NPR

CM11 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:37 pm

laurent wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:27 pm

CM11 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:26 pm Ramos, Dupont, Penaud, Hansen, Doris and Keenan the nominees for player of the tournament.

How is Flament not listed ?

Because he exploded in the later stage of the tournament?

Get the stats out ... he was freakish early on and better at the end.

I'm not sure what stats you're looking for but even just comparing to Ryan he's not exactly beating him hands down. Ryan has more dominant tackles, more metres run and more lineout steals. Flament has more overall tackles, France defended more overall. I haven't looked at per minute.

He was very good for sure but so were lots of players. You could probably swap him in for Penaud in the short list as I think Penaud benefited much more from the work of others than anyone else on the list.

CM11 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 5:07 pm I'm not sure what stats you're looking for but even just comparing to Ryan he's not exactly beating him hands down. Ryan has more dominant tackles, more metres run and more lineout steals. Flament has more overall tackles, France defended more overall. I haven't looked at per minute.

He was very good for sure but so were lots of players. You could probably swap him in for Penaud in the short list as I think Penaud benefited much more from the work of others than anyone else on the list.

Penaud is a wing he does a lot more than scoring though.

Anyway too many Irish (and not enough 'Tarf men).

laurent wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 5:11 pm

CM11 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 5:07 pm I'm not sure what stats you're looking for but even just comparing to Ryan he's not exactly beating him hands down. Ryan has more dominant tackles, more metres run and more lineout steals. Flament has more overall tackles, France defended more overall. I haven't looked at per minute.

He was very good for sure but so were lots of players. You could probably swap him in for Penaud in the short list as I think Penaud benefited much more from the work of others than anyone else on the list.

Penaud is a wing he does a lot more than scoring though.

Anyway too many Irish (and not enough 'Tarf men).

I know he does more than scoring tries and it's not like he's just had run ins, I just don't think he gets involved in the less flashy stuff to the extent the others on the list do and he's benefited more from others than he's contributed back to them. But, again, there's been lots of good players, a short list was always going to be hard.

France clearly benefiting from finishing the tournament against weaker teams when they failed the big test early in the tournament.

Uncle fester wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 8:22 pm France clearly benefiting from finishing the tournament against weaker teams when they failed the big test early in the tournament.

Ireland lucky not to play France late in the tournament when they had shaken the rust out

laurent wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 8:30 pm

Uncle fester wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 8:22 pm France clearly benefiting from finishing the tournament against weaker teams when they failed the big test early in the tournament.

Ireland lucky not to play France late in the tournament when they had Danty back

Fixed.

Yeah France got better and better. They seem the real deal tbh.
Their strength in depth is scary, I can't see Ireland handling the tournament physically.

C69 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 9:30 pm Yeah France got better and better. They seem the real deal tbh.
Their strength in depth is scary, I can't see Ireland handling the tournament physically.

Physically we'll be fine, we have decent depth everywhere apart from 10.

Mentally is where we are likely to be in trouble given past experiences . . .

Jim Lahey wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:14 pm

C69 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 9:30 pm Yeah France got better and better. They seem the real deal tbh.
Their strength in depth is scary, I can't see Ireland handling the tournament physically.

Physically we'll be fine, we have decent depth everywhere apart from 10.

Mentally is where we are likely to be in trouble given past experiences . . .

Sorry but your group will take a lot more out of you than you guys realise.
The physical toll will be massive. The RWC is as you guys know very different to the 6N, knock out rugby is brutal, I think you will find that out.

Don't get too cocky like a few of your fellow countrymen.

EnergiseR2 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:25 pm Look I agree with everyone. France is better. We are a bit shite and will be found out

Nah you were better than them when you played them.
You are at the top of your game. The zenith.
I just don't think you can get much better whereas France clearly can.

Whereas Wales can't get any to worse.
Your passive aggressive streak isn't working ER

EnergiseR2 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:36 pm

C69 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:28 pm

EnergiseR2 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:25 pm Look I agree with everyone. France is better. We are a bit shite and will be found out

Nah you were better than them when you played them.
You are at the top of your game. The zenith.
I just don't think you can get much better whereas France clearly can.

Whereas Wales can't get any to worse.
Your passive aggressive streak isn't working ER

No. I am resigned. French je ne sais va voom against our honest toilets who hapoen to have World Rugby in our pocket. That relationship.is like being a battered wife. He never stays happy with us

I don't think your players are toilets, thats a bit harsh

C69 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:23 pm

Jim Lahey wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:14 pm

C69 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 9:30 pm Yeah France got better and better. They seem the real deal tbh.
Their strength in depth is scary, I can't see Ireland handling the tournament physically.

Physically we'll be fine, we have decent depth everywhere apart from 10.

Mentally is where we are likely to be in trouble given past experiences . . .

Sorry but your group will take a lot more out of you than you guys realise.
The physical toll will be massive. The RWC is as you guys know very different to the 6N, knock out rugby is brutal, I think you will find that out.

Don't get too cocky like a few of your fellow countrymen.

Fair enough that NZ isn't seen as the standard bearer anymore but we finished stronger than we started, at the end of the season, to win the series.

We used 31 players, 26 different starters in the six nations. Our WC schedule isn't massively different to the six nations now, at least not for our attempt to make the semis. We have Romania, Tonga, SA with 7 days between each game then a two week break to Scotland before the knockouts. It's not as gruelling a schedule as previous world cups because they're making sure there's at least 6 days between every teams' fixtures.

C69 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:23 pm

Jim Lahey wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:14 pm

C69 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 9:30 pm Yeah France got better and better. They seem the real deal tbh.
Their strength in depth is scary, I can't see Ireland handling the tournament physically.

Physically we'll be fine, we have decent depth everywhere apart from 10.

Mentally is where we are likely to be in trouble given past experiences . . .

Sorry but your group will take a lot more out of you than you guys realise.
The physical toll will be massive. The RWC is as you guys know very different to the 6N, knock out rugby is brutal, I think you will find that out.

Don't get too cocky like a few of your fellow countrymen.

We're too busy celebrating right now. Can you come back next week please?

Uncle fester wrote: Tue Mar 21, 2023 8:03 am

C69 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:23 pm

Jim Lahey wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:14 pm

Physically we'll be fine, we have decent depth everywhere apart from 10.

Mentally is where we are likely to be in trouble given past experiences . . .

Sorry but your group will take a lot more out of you than you guys realise.
The physical toll will be massive. The RWC is as you guys know very different to the 6N, knock out rugby is brutal, I think you will find that out.

Don't get too cocky like a few of your fellow countrymen.

We're too busy celebrating right now. Can you come back next week please?

Enjoy your celebrations, I can't imagine how happy you will be if you win a knock out game at the RWC.

Forget form, the RWC is a different beast as shown by England's destruction of NZ.

I hope Ireland do well.

CM11 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:49 am Aldritt only got going in the later stages of the tournament. He didn't do much against us and Doris was supreme in the final quarter to get us over the line. It's a tough one but you'd have to go with the head to head.

Stats wise, Doris carried for more metres, made more tackles and stole more ball.

Interestingly, I was listening to Paul Willemse on the French Rug y Podcast and he confirmed what I suspected. The French went through very heavy loads early on to ensure they would peak for the England game. The staff wanted them to be at their sharpest for that game, and to be able to send them on a week off so that they would also be fresh.

This came at the cost of very heavy legs against Italy and still tired bodies against Ireland. Then they became better and better and delivered to their potential.

CM11 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:06 pm We have Romania, Tonga, SA with 7 days between each game then a two week break to Scotland before the knockouts. It's not as gruelling a schedule as previous world cups because they're making sure there's at least 6 days between every teams' fixtures.

Did Tonga manage to take advantage of the new eligibility rules? Are they getting some former ABs back?

laurent wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:27 pm

CM11 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:26 pm Ramos, Dupont, Penaud, Hansen, Doris and Keenan the nominees for player of the tournament.

How is Flament not listed ?

I don't get the hype about Hansen.

laurent wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 5:11 pm

CM11 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 5:07 pm I'm not sure what stats you're looking for but even just comparing to Ryan he's not exactly beating him hands down. Ryan has more dominant tackles, more metres run and more lineout steals. Flament has more overall tackles, France defended more overall. I haven't looked at per minute.

He was very good for sure but so were lots of players. You could probably swap him in for Penaud in the short list as I think Penaud benefited much more from the work of others than anyone else on the list.

Penaud is a wing he does a lot more than scoring though.

Anyway too many Irish (and not enough 'Tarf men).

Not defending though.

TheFrog wrote: Thu Mar 23, 2023 7:28 pm

laurent wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:27 pm

CM11 wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:26 pm Ramos, Dupont, Penaud, Hansen, Doris and Keenan the nominees for player of the tournament.

How is Flament not listed ?

I don't get the hype about Hansen.

Not sure if serious.

Dupont is clearly the best player by a mile.

Hansen? Seriously. Not even close.

If you were picking a world XV you'd probably pick Dupont as the first player and then work from there. You probably wouldn't pick Hansen.

But that's not the question being asked. Hansen had more say in the destination of the title than Dupont and played bloody well in his own right. He's as, if not more, important as Sexton in our attack. The second playmaker we've sorely needed for years.

Dupont had a decent tournament... Looked great against the weaker teams at the end. He's not a serious contender this year. Still a great player though.

happytramp wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 12:10 am Dupont had a decent tournament... Looked great against the weaker teams at the end. He's not a serious contender this year. Still a great player though.

He was brilliant against us as well to be fair.

EnergiseR2 wrote: Wed Mar 29, 2023 2:18 pm

PornDog wrote: Wed Mar 29, 2023 1:43 pm

happytramp wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 12:10 am Dupont had a decent tournament... Looked great against the weaker teams at the end. He's not a serious contender this year. Still a great player though.

He was brilliant against us as well to be fair.

He had a few moments. I actually think it's the best he has played in a while but player of the tournament. Fuck off

Yeah he was certainly better this year than last, despite France winning the Grands Slam, which I would happily agree he shouldn't have taken that gong (should have gone to Derek)

Average compared to who? It's boring to say, but Dupont in middle gear is still better than most players and still comes up with big, important plays in games.


The only players I'd say rivalled him this tournament for consistency of performance and impact are Fickou, Sheehan and Keenan.

EnergiseR2 wrote: Wed Mar 29, 2023 3:31 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: Wed Mar 29, 2023 3:28 pm Average compared to who? It's boring to say, but Dupont in middle gear is still better than most players and still comes up with big, important plays in games.


The only players I'd say rivalled him this tournament for consistency of performance and impact are Fickou, Sheehan and Keenan.

Doris, Ryan etc

Doris is a shout to be fair. I'm calling veto on Ryan. He's back in some decent form, but it seems better than it is because of how low he slumped previously.

Someone's bitter

Criteria for the award appears to be:
- Scrum half
- Barnstorming game in round 5 against poor opposition
- masterful kicking performance
- serious biceps

Congratulations Rhys Webb

sockwithaticket wrote: Wed Mar 29, 2023 3:35 pm

EnergiseR2 wrote: Wed Mar 29, 2023 3:31 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: Wed Mar 29, 2023 3:28 pm Average compared to who? It's boring to say, but Dupont in middle gear is still better than most players and still comes up with big, important plays in games.


The only players I'd say rivalled him this tournament for consistency of performance and impact are Fickou, Sheehan and Keenan.

Doris, Ryan etc

Doris is a shout to be fair. I'm calling veto on Ryan. He's back in some decent form, but it seems better than it is because of how low he slumped previously.

Doris or Keenan......end of!