I thought i won it mate. It usually gets won by the the person who bets constantly on their own team. Then that team wins the comp, and it's a foregone who wins the prediction. But i don't remember to be honest. im sure there is a way to check. but superbru is more complicated than facebook. and i haven't a clue how to use facebook. Hence i don't have an account. :D

SHOW! I looked at your team... Errmm you are suppose to pick players who might actually score some points in the real games ahhahaha

RKW... look what i found on superbru buddy :D Nut i think you won the previous year... and i also think you won one of our heineken cup prediction games also?

"DingBatMan's Honours
Pool Champion, ja606, Six Nations 2014 [pool size: 5]
"

Ding

They will mate, they will.

But if they don't , who cares, it's only a game, and you can have a good laugh at my expense.

BTW, I fully expect Finn Russell to show himself to be the coming man. Maybe it's because of our paucity at 10 in recent years, but I think this guy is the real deal, Easily our best since Chalmers, and I believe will replace Craig as the next best to the God that was Rutherford.

Speak up Ding

No mate, im pulling your leg, but your problem is that you picked Madigan for example. He's on the bench. hahahah :D

He'll still count when he comes on as your super impact player.

BTW. I'm over the moon about Hanrahan coming to the Saints next season. Just you go on not picking him and Saints will pick up points in the AP this time next year.

Well, hanrahan is coming our of munster, and i'm a leinster fan as you know. So i don't really have an Iron in that fire. Only that i hope he does well with the saints and makes the position his own as it will further strengthen the irish team going forward. And it wouldn't be the first time one of our key players had to play his rugby across the water in order to get first 15 game time.
Mike ross.
Owen Reddan
Tommy bowe
...and many more..

all had to earn their stripes outside of ireland before becoming 1st team regulars back home.

So be good to him!

I am worried myself Ding, you know how the Welsh like to hate us English. Well, everyone really likes to hate the English in the rugby world Will be a tough night but I also went for the England win. We will see.

Demus

So you picked an England win, huh. And with all those Bath players too.

Now that IS a shock

Speaking of Bath players... Slammin Sam... Hype or hope?

Ding

Ooooh, now there's a question.

Is he a centre, or is he a back row?

Has he got the nous to bring something interesting

Is he the next Jason Robinson or the next Andy Farrell. Farrell came with a similar level of hype but didn't do an awful lot. He couldn't cut it in the back row, and was never a centre, so that comparison might stand up.

Mind you, on the other hand, back in Farrell's day, centres weren't what they are today, so he might well shine in that land of giants. I'd love to see him running towards Jamie Roberts and see what happened. Then of course the flip side of that. What would he do with a Jamie Roberts running at him?

I suppose we'll all have to wait and watch with a lot of interest.

Both Ding.

You can't compare him to Farrell, he was a decent international who was on the decline when he switched. Burgess was widely considered the best league player in the world, and is very much in his prime. Also, Robinson played wing for a long while which is far easier to learn than centre, which is a very technical position to try and learn in weeks. He will take time, but he will.

Ford said something along the lines of "he was a 30 plays a game man in league which is why I see him in the back row long term" and I have to agree with him. Get him involved and making hits. I think he will play at 6 more and more in the next couple of months but I think it will be a herculean task to make the England WC XV for him. Thorn and SBW had the advantage of growing up in NZ (well for a while in Thorns case) but union is a foreign game to Sam, I just don't think we should expect too much too soon.



.....and he would destroy Roberts

Iv'e been watching show... And as yet, I haven't seen anything much. Lot's a missed passes. Turned over when he goes to ground all to easily. ( A chronic problem with league converts)
Farrell is a good example. He could never cut it once he was taken down. He got manhandled on the floor and turned over. I'm seeing the same with Sam. And the Roberts meets Burgess potential clash... I think they would cancel each other out in terms of strength and bulk, but as soon as it goes to the floor, Warburton would be in taking the ball from Sam.
That's the negative side.
On the positive side, when Tuilagi is back, you have the potential of an extremely potent partnership. With Burgess taking it up drawing defenders, because it takes 2 to bring him down, and popping off a deft pass. But he does drop those off loads far too much, so he needs to work on that in training a lot.

Conclusion. I have no idea hahaha. If he works hard and is serious, he's got all the attributes he needs to be a great. I guess it's down to him to work on his shortcomings. But he has to acknowledge what those are. Mainly breakdown work and accurate passing.

P.S.
Robbie Henshaw... our new Brian O'Driscoll replacement. Some of you won't know much about him because he plays his rugby in connacht but take it from me. He defends like O'Driscoll, Attacks like North, he's huge! 6'4 but has a wicked step and he can kick from hand like a Fly Half. He's an absolute wunderkind in the making

According to Demus, Mike Ford sees him in the Bath back row, long term. Can't see that one myself.

I see the logic. but where? 6 i assume? because 7 is far to specialized for a guy who, thus far, hasn't shown much ability in the breakdown.

6 yes, he has already played an A match at 6 (and played well apparently). His game vrs wolfhounds was poor but his last league game for Bath he was quality. I think what he needs to work on atm mostly (as a centre) is timing in attack and defensive responsibilities. Breakdown's will develop over time, but his passing is very good. He is just trying to make too much happen at the moment because of all the hype. Physically he can play where he wants but if the game was so simple to learn we would be awash with college American football players who didn't get drafted.

While we are on the subject of wonderkids and hype, I am HYPEDDDDDD about Maro Itoje. This guy will be the best forward in the world in a couple of years I think. I am just as excited about him as Burgess.

"He is just trying to make too much happen at the moment because of all the hype."
That's what i have been thinking also. Trying to be all he can be too quickly.
Have to plead a little ignorance regarding Itoje tho. Saw him in the Saxons game. ANd he was a standout. but i don't know much about him beyond that.

Plays for Sarries (who should have been starting him but haven't I think he should move if it continues) and captained England the the junior WC last year. Really strong, really fast, good feet, great hands, and crazy workrate. He really has it all, might end up switching to 6 but I think he should stay at lock. A potential pairing with Launchbury would be amazing in the future.

Where would that leave laws tho? is he out of favour these days? He's a personal favourite of mine to be honest. if you guys don't want him... :D
Another question.. these Friday night lights games... Agree or disagree. It's fine for TV audiences(pub and club viewers), but for stadea goers... not so great. Particularly away fans.
Personally not a fan of Friday night games myself.

stadia*

Just thought i'd reach out a prematch hand of friendship to all our Welsh cousins:

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff96/Princess_0f_the_dark/WelshSheep.jpg

comment by Aristodemus (U3765)
posted 2 hours, 53 minutes ago
6 yes, he has already played an A match at 6 (and played well apparently). His game vrs wolfhounds was poor but his last league game for Bath he was quality. I think what he needs to work on atm mostly (as a centre) is timing in attack and defensive responsibilities. Breakdown's will develop over time, but his passing is very good. He is just trying to make too much happen at the moment because of all the hype. Physically he can play where he wants but if the game was so simple to learn we would be awash with college American football players who didn't get drafted.

While we are on the subject of wonderkids and hype, I am HYPEDDDDDD about Maro Itoje. This guy will be the best forward in the world in a couple of years I think. I am just as excited about him as Burgess.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I would;don't get excited about Burgess if I were you. I wouldn't be surprised if he's gone back to League with his tail between his legs by this time next year!

Oh Jaysus...
SHOW! get in here mate... it's gonna kick off. And for once i'm not involved.