England Six Nations Thread

[Cumbrian]

First topic message reminder :

Squad (From RFU Website):

Backs

Full backs
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Nathan Earle (Saracens) *
Harry Mallinder (Northampton Saints) *
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)

Inside backs
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Alex Lozowski (Saracens)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins) * **
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Forwards

Back five
Gary Graham (Newcastle Falcons) *
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby) *
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)

Front row
Lewis Boyce (Harlequins) *
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby) *
Jamie George (Saracens)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs) *
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)

Players unavailable
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Piers Francis (Northampton Saints)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Nathan Hughes (Wasps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Matt Mullan (Wasps)
Beno Obano (Bath Rugby)
Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby)
Will Spencer (Worcester Warriors)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)

Uncapped *
Apprentice player **

Fixtures:

*All kick-off times in GMT.


Italy v England
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Sunday 4th February 2018
Kick Off: 3:00pm

England v Wales
Twickenham Stadium, London
Saturday 10th February 2018
Kick Off: 4:45pm

Scotland v England
BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Saturday 24th February 2018
Kick Off: 4:45pm

France v England
Stade de France, Paris
Saturday 10th March 2018
Kick Off: 4:45pm

England v Ireland
Twickenham Stadium, London
Saturday 17th March 2018
Kick Off: 2:45pm

Officialdom:

Italy v England

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant 1: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant 2: Nic Berry (Australia)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

England v Wales

Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant 1: Mathieu Reynal (France)
Assistant 2: Nic Berry (Australia)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

Scotland v England

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant 1: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant 2: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)

France v England

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant 1: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant 2: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

England v Ireland

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant 1: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant 2: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

[SecretFly]

[doctor_grey]

Putting his wife on the other wing would be a brave move.

Is the wife 'excellent'?

[SecretFly]

The wife.

[doctor_grey]

Mein Gott! I am moving to a monastery.

[BamBam]

Ant Watson is a good looking lad, I bet his mrs is a cracker. She'd be a great distraction for the gormless Welsh who are used to their women looking like this

[yappysnap]

[BamBam]

I knew it!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQf9XHqFpHH/?hl=en&taken-by=anthonywatson

[Guest]

Good banter men!

[Scottrf]

I knew it!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQf9XHqFpHH/?hl=en&taken-by=anthonywatson

Wouldn't chuck her out of bed for stabbing me.

[Guest]

Rugby players are superstars now though. Even Liam Williams - a bandy legged scaffolder from West Wales, with a face only a mother could love - even he’s dating a model! Must be a backs thing. Not sure the front row are faring as well these days.

[SecretFly]

Liam is ugly?

Hmm.......... so which players are handsome? Important question this...international incident might occur if you don't provide a satisfactory answer....

[Guest]

Funny looking I suppose.

[SecretFly]

yeah well................ that's obviously not his best side..

[yappysnap]

Peoples thoughts on three locks?

I thought it didn't really work too well, Italy are poor and couldn't make much of it but other then ripping in tackles we didn't trouble the breakdown. Like wise they didn't seem to work as a unit so well.

I'd be tempted to start Launchbury and Lawes next week against Wales with itoje on the bench. Not sure who should come in to the back row, but an actual flanker though would be good.

[Scottrf]

We wouldn't be good at the breakdown with 3 flankers and one lock. Even Samoa beat us there.

[WELL-PAST-IT]

Rugby players are superstars now though. Even Liam Williams - a bandy legged scaffolder from West Wales, with a face only a mother could love - even he’s dating a model! Must be a backs thing. Not sure the front row are faring as well these days.

Errrmmmm, as a comparison what does Rowtree's wife look like?

[cascough]

Liam is ugly?

Hmm.......... so which players are handsome?  Important question this...international incident might occur if you don't provide a satisfactory answer....

All I'm saying is that Liam Williams and Plug from the Bash Street Kids have never been seen together...

[ChequeredJersey]

We wouldn't be good at the breakdown with 3 flankers and one lock. Even Samoa beat us there.

Hyperbole much?

[ChequeredJersey]

Peoples thoughts on three locks?

I thought it didn't really work too well, Italy are poor and couldn't make much of it but other then ripping in tackles we didn't trouble the breakdown. Like wise they didn't seem to work as a unit so well.

I'd be tempted to start Launchbury and Lawes next week against Wales with itoje on the bench. Not sure who should come in to the back row, but an actual flanker though would be good.

Hughes is meant to be back in the training squad, so I’d quite like to see Robshaw, Simmonds, Hughes. Failing that Robshaw, Frodo, Simmonds.

[Guest]

Rugby players are superstars now though. Even Liam Williams - a bandy legged scaffolder from West Wales, with a face only a mother could love - even he’s dating a model! Must be a backs thing. Not sure the front row are faring as well these days.

Errrmmmm,  as a comparison what does Rowtree's wife look like?

Can’t believe you’ve got me googling Rowntree’s wife!

[Scottrf]

We wouldn't be good at the breakdown with 3 flankers and one lock. Even Samoa beat us there.

Hyperbole much?

It's the truth. They did.

[doctor_grey]

I knew it!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQf9XHqFpHH/?hl=en&taken-by=anthonywatson

Wouldn't chuck her out of bed for stabbing me.

Holy orgasm, Batman.  
Maybe Anthony (fine lad that he is) wouldn't mind bringing her around?

[doctor_grey]

Rugby players are superstars now though. Even Liam Williams - a bandy legged scaffolder from West Wales, with a face only a mother could love - even he’s dating a model! Must be a backs thing. Not sure the front row are faring as well these days.

Errrmmmm,  as a comparison what does Rowtree's wife look like?

Can’t believe you’ve got me googling Rowntree’s wife!

She has got to look better than his ears!

[doctor_grey]

Any one have an update on Ben Youngs?

Ruptured MCL.  Out minimum 4 months, according to the official reports.  

However, if we think logically about proper man-management (never a given in Rugby), I think the right plan for Youngs is to target the start of the 2018-2019 Premiership season all the time with an eye towards being in real game shape for the 2019 6 Nations and the RWC.   A major injury a year and half before the RWC leaves no time, no room for error, for mistakes and rushing his treatment and recovery.

[BamBam]

Now we've all quite recovered from seeing Watson's lovely other half, I'm glad to see we're back to discussing the game

[No 7&1/2]

Quite like his as it touches on a couple of points which raise their head often. Like flats at the end. He's knows I'll snap!

https://twitter.com/LandRoverRugby/status/961207928760893441

[ChequeredJersey]

Sinckler back for Quins

[lostinwales]

Sinckler back for Quins

I wonder if he'll get a look in later on in the 6N. Williams looked good last week

[ChequeredJersey]

couple of links - one in which Brown opens up, and even (don't tell Beshocked...) reveals that he does in fact do extra training work :o
https://twitter.com/landroverrugby/status/961207928760893441

and one about Care, Youngs and Eddie's finishers

http://www.givemesport.com/1253098-danny-care-may-actually-be-too-good-to-start-for-eddie-jones-england?autoplay=on&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Organic-Social&utm_campaign=Tribute-Pages-laika-III-1sted

[doctor_grey]

Eddie reaming out the media about Mike Brown: http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/22399002/eddie-jones-angry-defence-fullback-mike-brown-england-vs-wales-six-nations

Maybe a day like yesterday with poor weather is perfect Mike Brown tough guy weather?

[TightHEAD]

I'm really worried about Englands progress, we haven't improved in two years, yes we have a lot of depth but we are struggling to put teams away.

I'm worried about the Scotland game in 2weeks, then the French game! And finally Ireland. Can see us losing a couple to be honest.

[TightHEAD]

We peaked vs Aus away, since then we have been poor.

[Scottrf]

I honestly think England just have to turn up next week and Scotland will make enough mistakes.

[Geordie]

England need to play for 80 mins...at the moment they are only playing high intensity stuff for so long.

But hey we're still winning.

We should have been ahead further in the first half though...

[No 7&1/2]

Interesting call coming for the back row. Does he leave underhill out again?

[lostinwales]

Interesting call coming for the back row. Does he leave underhill out again?

We need a heavyweight carrier, and nobody in his right mind should ever drop Robshaw on current form. So we can go Robshaw 6 Underhill 7 Hughes/Simmonds 8. That may have more balance than the current set up, but it's not as if Lawes has been bad either.

[formerly known as Sam]

We certainly didn't look as dangerous second half with no Simmonds. I wonder if Mercer will come into contention if fit enough. Hughes was only a sub today and isn't exactly Mr All Day anyway so might need more game time. A Robshaw, Underhill, Simmonds backrow with Mercer on the bench would be mobile and physical which is fairly ideal for playing the Scots.

Hartley hasn't inspired so far, if LCD is fit in time then his position is far from safe.

[TightHEAD]

Underhill will tackle his heart out all day for the team but I'm not convinced he is a decent enough ball carrier yet, his time will come but with him around the England team he'll only improve.

[No 7&1/2]

George didn't do enough to say he should be ahead of him again though. If he was coming on offering great setpiece and impact as he was 12 months or so ago great. At present his lineout is looking mediocre and he's not having the carrying impact he was.

[TightHEAD]

George needs sharpen up his all round game, his been very average IMO and has brought little impact to the field.

[mid_gen]

I would be very surprised if Hughes wasn't our back row bench player against Scotland. Simmonds style will suit that game and Hughes is a perfect 'finisher'.

[TightHEAD]

What's the news regarding simmonds?

[TightHEAD]

What do people think of the social media campaign vs Hartley, apparently he is being accused of spitting on a Welsh player.

Looks to me like he spits near the player on the ground. Not nice either way as I hate spitting in public.

[lostinwales]

The Hartley spit thing is nothing. It's not ideal but there is nothing in it at all. If there was then the scrap would of kicked off again. (as it was it was not started by anybody in white, although Farrell's actions getting penalised seemed to be the initial trigger)

Hartley the player has been better than George this 6N. We have lost 2 lineouts so far that I can think of and George was throwing both times. I don't think the rest of his play has been at all special either.

This isn't a slight at George who is normally a terrific player, but his form is not as good as can be so far this tournament. In all honesty if we have a pressing need to bring in LCD right now it is George who should give way.

[lostinwales]

What's the news regarding simmonds?

All I know is that it was a shoulder injury. I don't know how it happened or how severe. With luck it's just a stinger.

[Pot Hale]

I'm really worried about Englands progress, we haven't improved in two years, yes we have a lot of depth but we are struggling to put teams away.

I'm worried about the Scotland game in 2weeks, then the French game! And finally Ireland. Can see us losing a couple to be honest.

Is there a hysterical laughter icon?

Worried about Scotland?? And France??

And Ireland???

England are No 2 in the world. They don't do worry. 28 wins and counting....

[SecretFly]

Ah no, he's got a point, does TightHead.

I'm worried about Scotland.... and Wales and England...and yeah, I'm worried about Ireland too. Indeed, I'm so worried about Ireland that I'm still worried about France even though we've already played them. Ireland worries me the most.

[lostinwales]

I'm really worried about Englands progress, we haven't improved in two years, yes we have a lot of depth but we are struggling to put teams away.

I'm worried about the Scotland game in 2weeks, then the French game! And finally Ireland. Can see us losing a couple to be honest.

Is there a hysterical laughter icon?

Worried about Scotland??  And France??

And Ireland???

England are No 2 in the world.  They don't do worry.   28 wins and counting....

we do do worry. A lot. It is healthy although occasionally (often) goes too far.

 And as you well know it's not 28 wins because there was a little hiccup, by a small number of points, in dreadful weather, in a stadium a long way from home, against a very very tough team...

[SecretFly]

 And as you well know it's not 28 wins because there was a little hiccup, by a small number of points, in dreadful weather, in a stadium a long way from home, against a very very tough team...

Yeah...that was okay...but I still prefer The Empire Strikes Back because of the "Luke, I'm your father" bit.

[lostinwales]

 And as you well know it's not 28 wins because there was a little hiccup, by a small number of points, in dreadful weather, in a stadium a long way from home, against a very very tough team...

Yeah...that was okay...but I still prefer The Empire Strikes Back because of the "Luke, I'm your father" bit.

Andy to Owen?

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