2024 Six Nations Chat

[Rugbygramps]

Barbeary banned for 3 weeks down to 2 with tackle school, for the first offence. 2nd offence he got cleared of.

So by not selecting him in the training squad Barbeary is now eligible for selection for the opening 6N game. (Had he been selected yesterday he wouldn't have been)

Shows what I know . So any back row injury during training and he’ll be shipped in. I suppose they could even bring him in for the 2nd game anyway

They can bring him in for the first game, Borthwick has not chosen his squad for that yet, only the week before training session (which would make Barbeary ineligible to play the first game if he was selected in it)

Certainly doesn’t make Baths trip to Toulouse any easier

[Tiglon]

I think the Dombrandt vs Mercer clash at Twickenham said a lot. A one-sided affair in Dombrandt's favour. Ok it's one game.

Dombrandt was the much better player. I’d like to see him get another chance at 8 with Earl at 7. Think together they could be great. Axis of Dom/Care/Smith will be played at some point no doubt.

Barbeary will be brought in though at some point.

To be fair, even Wiese would struggle in the current Glouc team.

Agree Barbeary is the long term future.

[Robespierre]

To be fair, even Wiese would struggle in the current Glouc team.

Good point. Comparisons made with Dombrandt in a Quins' side that purrs when going forward, as opposed to a croaking Gloucester team. Mercer must be asking himself serious questions why he chose to go to Gloucester (maybe, of course, there were no other offers?). On his French form, he would've been a shoo-in at 8 for England but the "Glaws factor" kicked in and he's now an also-ran.
As I mentioned earlier, I bet he wished he'd stayed in France.

[Old Hob]

Line up of commentators announced. Dan Biggar to replace SCW.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/footbal ... 9520&ei=95

[Ian Cant]

To be fair about Mercer the Gloucester team has been ravaged with injury problems and with about half of their pack back v Gloucester they looked much more dangerous.
I agree though, you can only really judge how good a player is when he performs very well in a struggling side: great example of this was George Ford in the season we just escaped relegation!

[mol2]

I suspect that Borthwick was playing it cute by not selecting Barbeary in his initial squad so that his ban fell into weeks when Bath were playing, if he was in the England squad he wouldn't have been playing for Bath so no game in his ban week and so the ban would have run into the 6N matches.

I think the retirements have helped Borthwick move on his squad. Retaining the likes of Farrell, Youngs and Lawes might have been tempting but not good in the longer term.
Injuries and the dearth of props have probably forced his hand with Cole and Marler and to an extent Jamie George at hooker. There are a number of talented but very new hookers around but are only just breaking into the Premiership.

That said there would be no case for retaining all of his world cup players even if available - they may well have mightily over performed to get 3rd in the cup but their performances in the 6N can't just be blamed on Eddie Jones (beyond their selection) which Borthwick inherited. I don't see too many, if any, of the over 30s in the 6N squad being around come 2027.

Talk of Watson being called in when fit again seems bizarre - a talented wing with a career blighted by injuries and now at an age where it's hard to justify playing him over several of the talented wings in the league.

[sam16111986]

Talk of Watson being called in when fit again seems bizarre - a talented wing with a career blighted by injuries and now at an age where it's hard to justify playing him over several of the talented wings in the league.

Watson is 29. How's that at an age where is hard to justify playing him? Peak age.

Now form and fitness could be great reasons not to play him as the latter means he hasn't had chance to regain the former.

Given the lack of experienced international back three options available to England you can see why he might want him around. If Daly doesn't start (he's not playing well enough to justify it) then the next most experienced back three player is I believe 23 year old Freddie Steward.

[Rugbygramps]

Steward will be 15 so wing options come from Beard, more of a centre imo, Daly, Feyi-Waboso, Freeman, Roebuck.
Even against Italy I wouldn’t expect 2 uncapped wings , possibly Freeman and Feyi-Waboso could be an interesting and in form combination

[westwinds31]

To be fair about Mercer the Gloucester team has been ravaged with injury problems and with about half of their pack back v Gloucester they looked much more dangerous.
I agree though, you can only really judge how good a player is when he performs very well in a struggling side: great example of this was George Ford in the season we just escaped relegation!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/68023982
This doesn't help Mercer either. A conversation between him and Borthwick has taken place where Borthwick has outlined why he's not in the squad with work-ons no doubt, but this comes across as a bit moany and bitter. Keep quiet, do your talking on the field and start playing better than you have been.

[Leicestertinytiger]

Agreed, it would be different if he was head and shoulders the best English 8 in the league. But he’s been nowhere near that or injured. Trying to be objective the two best English 8s have been Barbeary and Dombrandt this season. If he wants to be selected then play consistently better than them two.

[MrG2]

Agreed, it would be different if he was head and shoulders the best English 8 in the league. But he’s been nowhere near that or injured. Trying to be objective the two best English 8s have been Barbeary and Dombrandt this season. If he wants to be selected then play consistently better than them two.

I agree. Burnt bridges now I feel, I have a feeling he qualifies for Scotland wonder if Gregor will come hunting

[Robespierre]

Agreed, it would be different if he was head and shoulders the best English 8 in the league. But he’s been nowhere near that or injured. Trying to be objective the two best English 8s have been Barbeary and Dombrandt this season. If he wants to be selected then play consistently better than them two.

I agree. Burnt bridges now I feel, I have a feeling he qualifies for Scotland wonder if Gregor will come hunting

According to Wiki: "Mercer became a Scottish-qualified player through residency and played for the Scotland U16 team."
I'm sure Gregor Townsend would be happy to have him in the Scottish squad!

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Fair play to him for being honest IMO. Won't help him get into the England squad but he's been asked questions and he's answered them.

[Wayne Richardson Fan Club]

Fair play to him for being honest IMO. Won't help him get into the England squad but he's been asked questions and he's answered them.

What a novel concept to tell the truth when questioned...
For me he wouldn't be the worst replacement for Wiese.

[Scott1]

Fair play to him for being honest IMO. Won't help him get into the England squad but he's been asked questions and he's answered them.

What a novel concept to tell the truth when questioned...
For me he wouldn't be the worst replacement for Wiese.

I'd piggyback him here myself!