6 Nations 2013

[paul_e]

I did say it would be political, but the comments today are worse than I expected.  Giving all 4 nations decent representation is clearly important but not at the expense of creating a team capable of winning and as things stand, a squad with a high english contingent has the most chance of winning the tour, because they're the players who are in form.  Welsh rugby is in a hole at the minute (the regions are poor and the national team has just won for the first time in 9) and they really should only be providing 6-7 players as it stands, with similar from Scotland and England and Ireland sharing the the bulk of the squad and providing 16-17 each.  For example can you think of any back row from scotland or wales who deserves to be picked other than maybe Faletau at 8?  Do either of them have a half back who can come close to challenging youngs/sexton/farrell?

[PaulWinch again]

No none at all and Gatland has shown some real ignorance and frankly should resign if he can't be impartial.

[paul_e]

Lets wait and see on the squad but I'm totally prepared to be very disappointed by it.  I expect there to be as many welsh as irish and english in the squad, which is wrong.

[PaulWinch again]

I see Gatland is backtracking now.

[Dave Summers]

I've had a further think about this and my initial outrage has gone somewhat.  I think I understand what Gatland is trying to say but a) he has said it in a clumsy way and b) he has made an unnecessary rod for his back.

I have been discussing this issue on twitter with Rick O'Shea from BBC Wales (whoops I'll just pick that name up that I have dropped there) and we were debating what would happen if there was a close call between say Ashton and Cuthbert for a wing spot?.  Is the fact that Ashton is English going to count against him?.  I don't think it probably will, but you can now see all sorts of accusations levelled at Gatland whatever squad he picks.

He just shouldn't have said a word really, but as I say, I don't now think he meant any harm by it.

[nigel]

The strange thing with the rugby commentators is that the welsh, scottish and irish pundits are generally unashamedly biased but the english commentators seem to want to prove how neutral they are by actually being anti-english at times.  The number of times I've seen a dubious decision go agianst us and for the english commentator to side with the ref is scary, you never see it with commentators for the other nations, they all go out of their way to 'defend their own'.  Moore is probably the worst for it.

Bill McLaren was, and always will be, the best rugby commentator ever.

[paul_e]

I've had a further think about this and my initial outrage has gone somewhat.  I think I understand what Gatland is trying to say but a) he has said it in a clumsy way and b) he has made an unnecessary rod for his back.

I have been discussing this issue on twitter with Rick O'Shea from BBC Wales (whoops I'll just pick that name up that I have dropped there) and we were debating what would happen if there was a close call between say Ashton and Cuthbert for a wing spot?.  Is the fact that Ashton is English going to count against him?.  I don't think it probably will, but you can now see all sorts of accusations levelled at Gatland whatever squad he picks.

He just shouldn't have said a word really, but as I say, I don't now think he meant any harm by it.

I'm with you on that, I don't think it was intended how a lot of people have taken it but, given he's an experienced international coach, regardless of how it was intended it was a really stupid thing to say.

He really has backed himself into a corner.  If he only picks a handful of english players it will be down to him having an anti-england agenda, if he picks loads he'll be seen as having played up to the welsh support and made a fool himself.  All he needs to say is that he plans to pick a team that can win the series.

The bit that he got totally wrong was:

And English players are targeted by other countries.
They are not always the most popular with other countries because of the history. People like having a pop at them.

Even if that's true there is no way a lions coach should be saying it a month or so before he picks the squad.

[cheltenhamlion]

Stupid Southern Hemisphere sod. He can't win now.

[paul_e]

3 week ban for healy, should've got twice that for me.

[cheltenhamlion]

Agreed. Took the soft option of him missing the rest of the tournament. Dirty bastard.

[tomd2103]

For example can you think of any back row from scotland or wales who deserves to be picked other than maybe Faletau at 8?  Do either of them have a half back who can come close to challenging youngs/sexton/farrell?

It again all comes down to the game plan Gatland is going to implement.  If it is anything like the tactics he uses with Wales, then I can see a number of Welsh players featuring in the starting XV.  You mention the back row, well there is Dan Lydiate for a start (Six Nations player of the tournament last year but been injured recently) who is instrumental in the way Gatland plays and I would think he will be a definite starter if he is fit.  Playing against Australia and Pocock, the seven needs to be a natural in that position and do a lot of work on the floor.  Robshaw and O'Brien aren't really natural sevens so I think he could look elsewhere.  As for half back, I would expect Sexton and Farrell to battle it out for the fly-half spot, but think that Mike Phillips is nailed on to start at scrum half (I don't think he should start for Wales, but again he fits into Gatland's plans perfectly).  As for the rest of the backs, I would expect two big centres and two big wingers, with Leigh Halfpenny at full-back because of his goal-kicking.  Again, this probably wouldn't be my personal choice, but it could well be what Gatland goes with. 

 

 

[Dave Summers]

For example can you think of any back row from scotland or wales who deserves to be picked other than maybe Faletau at 8?  Do either of them have a half back who can come close to challenging youngs/sexton/farrell?

It again all comes down to the game plan Gatland is going to implement.  If it is anything like the tactics he uses with Wales, then I can see a number of Welsh players featuring in the starting XV.  You mention the back row, well there is Dan Lydiate for a start (Six Nations player of the tournament last year but been injured recently) who is instrumental in the way Gatland plays and I would think he will be a definite starter if he is fit.  Playing against Australia and Pocock, the seven needs to be a natural in that position and do a lot of work on the floor.  Robshaw and O'Brien aren't really natural sevens so I think he could look elsewhere.  As for half back, I would expect Sexton and Farrell to battle it out for the fly-half spot, but think that Mike Phillips is nailed on to start at scrum half (I don't think he should start for Wales, but again he fits into Gatland's plans perfectly).  As for the rest of the backs, I would expect two big centres and two big wingers, with Leigh Halfpenny at full-back because of his goal-kicking.  Again, this probably wouldn't be my personal choice, but it could well be what Gatland goes with. 

 

 

Agree with you on Lydiate, I think he will definitely tour and it will be a battle royal between him, Wood and Ferris for the number 6 spot.  If the squad is picked on form then I believe as things stand that Robshaw should be 7 and captain.   People say to me he can't do this and that, but yet he keeps getting man of the match performances and proving everyone wrong.

If Mike Phillips is anywhere near the test team then I will be gutted.  Apart from his physicality I fail to see what else he brings to the party?.  His passing is ponderous, he always takes a step or two before passing and worse than all of that, he never bloody looks up.  Youngs, Care, Laidlaw, Murray, Lloyd Williams would all be well ahead of him for me from the current squads and I would pick Joe Simpson and Lee Dickson ahead of him as well.

I like Halfpenny and expect him to probably be in the test team but not sure if he will be there as a winger or full back. 

[paul_e]

Lydiate was found out badly in the tour of oz and the autumn though, from what I recall; regardless, he's nowhere near the same level as Wood (who also gets my vote as captain) as far as I'm concerned.  7 is tough, if we want someone to go toe-to-toe with Pocock then you're really looking at a badly out of form warburton or an inexperienced armitage.  If you go with Robshaw and O'brien (I'd pick those 2 and armitage as my options to go) then you need to play in the english and Irish style where everyone is expected to do the dirty work on the floor.

Phillips should be nowhere near the squad he has the worst technique of any scrum half in the 6N as far as I'm concerned, his success comes purely from the fact that he's big and strong (for a 9).

[PaulWinch again]

Wood is outstanding and one of the major reasons for England's good form. He's an excellent player.

[Dave Summers]

Just been tweeted that Ben Morgan, Freddie Burns and Corbs are out for the France game, Corbs we knew about.

Now do we think that Lancaster may freshen things up a little, as part of his building process to the World Cup?.  I am not advocating wholesale changes but just a little tinkering here and there?.  I am really hoping that we see Billy Vunipola in the 23 now, probably too start off the bench.  Hope we go with 36 and Manu as our centres (really harsh on Barritt but we need to see this combination).  Maybe Lawes could come in for the game, although I guess that would be for Launchbury as Parling runs the lineout?.   I would also really like, not that it will happen, Henry Thomas to come on to the bench instead of Wilson as the reserve tight head.

Just a few thoughts anyway