6N 2018

[Catogrande]

England (extended) squad to play Italy named with quite a few rookies in there, due to injury and suspensions. Given the problems we have with back rowers injury and suspension I'm not sure just what Armand at Exeter Chiefs has to do to get a look in. (Possible bias alert).

Tom Dunn Edit:Gary Graham, sorry wrong rookie, is an interesting pick. He is qualified to play for Scotland too but Eddie has jumped in. Cue much Scottish frothing at the mouth (possibly justified).

England squad to face Italy

Backs

Mike Brown (Harlequins), Nathan Earle (Saracens), Harry Mallinder (Northampton), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Danny Care (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Alex Lozowski (Saracens),Jack Nowell (Exeter), Henry Slade (Exeter), Ben Te'o (Worcester) Marcus Smith (Harlequins) **, Ben Youngs (Leicester)

Forwards

Gary Graham (Newcastle), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Launchbury (Wasps)Zach Mercer (Bath), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Sam Simmonds (Exeter), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Lewis Boyce (Harlequins), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Tom Dunn (Bath), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)

** - Apprentice player

[Stargazer]

XV de France extended squad for the test against Ireland:

Hookers
Guilhem Guirado (RCT), Camille Chat (Racing 92), Christopher Tolofua (Saracens)

Props
Jefferson Poirot (UBB), Eddy Ben Arous (Racing 92), Dany Priso (Stade Rochelais), Rabah Slimani (Clermont), Cedate Gomes Sa (Racing 92)

Locks
Sébastien Vahaamahina (Clermont) Paul Gabrillagues (Stade Français), Arthur Iturria (Clermont), Félix Lambey (LOU)

Loose forwards
Sekou Macalou (Stade Français), Kevin Gourdon (Stade Rochelais), Anthony Jelonch (Castres), Yacouba Camara (MHR), Wenceslas Lauret (Racing 92), Marco Tauleigne (UBB)

Halfbacks
Morgan Parra (Clermont), Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain), Maxime Machenaud (Racing 92)

First-five eighths
Matthieu Jalibert (UBB), Anthony Belleau (RCT)

Midfielders
Geoffrey Doumayrou (Stade Rochelais), Henry Chavancy (Racing 92), Jonathan Danty (Stade Français), Rémi Lamerat (Clermont),

Outside backs
Teddy Thomas (Racing 92), Virimi Vakatawa (Racing 92), Benjamin Fall (MHR), Nans Ducuing (UBB), Brice Dulin (Racing 92), Geoffrey Palis (Castres)

.

It will be interesting to see whether the new coaches can turn things around for France after the very disappointing results from November that led to Guy Noves getting sacked. I understand the change of guard was a bit messy, and this is not the most experienced coaching set-up. Jacques Brunel and his assistants Julien Bonnaire, Sébastien Bruno and Jean-Baptiste Élissalde have called up a few young players in Matthieu Jalibert, Anthony Belleau ou Anthony Jelonch, but have also re-called veteran Morgan Parra.

[Bones]

@catogrande no captain named?

[Catogrande]

@bones Apparently not it seems but Eddie has been fulsome in his support for Hartley recently so I would expect him to get the nod.

[Kruse]

@catogrande Yeah - closest I could find was Eddie claiming back in November that Hartley was gonna be captain for 6N, despite any changes during those End-Of-Year-Tour/Autumn-Internationals/Spring-Tour/November-Tests.

[Catogrande]

@stargazer No Picamoles? Big call.

[Sapetyvi]

@catogrande Haven't seen myself, but a mate who follows top14 closely said he wasn't surprised at all, apparently Picamoles has been playing very poorly.

[Catogrande]

@sapetyvi I haven't seen that much of the T14 but I have seen him v Exeter in the European Cup. He was looking pretty good but only in fits and starts really. Mind you I think that mirrors the Montpellier game-plan itself. I'm not sure that he's made a good choice in going there. He remains a class player IMO.

[Derm McCrum]

Ireland 6N squad for first two rounds announced by our Joe:

FORWARDS (20)
Hookers
Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) c 106 caps; Sean Cronin (St Mary's College/Leinster) 56 caps; Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 3 cap

Wide Lads
Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 73 caps; Jack McGrath (St Mary's College/Leinster) 42 caps; Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 22 caps; Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 19 caps; Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 3 caps; John Ryan (Cork Constitution/Munster) 11 caps

Tall Lads
Ultan Dillane (Corinthians/Connacht) 11 caps; Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 34 caps; Quinn Roux (Galwegians/Connacht) 3 caps; James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 4 caps; Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 53 caps

Bulky Lads
Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster) 4 caps; Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 5 caps; Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 18 caps; Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 42 caps; CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 18 caps; Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 9 caps

BACKS (16)

Fancy Dans
Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 78 caps; Andrew Conway (Garryowen/Munster) 6 caps; Jacob Stockdale (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 4 caps; Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 62 caps
Jordan Larmour (St Mary's College/Leinster)*; Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 32 caps

The Mids
Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 2 caps; Chris Farrell (Young Munster/Munster) 2 caps; Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 31 caps; Rory Scannell (Dolphin/Munster) 3 caps

Queens & Prima Donnas
Johnny Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster) 68 caps; Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster) 7 caps; Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster) 6 caps

Small but perfectly formed Loudmouths
Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 18 caps; Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 6 caps; Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 59 caps

[Bones]

@pot-hale Payne injured?

[Derm McCrum]

@bones said in 6N 2018:

@pot-hale Payne injured?

Has been since Lions tour. Headaches. Hasn't played since. He's 32, central contract up in June. Not looking good.
Heaslip also out since last 6N.
O'Brien had minor hip operation last week. Might feature later rounds.
Ringrose also injured but might feature in later rounds.
Niall Scannell also injured otherwise would have been ahead of Herring
Surprised Roux got in ahead of Treadwell.
Rory Scannell preferred ahead of McCloskey which is a good thing imho
Pity that John Cooney, Ulster 9, didn't get a chance to show his wares. Has been in fine form for Ulster and made fans forget about Pienaar.

If the above can get all get through their European final pool games this weekend and emerge unscathed, then Schmidt & Co will be pretty happy with their lot.

[MN5]

@catogrande said in 6N 2018:

England (extended) squad to play Italy named with quite a few rookies in there, due to injury and suspensions. Given the problems we have with back rowers injury and suspension I'm not sure just what Armand at Exeter Chiefs has to do to get a look in. (Possible bias alert).

Tom Dunn Edit:Gary Graham, sorry wrong rookie, is an interesting pick. He is qualified to play for Scotland too but Eddie has jumped in. Cue much Scottish frothing at the mouth (possibly justified).

England squad to face Italy

Backs

Mike Brown (Harlequins), Nathan Earle (Saracens), Harry Mallinder (Northampton), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Danny Care (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Alex Lozowski (Saracens),Jack Nowell (Exeter), Henry Slade (Exeter), Ben Te'o (Worcester) Marcus Smith (Harlequins) **, Ben Youngs (Leicester)

Forwards

Gary Graham (Newcastle), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Launchbury (Wasps)Zach Mercer (Bath), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Sam Simmonds (Exeter), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Lewis Boyce (Harlequins), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Tom Dunn (Bath), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)

** - Apprentice player

Gary Grahams dad is George Graham who played for Scotland in the late 90s as a mobile ball playing prop who I assume based on this wasn't much of a scrummager.

[Catogrande]

@mn5 So, justified frothing then. I remember George Graham, as you say, handy in the loose but not so much at the day job.

[mariner4life]

I'm actually looking forward to this. The 6N is now the world's pre-eminent annual rugby competition. I hope the rugby on display lives up to that billing.

Surely a two horse race?

[Tim]

@mariner4life Should be four competitive teams this year? France will remain a joke. Hope they get beaten by Italy too.

[mariner4life]

I expect the Scots to spoil, but fall short. I don't actually think much of Wales, but they do seem to lift for this comp so maybe?

[MN5]

@mariner4life said in 6N 2018:

I expect the Scots to spoil, but fall short. I don't actually think much of Wales, but they do seem to lift for this comp so maybe?

Scots were talking themselves up on the fb group I was a member of. I say 'was' because I made an off colour joke that offended a bunch of them, refused to apologise and got banned. Scottish rugby fans are quite literally a bunch of PC butthurt snowflakes.

God Bless TSF and all you fluffybunnies on here who share my non PC offensive attitude.

[SammyC]

@mn5 said in 6N 2018:

@mariner4life said in 6N 2018:

I expect the Scots to spoil, but fall short. I don't actually think much of Wales, but they do seem to lift for this comp so maybe?

Scots were talking themselves up on the fb group I was a member of. I say 'was' because I made an off colour joke that offended a bunch of them, refused to apologise and got banned. Scottish rugby fans are quite literally a bunch of PC butthurt snowflakes.

God Bless TSF and all you fluffybunnies on here who share my non PC offensive attitude.

Tell us the joke?

[MN5]

@sammyc said in 6N 2018:

@mn5 said in 6N 2018:

@mariner4life said in 6N 2018:

I expect the Scots to spoil, but fall short. I don't actually think much of Wales, but they do seem to lift for this comp so maybe?

Scots were talking themselves up on the fb group I was a member of. I say 'was' because I made an off colour joke that offended a bunch of them, refused to apologise and got banned. Scottish rugby fans are quite literally a bunch of PC butthurt snowflakes.

God Bless TSF and all you fluffybunnies on here who share my non PC offensive attitude.

Tell us the joke?

Everyone was getting all up in arms about Basteraud being homophobic ( i think he has been suspended ? ) and I mentioned gay blokes are great at shopping, interior decorating etc.

An admin emailed me saying he'd had multiple complaints about my bigoted comments.

Definitely the kind of piston wristed gibbons who woulda been outraged at that restaurant in chch.

[Bones]

@mn5 rinse, repeat... You already used that story to describe a failed tinder episode bro.