6 Nations 2023 - The Other Teams

[Dave Cahill]

Perfidious albion

[riocard911]

Perfidious albion

100%

"I'm shocked! Shocked!!"

See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM_A4Skusro

[IanD]

RTE news : Healy named in Scotland squad for Six Nations

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2023/0117 ... x-nations/

[blockhead]

Former England winger, Ruaridh McConnochie, has been called up to the Scotland squad ahead of this year’s six nations.

The Scots are really goin around the houses at the moment aren't they. Healy, McConnochie and maybe Cooney soon too.

[Ruckedtobits]

Gatland made some comments yesterday (in response to media questions) about the number of older players in his 37 man Squad. He has 12 aged over 30 and said he would have changed the age profile if he had been around in the past three years but it's too late to jettison the Senior guys now because the young guys haven't enough experience.

Interesting comment and struck me as brutally honest.

[fourthirtythree]

Gatland made some comments yesterday (in response to media questions) about the number of older players in his 37 man Squad. He has 12 aged over 30 and said he would have changed the age profile if he had been around in the past three years but it's too late to jettison the Senior guys now because the young guys haven't enough experience.

Interesting comment and struck me as brutally honest.

But was it honest? Gatland is hardly known for young squads. I know the WRFU hired Gatland with lip service to rebuilding the game from the ground up and a 360 view of the game in Wales rather than just for the World Cup. But that's not what Gatland does or did. He's a quick fix for the world cup really who showed no interest in anything but the senior international men's team in his long tenure in Wales.

I mean it's great to get your excuses in early to the media but I wouldn't laud it as honesty. It's spin. Pure and simple. Gatland is a super smart coach and like most of them what he says to the media is just spin and nothing else.

[paddyor]

Gatland made some comments yesterday (in response to media questions) about the number of older players in his 37 man Squad. He has 12 aged over 30 and said he would have changed the age profile if he had been around in the past three years but it's too late to jettison the Senior guys now because the young guys haven't enough experience.

Interesting comment and struck me as brutally honest.

https://twitter.com/rpetty80/status/161 ... V1H7SnriQg

He was still picking a lot of those guys for the Lions a little over a year ago and Pivac has doled out lots of new caps.

[blockhead]

IT

Scotland will consider bringing former Ireland scrumhalf John Cooney into their Six Nations squad when he becomes eligible next month, coach Gregor Townsend said at the official championship launch on Monday.
Dublin-born Cooney, 32, has 11 caps for Ireland but last played, as a replacement in the Six Nations, in 2020 and has a Scottish-born father which makes him eligible to switch allegiances from February 23rd.
The Ulster player said in January that his father would be “immensely proud” if he were capped for Scotland.
“I spoke to John when the rule change came about,” Townsend told reporters. “He actually reached out to me just to let me know it would be something that he’d consider. A lot of his family live in Scotland.
“In terms of timelines, he's not available until later on in the championship so obviously it wasn't something we considered for the beginning.

[riocard911]

Welsh rugby encounters turbulence less than two weeks out from the national team's match in Cardiff vs Ireland:

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... t-26055408

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... source=nba

[erskinechilders]

I think we're gonna end regretting this more and more! Cannot understand Ulster not offering him a contract over Burns, he's got a much higher ceiling

https://www.sportsfile.com/id/2416665/

[paddyor]

I think we're gonna end regretting this more and more! Cannot understand Ulster not offering him a contract over Burns, he's got a much higher ceiling

https://www.sportsfile.com/id/2416665/

Ulster couldn't offer him 300k a year and even then he's still like 8-9th choice for Ireland.

[Ruckedtobits]

Ferris strongly against Cooney going to Scotland according to latest reports. Stephen never short of an opinion and believes Cooney no better than current Scottish No 9's.

[IanD]

RTE news : Cowan-Dickie ruled out of Six Nations

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2023/0125 ... x-nations/

[Dexter]

Elliot Day out with injury now too.

[FLIP]

Welsh rugby encounters turbulence less than two weeks out from the national team's match in Cardiff vs Ireland:

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... t-26055408

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... source=nba

Welsh CEO has now quit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/64423254

With most teams this level of change and turbulence would undoubtably be a negative, but Wales (especially but not uniquely under Gatland) often find a way to jam their way to success.

[blockhead]

Elliot Day out with injury now too.

And HENRY SLADE HAS been ruled out of England’s opener against Scotland at Twickenham with a hip injury

also, vice-captain Courtney Lawes will miss the game with a calf problem

[Ruckedtobits]

The French team training at Cap Breton yesterday had an open media day which results in a lot of articles today by famous former players and coaches who analyse and speculate about the way in which this team is set up and plays. The contest on the weekend against Italy is hardly in focus at all, as most commentators consider the Italians will be keeping their power dry for games against Wales and Scotland.

Commenting on the game against Ireland, the general theme is that Ireland will probably be the only team who will try to outscore France through their attacking strategy. The expectation is that Wales & England will try to prevent France playing the game they desire, whilst the Scots will try to deprive France of the ball by not kicking and keeping possession for long stretches. It has to be said this is largely foccussed on Finn Russell's ability to move the ball from any position.

There's little doubt that although RWC23 is just around the corner, the majority of commentators consider victory is essential for France to confirm among the players and coaches that they have progressed since last season, largely because many believe they have not faced the strongest opponents since the 6N last season.

So, no overwhelming confidence in France. Respect for the Irish, admiration for Borthwick & Gatland but an expectation that both will rely on the 'old guard'; a slight suspicion that the Scots and Italians will both take an unexpected scalp.

[OTT]

Flannery putting Hugh Cahill in his box, gotta love it.

[paddyor]

Flannery putting Hugh Cahill in his box, gotta love it.

Oooh what was said.

[limecat]

Flannery putting Hugh Cahill in his box, gotta love it.

Oooh what was said.

HD was trying to start some "banter" about Hoggs hair getting longer with every season.