6 Nations 2019
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@MajorRage said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Crucial said in 6 Nations 2019:
Ireland had that loss coming. They hardly play unbeatable rugby and although they thoroughly deserved their two wins over the ABs a cold look back shows that the first one was them at maximum effort while the ABs were still playing tourists in Chicago. Last year's win was also maximum effort against an out of sorts NZ.
Don't get me wrong, they are a very good rugby team with the ability to take a game from a stronger team, but they cannot hope to play at maximum every game or hope their opposition implode (eg France and England last 6N).
England have finally realised that they need to play to their strength which is to out muscle other teams. They have the personnel to do that but their achilles heel is that they need to be in the lead or close behind to play that gameplan. Get them behind by 10 and they need a plan B (Ireland are similar).
I hope the ABs are planning a blitz approach in the first 20 rather than hoping to sail home strong in the last 20.
RWC will be interesting to watch the contrast of styles. England are looking to do a Patriots and, as mentioned above, it could be 2007 all over again.Pains me to say it, but I think that game was pure Eddie Jones.
Ireland hadn't moved on at all from last years (incredibly successful) game plan. For all of Eddie' faults, he is arguably one of the best tacticians in the game with his ability to put together a plan to beat any specific team in a one-off game.
Ireland didn't just get beaten by England, they got hammered. Physically, and tactically.
It was crushing. I will be really interested to see if Schmidt can reinvent the wheel, because his gameplan has basically remained unchanged since he took charge. TBH, it's a very successful gameplan - the only way really to beat it, is to outmuscle Ireland such as England did in the weekend or else they have been vulnerable to attacking out wide, most notably Argentina in 2015. I think the whole Irish gameplan falls down though if their halves are out of sorts - everything goes thru Murray and to a lesser extent Sexton. A Scottish win this weekend would really put a cat among the pigeons, borderline panic I would say.
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@Crucial said in 6 Nations 2019:
@sparky said in 6 Nations 2019:
@mariner4life said in 6 Nations 2019:
Barnes has done the Welsh a couple of pretty big favours too.
??? Barnes disallowed two Welsh tries and let the French live offside for a lot of that second half. I'm no fan at all of how he attempts to control and game and make himself the centre of attention, but the French can't blame Calamity Barnes for their defeat last night.
Offside was the same both ways. The sooner WR work out how to police such a key facet of the game the better. Barnes is one of the supposed top refs yet if his management of the offside line is a portent of this RWC year we will see every team taking the piss.
Hi Gregor, welcome to the Fern. I suspect you have been getting article ideas here for awhile. The generous person would say “great minds think alike “ but I m not sure you fit that description
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I watched the game and I really think Gregor is clutching at straws. I don’t think there were persistent offsides.
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@Billy-Tell said in 6 Nations 2019:
I watched the game and I really think Gregor is clutching at straws. I don’t think there were persistent offsides.
It’s more the consistent pushing at the offside line that makes the call “obviously” offside rather not “not onside”.
I would be fairly certain that with accurate technology you would notice persistent offside but I also wouldn’t want to go down that path.
In the modern game it really is the main thing that is curtailing attacking play.
Although most decisions in the game are ‘obvious infringement’ I really think that offside has to go to ‘obvious adherence”. If the ref team can’t observe an obvious gap then players are deemed offside -
I only watched the first 60 minutes of Ireland/England before being whisked away to wedding so I perhaps have a skewed view but I wouldn't be too demoralised if I was Ireland. They just looked like a team who were having an off day early (and without a bit of luck would have been a lot worse) and did a pretty good job to keep it together to try and pinch it at the end.
It will be troubling they couldn't get it together and find another gear to turn things a round in the second half, but I've seen the ABs play that exact 60 minutes of rugby at least 5 times in the last cycle including the Ire and Eng tests last season.
Ireland's undoing IMO will be much like the 2011 Boks who got the rub of the green with referees for so long that when they finally get a game where the calls are going 60/40 against them they get frazzled and lose structure.
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@rotated said in 6 Nations 2019:
I only watched the first 60 minutes of Ireland/England before being whisked away to wedding so I perhaps have a skewed view but I wouldn't be too demoralised if I was Ireland. They just looked like a team who were having an off day early (and without a bit of luck would have been a lot worse) and did a pretty good job to keep it together to try and pinch it at the end.
It will be troubling they couldn't get it together and find another gear to turn things a round in the second half, but I've seen the ABs play that exact 60 minutes of rugby at least 5 times in the last cycle including the Ire and Eng tests last season.
Ireland's undoing IMO will be much like the 2011 Boks who got the rub of the green with referees for so long that when they finally get a game where the calls are going 60/40 against them they get frazzled and lose structure.
The penalty count was hugely in their favour for first 60 minutes.
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@Derm-McCrum said in 6 Nations 2019:
@rotated said in 6 Nations 2019:
I only watched the first 60 minutes of Ireland/England before being whisked away to wedding so I perhaps have a skewed view but I wouldn't be too demoralised if I was Ireland. They just looked like a team who were having an off day early (and without a bit of luck would have been a lot worse) and did a pretty good job to keep it together to try and pinch it at the end.
It will be troubling they couldn't get it together and find another gear to turn things a round in the second half, but I've seen the ABs play that exact 60 minutes of rugby at least 5 times in the last cycle including the Ire and Eng tests last season.
Ireland's undoing IMO will be much like the 2011 Boks who got the rub of the green with referees for so long that when they finally get a game where the calls are going 60/40 against them they get frazzled and lose structure.
The penalty count was hugely in their favour for first 60 minutes.
The ABs have had similar games though being outplayed in the first 60 with penalty count in their favour; 2nd Lions test and vs Boks in Wellington last year. It happens and it's a sign of a good team that they had the fight to keep the game close and be in it so late on an off day.
It does highlight the challenge Ireland will face playing three big games on the trot without faltering.
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@Crucial said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Billy-Tell said in 6 Nations 2019:
I watched the game and I really think Gregor is clutching at straws. I don’t think there were persistent offsides.
It’s more the consistent pushing at the offside line that makes the call “obviously” offside rather not “not onside”.
I would be fairly certain that with accurate technology you would notice persistent offside but I also wouldn’t want to go down that path.
In the modern game it really is the main thing that is curtailing attacking play.
Although most decisions in the game are ‘obvious infringement’ I really think that offside has to go to ‘obvious adherence”. If the ref team can’t observe an obvious gap then players are deemed offsideWales walk the line all match, every match. That's Shaun Edwards' way.
Where they get away with it is either
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The whole back line is in sync so there's no obvious 'culprit' offside. Much harder for the ref to identify an individual.
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The wings are slightly ahead of 10, 12, 13 but because they're further away from the action and not involved the ref ignores them. But the midfield axis are offside as a unit, they just don't look like they are.
It goes to shit and Wales get deservedly penalised when someone isn't in sync with the two options above.
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Wales team to face Italy on Saturday
Wales: L Williams; Holmes, J Davies (capt), Watkin, Adams; Biggar, A Davies
N Smith, Dee, Lee, Ball, Beard Wainwright, Young, Navidi
Replacements:
Elias, W Jones, D Lewis, Alun Wyn Jones, Moriarty
G Davies, Anscombe, AmosGreat to see Aberdare boy - and son of Wales & BI Lions prop David Young - Thomas Young getting a run out.
Great to see both depth and youth in the squad.
Based on last Saturday's performance against Scotland, the Italians can be dangerous if you take your foot off the gas (throat).
Wales should have too much.
Wales by 25-30.
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@MiketheSnow Dunno if you've seen much of Young's performances for Wasps over the last couple of seasons but he's been very good. England qualified but it would have been a travesty if he'd not plumped for Wales.
I see Gatland has gone with some experience on the bench... just in case.
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@Catogrande said in 6 Nations 2019:
@MiketheSnow Dunno if you've seen much of Young's performances for Wasps over the last couple of seasons but he's been very good. England qualified but it would have been a travesty if he'd not plumped for Wales.
I see Gatland has gone with some experience on the bench... just in case.
Yes.
Was in school with Dai and followed Thomas' career.
Consistently good. Offers something different from the bigger back row forwards like Moriarty et al
Deserves a shot.
Yes. Experienced bench to bring it home if needed.
Will be interesting to see who plays 10 against your mob.
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@MiketheSnow said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Catogrande said in 6 Nations 2019:
@MiketheSnow Dunno if you've seen much of Young's performances for Wasps over the last couple of seasons but he's been very good. England qualified but it would have been a travesty if he'd not plumped for Wales.
I see Gatland has gone with some experience on the bench... just in case.
Yes.
Was in school with Dai and followed Thomas' career.
Consistently good. Offers something different from the bigger back row forwards like Moriarty et al
Deserves a shot.
Yes. Experienced bench to bring it home if needed.
Will be interesting to see who plays 10 against your mob.
Hopefully someone with only one leg. I shall be at the Millennium on a hosted event so it will be a great day whatever happens though of course a win for the good guys (They wear white BTW) would be the icing on the cake. Are you going to the game?
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@Catogrande said in 6 Nations 2019:
@MiketheSnow said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Catogrande said in 6 Nations 2019:
@MiketheSnow Dunno if you've seen much of Young's performances for Wasps over the last couple of seasons but he's been very good. England qualified but it would have been a travesty if he'd not plumped for Wales.
I see Gatland has gone with some experience on the bench... just in case.
Yes.
Was in school with Dai and followed Thomas' career.
Consistently good. Offers something different from the bigger back row forwards like Moriarty et al
Deserves a shot.
Yes. Experienced bench to bring it home if needed.
Will be interesting to see who plays 10 against your mob.
Hopefully someone with only one leg. I shall be at the Millennium on a hosted event so it will be a great day whatever happens though of course a win for the good guys (They wear white BTW) would be the icing on the cake. Are you going to the game?
Enjoy.
Unfortunately not.
Still on Hokkaido, Japan.
Back for the Irish match.
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@MiketheSnow Work or Snow in Hokkaido?
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Schmidt makes a couple of changes for the Scots at Murrayfield. Henshaw joins the temp. injured along with Ringrose, Toner.
15.Rob Kearney (Leinster/UCD) 87 caps
14. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 73
13. Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster) 3 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 13
11. Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan/Ulster) 15
10. Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 79 (vc)
9. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 68- Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 85
- Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 114 (c)
- Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 29
- James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 14
- Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht) 9
- Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 53 (vc)
- Sean O’Brien (Leinster/UCD) 53
- Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 11 caps
Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 66
17. Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 25
18. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 12
19. Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 11 caps
20. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 14 caps
21. John Cooney (Ulster/Terenure College) 5
22. Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Munster) 17
23. Jordan Larmour (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) 10 -
@Catogrande said in 6 Nations 2019:
@MiketheSnow Work or Snow in Hokkaido?
Both.
Ski instructor in SW Hokkaido
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@MiketheSnow said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Catogrande said in 6 Nations 2019:
@MiketheSnow Work or Snow in Hokkaido?
Both.
Ski instructor in SW Hokkaido
I first skied Niseko like most people, took a look around at all the Australians and Kiwis, ever since I've been going to Furano, Tomamu and Kurodake. Less like Bali on snow...
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Looks awesome feller. Living the dream, good on ya.
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@antipodean said in 6 Nations 2019:
@MiketheSnow said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Catogrande said in 6 Nations 2019:
@MiketheSnow Work or Snow in Hokkaido?
Both.
Ski instructor in SW Hokkaido
I first skied Niseko like most people, took a look around at all the Australians and Kiwis, ever since I've been going to Furano, Tomamu and Kurodake. Less like Bali on snow...
It's changed.
Lot less Australians and way more SE Asians.
Base myself in Niseko Hirafu because that's where my customers own propreties.
But mainly ski Kiroro, Rusutsu and Niseko Moiwa.
Just did a 10-day roadie hitting the bigger and smaller resorts around Hakodate and Asahikawa.
Magic.
