are playing each other during this years autumn international window!

That's good. I'd suggest that that's a huge match for Italy.

 

[Grandma Death]

Edit

 

[1927]

Yep, they convincingly beat the likes of Russia and Canada but are still some way behind the next rung up.

What I'd like to see would be for the IRB to bring in some sort of seeding system to force Tier-1 nations to play the Tier-2 nations every year.

I'd also like the Tier-2 nations to get 50% of the gate receipts but that might be overly optimistic.

Looking back over their results they have had some notable victories against Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, they pushed wales close last year and weren't even disgraced by Team Adidas in the RWC.

 

[1927]

That's good. I'd suggest that that's a huge match for Italy.

Probably bigger for Georgia!

 

[Grandma Death]

Edit

 

[bendeus]

Why is that? The last two years that's been England's greatest strength. In 2016 Itoje and Kruis seemed to win everything.

Refs seem to have got wise to the Itoje starfish. He consistently jackals illegally

 

[bendeus]

Ta. So there is still a big gap then? Aren't Georgia the next best team by some distance?

Georgia (12th) are actually above Italy (14th) in the rankings. Looking at their results over the last year they routinely dispatch those teams in their tier (Spa, Rus, Rom, Ger) as well as the likes of Canada and the USA. The problem, as Threshers_Flail says, is how they step up again from there with the infrastructure they have. They'd probably beat Italy 1x out of 3 or 4 at the moment. How do you make them competitive consistently and at the highest level is the big question.

 

[Grandma Death]

Not going to comment on the game Grandma Death or you just gonna slate the English?

Sorry been trying to reply to this-but my phone has been playing up (or rather tapatalk has)

I havent seen the game. Ive been out all day.

However wasnt sure whether I actually had to watch this game to pass comment on Wales being above England in the table?

Is this your specific criteria-or something new Ive not been made aware of?

I'll break it down for you. I have and always will have a dislike for the RFU. Call it irrational, childish...call it whatever you like. I dont really care to be honest

But please allow me the honour of basking in the glory of being in a position in the 6N table NOBODY predicted-and most importantly being above the old enemy...a team most thought would win as well.

And I'll enjoy my day in the sun-whether Ive seen the welsh game today or not.

But thanks for asking Threshers-I appreciate your comment

And before anyone asks Ive not been on the sauce.

 

[Grandma Death]

Next weeks fixtures:-
Scotland win
Ireland win.
France get 1 point against Wales - a losing bonus point perhaps, or even just lose by 5 fewer points than England

A perfectly plausible set of results that would leave England 5th. Sh1t.

I think France will implode next week. Gatland will field his strongest team. 18 point win by Wales.

 

[mx wcfc]

I think France will implode next week. Gatland will field his strongest team. 18 point win by Wales.

They'll be on a high after defeating England, and no-one thought they would win that. You're probably right, but England will still end up 4th if they lose, and Wales & Scotland win. What odds would you have got on that at the start? It's still a disaster for England.

 

[Grandma Death]

They'll be on a high after defeating England, and no-one thought they would win that. You're probably right, but England will still end up 4th if they lose, and Wales & Scotland win. What odds would you have got on that at the start? It's still a disaster for England.

It is a disaster for sure. Most pundits put them losing to Ireland or winning-not imploding in the manner they did. They were awful in that french match

 

[1927]

Didnt realise no team has ever won three titles in a row. God fucking help us if England do. The room will stink of their farts for years

We needn't have worried at all!

 

[Grandma Death]

We needn't have worried at all!

Yep not only did that NOT happen-but they imploded in a manner nobody foresaw. And if I had to choose....Id rather deeply inhale irish farts than english ones

 

[Grandma Death]

Yeah I never question refs decisions...but I will question question refs interpretations of the breakdown.


*facepalm*

 

[bendeus]

Yeah I never question refs decisions...but I will question question refs interpretations of the breakdown.


*facepalm*

He's right, though. The two teams best at making hay from refs' 'interpretations' of the breakdown are the ABs and Ireland. Wonder what positions they occupy in the world rankings?

 

[Grandma Death]

He's right, though. The two teams best at making hay from refs' 'interpretations' of the breakdown are the ABs and Ireland. Wonder what positions they occupy in the world rankings?

Its not a question of whether hes right or not-he said he never 'questions referees decisions' when there was a disallowed try against England from wales. Clearly he does

 

[bendeus]

Its not a question of whether hes right or not-he said he never 'questions referees decisions' when there was a disallowed try against England from wales. Clearly he does

Oh, that he's a fucking shiny hypocrite is clear as day. In this instance he's a substantively correct hypocrite, though

 

[Ax^]

ponders Eddies reaction to that game against Italy last year

 

[Grandma Death]

Oh, that he's a fucking shiny hypocrite is clear as day. In this instance he's a substantively correct hypocrite, though

It's the one thing that's pissing me off about the game at the moment. I don't know that much about rugby as say someone like yourself. But it strikes me as ridiculous that the way a team is picked and played is sometimes dependent on the ref selected. I've seen players coming in off their feet, from the side etc and I'm scratching my head quite often as to why it doesn't get penalised on every occasion. I guess all reffing is based on interpretation... But it does seem rather muddled at the moment.

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