6 Nations 2018 - Other teams

[simonokeeffe]

I dont see how Italy will score much points even if theyre hard to breakdown. And theyd need a strong ref too

[neiliog93]

If everything aligns for Italy and the improvement of the club teams translates to international form, then they could get a losing bonus point in a dreary Rome and deny England the 4-try bonus point. Especially with O'Shea coaching. It's just a pity they're not as fearsome in the scrum as they used to be, because England's sub props look very vulnerable.

[simonokeeffe]

If everything aligns for Italy and the improvement of the club teams translates to international form, then they could get a losing bonus point in a dreary Rome and deny England the 4-try bonus point. Especially with O'Shea coaching. It's just a pity they're not as fearsome in the scrum as they used to be, because England's sub props look very vulnerable.

Yeah theyve really fallen away from their golden generation of front rowers (Italy)

[dropkick]

Looking at England and Eddie Jones in particular for the next few seasons will be interesting. He has a history of starting brightly and then things unravelling.

Eddie Jones could spruik for Australia. Never mind that he's coached for Australia ... and South Africa, then Japan and now England. Jones' greatest strength has always been talking a good game and convincing people they can play one.

His record's a good one, with winning a Super Rugby title with the Brumbies and helping the Springboks - as technical adviser - to the 2007 Rugby World Cup crown among the highlights.

What's missing is sustained success.

Need a quick change of fortunes or a foghorn to promote your game? Jones is the man.

He'll come in, rant and rave, push people to the brink and then ... well there's the rub.

New Zealand's Steve Hansen would be one of Jones' better-known and more successful contemporaries. Hansen's had some good players to work with, since joining the All Blacks' coaching staff in 2004. That's certainly a help.

But you don't achieve Hansen's longevity - or World Cup titles as an assistant, then head coach - without evolving and improving and being admired by your players.

For Hansen to still have a message that the All Blacks are happy to listen to is some feat. That makes him extremely good at his job, but hardly a genius.

Jones has moved around: from Super Rugby, to the Wallabies, club and international footy in Japan, South Africa, Saracens, the Stormers, England. He's done well in most of those places, at least for a time.

"My greatest weakness was that I didn't have any tolerance of people. If people weren't as driven as me, I couldn't tolerate them. And I'm still like that to some extent," Jones said in 2016.

You can praise Jones for going to new places and achieving good things quickly. Equally, you'd have to say his methods have meant he's not welcome anywhere for long.

He took the England job after the 2015 World Cup and quickly revived a team that had been at a low ebb.

They've since gone on to win 18 successive test matches, to equal a mark set by the All Blacks last year. It's better than losing 18 games in a row, but otherwise meaningless.

Four years is the longest Jones has lasted in any job, so these next 24 months ought to be interesting.

Simply put, players tire of Jones. The mind games and and competitiveness and big mouth that helped inspire them early on, eventually drive them to distraction.

It would be completely against type for a Jones-coached team to sustain the outcomes they've achieved until now.

You can't take Jones' achievements away from him, but nor can you avoid the failures and fallouts. Even he can probably see how this journey with England is going to end.

- Stuff

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/int ... -got-lucky

[neiliog93]

Interesting. Let's hope they unravel. With the injuries they have and the Champions' Cup travails of the English clubs, it's not impossible.

[dropkick]

Interesting. Let's hope they unravel. With the injuries they have and the Champions' Cup travails of the English clubs, it's not impossible.

According to the English media they should be too knackered to win. What'll they say if England win it? I think theres some truth to having a hangover from the Lions but not as much as they're making out. Finding the motivation to win it 3 in a row is another obstacle as are the injuries etc. They might have one eye on e the world cup too. They're still favourites but it should be a close class this year.


I'm not convinced by Scotland either. They're a side on an upward curve, play great rugby and have a fantastic coach but their squad depth will be a problem. Also other teams won't take them as lightly as before and teams will coming up with plans on how to stop them and exploit their weaknesses.

[simonokeeffe]

ales: Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets); Josh Adams (Worcester), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Steff Evans (Scarlets); Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Cory Hill (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys capt), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester).

Replacements: Elliot Dee (Dragons), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Aled Davies (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Owen Watkin (Ospreys).

Weakest Wales 6n since...?

[CiaranIrl]

ales: Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets); Josh Adams (Worcester), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Steff Evans (Scarlets); Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Cory Hill (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys capt), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester).

Replacements: Elliot Dee (Dragons), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Aled Davies (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Owen Watkin (Ospreys).

Weakest Wales 6n since...?

Jaysus. Tipuric doesn't make the team, even with Warburton and Faletau injured?! That's mad alltogether Ted. I still think they'll win relatively comfortably at home vs a slightly overrated Scotland.

[Dave Cahill]

If that team plays in a similar manner to the scarlets, its far from weak. That backline could tear a lot of teams to shreds.

[paddyor]

Different coach though.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Anyone know why they're so reluctant to play James Davies? I know he's a bit of a loose cannon but I would have thought Gatland would embrace that.

[jimbobjoe]

Anyone know why they're so reluctant to play James Davies? I know he's a bit of a loose cannon but I would have thought Gatland would embrace that.

Wazzer's had enough of free speaking, loose cannon opensides after last summer!

[LeRouxIsPHat]

[Lar]

Ten Scarlets in the starting line-up and two more on the bench means they will probably all miss (not be released for) the games v us in the Pro14. (Wrong thread possibly ....)

[simonokeeffe]

The danger is pressure/fatigue comes on and inexperienced internationals/combinations start mixing up calls between club and country; part of the team tries to play Warrenball and other part reverts to Scarletball

Against bigger/meaner/more talented sides than the Scarlets play they wont have as much helter skelter opportunities. They dont have the biggest meanest front five by a long way and are short on ball carriers in the forwards too. Williams has been shown up at 13 at this level before

England and ourselves should be able to starve them out

Other plus side is with Parkes starting they can f off whining about Aki or Stander

[wixfjord]

Interesting side from Wales. I'm a huge Shingler fan so good to see him at this level again. Slightly surprised that Navidi gets in ahead of both Tipuric and Davies though.

Haven't seen Josh Adams play, so should be interesting to see how he goes too.

Only two Cardiff players in the squad and two Dragons (with Moriarty going there next season). Balance of power in Welsh rugby has well and truly shifted.

[simonokeeffe]

Shingler is a very good 6 alright, think he fell victim to being played out of position a bit before/suffering from versatility

North on his way to Scarlets too...

[neiliog93]

That's a Welsh team that could come to Dublin and win. Huge firepower. They might be vulnerable in the tight though.

[Ruckedtobits]

ales: Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets); Josh Adams (Worcester), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Steff Evans (Scarlets); Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Cory Hill (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys capt), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester).

Replacements: Elliot Dee (Dragons), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Aled Davies (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Owen Watkin (Ospreys).

Weakest Wales 6n since...?

Postby Ruckedtobits » January 23rd, 2018, 5:44 pm

Start the Scarlets Buoys against Scots. Base the team around Scarlets half-backs and mid-field and add their front-row. Ospreys in the row and Cardiff - Scarlets back-row. Add in North and Liam Williams and top with 1/2p

Glad to see that Gatty was keeping an eye on our board

[Ruckedtobits]

Forwards: Eddy Ben Arous, Yacouba Camara, Camille Chat, Paul Gabrillaugues, Cedate Gomes Sa, Kevin Gourdon, Guilhem Guirado, Arthur Iturria, Anthony Jelonch, Felix Lambey, Wenceslas Lauret, Sekou Macalou, Jefferson Poirot, Dany Priso, Rabah Slimani, Marco Tauleigne, Christopher Tolofua, Sebastien Vahaamahina

Backs: Mathieu Bastareaud, Anthony Belleau, Henry Chavancy, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Brice Dulin, Antoine Dupont, Benjamin Fall, Matthieu Jalabert, Remi Lamerat, Maxime Machenaud, Geoffrey Palis, Morgan Parra, Teddy Thomas, Virimi Vakatawa.

Just a reminder of why it is so tough to pick the starting French team from this Squad. Based on assessments from Midi Olympique and L'Equipe, it could look like this:

1. Poirot
2. Guirado
3. Slimani
4. Vahaamahina
5. Gabrillagues
6. Camara
7. Gourdon
8. Lauret
9. Machenaud
10. Belleau
11. Vakatawa
12. Lamaret
13. Doumayrou
14. Thomas
15. Fall

Maybe not as changed from the autumn as it could be and still a big tough team. They hope to beat us up for 60 mins and they release the 'young legs' from the bench.

You think?