[masan's saddle]

Tapper, on 02 February 2011 - 08:23 PM, said:

masan, on 02 February 2011 - 08:01 PM, said:

About time Simeon !

Vincent Clerc and Jauzion don't even make the French bench !

Wood to get his first cap against Wales.

Hook at full back instead of Byrne !?! ( Although I suspect this may be a cunning ruse by Gatland involving Jones going off early, Hook reverting to 10 and Byrne coming on at FB when the game breaks up)

Fitzgerald at fullback for Ireland with Earls on the wing....WTF is going on.

Tis said Byrne is completely out of shape since he came back from injury. I'm disappointed by Jauzion not playing, and to top it off, Poitrenaud will also be benched. Poitre-fucking-naud!?!? Benched?!

Yeh, Byrne hasn't really got a lot of game time under his belt since coming back from injury, but give him 30 mins when the game is opening up a bit and his running lines will come into play, particularly against Tindall.
Tindall usually commits far too early in defence and will have his hands full with the Welsh juggernaut midfield of Roberts and Davies.

Jauzion was one of the best players in last year's tournament, but to not even make the bench is very strange. Lievremont has been fucking about with the French team (under the guise of preparing for the world cup) for nearly 3 years and has used about 90 players in the process ! He must be very confident to go with the backline he has picked which may come back to haunt him against a Scotish side which might acheive parity up front and are more than capable of grinding out a slugfest. I'm genuinely looking forward to Scotland v France this year, something I haven't been able to say for a good few years. That said Scotland's recent form in France is woeful and they will probably get tonked by 30 points.

[caladanbrood]

I think Hook is starting at 15 purely because Byrne has been injured for so long. That, and with 2 wins from 13 matches, Gatland needs to do something different. I don't see it being any different though, England will dominate in the tight - Wales might score a try or two, but England by between 5 and 10 points thanks to Flood's less-than-metronomic kicking, I reckon.




I'm breaking the habits of a lifetime this year. Picking O'Driscoll but not Parisse. Parisse has been an ever-present for me before, but Italy look so weak this year I just can't bring myself to do it. Castrogiovanni is the only Italian who sneaks in. No doubt I will regret the choice. I was tempted to put a French centre in (normally I pick Jauzion), but I'm fairly sure Livremont will change his line-up pretty much every game, so there's no profit to be had across the channel except in the front 10.

[alt146]

masan, on 27 January 2011 - 03:22 PM, said:

Tapper, on 27 January 2011 - 02:36 PM, said:

The Saffers who played last year basically said after the competition that they don't know enough about euro rugby to give a shot at winning.

Piffle !

What a bunch of whingeing fannies and typically South African, if they can't poison the opposition or cheat their way to victory they spit their dummies and don't want to play

lolwut? I'd play if I actually had time to watch the games and keep track of the news, but it's going to be difficult enough to keep track of the now-ridiculously-huge-and-complicated Super 15 league. I've got a fantasy league going for that if any of you want to start following good rugby

[Tapper]

alt146, on 03 February 2011 - 10:21 AM, said:

masan, on 27 January 2011 - 03:22 PM, said:

Tapper, on 27 January 2011 - 02:36 PM, said:

The Saffers who played last year basically said after the competition that they don't know enough about euro rugby to give a shot at winning.

Piffle !

What a bunch of whingeing fannies and typically South African, if they can't poison the opposition or cheat their way to victory they spit their dummies and don't want to play

lolwut? I'd play if I actually had time to watch the games and keep track of the news, but it's going to be difficult enough to keep track of the now-ridiculously-huge-and-complicated Super 15 league. I've got a fantasy league going for that if any of you want to start following good rugby

I don't know enough about Southern Hemisphere rugby to have a shot at winning
(I mean, that is broadcasted nowhere here in Holland so I'd be fully reliant on the interwebs. I'm sure some Brit channel has it, but I'm limited to BBC 1 to 4 + BBC Entertainment and World, plus Eurosport, and I already pay handsomely to have more than BBC 1 and 2).

[caladanbrood]

Super 15 is very rarely on British TV. Maybe the occasional game on sky, but that's the limit of it.

[Use Of Weapons]

I would join this, but I've no time Besides, my rugby fantasy doesn't involve much typing and perusal of stats

[masan's saddle]

caladanbrood, on 03 February 2011 - 08:48 AM, said:

I think Hook is starting at 15 purely because Byrne has been injured for so long. That, and with 2 wins from 13 matches, Gatland needs to do something different. I don't see it being any different though, England will dominate in the tight - Wales might score a try or two, but England by between 5 and 10 points thanks to Flood's less-than-metronomic kicking, I reckon.
I'm breaking the habits of a lifetime this year. Picking O'Driscoll but not Parisse. Parisse has been an ever-present for me before, but Italy look so weak this year I just can't bring myself to do it. Castrogiovanni is the only Italian who sneaks in. No doubt I will regret the choice. I was tempted to put a French centre in (normally I pick Jauzion), but I'm fairly sure Livremont will change his line-up pretty much every game, so there's no profit to be had across the channel except in the front 10.

Byrne has been poor of late and he's buggering off to Clermont next season, but that said I still think he'll play a part at some point. Wales' record of late is shocking and as treasonous as it sounds, I also think England will scrape it by 5-10 points. Without sounding too partisan, 2 out of 13 does'nt fairly reflect the performances Wales have put in, particularly in the Autumn. Australia were too good, fair enough, but we should have beaten the Saffers, put a B team out against Fiji and 65mins into the kiwi game the chance was there and we blew it. Considering the masses of injuries Wales have had and the subsequent need to develop the younger players, noboby on this side of the Severn is panicking yet, which is a miracle in itself

The loss of Jones and Jenkins is massive and England should dominate up front particularly the front 5 although i'll be surprised if Hartley is'nt yellow carded, Phillips and Warburton will be winding him up all game. With a new cap in the backrow and no Moody or Croft, Wales might have the edge in the backrow as Powell the donut, Warburton and especially Lydiate are all having very good seasons.

Great minds and all that, I originally went with O'Driscoll and Jauzion, but have stuck with Parisse as well as Castrogiovanni. They are both usually in the mix for MotM in a valiant Italian loss and both have a knack of scoring tries, again in a valiant Italian loss. I totally agree about Lievremont chopping and changing, France have got the best overall squad and he will use them all at some point, which kinda messes up a fantasy league team !

alt146, on 03 February 2011 - 10:21 AM, said:

masan, on 27 January 2011 - 03:22 PM, said:

Tapper, on 27 January 2011 - 02:36 PM, said:

The Saffers who played last year basically said after the competition that they don't know enough about euro rugby to give a shot at winning.

Piffle !

What a bunch of whingeing fannies and typically South African, if they can't poison the opposition or cheat their way to victory they spit their dummies and don't want to play

lolwut? I'd play if I actually had time to watch the games and keep track of the news, but it's going to be difficult enough to keep track of the now-ridiculously-huge-and-complicated Super 15 league. I've got a fantasy league going for that if any of you want to start following good rugby

This a poor excuse for your absence Alt and if anything, further illustrates your defective South African character. You sir are not a gentleman and are welcome to your so-called "Super " 15 touch rugby tournament.

jitsukerr, on 03 February 2011 - 11:52 AM, said:

I would join this, but I've no time Besides, my rugby fantasy doesn't involve much typing and perusal of stats

I take it you are more into the perusal of lats ?

[alt146]

masan, on 03 February 2011 - 02:09 PM, said:

alt146, on 03 February 2011 - 10:21 AM, said:

masan, on 27 January 2011 - 03:22 PM, said:

Tapper, on 27 January 2011 - 02:36 PM, said:

The Saffers who played last year basically said after the competition that they don't know enough about euro rugby to give a shot at winning.

Piffle !

What a bunch of whingeing fannies and typically South African, if they can't poison the opposition or cheat their way to victory they spit their dummies and don't want to play

lolwut? I'd play if I actually had time to watch the games and keep track of the news, but it's going to be difficult enough to keep track of the now-ridiculously-huge-and-complicated Super 15 league. I've got a fantasy league going for that if any of you want to start following good rugby

This a poor excuse for your absence Alt and if anything, further illustrates your defective South African character. You sir are not a gentleman and are welcome to your so-called "Super " 15 touch rugby tournament.

Of course I'm not a gentleman, I'm a Saffer

[masan's saddle]

Well, to be fair I can't argue with that.

[Tiste Simeon]

Ahh, casual racism. What would Sport be without you??

[masan's saddle]

Well, looks like Brood has got this year sewn up already. Going in with no french backs at all was criminally negligent on my part, Scotland you were fantastic but you were not supposed to leak 4 tries off your own ball !
( Ok, to be fair France were awesome in parts, but still) Performance of the weekend was Italy, jammy Irish bastards and FFFNNNNN.....O'Gara, i've still never forgiven him for the Lions in 2009 and personifying the word "TWAT" with everything he does. Well played Italy.

I was drunk for pretty much the entire weekend and remember absolutely nothing about Wales v England other than we lost and the atmosphere in the stadium was a bit damp. I saw some abbreviated highlights last night on Scrum5 and again it looks like simple errors and England being more clinical did for Wales. That Mitchell sin bin was bollocks though. When Toby Flood gets man of the match you know your in trouble, I fear Wales may get a wooden spoon this year unless they can seriously turn it on against Scotland, which after their performance in France, I doubt will happen.

Congrats Brood, you git

[caladanbrood]

I don't know about that, there's only 10 points in it. I sure am glad I subbed in Flood and Medard at the last minute though!

[masan's saddle]

Looks like Gatland has finally decided to roll the dice and pick Hook at 10 for the Scotland match. This will either prove to be a stroke of genius (not really considering Jones was poor against England) or it will result in a monumental ass raping for Wales and the beginning of the end for Gatland, regardless of his new contract.

Yay.

[Tiste Simeon]

Well I seem nicely entrenched in my usual position. It's good to be back.

[masan's saddle]

masan, on 08 February 2011 - 08:24 PM, said:

Looks like Gatland has finally decided to roll the dice and pick Hook at 10 for the Scotland match. This will either prove to be a stroke of genius (not really considering Jones was poor against England) or it will result in a monumental ass raping for Wales and the beginning of the end for Gatland, regardless of his new contract.

Yay.

Well, it worked for about 60 mins anyway before Jones came on to shut up shop. Well done Wales that was a totally dominant performance without actually being that special. Whilst Scotland were woeful in pretty much all facets of the game, kudos must go to the Welsh defence, particularly Warburton, Lydiate and Ryan jones, who dominated a pretty decent Scottish outfit. Some big hits today and the Jocks were always going backwards in the tackle.

England.......were......(spit)..awesome.

Damn you Brood, I know you've got that bastard Ashton in your side. At the start of the tournament, I was torn between picking him or Foden....I went with Foden. Useless bastard.

2 for Shane Williams helps me a bit, but douche that I am I forgot to change Jones as my kicker

I fear that barring some miracle performances from some of my randoms, for me ze war is over.

Any predictions for the France v Ireland game ?

Ireland are not looking too good at the moment, if France click it could get messy. France by 15-20.

[caladanbrood]

Ashton is a try machine. England are the only team in 6 nations history to average more than 3 trys per game - not having their most potent weapon should be unthinkable!

[Tapper]

Why does Livremont continue to bring on Yachvili? Le sigh. That's a handful of points I could have had down the drain.

[masan's saddle]

caladanbrood, on 14 February 2011 - 10:10 AM, said:

Ashton is a try machine. England are the only team in 6 nations history to average more than 3 trys per game - not having their most potent weapon should be unthinkable!

I know, I seem to remember watching most of them being scored against Wales during the nineties

Tapper, on 14 February 2011 - 12:08 PM, said:

Why does Livremont continue to bring on Yachvili? Le sigh. That's a handful of points I could have had down the drain.

At least you had a kicker, I forgot to change mine from Stephen Jones. I am in a quandary, as you say Yachvilli comes on very early for Parra who I would like to pick as he is kicking very well. I just cannot bring myself to pick Flood, not because he's English or anything, honest, it's just I don't think England will hammer anyone else as badly as they did Italy. Ireland, France and to a lesser extent Scotland will be tight affairs for England and Ashton will get marked / kicked out of the game . Flood is also not the most reliable of kickers although to be fair he is having a good tournament.

With Italy up next for Welshland i'm gonna have to go with Hook and the 10 conversions he will make, along with the 2 tries, 3 assists and MotM.

O'Gara can just piss off back to the bookies.

[caladanbrood]

Yeah, I'm definitely leaning towards Hook as kicker next week, but it depends how Gatland and Livremont decide to tinker this week.

[masan's saddle]

Any predictions for this weekend, which is arguably the crunch weekend of the tournament ?

If Wales defend like they did against the Jocks, I expect us to win by at least 25. Italy however are our bogey team during world cup years so fingers crossed.

England v France is going to be a tight affair with a lot of needle. I'm expecting a bit of a kicking comp, lots of pens and a few yellows ! My gut says England by 5-10

Scotland v Ireland is a tough one as well, the Irish have picked O'Gara at 10 which tells me they might revert back to the safe kicking/pressure game they are used to. Trying to play shecksy rugby does'nt suit them, stick to what Munster and more recently Leinster are good at, hard grind with less chance of making so many mistakes. I hope Scotland turn up and play their A game, they are more than capable of beating this Irish team, they just have to front up. Still, Ireland by 10+