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2024 Guinness Six Nations
Where do teams stand ahead of the WC?
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<blockquote data-quote="Bruce_ma gooshvili" data-source="post: 938593" data-attributes="member: 74121"><p>Italy: will dismantle Canada and Namibia. Zanon was a massive positive from the France game as was Ruzza for the whole tournament, both great youth who look mentally capable of playing in the RWC. Cannot beat NZ or SA if the Boks are picking Euro based players. If Ghiraldini doesn't recover we are struggling (although I dont like Gega). Allan had the best fly half performance ever across a tournament by an Italian for me, until his bottle crashed against France. There is no reason Italy cant put together a XV to contest with France and Argentina for the "worst Tier1 of the tournament". I'm less negative about CoS than I was pre-tournament, but he is still underachieving I think. </p><p>3rd in group. </p><p></p><p>Scotland: God knows. According to Finn, the second half performance followed him having an argument with Toonie at half time. These are not solid foundations for making consistent performances. High tempo game might not translate well if it is still humid in Japan, but the youth of the side will help with that. Desperately need Huw & Seymour to rediscover form and for their great injured centre options to get fit. If they do that and dont pick Laidlaw, I can see Scotland beating anyone bar ABs or England as I feel their pack is gradually improving to an extent that only the Boks, Ireland, France and England can starve them of ball. They should have been in the semis last time until a ref intervened and they have more depth now than they did then. Beating Ireland and making the semis should be the target. On the flip side, if they have injuries like at this 6N then I can see Japan running them close and it ending in comedic disaster. Real issues with the mental side of the game, as underlined with the last minutes at Twickenham. I can see them losing a QF against the Boks that they would have won with Vern, purely because of the mental side of things. </p><p>QF</p><p></p><p></p><p>England: my pick for RWC champs if they build the team around Slade and go for a bit of finesse and passing in the backs rather than bludgeoning and sprinting Jones was so obsessed about in recent years. Eddie's Japanese experience has to be a positive and for all the debate around Ford or Farrell, both are good enough, so it's not a big deal. My only concern is if Eddie alienates the dressing room beyond repair as the "group of death" is becoming more like a "group of deadbeats" with each passing game. </p><p>Champions</p><p></p><p>France: their first half against Wales was genuinely high quality, but they are all over the place. They have the worst performing French pack I've seen since professionalism. I personally have real doubts about the Pumas pack but can France even take advantage of that now? I think they can, if it isn't too hot. </p><p>QF</p><p></p><p>Wales: Anscombe did well in the 6N, but I really think to have a chance of winning it all Wales need Patchell, but I can't see Gatland putting him on the plane. Their scoring rate will not be enough to beat top teams with any sort of consistency and Patchell is the man to create those opportunities to raise the average points total for the side. The weakness of the SH still gives Wales a great shot at getting to a semi, minimum - and if you can get in the last 4 then anything is possible. Be very, very scared if Kerevi manages to integrate into the Wallabies though as they will be a different side if they get sorted out at centre. </p><p>SF</p><p></p><p>Ireland: 7 months is not a long time and there were all sports felt was wrong with Ireland with selection, tactics and mentality. I predicted they'd be flat at Murrayfield, but I didn't think that flatness would linger for the rest of the tournament- that is concerning. They only showed the required intensity against France and their cutting edge seems utterly blunted if Stockdale doesn't get opportunities. I think that their inability to chase a lead is a real thing and I'm remaining unconvinced at them at centre (when Sexton isn't on top form, who is going to step up creatively?). Baffled by the lack of tactical kicking in Cardiff, the selection of Henshaw at fullback and the relegation of Larmour. </p><p></p><p>I hate the combination of humidity and age, with issues with ageing at hooker, fullback and to a lesser extent lock not being addressed (even going backwards). Utterly failed to use the 6N as a development opportunity after any realistic chance of the ***le was gone, despite having a strong second 23 to experiment with. This will seriously bite them on the backside if they pick up injuries before the RWC. Their pack should mean that (unlike against Scotland), Japan have no realistic chance, even if Ireland stink out the joint, so utter catastrophe can be averted. Like Scotland, unfortunate to be meeting Pool B in the QFs. </p><p>QF</p><p></p><p>In short, a weaker SH quartet, ripe for the picking, but i think infuriatingly that only England will take full advantage. I can even see 3x SH sides in the semis.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Bruce_ma gooshvili, post: 938593, member: 74121"] Italy: will dismantle Canada and Namibia. Zanon was a massive positive from the France game as was Ruzza for the whole tournament, both great youth who look mentally capable of playing in the RWC. Cannot beat NZ or SA if the Boks are picking Euro based players. If Ghiraldini doesn't recover we are struggling (although I dont like Gega). Allan had the best fly half performance ever across a tournament by an Italian for me, until his bottle crashed against France. There is no reason Italy cant put together a XV to contest with France and Argentina for the "worst Tier1 of the tournament". I'm less negative about CoS than I was pre-tournament, but he is still underachieving I think. 3rd in group. Scotland: God knows. According to Finn, the second half performance followed him having an argument with Toonie at half time. These are not solid foundations for making consistent performances. High tempo game might not translate well if it is still humid in Japan, but the youth of the side will help with that. Desperately need Huw & Seymour to rediscover form and for their great injured centre options to get fit. If they do that and dont pick Laidlaw, I can see Scotland beating anyone bar ABs or England as I feel their pack is gradually improving to an extent that only the Boks, Ireland, France and England can starve them of ball. They should have been in the semis last time until a ref intervened and they have more depth now than they did then. Beating Ireland and making the semis should be the target. On the flip side, if they have injuries like at this 6N then I can see Japan running them close and it ending in comedic disaster. Real issues with the mental side of the game, as underlined with the last minutes at Twickenham. I can see them losing a QF against the Boks that they would have won with Vern, purely because of the mental side of things. QF England: my pick for RWC champs if they build the team around Slade and go for a bit of finesse and passing in the backs rather than bludgeoning and sprinting Jones was so obsessed about in recent years. Eddie's Japanese experience has to be a positive and for all the debate around Ford or Farrell, both are good enough, so it's not a big deal. My only concern is if Eddie alienates the dressing room beyond repair as the "group of death" is becoming more like a "group of deadbeats" with each passing game. Champions France: their first half against Wales was genuinely high quality, but they are all over the place. They have the worst performing French pack I've seen since professionalism. I personally have real doubts about the Pumas pack but can France even take advantage of that now? I think they can, if it isn't too hot. QF Wales: Anscombe did well in the 6N, but I really think to have a chance of winning it all Wales need Patchell, but I can't see Gatland putting him on the plane. Their scoring rate will not be enough to beat top teams with any sort of consistency and Patchell is the man to create those opportunities to raise the average points total for the side. The weakness of the SH still gives Wales a great shot at getting to a semi, minimum - and if you can get in the last 4 then anything is possible. Be very, very scared if Kerevi manages to integrate into the Wallabies though as they will be a different side if they get sorted out at centre. SF Ireland: 7 months is not a long time and there were all sports felt was wrong with Ireland with selection, tactics and mentality. I predicted they'd be flat at Murrayfield, but I didn't think that flatness would linger for the rest of the tournament- that is concerning. They only showed the required intensity against France and their cutting edge seems utterly blunted if Stockdale doesn't get opportunities. I think that their inability to chase a lead is a real thing and I'm remaining unconvinced at them at centre (when Sexton isn't on top form, who is going to step up creatively?). Baffled by the lack of tactical kicking in Cardiff, the selection of Henshaw at fullback and the relegation of Larmour. I hate the combination of humidity and age, with issues with ageing at hooker, fullback and to a lesser extent lock not being addressed (even going backwards). Utterly failed to use the 6N as a development opportunity after any realistic chance of the ***le was gone, despite having a strong second 23 to experiment with. This will seriously bite them on the backside if they pick up injuries before the RWC. Their pack should mean that (unlike against Scotland), Japan have no realistic chance, even if Ireland stink out the joint, so utter catastrophe can be averted. Like Scotland, unfortunate to be meeting Pool B in the QFs. QF In short, a weaker SH quartet, ripe for the picking, but i think infuriatingly that only England will take full advantage. I can even see 3x SH sides in the semis. [/QUOTE]
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Where do teams stand ahead of the WC?
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