2023 Six Nations

[Torquemada 1420]

I don't know what can be done, or if anything should be done, but this is not a meeting of equals - France have a team of young men who are involved with professional Top 14 teams, many of whom have played in that competition.

Scotland have a bunch of kids who play amateur rugby, some of them are semi pro, ie they are on about £3k per year, but not training full time.
Rudi Brown is the only one who has made an appearance in a professional game - once as a schoolboy for Edinburgh last year.

I am pleased that it means some of these lads are getting exposure at the highest level. Maybe the problem is Scotland's?

Problem or not a problem, I don't know, but let's not pretend it's a level playing field.

I'm not sure what could or should be done. Fra are blooding youngsters at pro level. Sco are not (apparently. Maybe the rule should be you can't be selected unless you've played at least one top flight game!

[Tichtheid]

I am pleased that it means some of these lads are getting exposure at the highest level. Maybe the problem is Scotland's?

Problem or not a problem, I don't know, but let's not pretend it's a level playing field.

I'm not sure what could or should be done. Fra are blooding youngsters at pro level. Sco are not (apparently. Maybe the rule should be you can't be selected unless you've played at least one top flight game!

I'm not suggesting anything should be done, it is what it is, but if this was a full international then the equivalent is France v a team like USA.

[Torquemada 1420]

I'm not suggesting anything should be done, it is what it is, but if this was a full international then the equivalent is France v a team like USA.

Is there a credible "Espoirs" comp in Scotland?

[Tichtheid]

If there is one part of the game to point the finger at from a Scottish perspective, it's the lineout - it's hard enough without giving up so much ball

[Tichtheid]

I'm not suggesting anything should be done, it is what it is, but if this was a full international then the equivalent is France v a team like USA.

Is there a credible "Espoirs" comp in Scotland?

The Super6 - ie six teams - started just before Covid kicked in, it's not only younger players who play in it and these are the players on around £3K, so some youngsters get blocked in positions like prop

[Torquemada 1420]

I'm not suggesting anything should be done, it is what it is, but if this was a full international then the equivalent is France v a team like USA.

Is there a credible "Espoirs" comp in Scotland?

The Super6 - ie six teams - started just before Covid kicked in, it's not only younger players who play in it and these are the players on around £3K, so some youngsters get blocked in positions like prop

Thanks.

[Tichtheid]

Fair play, I love seeing tackles like that - hit the midriff and drive them back

[Torquemada 1420]

Fair play, I love seeing tackles like that - hit the midriff and drive them back

That was a thing of beauty. Shows you can monster legally.

[Tichtheid]

Have Scotland won any line outs since the first quarter of the match?

[Torquemada 1420]

Have Scotland won any line outs since the first quarter of the match?

Normally a Fre weakness: mainly due to pie chuckers.

[LenCohen]

I wouldn't use that term, but yes

He is so bad, I wrote a complaint and he was part of why I cancelled my subscription.

Was it Robbie Nock? He is hilariously, beyond satire bad. It's like he has never seen a game of rugby before and has also forgetten how to speak English.

[laurent]

I sort of enjoyed that game

a pity Italy could not keep the Irish closer.

[fishfoodie]

I sort of enjoyed that game

a pity Italy could not keep the Irish closer.

Their discipline was abysmal; they should have had a couple of YCs, but when they just played, they were well in it.

[Uncle fester]

On this showing, Welsh rugby is f**ked for a generation.

Tbh I’m not sure that the U20s were up to much even during peak Gatland. We’re late developers.

It's the poor conditioning that really sticks out.

[CM11]

I don't know what can be done, or if anything should be done, but this is not a meeting of equals - France have a team of young men who are involved with professional Top 14 teams, many of whom have played in that competition.

Scotland have a bunch of kids who play amateur rugby, some of them are semi pro, ie they are on about £3k per year, but not training full time.
Rudi Brown is the only one who has made an appearance in a professional game - once as a schoolboy for Edinburgh last year.

None of the Irish u20s have played any pro rugby (other than possibly, ironically, the French guy we played in round one but he was awful and subsequently dropped) . I'm not sure all are even in a provincial academy. In general the u20s are a year out of school and most in that age group go into our sub academies.

[CM11]

Just had a quick look and 10 of our u20s' first 15 are from Leinster. Only one is in our academy. None have a pro appearance.

The one is Sam Prendergast. I think we'll be hearing his name for a long time.

[fishfoodie]

Just had a quick look and 10 of our u20s' first 15 are from Leinster. Only one is in our academy. None have a pro appearance.

The one is Sam Prendergast. I think we'll be hearing his name for a long time.

Nah, he's a flash in the pan, just send him to Connacht & we'll see if we can make some use of him.

[Torquemada 1420]

I wouldn't use that term, but yes

He is so bad, I wrote a complaint and he was part of why I cancelled my subscription.

Was it Robbie Nock? He is hilariously, beyond satire bad. It's like he has never seen a game of rugby before and has also forgetten how to speak English.

I don't know his name but that is a perfect description.

[Blackmac]

Shocked to see that piece of shit Gareth Thomas still getting TV jobs.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Shocked to see that piece of shit Gareth Thomas still getting TV jobs.

It is just very, very weird. Doesn't say much for those prepared to appear alongside him at this point

[Jock42]

Shocked to see that piece of shit Gareth Thomas still getting TV jobs.

First time I'd seen the show, or knew it existed, don't really understand the format tbh . Not really sure what Ed Balls or the radio presenter can divulge about the comp. All that combined meant I wasn't slow in turning over.

[Blackmac]

Shocked to see that piece of shit Gareth Thomas still getting TV jobs.

First time I'd seen the show, or knew it existed, don't really understand the format tbh . Not really sure what Ed Balls or the radio presenter can divulge about the comp. All that combined meant I wasn't slow in turning over.

It is absolutely rubbish but Thomas getting any gig is disgraceful.

[TheFrog]

I had lost track of Thomas. What did he do to deserve that hate?

[Blackmac]

I had lost track of Thomas. What did he do to deserve that hate?

He deliberately hid his positive HIV status from his partner for three years. The partner was infected. Appears to have gone to great lengths to do so and recently settled the court case out of court.

[Jock42]

I had lost track of Thomas. What did he do to deserve that hate?

His ex partner has accused him of knowingly giving him HIV. Thomas settled out of court before ot got too far.

[sturginho]

Forza ragazzi!

[laurent]

Bon match

[PCPhil]

Will someone please put some batteries in that f’in band!

Seems they can suddenly play a tempo for Italian anthem.

[Biffer]

They really murdered the Irish anthem didn’t they

[Jock42]

That was worse than the French rendition of FoS a few years back.

[Biffer]

That was worse than the French rendition of FoS a few years back.

The Welsh always murder FoS. They play it like it’s a German oompah tune. It’s entirely deliberate because they’re a shower of cunts.

[C69]

Shocked to see that piece of shit Gareth Thomas still getting TV jobs.

It is just very, very weird. Doesn't say much for those prepared to appear alongside him at this point

Very strange indeed.
Surprised he still gets media work.

[sturginho]

They really murdered the Irish anthem didn’t they

They always seem to butcher the Irish anthem in Rome. If it's a tactic it clearly doesn't work

[C69]

2 Forward passes there

[fishfoodie]

Sounds like there's a lot of away support in Rome

[C69]

Lowe's pass was a yard forward

[Tichtheid]

Gwan Italy!

Great try

[Biffer]

Great try for Italy.

Ireland perpetually offside.

[sturginho]

Yes Cannone jr!

[Jock42]

Lovely try