NPR

C69 wrote: Wed Jan 17, 2024 5:01 pm Wales are going to get fucked senseless.

Slick wrote: Tue Jan 16, 2024 10:41 am 2 1/2 weeks away and the build up has been a little subdued, but squads starting to be announced today which should get things going.

I don't know if it was the awful WC that has knocked the stuffing out of everyone but at least we get our rugby comfort blanket back for a few weeks.

Anyway, final table will look like this:

Scotland




France
Ireland
England
Italy
Wales

Uncle fester wrote: Sat Jan 20, 2024 7:01 pm

Slick wrote: Tue Jan 16, 2024 10:41 am 2 1/2 weeks away and the build up has been a little subdued, but squads starting to be announced today which should get things going.

I don't know if it was the awful WC that has knocked the stuffing out of everyone but at least we get our rugby comfort blanket back for a few weeks.

Anyway, final table will look like this:

Scotland




France
Ireland
England
Italy
Wales

Fixed your post.

Paddington Bear wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 9:47 am How England go will be an interesting one. Our games get progressively harder each week, if we get through the first two weeks OK we might see some confidence build, more of a coherent game etc.

clydecloggie wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 9:14 am

Uncle fester wrote: Sat Jan 20, 2024 7:01 pm

Slick wrote: Tue Jan 16, 2024 10:41 am 2 1/2 weeks away and the build up has been a little subdued, but squads starting to be announced today which should get things going.

I don't know if it was the awful WC that has knocked the stuffing out of everyone but at least we get our rugby comfort blanket back for a few weeks.

Anyway, final table will look like this:

Scotland




France
Ireland
England
Italy
Wales

Fixed your post.

I'm thinking best-case scenario for Scotland is a 3-way tie on 4 wins. Scotland loses in Dublin, France in Edinburgh, Ireland in Marseille. Scotland 3rd on bonus points.

So...

Ireland/France in whatever order
Scotland
England
Italy
Andorra

Biffer wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 10:32 am

clydecloggie wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 9:14 am

Uncle fester wrote: Sat Jan 20, 2024 7:01 pm

Fixed your post.

I'm thinking best-case scenario for Scotland is a 3-way tie on 4 wins. Scotland loses in Dublin, France in Edinburgh, Ireland in Marseille. Scotland 3rd on bonus points.

So...

Ireland/France in whatever order
Scotland
England
Italy
Andorra

Ireland have a much poorer record in London than you might imagine.

Paddington Bear wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 1:18 pm

Biffer wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 10:32 am

clydecloggie wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 9:14 am

I'm thinking best-case scenario for Scotland is a 3-way tie on 4 wins. Scotland loses in Dublin, France in Edinburgh, Ireland in Marseille. Scotland 3rd on bonus points.

So...

Ireland/France in whatever order
Scotland
England
Italy
Andorra

Ireland have a much poorer record in London than you might imagine.

Because for most of recorded history Ireland have been shit at rugby. Not convinced the historical record matters at all tbh

Biffer wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 2:38 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 1:18 pm

Biffer wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 10:32 am

Ireland have a much poorer record in London than you might imagine.

Because for most of recorded history Ireland have been shit at rugby. Not convinced the historical record matters at all tbh

I mean recently, even when Ireland have been good.

Big D wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 3:02 pm I think England will surprise a few in the 6N is a good way.

Big D wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 3:02 pm I think England will surprise a few in the 6N is a good way.

Slick wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 10:16 pm

Big D wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 3:02 pm I think England will surprise a few in the 6N is a good way.

I do as well.

People outside England seem to rate Borthwick more than inside.

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 10:19 am

Paddington Bear wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 9:47 am How England go will be an interesting one. Our games get progressively harder each week, if we get through the first two weeks OK we might see some confidence build, more of a coherent game etc.

Pretty important for Borthwick to show some progress. I'm giving him a pass for the moment due to the shitshow he inherited.

For me, the biggest credit in his bank is that in the Eng v SA semi, despite the painful tactics the England players looked well up for it in a way that hadn't been seen for a while.

JM2K6 wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 9:40 am

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 10:19 am

Paddington Bear wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 9:47 am How England go will be an interesting one. Our games get progressively harder each week, if we get through the first two weeks OK we might see some confidence build, more of a coherent game etc.

Pretty important for Borthwick to show some progress. I'm giving him a pass for the moment due to the shitshow he inherited.

For me, the biggest credit in his bank is that in the Eng v SA semi, despite the painful tactics the England players looked well up for it in a way that hadn't been seen for a while.

Can't imagine just how bad things would have to be for the team to not get up for a semi final of the world cup, tbh

Big D wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 3:02 pm I think England will surprise a few in the 6N is a good way.

clydecloggie wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 11:36 am

Big D wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 3:02 pm I think England will surprise a few in the 6N is a good way.

England surprising in a good way means they get the wooden spoon in my world.

England surprising in a bad way is them taking advantage of the perfect early draw, win an abominal game in torrential horizontal rain at Murrayfield 6-3 and then beat dispirited and weakened (by injures, retirements and absences) France and ireland sides in the last two rounds for a Slame that puts the Welsh jam slam from a few years back to shame.

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:44 am

JM2K6 wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 9:40 am

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 10:19 am
Pretty important for Borthwick to show some progress. I'm giving him a pass for the moment due to the shitshow he inherited.

For me, the biggest credit in his bank is that in the Eng v SA semi, despite the painful tactics the England players looked well up for it in a way that hadn't been seen for a while.

Can't imagine just how bad things would have to be for the team to not get up for a semi final of the world cup, tbh

We managed it for a final.

JM2K6 wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 12:31 pm

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:44 am

JM2K6 wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 9:40 am

Can't imagine just how bad things would have to be for the team to not get up for a semi final of the world cup, tbh

We managed it for a final.

Different story entirely. The semi final was against the best team in the world and was the culmination of everything that had been worked on. The prep for the final was bad, and there was complacency - they'd made it to the final and SA had looked a step below NZ and us.

A semi final is a pretty rare beast. One good performance and you're in the final, something many fine players have never experienced in their lives. It's an almost unique opportunity, which is why we've seen so many poor teams raise their game for them.

I'm almost more impressed he got them up for the 3rd place game, tbh!

I like the squad he's picked with a couple of quibbles, though. May as well treat it as a blank slate. I refuse to countenance the idea that we couldn't have an effective attacking game when he took over and the utter lack of ambition or attacking clarity is very much his fault. I expect significant improvement.

Raggs wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 12:48 pm

JM2K6 wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 12:31 pm

Dinsdale Piranha wrote: Mon Jan 22, 2024 10:44 am
We managed it for a final.

Different story entirely. The semi final was against the best team in the world and was the culmination of everything that had been worked on. The prep for the final was bad, and there was complacency - they'd made it to the final and SA had looked a step below NZ and us.

A semi final is a pretty rare beast. One good performance and you're in the final, something many fine players have never experienced in their lives. It's an almost unique opportunity, which is why we've seen so many poor teams raise their game for them.

I'm almost more impressed he got them up for the 3rd place game, tbh!

I like the squad he's picked with a couple of quibbles, though. May as well treat it as a blank slate. I refuse to countenance the idea that we couldn't have an effective attacking game when he took over and the utter lack of ambition or attacking clarity is very much his fault. I expect significant improvement.

You'd have to hope that a team with so many Saints and Quins players in, will have some attacking intent.

Big D wrote: Sun Jan 21, 2024 3:02 pm I think England will surprise a few in the 6N is a good way.

Tichtheid wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 8:33 pm Danty I already knew about, but it seems like France are also going to be without Meafou and Jelonch - that's three huge ball carriers out

Spoiler

Show

JM2K6 wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 9:13 pm

Tichtheid wrote: Tue Jan 23, 2024 8:33 pm Danty I already knew about, but it seems like France are also going to be without Meafou and Jelonch - that's three huge ball carriers out

It's fine, the guy in charge of their development pathway has a plan

Spoiler

Show

Slick wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 10:58 am I see the Netflix series from last years 6N has just dropped.

Think the first episode has quite a lot of Scotland in it - have cleared the TV for a wee watch this evening

Slick wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 10:58 am I see the Netflix series from last years 6N has just dropped.

Think the first episode has quite a lot of Scotland in it - have cleared the TV for a wee watch this evening

inactionman wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 10:59 am

Slick wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 10:58 am I see the Netflix series from last years 6N has just dropped.

Think the first episode has quite a lot of Scotland in it - have cleared the TV for a wee watch this evening

Reviews of it ain't good, sadly, but the bits on Italy's coaching team sound amusing.

Slick wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 11:15 am

inactionman wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 10:59 am

Slick wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2024 10:58 am I see the Netflix series from last years 6N has just dropped.

Think the first episode has quite a lot of Scotland in it - have cleared the TV for a wee watch this evening

Reviews of it ain't good, sadly, but the bits on Italy's coaching team sound amusing.

I've got a bit confused if it was reviews for this series, or another less ambitious one that tanked earlier, that are bad

Six Nations: Full Contact review – like a desperately dated rugby highlights package