Two weeks until the Six Nations

The first 6N after a World Cup is always a bit of a unknown, with many experienced players retiring or being phased out. It is hard to predict.

With Farrell sitting this 6N out, England now have to give Smith a good go at Fly Half. And there must be a centre partnership out there that works, England have not had a good and consistent partnership in that position for years.

4 of the 6 teams could win it.

I think France or Ireland will win the title.

Wales were in disarray and Gatland really struggling to get them back to where they used to be. They are a huge unknown.

Scotland - who knows. I felt sorry for them at the WC with the ridiculous group that they were drawn in. They have improved hugely under Townsend.

Italy - will just want to win a game, any game. And this could be their chance with other teams rebuilding.
 
Yearbyred said:
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
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That's what I thought too. He's got nothing to lose. He's a lion, he's scored 5 world cup tries. He can go there and if it doesn't work out he's got time to come back.

I think Ireland are in with a shout this year again. They still have a strong side and they'll want to bounce back form the world cup bottling. But as usual it'll be between them and France.

England: I agree with most on the "foreign players" rule. It just isn't workable now. Especially with the three teams folding last year, players like Willis had probably less option than to go abroad. Surely even if it's just ex Wasps/Worcester/Irish players they should be eligible to be picked?
 
Steer said:
The first 6N after a World Cup is always a bit of a unknown, with many experienced players retiring or being phased out. It is hard to predict.

With Farrell sitting this 6N out, England now have to give Smith a good go at Fly Half. And there must be a centre partnership out there that works, England have not had a good and consistent partnership in that position for years.

4 of the 6 teams could win it.

I think France or Ireland will win the title.

Wales were in disarray and Gatland really struggling to get them back to where they used to be. They are a huge unknown.

Scotland - who knows. I felt sorry for them at the WC with the ridiculous group that they were drawn in. They have improved hugely under Townsend.

Italy - will just want to win a game, any game. And this could be their chance with other teams rebuilding.
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You just know that Borthwick will go with George Ford at 10. Despite Ford being likely to make the next World Cup and Smith needing the time to keep developing.

I like George Ford too by the way, but at 31 he isn’t the future now.
 
Nero said:
7 Northampton back in the squad isn’t it? I doubt any will actually play.
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OH yeah I didn't notice that. Actually apart from Care and Ford who are too old only Slade has ANY real international experience in that back line. We really are short of centres aren't we? Can we ask Bath to rest Lawrence for the next few weeks!
 
The_Lizards_Jumpers said:
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.
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That you Tarquin? The Archbishop of Banterbury?

Did you get rid of the Jaaaaaaag then or is she tucked up nice and warm in that triple garage of yours?

Ps hope you batted away that insider trading snafoo and that the old hypertension is under control.

Best

W
 
SmallTown said:
OH yeah I didn't notice that. Actually apart from Care and Ford who are too old only Slade has ANY real international experience in that back line. We really are short of centres aren't we? Can we ask Bath to rest Lawrence for the next few weeks!
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Lawrence was very good at times yesterday. It has to be him and Slade starting. England are short of quality at centre and as alluded to further up, it’s been a problem area for years. Chopping and changing all the time.

It looks like Ollie Chessum could be out with a HIA too, so second row not exactly brimming either.
 
Shame you can't mute the "hilarious" class warriors on rugby posts. Without them you get decent discussions!

Anyway back on topic. I wonder how France will deal with missing Dupont? Going to be an interesting year for them.

Actually it is quite odd this year. Both England and France have their captains taking time out and Wales having their talisman quit the spot entirely.
 
Colgates_shaving_foam said:
That you Tarquin? The Archbishop of Banterbury?

Did you get rid of the Jaaaaaaag then or is she tucked up nice and warm in that triple garage of yours?

Ps hope you batted away that insider trading snafoo and that the old hypertension is under control.

Best

W
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Top bantz my liege, we're like Bant & Dec.

Got Sebastian, Martin and Barnaby coming round to watch it on my 80 inch plasma that I've got installed in the summer house just to watch the rugger - mead and Waitrose snacks aplenty.
 
The_Lizards_Jumpers said:
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.
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BOOTS'N'SHUZ

The 6N is my second favourite sporting event of the year, closely following The Open. Have zero expectations for England, as I did with the WC and just looking forward to some good contests. The discussion around English players in the French league needs addressing quickly. I too watched the Toulouse / Bath game yesterday and Jack Willis was world-class and I'm sure Nero will agree that isn't an understatement. It was like there were 2 of him, as he seemed to be jackalling at every breakdown. He then threw a try-saving tackle and hold up in there for good measure with exquisite technique which would have swung the momentum into Bath's favour.

Henry Arundell at Racing 92 as well - sensation over the past 2 weeks in the Champions Cup. He just seems a different player at domestic level to international, and given much more freedom to run at defences. He looks to struggle in Borthwick's narrow-channel approach. And having said that, we have a squad full of outside-centres, with very little to offer at 12. I think we'll see the Mitchell - Smith - Lawrence - Slade line up, but I will be itching to see Weyi-Faboso get the ball in his hand at some point.
 
Nero said:
Lawrence was very good at times yesterday. It has to be him and Slade starting. England are short of quality at centre and as alluded to further up, it’s been a problem area for years. Chopping and changing all the time.

It looks like Ollie Chessum could be out with a HIA too, so second row not exactly brimming either.
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What happened to our second row? It used to be formidable now we have few options.

I'm a huge Chandler Cunningham-South fan, saw him a lot for Irish last year and Quins this. I think he could be a great player but I also think he isn't there yet. Was very shocked he got an England squad call. Highly unlikely to make the playing squad but still.
 
SmallTown said:
Shame you can't mute the "hilarious" class warriors on rugby posts. Without them you get decent discussions!

Anyway back on topic. I wonder how France will deal with missing Dupont? Going to be an interesting year for them.

Actually it is quite odd this year. Both England and France have their captains taking time out and Wales having their talisman quit the spot entirely.
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You can mute us, it's easy.

Imagine posting about yob ball on a rugger forum.....
 
FatFrank said:
BOOTS'N'SHUZ

The 6N is my second favourite sporting event of the year, closely following The Open. Have zero expectations for England, as I did with the WC and just looking forward to some good contests. The discussion around English players in the French league needs addressing quickly. I too watched the Toulouse / Bath game yesterday and Jack Willis was world-class and I'm sure Nero will agree that isn't an understatement. It was like there were 2 of him, as he seemed to be jackalling at every breakdown. He then threw a try-saving tackle and hold up in there for good measure with exquisite technique which would have swung the momentum into Bath's favour.

Henry Arundell at Racing 92 as well - sensation over the past 2 weeks in the Champions Cup. He just seems a different player at domestic level to international, and given much more freedom to run at defences. He looks to struggle in Borthwick's narrow-channel approach. And having said that, we have a squad full of outside-centres, with very little to offer at 12. I think we'll see the Mitchell - Smith - Lawrence - Slade line up, but I will be itching to see Weyi-Faboso get the ball in his hand at some point.
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Regarding Willis yesterday- definitely not an understatement. The lad was class.
 
The_Lizards_Jumpers said:
You can mute us, it's easy.

Imagine posting about yob ball on a rugger forum.....
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Yeah but you have decent things to say on other threads. I wouldn't cut off my nose to spite my face. Shame you just have to try and derail rugby threads.

I guess I've never understood your chip on shoulder, them and us, class warfare stuff. I always find it sad.
Still if you think you are being funny crack on, I'll just ignore
 
SmallTown said:
What happened to our second row? It used to be formidable now we have few options.

I'm a huge Chandler Cunningham-South fan, saw him a lot for Irish last year and Quins this. I think he could be a great player but I also think he isn't there yet. Was very shocked he got an England squad call. Highly unlikely to make the playing squad but still.
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I know. At one point England had four second rows all as good as each other and probably as good as anyone about. Suddenly, the options and quality isn’t there.
 
Nero said:
Regarding Willis yesterday- definitely not an understatement. The lad was class.
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He is a high quality player. Took a long time to come back from injury but boy can he play. And the amount of turnovers he wins is so important in international rugby. Unexpected possession is such a bonus when games are so tight and edgy
 
SmallTown said:
Yeah but you have decent things to say on other threads. I wouldn't cut off my nose to spite my face. Shame you just have to try and derail rugby threads.

I guess I've never understood your chip on shoulder, them and us, class warfare stuff. I always find it sad.
Still if you think you are being funny crack on, I'll just ignore
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To be honest I never had any really opinion on rugby, other than finding it boring and not to my taste, but that's fine.

I've then had the misfortune to spend a lot of time in and around Bath rugby fans (as well as Gloucester to a lesser extent) and the snobbery and derision shown to football, and football fans, is ridiculous, and not really in a light hearted way.

Also the behaviour of many of their fans, particularly in the corporate hospitality, would have football fans arrested, banned and vilified in the press, but in "rugger" it's just dismissed as light hearted banter.
 
SmallTown said:
What happened to our second row? It used to be formidable now we have few options.

I'm a huge Chandler Cunningham-South fan, saw him a lot for Irish last year and Quins this. I think he could be a great player but I also think he isn't there yet. Was very shocked he got an England squad call. Highly unlikely to make the playing squad but still.
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I saw Cunningham-South when Quins were at Falcons a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, it was a wet and windy night so naturally not a lot of carrying metres but seemed to handle the ball well into contact. I am just not confident in Dombrandt at 8. Again, a different player domestically for Quins than at international. Can't remember which game it was last year, may have been Scotland at Twickenham but he was exposed massively. Earl has to start at 8. Ben Curry is now a doubt as well.

We're also desperately short in experienced wingers. I don't really understand why Cokanasiga has been left out?
 
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