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Six Nations 2015

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Cardiffblue

Jim Lenehan (48)
Murray was sublime today. There is not a team on earth he wouldn't waltz into, including NZ.
Sorry I missed that. Ever since the lions tour Murray is simply the best scrum half in the world by far. No one close even for nz. His is the only complete player on the international circuit.
 

Cardiffblue

Jim Lenehan (48)
Thanks for the thoughts, but with a 1.5mbps download speed live streaming ain't an option.

The stupid NBN tower down the road was supposed to go live 6 days ago so hopefully should be ok shortly.
If you can get any speed on your internet, you can use a vpn to get around the country lock. It is not illegal. I only want the 6n and British free to air so it works well for me.

I've heard there are free streaming sites but they are said to be slow, illegal and you need to block pop ups using Mozilla.
 

BabyBlueElephant

Darby Loudon (17)
Round ones up. No clear favourite yet. Wales having some of the best players at their disposal but its just not clicking for them. Unless Wales win the RWC unlikely Gatland will be here next 6N. England have some great talents and have come out best in that round with a hard away win. JJ and Ford will cause any defence in the world problems. They've such an exciting backline this team.

Special word for Scotland, that backthree is fantastic, as is Russell. France played well today, putting in some decent un-PSA like performances recently. The Aus game and this showed more composure and skill than a lot of their past games. Ireland are in first gear right now but will have to be a few gears higher if they're to beat France next week.
 

Cardiffblue

Jim Lenehan (48)
The wheels will come off French in Dublin. Imo international rugby comes down to back row. Ireland looked disjointed cos sob was injured. England back row was awesome. Ours were one dimensional. As for Scotland they've always had good backs but without a back row they are always living off scraps
 

Cardiffblue

Jim Lenehan (48)
Round ones up. No clear favourite yet. Wales having some of the best players at their disposal but its just not clicking for them. Unless Wales win the RWC unlikely Gatland will be here next 6N. England have some great talents and have come out best in that round with a hard away win. JJ and Ford will cause any defence in the world problems. They've such an exciting backline this team.

Special word for Scotland, that backthree is fantastic, as is Russell. France played well today, putting in some decent un-PSA like performances recently. The Aus game and this showed more composure and skill than a lot of their past games. Ireland are in first gear right now but will have to be a few gears higher if they're to beat France next week.
Think mike brown should be given the credit for any excitement that Orc backline generate.
 

Shelts89

Tom Lawton (22)
I reckon giving ford motm was brian moores message to England coach to say 'don't pick farrell'

Good message though, just chalk Farrell up as a failed experiment. I think he'll make the WC squad still.
 

BabyBlueElephant

Darby Loudon (17)
Think mike brown should be given the credit for any excitement that Orc backline generate.

JJ has to be the most exciting prospect at 13 in the British Isles right now. At club level he's phenomenal. He ripped Toulouse apart in the CC, and with two tries (on 6N debut?) I reckon he will be the 13 of the championship. Ford too is so underrated, watch this guy his passing game is fantastic. The only 10 with a passing game near Sextons level in the tournament IMO.
 

Bardon

Peter Fenwicke (45)
When Farrell is fit he'll get back into the team once Ford's place kicking costs England a game. Personally I'd rather lose the odd game and build with Ford.

To me Farrell is a runners-up fly-half, doesn't have the ability to unlock the full potential of the England backline. He's good if you want to play the percentages but that rarely wins you trophies.

Ford is more of a gamble but he can take England to a level that Farrell just can't. I'd rather take the odd loss with someone like Ford and reap the benefit in the long run.
 

BDA

Peter Johnson (47)
When Farrell is fit he'll get back into the team once Ford's place kicking costs England a game. Personally I'd rather lose the odd game and build with Ford.

To me Farrell is a runners-up fly-half, doesn't have the ability to unlock the full potential of the England backline. He's good if you want to play the percentages but that rarely wins you trophies.

Ford is more of a gamble but he can take England to a level that Farrell just can't. I'd rather take the odd loss with someone like Ford and reap the benefit in the long run.


It seems to me that Lancaster has already decided on the style of football he wants England to play (at least for the world cup) and it basically revolves around playing the percentages, as you say. try to dominate the set piece and lots of up-and-under's. basically boot it unless your in the opposition's 20, and even then, as we saw against Wales, they might kick it (from memory it was a little grubber kick that led to their first try). It's pretty boring stuff but effective. Farrell seems to fit that gameplan well. If Tuilagi is back in the side, we might see him flick it to the centres a bit more but their outside backs are never going to get much quality ball, on the current gameplan.

Against NZ in June 2014 they gave the ball some width and certainly caught the kiwis off guard. looked dangerous at times too. They might have to do something similar if they make it to the world cup final because I'm not sure this style will get them over the line against NZ.
 

Blue

Andrew Slack (58)
That should be river dance into right?
No I think it's a drunken dance after your 11th pint of Guinness.

He's good alright. Didn't see the game bit it was against Italy so now he's the best in the world? He has some work to do to overtake Smith I would say.
 

KevinO

Geoff Shaw (53)
No I think it's a drunken dance after your 11th pint of Guinness.

He's good alright. Didn't see the game bit it was against Italy so now he's the best in the world? He has some work to do to overtake Smith I would say.

Don't think anyone who is calling Murray the best is only going by the Italy game. Over the last year his form has been outstanding, he is ahead of Smith at the moment and anyone who watches all rugby comps would agree.
 

Blue

Andrew Slack (58)
Don't think anyone who is calling Murray the best is only going by the Italy game. Over the last year his form has been outstanding, he is ahead of Smith at the moment and anyone who watches all rugby comps would agree.
I don't. I think he is close, but I'd take Smith.
 

Wales Fan

Alfred Walker (16)
Don't see as much of Smith in the northern hemisphere I guess but Murray is head & shoulders the best 9 up here.
The first weekend of the championship showed how dangerous England will be in world cup year. Their depth is frightening up front, I honestly think they could put out 5 packs who'd easily complete in the 6nations.
Ireland are still my pick though, especially if Sexton comes back in and hits form.
Scotland impressive for me (against past form) & are a handful for everyone now I think.
France are powerful & confused as ever, if they click they can beat anyone but could also lose against anyone too.
Italy fought hard for the majority of their opening game but as usual ran out of steam. Commitment & heart will get you so far but they need a new influx of young players to push on again.
Wales unfortunately for us Welsh are on a downward spiral under Gatland I feel. It's all very well being loyal to players but when others are playing infinitely better but know they won't get selected must be soul destroying. Players also must feel under pressure to perform to compete at their best.
It must lead to a stale, stagnant squad.
 

BabyBlueElephant

Darby Loudon (17)
Don't see as much of Smith in the northern hemisphere I guess but Murray is head & shoulders the best 9 up here.
The first weekend of the championship showed how dangerous England will be in world cup year. Their depth is frightening up front, I honestly think they could put out 5 packs who'd easily complete in the 6nations.
Ireland are still my pick though, especially if Sexton comes back in and hits form.
Scotland impressive for me (against past form) & are a handful for everyone now I think.
France are powerful & confused as ever, if they click they can beat anyone but could also lose against anyone too.
Italy fought hard for the majority of their opening game but as usual ran out of steam. Commitment & heart will get you so far but they need a new influx of young players to push on again.
Wales unfortunately for us Welsh are on a downward spiral under Gatland I feel. It's all very well being loyal to players but when others are playing infinitely better but know they won't get selected must be soul destroying. Players also must feel under pressure to perform to compete at their best.
It must lead to a stale, stagnant squad.


You guys need rid of Gatland. Your squad has become amazing under him, whether thats him getting the most out of the players with all the gym work or just down to well managed lower levels of the game over in Wales I'm not informed enough to know. But either way tactically Wales can't compete under him it seems even though a lot of your outside backs are good enough for most teams in the world.


Scotland look like a handful this year. Hogg and Russell are outstanding for them right now, maybe a tad weak at centre but I can see them scoring a fair few tries under Cotter. Seems a long time ago the days of Scotland trying to get a single try in the tournament.
 

BabyBlueElephant

Darby Loudon (17)
Smith has a faster pass and can set a tempo slightly better than Murray. Murray has an outhalf like brain with his tactical kicking and controlling of the play. As someone else said they suit their teams perfectly. AB's want fast ball out wide whereas Ireland are all about smart rugby where obv the half backs play a huge role.
 

Wales Fan

Alfred Walker (16)
You guys need rid of Gatland. Your squad has become amazing under him, whether thats him getting the most out of the players with all the gym work or just down to well managed lower levels of the game over in Wales I'm not informed enough to know. But either way tactically Wales can't compete under him it seems even though a lot of your outside backs are good enough for most teams in the world.


Scotland look like a handful this year. Hogg and Russell are outstanding for them right now, maybe a tad weak at centre but I can see them scoring a fair few tries under Cotter. Seems a long time ago the days of Scotland trying to get a single try in the tournament.
It's down to Gatland & his team conditioning wise. Lower level rugby in Wales is on its arse - team Wales is the only thing that matters to the WRU.
Tactically though they're all over the place, everyone in world rugby knows how we play & how to combat it.
There's no plan B as everyone knows but it's selection that really irks me. Several of Gatland's main players are hopelessly out of form - Cuthbert has been woefully bad all season, Jon Davies has hardly played out in France for Clermont. Lydiate has only played a handful of games without shinning in any of them.
But it seems however poorly any of these guys or others are playing they're guaranteed a starting spot.
Losing interest slowly which is sad for a patriotic Welshman :(
 

BabyBlueElephant

Darby Loudon (17)
Losing interest slowly which is sad for a patriotic Welshman :(


I wouldn't worry, we had Kidney and we survived through that. Only seven more months just keep that thought close. I can't think of one player outside of Wilko and the Armitage's who has really gone to France and stepped up his game another level from UK/Ireland. Sexton arguably has slightly improved his tactical kicking. A lot seem to go over there and on the whole suffer a huge form dip.
 
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