One week to go. One week to go, and nothing’s been cancelled yet. Is that wise? Possibly not, but we can all agree that Six Nations is more important than life or death itself – unless personally affected.
Meanwhile, there are a couple of matches to keep us entertained until then.
Dayboo for young Redpath. and probably Cherry off the bench
Hope turner can keep the heid & his darts are a worry. Not convinced yet by Fagerson junior at 8 but hope he steps up a bit. Bigger Gray back is good, he’s been looking back in form.
I think you lack a top class defensive full-back – what you have is a top class counter-attacker.
Without knowing much about the personalities, I’d have had Jonny Gray as captain – top player, respected by all and in the mix of everything. I doubt Hogg is cool enough (or Ritchie).
Otherwise, looks a fast and furious selection so England will need to score first and keep the pressure on rather than create a host of counter-attacking opportunities.
‘your’ England team:
Elliot Daly; Anthony Watson, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Jonny May; Owen Farrell (capt), Ben Youngs; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, Jonny Hill, Mark Wilson, Tom Curry, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Beno Obano, Harry Williams, Courtney Lawes, Ben Earl, Dan Robson, George Ford, Max Malins.
Daly = Hogg in many ways.
Otherwise, no surprises. Slade and Watson will definitely look to intercept Russell’s long passes so that threat might cramp him. Expect him to look for chips over Farrell’s head.
Forwards tussle should be good!
” Daly = Hogg in many ways.”
Good lord, Slade. What pills have you been taking ?
Was going to announce Ford to bench before the team came out, Eddie just couldn’t play Ford ahead of Faz after Squidge report. Could this be the day a total Owen meltdown costs England the game? Dunno about chipping in behind Farrell, I think running thru him is a better option, with a nifty little offload down low.
So, the scene is set for George to come on with 20 mins to go, and England 20 points behind, will he secure the comeback win ? Has Owen been practicing spiral bombs ??? Nope, cos Eddie rarely brings on subs until its too late for them to change the game.
Scotland by 10.
For me there are similarities between Hogg and Daly:
– both kick well*
– both ave* under the high ball when pressured
– both below ave* defensive tacklers
– both elusive* runners – Hogg more muscular with a great step; Daly also fast but more a glider.
Hogg’s playing in the English Prem. is giving him greater exposure and opposing coaches are learning how to counter him a bit. He still makes great runs for Exeter just not as often.
France by 13 over Italy – the Italians will have their customary strong start to the 6N before injury and lack of depth give those following bonus point chances.
England by 12 over Scotland – Scots passion, fury and flingaboutery will keep them close until the 65 minute mark when George Ford comes on to change gears and get the spluttering engine purring.
Wales by 2 over Ireland – early season burglary by Wales over a fancied Irish side.
Ah, those were the days….
Love the picture of the forwards going after the ball.
Oh, for a Roy Laidlaw (sorry Ali, you’re decent but nowhere near the great man).
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Johnny Williams, Hallam Amos; Dan Biggar, Tomos Williams; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhodri Jones, Leon Brown, Will Rowlands, Josh Navidi, Gareth Davies, Callum Sheedy, Nick Tompkins.
So there we are. I had the grizzles with Pivac’s Autumn teams, but this feels a tick better. Amos back (as NostradamIks predicted) is alright, not too bothered one way or the other. I much prefer Beard to Seb Davies, especially for his Aardman features.
I’m glad those run-outs for Botham and the Other-backrower-who’s-name-I-can’t-remember-but-it-was-hyphenated, are over for now. Don’t know much about the next big thing at centre called Williams since the last big thing at centre called Owen Williams, who turned out to be overrated and over-hyped – except by me of course. I hope to see what the fuss is about on Sunday.
Lydiate coming back is an odd one. I should be horrified, but I’m not, for some reason. I’m more curious to see how it goes than anything.
Positives are mainly a good pair of 9s, the usual suspects in Faletau and Tips, and two Drags to liven things up off the bench.
What I’m expecting is a stodgy attacking display, an improved set-piece, a mix of iffy and whiffy defending, and a right-good rogering at the breakdown.
15: Hugo Keenan 14: Keith Earls 13: Garry Ringrose 12: Robbie Henshaw 11: James Lowe 10: Johnny Sexton 9: Conor Murray
1: Cian Healy 2: Rob Herring 3: Andrew Porter 4: Tadhg Beirne 5: James Ryan 6: Peter O’Mahony 7: Josh Van Der Flier 8: CJ Stander
Replacements
16: Ronan Kelleher 17: Dave Kilcoyne 18: Tadhg Furlong 19: Iain Henderson 20: Will Connors 21: Jamison-Gibson Park 22: Billy Burns 23: Jordan Larmour
Ireland: Keenan, Earls, Ringrose; Henshaw, Lowe; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Herring, Porter, Beirne, Ryan, O’Mahony, Van der Flier, Stander.
Replacements: Kelleher, Kilcoyne, Furlong, Henderson, Connors, Gibson Park, Burns, Larmour.
I’m happy enough with that, with the glaring exception of GP on the bench: let’s hope Murray lasts the full 80. And of course, the obligatory moan about the lack of Cooney and McCloskey.
My flabber is gasted by the absence of Wainwright. I simply overlooked it. Says to me that Pivac’s pendulum has swung from adventure to stolid, and Lydiate is there to stop the opposition, rather than start a bit of Welsh rugby.
Ovally Balls 
Dayboo for young Redpath. and probably Cherry off the bench
Hope turner can keep the heid & his darts are a worry. Not convinced yet by Fagerson junior at 8 but hope he steps up a bit. Bigger Gray back is good, he’s been looking back in form.
England by 20.
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Haven’t watched very much Scottish rugby at all, so can’t make any judgements on that side.
Looks weak.
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Nice to see that the actual best 10 in the world does start though.
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blimey – Hogg has 80 caps!
I think you lack a top class defensive full-back – what you have is a top class counter-attacker.
Without knowing much about the personalities, I’d have had Jonny Gray as captain – top player, respected by all and in the mix of everything. I doubt Hogg is cool enough (or Ritchie).
Otherwise, looks a fast and furious selection so England will need to score first and keep the pressure on rather than create a host of counter-attacking opportunities.
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‘your’ England team:
Elliot Daly; Anthony Watson, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Jonny May; Owen Farrell (capt), Ben Youngs; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, Jonny Hill, Mark Wilson, Tom Curry, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Beno Obano, Harry Williams, Courtney Lawes, Ben Earl, Dan Robson, George Ford, Max Malins.
Daly = Hogg in many ways.
Otherwise, no surprises. Slade and Watson will definitely look to intercept Russell’s long passes so that threat might cramp him. Expect him to look for chips over Farrell’s head.
Forwards tussle should be good!
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ps – very attacking bench!
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all you need to know Deebee is that if england don’t win by at least 25 it’ll be a colossal failure for them.
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Chimpie – I see you’ve got a bit of English arrogance inside you. Congratulations.
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Karl
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I see you’ve got a bit of English arrogance inside you.
Not colossal either.
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Deebs, you’ve watched a lot of South African rugby so what’s your opinion of the Scottish bench?
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” Daly = Hogg in many ways.”
Good lord, Slade. What pills have you been taking ?
Was going to announce Ford to bench before the team came out, Eddie just couldn’t play Ford ahead of Faz after Squidge report. Could this be the day a total Owen meltdown costs England the game? Dunno about chipping in behind Farrell, I think running thru him is a better option, with a nifty little offload down low.
So, the scene is set for George to come on with 20 mins to go, and England 20 points behind, will he secure the comeback win ? Has Owen been practicing spiral bombs ??? Nope, cos Eddie rarely brings on subs until its too late for them to change the game.
Scotland by 10.
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Deebs, you’ve watched a lot of South African rugby so what’s your opinion of the Scottish bench?
None of them could make our bench, so went to Scotland? No seriously, looks a little wooden.
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SBT
…………..|”England 20 behind with 20 to go”……..!
For me there are similarities between Hogg and Daly:
– both kick well*
– both ave* under the high ball when pressured
– both below ave* defensive tacklers
– both elusive* runners – Hogg more muscular with a great step; Daly also fast but more a glider.
Hogg’s playing in the English Prem. is giving him greater exposure and opposing coaches are learning how to counter him a bit. He still makes great runs for Exeter just not as often.
* for intl. level
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That England team is coasting, almost like a summer tour or AI outfit building towards the next major tournament.
Eddie taking the Scots for granted, and rightly so(?).
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OT – saw that – good for her! Liked Whitty’s reaction at the presser too.
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More SIr General Tom poetry:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EtYUnLvXEAAwckp?format=jpg&name=large
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I see Eddie is still full of shit, wouldn’t have it any other way.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/feb/04/england-drop-george-ford-owen-farrell-starts-calcutta-cup-scotland-six-nations
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France by 13 over Italy – the Italians will have their customary strong start to the 6N before injury and lack of depth give those following bonus point chances.
England by 12 over Scotland – Scots passion, fury and flingaboutery will keep them close until the 65 minute mark when George Ford comes on to change gears and get the spluttering engine purring.
Wales by 2 over Ireland – early season burglary by Wales over a fancied Irish side.
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“customary” and “strong” are both relative terms.
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As are most, surely?
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My terms aren’t.
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Only on your own terms. I think we should stop speaking of terms, lest it drive the home-schooling mob dilly.
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Early start to half term here. Kidz finished their work yesterday. Now got to keep them from turning into screen vegetables all day.
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It’ll be my turn to be a screen vegetable tomorrow
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Joe Root motoring along rather nicely at the moment. He really is a wonderful batsman to watch.
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Joe Root’s finest performance. Although it did sound uncannily like Brian Clough rather than Bob Willis.
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Tory government covid response is a ‘speedboat’ lolz.
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Ah, those were the days….
Love the picture of the forwards going after the ball.
Oh, for a Roy Laidlaw (sorry Ali, you’re decent but nowhere near the great man).
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/that-1980s-sports-blog/2021/feb/05/scotland-england-twickenham-1983-rugby-union
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Amazing how they can colorize those really really old photos nowadays. Really makes more impact.
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Ah, good!
All 6Ns on French terrestial
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“He made an impressive debut against Georgia, taking it up hard and direct in the wet conditions”
Western Mail elbowing their way in to Karl, as it were.
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Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Johnny Williams, Hallam Amos; Dan Biggar, Tomos Williams; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhodri Jones, Leon Brown, Will Rowlands, Josh Navidi, Gareth Davies, Callum Sheedy, Nick Tompkins.
So there we are. I had the grizzles with Pivac’s Autumn teams, but this feels a tick better. Amos back (as NostradamIks predicted) is alright, not too bothered one way or the other. I much prefer Beard to Seb Davies, especially for his Aardman features.
I’m glad those run-outs for Botham and the Other-backrower-who’s-name-I-can’t-remember-but-it-was-hyphenated, are over for now. Don’t know much about the next big thing at centre called Williams since the last big thing at centre called Owen Williams, who turned out to be overrated and over-hyped – except by me of course. I hope to see what the fuss is about on Sunday.
Lydiate coming back is an odd one. I should be horrified, but I’m not, for some reason. I’m more curious to see how it goes than anything.
Positives are mainly a good pair of 9s, the usual suspects in Faletau and Tips, and two Drags to liven things up off the bench.
What I’m expecting is a stodgy attacking display, an improved set-piece, a mix of iffy and whiffy defending, and a right-good rogering at the breakdown.
Ireland’s to lose.
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Lydiate’s been playing all right for the Ospreys recently, Iksy.
Navidi back, albeit on the bench, is good news.
What’s happened with Wainwright? He was looking a very fine prospect.
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yeah Iks but:
‘Ireland’s Farrell rejects favourites tag for Wales opener’
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think that deserves a pfft-bomb launched in Farrell’s general direction.
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The Irish:
15: Hugo Keenan 14: Keith Earls 13: Garry Ringrose 12: Robbie Henshaw 11: James Lowe 10: Johnny Sexton 9: Conor Murray
1: Cian Healy 2: Rob Herring 3: Andrew Porter 4: Tadhg Beirne 5: James Ryan 6: Peter O’Mahony 7: Josh Van Der Flier 8: CJ Stander
Replacements
16: Ronan Kelleher 17: Dave Kilcoyne 18: Tadhg Furlong 19: Iain Henderson 20: Will Connors 21: Jamison-Gibson Park 22: Billy Burns 23: Jordan Larmour
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I think we’d take them in a packed-out stadium. In a empty echoing cavern it’s theirs all day long.
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Ireland: Keenan, Earls, Ringrose; Henshaw, Lowe; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Herring, Porter, Beirne, Ryan, O’Mahony, Van der Flier, Stander.
Replacements: Kelleher, Kilcoyne, Furlong, Henderson, Connors, Gibson Park, Burns, Larmour.
I’m happy enough with that, with the glaring exception of GP on the bench: let’s hope Murray lasts the full 80. And of course, the obligatory moan about the lack of Cooney and McCloskey.
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Squidge again
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Wales by 12
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Hello peeps.
Is there a superbru AoD pool thing going?
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Worry ye not.
I found it.
Avs has gone for a whopping England win!
What happened to him?
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Avs hath wisdom begotteth
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Colonial cringe, ticht. Deebee loves the English as well.
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My flabber is gasted by the absence of Wainwright. I simply overlooked it. Says to me that Pivac’s pendulum has swung from adventure to stolid, and Lydiate is there to stop the opposition, rather than start a bit of Welsh rugby.
Pivac out!
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I’m 3/4 bloody English. No colonial cringe. Just bowing to the weight of history.*
* Only for this 6N.
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Drags take the lead! 13-10 up against the evil Irish!*
* all evil until other nations start winning.
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You’re South African, pops. Not 3/4 English.
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