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I'll post them up as they come to hand, here's Italy for starters:
Italy squad for Six Nations:
Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais), Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais), Marco Bortolami (Narbonne), Gonzalo Canale (Clermont-Auvergne), Martin Castrogiovanni (Calvisano), Denis Dallan (Treviso), Carlo Del Fava (Bourgoin), Santiago Dellape (Agen), Carlo Festuccia (Gran Parma), Ezio Galon (Rugby Parma), Paul Griffen (Calvisano), Andrea Lo Cicero (L'Aquila), Carlos Nieto (Viadana), Ludovico Maria Nitoglia (Calvisano), Fabio Ongaro (Treviso), Samuele Pace (Viadana), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais), Salvatore Perugini (Calvisano), Ramiro Pez (Perpignan), Simon Picone (Treviso), Josh Sole (Viadana), Alessandro Stoica (Montpellier), Rima Wakarua (Gran Parma), Maurizio Zaffiri (Calvisano), Alessandro Zanni (Calvisano)
Wales squad for Six Nations:
Backs: Dwayne Peel (Llanelli Scarlets), Gareth Cooper (Newport Gwent Dragons), Michael Phillips (Cardiff Blues), Stephen Jones (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Nicky Robinson (Cardiff Blues), Shane Williams (Ospreys), Mark Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), Dafydd James (Llanelli Scarlets), Lee Byrne (Llanelli Scarlets), Ceri Sweeney (Newport Gwent Dragons), Hal Luscombe (Newport Gwent Dragons), Matthew Watkins (Llanelli Scarlets), Barry Davies (Llanelli Scarlets), Gareth Thomas (Toulouse) Captain
Forwards: Duncan Jones (Ospreys), John Yapp (Cardiff Blues), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Mefin Davies (Gloucester Rugby), Rhys Thomas (Cardiff Blues), Matthew Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), Ian Gough (Newport Gwent Dragons), Robert Sidoli (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Michael Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons), Gareth Delve (Bath Rugby), Dafydd Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), Alix Popham (Llanelli Scarlets), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Colin Charvis (Newcastle Falcons).
Scotland squad for Six Nations:
Backs - Mike Blair (Edinburgh Gunners), Chris Cusiter (Border Reivers), Marcus Di Rollo (Edinburgh), Andrew Henderson (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Northampton Saints), Rory Lamont (Glasgow), Ben MacDougall (Borders), Graeme Morrison (Glasgow), Dan Parks (Glasgow), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Gordon Ross (Leeds Tykes), Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh), Nikki Walker (Borders), Simon Webster (Edinburgh)
Forwards - Kelly Brown (Borders), Bruce Douglas (Borders), Ross Ford (Borders), Dougie Hall (Edinburgh), Craig Hamilton (Glasgow), Allister Hogg (Edinburgh), Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Alastair Kellock (Edinburgh), Gavin Kerr (Leeds), Scott Lawson (Glasgow), Scott MacLeod (Borders), Andy Miller (Borders), Scott Murray (Edinburgh), Euan Murray (Glasgow), Jon Petrie (Glasgow), Craig Smith (Edinburgh), Simon Taylor (Edinburgh), Jason White (Sale Sharks) captain.
Ireland squad for the Six Nations:
Backs: T Bowe (Ulster), G D'Arcy (Leinster), G Dempsey (Leinster), G Easterby (Leinster), D Hickie (Leinster), S Horgan (Leinster), D Humphreys (Ulster), R Kearney (Leinster), J Kelly (Munster), G Murphy (Leicester), B O'Driscoll (Leinster) Captain, R O'Gara (Munster), E Reddan (Wasps), J Staunton (Wasps), P Stringer (Munster), A Trimble (Ulster).
Forwards: N Best (Ulster), S Best (Ulster), R Best (Ulster), S Byrne (Saracens), R Corrigan (Leinster), S Easterby (Llanelli), A Foley (Munster), J Flannery (Munster), J Hayes (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster), M Horan (Munster), S Jennings (Leicester), D Leamy (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), J O'Connor (Wasps), M O'Driscoll (Munster), M O'Kelly (Leinster), D Wallace (Munster).
It will be interesting to see how the Poms go this year.
For a team that is the reigning World Cup Champs. they havent done much on anything since. With them coming out to play the Wallabies this year hopefully they will bring out a better side then the "C" grade team that went to Brisbane and got soundly beaten 72 (i think) - NIL.
With Johnny Wilkinson injured again - I dont even think that he has played a test since the World Cup Final against Australia, and other players coming out of retirement to play, where is the depth in English Rugby?
I am beginning to think that for Johnny to get pack on the paddock there are going to have to send a message to Egypt to unwrap a couple of extra Mummies just so the English Medical staff have enough bandages for him.
It could be a good game in Sydney. If the announced English team is good enough I might even go to it.
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
England are 2nd favs to win the six nations i think they are a good chance!
I would still select wilko for the 30man squad... dont start him but give him a go if Hodgson cant get going. He is well worth the punt.
I like Dallalgio coming back, he is still younger than Martin Lawrence when he won the World Cup so dont worry bout age. They were called 'Dads Army' when theyc ame to Aust for the 2003 RWC and left with the cup in hand so i dont think age worries them.
To some its a six-pack, to me it's a support group.
If Jonny Wilkinson was Bob Brown he would have never have had an International career, he's a kicking robot with a huge publicity machine behind him. "World Cup winning Jonny" is a crock, it's his forwards that got his pretty face close enough to have all the shots on goal. Martin Johnsons leadership and those big mung forwards didn't get half the credit they deserved for the WC win, no wonder Jonny keeps getting injured in club matches!
Looks like the Poms and Frogs are up to their old games trying to out do each other to be last to name their teams, hopefully have them posted by tomorrow morning.
England squad for Six Nations:
Stuart Abbott (London Wasps)
Olly Barkley (Bath Rugby)
Steve Borthwick (Bath Rugby)
Alex Brown (Gloucester)
George Chuter (Leicester Tigers)
Ben Cohen (Northampton Saints)
Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers, capt)
Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)
Lawrence Dallaglio (London Wasps)
Matt Dawson (London Wasps)
Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers)
Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers)
James Forrester (Gloucester)
Perry Freshwater (Perpignan)
Andy Goode (Leicester Tigers)
Danny Grewcock (Bath Rugby)
Charlie Hodgson (Sale Sharks)
Chris Jones (Sale Sharks)
Josh Lewsey (London Wasps)
Magnus Lund (Sale Sharks)
Lee Mears (Bath Rugby)
Lewis Moody (Leicester Tigers)
Jamie Noon (Newcastle Falcons)
Pete Richards (Gloucester)
Pat Sanderson (Worcester Warriors)
Simon Shaw (London Wasps)
Andy Sheridan (Sale Sharks)
James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester)
Matt Stevens (Bath Rugby)
Steve Thompson (Northampton Saints)
Mike Tindall (Gloucester)
Mark van Gisbergen (London Wasps)
Tom Varndell (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Voyce (London Wasps)
Julian White (Leicester Tigers)
Joe Worsley (London Wasps)
Originally Posted by Burgs
all im hearing is cry, cry, cry - typical aussie after loosin the RWC on home soil
yeah back home in england we all know that Lawro and the forwards played a massive part, everyone did!
but u only had to get wilko in the half for him to be a major threat
Wilko was the star throughout the whole tournament like it or not
typical tall poppy syndorme!
To some its a six-pack, to me it's a support group.
sorry buddy but i have to stick up for my MAIN MAN
To some its a six-pack, to me it's a support group.
You make a typical pommie error of judgment there Luke.
I have no issue with us losing the WC, here, overseas or on Mars.
Fact is that we well and truly over achieved to even get to the final, all fair minded Australian supporters know that.
I also think that the majority of your squad, although old enough to be your father, are excellent players.
What I do have issue with is what Jonny Wilkinson has brought to the game Rugby.
He has turned what was once a game of working for field position to score a try into work your way into the opposition half and get a penalty shot for the goal kicking robot.
The drop goal that won you the WC has no bearing on my view and if Australia had won in the same manner I would have been just as disappointed that such a great game was decided in such a manner.
It’s not just about winning, it’s also how you win.
The media that I read from “back home” following the win did not give equal plaudits to the rest of the team, and specifically the forward pack, it was all about Wilkinson splashed over every page.
It’s interesting in the media now that England is languishing down at IRB 6th place that it isn’t because of the absence of Wilkinson, it’s because of the state of the forwards and the retirement of the WC squad members!
I stand fully behind my previous post and suggest that the media blitz may have worked fully on you.
As for your old “tall poppy” chestnut, the majority of poms got as much enjoyment out of beating Australia as they did from actually winning the Cup.
No “tall poppy” in that I guess?
We've had our share of victories and after the match in the pub where I watched I was amongst the first to go around shaking the hands of gloating ruddy faced gits with white jerseys singing a slave song. The result was fair and England were the better XV, congratulations.
If you wish to continue to perpetuate the Wilkinson myth then good luck to you, at least it will give you one topic to give a positive view about on this forum.
positive view - i have tried to encourage dress up day and not that i can be bothered looking back in to previous threads i have had plenty of positive input!!Originally Posted by Burgs
all sports change - look at the Sydney Swans - ugly football but they win the grand final
when you sign a contract for your club u r there to win... not to please everyone in the crowd!!
not all wins can be pretty and if the force win an ugly game off the boot i will not shake my head one bit in disgust! and i would be ashmed of any supporter that does just that!
i hope wilko does the exact same in 2007 and i know millions of other people will love it just like me!
before the tournament every knew what englands plan was - get it to wilko and with his kicking he won us the world cup, drop goals,conversions,penalties, even great touch kicking
now if u see the stats from the last 6 nations it showed that the higer placed teams and winners kicked more, whether it is ugly or not it is a trend that is coming into the game.
accept it or go watch another sport if u find it boring
To some its a six-pack, to me it's a support group.
Luke, gimme a break. Positive view - HA! Sure you encouraged a dress up day - But you were quick to jump down the throat of 2 people who said they wouldnt participate.
Tall poppy syndrome - what a joke - Jonny wasnt that tall to begin with. In fifteen years time Johnny will still be only remembered for one drop goal in the Final of the World Cup. Has he brought anything else to the game? Not really apart from forcing the management of other Nations to ask their kickers to practicing their goal kicking for more hours each week.
In my opinion Penaltys, Conversions and Drop Goals are worth to many points. Quickest way to improve Rugby is the reduce the value of shots at goal and make teams cross the line to win.
I am just like Burgs - i watched the World Cup final at the pub and I was proud of the effort that Australia put in during the Final and I was just as happy to see the better team win on the night, I have no problems with that.
But in the future J. Wilkinson will not be featuring in any media's Team of this decade. Yes he can kick. but at the moment he is not even doing that. Will the next Barmy Army (Rugby Chapter) be singing "Where's Jonny?" or "Jonny who?" lets sit back and let history decide.
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
For teams to pay the bills they need supporters Luke.
For the game to grow around the globe and to maintain it's crowd base it needs to be exciting to watch.
Excitement is not watching some pretty boy potting goals from his own side of halfway.
Go and compare the explosion in popularity of the Sevens movement at places like Hong Kong.
People want to see flowing rugby with tries, not penalty shoot outs.
Climate may play a part in this mind set in England with having to play in stodgy weather all the time.
In a recent issue of RugbyWorld they listed the following:
Average number of of tries per match in the 04-05 season-
Currie Cup Premier Division 7.36
NPC Division One 6.76
Super 12 5.77
Italy Super 10 5.18
French Top 16 4.29
Celtic League 4.20
English Premier League 3.89
Now a casual observation would be that the participant countries in the Currie Cup, NPC, Super 12 and French Top 16 are all ranked higher than England with the IRB and that two of the Celts beat England in the last Six Nations. Further, in your three Six Nations losses England scored a grand total of three tries, yet in Englands pillaging of relative minnows Italy and Scotland they managed to rake up 13 tries!
Of all the matches last year there was only two that the team scoring the most tries didn't win, England v France and Scotland v Italy where in both cases the victors kicked six penalty goals.
So, yes Luke, trends come and go but the basics of the game will last forever in those who believe in the game. Wilkinson is a trend, a foot note in rugby history. Trends come and go and I look forward to it going. The current success of the All Blacks will certainly speed that outcome.
My choice isn't to "go watch another sport", I think I'll choose to watch competitions that value tries and have the greatest success rate in the sport.
I love the old motherland / colonial rivalry .... International sport in Australian and England would be absolutely CRAP if it weren't for our desire to beat the living shit out of each other on the field.
Good thing we ALL enjoy a pint afterwards( although I hear you crazy poms like it warm
)
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.