Two weeks until the Six Nations

[Nero]

Just watched Toulouse v Bath. A brilliant game of rugby, where one of the best players was Jack Willis for Toulouse, who can’t be picked for England!

England are hardly stacked full of back row talent, yet one of the best around is barred from playing. I understand the RFU wanting to keep the best players in England, but it’s madness having some of the best not able to play.

Anyway, the Six Nations signifies my favourite time of year. It starts in winter and finishes just as spring is around the corner. A magical time of year.

France or Ireland for the title this year again. I can’t see past either for a good few years.

 

[Fat_Dragon]

England could be dark horses after surprising us in the WC but France for me.

 

[Nero]

England could be dark horses after surprising us in the WC but France for me.

England have Scotland and France away. I can’t see them winning in Paris and Scotland will fancy their chances again at Murrayfield. I just hope Borthwick starts letting the players play a bit of rugby. Although it sounds like he will adopt a very pragmatic approach again.

 

[Norman_Conquest]

Just watched Toulouse v Bath. A brilliant game of rugby, where one of the best players was Jack Willis for Toulouse, who can’t be picked for England!

England are hardly stacked full of back row talent, yet one of the best around is barred from playing. I understand the RFU wanting to keep the best players in England, but it’s madness having some of the best not able to play.

Anyway, the Six Nations signifies my favourite time of year. It starts in winter and finishes just as spring is around the corner. A magical time of year.

France or Ireland for the title this year again. I can’t see past either for a good few years.

We were on about the French based conundrum earlier and how some of our best players are unavailable to the England squad. Not sure how England are getting away with having this rule in place, I wonder if it could be challenged in a court of arbitration.

It feels like England are cutting off their nose to spite their face.

I think France will win the 6 Nations this year.

On another note, not sure what to make of the Louis Rees-Zammit situation for Wales and who is advising him on this.

 

[Yearbyred]

We were on about the French based conundrum earlier and how some of our best players are unavailable to the England squad. Not sure how England are getting away with having this rule in place, I wonder if it could be challenged in a court of arbitration.

It feels like England are cutting off their nose to spite their face.

I think France will win the 6 Nations this year.

On another note, not sure what to make of the Louis Rees-Zammit situation for Wales and who is advising him on this.

Think Rees Zammit is advising himself. Watched an interview where he said he had been thinking about it for a while.

He’s young enough to be able to come back to rugby if it doesn’t work out (which I don’t think it will)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1748812025449374049

 

[Nero]

We were on about the French based conundrum earlier and how some of our best players are unavailable to the England squad. Not sure how England are getting away with having this rule in place, I wonder if it could be challenged in a court of arbitration.

It feels like England are cutting off their nose to spite their face.

I think France will win the 6 Nations this year.

On another note, not sure what to make of the Louis Rees-Zammit situation for Wales and who is advising him on this.

Completely agree. The RFU are terrified loads of English players head to France, where they can earn much more. I think it’s only England and New Zealand with the same rule regarding selection.

Wales losing LRZ is a big loss for them. As talented as he is, I just can’t see him making a go of it in NFL. Good luck to him though.

 

[asredastheycome]

Wake me when its over........

Enjoy it.

 

[1finny]

Completely agree. The RFU are terrified loads of English players head to France, where they can earn much more. I think it’s only England and New Zealand with the same rule regarding selection.

Wales losing LRZ is a big loss for them. As talented as he is, I just can’t see him making a go of it in NFL. Good luck to him though.

I get the theory of that rule and for the Kiwis it doesn’t make a material difference - they have talent in depth (seem to recall they did make an exception some years ago)

We aren’t a rugby powerhouse and players get better by playing against the best.
Feels outdated and counter productive to me.

 

[Nero]

I get the theory of that rule and for the Kiwis it doesn’t make a material difference - they have talent in depth (seem to recall they did make an exception some years ago)

We aren’t a rugby powerhouse and players get better by playing against the best.
Feels outdated and counter productive to me.

It might have been understandable if England had options all over the pitch. They don’t do need the best players, but refuse to allow some of their best to play.

I also don’t understand not picking Zack Mercer either. He was outstanding in the Top 14, came back to England for the national team but then isn’t picked. England do not have lots of options at 8. I don’t see why Mercer is not involved.

 

[JackG]

I get the theory of that rule and for the Kiwis it doesn’t make a material difference - they have talent in depth (seem to recall they did make an exception some years ago)

We aren’t a rugby powerhouse and players get better by playing against the best.
Feels outdated and counter productive to me.

It does make a difference for NZ - that's why they brought in the 60 caps rule which they've had to reduce to 25, after player pressure.

 

[Cardiffdaffs]

Don’t forget to enter a team for the 6 Nations fantasy.

Fantasy 6 Nations - Guinness Competition.

If you fancy a bit of extra interest during the 6 Nations Competition you may be interested that Guinness are running a fantasy competition for the 6 Nations. I've set up a League for the Board in anticipation of anybody interested. If nobody is interested then Ive won the League! It is pretty...

fmttmboro.com

 

[Cardiffdaffs]

Significant is that DuPont won’t be playing 15 man rugby until after the Olympics and Penaud and Bialle Biarrey may be joking him. That gives Ireland an advantage.

 

[Starbuck]

Ridiculous rule. French League by far the best in the World. You want your players playing at the highest level they can. RFU not frightened of losing players they are frightened of losing money. Shame they cannot see that Rugby gets its biggest jumps in interest after we win 6 Nations and went off the (relative) scale when we won the World Cup.

 

[Zoophonic]

Ridiculous rule. French League by far the best in the World. You want your players playing at the highest level they can. RFU not frightened of losing players they are frightened of losing money. Shame they cannot see that Rugby gets its biggest jumps in interest after we win 6 Nations and went off the (relative) scale when we won the World Cup.

Of course its about money. The state of our domestic game is such that our Clubs cant pay the salaries that France do. Saracens tried to by nefarious means and were relegated - England team no doubt suffered as a result. Its the system that needs overhaul but its like a juggernaut, vestiges of the smoke filled rooms and old boys network.

 

[Nero]

Of course its about money. The state of our domestic game is such that our Clubs cant pay the salaries that France do. Saracens tried to by nefarious means and were relegated - England team no doubt suffered as a result. Its the system that needs overhaul but its like a juggernaut, vestiges of the smoke filled rooms and old boys network.

The Top 14 has paid more for a long time, but could potentially end up being like the Premier League. Able to offer players so much more, the best just head there anyway.

Take the likes of Marcus Smith. Young lad with bags of ability, but hardly England’s main Fly Half. Give it a year and who could blame him if he heads to France for a 3 year deal earning mega money?

 

[Zoophonic]

You cant blame any professional. Sadl

The Top 14 has paid more for a long time, but could potentially end up being like the Premier League. Able to offer players so much more, the best just head there anyway.

Take the likes of Marcus Smith. Young lad with bags of ability, but hardly England’s main Fly Half. Give it a year and who could play him if he heads to France for a 3 year deal earning mega money?

The game of Rugby Union in SW France in particular is rooted in their culture hence the clubs get big sponsorship and, just as importantly, local authority financial support. No rugby union club in England will get public money to sign better players.

 

[Nero]

You cant blame any professional. Sadl

The game of Rugby Union in SW France in particular is rooted in their culture hence the clubs get big sponsorship and, just as importantly, local authority financial support. No rugby union club in England will get public money to sign better players.

I wasn’t aware of the local authority input in France. That is a massive difference and no wonder England can’t compete. It seems England are up against it in relation to money with the Top 14 and how Irish regions are set up.

Take the Leicester game over the weekend against Leinster. All 15 of the starters for Leinster are in the Ireland squad. That is a huge advantage in club rugby and international. Ireland are effectively a club side.

 

[Zoophonic]

I wasn’t aware of the local authority input in France. That is a massive difference and no wonder England can’t compete. It seems England are up against it in relation to money with the Top 14 and how Irish regions are set up.

Take the Leicester game over the weekend against Leinster. All 15 of the starters for Leinster are in the Ireland squad. That is a huge advantage in club rugby and international. Ireland are effectively a club side.

Yep Ireland benefit from all their squad players pretty much playing together in Club rugby so when they get to the 6 Nations they are formidable. Have always thought that the reason Ireland dont perform as well in the RWC is that other teams benefit from this squad unity over the period and Irelands advantage is minimalised.

 

[Nero]

Yep Ireland benefit from all their squad players pretty much playing together in Club rugby so when they get to the 6 Nations they are formidable. Have always thought that the reason Ireland dont perform as well in the RWC is that other teams benefit from this squad unity over the period and Irelands advantage is minimalised.

Very interesting point. I agree with it as well.

 

[The_Lizards_Jumpers]

I'm ironing my boot cut jeans, polishing my brown base loafers and digging out my Superdry jacket, before watching multiple episodes of Top Gear (with Clarkson obviously) and hopping in the Beemer to go to Waitrose and buy some Guinness in anticipation.

May take young Hugo out later to chuck a pill about in the orchard.