NPR

GogLais wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 4:05 pm

petej wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 4:04 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 4:00 pm How on earth is Sheedy the number 2 fly half for Wales

I assume Anscombe and patchell are injured.

Anscombe in the squad, Patchell just back from injury.

Ahhh thanks

Italy going to be fancying their chances against Wales

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 3:58 pm I hope the white Knights of English rugby will come and save the Welsh soon by allowing the regions in the championship.

National 1 more like.



(Joke)







(National 2 South)

TheFrog wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 3:44 pm Ireland could get the bonus point here.

Which made me realize, you can win the Grand Slam and lose the tournament nowadays.

If the team that gets 5 wins only gets 4 points by win, and the one that get 4 wins manages 5 points per win, plus a losing BP in the game they lost, they win the tournament!

Think GS automatically trumps 4 wins and 1 defeat no matter what the points are.

ASMO wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 4:12 pm Italy going to be fancying their chances against Wales

I shall be discussing this with Mr Ladbroke.

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 4:27 pm

TheFrog wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 3:44 pm Ireland could get the bonus point here.

Which made me realize, you can win the Grand Slam and lose the tournament nowadays.

If the team that gets 5 wins only gets 4 points by win, and the one that get 4 wins manages 5 points per win, plus a losing BP in the game they lost, they win the tournament!

Think GS automatically trumps 4 wins and 1 defeat no matter what the points are.

Good thinking by the regulators then.

Murray still the best Irish 9.

Wales need to take the longer view. The WRU need to actually take ownership/responsibility of the regions and they can start with the region they own. Sort out the infrastructure of the regions and those coaching teams. The short term approach the wru are taking is hurting.

Well, Ireland continues their 2021 form and have the perfect start to the tournament. 5pts and a trip to France now, which is likely the make or break. Win, and they have the momentum to crush these 6N.

petej wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 4:32 pm Murray still the best Irish 9.

Wales need to take the longer view. The WRU need to actually take ownership/responsibility of the regions and they can start with the region they own. Sort out the infrastructure of the regions and those coaching teams. The short term approach the wru are taking is hurting.

Not sure if trolling; or someone slipped some LSD in your pint

Post Lions season. Wales lose a fantastic coach, coaching team and senior group of players and go straight back to first base shocker.

Then rally around in time for the world Cup and have two great seasons.

Then sacrifice it all for the Lions.

Have a shit post Lions season.



And around and around we go.

Only just watched the Sco v Eng game.

I guess we can conclude that one area Eng has a great deal of depth in is dim front row players.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 8:23 pm Only just watched the Sco v Eng game.

I guess we can conclude that one area Eng has a great deal of depth in is dim front row players.

I don't think you would see Tadhg Furlong caught out on the wing like that bat the ball into row Z.

No, he would field the ball, hand-off the runt winger & return the ball downfield for a try. England have to up their game. And LCD is possibly their best ball-playing front-rower.

Botha Boy wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 8:38 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 8:23 pm Only just watched the Sco v Eng game.

I guess we can conclude that one area Eng has a great deal of depth in is dim front row players.

I don't think you would see Tadhg Furlong caught out on the wing like that bat the ball into row Z.

No, he would field the ball, hand-off the runt winger & return the ball downfield for a try. England have to up their game. And LCD is possibly their best ball-playing front-rower.

Torygraph rightly awarded him 3: easily the worst score on both sides. Sure, Eng's defence was at fault to result in him isolated out there but it was retarded to knock the ball out with BOTH hands. Almost as dim: the grubber kick in Sco's 22.

OOps.Just realised this is not the 6N thread.

Botha Boy wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 8:38 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 8:23 pm Only just watched the Sco v Eng game.

I guess we can conclude that one area Eng has a great deal of depth in is dim front row players.

I don't think you would see Tadhg Furlong caught out on the wing like that bat the ball into row Z.

No, he would field the ball, hand-off the runt winger & return the ball downfield for a try. England have to up their game. And LCD is possibly their best ball-playing front-rower.

you just know that he'd goosestep the last 5m to the line too

Botha Boy wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 8:38 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 8:23 pm Only just watched the Sco v Eng game.

I guess we can conclude that one area Eng has a great deal of depth in is dim front row players.

I don't think you would see Tadhg Furlong caught out on the wing like that bat the ball into row Z.

No, he would field the ball, hand-off the runt winger & return the ball downfield for a try. England have to up their game. And LCD is possibly their best ball-playing front-rower.

Well that's horseshit. Sinckler, George and M. Vunipola are all better much ball players. Ball player isn't even LCD's game; he's a hard-carrying, tight work hooker not someone stepping in at first receiver to make passes.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 9:27 pm

Botha Boy wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 8:38 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 8:23 pm Only just watched the Sco v Eng game.

I guess we can conclude that one area Eng has a great deal of depth in is dim front row players.

I don't think you would see Tadhg Furlong caught out on the wing like that bat the ball into row Z.

No, he would field the ball, hand-off the runt winger & return the ball downfield for a try. England have to up their game. And LCD is possibly their best ball-playing front-rower.

Well that's horseshit. Sinckler, George and M. Vunipola are all better much ball players. Ball player isn't even LCD's game; he's a hard-carrying, tight work hooker not someone stepping in at first receiver to make passes.

Maybe England need to realise what is demanded by the modern international front row player. Whinging about leaving your front-rower isolated defending on the wing to the extent that he has a massive brain-fart is really missing the learning point from this.

Botha Boy wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 10:31 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 9:27 pm

Botha Boy wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 8:38 pm

I don't think you would see Tadhg Furlong caught out on the wing like that bat the ball into row Z.

No, he would field the ball, hand-off the runt winger & return the ball downfield for a try. England have to up their game. And LCD is possibly their best ball-playing front-rower.

Well that's horseshit. Sinckler, George and M. Vunipola are all better much ball players. Ball player isn't even LCD's game; he's a hard-carrying, tight work hooker not someone stepping in at first receiver to make passes.

Maybe England need to realise what is demanded by the modern international front row player. Whinging about leaving your front-rower isolated defending on the wing to the extent that he has a massive brain-fart is really missing the learning point from this.

The overwhelming majority of tier 1 front rowers aren't ball handlers a la Furlong. It is not the norm of the modern game for them to be.

9/10 would absolutely have fucked the situation LCD was in, though perhaps not quite so spectacularly.

Credit to Wales they gave a full strength Irish team a hard time.
I'm not sure Ireland could do the same missing that many first choice players.
Great start to the tournament.

Honestly i can see them beating England, England look on course for 5th place finish in the 6N, they will absolutely not beat France or Ireland.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 10:43 pm
9/10 would absolutely have fucked the situation LCD was in, though perhaps not quite so spectacularly.

I really don't agree with that. I don't mean they'd have handled the situation like a FB but as blatant a 2 handed knock the ball into touch was just thick.

Zig wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 3:35 am Credit to Wales they gave a full strength Irish team a hard time.
I'm not sure Ireland could do the same missing that many first choice players.
Great start to the tournament.

That wasn't a full strength Irish team.

ASMO wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 8:06 am Honestly i can see them beating England, England look on course for 5th place finish in the 6N, they will absolutely not beat France or Ireland.

They'll beat Wales.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 8:22 am

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 10:43 pm
9/10 would absolutely have fucked the situation LCD was in, though perhaps not quite so spectacularly.

I really don't agree with that. I don't mean they'd have handled the situation like a FB but as blatant a 2 handed knock the ball into touch was just thick.

When I say fucked it, I did mean failing to catch the ball or otherwise defuse the situation. The way LCD failed will stand alone as a fairly unique piece of idiocy for some time I suspect.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 9:36 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 8:22 am

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 10:43 pm
9/10 would absolutely have fucked the situation LCD was in, though perhaps not quite so spectacularly.

I really don't agree with that. I don't mean they'd have handled the situation like a FB but as blatant a 2 handed knock the ball into touch was just thick.

When I say fucked it, I did mean failing to catch the ball or otherwise defuse the situation. The way LCD failed will stand alone as a fairly unique piece of idiocy for some time I suspect.

Agree with that. I was trying to think of another time when a front row had been left standing so far isolated like that as the last defensive man...... and could not!

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 10:16 am

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 9:36 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 8:22 am

I really don't agree with that. I don't mean they'd have handled the situation like a FB but as blatant a 2 handed knock the ball into touch was just thick.

When I say fucked it, I did mean failing to catch the ball or otherwise defuse the situation. The way LCD failed will stand alone as a fairly unique piece of idiocy for some time I suspect.

Agree with that. I was trying to think of another time when a front row had been left standing so far isolated like that as the last defensive man...... and could not!

Yeah, total system failure. It's not too unusual for front rowers to end up further out in the defensive line and getting run around, but I certainly can't recall one being that isolated and defending a back three situation like a cross field kick.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 10:23 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 10:16 am

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 9:36 am

When I say fucked it, I did mean failing to catch the ball or otherwise defuse the situation. The way LCD failed will stand alone as a fairly unique piece of idiocy for some time I suspect.

Agree with that. I was trying to think of another time when a front row had been left standing so far isolated like that as the last defensive man...... and could not!

Yeah, total system failure. It's not too unusual for front rowers to end up further out in the defensive line and getting run around, but I certainly can't recall one being that isolated and defending a back three situation like a cross field kick.

I didn't get to replay it but where was Steward?

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 10:26 am

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 10:23 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 10:16 am
Agree with that. I was trying to think of another time when a front row had been left standing so far isolated like that as the last defensive man...... and could not!

Yeah, total system failure. It's not too unusual for front rowers to end up further out in the defensive line and getting run around, but I certainly can't recall one being that isolated and defending a back three situation like a cross field kick.

I didn't get to replay it but where was Steward?

Haven't been able to bring myself to watch any of it again.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 3:58 pm I hope the white Knights of English rugby will come and save the Welsh soon by allowing the regions in the championship.

Setting aside the spite:
- it's not good for rugby at all for the Welsh to go into permanent decline
- it's been said for years that the WRU has sacrificed the club game to focus all out on the ntl side. And the blazers will argue they succeeded. Trouble is, it has all caught up with them now: you cannot sustain the crown indefinitely whilst starving the roots. That U20 "performance" on Fri should be sending alarm bells through the corridors of Welsh rugby.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 10:39 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 3:58 pm I hope the white Knights of English rugby will come and save the Welsh soon by allowing the regions in the championship.

Setting aside the spite:
- it's not good for rugby at all for the Welsh to go into permanent decline
- it's been said for years that the WRU has sacrificed the club game to focus all out on the ntl side. And the blazers will argue they succeeded. Trouble is, it has all caught up with them now: you cannot sustain the crown indefinitely whilst starving the roots. That U20 "performance" on Fri should be sending alarm bells through the corridors of Welsh rugby.

Something that has always confused me. The WRU make more money (slightly) than the IRFU does. I remember they were always bitching about stadium debt as a big weight around their neck, but that never made sense to me either - it was built in '99 with Millenium Fund grants (hence the name) and then hosted a whole bunch of football matches during the overly long Wembly rebuild (which obviously was never anticipated originally and just a massive bonus).

Now in Ireland there is criticism about how the AIL (top level club game) has been underfunded and ignored, which I'm sure is not the case for the WRU and the Welsh Premier Division. Point being I'm sure the WRU probably sends more money down to the clubs than we do, but even still the regions seem to not get anywhere near the funding they should. Where is the money going?

Not to go all conspiracy theory on it, but could the WRU looking for the regions as they are to fail in order to take over afterwards and have total control over the regions like we do here?

PornDog wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 1:17 pm Something that has always confused me. The WRU make more money (slightly) than the IRFU does. I remember they were always bitching about stadium debt as a big weight around their neck, but that never made sense to me either - it was built in '99 with Millenium Fund grants (hence the name) and then hosted a whole bunch of football matches during the overly long Wembly rebuild (which obviously was never anticipated originally and just a massive bonus).

Now in Ireland there is criticism about how the AIL (top level club game) has been underfunded and ignored, which I'm sure is not the case for the WRU and the Welsh Premier Division. Point being I'm sure the WRU probably sends more money down to the clubs than we do, but even still the regions seem to not get anywhere near the funding they should. Where is the money going?

Not to go all conspiracy theory on it, but could the WRU looking for the regions as they are to fail in order to take over afterwards and have total control over the regions like we do here?

It's a good question although your bit in red seems slightly contradictory. That they scrapped the Warriors and have thrown only crumbs at Newport indicates the funding has been weak. The creation of the Regions has been an unmitigated disaster but the Premiership standard is too poor too (I suspect because WTF have they got to aspire to).

If you are right, by the time the WRU gets control, it will have been a hostile takeover of bankruptcies.

Uncle fester wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 8:51 am

ASMO wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 8:06 am Honestly i can see them beating England, England look on course for 5th place finish in the 6N, they will absolutely not beat France or Ireland.

They'll beat Wales.

I am waiting to see how the Toulouse contingent fares against Italy before drawing any conclusion about France's opportunities in this tournament.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 2:12 pm

PornDog wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 1:17 pm Something that has always confused me. The WRU make more money (slightly) than the IRFU does. I remember they were always bitching about stadium debt as a big weight around their neck, but that never made sense to me either - it was built in '99 with Millenium Fund grants (hence the name) and then hosted a whole bunch of football matches during the overly long Wembly rebuild (which obviously was never anticipated originally and just a massive bonus).

Now in Ireland there is criticism about how the AIL (top level club game) has been underfunded and ignored, which I'm sure is not the case for the WRU and the Welsh Premier Division. Point being I'm sure the WRU probably sends more money down to the clubs than we do, but even still the regions seem to not get anywhere near the funding they should. Where is the money going?

Not to go all conspiracy theory on it, but could the WRU looking for the regions as they are to fail in order to take over afterwards and have total control over the regions like we do here?

It's a good question although your bit in red seems slightly contradictory. That they scrapped the Warriors and have thrown only crumbs at Newport indicates the funding has been weak. The creation of the Regions has been an unmitigated disaster but the Premiership standard is too poor too (I suspect because WTF have they got to aspire to).

If you are right, by the time the WRU gets control, it will have been a hostile takeover of bankruptcies.

I all started to go downhill when Waled let Edward's sign with France.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 2:12 pm

PornDog wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 1:17 pm Something that has always confused me. The WRU make more money (slightly) than the IRFU does. I remember they were always bitching about stadium debt as a big weight around their neck, but that never made sense to me either - it was built in '99 with Millenium Fund grants (hence the name) and then hosted a whole bunch of football matches during the overly long Wembly rebuild (which obviously was never anticipated originally and just a massive bonus).

Now in Ireland there is criticism about how the AIL (top level club game) has been underfunded and ignored, which I'm sure is not the case for the WRU and the Welsh Premier Division. Point being I'm sure the WRU probably sends more money down to the clubs than we do, but even still the regions seem to not get anywhere near the funding they should. Where is the money going?

Not to go all conspiracy theory on it, but could the WRU looking for the regions as they are to fail in order to take over afterwards and have total control over the regions like we do here?

It's a good question although your bit in red seems slightly contradictory. That they scrapped the Warriors and have thrown only crumbs at Newport indicates the funding has been weak. The creation of the Regions has been an unmitigated disaster but the Premiership standard is too poor too (I suspect because WTF have they got to aspire to).

If you are right, by the time the WRU gets control, it will have been a hostile takeover of bankruptcies.

Sorry, for clarity, by Welsh Clubs I'm talking about the semi-pro (and fully amateur) clubs below the top level professional regions.

The IRFU are criticised for largely ignoring our semi-pro level (the AIL), which I'm sure isn't the case in Wales.

PornDog wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 2:44 pm Sorry, for clarity, by Welsh Clubs I'm talking about the semi-pro (and fully amateur) clubs below the top level professional regions.

The IRFU are criticised for largely ignoring our semi-pro level (the AIL), which I'm sure isn't the case in Wales.

I'd have to check because out of touch with that aspect but my suspicion is it's exactly the same or worse.

Zig wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 3:35 am Credit to Wales they gave a full strength Irish team a hard time.
I'm not sure Ireland could do the same missing that many first choice players.
Great start to the tournament.

For the record the Wales starting XV had 487 caps, and the Irish starting XV 468 caps.

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 10:43 pm

Botha Boy wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 10:31 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 9:27 pm

Well that's horseshit. Sinckler, George and M. Vunipola are all better much ball players. Ball player isn't even LCD's game; he's a hard-carrying, tight work hooker not someone stepping in at first receiver to make passes.

Maybe England need to realise what is demanded by the modern international front row player. Whinging about leaving your front-rower isolated defending on the wing to the extent that he has a massive brain-fart is really missing the learning point from this.

The overwhelming majority of tier 1 front rowers aren't ball handlers a la Furlong. It is not the norm of the modern game for them to be.

9/10 would absolutely have fucked the situation LCD was in, though perhaps not quite so spectacularly.

Good analysis by Murray K on this here :

https://www.the42.ie/analysis-ireland-f ... 7-Feb2022/

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 10:43 pm

Botha Boy wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 10:31 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 9:27 pm

Well that's horseshit. Sinckler, George and M. Vunipola are all better much ball players. Ball player isn't even LCD's game; he's a hard-carrying, tight work hooker not someone stepping in at first receiver to make passes.

Maybe England need to realise what is demanded by the modern international front row player. Whinging about leaving your front-rower isolated defending on the wing to the extent that he has a massive brain-fart is really missing the learning point from this.

The overwhelming majority of tier 1 front rowers aren't ball handlers a la Furlong. It is not the norm of the modern game for them to be.

9/10 would absolutely have fucked the situation LCD was in, though perhaps not quite so spectacularly.

I think I'm in a majority when I say I'm not angry at LCD because he fucked the situation, I'm angry because of how he did so. He gets beaten for the ball/drops it/stacks it running backwards etc, completely fine. He's out of position and it happens to anyone. Scotland score in the corner and we may well have kept the lead anyway.
What he did was a moment of blind panic and stupidity that runs through English rugby again and again. Our players just aren't smart enough and in key situations let themselves down. I don't think he needed to publicly apologise fwiw but we shouldn't pretend it's 'just one of those things'.

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Mon Feb 07, 2022 9:01 am

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 10:43 pm

Botha Boy wrote: ↑Sat Feb 05, 2022 10:31 pm

Maybe England need to realise what is demanded by the modern international front row player. Whinging about leaving your front-rower isolated defending on the wing to the extent that he has a massive brain-fart is really missing the learning point from this.

The overwhelming majority of tier 1 front rowers aren't ball handlers a la Furlong. It is not the norm of the modern game for them to be.

9/10 would absolutely have fucked the situation LCD was in, though perhaps not quite so spectacularly.

I think I'm in a majority when I say I'm not angry at LCD because he fucked the situation, I'm angry because of how he did so. He gets beaten for the ball/drops it/stacks it running backwards etc, completely fine. He's out of position and it happens to anyone. Scotland score in the corner and we may well have kept the lead anyway.
What he did was a moment of blind panic and stupidity that runs through English rugby again and again. Our players just aren't smart enough and in key situations let themselves down. I don't think he needed to publicly apologise fwiw but we shouldn't pretend it's 'just one of those things'.

When I say fucked it, I mean fail to defend that situation. Most front rowers would, understandably, not prevent the opposition from scoring when isolated against backs like that. I don't think many other front rowers would've dusted off their volleyball moves to deliberately slap it into touch like LCD did. That's a fairly unique piece of idiocy.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 10:26 am

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 10:23 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 10:16 am
Agree with that. I was trying to think of another time when a front row had been left standing so far isolated like that as the last defensive man...... and could not!

Yeah, total system failure. It's not too unusual for front rowers to end up further out in the defensive line and getting run around, but I certainly can't recall one being that isolated and defending a back three situation like a cross field kick.

I didn't get to replay it but where was Steward?

England had already pushed the panic button following Russell's first cross-kick and Duhan's charge. The entire back three were completely out of position.

It was a prime example of a genius 10 outplaying the opposition backline.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Mon Feb 07, 2022 9:40 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 10:26 am

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Feb 06, 2022 10:23 am

Yeah, total system failure. It's not too unusual for front rowers to end up further out in the defensive line and getting run around, but I certainly can't recall one being that isolated and defending a back three situation like a cross field kick.

I didn't get to replay it but where was Steward?

England had already pushed the panic button following Russell's first cross-kick and Duhan's charge. The entire back three were completely out of position.

It was a prime example of a genius 10 outplaying the opposition backline.

It was a very clever play.

However I think most FR forwards would have concentrated on smashing the shite out of the oppo player as soon as his toes touched the ground in a similar defensive position, and fair do's if the player was still good enough to score.