2023 Six Nations

[Camroc2]

There is no doubt that Ireland have flogged him since Paddy Jackson got into trouble, rushing him back from x number of injuries, given we have no one close to his calibre for the 10 shirt. We even played him in the makey-uppy Autumn Cup during covid. He'd probably start every game in a 3 test tour to Canada FFS, knowing the IRFU.

I hope to god that he's fine in his post-career life, but if he's not then the IRFU could be in deep shit.

He hardly plays for Leinster these days outside of home inter pros, and knock out matches at seasons end.

Minutes played by Leinster OH's this season :

Harry Byrne 226 minutes
Ross Byrne 879 minutes
Ciaran Frawley 139 minutes
Jonny Sexton 258 minutes.

[weegie01]

Twickenham is not sold out for the Italy match.

OK, there are a couple of days to go, and there are only single tickets, but surely Twickenham used to reliably sell out quickly for any international.

Edit.
Murrayfield is still a good way off sold out as well. But a couple of good results and there is time for that to change.

[inactionman]

Twickenham is not sold out for the Italy match.

OK, there are a couple of days to go, and there are only single tickets, but surely Twickenham used to reliably sell out quickly for any international.

Mental prices during a cost of living crisis - this shouldn't have been hard to predict. Unless you're the RFU.

[Paddington Bear]

Twickenham is not sold out for the Italy match.

OK, there are a couple of days to go, and there are only single tickets, but surely Twickenham used to reliably sell out quickly for any international.

Edit.
Murrayfield is still a good way off sold out as well. But a couple of good results and there is time for that to change.

There's been some discussion of this on the England thread.

Tl:dr - the cheapest tickets are £93, on a Sunday, vs Italy, and we won less than half our games last year. This is before you mention the cost of living crisis etc.

There seems to have been a general sense from fans that this has fully taken the piss. For my part, I've often gone to the Italy game with quite a large group and bumped into tonnes of people I know, often having got tickets as a Christmas present. I'm not going to be price gouged for this game though.

Ironically, it will probably be the most competitive game vs Italy since the no ruck farce in 2017.

[Jock42]

Twickenham is not sold out for the Italy match.

OK, there are a couple of days to go, and there are only single tickets, but surely Twickenham used to reliably sell out quickly for any international.

Edit.
Murrayfield is still a good way off sold out as well. But a couple of good results and there is time for that to change.

Maybe if they're on for the GS will I think about spending £100 to see Italy. Maybe.

[Jim Lahey]

Any Ireland/Ulster game I've been to in the last 5 years has involved too much boozing from pretty much everyone there, so the actual focus on the game is diminished.

Given how overly complicated the game has become, you need to be stone-cold sober and in a room with no women or kids, to get a steer on what is actually happening

[Paddington Bear]

Any Ireland/Ulster game I've been to in the last 5 years has involved too much boozing from pretty much everyone there, so the actual focus on the game is diminished.

Given how overly complicated the game has become, you need to be stone-cold sober and in a room with no women or kids, to get a steer on what is actually happening

I would say that I had a cracking day at Twickenham last week despite the result. No one anywhere near me got up during the game bar perhaps a minute before half time, I didn't notice tonnes of day trippers just there for pints and there was plenty of noise from both sets of fans. I'm sure there were plenty there on a corporate jolly/piss up, but it didn't have quite the extent of it some games can.

[inactionman]

Any Ireland/Ulster game I've been to in the last 5 years has involved too much boozing from pretty much everyone there, so the actual focus on the game is diminished.

Given how overly complicated the game has become, you need to be stone-cold sober and in a room with no women or kids, to get a steer on what is actually happening

I would say that I had a cracking day at Twickenham last week despite the result. No one anywhere near me got up during the game bar perhaps a minute before half time, I didn't notice tonnes of day trippers just there for pints and there was plenty of noise from both sets of fans. I'm sure there were plenty there on a corporate jolly/piss up, but it didn't have quite the extent of it some games can.

Excessive trips to the bar are usually a pretty accurate bellwether as to the 'quality' of the game.

I put 'quality' in quotes as it's more the excitement and flow, I'm not sure I'd say the England Scotland was particularly high quality but it was a very good watch.

[Paddington Bear]

Any Ireland/Ulster game I've been to in the last 5 years has involved too much boozing from pretty much everyone there, so the actual focus on the game is diminished.

Given how overly complicated the game has become, you need to be stone-cold sober and in a room with no women or kids, to get a steer on what is actually happening

I would say that I had a cracking day at Twickenham last week despite the result. No one anywhere near me got up during the game bar perhaps a minute before half time, I didn't notice tonnes of day trippers just there for pints and there was plenty of noise from both sets of fans. I'm sure there were plenty there on a corporate jolly/piss up, but it didn't have quite the extent of it some games can.

Excessive trips to the bar are usually a pretty accurate bellwether as to the 'quality' of the game.

I put 'quality' in quotes as it's more the excitement and flow, I'm not sure I'd say the England Scotland was particularly high quality but it was a very good watch.

Definitely. People also turn up for the Tier 2 games for a piss up in a way that's not so true for a bigger game

[charltom]

Scotland only one change at tight head vs. Wales:

15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs) 97 caps
14. Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors) 6 caps
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) 12 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 24 caps
10. Finn Russell (Racing 92) 66 caps
9. Ben White (London Irish) 10 caps

1. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) 17 caps
2. George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 54 caps
4. Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 70 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) – Vice-Captain – 60 caps
6. Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby) – Captain – 37 caps
7. Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh Rugby) 3 caps
8. Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 29 caps

Replacements

16. Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) 58 caps
17. Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) 26 caps
18. WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) 51 caps
19. Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs) 73 caps
20. Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) 5 caps
21. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) 19 caps
22. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) 39 caps
23. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby) 40 caps

[charltom]

Wales:

[sockwithaticket]

That looks to be a pretty good back five of the pack for the Leekists.

[GogLais]

I’ve no idea why Cuthbert is on the bench, we already have four players in the fifteen who can play on the wing I’d rather see Tompkins or even Kieran Williams.

[laurent]

and

[charltom]

and

Are there any changes in those two teams? They don't jump out at me.

[iarmhí]

and

Are there any changes in those two teams? They don't jump out at me.

Sheehan out for Ireland. Herring in

[laurent]

and

Are there any changes in those two teams? They don't jump out at me.

Sheehan out for Ireland. Herring in

Bench for France (Cros and Couilloud)

[Camroc2]

and

Are there any changes in those two teams? They don't jump out at me.

Sheehan out for Ireland. Herring in

Kelleher taking Herring's place on the bench.

[charltom]

and

Are there any changes in those two teams? They don't jump out at me.

Sheehan out for Ireland. Herring in

Thank you. D'oh!

[SaintK]

Wales:

Much better looking starting pack
I wonder if that's it for A-WJ?
Francis needed dropping he was awful against Ireland

[clydecloggie]

Wales:

Much better looking starting pack
I wonder if that's it for A-WJ?
Francis needed dropping he was awful against Ireland

Nice back row but not an awful lot of experience there, and the bench looks decidedly weaker than Scotland's.

[Slick]

Beginning to ease into the weekend now with slightly less trepidation.

Proper old school 6N weekend for me. Welsh mates arriving Friday afternoon, rugby club dinner in the evening, restaurant booked for lunch on Saturday then off to the game.

[Paddington Bear]

That's the type of Irish team we usually have at the knock out stages of tournaments

Useful information for the neutral, blink and you miss it

[weegie01]

An all URC set of officials may be an issue for Wales with two non URC flankers. They may have an adjustment to make, which not Toby could help them through, but an inexperienced no 8 may not be able to.

The clash of the Lions wings will be interesting.

I am told by people who understand the dark arts better than I that Lewis is not the greatest scrummager. Anyone know if this is true?

[Biffer]

Beginning to ease into the weekend now with slightly less trepidation.

Proper old school 6N weekend for me. Welsh mates arriving Friday afternoon, rugby club dinner in the evening, restaurant booked for lunch on Saturday then off to the game.

I'm flying back from San Francisco overnight tonight, get back to Edinburgh 10pm Friday. Going to Murrayfield on Saturday, going out to watch the Superbowl Sunday. I won't know bum from breakfast time on Monday.

[C69]

Wales:

Much better looking starting pack
I wonder if that's it for A-WJ?
Francis needed dropping he was awful against Ireland

Nice back row but not an awful lot of experience there, and the bench looks decidedly weaker than Scotland's.

2 out and out open sides with little experience and a neophyte lock/NO.6
That's an applling front row and our back 5 lacks any nouse

[C69]

An all URC set of officials may be an issue for Wales with two non URC flankers. They may have an adjustment to make, which not Toby could help them through, but an inexperienced no 8 may not be able to.

The clash of the Lions wings will be interesting.

I am told by people who understand the dark arts better than I that Lewis is not the greatest scrummager. Anyone know if this is true?

Lewis is average. If Wales got Carre and Brown to be able to hold a scrum and Lake to be able to throw into the line out then look out World Rugby

[tc27]

Beginning to ease into the weekend now with slightly less trepidation.

Proper old school 6N weekend for me. Welsh mates arriving Friday afternoon, rugby club dinner in the evening, restaurant booked for lunch on Saturday then off to the game.

Obviously not worried about mockers or carrying years of conditioned disappointment vs Wales but I think you will smash them and NGL I will enjoy Gatland getting a well earned commuppence for fucking with the Scottish players in Lions tours.

[GogLais]

Much better looking starting pack
I wonder if that's it for A-WJ?
Francis needed dropping he was awful against Ireland

Nice back row but not an awful lot of experience there, and the bench looks decidedly weaker than Scotland's.

2 out and out open sides with little experience and a neophyte lock/NO.6
That's an applling front row and our back 5 lacks any nouse

No idea why Jac M is at 8. I’d rather see Morgan Morris there if Gatland wants to try alternatives.

[C69]

Nice back row but not an awful lot of experience there, and the bench looks decidedly weaker than Scotland's.

2 out and out open sides with little experience and a neophyte lock/NO.6
That's an applling front row and our back 5 lacks any nouse

No idea why Jac M is at 8. I’d rather see Morgan Morris there if Gatland wants to try alternatives.

We were fecked by Georgia playing 2 opensides.
Hopefully Hill and Ball will be back for the RWC and we find some props.
Rowlkands loss is fecking massive, a massive blow as he was Wales best player last year

[Uncle fester]

Wales:

Much better looking starting pack
I wonder if that's it for A-WJ?
Francis needed dropping he was awful against Ireland

Time waits for no man.

[Enzedder]

Looking forward to this battle soon

[GogLais]

I’ve been reading about the 0-6 Sco Wal match in 63, the one with 111 line outs. I hadn’t realised there were 35 scrums as well, how the hell did they pack them into 80 minutes, even allowing for everything being quicker then? And are extended highlights available anywhere?

[dkm57]

Looking forward to this battle soon

nice one, now f#ck off

[Torquemada 1420]

Only just realised Borthwick has ditched Smith for Farrell. FFS

[laurent]

Only just realised Borthwick has ditched Smith for Farrell. FFS

Italy is getting closer :)

[Torquemada 1420]

Only just realised Borthwick has ditched Smith for Farrell. FFS

Italy is getting closer :)

I can only smile at the thought of Farrell wrecking Eng's backline in a repeat of last week too

[Ymx]

Game of the tourney tomorrow.

Top 2 teams in the world going head to head.

Is that a first for the 6N?

[sockwithaticket]

Game of the tourney tomorrow.

Top 2 teams in the world going head to head.

Is that a first for the 6N?

Yep and the Beeb pod people haven't shut up about it all week.

[Ymx]

Game of the tourney tomorrow.

Top 2 teams in the world going head to head.

Is that a first for the 6N?

Yep and the Beeb pod people haven't shut up about it all week.

Sorry

Will take my neutral excitement elsewhere.