2025 6N thread

[Raggs]

Voilà les Français

France by 3.... against the clock.

[Biffer]

Are all teams being announced today?

Scotland and Ireland probably tomorrow

[Uncle fester]

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[Tichtheid]

I don't think it matters who Scotland pick. There is a reason Ireland are currently ranked 2 in the world and Scotland are 6 - these rankings don't lie, generally speaking. We haven't had Ireland's number since the game went pro and 5 Nations turned into 6.

If Tuipulotu were fit then I genuinely wouldn't take any of their backs over ours bar JG-P. Up front is different story and that is where we suffer. Our strengths are in our backs and Ireland have the most parsimonious defence - I think they conceded the fewest tries in the last two 6Ns.

We can't bully teams so we try to play around them and Ireland's organisation is superb, so is their mindset, they will be going to Edinburgh with great confidence that they can continue their run against us.

Still, since this is our year I'm going for Scotland by at least a score.

[laurent]

FB_IMG_1738933310648.jpg

Very surprised Prendergast is starting.

[charltom]

Tom Jordan in at 12! This is going to be good fun.

Sutherland
Cherry
ZFagerson
Gilchrist
Gray
MFagerson
Darge
Dempsey
White
Russell
VdMerwe
Jordan
Jones
Graham
Kinghorn

Bench:
Ashman
Schoeman
Hurd
Skinner
Brown
Ritchie
Dobie
Macdowall

[fishfoodie]

That was chefs kiss by the Italy OH !

You won't see a better kick pass

[sturginho]

Italy u20s leading 8-0 lovely cross field kick for the try in the corner

[fishfoodie]

That try was the kick up the arse Wales needed, they've been much more in it since, & now 8 - 5 with a long missed pass to the wing getting Wales on the scoreboard

[Edit] Match is on S4C for anyone interested.

[fishfoodie]

All Wales now, going in with your classic catch & drive for a try.

8 - 10

[fishfoodie]

Italy bring the power to batter Wales & get a try under the sticks

15 - 10 HT

[fishfoodie]

A soggy night in Bath; at least the pitch looks okay

[fishfoodie]

England FB paying the price of trying to be a c**t by leading with the shoulder in the "tackle"

[fishfoodie]

That was very nice by England, good hands, good continuity & the forwards arrive to close the deal.

7 - 0

[fishfoodie]

England playing it smart; they need to build a decent lead because they can't hope to match the French bench for the last 20 mins

17 - 3

[Torquemada 1420]

England FB paying the price of trying to be a c**t by leading with the shoulder in the "tackle"

Yeah. And why was that not looked at for a card?

Have to assume this lad is injured
https://www.stadetoulousain.fr/effectif ... n-llaveria
because he was superb last week and Motassi is nowhere in his class.

[fishfoodie]

17 - 10 HT in Bath & 18 - 17 in Treviso with 12 mins to go.

Two tight finishes to come !!

[laurent]

17 - 10 HT in Bath & 18 - 17 in Treviso with 12 mins to go.

Two tight finishes to come !!

French seemed to have put some doubt in the English lineout with 2 steals the yellow ended up not costing them much.

[Torquemada 1420]

17 - 10 HT in Bath & 18 - 17 in Treviso with 12 mins to go.

Two tight finishes to come !!

French seemed to have put some doubt in the English lineout with 2 steals the yellow ended up not costing them much.

Too many dim penalties. Twice for being in front of the kicker is retarded.

[fishfoodie]

17 - 10 HT in Bath & 18 - 17 in Treviso with 12 mins to go.

Two tight finishes to come !!

French seemed to have put some doubt in the English lineout with 2 steals the yellow ended up not costing them much.

Too many dim penalties. Twice for being in front of the kicker is retarded.

How often do they get pinged for it the rest of the year ?

[fishfoodie]

OMG


WALES WIN; WALES WIN !!!!!!!

18 - 20 FT

As one of the Wales players said at the final whistle, "Farken' Hell'

A mad last 5+ minutes with mistakes by both sides, & a missed peno for Italy at the death giving Wales a well deserved win.

[sturginho]

I'm sure the senior team will also find a way to lose tomorrow

[Tichtheid]

One of the things I used to love about the U20s was the individual brilliance hadn't been coached out of them yet.

That doesn't seem to be the case anymore and it's very much about power, possession and the percentage plays.

[JM2K6]

Good to see England's prioritisation of their youth structures bear fruit against the mercenary French

[Tichtheid]

Good to see England's prioritisation of their youth structures bear fruit against the mercenary French

If Torque was watching that last five minutes he will have put a foot through the monitor. The English forwards were flinging themselves over the ball time and again, not one attempt to remain on their feet. When they eventually forced an error because of this they got the break away score.

[laurent]

Good to see England's prioritisation of their youth structures bear fruit against the mercenary French

If Torque was watching that last five minutes he will have put a foot through the monitor. The English forwards were flinging themselves over the ball time and again, not one attempt to remain on their feet. When they eventually forced an error because of this they got the break away score.

Amazing reffing

the french could not buy a shag in a brothel though...

[fishfoodie]

Good to see England's prioritisation of their youth structures bear fruit against the mercenary French

You've even managed to find a SH who doesn't insist on counting to ten before he passes; so he may get a chance in the senior team in 8 or 9 years time

[sockwithaticket]

Bless the U20s, a shining beacon of hope during the senior team's woes.

Good to see England's prioritisation of their youth structures bear fruit against the mercenary French

If Torque was watching that last five minutes he will have put a foot through the monitor. The English forwards were flinging themselves over the ball time and again, not one attempt to remain on their feet. When they eventually forced an error because of this they got the break away score.

Torq seems to be about 5 seconds from doing that at all times tbh.

[Kawazaki]

Something happens to these English lads between the age of 19/20 and 21-23. They just stop developing. Nothing wrong at 19/20 then shite*.


* The ones that the SRU will now inevitably poach seem to do ok though.

[sockwithaticket]

Occasionally we get young lads like Pollock who are so undeniably good that their clubs give them the keys to the kingdom at a young age, but there are plenty who just disappear at Prem level when they've been excelling as U20s. It shouldn't be so big a gap and if it is then clubs need to get better at bridging it.

Thinking of a position of low depth like second row, why is Alex Groves now 24 and essentially a ghost? Nominally he's signed up at Sale, but it's practically impossible to find any appearance info on him. Lewis Chessum has 12 appearances for Tigers since 2022 and now at 21 he's being loaned to a Japenese team. That's a cool experience for him to have, so maybe he'd have gone anyway, but why is it so hard for him to get game time here?

There are all sorts of factors that go into whether players kick on, but we see time and time again, whole swathes of names from the U20s never really kick on to Premiership level, let alone anything higher.

[fishfoodie]

Something happens to these English lads between the age of 19/20 and 21-23. They just stop developing. Nothing wrong at 19/20 then shite*.


* The ones that the SRU will now inevitably poach seem to do ok though.

As Ticht says; "coaching" !

Lads stop doing what their instincts tell them to do, & start thinking about what the coach wants them to do.

If the coach gives them their head & tells them to look around & play what's in front of them, then that's good; if they try to bind them to a half dozen set plays that are approved, then it's a recipe for dogshit.

These are young guys who want to get picked, & too often that means doing what the coaches want, as opposed to what is the best play.

[JM2K6]

Good to see England's prioritisation of their youth structures bear fruit against the mercenary French

You've even managed to find a SH who doesn't insist on counting to ten before he passes; so he may get a chance in the senior team in 8 or 9 years time

Good Quins boy who's already making the case for the subs bench more regularly this season. Very excited about him

[Slick]

Something happens to these English lads between the age of 19/20 and 21-23. They just stop developing. Nothing wrong at 19/20 then shite*.


* The ones that the SRU will now inevitably poach seem to do ok though.

As Ticht says; "coaching" !

Lads stop doing what their instincts tell them to do, & start thinking about what the coach wants them to do.

If the coach gives them their head & tells them to look around & play what's in front of them, then that's good; if they try to bind them to a half dozen set plays that are approved, then it's a recipe for dogshit.

These are young guys who want to get picked, & too often that means doing what the coaches want, as opposed to what is the best play.

I think that’s a bit simplistic to be honest. Ireland must be the most “coached” side in the world with a style of play ingrained from the youngsters through the provinces, but have had great success

[robmatic]

I'm sure the senior team will also find a way to lose tomorrow

That would be embarrassing.

[Paddington Bear]

I'm sure the senior team will also find a way to lose tomorrow

I’m increasingly feeling this is the case

[Jock42]

I'm sure the senior team will also find a way to lose tomorrow

Nah, Italy are a decent team. Should have more than enough to put Wales away again.

[sturginho]

I'm sure the senior team will also find a way to lose tomorrow

That would be embarrassing.

We haven't beaten them in Rome since 2007, it would be normal service

[Punter15]

Occasionally we get young lads like Pollock who are so undeniably good that their clubs give them the keys to the kingdom at a young age, but there are plenty who just disappear at Prem level when they've been excelling as U20s. It shouldn't be so big a gap and if it is then clubs need to get better at bridging it.

Thinking of a position of low depth like second row, why is Alex Groves now 24 and essentially a ghost? Nominally he's signed up at Sale, but it's practically impossible to find any appearance info on him. Lewis Chessum has 12 appearances for Tigers since 2022 and now at 21 he's being loaned to a Japenese team. That's a cool experience for him to have, so maybe he'd have gone anyway, but why is it so hard for him to get game time here?

There are all sorts of factors that go into whether players kick on, but we see time and time again, whole swathes of names from the U20s never really kick on to Premiership level, let alone anything higher.

There’s a big difference between age group and playing against the bigger boys. I’m always reminded of that massive unit at Wasps who came through England age group with a bit of fanfare, got his head stuffed up his arse by someone as ordinary as Alex Waller and was never seen again.

[Slick]

I'm sure the senior team will also find a way to lose tomorrow

Nah, Italy are a decent team. Should have more than enough to put Wales away again.

We say this, and I hope it’s true, but they did get humped by 100 points 18 months ago

[SaintK]

Occasionally we get young lads like Pollock who are so undeniably good that their clubs give them the keys to the kingdom at a young age, but there are plenty who just disappear at Prem level when they've been excelling as U20s. It shouldn't be so big a gap and if it is then clubs need to get better at bridging it.

Thinking of a position of low depth like second row, why is Alex Groves now 24 and essentially a ghost? Nominally he's signed up at Sale, but it's practically impossible to find any appearance info on him. Lewis Chessum has 12 appearances for Tigers since 2022 and now at 21 he's being loaned to a Japenese team. That's a cool experience for him to have, so maybe he'd have gone anyway, but why is it so hard for him to get game time here?

There are all sorts of factors that go into whether players kick on, but we see time and time again, whole swathes of names from the U20s never really kick on to Premiership level, let alone anything higher.

Alex Groves played for Sale in the Prem Cup last night. (they lost at home to Doncaster!!)
He nearly died of an aneurism and had open heart surgery 12 months ago.
Looks a bit out of condition but put in a shift

Thought Chessum junior was recovering from a nasty neck injury and the loan to Japan was part of his rehab? He really needs to fill out a bhit like his brother as he still looks lightweight for his size