2024 Six Nations Chat

[KiwiTig]

Tuilagi looked quite good.

He looked big

[Pellsey]

Tigers lost by less against Ireland than the world's No. 4. We are not as bad as some peope make out. That said, we had 15 players.

[KevinR]

The Ireland's ruck speed is a product of everything else they do - at pace, utterly 'grooved', everyone knowing exactly what to do. Unlike every other side, they train and play together outside the national team, whereas France looked as if they'd only just met - which was, indeed the case. Without Dupont's 'off the cuff' input, they were all at sea. It will be an advantage to play Ireland later in the tournament, with more time to gel, as opposed to first.

[Robespierre]

À pal of mine knows one of the coaches who has said there’s been some serious disagreement with Galthié’s choice if players but on the evidence of yesterday evening, even if Dupont and Ntamack had been playing, the result wouldn’t have changed. Nevertheless, another defeat next Saturday in Edinburgh, and coupled with the disappointment of the World Cup, the pressure on Galthié will be mounting.

[Scott1]

It's what you would expect when 2/3 of a starting XV and close to 2/3 of a squad are playing together week in week out all season long. If you think about it it's criminal that Ireland and Ireland don't clean up everything domestic, European and Internationally. It's a huge failure on their part when all is said and done.

[Pellsey]

Despite France being down to 7 in the pack for 50 minutes, they were well in the game until around 60th minute.It is clear that they will tire. Ireland, with an extra player, just overpowered France in the pack for the last 20.

I also agree withe the above - France haven't played together as much as Leinster, but I am sure they will improve over the championship.

It would have been interesting to see what the score would have been like 15 vs 15 for 80 mins... unheard of nowadays for sure. I am not saying the 2 yellows were incorrect btw.

The reporting saying that Ireland battered France is a bit OTT, IMHO.

[loretta]

It's what you would expect when 2/3 of a starting XV and close to 2/3 of a squad are playing together week in week out all season long. If you think about it it's criminal that Ireland and Ireland don't clean up everything domestic, European and Internationally. It's a huge failure on their part when all is said and done.

IIRC, when they played us, in commentary it was 19/23 the same squad.

Interesting way of thinking about it, and one which hadn’t occurred to me. Good point.

[Scott1]

It's what you would expect when 2/3 of a starting XV and close to 2/3 of a squad are playing together week in week out all season long. If you think about it it's criminal that Ireland and Ireland don't clean up everything domestic, European and Internationally. It's a huge failure on their part when all is said and done.

IIRC, when they played us, in commentary it was 19/23 the same squad.

Interesting way of thinking about it, and one which hadn’t occurred to me. Good point.

Don't quote me,but I believe that at one point,and it could've been merely seconds as a replacement was about to be made,Ireland had 15 Leinster players on the pitch once. There's something floating around my head. They've certainly had Leinsters pack on the pitch all at once at some stage

[Soggypitch]

Ireland/Leinster were immense. Hugo Keenan was fantastic and made two unbelievable tackles.

I'm a big Steward fan, but Keenan sets the standard in world rugby at 15 presently.

[wardy]

With Farrell as the next Lions coach, makes me wonder how many non-Irish or non-Leinster wil get in the team or even the squad!

[mol2]

It's what you would expect when 2/3 of a starting XV and close to 2/3 of a squad are playing together week in week out all season long. If you think about it it's criminal that Ireland and Ireland don't clean up everything domestic, European and Internationally. It's a huge failure on their part when all is said and done.

That’s why at the World Cup the advantage of training and playing together week in, week out, reduces as the tournament progresses as the other sides build the familiarity that having their players have.

[Rugbygramps]

With Farrell as the next Lions coach, makes me wonder how many non-Irish or non-Leinster wil get in the team or even the squad!

Many successful Lions tours have happened when the test team is based on one nation. 18 months to go yet but looking at the other nations who would you replace. I could only see 3 possibly 4 replacements.
The other coaches will be interesting POC must be on the plane as line out coach

[Leicestertinytiger]

It’s difficult to argue against the Irish XV with Russell at 10 though being the only change

[jgriffin]

It's what you would expect when 2/3 of a starting XV and close to 2/3 of a squad are playing together week in week out all season long. If you think about it it's criminal that Ireland and Ireland don't clean up everything domestic, European and Internationally. It's a huge failure on their part when all is said and done.

That’s why at the World Cup the advantage of training and playing together week in, week out, reduces as the tournament progresses as the other sides build the familiarity that having their players have.

Great point!

[Scott1]

It's what you would expect when 2/3 of a starting XV and close to 2/3 of a squad are playing together week in week out all season long. If you think about it it's criminal that Ireland and Ireland don't clean up everything domestic, European and Internationally. It's a huge failure on their part when all is said and done.

That’s why at the World Cup the advantage of training and playing together week in, week out, reduces as the tournament progresses as the other sides build the familiarity that having their players have.

Great point!

Good point but still not a complete comparison I feel. As a rough example imagine Montoya,Weise and Pollard were all English and we still had Genge in his pomp. Add in us having Itoje,Farrell at 12 and say Henry Slade too and all those players playing week in week out year in year out ,training ,domestically,European and international games and I’m probably still downplaying the advantage Ireland have with Leinster.