NPR

Kerrrrist. It must be panic stations because Jalibert gets 15 mins.

Oh. And guess what..................

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 4:33 pm Oh. And guess what..................

Hey, 15 minutes, 15 minutes.

Slick wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 4:30 pm

Slick wrote: Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:12 am

sockwithaticket wrote: Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:08 am

They will, but I think other teams will have taken note of their improvement over the last year or so and treat them accordingly, so their results will still be rubbish. Their only win last year was Wales and frankly I wouldn't expect the Welsh approach to this year's game to be anywhere near as flat and lacadaisical even without Gatland returning to give them a kick up the arse.

I think France, Scotland and Wales are all in danger against them. I think Twickenham is a step too far though, if not the England team.

Bumpety

Nah, they'll get pumped. Scotland won't let them ruin the GS

France gone all Scotland in regards discipline. Bad old days.

Italy will be a problem for a long time, remind me of Scotland in Cotter's early days. So many young, really great players.

Carley... Eh. I think France need to move on from Ntamack, he's not great anymore.

Lucky on that last play. Drove early at the line out before the ball was down, could’ve been another one and a yellow as they were on the warning.

This is a better Italian team than we’ve seen for a while.

Now then now then, calm down a bit Brian.

I like neeps wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 4:50 pm Italy will be a problem for a long time, remind me of Scotland in Cotter's early days. So many young, really great players.

Carley... Eh. I think France need to move on from Ntamack, he's not great anymore.

If they had not been so dim in the first half playing suicide stuff, they would have won.

Carley remains a joke.

Ntamack never was great. He's dined off one line break against the ABs forever. Galthie's obsession with him is a perfect parallel with Jones and Farrell. Except Farrell actually can at least have a decent, tactical kicking game. But French nepotism is a whole league up: be the son of a lauded international and play for Toulouse and you are a shoe-in regardless of every piece of evidence pointing to the reverse. We saw it in the lead up to RWC11 when the equally hapless Skrela was the bat sh*t crazy incumbent. Then, Fra got lucky because Jap broke Skrela in the opening game and Fra got all the way to the final. Soooooooo bad was Skrela that Fra ended up playing SHs at 10 instead.

MESSAGE TO GALTHIE

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 3:02 pm Settles back for 70 mins masterclass of how to cripple a backline.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 4:27 pm FFS, for the nth time France in a hole with Ntamack starting and with 10 mins to go Galthie will say "on you go Jalibert. If you rescue it, we might pick you next time".

Any betting experts know if you can place punts on this stuff?

EnergiseR2 wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 5:14 pm I think Dupont is a bot like that. He has match upon match where he is shite but gets away with it as he deified.

Thought the ref blew up too soon in that last maul. Think he knew it himself

Dupont's increasing problem is he tries to take on too much
1) The captaincy.
2) With his club and intl FH preventing any meaningful use of the backline, he's resorted to overplaying his carries. Defences are acutely aware of his threat and he is still hard to stop, often taking 2 men, but everything outside him is incapable of exploiting that because next man out is the problem that forces Dupont into this tactic!

I don’t fancy our chances next weekend against an Italian side that is clearly improving,

Slick wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 4:02 pm

EnergiseR2 wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 2:38 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 1:54 pm In regards Eng, WTF has happened to Itoje? Can't be another current player in world rugby who has fallen so far, so quickly. In the space of a few years he's gone from world beater to anonymous. Is it a Sampson thing i.e. take away his clapping toy monkey nonsense and his superpowers are stripped?

He could be very average even back then. Never against Ireland and Irish teams though. Certainly not until very recently

Always thought he was a bit over rated. Very good at his best but was never going to be legend status which seemed to be bestowed on him almost immediately

I have also tended to think this. There is a tendency for good England players to be hyped by the media, and although he is a cracking player, I don’t think he was ever quite as good as they made out. The same thing is happening with Marcus Smith now.

EnergiseR2 wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 5:14 pm

Slick wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 4:02 pm

EnergiseR2 wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 2:38 pm

He could be very average even back then. Never against Ireland and Irish teams though. Certainly not until very recently

Always thought he was a bit over rated. Very good at his best but was never going to be legend status which seemed to be bestowed on him almost immediately

I think Dupont is a bot like that. He has match upon match where he is shite but gets away with it as he deified.

Thought the ref blew up too soon in that last maul. Think he knew it himself

Nah, he’s proper good

Great to see Italy and Scotland's performances. Just show how important a good level below tests are.

sefton wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 5:35 pm I don’t fancy our chances next weekend against an Italian side that is clearly improving,

The mockers are not buying this. We all know that England tend to thrash Italy after having lost the week before

sturginho wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 7:45 pm

sefton wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 5:35 pm I don’t fancy our chances next weekend against an Italian side that is clearly improving,

The mockers are not buying this. We all know that England tend to thrash Italy after having lost the week before

It’s no mockers, given their performance today they must be in with a good shout.

Just watched on catch up. Hell of a game, we’ve got an all time great championship on our hands. Feel for Italy as I think Carley blew up too early at the end.

Shitting it for next Sunday, a couple of their moves were a drop away from a man scything into space

Ymx wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 8:33 pm

Paddy Power had Italy at 15/1 to win before kick off today tbf, and they weren't far from winning.

The 6N is a genuine lottery. Every side is capable of beating each other. That's why its the best comp in rugby

Jim Lahey wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 8:42 pm

Ymx wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 8:33 pm

Paddy Power had Italy at 15/1 to win before kick off today tbf, and they weren't far from winning.

The 6N is a genuine lottery. Every side is capable of beating each other. That's why its the best comp in rugby

Suddenly feels like the tournament has stepped up a notch, even having to go 80 vs Italy with your 1st XV rather than running out the dirt trackers changes how you plan the tournament. Should also say Italy are playing genuinely exciting rugby rather than just relying on a big pack as they did in the Castro era, genuine pleasure to watch.

To be fair it’s certainly started off with a bang. It’s usually a slow burner. But there are just so many good teams now and they have decent firepower.

Paddington Bear wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 8:47 pm Suddenly feels like the tournament has stepped up a notch, even having to go 80 vs Italy with your 1st XV rather than running out the dirt trackers changes how you plan the tournament. Should also say Italy are playing genuinely exciting rugby rather than just relying on a big pack as they did in the Castro era, genuine pleasure to watch.

Yep !

All of a sudden any plans to rest players is now a serious risk, & it puts pressure on every sides depth.

Jim Lahey wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 8:42 pm

Ymx wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 8:33 pm

Paddy Power had Italy at 15/1 to win before kick off today tbf, and they weren't far from winning.

The 6N is a genuine lottery. Every side is capable of beating each other. That's why its the best comp in rugby

And for once that statement includes us!

Jim Lahey wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 8:42 pm

Ymx wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 8:33 pm

Paddy Power had Italy at 15/1 to win before kick off today tbf, and they weren't far from winning.

The 6N is a genuine lottery. Every side is capable of beating each other. That's why its the best comp in rugby

Can't remember who it was but some SH coach had to confess that they didn't realise just how intense and tough the competition was, especially for the away games.

P.S. it was Henry, wasn't it?

sturginho wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 7:45 pm

sefton wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 5:35 pm I don’t fancy our chances next weekend against an Italian side that is clearly improving,

The mockers are not buying this. We all know that England tend to thrash Italy after having lost the week before

In all honesty and with due respect to the Italian pack who gave France a game, if you look at the first 20 minutes, a sloppy France were crushing the Italian defense and gaining easy yards, scoring fluke tries and at that point it looked like a trashing was on the cards. France ill discipline was the reason Italy came back into the game and started believing.
E
I do not see England being that generous with Italy.

OomStruisbaai wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 7:20 pm Great to see Italy and Scotland's performances. Just show how important a good level below tests are.

Self promotion Oom?

It is interesting to note that we had 3 away victories this round not sure how often this happens.

Tomas Allen should be getting a hammering on here!! Missed the pen on 71 mins, then two horrible shots down the line kicks.

What a quality weekend of rugby

TheFrog wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 7:44 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 7:20 pm Great to see Italy and Scotland's performances. Just show how important a good level below tests are.

Self promotion Oom?

He’s been trying hard all weekend to get a bite

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 7:52 am Tomas Allen should be getting a hammering on here!! Missed the pen on 71 mins, then two horrible shots down the line kicks.

Italy half-backs cost them the game. The forwards must be pissed off...

Slick wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 8:05 am

TheFrog wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 7:44 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: Sun Feb 05, 2023 7:20 pm Great to see Italy and Scotland's performances. Just show how important a good level below tests are.

Self promotion Oom?

He’s been trying hard all weekend to get a bite

TheFrog wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 8:37 am

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 7:52 am Tomas Allen should be getting a hammering on here!! Missed the pen on 71 mins, then two horrible shots down the line kicks.

Italy half-backs cost them the game. The forwards must be pissed off...

Allan had played well with ball in hand throughout though, Varney had a stinker from start to finish.

Also very amusing that whilst playing for Quins Allan likes to be called Tommy, as he always did back when we used to play him at school. But stick him in Rome it is very much Tommaso again

Paddington Bear wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 9:00 am

TheFrog wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 8:37 am

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 7:52 am Tomas Allen should be getting a hammering on here!! Missed the pen on 71 mins, then two horrible shots down the line kicks.

Italy half-backs cost them the game. The forwards must be pissed off...

Allan had played well with ball in hand throughout though, Varney had a stinker from start to finish.

Also very amusing that whilst playing for Quins Allan likes to be called Tommy, as he always did back when we used to play him at school. But stick him in Rome it is very much Tommaso again

Tommy is a common nickname for people called Tommaso

sturginho wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 9:11 am

Paddington Bear wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 9:00 am

TheFrog wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 8:37 am

Italy half-backs cost them the game. The forwards must be pissed off...

Allan had played well with ball in hand throughout though, Varney had a stinker from start to finish.

Also very amusing that whilst playing for Quins Allan likes to be called Tommy, as he always did back when we used to play him at school. But stick him in Rome it is very much Tommaso again

Tommy is a common nickname for people called Tommaso

Yes, just pointing out the amusing switch from a more anglicised to more Italian version depending on what shirt he's wearing!

https://www.onrugby.it/2023/02/06/sei-n ... de-varney/

I think theyve been much too generous here, especially to Bruno and Varney

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 7:52 am Tomas Allen should be getting a hammering on here!! Missed the pen on 71 mins, then two horrible shots down the line kicks.

It wasn't a greet w/e for FHs with only Sexton putting in the sort of performance you'd hope/expect.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 9:48 am

Sandstorm wrote: Mon Feb 06, 2023 7:52 am Tomas Allen should be getting a hammering on here!! Missed the pen on 71 mins, then two horrible shots down the line kicks.

It wasn't a greet w/e for FHs with only Sexton putting in the sort of performance you'd hope/expect.

God loves a tryer