Six Nations

Discussion in 'Rugby Union Discussion' started by The Boy Brumby, Feb 2, 2013.

  1. The Boy Brumby ZJ Brumby

    Starts today, so deserves its own thread.

    Fixtures for round one as follows:

    Saturday 2nd February 2013

    <table class="table-stats"><tbody><tr class="alternate fixture"><td class="statistics">
    </td> <td class="home-team"> Wales </td> <td class="vs"> v </td> <td class="away-team"> Ireland </td> <td class="kickoff"> 13:30 </td> <td class="status">
    </td> </tr> <tr class="fixture"> <td class="statistics">
    </td> <td class="home-team"> England </td> <td class="vs"> v </td> <td class="away-team"> Scotland </td> <td class="kickoff"> 16:00 </td> <td class="status">
    </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

    Sunday 3rd February 2013

    <table class="table-stats"><tbody><tr class="alternate fixture"><td class="statistics">
    </td> <td class="home-team"> Italy </td> <td class="vs"> v </td> <td class="away-team"> France </td> <td class="kickoff"> 15:00 </td></tr></tbody></table>
    France and ourselves should win, with only really the margin and comfort of the victories in doubt, but the all-Celt dust up in Cardiff looks the tie of the weekend.

    Wales, reigning Grand Slam champions let's not forget, are coming into the tournament off the back of seven test defeats on the bounce and have a dire home record against the visitors, with just two wins and a draw since 1985(!). The Micks, meanwhile are lacking a certain Lions captain in the engine room and his deific immediate predecessor is well into his mid-30s and surely can't go on for very much longer.

    I favour the Irish slightly, but beware the wounded Dragon.

    Couple of noteable debuts at Twickenham: the wonderfully named Billy Twelvetrees in the centres for England and Sean Maitland, ex of Canterbury and NZ Maori, joining the expanding ranks of Kilted Kiwis for the sweaties.
     
  2. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    Too many passport players making their ways in Northern Hemisphere rugby at the moment for my liking. At least someone like Flutey had to ply his trade over there for a few years to be eligible, but guys like Waldrom and Maitland, they learnt their rugby in NZ and yet are able to play for England and Scotland respectively just by hopping off a plane.

    It just seems so 'wrong'.

    That and the English have been complaining for as long as I can remember about Pacific Islanders playing for NZ. Gah.
     
  3. Callum CJ Laing

    Hoping to see a few English players killed.
     
  4. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    What are the details on Maitland's eligibility is he a scottish citizen? Or is it one of those wanky his grandad came from scotland things?

    My Canadian half brother has NZ citizenship because both his parents are new zealanders even though he was born in Canada - they just wanted him to have options later in life. So I am not against Maitland playing if it is that sort of a citizenship.
     
  5. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    From Wikipedia:

    Maitland qualifies for Scotland by his Glaswegian grandparents who emigrated to New Zealand in the 60s. Maitland said "My granddad always reminded me that I was part Scottish and that I should never forget that."

    And I am still against them just being able to hop on a plane and play for a country who've never invested in them. Make them do a 3 year eligibility period in all circumstances and see how many of them are still keen to make the move.
     
  6. MrPrez CM Dyer

    I've always been a bit confused as to how all of this works.

    If you have a family connection that is sufficient, you can qualify straight away right?

    And how long is it in new zealand that you need to live there for until you can qualify to play for the all blacks/black caps/all whites?
     
  7. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    Depends on the sport's eligibility rules I *think*.

    Luke Ronchi would have been eligible immediately if he hadn't already been capped by Australia as he was born in NZ and holds an NZ passport whereas Neil Wagner, Grant Elliott, Johann Myburgh, Kruger van Wyk etc. all had to serve 3 years in NZ before being eligible for the Black Caps.

    Back in 2006, Nathan Fien (rugby league) caused a scandal as what had been thought to be a Kiwi grandmother, making him eligible to play for NZ turned out to be a great-grandmother. I think he was in theory eligible to play straight off the plane based on the grandmother clause.

     
  8. The Boy Brumby ZJ Brumby

    Article I read said Maitland's granddad Stan is from Clydeside, so he's eligible under the grandparent rule.

    Or one would hope so, after "Grannygate" a decade or so back.

    Not sure if he's a British citizen or not. The Leslies (Kilted Kiwi forebears and famously the sons of an AB captain) qualified by virtue of Scots grandparent(s), but had to pass through customs in the non-EU nationals line as neither held a British passport.

    I'm not sure about the grandparent rule, myself. I had an Irish grandfather so am technically eligible for Ireland, but don't feel Irish to any meaningful degree, save for a fondness for Guinness and the music of Van Morrison.
     
  9. MrPrez CM Dyer

    Cheers heef.

    3 years for cricket is interesting. I thought it was at least 4.

    Gonna come study once I leave school and then represent the black caps at 21 :ninja:
     
  10. Callum CJ Laing

    England having a problem with Scotland having non-Scots in their side?

    [​IMG]
     
  11. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    It might well be four. Wagner's eligibility seemed to take much longer to come through than I expected. Pretty sure Myburgh left NZ just as he was about to become eligible though and that was only 3 years.
     
  12. The Boy Brumby ZJ Brumby

    It is four years qualification in cricket for non-nationals or four years from their last appearance for another test nation at international level (from U19 and above) for nationals like Ronchi.

    Technically citizens of a country are eligible for that test side once they are registered as a "domestic" in that country if they haven't played for another test nation. Brendan Nash, born in Perth, was in the Windies' team within 18 months of arrival because he was a Jamaican citizen thanks to his folks.

    England though insisted on a four year qualification for foreign-born nationals even if they hadn't played for another test side. Pietersen the obvious example; British passport, no rep honours for SA, but had to wait four years.

    This has now been raised to seven for anyone arriving once they turn 18.
     
  13. MrPrez CM Dyer

    Don't see any english people complaining...
     
  14. MrPrez CM Dyer

    That's crazy.
     
  15. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    Perfect. That's how it should be for every country and every sport. A player should have to invest in that country to be eligible to play for said country IMO, and the 7 years post 18 seems pretty bloody reasonable to me.

    Where does that put James Fuller then?
     
  16. The Boy Brumby ZJ Brumby

    Yeah, I agree. It isn't demanded by the ICC and potentially means England are depriving themselves of quality players for the faintly-dodgy reason of "preserving the English character of the side".

    Which sounds as if it might come from a UKIP election manifesto.
     
  17. The Boy Brumby ZJ Brumby

    Think he was at Gloucs before the rule change, so he's eligible once he's done his four years.

    Must be registered as a foreign player for Otago tho as he's a domestic for Gloucs. Which is pretty weird for an NZ U19 player in his own country.
     
  18. Eddie EI Morris

    It'll be interesting to see how Billy Twelvetrees does for England. Been very good for Gloucester recently however I'm not sure how he'll cope on the big stage. Especially against the likes of Lamont who are very experienced.
     
  19. The Boy Brumby ZJ Brumby

    Should, in theory, increase our attacking options. Twelvetrees is more akin to a southern hemisphere 2nd 5/8th and provides a genuine second kicking option (well, third, maybe with Goode in the team) than Barritt (shunted to outside today), who's primarily a defensive 12.
     
  20. MrPrez CM Dyer

    Yeah, I don't see a problem with a 4 year rule or whatever, as it allows emigratees to represent their new chosen country after having proven that they are committed to that country. 7 years is absurd though.
     

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