Article: The Original Rugby Championship - Six Nations 2016

Stargazer

Sky Sport will broadcast the men's Six Nations:
 
RBS 6 NATIONS LIVE ON SKY SPORT 1 (unless noted)
 February:
Sunday Feb 7: 3.15am - France v Italy; 5.40am - Scotland v England 
Monday Feb 8: 3.50am - Ireland v Wales 
Sunday March 14: 3.15am France v Ireland; 5.40am - Wales v Scotland 
Monday 15 Feb: 2.50am - Italy v England 
Saturday Feb 27: 8.55am Wales v France
Sunday Feb 28: 3.15am - Italy v Scotland (Note; SKY Sport 2); 5.40am - England v Ireland (Note; SKY Sport 2)
 
March:
Sunday March 13: 2.20am - Ireland v Italy; 4.50am England v Wales 
Monday March 14: 3.50am - Scotland v France 
Sunday March 20: 3.20am - Wales v Italy; 5.50am - Ireland v Scotland; 8.50am - France v England

Disgusted of TW

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="555881" data-time="1454400847">
The thing is Boo, Andrew COULD play decent rugby but rarely did. Much happier playing the percentage game and doing as he's told. In marked contrast to his career as an administrator. Oh wait...</blockquote>
It's easy to forget that Andrew could play some great running rugby on his day, but generally that was seen for club rather than for country. 
Being called out as an injury replacement for the 1989 Lions, coinciding with the tide turning with the 2nd Test victory was what I always thought made the difference for Andrew vs Barnes. But reading this extract from "Lions of England", it mentions Barnes making himself unavailable for selection at one point, which I had entirely forgotten: <a class="bbc_url" href="https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=olnBaea-JNYC&pg=PT72&lpg=PT72&dq=lions+89+andrew&source=bl&ots=2J3jdNDOaR&sig=e1nCvXllhfgCBliEoPrsObRiuSk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwitp_ih2tjKAhXHhhoKHTf5DNQQ6AEIODAG#v=onepage&q=lions 89 andrew&f=false">https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=olnBaea-JNYC&pg=PT72&lpg=PT72&dq=lions+89+andrew&source=bl&ots=2J3jdNDOaR&sig=e1nCvXllhfgCBliEoPrsObRiuSk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwitp_ih2tjKAhXHhhoKHTf5DNQQ6AEIODAG#v=onepage&q=lions 89 andrew&f=false</a> 
He was a pretty good cricketer too

MiketheSnow

France by 12-17
England by 7-12
Wales by 5-9

Catogrande

I'd take that thanks Mike!
 
For Wales I see George North is happy being back in camp and has come out dissing Northampton's style, saying it doesn't help his game. Sending out a message to other clubs/regions perhaps?

Disgusted of TW

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="555903" data-time="1454408575">I'd take that thanks Mike! 
 
For Wales I see George North is happy being back in camp and has come out dissing Northampton's style, saying it doesn't help his game. Sending out a message to other clubs/regions perhaps?</blockquote>
 
The quote that struck me from that interview was: 
"I want to have that space to run at people and have the opportunity, rather than carrying straight into a (defensive) wall" 
Blimey! He does know that Wales are coached by Gatland and Howley, right?

Disgusted of TW

Meanwhile in other news, looks like Fofana may be out for a while - ribs. Despite that, I am quite intrigued to see what France bring to this year's tourney.

Disgusted of TW

Eddie has confirmed that Itoje and Daly will be "travelling reserves", with Itoje most likely to get a bench spot, as Lawes is in doubt, hamstring apparently. Be good to see Itoje get some game time.

Catogrande

I get why he's taking Itoje (possible injury cover) but what's the story with him being able to take Daly?

Disgusted of TW

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="556216" data-time="1454487911">I get why he's taking Itoje (possible injury cover) but what's the story with him being able to take Daly?</blockquote>
 
Yes, mysterious. No injury rumours re backs are there. Outside chance I know, but maybe he's being considered as a better bench candidate than Goode?

Catogrande

As I said earlier DoTW, I'd take Daly over either of Devoto or Goode purely to cover 13. However can Eddie take an extra man that is not (potential but likely) injury cover? Otherwise it just seems like he's taking a bigger squad and would that not be against the rules of the competition?

Disgusted of TW

I've tried to find the rules around squad size, but no joy. You'd have to think it's being justified by injury worries over one or more of the backs - but who?

MiketheSnow

Welsh team announced
 
<img src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/12651179_10153494061943722_2391846164338331493_n.jpg?oh=aaffcb653950ead6f9c120481a138406&oe=572D48F8" alt="12651179_10153494061943722_2391846164338">
 
Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues)
George North (Northampton Saints)
Jonathan Davies (ASM Clermont)
Jamie Roberts (Harlequins)
Tom James (Cardiff Blues)
Dan Biggar (Ospreys)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets)
 
Rob Evans (Scarlets)
Scott Baldwin (Ospreys)
Samson Lee (Scarlets)
Luke Charteris (Racing 92)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys)
Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, CAPT)
Justin Tipuric (Ospreys)
Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons)
 
Replacements:
Ken Owens (Scarlets), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys)
Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues)

SimonAdd

Can't see the backs in that picture Mike. 
How do you feel about the front row? The back 5 of the pack look strong but I'm yet to be convinced by Samson Lee and don't know much about the other 2. 
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

MiketheSnow

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SimonAdd" data-cid="556266" data-time="1454505328">
<div>
Can't see the backs in that picture Mike. 
How do you feel about the front row? The back 5 of the pack look strong but I'm yet to be convinced by Samson Lee and don't know much about the other 2. 
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Changed. Thanks.
 
Should be enough to see off Ireland who have their own problems. Good front row cover on the bench.
 
Baldwin had a great WC, Evans the new kid on the block.

Catogrande

Strong side Mike. Biggar has really grown into the position IMO and is now pivotal for Wales, especially when the next cab on the rank is Priestland. Did you see the last Bath game at all? He showed a few good touches but quite a few unforced errors and his body language when things go wrong is pitiful I have serious back-row envy but like Simon have doubts about the front row. But as you say, a good FR bench.

MiketheSnow

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="556269" data-time="1454506005">
<div>
Strong side Mike. Biggar has really grown into the position IMO and is now pivotal for Wales, especially when the next cab on the rank is Priestland. Did you see the last Bath game at all? He showed a few good touches but quite a few unforced errors and his body language when things go wrong is pitiful 
I have serious back-row envy but like Simon have doubts about the front row. But as you say, a good FR bench.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Very disappointed that Priestland is anywhere near the match day 23.
 
With Anscombe and Morgan able to play 10 and 15 there's no need for him. Also Sam Davies of the Ospreys waiting in the wings.
 
Time to get the young guns involved.

Derm McCrum

Ireland's u'20 side to face Wales named: 

 
Wales have had the edge in the last two matches.
 
J Power (UCD/Leinster); M Byrne (Terenure/Leinster), S Daly (Cork Con/Munster), J Oâ€Brien (UCD/Leinster), H Keen (UCD/(Leinster); J McPhillips (QUB/Ulster), J Poland (Cork Con/Munster); A Porter (UCD/Leinster), A McBurney (Ballymena/Ulster), C Oâ€Donnell (Sligo/Connacht); P Claffey (Galwegians/Connacht), J Ryan (Lansdowne/UCD, capt); C Gallagher (Sligo/Connacht), W Connors (UCD/Leinster), M Deegan (Lansdowne/Leinster). 
Replacements: S Fenton (Young Munster/Munster), J Bollard (Dublin University/Leinster), C Kenny (Buccaneers/Connacht), S Oâ€Connor (Cashel/Munster), K Brown (Shannon/Munster), S Kerins (Sligo/Connacht), B Connon (Newcastle Falcons), C Oâ€Brien (Clontarf/Leinster).

Derm McCrum

Current 6 Nations champions, Ireland Women, start their SixNations against Wales on Saturday. Captain Niamh Briggs, hopes the newly world-ranked 4th side will continue their success in recent years. 
 
They have met on 20 previous occasions with Ireland Women winning seven and Wales thirteen, however Ireland have won the last four since Wales' 15-14 victory at Cross Keys in 2011.

Margin_Walker

It's a brave new world. Eng team for Scotland:
 
15. Mike Brown (vice captain, Harlequins, 43 caps) 14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 15 caps) 13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 16 caps) 12. Owen Farrell (vice captain, Saracens, 35 caps) 11. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 10 caps) 10. George Ford (Bath Rugby, 17 caps) 9. Danny Care (Harlequins, 53 caps) 1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 37 caps) 2. Dylan Hartley (captain, Northampton Saints, 66 caps) 3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 56 caps) 4. Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 28 caps) 5. George Kruis (Saracens, 10 caps) 6. Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, 43 caps) 7. James Haskell (Wasps, 62 caps) 8. Billy Vunipola (vice captain, Saracens, 21 caps) Replacements 16. Jamie George (Saracens, 3 caps) 17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 27 caps) 18. Paul Hill (Northampton Saints, uncapped) 19. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 42 caps) 20. Jack Clifford (Harlequins, uncapped) 21. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 52 caps) 22. Alex Goode (Saracens, 19 caps) 23. Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby, uncapped)

Catogrande

Sheesh! I hate to go on about it but... I'm going to. Moving Robshaw to 6 makes sense as that's what he really is as he has loads of experience, leadership and provides a deal of continuity, but to then replace him with Haskell who is if anything even less of a 7 than Robshaw just defies belief. Kvesic must be some bloody lothario to have shagged the wives of everybody on several selection committees. I sort of get that Haskell might be viewed as a stop gap, but why not play a genuine 7 and have Brand Haskell on the bench? Otherwise not too fussed with the selection (no cover for 13 aside) and all fairly predictable accordingly.

The Silver Fern

Article: The Original Rugby Championship - Six Nations 2016