Article: The Original Rugby Championship - Six Nations 2016
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Calf" data-cid="561648" data-time="1456749661"><p>I'm surprised how much the press are loving Billy V. I was at the game on Saturday sitting behind the posts. From my angle, his go forward impact was not as apparent, but what was clear is that each time after he crashed it up, he then went and stood out on the wing or dropped to a second full back position to get his breath back. He didn't hit any rucks (that I noticed) and only tackled if an Irishman ran at him while he was standing at 2nd or 3rd receiver. Zero effort at cover defence, kick chasing or getting involved in any attacking movement. Every now and then he'd just stop and stand still during play to recover or retire out of the line and leave his teammates to it. I was shaking my head when he got MoTM.<br><br>
Have since seen the replay and admittedly, from side on, he is very effective at hitting the ball up. But England have to play with 7 forwards for everything else.</p></blockquote>
He is a one trick pony, but very destructive one when he gets going with the carrying -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Calf" data-cid="561648" data-time="1456749661">
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<p>I'm surprised how much the press are loving Billy V.</p>
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<p>Having read the English rugby press for far, far too long, I've come to the conclusion there is no such thing as a common or garden-type England Rugby player. They are either an England Rugby Hero, England Rugby Sensation or England Rugby Superstar.</p> -
I don't mind us boshing it up the middle as long as we can spin it quickly when the gaps develop. I'll give Eddie the benefit of the doubt at the moment, as we are creating opportunities, just don't have the vision or skills to quite finish them off just yet. We seem to be developing a platform to build on and I keep telling myself that when the passes start to stick we might even be dangerous.<br><br>
Obviously there needs to be a sense of it "coming together" in the remaining games or we will come up short.<br><br>
Victor - I've long since given up on many parts of the press. Anyone would Itoge (sp?) was the 2nd coming after a couple of games in a white shirt. Build them up, knock em down. Gets boring after a while. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cookie" data-cid="561651" data-time="1456757455">
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Victor - I've long since given up on many parts of the press. Anyone would Itoge (sp?) was the 2nd coming after a couple of games in a white shirt. Build them up, knock em down. Gets boring after a while.</p>
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<p>Yep. Apart from Kitson in <em>The Guardian</em> and McGeechan in <em>The Telegraph</em> it's pretty poor. </p> -
I appreciate he's a bit of an acquired taste for many but I also like Brian Moore in the telegraph.<br><br>
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/12177378/Six-Nations-hopefuls-have-failed-to-heed-lessons-of-World-Cup.html'>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/12177378/Six-Nations-hopefuls-have-failed-to-heed-lessons-of-World-Cup.html</a><br><br>
His latest is not exactly cheer-leading the English team (and he's very complimentary about the ABs)
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<p>On the plus side, the TV coverage has improved a lot. Ben Kay is a great comments man and works well with Nick Mullens. Wilkinson is great to listen to as well. </p>
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<p>No citing for Brown.</p>
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<p>Disappointing and expected considering the WC precendents.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Victor Meldrew" data-cid="561654" data-time="1456761699">
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<p>On the plus side, the TV coverage has improved a lot. Ben Kay is a great comments man and works well with Nick Mullens. Wilkinson is great to listen to as well. </p>
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<p>Maggie Alfonsi (sp) is great too.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MiketheSnow" data-cid="561656" data-time="1456763811">
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<p>No citing for Brown.</p>
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<p>Disappointing and expected considering the WC precendents.</p>
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<p>Whilst my view is that it wasn't THAT bad, I'm still surprised with no citing. A totally un-alarming lack of consistency.</p> -
<p>Good decision. We all know running with your knees too high is faaaar worse than kicking a dude in the face. </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="561697" data-time="1456787284">
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<p>Good decision. We all know running with your knees too high is faaaar worse than kicking a dude in the face. </p>
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<p>Yeah but one was Brown and the other was brown.Or Brown, I can't quite figure it out.</p> -
<p>Meanwhile, Castrogiovanni the Italian prop gets a two week ban for <em>directing</em> a stamp towards Duncan Taylor's foot. I can't find a clip of this so don't know how bad or not it was, but it certainly doesn't sound too much - not enough to warrant a ban?</p>
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<p>Welsh XV unchanged. Different bench.</p>
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<p><b>Wales XV:</b></p>
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<p>15 Liam Williams</p>
<p>14 Alex Cuthbert</p>
<p>13 Jonathan Davies</p>
<p>12 Jamie Roberts</p>
<p>11 George North</p>
<p>10 Dan Biggar</p>
<p>9 Gareth Davies</p>
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<p>1 Rob Evans</p>
<p>2 Scott Baldwin</p>
<p>3 Samson Lee</p>
<p>4 Bradley Davies</p>
<p>5 Alun Wyn Jones</p>
<p>6 Dan Lydiate</p>
<p>7 Sam Warburton (capt)</p>
<p>8 Taulupe Faletau.</p>
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<p><b>Replacements:</b></p>
<p>Ken Owens, Paul James, Tomas Francis, Luke Charteris, Justin Tipuric</p>
<p>Rhys Webb, Rhys Priestland, Gareth Anscombe</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35749502'>http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35749502</a></p>
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<p>If Wales don't do anything radically different then we'll scrape through by 3-5 pts.</p>
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<p>If we don't do anything radically different but our accuracy and decision making improves then we'll get home by 12-16 pts.</p> -
<p>Like the confidence Mike. I think this will be a close game and admit to some nerves - mainly because I have some distant Welsh family and I rarely hear from them, except of course when Wales beat England when they are obnoxious. :ireful:</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="563302" data-time="1457438936">
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<p>Like the confidence Mike. I think this will be a close game and admit to some nerves - mainly because I have some distant Welsh family and I rarely hear from them, except of course when Wales beat England when they are obnoxious. :ireful:</p>
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<p>In fairness, neither team has set the world on fire but both could if they make the right decisions.</p>
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<p>And if we go away from this 6N's style of play we'll get hammered.</p> -
<p>What did that guy Cuthbert do to get re selected ? the other two walking lampposts in the backline can at least play and then some, he has always looked cumbersome to me like a guy who should have 4 or 5 on his back but accidentally put on 14 instead.</p>
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Manu is in, Goode drops out of the match day squad, Daly stays in. Hallelujah!
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Disgusted of TW" data-cid="563395" data-time="1457482583">
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<p>Manu is in, Goode drops out of the match day squad, Daly stays in. Hallelujah!</p>
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<p>Watson or Nowell as the back up 15 I guess. Not too disappointed in that call although Tuilagi looked a little short of a gallop v Exeter last Sunday. Let's hope he doesn't have to go on in the first five minutes.</p>
