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Old 16-04-2013, 15:36
Finny Skeleta
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6 Nations fixtures for 2014 and 2015 finally revealed

Friday night matches are back (well one Friday at least)
I thought we'd knocked that stupid Friday idea on the head.

And Wales get both of them again. oh joy of joys!
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Old 16-04-2013, 16:10
Mike Teevee
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I thought we'd knocked that stupid Friday idea on the head.

And Wales get both of them again. oh joy of joys!
I like the Friday games

I think it's a good way to start the weekend

Wales and France seem to be the two nations most keen on them
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Old 17-04-2013, 11:50
Kiko H Fan
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I like the Friday games

I think it's a good way to start the weekend

Wales and France seem to be the two nations most keen on them
Not if you want to get back to South London from Cardiff, after an 8pm kick off?
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Old 20-04-2013, 22:47
gemmaovwales03
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Did anyone watch the Scarlets v Blues game tonight on tv? Something wasn't right with George North it was like he didn't want to be there at all. Did they mention if he was injured? He kept looking at the medic all the time during the 2nd half but they wouldn't replace him.
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Old 21-04-2013, 11:00
ff999
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Did anyone watch the Scarlets v Blues game tonight on tv? Something wasn't right with George North it was like he didn't want to be there at all. Did they mention if he was injured? He kept looking at the medic all the time during the 2nd half but they wouldn't replace him.
Maybe he's trying to protect himself from any slight niggle, but as he's off at the end of the season, the club will want to get as much out of him as possible, any injuries won't be their concern.
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Old 21-04-2013, 11:08
ff999
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Wow, they're awful.
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Old 21-04-2013, 14:52
vaughan6477
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Western Mail reported this week, that betting has been suspended on Warburton being Lions Tour Captain.
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Old 21-04-2013, 21:20
Mike Teevee
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well Wasps' season is now over, as we can't finish top 6 for HEC rugby

Of the 4 teams that have qualified for Premiership play offs, it's looking like another Sarries vs Leicester final (having met twice in the last three finals)

As for Rab Pro 12 Ulster don't seem to be the force they were at the start of the season, probably another title for Leinster
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Old 29-04-2013, 19:27
CGG_12
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Lions squad being picked at 11am SSN tomorrow!
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Old 29-04-2013, 23:59
Cissy Fairfax
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Lions squad being picked at 11am SSN tomorrow!
Staggered the lack of talk anywhere on this, I can;t wait to see the squad. Has to be a few surprises, not overly bothered about captain but back row will be fascinating,

I've jotted down my squad and Robshaw misses out on mine (although I think Gatland will pick him over Jones or Croft.

I'd start with Croft, Tipuric & Faletau, 6, 7 & 8. Jones & Lydiate as back up flankers. You're then left with two of the captain choices fighting out the last flanker spot - Warburton & Robshaw and the former is too good not to go.

There'll probably take 7 back rowers so maybe Robshaw too but that leaves us short on 8's and top heavy on flankers. Leaves Haskell, Wood, Morgan, Heaslip and all Irish & Scots missing out.

Wingers/Fullbacks is the other interesting one. None of the England 6N back 3, Ashton, Brown or Goode would even be in my England 23 so hard to put them here.

Halfpenny will start at FB. I like Foden, would edge him over Hogg or Kearney for the 2nd spot. Then you're after 5 wingers. I really hope Gatland goes for some wildcards here like Bentley & Robinson.

North will be one, Visser deserves a chance and Scotland are pretty thin on players. Wade is lethal and the best scoring English winger and must go. That leaves Cuthbert, Zebo, maybe Bowe for the other two. I wouldn't rule out Johnnie May either who could cover FB. Pity JSD wasn't back 3 or 4 games earlier, would've been an interesting wild card. I don't envy Gatland having to find 7 back 3 players out of that lot. Any of the 12 would be worthy.
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Old 30-04-2013, 09:25
Glawster2002
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Staggered the lack of talk anywhere on this, I can;t wait to see the squad. Has to be a few surprises, not overly bothered about captain but back row will be fascinating,

I've jotted down my squad and Robshaw misses out on mine (although I think Gatland will pick him over Jones or Croft.

I'd start with Croft, Tipuric & Faletau, 6, 7 & 8. Jones & Lydiate as back up flankers. You're then left with two of the captain choices fighting out the last flanker spot - Warburton & Robshaw and the former is too good not to go.

There'll probably take 7 back rowers so maybe Robshaw too but that leaves us short on 8's and top heavy on flankers. Leaves Haskell, Wood, Morgan, Heaslip and all Irish & Scots missing out.

Wingers/Fullbacks is the other interesting one. None of the England 6N back 3, Ashton, Brown or Goode would even be in my England 23 so hard to put them here.

Halfpenny will start at FB. I like Foden, would edge him over Hogg or Kearney for the 2nd spot. Then you're after 5 wingers. I really hope Gatland goes for some wildcards here like Bentley & Robinson.

North will be one, Visser deserves a chance and Scotland are pretty thin on players. Wade is lethal and the best scoring English winger and must go. That leaves Cuthbert, Zebo, maybe Bowe for the other two. I wouldn't rule out Johnnie May either who could cover FB. Pity JSD wasn't back 3 or 4 games earlier, would've been an interesting wild card. I don't envy Gatland having to find 7 back 3 players out of that lot. Any of the 12 would be worthy.
Wade might be lethal going forward but he couldn't tackle a paper bag that wasn't moving! I am biased but if you are going to take a wild card then between the two it would have to be Jonny May because he is just as lethal but, because he can also play FB, he can tackle.

I would also add that Owen Farrell managed to play himself completely out of contention on Sunday. A great kicker but he brings very little else to the table, especially at fly-half.
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Old 30-04-2013, 10:23
Mike Teevee
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speaking as a Wasps fan, I think Wade should go

Everyone keeps going on about his 'poor defence', but I struggle to see what tries he's cost us this season. He isn't as bad defensively as people make out, but once people get the notice in their heads it sticks
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Old 30-04-2013, 10:37
CGG_12
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Wade might be lethal going forward but he couldn't tackle a paper bag that wasn't moving! I am biased but if you are going to take a wild card then between the two it would have to be Jonny May because he is just as lethal but, because he can also play FB, he can tackle.

I would also add that Owen Farrell managed to play himself completely out of contention on Sunday. A great kicker but he brings very little else to the table, especially at fly-half.
Agree completely. Rumours doing the rounds Madigan is in. Whether it's at Farrell's expense or indeed true or not we'll have to see

Hope Wilkinson goes!
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Old 30-04-2013, 11:11
Mike Teevee
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Matt Stevens!!!!

here's the full squad list

Lions Squad:
Fullbacks: Leigh Halfpenny (Wales, Cardiff Blues), Stuart Hogg (Scotland, Glasgow Warriors), Rob Kearney (Ireland, Leinster)

Wings:
Tommy Bowe (Ireland, Ulster), Alex Cuthbert (Wales, Cardiff Blues), Sean Maitland (Scotland, Glasgow Warriors), George North (Wales, Scarlets)

Centres:
Jonathan Davies (Wales, Scarlets), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland, Leinster), Jamie Roberts (Wales, Cardiff Blues), Manusamoa Tuilagi (England, Leicester Tigers)

Outside halves: Owen Farrell (England, Saracens), Jonathan Sexton (Ireland, Leinster)

Scrum halves: Conor Murray (Ireland, Munster), Mike Phillips (Wales, Bayonne), Ben Youngs (England, Leicester Tigers)

Props: Dan Cole (England, Leicester Tigers), Cian Healy (Ireland, Leinster), Gethin Jenkins (Wales, Toulon), Adam Jones (Wales, Ospreys), Matt Stevens (England, Saracens), Mako Vunipola (England, Saracens)

Hookers: Dylan Hartley (England, Northampton Saints), Richard Hibbard (Wales, Ospreys), Tom Youngs (England, Leicester Tigers)

Second rows:
Ian Evans (Wales, Ospreys), Richie Gray (Scotland, Sale Sharks), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales, Ospreys), Paul O'Connell (Ireland, Munster), Geoff Parling (England, Leicester Tigers)

Back rows: Tom Croft (England, Leicester Tigers), Toby Faletau (Wales, Newport Gwent Dragons), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland, Leinster), Dan Lydiate (Wales, Newport Gwent Dragons), Sean O'Brien (Ireland, Leinster), Justin Tipuric (Wales, Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Wales, Cardiff Blues)
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Old 30-04-2013, 11:13
sensoria
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Thats the tour lost.
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Old 30-04-2013, 11:16
Mike Teevee
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Thats the tour lost.
okay Stevens selection has surprised me, but I don't think the squad is that bad
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Old 30-04-2013, 11:20
Marmite Baby
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No real shocks there except perhaps the omission of Rory Best. I would have liked James Hook to be included - he's been in great form for Perpignan, can play in several positions & offers something different to a battering ram approach in the centre. He'll probably get called up anyway as I'd expect a few players to get injured.
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Old 30-04-2013, 11:29
CGG_12
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Fair enough squad. Stevens is a surprise but there's not too many tight heads screaming for selection

Kearney is lucky enough for me

We'll see Madigan touring yet IMO, there'll be plenty of injuries as ever
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Old 30-04-2013, 11:29
CGG_12
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No real shocks there except perhaps the omission of Rory Best. I would have liked James Hook to be included - he's been in great form for Perpignan, can play in several positions & offers something different to a battering ram approach in the centre. He'll probably get called up anyway as I'd expect a few players to get injured.
I thought Best would go too but after his 6n he can really have no complaints
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Old 30-04-2013, 11:39
CTD101
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Christ, Stuart Barnes is almost in tears on SSN.

Personally think Cuthbert is lucky as he has defensive weaknesses and would have preferred to see Wade or Zebo in his place. Only 2 fly halves seems an odd pick, especially without taking a Hook type player who can cover various positions.
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Old 30-04-2013, 11:43
Cissy Fairfax
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Generally good squad. Glad Croft is in. Only disappointment is lack of surprises and any flair on the wings for the hard pitches.

Id have had Ryan Jones, Wilko and Sheridan, not sure Farrell is quite ready.

The rest of the criticisms are really only over weekday spots, Best, Laidlaw, Launchbury over Hartley, Parking etc.

Real disappointment not one of Visser, Zebo, Wade, May or Foden are there. Id have had at least 3 of them in.
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Old 30-04-2013, 11:45
Cissy Fairfax
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Christ, Stuart Barnes is almost in tears on SSN.

Personally think Cuthbert is lucky as he has defensive weaknesses and would have preferred to see Wade or Zebo in his place. Only 2 fly halves seems an odd pick, especially without taking a Hook type player who can cover various positions.

All right, Laidlaw could've covered 9 and 10.

What has Barnes had to say and the other assessments?
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Old 30-04-2013, 11:48
CTD101
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All right, Laidlaw could've covered 9 and 10.

What has Barnes had to say and the other assessments?
When asked how unlucky Robshaw was he almost started crying. Granted he's more experience than Tipuric, but Christ he hardly made himself a guaranteed pick on form.

Also said there should be question marks over Warburton as he didn't accept the captaincy for the Wales v England game in the 6N.
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Old 30-04-2013, 11:52
Caltonfan
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Would have liked to have seen Laidlaw and Visser picked but thats just from a biased opinion

really glad Chris Ashton is not there, would have made it hard for me to cheer for the Lions if he had been selected
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Old 30-04-2013, 12:07
Mike Teevee
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not that this means anything but Matt Stevens is trending on Twitter

this tweet from MSN stood out somewhat

Rob Jones ‏@msnsportrob 31m

I just searched for 'Matt Stevens' in our image library and the most recent image is him in the middle of a pie-eating competition! No joke
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