Six Nations 2015

[the plastic paddy]

Walsh has stood himself down as the ref for the crunch Wales V Ireland game next week. He has cited 'business commitments', what is that all about? Is he back on the Sauce? Wayne Barnes is in to replace him. Think it is probably good news for Ireland after Barnes failed to send off Pape. I don't think it will improve the game as a spectacle anyway.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

PSA knows who's to blame for the Wales loss (hint: it ain't him):

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_34543,00.html

Surely the maddest in a long line of mad French coaches. Can't help but compare it to this from Vern Cotter after his guys lost to Italy:

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3820_34245,00.html

Probably overstating the case somewhat, but always a better look for the coach to carry the can in public even while he's tearing the under/ poor-performing players a new one at training.............

 

[the plastic paddy]

After a Welsh clean sweep against the Irish provinces this weekend, Wales will be massive favourites for Saturday's game. Hopefully Ireland can keep the score respectable.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Wales unchanged for Ireland:

Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Liam Williams, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Toby Faletau, Sam Warburton (captain), Dan Lydiate, Alun-Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris, Samson Lee, Scott Baldwin, Gethin Jenkins. Reserves: Richard Hibbard, Rob Evans, Aaron Jarvis, Jake Ball, Justin Tipuric, Mike Phillips, Rhys Priestland, Scott Williams

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...-unchanged-team-for-ireland-six-nations-clash

Irish will be happy that Sexton looks good to go:

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_36187,00.html

 

[mxyzptlk]

After a Welsh clean sweep against the Irish provinces this weekend, Wales will be massive favourites for Saturday's game. Hopefully Ireland can keep the score respectable.

If any country has proved that club form doesn't determine national form, it's Wales.

 

[the plastic paddy]

Sexton, SOB, Heaslip and Jared all fit for Cardiff. Ireland at full strength so no excuses. Weather forecast set fair as well so even Fat Head will realise that the roof business is a red herring. Don't think it will be Champagne rugby with Wazzock Barnes reffing but should be intense anyway.

 

[Bardon]

No matter the shape of the championship table I always look forward to Wales v Ireland. There have been some very exciting games between them in recent years and no little controversy.

My sister and her husband have travelled to Cardiff for the game with some Welsh friends. They got their tickets independently so Irish couple ended up in a Welsh section and the Welsh couple have tickets for an Irish section.

I'm not sure if they're going to swap tickets or not but at least rugby is one of those sports where the only danger in such a situation is some extra slagging if your team loses.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

England v Scotland:

England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Jack Nowell, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 James Haskell, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Joe Marler
Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 Tom Wood, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Billy Twelvetrees

 

[the plastic paddy]

Amazed Haskell is still involved.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Ireland v Wales:

15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Paul O'Connell (c), 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Jack McGrath
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Martin Moore, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Felix Jones

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_36622,00.html

Scotland v England:

15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Tommy Seymour, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Greig Laidlaw, 8 David Denton, 7 Blair Cowan, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Jim Hamilton, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Ryan Grant, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Johnnie Beattie, 21 Adam Ashe, 22 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 23 Greig Tonks.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_36591,00.html

France v Italy:

15 Scott Spedding, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Gaël Fickou, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Sébastian Tillous-Borde, 8 Loann Goujon, 7 Bernard le Roux, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Alexandre Flanquart, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Eddy Ben Arous
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Rabah Slimani, 18 Vincent Debaty, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Damien Chouly, 21 Rory Kockott, 22 Jules Plisson, 23 Mathieu Bastareaud

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_36522,00.html

 

[the plastic paddy]

Ireland at full strength although I am not sure anyone has 100% confidence in Sexton's hamstring because Keatley is travelling to Cardiff. Heaslip's experience is welcome, not that Jordi did anything wrong against the Orcs. Dangerously confident Ireland will win.

 

[qwerty51]

Didn't Heaslip do something serious to his back?

 

[Cardiffblue]

Not sure Schmidt ball is anymore innovative than cementball. Seems v similar but played with world class half backs. Looking forward to the clash of the systems

 

[Cardiffblue]

After a Welsh clean sweep against the Irish provinces this weekend, Wales will be massive favourites for Saturday's game. Hopefully Ireland can keep the score respectable.

Let's see if we can keep it up against the red hand gang tomorrow morning

 

[Cardiffblue]

Amazed Haskell is still involved.

Amazing how he still goes from hero to zero game to game

 

[Cardiffblue]

Ireland at full strength although I am not sure anyone has 100% confidence in Sexton's hamstring because Keatley is travelling to Cardiff. Heaslip's experience is welcome, not that Jordi did anything wrong against the Orcs. Dangerously confident Ireland will win.

Are you ahead at the festival?

 

[Quick Hands]

Walsh has stood himself down as the ref for the crunch Wales V Ireland game next week. He has cited 'business commitments', what is that all about? Is he back on the Sauce? Wayne Barnes is in to replace him. Think it is probably good news for Ireland after Barnes failed to send off Pape. I don't think it will improve the game as a spectacle anyway.

The way Walsh has refereed his last couple of super matches, you guys are lucky.

 

[the plastic paddy]

Didn't Heaslip do something serious to his back?

He had the little nobbly bits on his vertebrae broken.

 

[the plastic paddy]

Are you ahead at the festival?

Personally ahead, Ireland have had an incredible Cheltenham, particularly Willie Mullins.

 

[the plastic paddy]

Not sure Schmidt ball is anymore innovative than cementball. Seems v similar but played with world class half backs. Looking forward to the clash of the systems

I think both sides are going to look to play a lot more rugby.