Nations Championship

@sparky said in Nations Championship:

Sorry, I can't see the 6 Nations sides taking this competition terribly seriously.

I agree and I find that position completely understandable. The concept seems to me to be ill thought through, cobbled together in a hurry and detrimental to the idea of player welfare. We already have the 6N, TRC, Lions tours. RWC AIs and summer tours. Do we really need MORE international rugby?

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see this concept peter out as a failed experiment.

@Dan54 said in Nations Championship:

I also see that Japan have to play Ireland in Newcastle , Aussie. Seems shit for Japan

what, and the Irish love the Antipodean Geordies?

@nostrildamus said in Nations Championship:

@Dan54 said in Nations Championship:

I also see that Japan have to play Ireland in Newcastle , Aussie. Seems shit for Japan

what, and the Irish love the Antipodean Geordies?

It saves Ireland having to travel from Aus to Japan and then back to NZ. Sort of makes sense until you see that now Japan have to go from Japan to Australia and then back to Japan.

Shitty for them and bang out of order IMO.

"The ban will see the Australian miss four games, the final one being the Nations Championship opener against Italy in Tokyo on July 4."

Theo McFarland is unavailable, Scott Sio dropped, and Jacob Umaga is banned. Peter Umaga-Jensen is included. Waikato has two Samoan hookers now.

Tonga squad

Props: Phil Kite, Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, Aru Moli, Fatongia Paea, Paula Latu

Hookers: Sekope Lopeti-Moli, Sam Moli, Jay Fonokalafi

Locks: Adam Coleman, Leva Fitita, Veikoso Poloniati, Semisi Paea

Back-row: Lotu Inisi, Samu Tuitupou Junior, Jimmy Tupou, Otunuku Pauta

Scrum-halves: Sonatane Takulua, Augustine Pulu, Siaosi Nginingini

Fly-halves: Patrick Pellegrini, William Havili

Centres: Solomone Kata, Pita Ahki, Fetuli Paea, Fine Inisi

Outside backs: Otumaka Mausia, Taniela Filimone, Anzelo Tuitavuki, Telusa Veaniu

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Nations Championship:

Telusa Veaniu

Geez, blast from the past there.

@Daffy-Jaffy no Laumape, George, Fekitoa et al they obviously moved on from all the big name ex ABs.

Referee appointments:

Nations Championship

The ABs have Luke Pearce (v France), Luc Ramos (v Italy) and Nick Berry (v Ireland).

Nations Cup

France team: Jalibert, Lucu and Penaud among the 13 additional players called up for the Nations Championship https://share.google/60ITnk0ZEtKVONPVp

Shaun Stevenson has revealed he has switched his allegiance to Samoa and will become eligible in August when his three-year stand-down period is complete.

Expect some others to follow suit before the end of the year.

Interesting to read that the ticket sales for Springboks/England are very sluggish, with only 21,000 sold as of last week.

Toulouse players including Dupont and Ntamack will be joining the French squad, but won't be playing the ABs.

@Bovidae said in Nations Championship:

Toulouse players including Dupont and Ntamack will be joining the French squad, but won't be playing the ABs.

Pussies

Has Dupont ever played the ABs in NZ?

@MacDazzler said in Nations Championship:

Has Dupont ever played the ABs in NZ?

Nope, and he's never played South Africa away either.

People in France think he's the GOAT, but no one in the Southern Hemisphere knows what he even looks like lol.

@Canes4life thats cos us SH thugs will target him to injure him.

@Canes4life said in Nations Championship:

@MacDazzler said in Nations Championship:

Has Dupont ever played the ABs in NZ?

Nope, and he's never played South Africa away either.

He did once in 2017 as a 20 yr old off the bench. Never played in Aust. The Top 14 final was on the weekend so none of the Toulouse or Montpellier players will backup a week later.