Six Nations 2008

[The Boy]

Sad to see Betsen gone too, a real unsung hero like Richard Hill, hard as nails, put the tackles in all day with an epic work rate.

true, but we he was getting on a bit and we have Dussautoir now who will be just as good (IMO of course). Don't think I'll forget that tackle on Jerry Collins in the WC that left poor JC limping for some time.

edit: I see Jauzion will be missing from the Scotland-France game. SHame, I was looking forward to seeing him in the flesh as it were.

 

[The Boy]

French squad for the game against Scotland announced:-

Backs: Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (Toulouse), Morgan Parra (Bourgoin), Francois Trin-Dhuc (Montpellier), David Skrela (Stade Français), Florian Fritz (Toulouse), Damien Traille (Biarritz), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), Julien Malzieu (Clermont), Cédric Heymans (Toulouse), Aurélien Rougerie (Clermont)

Forwards: Julien Brugnaut (Dax), Lionel Faure (Sale Sharks), Jean-Baptiste Poux (Toulouse), William Servat (Toulouse), Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Français), Loïc Jacquet (Clermont), Lionel Nallet (Castres)(c), Arnaud Mela (Albi), Julien Bonnaire (Clermont), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Elvis Vermeulen (Clermont).

A lot of changes there. Some due to injury (Marconnet, De Villiers, Milloud and Jauzion) and some retirees who will be sorely missed (Ibanez, Betsen) and some who will be less missed (Pelous, Dominici).

Chabal, Thion, Poitrenaud, Mignoni and Marty have all been dropped. Also missing are Nyanga, Remy Martin and HairyDonkey.

All in all I think that's a failry decent squad, though I'm not sure if Lievremont has gone a bit too far in making his mark/blooding young players. Trinh-Duc has been knocking on the door for some time - will be interesting to see how he will perform.

A bit gutted that Mignoni has gone, he may have a slow pass but he's a clever player and I'm a fan of his - at least ASM may benefit.

Oh, and Florian Fritz is back. Hopefully he can stay injury free.

Of the new guys, Malzieu and Jacquet have been good for ASM this season. Parra, Brugnaut, Faure and Mela I don't know well enought o comment.

 

[The Boy]

Francew XV for Scotland announced

STarting XV against Scotland will be:-

Heymans - Malzieu, Fritz, Traille, Clerc – (o) Trinh-Duc – (m) Elissalde - Dusautoir, Vermeulen, Ouedraogo - Nallet (cap), Jacquet - Brugnaut, Servat, Faure

Replacements : Szarzewski, Mas, Méla, Bonnaire, Parra, Skréla, Rougerie

I'm more than a little surprised at some of the sleections tbh. In particular I thought it would have been Szarzewski's time - esp since without him it's an all new front row. I would have thought Lievremont would have fielded a more experienced team and brought a couple of younger faces on later in the game.

Trinh-Duc could be the next Valbon although he's had a good season thus far - just hope he's ready for the step up to internaqtional rugby.

 

[sleaterkinney]

I can't believe the team that EOS has put out for Ireland.

Ireland: G Dempsey; A Trimble, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, G Murphy; R O'Gara, E Reddan; M Horan, R Best, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, M O'Kelly, S Easterby, D Wallace, D Leamy.

Replacements: B Jackman, T Buckley, M O'Driscoll, J Heaslip, P Stringer, P Wallace, R Kearney

Heaslip and Jackman on the bench, it just beggars belief. Leamy at eight even though he's been playing well at six. So much for form players, why are Trimble and Easterby in then?.

 

[Red Faction]

so trimble is in and bowe is out

because obviously that makes so much sense...

 

[Mr Retro]

So much for form players, why are Trimble and Easterby in then?.

Indeed. You could say the same for D'Arcy, O'Driscoll, Hayes and Horan

 

[Red Faction]

no, because after D'Arcy and O'Driscoll we don't really have any real quality players to replace them with

 

[The Boy]

Florian Fritz has bee ruled out for the whole tournament. David Marty has been called up in his place. Meh, I was really looking forward to Jauzion/Fritz

 

[Pingu]

so then ... us and scotland battling for the wooden spoon?

this is going to be a painful 6 nations

 

[Buds]

Indeed. You could say the same for D'Arcy, O'Driscoll, Hayes and Horan

You can't really say that John "Rollerskates" Hayes is out of form because the useless welly chucker has never had any form.

I'm still bitter that he was able to disgrace himself in a Lions jersey when the form tight-head at the time didn't make it into the 564 man squad.

 

[Mr Retro]

You can't really say that John "Rollerskates" Hayes is out of form because the useless welly chucker has never had any form.

Thats a good point

 

[Red Faction]

"Rollerskates"?

 

[Juice Terry]

Balshaw FFS

So its England v The Ospreys, either a stroke of genius by Gatland or a big mistake, after all the O's aren't quite so good without Holah, Tiatia and Marshall.

I'd be spitting feathers if I was Shanklin, easily the best centre in Wales. Didn't Martyn Williams retire? I was looking forward to not seeing him line up against us

England will dominate up front, Wales will win the breakdown, pretty even in the backs, I reckon it'll be a lot closer than people think, England by 6 so long as Jonny brings his kicking boots.

Players I'm most looking forward to watching, Hook, R Jones, Strettle and Sheridan.

Oh and "The Volcano", bound to come on at some point when Balshaw gets broken.

 

[Buds]

"Rollerskates"?

So called because he goes backwards so quickly in the scrum it's as if he was playing in roller skates.

 

[Mr Retro]

Or Jet Pack. Because when the pressure comes on in a scrum he pops 20 feet in the air.

 

[Karac]

Balshaw FFS

So its England v The Ospreys, either a stroke of genius by Gatland or a big mistake, after all the O's aren't quite so good without Holah, Tiatia and Marshall.

I'd be spitting feathers if I was Shanklin, easily the best centre in Wales. Didn't Martyn Williams retire? I was looking forward to not seeing him line up against us

England will dominate up front, Wales will win the breakdown, pretty even in the backs, I reckon it'll be a lot closer than people think, England by 6 so long as Jonny brings his kicking boots.

Players I'm most looking forward to watching, Hook, R Jones, Strettle and Sheridan.

Oh and "The Volcano", bound to come on at some point when Balshaw gets broken.

Yup its the Ospreys vs England-hope Gatland knows what hes doing-apparently hes picking Parker over Shanklin cos he knows the blitz defence

 

[Red Faction]

ALLEZ LES VERTES

 

[Lakina]

Yup its the Ospreys vs England-hope Gatland knows what hes doing-apparently hes picking Parker over Shanklin cos he knows the blitz defence

Can't see Parker worrying anyone. Strange - maybe Gatland is trying to lull England into a false sense of security?

 

[Phenotypic Dai]

I'm strangely positive about today. Managed to get a price of 10-11, with a 13 point head start for Wales, at the bookies.

C'mon the Sexy Taffs!

 

[Strumpet]

*pulls up a chair and grabs a drink to watch the days rugby*

 

[tarannau]

Well here we go then. A year of rebuilding for most squads and a tough championship to call. Looking forward to it today.

Part of me wants the Italians to win and put paid to Eddie OS's stagnant management and team. Last chance after a wretched World Cup. And it'd be nice to see England display a little fluency in yet another rejigged line up - intrigued to see how the familiarity of the Wales/Ospreys team holds up against a more ragtag bunch.

 

[brianx]

Ireland are looking good O'Gara putting in some lovely kicks. I felt that tackle on O'Driscoll from here.

Ospreys v England soon. I'm getting more worried the closer it gets and the new coach obviously feels the same which is why his selection and recent comments to dampen expectations are worrying. The rush defence that Ospreys use is fine if you're not getting hammered up front but that's what's likely to happen today.

Please don't let it be as bad as the pre RWC match.

 

[Pingu]

an ok match so far.. nothing really to write home about but seen worse.

ospreys vs england later on...

*sets beer to stun*

 

[brianx]

an ok match so far.. nothing really to write home about but seen worse.

ospreys vs england later on...

*sets beer to stun*

It is dull but that Italian try should liven it up a bit. The tackling is frightening it's only a matter of time before they go out there with American football gear. Did you see the film of Brian Moore's debut in the England v Scotland game of 20 years ago? The players were tiny compared to the ones of today.

 

[The Boy]

Did you see the film of Brian Moore's debut in the England v Scotland game of 20 years ago? The players were tiny compared to the ones of today.

Read an interesting piece of rugby trivia in the run up to last years 6N. Apperently David Skrela (a back) weighs 15KG more than his dad (a forward) did when he played for france.

 

[Strumpet]

Oh god....here we go.....

 

[brianx]

Why can't England pick a B team like we did last time? It's not fair.

They just showed Adrian Hadley's try on the tele and Jonathan Davies said ta ra to Mickey Skinner when he skinned the fat bastard. He said "I was in big trouble if he'd caught me". Life was so much simpler then.

 

[brianx]

Fair enough picking 13 players from one team but when Tom Shanklin isn't in the starting lineup you have to question his judgement.
3-0 oh fuck.

 

[ddraig]

muthafuckers11111111!!

did u see that!?!?!?

they put engerlund 3 - 0 Wales before johnny even took the kick!!!!
then quickly put it back
typ.i.cal

 

[brianx]

Brian Ashton would be a great Wales coach. He believes in letting the players make decisions and create openings which is why he's not right for the Nigels.