Rugby Union 23/24 Discussion

[T00lsh3d]

Me too a bit, but looking forward to it, always do… it’s like when United play Liverpool. Nervous excitement.

Think we lose by 8-10, though first try important… might settle us if we get it and could have an outside chance. Got to start well and take the points when on offer… 3/6/9/12.

Could be a tough weekend for a Welsh United fan… especially one who’s married to an English Villa fan…

Hope it’s a good game.

Borthwick has picked a very mobile backline (by recent English standards) so I’m expecting us to try and punch up the middle then get the ball out wide. Maybe saw how narrow you got against Scotland and fancy scoring in the corners.
I fancy our pack is stronger and if we can keep Reffell away from the ball at the breakdown we should win the battle up front.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Scalabrin.

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Yeah, him. So hard to knock over.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Thanks. Yeah the 20 mins I saw was quite even and I was worried Italy were going to come through especially before the try. Hopefully, two weeks rest between games for the next two means they continue the winning streak.

Was a nail biting watch. Has made me nervous about Sunday’s game!

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

Borthwick has picked a very mobile backline (by recent English standards) so I’m expecting us to try and punch up the middle then get the ball out wide. Maybe saw how narrow you got against Scotland and fancy scoring in the corners.
I fancy our pack is stronger and if we can keep Reffell away from the ball at the breakdown we should win the battle up front.

Same team as v Italy?

North might help us a bit in the middle and glad Gatland has made quite a few changes. After that first 40, it’d be stupid to let everyone keep their place… don’t deserve it and the 6 Nations is too short a tournament to let them play their way in.

This was always going to be a 2-3 year (min) transition though so not got great expectations for this one/next.

 

[Withnail]

Me too a bit, but looking forward to it, always do… it’s like when United play Liverpool. Nervous excitement.

Think we lose by 8-10, though first try important… might settle us if we get it and could have an outside chance. Got to start well and take the points when on offer… 3/6/9/12.

Could be a tough weekend for a Welsh United fan… especially one who’s married to an English Villa fan…

Hope it’s a good game.

I dunno about that. England seemed to have sorted their defence in the second half but I wasn't impressed at all and Wales were very good in the second half. This may come across a little Michael Owenbut based on last week I think it all depends who starts well and can then put a performance together over the 80. I may be wrong, as I'm definitely going against the bookies, but I'd be leaning towards Wales personally.

 

[T00lsh3d]

I dunno about that. England seemed to have sorted their defence in the second half but I wasn't impressed at all and Wales were very good in the second half. This may come across a little Michael Owenbut based on last week I think it all depends who starts well and can then put a performance together over the 80. I may be wrong, as I'm definitely going against the bookies, but I'd be leaning towards Wales personally.

You mean to say it’ll be the team that scores the most points will win? Shit…I don’t think Borthwick will have thought of that.

Nah seriously I get your point, two disjointed sides lacking confidence. Plus, wales will be wanting a scrappy game and they might just do it better than us.

 

[moses]

Was it bad, yeah? I missed the first hour. I only turned it on when I saw your post.

Not bad, Ireland were better but conceded cheap tries against the possession and territory.

 

[unchanged_lineup]

Surely Italy have a golden generation coming. They've been getting closer and closer at u20 level for a few years now. Looking a lot better than the Wales and Scotland u20s.

 

[McGrathsipan]

I've turned down two tickets for Italy game

Aviva is always flat for Italy game. People more into getting pints every 5 mins

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

Surely Italy have a golden generation coming. They've been getting closer and closer at u20 level for a few years now. Looking a lot better than the Wales and Scotland u20s.

I swear this gets said about Italy every single year or whenever they pull off a good result/performance

 

[Pogue Mahone]

I've turned down two tickets for Italy game

Aviva is always flat for Italy game. People more into getting pints every 5 mins

Boils my piss the way rugby fans are allowed to stock up on pints and bring them to their seats but if you happen to be watching football you’re not allowed take a pint outdoors. Even more annoying considering rugby games are always sell outs but Ireland football matches nowadays have loads of empty seats, so there’s much more room to be ferrying pints about.

That said, I’d never turn down a ticket for a rugby match. Which may or may not be related to the ease of supping pints throughout.

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

Boils my piss the way rugby fans are allowed to stock up on pints and bring them to their seats but if you happen to be watching football you’re not allowed take a pint outdoors. Even more annoying considering rugby games are always sell outs but Ireland football matches nowadays have loads of empty seats, so there’s much more room to be ferrying pints about.

That said, I’d never turn down a ticket for a rugby match. Which may or may not be related to the ease of supping pints throughout.

Not surprising though when the rugby team is excellent and the football team is horrific

 

[moses]

Super try.

 

[kidbob]

Great try, Scotland have started well. Not sure why Le Garrec hasn't started for France, thought he was much better than Lucu last week.

 

[Alanxyz]

Have they said why Scotland are playing in blue? I thought it was tradition in the Six Nations that the home team wore their alternate shirt in the event of a colour clash.

 

[kidbob]

Great game already as it always seems to be with these teams.

 

[Zoo]

That was a high tackle on Fickou

 

[unchanged_lineup]

I swear this gets said about Italy every single year or whenever they pull off a good result/performance

It's different the last couple of years though. Their u20 programme looks a lot stronger than Wales and Scotland's.

 

[moses]

Lots of errors from France.

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

Have they said why Scotland are playing in blue? I thought it was tradition in the Six Nations that the home team wore their alternate shirt in the event of a colour clash.

That’s what I thought. Not a rule, more a sporting tradition.

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

Hamish Watson saying to keep the errors out of the game… and make an error literally as he says it

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

Always wonder if sides consider keep going down the middle once ref has called penalty… might get pen try/yellow.

edit what a kick!

 

[kidbob]

Scotland showing a maturity I've not usually seen from them. Be interesting if they can maintain it for the whole game and carry it through the rest of the tournament. Good try from France. Ultimately think playing a tournament without Dupont will stand to them as a team. Easy to just defer to a genius as your main game plan but you need to be able to maintain a good level when he's not there.

 

[moses]

Nice kick.

 

[unchanged_lineup]

Hilarious Atonio playing innocent there.

It was more like the kind of tackle you'll see in Superbowl tomorrow night.

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

Always wonder if sides consider keep going down the middle once ref has called penalty… might get pen try/yellow.

edit what a kick!

Scotland showing why you do it

edit… oops

 

[unchanged_lineup]

I think Lucu should get a card there too. Blatantly ignoring the ref.

 

[Withnail]

Scotland showing a maturity I've not usually seen from them. Be interesting if they can maintain it for the whole game and carry it through the rest of the tournament. Good try from France. Ultimately think playing a tournament without Dupont will stand to them as a team. Easy to just defer to a genius as your main game plan but you need to be able to maintain a good level when he's not there.

They seem to be absolutely bottling it with the absence of Dupont. Their level shouldn't drop this much, surely?

 

[moses]

They seem to be absolutely bottling it with the absence of Dupont. Their level shouldn't drop this much.

Historically they were hugely inconsistent. They eradicated it the last decade.

 

[unchanged_lineup]

Oof. France escaping with a penalty. Feels like they are extremely lucky.

 

[kidbob]

I hate when teams take scrums in those positions. I know France are down a front row but a scrum is just way too random with how it's reffed.

 

[kidbob]

They seem to be absolutely bottling it with the absence of Dupont. Their level shouldn't drop this much, surely?

It shouldn't but I think the issue is that he's so bloody good that their entire game is naturally built around him. However I think they'd be playing better with Le Garrec at 9 than Lucu. Lucu is grand but not really International standard for me.

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

Waste of a good penalty and man advantage there to increase the lead. Could be a momentum swinger for the French.

 

[Withnail]

Historically they were hugely inconsistent. They eradicated it the last decade.

Mercurial they used to call it when in reality it's twats refusing to perform or bottling it on the road.

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

I hate when teams take scrums in those positions. I know France are down a front row but a scrum is just way too random with how it's reffed.

It’s a tough call?

On the one hand, you drag nine men in and you should have a one man advantage out wide. Also chance that if you get momentum, could be a penalty try.

On the other hand, tap it and keep full control of the situation and (as you say), take away that risk.

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

That’s what I thought. Not a rule, more a sporting tradition.

The way it should be tbh. Home team wears their home shirt and away team wears their away/alternate if their home shirt colour clashes with the home teams one. I never knew the reason why in rugby union the home team wears their away/alternate shirt if it colour clashed with the away teams home shirt.

 

[Dan_F]

I hate when teams take scrums in those positions. I know France are down a front row but a scrum is just way too random with how it's reffed.

They aren’t even down a player in the scrum because of the sub. It’s really risky, especially against France.

 

[Camy89]

Don’t think we’ll be able to win this. Some sloppy mistakes that I don’t expect to be tightened up (going on the 2nd half experience in Wales) and I imagine France will step up here.

 

[Withnail]

Don’t think we’ll be able to win this. Some sloppy mistakes that I don’t expect to be tightened up (going on the 2nd half experience in Wales) and I imagine France will step up here.

They could just as easily get more yellow cards. They've been a bit of a shambles.

 

[moses]

Don’t think we’ll be able to win this. Some sloppy mistakes that I don’t expect to be tightened up (going on the 2nd half experience in Wales) and I imagine France will step up here.

I think ye have a good chance to be honest.