NPR

It's that time of the year, & all the Squads have been announced.

It's a WRC year, so it'll be interesting to see what bolters make their case, & how the coaching changes pan out.

The Squads:


Ireland Six Nations squad

Backs (17):
Aki (Connacht), R Byrne (Leinster), Casey (Munster), Crowley (Munster), Earls (Munster), Gibson-Park (Leinster), Keenan (Leinster), Larmour (Leinster), Lowe (Leinster), McCloskey (Ulster), Murray (Munster), O'Brien (Leinster), Osborne (Leinster), Ringrose (Leinster), Sexton (Leinster), Stockdale (Ulster)

Forwards (20):
Baird (Leinster), Bealham (Connacht), Beirne (Munster), Conan (Leinster), Coombes (Munster), Doris (Leinster), Furlong (Leinster), Healy (Leinster), Henderson (Ulster), Herring (Ulster), Kelleher (Leinster), Kilcoyne (Munster), McCarthy (Leinster), O'Mahony (Munster), O'Toole (Ulster), Porter (Leinster), Prendergast (Connacht), Ryan (Leinster), D Sheehan (Leinster), Van der Flier (Leinster)


England Six Nations squad

Forwards:
Ollie Chessum, Dan Cole, Ben Curry, Alex Dombrandt, Ben Earl, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Jonny Hill, Nick Isiekwe, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, George McGuigan, Bevan Rodd, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckler, Mako Vunipola, Jack Walker, Jack Willis.

Backs:
Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell, Tommy Freeman, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Dan Kelly, Max Malins, Joe Marchant, Alex Mitchell, Cadan Murley, Henry Slade, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Manu Tuilagi, Jack van Poortvliet, Ben Youngs.


Scotland Six Nations squad

Forwards:
Ewan Ashman (Sale), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Simon Berghan, Jamie Bhatti, Fraser Brown (all Glasgow), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Andy Christie (Saracens), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh), Jack Dempsey, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson (all Glasgow), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Exeter), Richie Gray (Glasgow), Cameron Henderson (Leicester), WP Nel, Jamie Ritchie, Pierre Schoeman (all Edinburgh), Javan Sebastian (Scarlets), Sam Skinner (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Ulster), George Turner (Glasgow), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh)

Backs:
Chris Harris (Gloucester), Ben Healy (Munster), Stuart Hogg (Exeter), George Horne, Huw Jones (both Glasgow), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath) Stafford McDowell, Ali Price (both Glasgow), Cameron Redpath (Bath), Finn Russell (Racing 92), Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn, Sione Tuipulotu (all Glasgow), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ben White (London Irish)


Wales Six Nations squad

Forwards:
Rhys Carre (Cardiff), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Dewi Lake (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets, capt), Bradley Roberts (Dragon), Leon Brown (Dragons), Tomas Francis (Ospreys), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Rhys Davies (Ospreys), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Teddy Williams (Cardiff), Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).

Backs:
Kieran Hardy (Scarlets), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Tomos Williams (Cardiff), Dan Biggar (Toulon), Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), Owen Williams (Ospreys), Mason Grady (Cardiff), Joe Hawkins (Ospreys), George North (Ospreys), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Keiran Williams (Ospreys), Josh Adams (Cardiff), Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys), Rio Dyer (Dragons), Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets), Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester), Liam Williams (Cardiff).


France Six Nations squad

Forwards:
Cyril Baille (Toulouse), Dany Priso (Toulon), Reda Wardi (La Rochelle) ; Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Sipili Falatea (Bordeaux-Bègles), Mohamed Haouas (Montpellier), Gaëtan Barlot (Castres), Teddy Baubigny (Toulon), Julien Marchand (Toulouse), Bastien Chalureau (Montpellier), Thibaud Flament (Toulouse), Romain Taofifenua (Lyon), Thomas Lavault (La Rochelle), Paul Willemse (Montpellier), Thomas Jolmès (Bordeaux-Bègles), Grégory Alldritt (La Rochelle), Alexandre Bécognée (Montpellier), Dylan Cretin (Lyon), François Cros (Toulouse), Anthony Jelonch (Toulouse), Sekou Macalou (Stade français), Charles Ollivon (Toulon), Yacouba Camara (Montpellier), Paul Boudehent (La Rochelle)

Backs:
Antoine Dupont (Toulouse), Nolann Le Garrec (Racing 92), Léo Coly (Montpellier), Antoine Hastoy (La Rochelle), Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux-Bègles), Romain Ntamack (Toulouse), Julien Delbouis (Stade français), Gaël Fickou (Racing 92), Emilien Gailleton (Pau), Yoram Moefana (Bordeaux-Bègles), Pierre-Louis Barassi (Toulouse), Romain Buros (Bordeaux-Bègles), Melvyn Jaminet (Toulouse), Matthis Lebel (Toulouse), Damian Penaud (Clermont), Thomas Ramos (Toulouse), Ethan Dumortier (Lyon), Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux-Bègles).


Italy Six Nations squad

Forwards:
Pietro Ceccarelli (Brive), Simone Ferrari (Benetton Rugby), Danilo Fischetti (London Irish), Matteo Nocera (Zebre Parma), Marco Riccioni (Saracens Rugby), Luca Rizzoli (Zebre Parma), Mirco Spagnolo (Petrarca Rugby), Federico Zani (Benetton Rugby), Luca Bigi (Zebre Parma), Marco Manfredi (Zebre Parma), Giacomo Nicotera (Benetton Rugby), Niccolò Cannon (Benetton Rugby), Marco Fuser (Massy), Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby), Andrea Zambonin (Zebre Parma), Lorenzo Cannon (Benetton Rugby), Michele Lamaro (Benetton Rugby), Sebastian Negri (Benetton Rugby), Giovanni Pettinelli (Benetton Rugby), Jake Polledri (Gloucester Rugby), Manuel Zuliani (Benetton Rugby)

Backs:
Alessandro Garbisi (Benetton Rugby), Stephen Varney (Gloucester Rugby), Alessandro Fusco (Zebre Parma), Tommaso Allan (Harlequins), Giacomo Da Re (Benetton Rugby), Juan Ignacio Brex (Benetton Rugby), Enrico Lucchin (Zebre Parma), Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Rugby), Luca Morisi (London Irish), Pierre Bruno (Zebre Parma), Ange Capuozzo (Stade Toulousain), Matteo Minozzi (Benetton Rugby), Edoardo Padovani (Benetton Rugby)

Thought I’d quickly post this as a reference.

I’m so excited to be finally be seeing some decent rugby againl!

BTW, this is absolutely _not_ me volunteering to be doing match threads this time around.

Cheers Boet. You are a real rugby supporter. I am going to throw a stone in the bush. Going with the under dogs here.

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Fri Jan 20, 2023 5:46 pm Cheers Boet. You are a real rugby supporter. I am going to throw a stone in the bush. Going with the under dogs here.

.....so England then

SaintK wrote: ↑Fri Jan 20, 2023 6:14 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Fri Jan 20, 2023 5:46 pm Cheers Boet. You are a real rugby supporter. I am going to throw a stone in the bush. Going with the under dogs here.

.....so England then

If they had Eddie.

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Fri Jan 20, 2023 6:56 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Fri Jan 20, 2023 6:14 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Fri Jan 20, 2023 5:46 pm Cheers Boet. You are a real rugby supporter. I am going to throw a stone in the bush. Going with the under dogs here.

.....so England then

If they had Eddie.

Gotta be France really. But … France gonna France, so it could leave space for the dark horse of a new England.

Ireland look to have the best path.

BBC only showing Scotland and Wales home games, presumably to make sure Andy Nicol and Jonathan Davies continue to be employed.

Ymx wrote: ↑Fri Jan 20, 2023 8:29 pm Gotta be France really. But … France gonna France, so it could leave space for the dark horse of a new England.

I think you’ll find Scotland are the annual dark horses, thank you

Getting quite impatient for this to start

I didn’t realise fishy had created a thread. Asking for a merge.

Thanks ASMO !!!

You’re a champ.

PCPhil wrote: ↑Fri Jan 20, 2023 8:46 pm Ireland look to have the best path.

Yep, good home games to have.

Ymx wrote: ↑Sat Jan 21, 2023 4:09 pm Thanks ASMO !!!

You’re a champ.

I aim to please

Round one

Saturday February 4

Wales vs Ireland, 2.15pm, at Principality Stadium (Cardiff), BBC

England vs Scotland, 4.45pm, at Twickenham (London), ITV

Sunday February 5

Italy vs France, 3pm, Stadio Olimpico (Rome), ITV

Round two

Saturday February 11

Ireland vs France, 2.15pm, at Aviva Stadium (Dublin), ITV

Scotland vs Wales, 4.45pm, at BT Murrayfield (Edinburgh), BBC

Sunday February 12

England vs Italy, 3pm, at Twickenham (London), ITV

Round three

Saturday February 25

Italy vs Ireland, 2.15pm, at Stadio Olimpico (Rome), ITV

Wales vs England, 4.45pm, at Principality Stadium (Cardiff), BBC

Sunday February 26

France vs Scotland, 3pm, at Stade de France (Paris), ITV

Round four

Saturday March 11

Italy vs Wales, 2.15pm, at Stadio Olimpico (Rome), ITV

England vs France, 4.45pm, at Twickenham (London), ITV and BBC

Sunday March 12

Scotland vs Ireland, 3pm, at BT Murrayfield (Edinburgh), BBC

Round five

Saturday March 18

Scotland vs Italy, 12.30pm, at BT Murrayfield (Edinburgh), BBC

France vs Wales, 2.45pm, at Stade de France (Paris), ITV

Ireland vs England, 5pm, at Aviva Stadium (Dublin), ITV

From a neutral I think Ireland is the favorite to win it. Since we are part of the URC and HC competitions we are a bit closer to the action and looking forward to it.

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Thu Jan 26, 2023 9:39 pm From a neutral I think Ireland is the favorite to win it. Since we are part of the URC and HC competitions we are a bit closer to the action and looking forward to it.

Ireland and France are a level above everyone else and with the game being in Dublin you’d have to think so.

However, it’s the 6N and nothing ever, ever goes to plan

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Thu Jan 26, 2023 9:39 pm From a neutral I think Ireland is the favorite to win it. Since we are part of the URC and HC competitions we are a bit closer to the action and looking forward to it.

Yep world number 1s and with a favourable draw. They should win the Championship and achieve a Grand Slam. But it only takes an unfortunate red card, or some yellows, for such plans to become trickier. Hopefully cards won't be the critical factors in the games - be nice to see a tournament with as few cards as poss.

Can't wait.

Ovals wrote: ↑Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:04 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Thu Jan 26, 2023 9:39 pm From a neutral I think Ireland is the favorite to win it. Since we are part of the URC and HC competitions we are a bit closer to the action and looking forward to it.

Yep world number 1s and with a favourable draw. They should win the Championship and achieve a Grand Slam. But it only takes an unfortunate red card, or some yellows, for such plans to become trickier. Hopefully cards won't be the critical factors in the games - be nice to see a tournament with as few cards as poss.

Can't wait.

Also can’t wait, love this next few weeks

I genuinely think this should be an all time great 6N. Italy will threaten a bit and all the other 5 will fancy their chances in every game.

Grrrrrr

I go to all the trouble of starting a thread, & posting the squads, & those dastardly Saffers try & bump me



viewtopic.php?t=2379

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:10 pm I genuinely think this should be an all time great 6N. Italy will threaten a bit and all the other 5 will fancy their chances in every game.

Could well be and agree Italy should be competitive. Let’s take all opportunities to piss off the Irish, as above

bump

Please merge with the good thread

Could we stickify whatever thread climbs to the top too ?

Ooms is probably the the best title anyway, but just smash together the threads & make the result sticky for the duration.

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:15 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:10 pm I genuinely think this should be an all time great 6N. Italy will threaten a bit and all the other 5 will fancy their chances in every game.

Could well be and agree Italy should be competitive. Let’s take all opportunities to piss off the Irish, as above

I have to confess, I'm a bit surprised the Scots aren't going into this with a new coach too.

If Sexy doesn't play a single moment of the 6N, I'll be happy !

We know what he can do, so this year has to be about the pretenders to the throne getting their time, so no Sexton & definitely no Murray !

Can't wait for Healy to secure the Triple Crown with a try and con in the dying seconds.

Jock42 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:46 pm Can't wait for Healy to secure the Triple Crown with a try and con in the dying seconds.

With Cooney flick flacking down the tunnel in celebration

Are any of our Welsh/Irish/Italian brothers coming to Murrayfield?

I like your thread, fishfoodie. It's a good one and it's by someone whose team are in the comp :)

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:11 pm Grrrrrr

I go to all the trouble of starting a thread, & posting the squads, & those dastardly Saffers try & bump me



viewtopic.php?t=2379

Ag sorry Boet, my mistake, blame it on my age.

Mods please delete or move this one to the above thread.

Sorry FF.

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:15 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:10 pm I genuinely think this should be an all time great 6N. Italy will threaten a bit and all the other 5 will fancy their chances in every game.

Could well be and agree Italy should be competitive. Let’s take all opportunities to piss off the Irish, as above

Their loss to you guys to go out in the group stages come September edges ever closer. I see it in my dreams

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:10 pm all the other 5 will fancy their chances in every game.

Steady on, I know Gats is back but even so. We have this odd mix of old stagers in their 30s and promising youngsters, very few at their peak.

I am looking forward to Scotland, Wales and Italy. Pretty sure they can knock back some of the favorites.

This thread is the One True Thread.

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:32 pm Could we stickify whatever thread climbs to the top too ?

Ooms is probably the the best title anyway, but just smash together the threads & make the result sticky for the duration.

Did Oom make a thread too?

You made a 6N teams one, I made a 6N fixtures one.

I then noticed yours so asked Asmo to merge them.

Though looks like my thread title was kept.

You can change the thread title if you want by editing your OP.

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Thu Jan 26, 2023 9:39 pm From a neutral I think Ireland is the favorite to win it. Since we are part of the URC and HC competitions we are a bit closer to the action and looking forward to it.

Oom you clown!

You even thanked me for creating the fixtures thread.

I’ve just seen it. Oh dear Oom.

Considering Oom was first to respond to the thread