6N 2018

MN5

@pot-hale said in 6N 2018:

Six Nations starting this weekend.

Italy play England in the Sun afternoon match
France play Ireland in second match on Sat
Wales play Scotland first up on Sat in the match of the round.

All the preview talk has been look at how many injuries we have. Hopefully that dies away once match squads are announced on Thursday.

England start as favorites and get to sit in the pretty seat as they watch to see whether one or even two of their possible rivals get knocked out of contention for a Grand Slam and possibly the Championship. Wales are slow starters but a win against the fancied Scots would put them in fine fettle for a trip to Twickenham. Ireland started slow last year against Scotland and paid the price. Lose to the French in Paris ( a regular enough occurrence) and they’ll be turning up with nothing but a brave face at Twickenham four rounds later.

Two or even three away wins this weekend would set the Championship up nicely.

Scots are talking it up and are pretty confident which is a sure sign everyone's money should be on Wales.

Derm McCrum

Ireland team to play France in Paris. Ringrose injured puts Aki in and vdF wins the gong to replace injured SOB. Young James Ryan edges Toner to the bench.

Stockdale, Ryan and Aki in their 6N bows.

15 Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 78 caps
14 Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 62 caps
13 Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 31 caps
12 Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 2 caps
11 Jacob Stockdale (Belfast quins/Ulster) 4 caps
10 Johnny Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster) 68 caps
9 Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 59 caps
1 Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 73 caps
2 Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 106 caps (captain)
3 Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 19 caps
4 Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 34 caps
5 James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 4 caps
6 Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 42 caps
7 Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 9 caps
8 CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 18 caps

Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St Mary's College/Leinster) 56 caps
17. Jack McGrath (St Mary's College/Leinster) 42 caps
18. John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 11 caps
19. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 53 caps
20. Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster) 4 caps
21. Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 6 caps
22. Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster) 6 caps
23. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 32 caps

Crucial

@pot-hale there you go with that weird numbering again...;)

1 Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 73 caps
2 Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 106 caps (captain)
3 Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 19 caps
4 Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 34 caps
5 James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 4 caps
6 Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 42 caps
7 Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 9 caps
8 CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 18 caps
9 Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 59 caps
10 Johnny Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster) 68 caps
11 Jacob Stockdale (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 4 caps
12 Bundee O'Aki (Galwegians/Connacht/Chiefs/Counties Manukau) 2 caps
13 Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 31 caps
14 Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 62 caps
15 Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 78 caps

Replacements

16 Sean Cronin (St Mary's College/Leinster) 56 caps
17 Jack McGrath (St Mary's College/Leinster) 42 caps
18 John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 11 caps
19 Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 53 caps
20 Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster) 4 caps
21 Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 6 caps
22 Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster) 6 caps
23 Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 32 caps

Crucial

BTW the kilted ones named their team yesterday

Gordon Reid (London Irish) – 27 caps
Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) – 12 caps
Jon Welsh (Newcastle Falcons) – 11 caps
Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby) – 7 caps
Jonny Gray VICE CAPTAIN (Glasgow Warriors) – 38 caps
John Barclay CAPTAIN (Scarlets) – 66 caps
Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 15 caps
Cornell du Preez (Edinburgh Rugby) – 5 caps
Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) – 11 caps
Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) – 32 caps
Byron McGuigan (Sale Sharks) – 2 caps
Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) – 11 caps
Chris Harris (Newcastle Falcons) – 1 cap
Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 39 caps
Stuart Hogg VICE CAPTAIN (Glasgow Warriors) – 55 caps
Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons) – 46 caps
Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) – 3 caps
Murray McCallum (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped
Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) – 18 caps
Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) – 32 caps
Greig Laidlaw (ASM Clermont Auvergne) – 58 caps
Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 28 caps
Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 29 caps

Bones

Seems to be a lot of guys with not a lot of international experience in that Scots side.

Catogrande

@pot-hale
Strong side PH, though I can never quite understand how Earls has got that many caps. Elusive runner but to me, too many fallabilities?

Crucial

@bones said in 6N 2018:

Seems to be a lot of guys with not a lot of international experience in that Scots side.

Although you could argue that it has taken them a long time to throw out the experienced journeymen and the new blood is better.
They spent years picking the same old same old and getting the same results.
I hope that they really are going to live up to their (recent) billing for this tournament. They play good rugby.

Derm McCrum

@catogrande said in 6N 2018:

@pot-hale
Strong side PH, though I can never quite understand how Earls has got that many caps. Elusive runner but to me, too many fallabilities?

Yeah - he’s had a lot of stick in his career. Have to say his performance and form since going on the June tour to US and Japan and subsequently at club and international level has been superb. Scored some cracking tries and his pace still very good.

mikedogz

Derm McCrum

Wales strolling it in Cardiff. Second try for Wales from Halfpenny after 12 mins. 14-0

Sapetyvi

Scotland are totally lost in defence

antipodean

@sapetyvi said in 6N 2018:

Scotland are totally lost in defence

Totally lost on attack the amount they throw it away

Derm McCrum

Glasgow 50/50s don’t transfer to the test arena.

Another Welsh penalty. 20-0 with 48 mins

Crucial

Very surprised at just how inaccurate Scotland are today. No where near the level they played against NZ and Oz.
Sloppy passing, static backline, rubbish decisions.
Wales basically only needed to turn up today. They haven't done much themselves but can't lose.

Crucial

..and one of the fuckwits in the commentary team referred to the EOYT tests as friendlies!

Don't start that soccer bullshit please.

Derm McCrum

@crucial said in 6N 2018:

..and one of the fuckwits in the commentary team referred to the EOYT tests as friendlies!

Don't start that soccer bullshit please.

Not the first time. Bit like the exhibition match tag on Chicago test.

Halfpenny in again. 27-0

Derm McCrum

And Wyn Jones may be in for the bonus point try.

TMO time.

No try. Grounding not clear.

Derm McCrum

Steff Evans continues his scoring form with a one handed flying touchdown in the corner for the bonus point. 34-0

Bones

Pretty pathetic from Scotland. Just nothing in attack. Showed some really nice defensive patterns at times but obviously can't keep it up very long.

Kruse

@pot-hale said in 6N 2018:

@crucial said in 6N 2018:

..and one of the fuckwits in the commentary team referred to the EOYT tests as friendlies!

Don't start that soccer bullshit please.

Not the first time. Bit like the exhibition match tag on Chicago test.

Halfpenny in again. 27-0

Yeah - but the Chicago match really was an exhibition match, and doesn't count.
Right?

The Silver Fern

6N 2018