Article: The Original Rugby Championship - Six Nations 2016
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Margin_Walker" data-cid="557097" data-time="1454841055"><p>
Vunipola's conditioning is actually pretty good. He's never going to be a Kieran Read type in the wide channels as he just isn't quick enough.</p></blockquote>You sum up perfectly to me what is wrong with English Rugby: the pigeon-holing players for what they are and failing to see what they might be. Billy Vunipola could play a wider and more effective game if his training schedule was focused on more than weights, weights and more weights.<br><br>
"Never" is a self-fulfilling prophecy. I am yet to see a player who can't get fitter or quicker through a hard-work over time. Richie McCaw, Ma'a Nonu and Dan Carter weren't the most naturally gifted players, they achieve greatness through determination, focus and sheer hard graft. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="557100" data-time="1454841602">
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<p>You sum up perfectly to me what is wrong with English Rugby: the pigeon-holing players for what they are and failing to see what they might be. Billy Vunipola could play a wider and more effective game if his training schedule was focused on more than weights, weights and more weights.<br><br>
"Never" is a self-fulfilling prophecy. I am yet to see a player who can't get fitter or quicker through a hard-work over time. Richie McCaw, Ma'a Nonu and Dan Carter weren't the most naturally gifted players, they achieve greatness through determination, focus and sheer hard graft.</p>
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<p>Billy started off playing for Wasps at 152kg. He now weighs 126kg and I'm pretty sure he will have shown a little graft and determination to get there. Personally think that he's actually at a pretty decent combination of size, power and endurance to be an effective 'tight' 8 and carry well in heavy traffic. Josh Beaumont is in the squad and is far closer in skill set to Read and will likely get an opportunity at some point.</p>
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<p>The three players you mention are all fantastic players, but I'd argue that Nonu is the only one that has gone through any profound transformation. McCaw and Carter were immensely talented from the start. Of course they improved, but I'd say that Billy has also improved since his first cap.</p> -
Carter started off as a half back, then a midfield back before switching to 10 and kept adding to his skills set.<br><br>
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Richie McCaw was far from a natural talent but had a massive hunger to learn and constantly reinvented his game to stay ahead. See what Steve Tew and Steve Hansen said on his retirement:<br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="
The key thing was that they had in coaches like Robbie Deans, Graham Henry, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen, guys with a Growth Mindset who always challenged them to be the best they could possibly mean. Time will tell if Eddie Jones will get the best out of the likes of Billy Vunipola and other talents in his squad (England could win the 2019 World Cup if they have a coach able to get the maximium out of their players) or whether they will rest in contentment with narrow, dour wins away to Scotland. -
Early days with Eddie, so while not ecstatic with another dour, narrow win I'll take it. However I expect quite a few changes for a home match against Italy. <br><br>
Current centre pairing and back row doesn't work for me and if Eddie isn't prepared to take a few risks against Italy, then I can't see when he ever will. -
Well 13-10 ahead at halftime with this lineup will do me.
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Jeez. Out on their feet both teams. <br><br>
16-16<br><br><br>
Fair result. -
I know it is Round 1 and weather in the UK has been terrible in recent weeks, but that was dour, negative stuff again in the Ireland -Wales match. The British sides seem to be trying to turn the Rugby clock back to the mid-70s or early-80s with slow paced, pass and drive, pass and kick, safety first Rugby.<br><br>
Any excitement in this year's 6 nations looks like it will come from the closeness of the fixtures rather than the quality of the Rugby on offer.<br><br>
The gulf between the Hemispheres in terms of Rugby skills and attacking nous is getting wider and wider and wider. -
<p>Crap but deserved result for both Wales and Ireland.</p>
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<p>Wales have learned nothing offensively since the WC despite the return of Liam Williams and Jonathan Davies. Wtf are you doing Howley?</p>
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<p>Priestland confirmed to me why he should be nowhere near the side.</p>
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<p>Great preformance from our young front row. Destroyed the Irish scrum.</p>
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<p>A player like Matthew Morgan or Sam Davies has to come into the frame for the Scotland match.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="557120" data-time="1454870172"><p>I know it is Round 1 and weather in the UK has been terrible in recent weeks, but that was dour, negative stuff again in the Ireland -Wales match. The British sides seem to be trying to turn the Rugby clock back to the mid-70s or early-80s with slow paced, pass and drive, pass and kick, safety first Rugby.<br>
Any excitement in this year's 6 nations looks like it will come from the closeness of the fixtures rather than the quality of the Rugby.</p></blockquote>
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Where are all these dour, negative coaches coming from... -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Disgusted of TW" data-cid="557122" data-time="1454870753"><p>
Where are all these dour, negative coaches coming from...</p></blockquote>Very early days to judge Eddie Jones. I guess he is trying to make England's defence and set piece world class, then he will work on the skills and attack. The Championship and the Grand Slam this year already look potentially achievable goals for the Tasmanian.<br><br>
It's ten years since Cotter coached in New Zealand and nine years since Gatland and Schmidt coached in New Zealand. I doubt any of them will be approached by NZRFU to come home any time soon based on their side's offerings this weekend. -
Actually I'm still feeling quite optimistic about Eddie. Looking for a few debutantes against Italy - if not now, when, etc. It's just a pity he hasn't got Slade available.
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It's a real bore watching rugby in northern hemisphere. Really clueless and it's all about defence<br><br><br>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="557125" data-time="1454873884">
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<p>It's a real bore watching rugby in northern hemisphere. Really clueless and it's all about defence<br><br><br>
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<p>Please don't watch it any more if it's upsetting you this much. :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Pot Hale" data-cid="557129" data-time="1454876233"><p>Please don't watch it any more if it's upsetting you this much. :)</p></blockquote>
Only saw the highlights but that was enough as there were no highlights worth watching<br><br><br>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="557130" data-time="1454876391">
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<p>Only saw the highlights but that was enough as there were no highlights worth watching<br><br><br>
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<p>Well now you know what to do in the future......</p>
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<p>Don't even watch the highlights. NH rugby is boring, kick-infested played on mud and slush pitches - we never promise anything else, and we always deliver. :)</p> -
<p>Crowds, physical intensity and history (tradition) ensure that it's not so boring as slow paced in my opinion</p>
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<p>The defence and the will not to give an inch are positives, the games just play out differently to the southern sides</p>
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<p>Can't expect everyone to be offloading, and displaying skills that these guys aren't used to after 2 weeks together. Similarly the coaches know how and why 4 Southern teams stood out in 2015, but to flick a switch and have that happen on day 1 of the 6 Nations just isn't a realistic option.</p>
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<p>However I think there is room to speed up the game. Get your team fit and looking to deny a slow game with quick taps, quick throws and even better kick chase execution and I think that is the foundations for proactive winning.</p>
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<p>There's a lot of the play in 6 nations where everyone just stops and goes through the motions - speed it up, gaps will appear and the last 15 minutes will be different too, tired legs</p>
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<p>Appreciated Garces yelling to use it scrums. Again the attacking mindset of great ball from a good initial shove needs to be recognised as grade A opportunities, not a time to milk a penalty</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="557185" data-time="1454896008">
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<div><br><p>Appreciated Garces yelling to use it scrums. Again the attacking mindset of great ball from a good initial shove needs to be recognised as grade A opportunities, not a time to milk a penalty</p>
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<p>A little like this you mean? ;)</p>
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<p>And this was after 3 scrum restarts when Wales was buckling the Irish scrum.</p> -
<p>Yes Mike</p>
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<p>However I'd like to see something similar a few more times before I'm convinced it's a genuine tactic. There was a hint perhaps that the ball spewed out</p>
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<p>Might be me being pessimistic although a team needn't wait for 2 resets to attack from a scrum. Northern hemisphere teams have an earned reputation for using scrums to kick penalties.</p>
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<p>Using scrums to score tries is the way forward</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="557398" data-time="1454930658">
<div><br><p>Using scrums to score tries is the way forward</p>
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<p>When it's on.</p>
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<p>The Kenny Rogers School of Rugby.</p>
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<p>3 pts and a prop in the bin can bring more reward at times.</p>
