6 Nations 2013

[Blue Til Death]

Staying in the Charles Stuart Guest House.. Parnell Square.. Arriving at 07:30 Sunday morning, need to find a bar that opens at 9am... Any ideas...? 4 of us going 3 English & 1 irish in our party... Will get very messy win or lose...!

Well there is a bar called Slatterys Bar on Capel street which isnt too far from Parnell square. Not too sure were the guest house is your staying in. Just head towards the Rotunda Hospital and turn right at the end of the road as if your heading towards the spire and walk down past the cinema and Capel street is along there not too sure how far up or down Capel Street it is to be honest. If your on the opposite side facing the Garden of Rememberance cross the road and walk down towards the spire and take the first right at the Ambassodor and walk straight down the road past the hospital on up by the cinema.

Last time i was in Dublin we went to a bar called Break To The Border (i think). It was great, they had a live Lizzie tribute band on but i kept being given black ice cream and fell over. Wish I was going.

Ha ha Ive had some of that ice cream and it makes me fall over too!! we must be allergic to it

 

[Lancet Fluke]

When you say almost nothing... err you mean absolutely zero nada nothing dont you mate....you stick to football and you will be fine.. well maybe

Well I thought I made that clear. But you're not answering my question. Why tactically does it make no difference to name your team days in advance. I can't think of many sports where this would be the case. I'm asking because I'm interested in learning something about it so merely confirming that I don't know anything about it isn't really very helpful, is it?

There's no different formations as such and as both teams do it it makes little difference. The stategy is in the way you play (kicking for territory, an expansive offloading game etc) not the way you set up.

So would it not make it obvious whether you intend to play an expansive game or kick for territory depending on which personnel you pick for the match?

 

[without a dream]

Well I thought I made that clear. But you're not answering my question. Why tactically does it make no difference to name your team days in advance. I can't think of many sports where this would be the case. I'm asking because I'm interested in learning something about it so merely confirming that I don't know anything about it isn't really very helpful, is it?

There's no different formations as such and as both teams do it it makes little difference. The stategy is in the way you play (kicking for territory, an expansive offloading game etc) not the way you set up.

So would it not make it obvious whether you intend to play an expansive game or kick for territory depending on which personnel you pick for the match?

Not neccesarily, it's kind of hard to explain to someone who doesn't know the game but the players who dictate how the side plays are usually more than capable of doing both, or grow into being able to do both. For example a year ago most would have associated picking Owen Farrell as an intention to play for territory but he's developing his game to be much more rounded and England are much more free flowing now.

 

[Dave Fabulous]

There's no different formations as such and as both teams do it it makes little difference. The stategy is in the way you play (kicking for territory, an expansive offloading game etc) not the way you set up.

So would it not make it obvious whether you intend to play an expansive game or kick for territory depending on which personnel you pick for the match?

Not neccesarily, it's kind of hard to explain to someone who doesn't know the game but the players who dictate how the side plays are usually more than capable of doing both, or grow into being able to do both. For example a year ago most would have associated picking Owen Farrell as an intention to play for territory but he's developing his game to be much more rounded and England are much more free flowing now.

A lot depends on personnel and skill sets. Rugby World cup 1991 is a good example. England had a talented back line including Guscott, Underwood, Carling and Halliday. By common consent, they were largely underused, as our pack were awesome and Rob Andrew was a good kicker, who notched the penalties which the forwards won. It won England the Grand Slam earlier in the year.
In the week leading up to the final, the Aussies were worried and started a media onslaught about how we wouldn't be worthy winners as we didn't play any running rugby. It must have worked because England tried to throw it around like the Harlem Globetrotters but weren't used to it and lost the final by 6 points.
Same team, same number 10, with different instructions/mindset, win that game hands down 9 times out of 10 in my opinion. The fly half choice isn't everything in one-off games but sides tend to be built round their style of play. Freddie Burns at first glance appears more naturally talented than Farrell but I agree Owen had a stormer on Saturday and showed he can play on the gain line, rather than sit in the pocket like Rob Andrew. In Wales, Hook lost out more often than not to Stephen Jones and the same pragmatic approach meant Rob Andrew won many more caps than Bath fly half, Stuart Barnes, despite the england back line in that final all playing for Bath except Carling. Even Richard Hill at 9 played for them!! Sorry for overlong post.

 

[Blue Til Death]

Dont forget you said Ireland faded badly in the second half well for 20 minutes they were down to 14 players so its expected that the players faded in the second half against 15 players away from home. Enjoy Dublin. Were are you staying in Dublin this weekend?? Might see if I can get in for a pint or 2 lol.

Staying in the Charles Stuart Guest House.. Parnell Square.. Arriving at 07:30 Sunday morning, need to find a bar that opens at 9am... Any ideas...? 4 of us going 3 English & 1 irish in our party... Will get very messy win or lose...!

Well there is a bar called Slatterys Bar on Capel street which isnt too far from Parnell square. Not too sure were the guest house is your staying in. Just head towards the Rotunda Hospital and turn right at the end of the road as if your heading towards the spire and walk down past the cinema and Capel street is along there not too sure how far up or down Capel Street it is to be honest. If your on the opposite side facing the Garden of Rememberance cross the road and walk down towards the spire and take the first right at the Ambassodor and walk straight down the road past the hospital on up by the cinema.

Things are getting desperate!! we are not alkies but looking online the pubs dont open until 12 or after mass finishes?? being a heathen i wouldnt know that..bet its not 9am though..Further advice required here please..!

 

[Lancet Fluke]

There's no different formations as such and as both teams do it it makes little difference. The stategy is in the way you play (kicking for territory, an expansive offloading game etc) not the way you set up.

So would it not make it obvious whether you intend to play an expansive game or kick for territory depending on which personnel you pick for the match?

Not neccesarily, it's kind of hard to explain to someone who doesn't know the game but the players who dictate how the side plays are usually more than capable of doing both, or grow into being able to do both. For example a year ago most would have associated picking Owen Farrell as an intention to play for territory but he's developing his game to be much more rounded and England are much more free flowing now.

Interesting. Cheers for the responses.

 

[big gaz]

Stevie Jones started more for games Wales than Hook simply because he wasn't scared of taking the Welsh attack to the gain line and committing the opposition back row. Hook was a bugger for throwing out poor passes.

 

[Dave Fabulous]

Stevie Jones started more for games Wales than Hook simply because he wasn't scared of taking the Welsh attack to the gain line and committing the opposition back row. Hook was a bugger for throwing out poor passes.

No worries, Gaz. I bow to your greater knowledge. I was just making a very general point about style. In my opinion, Hook always looks more of a maverick fly half than a pragmatic one, based solely on occasions when i've seen him play.

I like Jones, however, and he hardly puts a foot wrong, like O'Gara, but they rarely had me out of my seat like Carlos Spencer or, dare I say it, Quade Cooper?

Again, not a point about effectiveness, merely style.

 

[big gaz]

No probs but I was kind of agreeing to you're point re England and Rob Andrew, you play to you're strengths. Wales have been using big centres to break the gain line for about 10 years so the stand off has to basically run a flatter line.
When we had a silky centre named Dawes and a stand off called King Barry everything was down to pace and a jink and side step, oh happy days. ;-)
Young Farrell who I do rate should never have been aloud to play union, if he becomes half the player his old man became the sadly for me England have a diamond.

 

[Dave Fabulous]

Wales do have some big units but I got more excited watching Shane Williams than by the current crop. Again, no slur on Big Jamie and George North etc but I'm hoping to get to Oz for the lions later this year and want to watch Simon Zebo (Lions hopeful) than someone like Shane Horgan (2 caps). It's perhaps unfair to compare the two but you tend to pick players we'd never cap. If James Simpson-Daniel was Welsh, he'd have more than the 10 caps he's got for us. Again, Strettle played on Saturday but i'd have picked Wade just for a look at him. That sort of pace is rare.
I totally agree with your point about young Farrell. His dad was the same. Very old head on very young shoulders.

 

[Chris in London]

I know almost nothing about Rugby. I've watched it now and then but to be honest, I just think it's a boring load of shit. Just a quick question to those who know something about it though. Just watching SSN and they were going through the Scotland team for next weekend. I realise that this naming of teams days in advance is the norm. Is rugby so lacking in tactical nuances that the opposition knowing your team days in advance makes no difference?

I think it must make a difference but then again you know the oppositions team days in advance, too, so the disadvantage of showing your own hand is set off by the advantage of knowing the opposition

 

[big gaz]

Dave, sadly its Wales lack of depth that allows some players to get long runs in the national team, we cannot risk giving a player a game to see how he goes. If Wales were to loose Jenkins and Jones the two best props in the six nations we would get mullered.
Anyway enough moaning from the welshman, I did the lions rugby league tour in 1988, so if you do go this summer pm me, there are some great places to go and visit. Isn't bluemoon a great caring forum.

 

[Dave Fabulous]

cheers Gaz

will do

 

[Dave Fabulous]

Seeing as you're obviously a League man, the best player I've ever seen in either code was Wally Lewis, who I saw in oz in 87.

What a player.

 

[big gaz]

By a country mile Wally Lewis was best ( imho ).Never seen a player who could put a pass on a sixpence like Lewis could, playing centre to him must have been a dream.
IN 88 when I was on the fans tour in Sydney the Queensland team were in our hotel at Rushcutters bay, so I actually met the guy, top bloke and likes a good booze.

 

[without a dream]

He's back. Him against Roberts should be good fun :)

 

[big gaz]

He's back. Him against Roberts should be good fun :)

Not much man love in this match up ;-)

 

[without a dream]

England: Goode; Ashton, Barritt, Twelvetrees, Brown; Farrell, B Youngs; Marler, T Youngs, Cole, Launchbury, Parling, Haskell, Robshaw, Wood.

Replacements: Tuilagi, Flood, Care, M Vunipola, Hartley, Wilson, Lawes, Waldrom.


12trees keeps his place. Shame Morgan is injured, he's a much better ball carrier than the rest of that back row, would have been good (but a huge call) if Billy Vunipola could have made the bench instead of Waldrom (who I don't like). Manu off the bench has the potential to be devastating if he's sharp.

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

Lancaster leaves Tuilagi out and keeps Barritt in, hmm.

 

[without a dream]

Lancaster leaves Tuilagi out and keeps Barritt in, hmm.

Tuilagi's clearly not quite fit, Barritt has been doing well too but it would be harsh to drop him when Manu hasn't played for a month and he's had a good game against Scotland.