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Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 3:26 pm
by eldanielfire
I suppose single match threads have no chance of any momentum
So I thought I'd do one catch-all discussion. It's actually nice that the women are getting more interest, France get sell-out crowds and Scrum V is opening this friday with the women's Wales vs SCotland match
Here's my Previews:
Wales: 10 new starters but many of their best players, espsecially key loose forwards like Sioned Harries and Shouna Powell-Hughes are off in the 7's team. They still have captain Carys Phillips and will like have a strong maul, good lineout and be physical. Their problem will be the fact they have struggled to score tries through their backs against the better teams. They have a decent league and a fair few player sin the English Premiership. They are developing depth with much more interest in the women's game so time will tell if they are plucking out more talent and developing it.
Scotland: Scotland have raved about having 2 full time professionals in France. But IMO their likely improving quality will be more thanks to Loughborough where they have multiple players there benefitting from the new women's Premiership in an ever improving side.
Ireland: Gutted as the pressures and lack of support ruined what should have been a good world cup for Ireland. They have had a lot of retirements from a genuinely golden generation who break though with big results and a few 6 Nation titles. Still likely to be a physical and passionate team who are difficult to beat but like Wales struggles to get the back flowing will limit their success.
Italy: Not much change with Italy. Italy could and a few wins against the Scots or Welsh. A big pack and fast backs will always make them a try threat but they still look to amateur for the top sides these days.
France: Sure to be gutted after yet another semi at the world cup but on a big boost with increasingly professionalised women's leagues. Will likely be close to favourites for the 6 Nations title with England, they have a big pack with fast and skillful backs but have lost a few to sevens. The new additions and changes like both Menager twins starting will be interesting but somehow they have to fix the puzzle of how England always seem a step ahead of them. A problem has has led captain Gaelle Mignot to come to Richmond Ladies this season. But thye surley ahve the depth of talent to get there, their November scores were terrifying to their competitors.
England: Still clearly gutted at how they lose the world cup final. England showed in the November tests against Canada they are determined to right those wrongs. An explosion of new talent in England has led to influx of very talented and hungry young blood to the England team to challenge the likes of old timers like McLean, Burford, Hunter and Clarke. Expect to see the likes of Dow, Killdunne, Tuima, Harrison and Botterman to threat the old order in the squad. It's entirely possible the England side at the next world cup will be the most different from any of the sides that made the knockout stages last time. It will be an interesting 6 Nations for favourites England. While favourites the match against France will be massive!
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 3:35 pm
by Nieghorn
Will be interesting to see how England copes without being able to rely on the 'pass it to Jess Breach' strategy they used in the fall vs Canada.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 3:51 pm
by Lobby
Nieghorn wrote:Will be interesting to see how England copes without being able to rely on the 'pass it to Jess Breach' strategy they used in the fall vs Canada.
They'll have to make do with a 'pass it to Abby Dow' strategy instead. After all, five tries from your first two caps is still pretty impressive.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 4:20 pm
by eldanielfire
Nieghorn wrote:Will be interesting to see how England copes without being able to rely on the 'pass it to Jess Breach' strategy they used in the fall vs Canada.
Forgot that! England are f#cked! Back to only scoring tries via mauling again!
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 4:21 pm
by eldanielfire
Lobby wrote:Nieghorn wrote:Will be interesting to see how England copes without being able to rely on the 'pass it to Jess Breach' strategy they used in the fall vs Canada.
They'll have to make do with a 'pass it to Abby Dow' strategy instead. After all, five tries from your first two caps is still pretty impressive.
I think Abby is actually the better all round winger.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 4:26 pm
by Lobby
eldanielfire wrote:Lobby wrote:Nieghorn wrote:Will be interesting to see how England copes without being able to rely on the 'pass it to Jess Breach' strategy they used in the fall vs Canada.
They'll have to make do with a 'pass it to Abby Dow' strategy instead. After all, five tries from your first two caps is still pretty impressive.
I think Abby is actually the better all round winger.
Did you see her hat trick in Wasps 44 - 0 demolition of Richmond? She and Danielle Waterman were superb.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 4:43 pm
by eldanielfire
Lobby wrote:eldanielfire wrote:Lobby wrote:Nieghorn wrote:Will be interesting to see how England copes without being able to rely on the 'pass it to Jess Breach' strategy they used in the fall vs Canada.
They'll have to make do with a 'pass it to Abby Dow' strategy instead. After all, five tries from your first two caps is still pretty impressive.
I think Abby is actually the better all round winger.
Did you see her hat trick in Wasps 44 - 0 demolition of Richmond? She and Danielle Waterman were superb.
Yes. And Waterman is still the best 15 in the world IMO. Be interesting who will be the other winger in the 6 Nations with Thompson and Breech in the 7's squad? Lottie Clapp or bring in Killdunne and move Waterman to the wing again.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 5:07 pm
by Nieghorn
I still think they should have brought some power up, like Holly Myers. A bit Honey-Bill-esque ...
https://twitter.com/Premier15s/status/9 ... 7574909952
Covers centre as well:
https://twitter.com/Premier15s/status/9 ... 3545034753
(But Killdunne certainly looks the goods, along with Dow, of course.)
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 5:20 pm
by eldanielfire
That's a good call, especially as they literally have no cover. Myers is also one of the best around sportswomen you could find. She's played loads of sports, Rugby League Netball, Cricket. In a similar mold to Holly Myers Garnet Mackinder or Cecilia Quansah who have both tragically been injured most of the season as potential big power runners on the wing.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 7:56 pm
by bessantj
Wales women lose a warm up match to Ireland women. Not the best of starts and it's only a warm up!
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 8:26 pm
by eldanielfire
bessantj wrote:Wales women lose a warm up match to Ireland women. Not the best of starts and it's only a warm up!
Wales fielded a lot of newbies there. Though Wales, not the greatest of depth, have so many key players in the Sevens. Remember Ireland were the better team before.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 8:27 pm
by bessantj
eldanielfire wrote:bessantj wrote:Wales women lose a warm up match to Ireland women. Not the best of starts and it's only a warm up!
Wales fielded a lot of newbies there. Though Wales, not the greatest of depth, have so many key players in the Sevens. Remember Ireland were the better team before.
Wales have a women's 7s team? Cool.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 8:33 pm
by eldanielfire
bessantj wrote:eldanielfire wrote:bessantj wrote:Wales women lose a warm up match to Ireland women. Not the best of starts and it's only a warm up!
Wales fielded a lot of newbies there. Though Wales, not the greatest of depth, have so many key players in the Sevens. Remember Ireland were the better team before.
Wales have a women's 7s team? Cool.
They also have lots of fun in the gym:
https://twitter.com/sianwilliams90/stat ... 2826690560
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 10:19 pm
by eldanielfire
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 11:14 pm
by bessantj
eldanielfire wrote:bessantj wrote:eldanielfire wrote:bessantj wrote:Wales women lose a warm up match to Ireland women. Not the best of starts and it's only a warm up!
Wales fielded a lot of newbies there. Though Wales, not the greatest of depth, have so many key players in the Sevens. Remember Ireland were the better team before.
Wales have a women's 7s team? Cool.
They also have lots of fun in the gym:
https://twitter.com/sianwilliams90/stat ... 2826690560
They do have fun.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 11:14 pm
by Dork Lard
Well all I can say is this is France's best chance of winning a title in any of the competitions for certain, and that Sarah Hunter is the most attractive man I know and I'd be fine if she took me out to dinner then slammed me in the bed as long as I can walk a bit the next day.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 11:47 pm
by Nieghorn
Dork Lard wrote:Well all I can say is this is France's best chance of winning a title in any of the competitions for certain, and that Sarah Hunter is the most attractive man I know and I'd be fine if she took me out to dinner then slammed me in the bed as long as I can walk a bit the next day.
I shouldn't but ...
... there's a bit of Gabby Sabatini about her when she's all made up.
I can't find a clip, but there's a line from a Wayne's World sketch about Linda Hamilton in T2:
"Manly, yes, but I like her too. Schwing!"
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 2:37 pm
by eldanielfire
Nieghorn wrote:Dork Lard wrote:Well all I can say is this is France's best chance of winning a title in any of the competitions for certain, and that Sarah Hunter is the most attractive man I know and I'd be fine if she took me out to dinner then slammed me in the bed as long as I can walk a bit the next day.
I shouldn't but ...
... there's a bit of Gabby Sabatini about her when she's all made up.
That's an interesting comparison and I kinda see it now. I'll also add Sarah Hunter has a smile that can melt anybodies heart.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 2:48 pm
by Nieghorn
It's the dimples, isn't it?
(She's lovely, but not my cuppa. Mo Hunt's more my type.)
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 3:06 pm
by Lobby
Nieghorn wrote:It's the dimples, isn't it?
(She's lovely, but not my cuppa. Mo Hunt's more my type.)
I would, and yes, it's the dimples.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 3:24 pm
by eldanielfire
Wales and Scotland women's teams:
Scotland win on presentation here.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 3:29 pm
by eldanielfire
Nieghorn wrote:It's the dimples, isn't it?
(She's lovely, but not my cuppa. Mo Hunt's more my type.)
Hunter's one I grow to adore more and more. And yes it's the dimples
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 10:29 pm
by Laurent
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:04 pm
by Dork Lard
eldanielfire wrote:Nieghorn wrote:It's the dimples, isn't it?
(She's lovely, but not my cuppa. Mo Hunt's more my type.)
Hunter's one I grow to adore more and more. And yes it's the dimples
Her face is very communicative. I saw her after the latest loss in the WC final to NZ sitting there at the conference, I'd never seen so much distress and despair on a person's face. And otherwise, she's so positive it shines through every little muscle on her face, and it's not fake look-at-me smiling, it's genuine and bright. God I bet she'd make a good husband..
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:34 am
by eldanielfire
France v Ireland teams. Again France for Presentation (though I don't like the symmetrical position representation):
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:38 am
by Yer Man
Certainly fancy the French number 8.
Denise Richards, anyone?
Not so sure about the bloke playing 15.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:40 am
by Laurent
Yer Man wrote:Certainly fancy the French number 8.
Denise Richards, anyone?
Not so sure about the bloke playing 15.
careful she has a twin.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:43 am
by eldanielfire
Laurent wrote:Yer Man wrote:Certainly fancy the French number 8.
Denise Richards, anyone?
Not so sure about the bloke playing 15.
careful she has a twin.
Which only adds to the appeal of many. The French 6 and 10 would be the ones I find cutest.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 12:32 pm
by Nieghorn
Yer Man wrote:Certainly fancy the French number 8.
Denise Richards, anyone?
Sorry, but the twins look more like Rick Moranis to me!
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 1:56 pm
by Dork Lard
Nieghorn wrote:Yer Man wrote:Certainly fancy the French number 8.
Denise Richards, anyone?
Sorry, but the twins look more like Rick Moranis to me!
Oh and since when is Moranis not absolutely adorable ?!
Actually it's the France 6 I'd say. She's pretty.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 2:45 pm
by Lobby
Dork Lard wrote:Nieghorn wrote:Yer Man wrote:Certainly fancy the French number 8.
Denise Richards, anyone?
Sorry, but the twins look more like Rick Moranis to me!
Oh and since when is Moranis not absolutely adorable ?!
Actually it's the France 6 I'd say. She's pretty.
She's a very good player, and a key part of France's defence. In the World Cup she was averaging 15 tackles a game, with a 97% success rate.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 2:48 pm
by Laurent
Lobby wrote:Dork Lard wrote:Nieghorn wrote:Yer Man wrote:Certainly fancy the French number 8.
Denise Richards, anyone?
Sorry, but the twins look more like Rick Moranis to me!
Oh and since when is Moranis not absolutely adorable ?!
Actually it's the France 6 I'd say. She's pretty.
She's a very good player, and a key part of France's defence. In the World Cup she was averaging 15 tackles a game, with a 97% success rate.
plays centre too
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2471tt
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 3:03 pm
by eldanielfire
Great video
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 4:34 pm
by eldanielfire
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 5:55 pm
by eldanielfire
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 8:05 pm
by Nieghorn
The one where Sinckler admitted that he wanted to be a dinosaur when he grew up was such a hit with my mate and his kids that they yell to each other: "Get in the car! You are not a dinosaur!" if one of them is late packing in for a family outing.
The model clay one was savage for frank depictions of their mates: "Here's ____. You'll note the big beak and the hair pulled into a bun."
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:56 am
by eldanielfire
Nieghorn wrote:The one where Sinckler admitted that he wanted to be a dinosaur when he grew up was such a hit with my mate and his kids that they yell to each other: "Get in the car! You are not a dinosaur!" if one of them is late packing in for a family outing.
The model clay one was savage for frank depictions of their mates: "Here's ____. You'll note the big beak and the hair pulled into a bun."
It does seem that a lot of fair banter goes round the england camp and they take it in good spirits. Deffo seems a very fun couple of squads to be part of.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:58 am
by eldanielfire
Oh and it is Wales vs Scotland at 6pm tonight. The match is on BBC Wales so red button via the BBC sport website
Least we forget some of the amazing dedication these amateur women players have.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... ar_twitter
The Wales rugby player who is dubbed 'mad' for making a six-hour, 300-mile round trip to training... three times a week!
Jess Kavanagh-Williams is hoping to impress at the Six Nations, but representing Wales carries a heavy strain
ess Kavanagh-Williams is not your average Welsh international rugby player.
If caps were handed out for commitment to the cause, the 27-year-old would be right up there with her male counterpart and 129-times capped Welsh front-rower Gethin Jenkins.
But not even the Lions loosehead had to make a six-hour 300-mile round trip just to get to training every week.
"I get told I'm mad for doing it all. Weekly, if not daily. Everyone asks me how I cope," she says.
But then again, for Kavanagh-Williams, it comes with the territory.
She's a relative newcomer to the international set-up, but is nevertheless being tipped to shine at the upcoming Six Nations, following several impressive showings on the ever-growing international stage.
However, the winger's sparkling performances on the pitch are balanced by a gruelling and demanding life off it.
Kavanagh-Williams, who lives in a farmhouse with her husband in Gellilydan, Maentwrog, faces an incredible six-hour round trip just to turn up train with her team-mates, doing so up to three times a week.
(Image: Huw Evans Agency)
Every Wednesday, after completing a half-day at work, Jess and team-mate Gwenllian Pyrs, who hails from Ysbyty Ifan and herself has five international caps, hit the road at around 1.30 in the afternoon.
First port of call is Dolgellau, 16 miles to the south, where she meets up with international rookie Teleri Davies.
From there, it's time for coffee at the local Holt garage (takeaway of course, as there's no time to lose), and then it's on to the Vale Resort for a 5.45pm arrival, ahead of training at 6pm.
It means that before she's even started a gruelling three-hour session she's already clocked up 146 miles, although she at least gets the chance to sit down for some dinner.
But there's otherwise little time to relax, as she then hits the road that same evening, eventually returning home at around 1am before getting up for work the following morning.
The weekends are arguably just as demanding.
Saturday morning training starts at 9am, meaning Jess has to undergo the same routine at the brutally anti-social hour of 4.30am, although she at least gets to enjoy a more leisurely post-match meal with her team-mates (paella, stir fry and pulled pork wraps are particular favourites), and then stays over until the Sunday, hitting the road again the following day and returning home for around 6 or 7pm.
It all amounts to a routine that makes many of her peers wince, but the pride of pulling on the jersey of her country, as well as a brimming passion for the game, makes it all worth the effort.
Wales' Jess Kavanagh-Williams is tackled by Hong Kong's Chong Ka Yan during the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup match
Wales' Jess Kavanagh-Williams is tackled by Hong Kong's Chong Ka Yan during the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup match (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
"Of course there's been times when I've been sat in the car after four hours and not really fancied it. But when you get out and you train you realise just how special it is.
"Obviously I enjoy rugby anyway, but to pull the Welsh shirt on, sing the anthem in front of your friends and family, nothing beats it. It's just amazing, the feeling that you get from it and the passion I've got for the game can't really be explained."
The women's game has made tremendous progress in recent years, with the summer World Cup noticeably capturing attention of the Welsh public, and it has clearly left a mark on the player herself, despite a series of difficult results.
"Playing in a World Cup was probably one of the biggest things I'm going to do in my career and in my life,"she adds.
Jess Kavanagh-Williams is hoping to become one of the leading lights in a bright Wales side (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
"It was obviously a tough campaign and we came up against some of the best teams in the world. Coming up against Canada was perhaps one of the most difficult experiences.
"But we managed to catch the attention of the public and coverage of the World Cup was superb.
"Women's rugby is one of the fastest-growing sports at the moment and by having more coverage it helps to increase interest, which means there is more support for the game, allowing it to be brought forward quicker and to make it better.
"There's a massive difference for young girls wanting to get into rugby nowadays when compared to how it was when I was doing it.
"They've got support from across the clubs up here from junior level all the way to under-18s and seniors. I didn't have any of that.
"When I was that age there was nothing like that."
Parc Eirias
The progress seen in women's rugby has arguably coincided with a heightened interest in the oval ball across North Wales, with the rise of Principality Premiership upstarts RGC 1404 in the men's game causing some to tout them as a potential addition to the professional regional set-up.
It's quite a change of landscape in a region traditionally viewed as a footballing hotbed. Indeed, Kavanagh-Williams herself started her sporting career as a bright young footballer, but soon found the pull of rugby too great to ignore.
"I played in a boys football team when I was in school and then I was picked up by North Wales Football and then I played football for Wales until under-17 level, but I switched sports because there weren't any teams around in North Wales at the time.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2018 10:07 am
by eldanielfire
And England finally put out their team:
Interesting, the squad is neither completely experimental nor the first choice side overall. I see Waterman did go to the wing as I predicted. Not surprised to see back Cattell at 13 though I though the Reed at 12 and Burford at 13 trial in November was a winner. Charlotte Pearce on the bench could be interesting, she is a superb runner with perhaps one of the bets side-steps int he women's game and has really grown this season as a player.
Re: Women's 6 Nations 2018 OFFICIAL discussion
Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2018 10:21 am
by eldanielfire
ASMO wrote:Marlie Packer is out and out the best 7 in England in both the men and women's game.
I agree. However she can be headless on occasions, but in attack and in the rucks England do not appear to have another classic 7 who has the complete Openside CV. She's all over the pitch, high tackle rate turns over ball constantly, fast, always part of the attack. Only Izzy Noel-Smith comes close.
Separately I believe Poppy Cleall is a superior 8 to Sarah Hunter right now. She carries bigger, always makes big yards, is a massive danger in the rucks and upsets opponents as she plays on the edge of the laws. I think Hunter should go to 6. I also think Cleall's twin sister Bryony should be looked at by England for another big ball carrying 6/8 who is a pain in the rucks. But it's an interesting issue, best leader vs best player issue again.
