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Waiting List
1. pullthestrings
2. Bathite

Garvey, Attwood, or even Robson would be a better option than Botha who at times this seaosn has lost his place in the Saracens team for big games to George Kruis.

I think Robson is very unlucky not to be in the 22. Been playing better and more frequently than Parling.

I dont think England are going to play a game that is based around the breakdown, they havent got the team to do it - theyve picked quite a few players that have a good rugby brain, like Dowson (agree he shouldnt be playing), Robshaw etc.

Looks like we will be going for a fast tempo game, lot of work around Hodgson and Farrell winning the kicking battle, and moving the Scots all over the park. Pretty strong defensively in the backline and I can see our forwards looking to maul it a lot more, just like the Saxons played last week.

Would have liked to have seen Nick Easter lining up for us tomorrow though, think his presence is what we needed.

Pete you seen this video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77IR1xa1evs&feature=player_embedded#!

I would have had Robson in the 22. Form is outstanding and offers more in the loose than Botha and Peerless lineout work.

Palmer played a lot of 4 so not an issue.

I am watching it after playing saturday and am not hopeful.

to be fair i think the frozen weather will postpone the game i am playing in so early drinking will mean i will be ranting later

What channell is the saxons game on tomorrow?? Is it even on?

I have the same question Steve can't find it anywhere. Do you have sky ? Might be on Bbc sweaty. I have virgin so not on.

Rugby club interesting tonight about England failure to produce quick ball as ever. it's simple cant understand why we don't produce it we need to ruck past the ball. The golden metre is everything we seem to hit the ruck and not blast through it leaving quick ball. Lack of ball carriers does not help

Stream it http://pastebin.com/qxdC21bm

Personally hate streaming and think it will
Be one way traffic

England U20s is streamed on RFU.com tonight

Anyone else think that Lancaster's PR work has been top class? Really dont know how tomorrow will go, can see this England side playing with a passion that we havent shown in years, but do they have enough quality in that team to take on Scotland at Murrayfield?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/9057799/Scotland-v-England-Ben-Foden-finds-his-national-pride-fired-by-messages-of-support-from-family-and-friends.html

Cheers Matt. I am sure that Gaskell said in twitter it was on sky but I can't find it on any channel. Wales under 20's on scrum v tonight but was super league on sky.

Anybody reckon the ground will hold up for them to play this weekend? Trained on frozen ground at Chester last night. Our new womens team are supposed to play tonight and were being filmed by Sky. Shame for them.

Not sure to be honest steve. is your game cancelled this weekend??? I am convinced ours will be off tomrrow. its minus 3 in Bristol now so glad i decided to work from home

No we won't find out for sure till Saturday morning but I don't see it happening. A large stand at Chester prevents half the pitch from defrosting so unlikely unless we are well above freezing. May as well be frozen off on a 6N weekend though.

i am the same as you steve. i am meant to be playing at a ground that is really up on high so no chance of it happening.

Early Drinking for the 6nations is a welcome weekend off from playing

It's frost up here but our pitchs are next to the sea so they don't tend to freeze over that much so our games are set to be on this weekend.

I'm sure the North Sea Breeze will make than lovely for everyone involved.

You learn to love it.

15 Leigh Halfpenny 14 Alex Cuthbert 13 Jonathan Davies 12 Jamie Roberts 11 George North 10 Rhys Priestland 9 Mike Phillips 1 Rhys Gill 2 Huw Bennett 3 Adam Jones 4 Bradley Davies 5 Ian Evans 6 Ryan Jones 7 Sam Warburton 8 Toby Faletau

16 Ken Owens 17 Paul James 18 Andrew Powell 19Justin Tipuric 20Lloyd Williams 21 James Hook 22 Scott Williams


Rhys Gill at LH!

That is one team that will struggle in the lineout. I think Ian Evans is a dreadful player

That's a big old backline though! Cant see Ireland getting much joy from that tackling unit. Didnt think Priestland would make it, big boost for them there - though doesnt look as impressive pack without Jenkins, Rees, Lydiate and Wyn-Jones in it - be a good test of strength in depth there.

Ireland by 12.

can't wait to see this game again.

So many great battles. Shame that Lydiate misses it.

Will Warburton do a job on SOB like at the World Cup? Who will win the battle between Sexton and Priestland? Phillips v Murray. Faletau v Heaslip.

Very excited for that game. So much prssure on Ryan Jones to get some lineout ball for Wales as POC won't make it easy.

matt whats gloucesters team for tomorrow?

We have Tagicakibau back. big boost.

I fancy France, England and Wales to win this weekend

Tindall at fly half! quality.

What are the odds that at some point Phillips and Murray will both be yellow carded in the game? Must be a scrap or two waiting to happen there!

France, England and Ireland for me. Cant see past an Irish win in Dublin.
Think the championship is between France and Ireland with France favourites due to the fixtures

I don't think it will be as straight forward as Ireland will win. This is huge pressure game without their talisman against a side with no fear and some very talented players.

I really fancy Wales to win it.

Earls dropped out due to personal reasons. McFadden in with D.Kearney onto the bench.

I think the Irish will win but most 6 nations games are fairly close

Goppereth signs new deal at Falcons

BOD is a great player but he isnt as big a loss to Ireland as everyone seems to be making out. The last 12-18 months he has really slowed down and the likes of Sexton, Kearney and Heaslip are more then able to cover the lack of his leadership.

Wales are missing 4 or so front line players? And Priestland wont have trained much with them with the doubts over his fitness. Not sure they will have enough to do Ireland over. Going back to the world cup game Ireland dominated possession and territory for 60 or more minutes but had no real creative spark and O'Gara's kicking was way off. Wales just tackled them all day long. Cant see that being the case with Sexton starting at 10

Hope Fergus has a big game , think he's got bags of potential.

Hes the complete modern day 12 for me Driver. Good strong carrier, good pace, can pick a line, solid defence and a very good kicking game as well. Shame he came through at Leinster rather then Munster as he would have got a lot more game time at 12 with Munster in recent times.

Agree with you there SJE, think Ireland will win - can see the Irish having too much at the lineout and without Rees and Jenkins it looks like Wales wont have an advantage at scrum time. Lydiate is a huge loss for them too - massive in defence for them.

Wonder if Sexton will finally be able to bring his Leinster form into teh green shirt? Don't think I've ever seen him be consistently brilliant for Ireland, unless its against England...

Hes had a few crackers againt South Africa and Australia but the lad definately does love sticking it to the English!

Depends on the game plan Kidney uses Chris. Hes stuck to the forwards based game that served him so well at Munster and not really looked to use the backs in recent times which is an awful shame when Ireland have the likes of Sexton, Kearney, Bowe etc to get into the game.

Also the situation with the backs coach hasnt helped. Gaffney put Irelands back play back a few years to be honest. Les Kiss has stepped up to the role for this 6 nations so be interesting to see how he does but big rumours are that Joe Schmidt will take the backs role along with his Leinster role by the end of the season. Would definately see a marked improvement

Also the lack of pace in midfield has been an issue as well the last 18 months. Darcy/BOD just isnt the force it once was so hopefully McFadden and co can step up.

He's certainly the best no10 in Europe at the moment - seems to have everything in his game and that winning mentality - didnt he give the speech at half time versus Saints in HC final that turned the game round?

I can't see a difference between Ireland and France this year, think the French have the better set piece but Irish are better at taking their chances.

What do people think the scores will be for England v Scotland?

15-12 to england I think!

Sexton has been great. I wasn't a fan initially but has turned it up a notch.

Like Foden he just seems to get better, any weakness which appears is ironed out at double speed.

Finding him a 9 for the Lions next year is on the agenda. Would take some super human play from someone else for Sexton not to be the starting 10.

Yeah he did Chris. Hes lead Leinster to two HCs now. Fantastic leader and probably the only genuine world class flyhalf playing in the 6 nations for me.

French stronger at scrum time but POC and co are more then able for them in the lineout. Think the french have more in midfield though at the moment. Looking forward to seeing how Fofanna goes. Was not impressed when you oubid me for him!

England to win but in a very drab affair. Score will be around 19-12 ish. See us scoring a try and the Scots just relying on Parks boot

Thing with Sexton is that he has consistently improved his game year on year and just keeps adding. His tactical kicking has really come on in the last 12 months. He was my first ever foreign on here have always been a big fan

I disagree SJE. I think POC himself is a match for the French in the lineout but not the Irish Lineout in general. France much better in that area.

SJE - I must admit to panicking a bit when I saw you bid for Fofana! Had him pencilled in for ages and was the final piece for my backline. Think he will probably be the best 12 in the tournament this year - not really a strong area for many teams when you look at it apart from Wales.

I think the French have probably got the ebst lineout in world rugby at the moment, but POC is the best lineout technician in the southern hem by some distance, which could even things out a bit.

Think Irish have more gainline breakers and players more likely to not be flakey - so its going to be a cracking game in paris in a few weeks time!

DOC, POC, Ferris and Heaslip isnt a bad lineout to have Steve and Ryan on the bench is a good jumper as well. Think they are more then able to match the French here

Ireland wont struggle but for me French lineout is best in the world

Gopperth apparently on 300k a year with no get out clause if relegated.

Im sorry but what idiot would take Gopperth on for 300k anyway! I know hes a good kicker but he offers nothing else and for that kind of money you would expect alot more from your fly half. The management up at Newcastle will want to really take a long hard look at itself

he demanded ridiculous money from irish

we couldnt afford him

It's this new owner his pockets are deep as they come by all accounts, He's looking at a unnamed bok back row as our marque.