6 Nations 2025

[dasnutnock3]

Russell's having a bit of a stinker.

Kicking’s been a bit wayward this whole 6N. By his standards at least

[alf git]

France were clearly the best team this year and an England championship would have been somewhat undeserved. That said Scotland can count themselves a bit unlucky tonight. Who knows what would have happened had that yellow been (rightly) upgraded.
I don't think the officials had a particularly good game.

[Awooga_Iron]

It will be interesting to see who Andy Farrell pencils in at 10 this summer. Finn Russell has been really poor, but was a sure starter 2 months ago. He also looks really out of shape. Prendergast looks a bit callow still - Crowley has looked much more controlled. Fin Smith's star has risen suddenly, but too quick to be a Lions starter?

[The Old Man of Storr]

That was an absolute battering.

It’s always nice seeing the Welsh get their arses handed to them at home.

Personally I never enjoy such one-sided matches -

Good for you though , glad you enjoyed it .

[pablo jaye]

France were the most consistent and I suspect it would have been a bit of a false dawn had England won the tournament. Whilst they mauled the Welsh, and there were some good performances across the team, there were other games where they weren’t that convincing.

As for the Welsh, you’ve got to feel sorry for them … where do they go from here? Putting the rivalry aside, they are not in a good place at all. Adam Jones’ despairing expression for most of the second half probably spoke for all fans of Welsh rugby!!

[Loftyhammer]

It will be interesting to see who Andy Farrell pencils in at 10 this summer. Finn Russell has been really poor, but was a sure starter 2 months ago. He also looks really out of shape. Prendergast looks a bit callow still - Crowley has looked much more controlled. Fin Smith's star has risen suddenly, but too quick to be a Lions starter?

With what should be a pretty dominant pack in front of him, I’d still have Russell at 10 personally. I think if Fin Smith keeps it up I wouldn’t have any issues taking him- nothing seems to faze him at all. Then his brother Marcus to go as well as he can cover FB

Although there seem to be some noises that Farrell jr is not out of the running

[Macca1973]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... kg15j0kl6o

Good news.

[alf git]

Mauvaka cited for yellow card challenge on White

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 732meo.amp


France hooker Peato Mauvaka has been cited for foul play following his off-the-ball challenge on Scotland's Ben White in Paris on Saturday.

The hosts ran out 35-16 victors at Stade de France to clinch their first Six Nations championship since 2022.

But many were bemused as Mauvaka escaped with a yellow card following an apparent headbutt on the grounded Scottish scrum-half after 20 minutes of a tight first half.

"The decision not to raise it to a red card was because there was not excessive force," said Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend after the match. "I'm not sure that's really the criteria for a non-tackle incident.

"It clearly was a non-tackle incident, it was after the whistle. So, if there was head contact and that was intentional, it shouldn't be anything to do with the force that was involved.

"I feel sorry for Ben White here, because he did nothing. He was first of all pushed to the ground, and a push is nothing in rugby, and then he got collided in the head, so I don't know how it wasn't raised to a red card."

Mauvaka will attend an independent disciplinary hearing on Thursday via video conference.

A three-person panel will examine the case regarding Law 9.12 (A player must not… strike with any part of the arm, shoulder, head or knee(s)).

The incident had been referred by referee Matthew Carley to review officer Ian Tempest to decide whether the sanction should be upgraded to a 20-minute red card, with another player replacing Mauvaka

[dasnutnock3]

Was a very puzzling decision at the time, and had France been out of sight when it had occurred, I suspect it would have been upgraded to a red.

[Loftyhammer]

So...Lions. Too early for predictions? Separate thread?

Anyway:

1. Porter (Ire)
2. Sheehan (Ire)
3. Stuart (Eng)
4. Itoje (Eng) (c)
5. Beirne (Ire)
6. T Curry (Eng)
7. Morgan (Wal)
8. Doris (Ire)
9. Gibson-Park (Ire)
10. Russell (Sco)
11. Lowe (Ire)
12. T'lotu (Sco)
13. Jones (Sco)
14. Freeman (Eng)
15. Keenan (Ire)

Probably a million different back row combinations that I'd be good with...so competitive there
Went with those centres as they're a partnership that play well together. More definite on 12, but there are other options at 13
Never really rated McVan Der Merwe as a rugby player hence not picking him. He's big, fast....but just not much else for me!

[westhamgardner]

So...Lions. Too early for predictions? Separate thread?

Anyway:

1. Porter (Ire)
2. Sheehan (Ire)
3. Stuart (Eng)
4. Itoje (Eng) (c)
5. Beirne (Ire)
6. T Curry (Eng)
7. Morgan (Wal)
8. Doris (Ire)
9. Gibson-Park (Ire)
10. Russell (Sco)
11. Lowe (Ire)
12. T'lotu (Sco)
13. Jones (Sco)
14. Freeman (Eng)
15. Keenan (Ire)

Probably a million different back row combinations that I'd be good with...so competitive there
Went with those centres as they're a partnership that play well together. More definite on 12, but there are other options at 13
Never really rated McVan Der Merwe as a rugby player hence not picking him. He's big, fast....but just not much else for me!

Almost exactly what I would pick with the exception of Kinghorn at FB.
If Doris was English he wouldn't make the starting 15 after his 6N performances but I expect Farrell will go with him at 8.

[Loftyhammer]

Only issue with Kinghorn is his availability. Assuming he gets to Top 14 final with Toulouse he probably wouldn’t be able to play until 4th tour match.

Agreed on Doris. This 6 Nations has (or should have) lost him captaincy

[Late of the Boleyn]

Any place for Farrell junior, I wonder.

[dasnutnock3]

Any place for Farrell junior, I wonder.

Not exactly had the best season, but is a good pro and a respected leader. Would be unlikely to get much game time though. Might be better in the future as part of the coaching setup.

[dasnutnock3]

I’m also of the belief that Finn Russel hasn’t played himself out of contention for the starting 10, but it’s clear he’s not had his best campaign, and needs to recover his kicking game. Fin Smith should be in the conversation for a squad place, despite his inexperience.

As for flankers & 8, that’s probably the biggest headache. So many options to pick from. England alone could provide two world class back rows, and that’s without even considering Sam Underhill, who could force his way back into the conversation.

[Late of the Boleyn]

I was wondering what became of Underhill. Currently crocked? Loved the way he played under Eddie.

[pablo jaye]

Looking at Lofty’s line up, I’d go for Ben Earl over Doris, and am not sure that Morgan has earned his place on merit, possibly just because he is the only decentish Welsh player.

Not sure Finn Russell has had the best 6 Nations but unless he gets back to form, the other Finn could replace him at 10 during the tour.

[dasnutnock3]

I was wondering what became of Underhill. Currently crocked? Loved the way he played under Eddie.

Got crocked playing for Bath in January, but I think he’s expected to play again this weekend. Hope he can get a run of fitness because when he’s on form, he’s the best tackler I’ve ever seen in an England shirt. Bloke looks like he was grown in a lab as an experiment.

[Loftyhammer]

Looking at Lofty’s line up, I’d go for Ben Earl over Doris, and am not sure that Morgan has earned his place on merit, possibly just because he is the only decentish Welsh player.

Not sure Finn Russell has had the best 6 Nations but unless he gets back to form, the other Finn could replace him at 10 during the tour.

I had Doris in based on him being a class player, but do take the point he didn't have a great 6N so on form could definitely see him possibly missing out. Re Morgan, again I just see him being brilliant at what he does at 7. I think by the end of 6N he looked totally done in effectively playing as almost a one man team; but with better players around him he would be dynamite.

I see the back 5 being a particularly thorny selection headache. I could see some top quality players miss out on the whole tour as there is so much competition there.

[Toulouse_Iron]

I’m also of the belief that Finn Russel hasn’t played himself out of contention for the starting 10, but it’s clear he’s not had his best campaign, and needs to recover his kicking game. Fin Smith should be in the conversation for a squad place, despite his inexperience.

As for flankers & 8, that’s probably the biggest headache. So many options to pick from. England alone could provide two world class back rows, and that’s without even considering Sam Underhill, who could force his way back into the conversation.

Was going to say similar re: back row options. Bloody hell. When you think that Jack Willis, the second name on the Toulouse team sheet after Dupont, in the best club in Europe, is hardly getting mentioned in the Lions back row conversation,we are talking about an embarassment of riches. Whoever gets the fly-half shirt will be playing with sooo much time and space, he will look godlike...