6 Nations 2019
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@junior said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Crucial said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Catogrande said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Crucial said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Disgusted-of-TW said in 6 Nations 2019:
@ShadowTrooper Not sure I'd agree that England are playing "crash-bash" rugby. And certainly haven't heard anyone of note suggest that the RWC is in the bag. But keep going, please. I've nearly got a winning line on my "lazy stereotypes" bingo card...
Crash bash is the basis of the game for them though. Once that creates an opportunity they change to take it. Nothing wrong in that it is their style and they currently have the uninjured cattle to make it work. Take any 2of the crash bash merchants of the Vunipolas and Tuilagi out of the side and that game plan looks far less effective. Even if they aren’t carting the ball they run very disruptive lines that verge on illegal as they put bulk between the ball and the defence. Something looked very wrong about that first try to May. Seemed to me like players in front of the ball started running forward into blocking positions to stop any possible covering defence.
If the three mentioned stay fit then NZ is probably the only side with the ammo to out gun them but we have to unlock the defence firstSo, verging on illegal. Do you mean legal?
Nah, I would actually argue an interpretation of illegal but as it doesn't get called by refs then I can't refer to it as such.
It does come down to an objective opinion but...*A player is offside in open play if that player is in front of a team-mate who is carrying the ball or who last played it. An offside player must not interfere with play. This includes:
Preventing the opposition from playing as they wish.*
Refs tend to interpret this as 'pushing/shoving/checking/tackling' an opposition player, but to me running forward/sideways while still offside and blocking lines and view of defenders should also be stamped out
The other tactic I was referring to was running alongside the ball carrier during one off carries to make it more difficult for tacklers to get near the ball. It 'verges' on illegal as the 'blocker' is often offside then onside in alternate steps making it very hard to conclusively call a penalty.
BTW, I'm having a crack at the laws/interpretation/refs here not England as such. IMO this and the creeping on the offside lines is ruining the skill and spectacle.
I wonder if the answer here is for refs to police this like they do the kick chase - you can't advance forward to chase a kick or get within 10m of the catcher if you are offside in front of the kicker. I'm not sure it would stop guys from standing in front of the attacking line, but it would certainly make it easier for a moving defender to deal with.
Trouble is that you can't really make a simple rule for moving forward in front of the ball or the whole game gets screwed up as all forwards stand still when the ball gets passed to the backs.
I think that the obstruction law is clear, it just needs a wider interpretation of what constitutes 'preventing the opposition.....' . Any hint of changing direction to block or obscure should be pinged. -
Finn Russell out for Scotland. That's a blow the next options are very much a step down.
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@Catogrande yep, good time to put a tenner on France.
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@Bones said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Catogrande yep, good time to put a tenner on France.
Except...
Brunel has gone troppo and has now picked the wunderkind Ntamack at 10 with the two starting half-backs from the last game out of the squad altogether.
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@Catogrande sorry, I mean France with a bonus point win then.
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@Crucial said in 6 Nations 2019:
@MN5 said in 6 Nations 2019:
Scotland fucked with all their best backs out.
No chance unless Tokoroas favourite expat Maori or Tommy Seymour can produce some fireworks.
Quade Cooper plays for Scotland now?
na his cuzzy does bro
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@MN5 said in 6 Nations 2019:
Scotland fucked with all their best backs out.
No chance unless Tokoroas favourite expat Maori or Tommy Seymour can produce some fireworks.
Jeez, I didn't realise Scotland had joined NZ and Oz with plundering the PI of Tokoroa's ever diminishing rugby stocks. The Walrus only mentioned NZ doing it.
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@Machpants Maitland has a Scottish grandfather. That's how he qualified (not through residency).
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One for you @MiketheSnow
https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/47297172
Actually quite a good piece, even for an Englishman to read.
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There's an interesting interview with Conor O'Shea here:
I've been listening to a few rugby podcasts over the last twelve months, most of which bug me for various reasons. This one is generally pretty good.
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@Catogrande said in 6 Nations 2019:
One for you @MiketheSnow
https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/47297172
Actually quite a good piece, even for an Englishman to read.
Great read all round.
Not sure if it was Urban Myth or fact but heard there was no shirt swapping on the pitch because the England players had Grand Slam t shirts under their match day jerseys
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@MiketheSnow said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Catogrande said in 6 Nations 2019:
One for you @MiketheSnow
https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/47297172
Actually quite a good piece, even for an Englishman to read.
Great read all round.
Not sure if it was Urban Myth or fact but heard there was no shirt swapping on the pitch because the England players had Grand Slam t shirts under their match day jerseys
Fuck - I would love one of those t-shirts.
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@MiketheSnow said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Catogrande said in 6 Nations 2019:
One for you @MiketheSnow
https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/47297172
Actually quite a good piece, even for an Englishman to read.
Great read all round.
Not sure if it was Urban Myth or fact but heard there was no shirt swapping on the pitch because the England players had Grand Slam t shirts under their match day jerseys
I can’t imagine that was true. Even if you win and then show them off you look like twats and while there were some individual twats in that squad, the collective wasn’t. Could you imagine Martin Johnson signing up for it?
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@Catogrande said in 6 Nations 2019:
@MiketheSnow said in 6 Nations 2019:
@Catogrande said in 6 Nations 2019:
One for you @MiketheSnow
https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/47297172
Actually quite a good piece, even for an Englishman to read.
Great read all round.
Not sure if it was Urban Myth or fact but heard there was no shirt swapping on the pitch because the England players had Grand Slam t shirts under their match day jerseys
I can’t imagine that was true. Even if you win and then show them off you look like twats and while there were some individual twats in that squad, the collective wasn’t. Could you imagine Martin Johnson signing up for it?
True enough
Good urban myth though 😉 -
Wales squad announced. No surprises.
Wales:
Liam Williams (Saracens); George North (Ospreys), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Josh Adams (Worcester); Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Davies (Scarlets)
Rob Evans (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter), Cory Hill (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, captain), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Dragons)Replacements:
Elliot Dee (Dragons), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)
Aled Davies (Ospreys), Dan Biggar (Northampton), Owen Watkin (Ospreys)Anscombe gets the start.
Need to run at England and keep them guessing.
Then Biggar to close the game out if we're in contention.
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@MiketheSnow said in 6 Nations 2019:
Wales squad announced. No surprises.
Wales:
Liam Williams (Saracens); George North (Ospreys), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Josh Adams (Worcester); Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Davies (Scarlets)
Rob Evans (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter), Cory Hill (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, captain), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Dragons)Replacements:
Elliot Dee (Dragons), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)
Aled Davies (Ospreys), Dan Biggar (Northampton), Owen Watkin (Ospreys)Anscombe gets the start.
Need to run at England and keep them guessing.
Then Biggar to close the game out if we're in contention.
Good pack. Not sold on Anscombe at 10 and I see England's bench being stronger. All that would make you think I reckon it's our game to lose but I really see this one as being close and could go either way.
