EDF Six Nations Predictor Game (Rugby)

[rendelharris]

I hope/presume Gatland has yet to split his squad into the traditional Saturday/Wednesday teams (if he's going to at all, at least during the buildup phase) as there are at least nine players in that team who probably ought to be in the test twenty-three, and five who should be nailed on selections.

[JohnL]

Don't think he'll split the squad until the Maori match

Playing pairs for the Blues - English 2nd row, Welsh Halfbacks, Irish Centers.

[JohnL]

Wow - I didn't realise but there are some modifications to the laws (again) - the 2 main ones

If the referee gives a penalty and the clock is now past the 80th minute and into the red a side now has the option to kick to touch and take a lineout.

If a player has one foot in touch and one foot in the field of play and catches the ball it was deemed last season his lineout because it was already in touch. This season it will be deemed to be the opposition lineout

I saw the second one happen on Saturday.

[rendelharris]

One of those good and one bad, I think.

Being allowed to take a penalty to touch and get the lineout in the red zone I think is good; it discourages the side leading (in a close game) from committing penalty offences when out of goalkicking range, for example ending a potential break with an illegal tackle.

The catching with one foot in touch rule I thought was good, it was there for kicks outside the 22. Firstly, it encourages skill on the part of the kicker if they're going for a bounce into touch, not only demanding the right length but good placement, and also as it's consistent with the rest of the rules in that if a player is touching ball and line at the same time, the ball is out of play regardless of its physical position. I can't really see a need to change it, and I admired the skill and quick thinking needed to execute the "catch in touch." Not a major thing, but can't really see why it needed changing.

[Alan Medic]

Gatland said all of the players would get a start in the first 3 games. The first team was undoubtedly selected on the basis of players who were in camp before the others. Some were there for 2 weeks, others for 1 before all those playing in finals arrived. This means that 11 of the team for Saturday's match are already known. Only 4 players won't have had even a place in a 23 by then, O'Brien, Murray, Davies & North. Makes you wonder if they are pencilled in for the Saturday team. I'd imagine Murray and North are. Not sure about the others.

I agree with both rule changes. This sticking your foot in touch or behind the dead ball line before touching the ball seemed artificial. Perhaps I don't understand the rule but it seems to me if you have a foot out of play and then touch the ball, it should be considered you took the ball out of play. A rule I would like to be got rid of is the mark. It just penalises the attacking team and slows the game down. Is there a good reason for it?

[JohnL]

Years ago you could call mark from anywhere on the pitch - you had to actually make a mark though.

I could see it going to be honest.

[rendelharris]

Ah, hadn't heard him say that Alan, thanks. So really the team composition for these first two games doesn't really give any clues as to his test team thinking.

I see what you mean about the rule seeming artificial, but then all rules are artificial to some extent I suppose. Maybe I'm biased as I played much of my early rugby on the wing (not due to scintillating speed, more on a "safest place for him" basis!) so it played to my advantage - if I'd been a halfback I'd probably have been against it.

I believe in the early game a mark could be made anywhere on the field, later it was changed to inside the 22 only. I could see problems if it were removed, as I think we'd just see an endless series of Garryowens aimed to drop on the 5m line instead of running the ball - there's enough belting downfield as it is (in my opinion) without removing one of the rules that discourages it.

[JohnL]

Some lovely Warrenball from the Lions there

Round the corner ... repeat :)

[Alan Medic]

Don't know how the managed to be losing at HT

[Mick Mac]

Alan Medic Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Don't know how the managed to be losing at HT

Blame the post.

[rendelharris]

Blues have started the second half better, look like they've got real belief. Lions still look tired and devoid of ideas.

[rendelharris]

Wow, if there's a better try than that Blues one on 74m this tour it'll have to be something special.

[JohnL]

Oh dear. It's that time of year again when us Welsh take the blame :( Gatland's from NZ by the way.

Lions didn't really play that badly. Saturday important now.

[rendelharris]

JohnL Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Oh dear. It's that time of year again when us

> Welsh take the blame :( Gatland's from NZ by the

> way.

>

> Lions didn't really play that badly. Saturday

> important now.

I'm not blaming the Welsh! Except for Liam Williams, he was lucky to get away with the first hit in the air, to do a second one a minute later was idiotic and deserved the card.

[JohnL]

rendelharris Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> JohnL Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Oh dear. It's that time of year again when us

> > Welsh take the blame :( Gatland's from NZ by

> the

> > way.

> >

> > Lions didn't really play that badly. Saturday

> > important now.

>

> I'm not blaming the Welsh! Except for Liam

> Williams, he was lucky to get away with the first

> hit in the air, to do a second one a minute later

> was idiotic and deserved the card.

Seeing tweets about welsh management (Warrenball) and too many Welsh players already.

To paraphrase someone We need to stick together and be Strong (and Stable) - it's not lost yet.

[Alan Medic]

If I were to blame anyone it would be Sexton for the garryowen which led to lost possession and their try. Those high balls just seem like 50/50 so much of the time. Why risk losing the ball? A kick for terratory would have been a better option. Or, I could blame Best for that last line out throw though I don't know for sure that he didn't throw it where he intended to and it was the jumper's mistake.

I can't see Nowell getting near the test team but apart from him I didn't see anyone have a poor game.

[JohnL]

Alan Medic Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> If I were to blame anyone it would be Sexton for

> the garryowen which led to lost possession and

> their try. Those high balls just seem like 50/50

> so much of the time. Why risk losing the ball? A

> kick for terratory would have been a better

> option. Or, I could blame Best for that last line

> out throw though I don't know for sure that he

> didn't throw it where he intended to and it was

> the jumper's mistake.

>

> I can't see Nowell getting near the test team but

> apart from him I didn't see anyone have a poor

> game.

Has Gatland told them to keep the ball in play - but

then he always says he tells them to play what's in

front of them.

It's an old story - and I still don't know.

[rendelharris]

Alan Medic Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> If I were to blame anyone it would be Sexton for

> the garryowen which led to lost possession and

> their try. Those high balls just seem like 50/50

> so much of the time. Why risk losing the ball? A

> kick for terratory would have been a better

> option. Or, I could blame Best for that last line

> out throw though I don't know for sure that he

> didn't throw it where he intended to and it was

> the jumper's mistake.

>

> I can't see Nowell getting near the test team but

> apart from him I didn't see anyone have a poor

> game.

Agree with all of that, the pack were generally good but not outstanding (with the exception of Marler who I thought was poor when he came on and conceded an idiot penalty trying to crawl through the bottom of the ruck holding the ball), the backs were competent but not sparkling (except as you say, Nowell who just lacks the required pace and Williams for idiot behaviour) - just everyone a bit too just competent.

Kicking has long befuddled me - we've got possession on our 10m, shall we keep it and drive on or give it to the oppo on their 10m?

[JohnL]

Gatland for years was of the school of thought that you kicked the ball 50m in play then turn it over when the opposition run back at you.

So you don't see a lot of balls kicked into touch.

But thought that might change with the Lions.

[JohnL]

Wales Online goes for it's Lions test team

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/how-likely-lions-test-xv-13148586

What only 8 Welshmen - Where's Rhys Webb :) :) .

Not that I'm counting nationalities - but it won't be that.

[rendelharris]

Not sure I'd play Wynn Jones or Davies, and Owens and Best are about neck and neck, the other five seem fair enough.

[maxxi]

rendelharris Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>

> Kicking has long befuddled me - we've got

> possession on our 10m, shall we keep it and drive

> on or give it to the oppo on their 10m?

A GOOD kick is for far more than relieving pressure though - it means that you run forward to put pressure on the receiver but that the opposition has to run back and, having done so, has to get behind the ball before they are in play. A little psychological advantage and turnover is always a little more possible or the receiver might kick into touch giving a territorial advantage as well as possession.

A BAD kick gives the opposition possession and all the time needed to mount a counter. Kickers are either loved or reviled by their forwards (depending on how much running to and from they have to do while fly-halfs swap kicks).

[Mick Mac]

JohnL Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> What only 8 Welshmen - Where's Rhys Webb :) :) .

>

> Not that I'm counting nationalities - but it won't

> be that.

Don't be so sure - only a brave man would be against it. I mean Wales won the last Lions series. ;)

[rendelharris]

maxxi Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

Kickers are

> either loved or reviled by their forwards

> (depending on how much running to and from they

> have to do while fly-halfs swap kicks).

Yep, when I moved to back/2nd row in my later years there was a lot of "if you're going to kick it we're going to keep it for ourselves" going on!

[maxxi]

200 - sorry :)