Six Nations 2015

[waiopehu oldboy]

Rather than hijacking the Northern Hemisphere thread I thought a seperate thread for 6N news was called for.

World Rugby got the ball rolling by naming the match officials:

Week 1

Wales v England
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (FFR)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (FFR) Mathieu Raynal (FFR) Simon McDowell (IRFU)

Italy v Ireland
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (FFR)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (RFU) Stuart Berry (SARU) Graham Hughes (RFU)

France v Scotland
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (NZR) Mike Fraser (NZR) George Ayoub (ARU)

Week 2

England v Italy
Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gauzere (FFR) Mike Fraser (NZR) George Ayoub (ARU)

Ireland v France
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (WRU) Stuart Berry (SARU) Graham Hughes (RFU)

Scotland v Wales
Referee: Glen Jackson (NZR)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (IRFU) Dudley Phillips (IRFU) Simon McDowell (IRFU)

Week 3

Scotland v Italy
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (FFR) Leighton Hodges (WRU) Graham Hughes (RFU)

France v Wales
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU)
Assistant referees: JP Doyle (RFU) Marius Mitrea (FIR) Simon McDowell (IRFU)

Ireland v England
Referee: Craig Joubert (SARU)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (FFR) Mathieu Raynal (FFR) Shaun Veldsman (SARU)

Week 4

Wales v Ireland
Referee: Steve Walsh (ARU)
Assistant referees: Chirs Pollock (NZR) Federico Anselmi (UAR) Graham Hughes (RFU)

England v Scotland
Referee: Romain Poite (FFR)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (IRFU) Marius Mitrea (FIR) Ben Skeen (NZR)

Italy v France
Referee: JP Doyle (RFU)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (RFU) Luke Pearce (RFU) Simon McDowell (IRFU)

Week 5

Italy v Wales
Referee: Chris Pollock (NZR)
Assistant referees: JP Doyle (RFU) Luke Pearce (RFU) Simon McDowell (IRFU)

Scotland v Ireland
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (FFR)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gauzere (FFR) Federico Anselmi (UAR) Graham Hughes (RFU)

England v France
Referee: Steve Walsh (ARU)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (IRFU) Leighton Hodges (WRU)

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3820_9599146,00.html

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

ENGLAND SQUAD

Forwards - Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby), Calum Clark (Northampton Saints), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Alex Corbisiero (Northampton Saints), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), James Haskell (Wasps), Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, captain), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), David Wilson (Bath Rugby), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints), Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Backs - Brad Barritt (Saracens), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints), Danny Care (Harlequins), Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks), Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath Rugby), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Stephen Myler (Northampton Saints), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...anny-cipriani-and-nick-easter-for-six-nations

WALES SQUAD

Forwards: Gethin Jenkins, Paul James, Rob Evans, Aaron Jarvis, Samson Lee, Scott Andrews, Richard Hibbard, Kristian Dacey, Scott Baldwin, Alun Wyn Jones, Jake Ball, Bradley Davies, Luke Charteris, Dan Lydiate, James King, Sam Warburton (captain), Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau. Backs: Mike Phillips, Rhys Webb, Gareth Davies, Dan Biggar, Rhys Priestland, Gareth Anscombe, Cory Allen, Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams, Tyler Morgan, Hallam Amos, Alex Cuthbert, George North, Liam Williams, Leigh Halfpenny

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...-anscombe-included-in-wales-six-nations-squad

SCOTLAND SQUAD

Forwards: Hugh Blake, Fraser Brown, Blair Cowan, Geoff Cross, David Denton, Alasdair Dickinson, Jonny Gray, Richie Gray, Ross Ford, Jim Hamilton, Rob Harley, Euan Murray, Gordon Reid, Alasdair Strokosch, Ben Toolis, Hamish Watson, Jon Welsh.

Backs: Mark Bennett, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Alex Dunbar, Dougie Fife, Stuart Hogg, Peter Horne, Greig Laidlaw, Sean Lamont, Sean Maitland, Henry Pyrgos, Finn Russell, Matt Scott, Tommy Seymour, Greig Tonks, Tim Visser.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...ugh-blake-named-in-scotland-six-nations-squad

Italy squad for the Six Nations:

Forwards: Matias Aguero (Zebre), Martin Castrogiovanni (Toulon), Dario Chistolini (Zebre), Alessandro De Marchi (Sale), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Leicester), Andrea Manici (Zebre), George Biagi (Zebre), Marco Bortolami (Zebre), Joshua Furno (Newcastle), Quintin Geldenhuys (Zebre), Robert Barbieri (Leicester), Mauro Bergamasco (Zebre), Simone Favaro (Treviso), Francesco Minto (Treviso), Sergio Parisse (c) (Stade Français), Alessandro Zanni (Treviso)

Backs: Edoardo Gori (Treviso), Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre), Marcello Violi (Calvisano), Tommaso Allan (Perpignan), Kelly Haimona (Zebre), Giulioi Bisegni (Zebre), Michele Campagnaro (Treviso), Andrea Masi (Wasps), Luke McLean (Sale), Luca Morisi (Treviso), Simone Ragusi (Treviso), Leonardo Sarto (Zebre), Giovanbattista Venditti (Zebre), Michele Visentin (Zebre)

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3820_9646000,00.html

France squad for the Six Nations:

Forwards: Eddy Ben Arous (Racing-Métro), Alexandre Menini (Toulon), Benjamin Kayser (Clermont), Guilhem Guirado (Toulon), Nicolas Mas (Montpellier), Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Rabah Slimani (Stade Français), Alexandre Flanquart (Stade Français), Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), Pascal Papé (Stade Français), Romain Taofifenua (Toulon), Damien Chouly (Clermont), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Bernard Le Roux (Racing-Métro), Yannick Nyanga (Toulouse), Charles Ollivon (Bayonne),

Backs: Rory Kockott (Castres), Sébastien Tillous-Borde (Toulon), Rémi Tales (Castres), Camille Lopez (Clermont), Mathieu Bastareaud (Toulon), Wesley Fofana (Clermont), Rémi Lamerat (Castres), Alexandre Dumoulin (Racing-Métro), Teddy Thomas (Racing-Métro), Sofiane Guitoune (Bordeaux-Bègles), Yoann Huget (Toulouse), Noa Nakaitaci (Clermont), Brice Dulin (Racing-Métro), Scott Spedding (Bayonne).

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3820_9645621,00.html

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Extended Ireland and Wolfhounds Squad:

Forwards (25): Michael Bent (Leinster), Rory Best (Ulster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Sean Cronin (Leinster), James Cronin (Munster), Robbie Diack (Ulster), Dave Foley (Munster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Rob Herring (Ulster), Mike McCarthy (Leinster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Martin Moore (Leinster), Jordi Murphy (Leinster), Sean O'Brien (Leinster), Paul O'Connell (Munster), Tommy O'Donnell (Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Mike Ross (Leinster), Rhys Ruddock (Leinster), Dominic Ryan (Leinster), Richardt Strauss (Leinster), Devin Toner (Leinster), Nathan White (Connacht).

Backs (21): Isaac Boss (Leinster), Tommy Bowe (Ulster), Darren Cave (Ulster), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), Keith Earls (Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster), Craig Gilroy (Ulster), Robbie Henshaw (Connacht), Felix Jones (Munster), David Kearney (Leinster), Rob Kearney (Leinster), Ian Keatley (Munster), Ian Madigan (Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Connacht), Fergus McFadden (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Jared Payne (Ulster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Noel Reid (Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92), Simon Zebo (Munster).

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...nd-chance-with-ireland-callup-for-six-nations

 

[JSRF10]

England’s line up for their game with Wales:


1 Burgess
2 Burgess
3 Burgess
4 Burgess
5 Burgess
6 Burgess
7 Burgess
8 Burgess
9 Burgess
10 Burgess
11 Burgess
12 Burgess
13 Burgess
14 Burgess
15 Burgess

 

[JSRF10]

Lots of questions to be answered over the next few weeks.

Wales have found a tighthead will they now find any variation on their 2008 game plan?

Does Lancaster have the stones to pick George Ford at 10?

Will Irelands injured heavy weights make it back for their two big home games?

Will France have their players mutiny in the WC or now?

I'm predicting a championship for Ireland but no slam.

 

[KevinO]

Glad to see Earls back in the Ireland training squad, the guy has a impressive try scoring record in Green. Squad is massive though.

 

[JSRF10]

Ireland always seem to just name every fit professional player on the island! It makes for amusing reading when some die hard is making the case for their provinces 4th choice winger.

The choice of wingers will be interesting Schidmt seems to be very specific on what he wants from his wings. Not sure Earls has had enough exposure to the "systems" yet to get a start.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Injury worries for the Poms with Farrell definitely & Eastmond possibly out:

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_9661382,00.html

France recall for Morgan Parra:

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_9661309,00.html

 

[BabyBlueElephant]

Farrell confirmed out of the tournament now.
http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_9682919,00.html

Blessing in disguise? Ford may well get his chance now. Love to see Cipriani get a call up.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Coupla Scots in the wars as well:

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_9682602,00.html

 

[BabyBlueElephant]

How is Maitland out injured the guy almost scored the match winning try in the dying minutes of the Bath Glasgow game. Maybe that last tackle was rubbish luck and he picked it up there.

Shame really the guy is a class act. Hope Scotland can still nab two wins this campaign the signs this Autumn were promising.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

France squad trimmed to 23 for the Scotland match:

Forwards: Uini Atonio, Eddy Ben Arous, Alexandre Menini, Nicolas Mas, Rabah Slimani, Guilhem Guirado, Benjamin Kayser, Pascal Papé, Romain Taofifenua, Yoann Maestri, Thierry Dusautoir, Bernard Le Roux, Damien Chouly, Loann Goujon.

Backs: Rory Kockott, Morgan Parra, Camille Lopez, Rémi Talès, Mathieu Bastareaud, Wesley Fofana, Yoann Huget, Teddy Thomas, Scott Spedding.

 

[BabyBlueElephant]

French forwards not looking as intimidating as usual on paper. A result of foreign big names taking up places in the T14?

Some very talented backs however.

 

[Hawko]

French forwards not looking as intimidating as usual on paper. A result of foreign big names taking up places in the T14?

Some very talented backs however.

But....they are very light on for a quality experienced 10. Thanks to the coaches hatred of Trinh Duc their best 10 isn't there. And there are only nine backs named which means they will be going in with a 6:2 bench split. If they pick up a training injury they will have to bring someone into the squad who won't have had any training time. Passing strange.

 

[Quick Hands]

But..they are very light on for a quality experienced 10. Thanks to the coaches hatred of Trinh Duc their best 10 isn't there. And there are only nine backs named which means they will be going in with a 6:2 bench split. If they pick up a training injury they will have to bring someone into the squad who won't have had any training time. Passing strange.

You've overlooked that fact that PSA is barking mad and his selections follow no pattern or reason whatsoever.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

You've overlooked that fact that PSA is barking mad and his selections follow no pattern or reason whatsoever.

Much like his last few predecessors, then. Actually struggling to think of the last French coach who appeared to have a selectorial policy that didn't involve a dart board or a hat-full of names scribbled on the back of torn-up napkins.........

 

[BabyBlueElephant]

But..they are very light on for a quality experienced 10. Thanks to the coaches hatred of Trinh Duc their best 10 isn't there. And there are only nine backs named which means they will be going in with a 6:2 bench split. If they pick up a training injury they will have to bring someone into the squad who won't have had any training time. Passing strange.

True but they've a bit of luck now in that Lopez has come along and the guy is fantastic. What happened to Trinh-duc was awful the guy barely did a thing wrong in the jersey and was consistent if nothing else.

Lopez is a danger though, I watch him at Clermont he's a classy and typically French 10.

 

[JSRF10]

Burgess had a bit of a shocker this morning for the English Saxons, safe to rule him out of the 6 Nations IMO

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^^^^ PlanetRugby agree, at least in part:

"While the build-up was dominated by the selection of league star Sam Burgess, the Bath centre had a largely forgettable evening, struggling to make a positive impact on the game."

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_9689792,00.html

 

[Quick Hands]

^^^^^^^^^^ PlanetRugby agree, at least in part:

"While the build-up was dominated by the selection of league star Sam Burgess, the Bath centre had a largely forgettable evening, struggling to make a positive impact on the game."

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_9689792,00.html

IMO he's wasted playing in the backline in rugby. He's a big strong guy who loves the tough stuff - they should be teaching him how to play 6 or 8 with a long term view instead of hoping that he can play centre at RWC 2015.