[2017 RBS Six Nations] Round 4: England vs Scotland (12/03/2017)

[ALJ]

Because Hughes is a blindside. He's played there loads for wasps. He fits that mould better than 8 imo

Must admit I don't follow Wasps that closely but I do know he hasn't started a Premiership or European match in any position other than 8 for over a year.
So while he might have played at 6 in the past and I appreciate Wasps have other good options at B/S, it seems pretty clear that he's now seen as a specialist 8 by his club.

It also seems indicative that this is the first time he's been mentioned as a B/S for England (that I've seen at least) - it's not like we have an abundance of options there and we do have a couple of other No.8 candidates.

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Hughes has been playing just as much like a 6 as Itoje or Lawes. Big hits in defence, fair share of tackles and getting stuck into rucks. Not sure he should start there fore England, but I don't think it would be awful, and Eddie did say he viewed Hughes as a potential 6.

As a back row forward, if he wasn't doing his fair share of rucking and tackling I'd be seriously concerned.

But who knows...

 

[Scotty]

Lets say billy is fit for a full 80min.
Have to think billy is first choice 8 hask has nailed down 7 robshaw is out atm. So 6. Launch lawes itoje (6) hughes benched or launch itoje hughes (6) lawes benched

Personally i like hughes as a 6 and itoje as lock if billy is fit at 8, dont know who agrees, or would prefer lawes in hughes benched

 

[Raggs]

Um...has he?

News to me too... like to think I've got a fairly good memory too. I suspect he probably played there once or twice whilst Ed Jackson was still with us, very early on in his Wasps career, but it wasn't much, and Jackson finished up with us mostly playing 6 (and mostly disappointing!).

 

[welshoptimist]

News to me too... like to think I've got a fairly good memory too. I suspect he probably played there once or twice whilst Ed Jackson was still with us, very early on in his Wasps career, but it wasn't much, and Jackson finished up with us mostly playing 6 (and mostly disappointing!).

you guys should have had Armitage when you had the chance, he was awesome

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

News to me too... like to think I've got a fairly good memory too. I suspect he probably played there once or twice whilst Ed Jackson was still with us, very early on in his Wasps career, but it wasn't much, and Jackson finished up with us mostly playing 6 (and mostly disappointing!).

Yeah I literally can't think of a single game in the last two years... if at all, you're right that it would have been when he was still vying for his first team place. ...(Jackson proved to be one of the very worst signings we made, despite being the pick of the bunch at Welsh in the previous season....)
Take your point though that Hughesdoes and could do the work of a blindside. His slimmer frame compared to last season probably helps with his work rate to the slight detriment of his carrying.

you guys should have had Armitage when you had the chance, he was awesome

Personally I'm just glad people have stoped banging on about Armitage

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

BoyleSports. The only problem is that it's their odds of winning the tournament, not of beating England as Tallshort implies! You won't get that price on Saturday's game unless it's a new account offer. Unless I'm missing something, it's a pretty decent price.

I don't think Scotland at 11/1 for the tournament is all that generous if I'm reading that lovely table at the top of the thread right (thanks to whoever does that). Failure to get a losing bonus point in France or a winning one against Wales is fatal.

Basically, unless Wales beat Ireland AND England lose and fail to get a losing BP on Saturday then there is no way Scotland can go into the final weekend with the championship in their hands. They'd be relying on the Ireland vs England result.

 

[welshoptimist]

Where is Scotland 11/1 at?

I cant find 11/1 either? I had them at 28/1 for the tournament right at the beginning

 

[martinspoonboy1]

Yeah I literally can't think of a single game in the last two years... if at all, you're right that it would have been when he was still vying for his first team place. ...(Jackson proved to be one of the very worst signings we made, despite being the pick of the bunch at Welsh in the previous season....)
Take your point though that Hughesdoes and could do the work of a blindside. His slimmer frame compared to last season probably helps with his work rate to the slight detriment of his carrying.

I swear I've seen him line up at 6. As Wasps fans I trust your memory though! Maybe it's just me thinking he's looks the shape of a 6 so assumed he was playing there! Ha.

Edit:
Just looked at his stats and he's 6'5. 125Kg. For someone so big, he hasn't half struggled to get over the advantage line sofar. Granted he has been targeted by defences as pretty much our only ball carrying option in rounds 1 and 2.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

In agreement though he could do a good job there

 

[welshoptimist]

In agreement though he could do a good job there

in all fairness to him , he is trying to fill vunipola's shoes so he's not going to look as good

 

[Raggs]

He's been playing tighter than Vunipola was last year too. No Mako makes a huge difference, at first no Hask either which just made it ridiculous. Hopefully Mako will start and then we'll have two quality carriers again, Billy off the bench I reckon.

Just waiting for a starting pack of: Mako, George, Sinckler, Launch, Itoje, Hughes, Hask, Vunipola... they'd all make yards because a defence couldn't target a single one.

 

[Scotty]

He's been playing tighter than Vunipola was last year too. No Mako makes a huge difference, at first no Hask either which just made it ridiculous. Hopefully Mako will start and then we'll have two quality carriers again, Billy off the bench I reckon.

Just waiting for a starting pack of: Mako, George, Sinckler, Launch, Itoje, Hughes, Hask, Vunipola... they'd all make yards because a defence couldn't target a single one.

Thats what i want to see this weekend but with his lack of game time i hope he comes on at 50 min for lawes move itoje back to lock end the game with hughes hask billy, leave wood to come on only if we have an injury

 

[McTallshort]

It was on Oddschecker at 11/1 this morning its now 25/4

 

[Lé Ddanno]

you guys should have had Armitage when you had the chance, he was awesome

You really want to start that bull**** argument again?

 

[Scotty]

When are the teams announced?

 

[Maverick1987]

When are the teams announced?

Today it's usually around 1ish

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Today it's usually around 1ish

England team will be announced at 10 apparently.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

England match-day 23 for the RBS 6 Nations game against Scotland
15. Mike Brown (vice captain, Harlequins, 58 caps), 14. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 21 caps), 13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 31 caps), 12. Owen Farrell (vice captain, Saracens, 50 caps), 11. Elliot Daly (Wasps, 11 caps), 10. George Ford (Bath Rugby, 33 caps), 9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 68 caps), 1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 49 caps), 2. Dylan Hartley (captain, Northampton Saints, 82 caps), 3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 72 caps), 4. Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 40 caps) , 5. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 56 caps), 6. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 10 caps), 7. James Haskell (Wasps, 73 caps) , 8. Nathan Hughes (Wasps, 6 caps).
Finishers
16. Jamie George (Saracens, 15 caps), 17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 40 caps), 18. Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 6 caps), 19. Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 48 caps), 20. Billy Vunipola (vice captain, Saracens 32 caps), 21. Danny Care (Harlequins, 69 caps), 22. Ben Te'o (Worcester Warriors, 6 caps), 23. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 24 caps).

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Glad Eddie has seen sense with both Mako and Binny on the bench to come on later in the game when the game breaks up more. That is some serious ball carrying power to call upon in the second half.

 

[Scotty]

Is it it just me or is that one hell of an impact bench? Part from wood would have rathered clifford