[Tapper]

I hope France manages to carry it. Their scrum is imho much, much better, and England is scarily dependant on Ashton, so if they manage to control him, I give them some chance to win by 2 or 3 in a kicking competition like they had in last years match.
Then again, England can smell the Grand Slam I think, where France is concerned more with the WC coming up, so Johnson and co may be very motivated. If Ashton can run freely across the pitch yet again, France will stand no chance at all.

Wales will kick Italian ass, and I cannot look past Ireland to beat Scotland. Who knows, if they do well and get their confidence back, they may even check England in the final match weekend in Dublin.

This post has been edited by Tapper: 24 February 2011 - 01:50 PM

[masan's saddle]

Oh, don't get me wrong Tap, I would love the Frenchies to beat England I just can't see it happening, their record at Twickers recently is awful. The changes Lievremont has made are interesting though, Yachvilli and Jauzion back in, he's expecting it to be a slog up front and through the midfield.

To be honest i've always fancied Ireland to beat England this year, don't know why really.

If Wales click I expect them to demolish Italy, but they have to put in the hard work first and not try to play champagne rugby from the start. Rome has gone horribly wrong for over confident Welsh teams in the past, Italy are no mugs at home.

[Tiste Simeon]

Well they didn't demolish Italy, but I think after the first 20 minutes or so there wasn't much doubt as to who would win that one. Also, LOVED beating the French. I know people might say it was a scrappy victory, but who cares, we won!

[Tapper]

Site was down yesterday when I wanted to do my changes, that really sucked donkeyballs. Any hope of catching up with Bwoodie has evaporised.

[Vengeance]

So I finally watched a game. The first half of the england - French game was brilliant I thought. The second half was slightly dominating by england. But I guess most people thought that would happen. All in all I can see why you guys like this sport so much.

[Slow Ben]

Thats weird dude, that was the first match i've ever watched also. Pretty fun sport to watch.

[Tapper]

While giving rep there, I had to resist a massive, massive urge to not write

BETTER THAN HAND-EGG!!!!!!! instead of the comment I gave now.


Just so you know I have some self restraint. At times.

This post has been edited by Tapper: 27 February 2011 - 09:09 AM

[masan's saddle]

I can't see the Paddies or the Jocks stopping an English Grand Slam now. If Ireland can cut out the errors and penalties (which are killing them at the moment as they should have been out of sight against Scotland) and England under perform, they might be in with a sniff. But I doubt it.

Wales are second in the table and apart from patches against England and Italy and the defensive display against Scotland they have been shoddy. That said they are winning games they might have lost in the past and are being more clinical. Probably should have been another 10-15 points up against Italy but as with all the games this weekend the reffing was distinctly average. Nigel Owens' reffing of the scrum at Murrayfield yesterday was very inconsistent, although he has stated in the past the scrum is a pet peeve of his and he wants the laws changed. The scrum at the top level at the moment is an absolute mess and needs sorting out. Why don't they just let them go back to the old laws and let it be a pushing comp ? Instead of what we have at the moment, a masterclass in the dark arts of front row technical skullduggery combined with bullshitting the officials who a lot of the time look fucking clueless. It is ruining the game.

Anyway like Tapper, my fantasy team has totally gone to cock, I dropped Foden and Parisse and both of the bastards scored !

It matters not, I will have the last laugh when Wales win the championship on the last weekend by beating France

[Tiste Simeon]

masan, on 28 February 2011 - 06:26 PM, said:

It matters not, I will have the last laugh when Wales win the championship on the last weekend by beating France

I can maybe see that happening... If England don't score anything in two games perhaps.

[masan's saddle]

OK, predictions for the weekend.

Wales by 3-5 in a thriller.

France by 20+ at a canter

I so want the Jocks to win, but my head says the tea drinking, fox hunting ponces will win by 10-15

[Vengeance]

My god brilliant move by max evens for Scotland... Absolutely brilliant...


Totally brought scotland back into the match....

This post has been edited by Vengeance: 13 March 2011 - 04:54 PM

[masan's saddle]

Well that was an eventful weekend of rugby !

First off massive kudos to the Italians for beating France. Regardless of the totally disrespectful gibberish Lievremont has been spouting, credit must go to Mallett and his men for the greatest victory in Italian rugby history. Not a great game to watch but it was tense and the scenes of jubilation at the end were fantastic.

Nice to see (well, not really ) Tom Croft back playing, he's a fantastic player and with Haskell and Wood playing so well and Easter and Moody hovering, England's back row is looking very good. That said it was probably England's worst performance of the tournament, which I think can be put down to an improved performance from the Jocks and perhaps some pre-slam jitters kicking in. Can anyone tell me why Shontayne Hape is still in the team ? Ok his defence is good but having him and Tindall in the side is stunting them in attack, they are very similar players and not exactly the quickest. Anyway, one game away from a Grand Slam there are going to be some twitchy rings when they run out against Ireland next week

Ahhhh..., Ireland.

What can I say except tough shit and suck it up. Yes technically it wasn't a try by Phillips and you can moan about it until the cows come home but whatever. You never take your eyes off the ball and you play the ref. Wales got done over by the officials in Italy 4 years ago and I seem to remember O'Gara taking a quick penalty and scoring against South Africa when Smit was given time to talk to his team. It was a mediocre match played by 2 teams still struggling to adapt to the new breakdown laws, neither team are setting the world alight with their play at the moment. Saying that, I was at the game but again I was so pissed I don't really remember much other than Sam Warburton being the best player on the park

Next weekend is going to be immense, wooden spoon decider between Scotland and Italy, England going for a Grand Slam in Dublin (and failing) and Wales hoovering up the championship by beating a French team in disarray. You heard it here first !

[Tapper]

The most lovely english waitress ever is force-feeding me Guiness while Ireland is kicking the shit and all Shenanigans out of England. I'm wavering in my dedication to France and sexy rugby, even.... But I'm also horribly drunk!

[Tapper]

Tapper, on 19 March 2011 - 06:10 PM, said:

The most lovely english waitress ever is force-feeding me Guiness while Ireland is kicking the shit and all Shenanigans out of England. I'm wavering in my dedication to France and sexy rugby, even.... But I'm also horribly drunk!

And yet managed to write ^^ correctly. Never saw the end of the France-Wales match, left at 6-3 to France, I think - there was dancing to be done - but wow, Ireland was awesome. Best match of the tournament, imho.

[masan's saddle]

Unlucky England for not getting the Slam.


Only joking, watching Ireland give you a spanking was the highlight of my weekend (Especially considering Wales were bloody awful against France !)

Overall I think this was one of the worst 6 Nations for a long time in terms of general play. There were some highlights ( Italy's improvement and win over France, England returning to some sort of form and a few notable individual performances from Domingo, Wood, Warburton, Lydiate and Ashton), but generally the defences dominated and excitement was thin on the ground. The scrum and breakdown areas are turning into a farce imo and are ruining the game as a spectacle. The inconsistency with regards to interpreting the law from one game to the next was mind boggling at times. I know refs have a tough job at the best of times but the IRB need to sort it out before the world cup.

Curse you Brood but congratulations on having the foresight to pick Ashton ! Well done everybody else for taking part.

[Tiste Simeon]

I do agree with you on the whole I wasn't overly thrilled by the tournament. There was some good moments and I guess I wouldn't be saying this if we didn't end the tournament with a pathetic whimper, but I came away from the whole thing with a slightly bored taste in my mouth. Glad we won the championship though.