The Rugby Union Thread

TJT1979

Is Marcus Smith injured? He's not included in the 36-man squad leading up to Eng v Scotland. 

I think he was included up until now, but I could be mistaken. 

Gassage

TJT1979 said:

Is Marcus Smith injured? He's not included in the 36-man squad leading up to Eng v Scotland. 

I think he was included up until now, but I could be mistaken. 

Yes. He and Ollie Lawrence remain in squad for rehab

TJT1979

Thanks, I had missed that.

Eng are badly missing a ball carrier in the centres. I really hope Lawrence is fit soon. 

rsvmark

TJT1979 said:

Thanks, I had missed that.

Eng are badly missing a ball carrier in the centres. I really hope Lawrence is fit soon. 

Is Alfie Barbery free? He’s been known to have a go

scrumhalf

Alfie's also no stranger to the sin bin. 

mattdavis

Announced on Monday that Louis Lynagh leaving Quins for Benetton end of the season (gutted, I think he’s going to be brilliant) and by Wednesday announced as in the Italian 6 nations squad! Things can move quickly sometimes…
I think England have let a potentially great player get away tbh. 

bertie

scrumhalf said:

Alfie's also no stranger to the sin bin. 

and he moved out of playing centre a while ago  !

Manu's back in the training squad............................. days ? hours ?.............. minutes ?

fretmeister

Alex Mitchell injured. Not available for the Scotchland game. 

TJT1979

Crap, just saw this. Shame for him and Eng... he's been playing pretty well. 

Randall is in camp. I wonder if Care will start... I think they view him as an impact sub. 

Blaendulais

ewal said:

bertie said:

ooh,  some sugar with those grapes

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68282213

And of course if it had been England on the end of that refereeing performance, we wouldn't have heard anything about it...

However you feel about the decision trying to get World Rugby to do that seems pretty pathetic.  Suck it up and move on. They lost the game elsewhere.

p90fool

fretmeister said:

Alex Mitchell injured. Not available for the Scotchland game. 

They'll miss him, he's been solid. 

TJT1979

How is everybody feeling about this weekend?

Personally I think Sco will be too much for a disjointed Eng side. To be honest I can't see Eng winning any more this year. 

I reckon Ire will win the grand slam, and think they'll put quite a lot of points on Wales. 

Much as I'd love Italy to beat France, I reckon the French will be bolstered by scraping the win against Scotland, and will win. This is a good chance for Italy though... France have been iffy so far. 

What say ye?

Blaendulais

I think people will be surprised. Felix Jones  defence shut Russell down totally in the world cup and if Lawrence and Martin are back i think England will be a different team.  If Cole and Marler start and dominate the Scottish scrum I think England will find some confidence.   Danny Care will bring something different and Spencer on the bench will be useful.  I dont think the Scots, when they look back at two games will be that confident whereas England can only be better

Wales looking at 50 points against Ireland 

France Italy Meh

exocet

Wales are in for a massive thumping (I'm Welsh.....)

I think Scotland will beat England by 7 points.

Italy will give France a scare...in the 1st half, then normal service will resume.

tbm

Everybody, Irish media included, is predicting a handsome Irish win. I know one thing for sure, I’ll always be nervous against a Gatland coached Wales team. I know it’s a young team, but North, Wainwright, Beard, Reffel, Adams, all quality players. Ireland will probably win, but I reckon it’ll be tighter than folk think. No Keenan either. He’s a big loss. 

England to beat Scotland. I think that France loss was damaging and England look like a team who know how to win at the moment. 

France will beat Italy, and it’ll be really boring. 

bertie

tbm said:

 

England to beat Scotland.

nurse,  NURSE..................he's out of bed again....................... and its time for his meds.

I see they've got Watson back in the squad,  that mean they're going to play their usual "blood guts and wind em up" tactics,  which is against all recent displays

sev112

Wow, even I’m not predicting England to beat Scotland, although I think they are getting a little bit cocky and that doesn’t bode well for Scotland.

interetsijgly , the Rugby paper was saying this week that the Tony Stanger grand slam try was never touched down, and had VAR been around, we wouldn’t have to put up with Flower of Scotland all the time

koneguitarist

If Wales can keep Irish score to 20pts or less I think I will be happy enough. Wales are in a rebuilding phase with not much depth and a lot of injuries up against one of the top three sides that are playing consistently well. 

England to Win 
France to win. 

bertie

koneguitarist said:

If Wales can keep Irish score to 20pts or less

at the Aviva ?  good luck with that................ they're good away (Marseille showed that) but at home they're another gear up again

bertie

@fretmeister   ; -  Furbanks in !!

England: Furbank; Freeman, Slade, Lawrence, Daly; Ford, Care; Genge, George (capt), Cole, Itoje, Chessum, Roots, Underhill, Earl.

Replacements: Dan, Marler, Stuart, Martin, Cunningham-South, Spencer, F Smith, Feyi-Waboso.