6 Nations 2019
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True - I've been shouting T Farrell's name since last season - partnering with Aki has done him a power of good, but he's really come into his own this season even with Aki out. Carty has been near faultless in his 16 appearances so far in 2018/19, and Blade and himself have a very good partnership. Whether Schmidt selects them is another matter, but I'd hope the Italian game at least might give them some time on the pitch.
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@Bones said in 6 Nations 2019:
These seem like bloody massive squads. Is this typical? Do they get trimmed before the competition?
Schmidt likes to involve new players in the squad camp environment even if they just have oppo roles to give them a taste. Some players are let back to provinces if there's a PRO14 game coming up and they're not in game plans so the provinces aren't short-handed unnecessarily. He may still lose one or two with a European final round this weekend, and another PRO14 game before the 6N starts.
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@Derm-McCrum So if Ireland smash England, do they take top in the world rankings? Either way they'll have it by the end of the tournament
Edit. No where near, I thought incorrectly the opening game is in England.
1 New Zealand 92.54
2 Ireland 91.48 (+0.31)
3 Wales 87.24
4 England 85.91 (-0.31) -
@Machpants said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Derm-McCrum So if Ireland smash England, do they take top in the world rankings? Either way they'll have it by the end of the tournament
Edit. No where near, I thought incorrectly the opening game is in England.
1 New Zealand 92.54
2 Ireland 91.48 (+0.31)
3 Wales 87.24
4 England 85.91 (-0.31)No. Ireland beating Eng by over 15 still has them over a point behind NZ.
England can overtake Ireland with a 15+ win
If Ireland win all their games they may top the rankings but it is hard to calc that without guessing other outcomes.
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Uuum Eddie had been partying with Beale, I think
Eddie Jones says Jack Nowell could be an England flanker
Eddie Jones believes converting Jack Nowell from wing to openside flanker is an option if England are to succeed in World Cup year.
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@Crucial said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Machpants said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Derm-McCrum So if Ireland smash England, do they take top in the world rankings? Either way they'll have it by the end of the tournament
Edit. No where near, I thought incorrectly the opening game is in England.
1 New Zealand 92.54
2 Ireland 91.48 (+0.31)
3 Wales 87.24
4 England 85.91 (-0.31)No. Ireland beating Eng by over 15 still has them over a point behind NZ.
England can overtake Ireland with a 15+ win
If Ireland win all their games they may top the rankings but it is hard to calc that without guessing other outcomes.
Do I detect some nervousness amongst the Fern brethren?
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@Derm-McCrum I'm married, being on top in everything is getting boring. A change in position would be nice actually.
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@mariner4life said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Derm-McCrum I'm married, being on top in everything is getting boring. A change in position would be nice actually.
Welcome to the Fern Mrs mariner4life. I hope you enjoy your stay.
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@Virgil said in 6 Nations 2019:
@mariner4life said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Derm-McCrum I'm married, being on top in everything is getting boring. A change in position would be nice actually.
Welcome to the Fern Mrs mariner4life. I hope you enjoy your stay.
That's pretty good for you. Did your wife's boyfriend type it?
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@mariner4life said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Virgil said in 6 Nations 2019:
@mariner4life said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Derm-McCrum I'm married, being on top in everything is getting boring. A change in position would be nice actually.
Welcome to the Fern Mrs mariner4life. I hope you enjoy your stay.
That's pretty good for you. Did your wife's boyfriend type it?
And he’s back..
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@Machpants said in 6 Nations 2019:
Uuum Eddie had been partying with Beale, I think
Eddie Jones believes converting Jack Nowell from wing to openside flanker is an option if England are to succeed in World Cup year.
Lancaster and Burgess must be having a right old chuckle.
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Interesting stats https://www.rugbypass.com/news/discarded-the-sobering-six-nations-4-year-attrition-rate-laid-bare
I'd love to see a rugby champ squads equivalent when they are announced
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@Machpants An amazing turnover in the squads which isn't all that surprising for such an attritional collision sport, but I wonder what the stats will be for the starting teams.
Just goes to highlight why there are so few centurions in the sport. Not playing test rugby must add a couple of years to your earning capacity.
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@Machpants said in 6 Nations 2019:
I'd love to see a rugby champ squads equivalent when they are announced
Haven't calc'd it but pretty sure the ABs 2014 to 2018 EOYT comparison would be similar.
Misleading stats IMO. They are taking reference points at key times in the RWC cycle when 'refreshing' is done.
Only very key standout players (relative to team strength) survive through multiple cycles. Look at the RWC record books and the names of those at the top of the appearance list. (McCaw, Mealamu, Leonard, Gregan, Burger....) -
I’d only comment on the Ireland selection but it’s skewed in that he used the wider 46-man squad which included players for a Wolfhounds match vs Saxons that was reduced to 38 for start of Six Nations.
As for players changed since 2015 well players like Ross, O’Connell, Reddan, Boss, White, Strauss, Ryan were all in their early 30s so they retired - certainly from test arena. Some weren’t good enough - Cave, Dom Ryan, Keatley - and some left - Madigan, Zebo, Moore.
It’s not exactly a picture of attrition.
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Good interview with Joe Schmidt on Ireland, playbooks, and a bit about his family/future.
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Anyone else pretty excited by the 6N starting this weekend? Shaping up as a good few weeks of rugby, with some important form lines being set for September.
Can the Irish cement their place as the world's number 1 team?
Has Eddie Jones "Eddie Jonesed" England and taken them as far as he can, and they are now backsliding, or are they bouncing back to their previous form?
How the fuck are Wales #3 in the world?
Can the Scots actually climb the table? (I understand they have a bunch of guys out though) or are they condemned to always scrapping with France & Italy for the spoon?
Are France still fucked?I had better check it is actually being shown in Aus, seeing as the country is trying hard to pretend rugby doesn't exist any more.
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Time to move the VPN to UK.
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No Kieran Marmion? Is a win against all blacks while starting not good enough?
