Rugby

(Guiness) Fantasy (Rugby) Update
Some outstanding results in the LFGSS (and one of my brothers) fantasy league wit @c00ps just leading the way thanks to his shrewd selection of Teddy Thomaaaaaaa' as well as captaining that little Gallic imp, Dupont. He's closely attended by @Bobbo who had a great week before a second couplet of myself and @prole are pretty much sat on each other's laps mid-div with the final pair of @owl and the sickly sweet @DethBeard bringing up the rear waiting for their opportunity to attack. I'm gutted by the performance of my England cohort, the 4 of whom only just outscored my Scottish substitute but I'm sure we've all got our hard luck stories and gggnnnggghhh moments. Conundrums ahead; stick or twist and the sense that if you take out Ollie Lawrence he's bound to get a hat-trick against The Azzuri. Selections dependent I'm sticking with light tinkering rather than anything even vaguely resembling wholesale changes.

Made some sweeping changes, some out if necessity, others out of desperation.

Will probably make you all look good again.

It only takes one or two selections for a massive points swing so don't write yourself off by any means! Ended up being all change for me (I actually read the rules) and unfortunately spent far too much time and effort procrastinating and tinkering - very very tricky because England were really poor but are against the weakest team now and France were great but won't get the freedom from Ireland that Italy afforded them, however enforced half back changes for the men in green!

I haven't read the rules nor spent any time on it this week but I'm all in for a Jonny May hat trick...

of course, this puts you at a distinct advantage!! My brother tells me he's gone England 11,12,13 and 14 - I'm concerned EJ is too stubborn to venture too far from his 'structures/patterns' but also hoping for a May super-show as opposed to the other 'show' he put on last week!

Here's my selection.

Scotland have selected our two most exciting wingers who have very difficult styles of play. If we can get the ball to them (you don't need to get it to Van Der Merve he comes looking for it) they should both score. I rate Dupont highly and think the French centres and Dulin have a decent chance of getting the scoreboard ticking, so that left me with Ford at FH. Pack is still built around Gray and Itoje (honestly I think this could be the lions engine room) was the 'Mish on the flank replacing injured Ritchie. The rest were points based selections.

Went for Farrell on the bench because he's starting and will get a good points haul even named him SuperSub because I thought it was a sly move - then I read the rules but couldn't be bothered changing things again. the 2 Italian subs are points based selections.

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3 minute try for Italy Jones' job looks somewhat perilous now - England will win but it's not good optics after last week.

Sublime piece of running and finish from Johnny May there

Very good indeed.

I was shocked to see England take a tap penalty in the run up to their first try. Last time I saw that happen at international level was before the law was changed and if you kicked to touch after the clock turned red the match ended.

I reckon Luke Cowan Dickie takes credit for that, he and Exeter have single handed lot made of back into an attacking threat again.

Not sure about the rest of the game as just tuned in but my god this is awful rugby.

LCD EJ'd out of a definite MotM award IMO - how many minutes (or parts thereof) before my wife realises I've had 6 large vodka oranges when she comes downstairs?

England vs Italy - ref missed numerous knock forwards - mainly by England. Even the commentators mentioned it twice!

Killer back-line, more so with new half backs for Ireland!

73mins to hang on now!

Funny first half. I'm happy at how we played to get into a very dominant position. After the collision between between Graham and halfpenny we lost our head and discipline.

Hogg's very, very good, isn't he.

Grand Slam.

For France?

I may have been a little drunk at the final whistle today.

Absolutely nowt wrong with that, and neither is being optimistic. It was a very enjoyable game to watch.

Decent bit of rugby yesterday and Italy were quite similar in their performance to the week before; some short passages of creative and very difficult to defend play with off-loading in the tight areas; they struggled to maintain possession at all and build pressure. I feel for them and they're below par but I'm not in the 'chuck them out' camp although a one-off play off top tier 2 Europe vs bottom 6N is surely the way to go - maybe even at the home ground of the 6N team.
In terms of Fantasy some intriguing selections and big movement up and down the league but the match today will clearly be the big equaliser with some fantasy teams with as many as 8 players from Ire/Fra to come. Special note to @owl shrewd super sub usage - until I read the rules I thought I was clever picking a starter on the bench and making him super-sub.....i soon realised I was being a plum!
Difficult to criticise the red yesterday (this chicken wing position is becoming quite a significant factor) and whilst the TMO and ref had a different opinion of the mitigation yesterday, it was dealt with very 'professionally' with the TMO basically saying 'I think the level of movement mitigates against a red' the ref opining it didn't and a quick resolution that the ref's word was final in the matter. Also, not often you see a straight foot-race and to see Rees Zammitt lengthening away from Hogg and VdM was quite something!

I've already beat my last week's score, and still have 6 players on today.
Zammit did me a solid yesterday (and Wales, he was pretty decent allround and his 2nd was my Try of the day)

Yes, could be a BIIIIG climb. Watson game good yesterday, beat man after man and that one interception try was 35 points on it's own!
Let's mix it up a bit with a Lion's XV based on Domestic and 6N predominantly and any credit from previous tours
W Jones
LCD
Sinkler
Itoje
Gray (I believe he's not regarded as the best in group/tour environments hence his not being picked before)
Stander
Watson/Tips
???? Simmonds????
Price
Russell
VdM
Henshaw/Redpath
Ringrose
Rees-Zammmit
Hogg

Farrell, Murray, M Vunipola, T Furlong, Watson, C Lawes, T Curry Owens