Six Nations Rugby

[Chiaroscuro]

Only a week to go!

Anyone else going to be watching?

[GSV Not Really Listening]

Yes, indeed. More out of hope than expectation (as an Englishman).

[Chiaroscuro]

You never know.

I'm supporting Wales. So we can argue about who's best. ;):D

[Deep Black]

Anyone else going to be watching?

Nope.

Snooker is the only "sport" to interest me:D

[Adamus]

I'll be following the Six Nations religiously. Go Ireland!

[Chiaroscuro]

Excellent, so we've got England, Ireland and Wales covered.

Surely there's a Scottish supporter out there somewhere?

Deep - can we pretend you're supporting Italy? You don't have to watch just come in and say "Bugger, we lost" every now and then. ;)

[Deep Black]

Sure, consider it done :D

[198505]

I'll take Scotland, seeing as none of the actual Scots are saying owt.

[Chiaroscuro]

Sure, consider it done :D
Good man. :D

I'll take Scotland, seeing as none of the actual Scots are saying owt.

:):) Well done, Numbers.

[Hagbard Celine]

One more for Ireland, I won't be watching it though as it's not on regular tv here and I don't have satellite.

[jag]

I've been to Murrayfield to support the boys many a time and 'tis always a glorious, occasion win or lose.

[Chiaroscuro]

One more for Ireland, I won't be watching it though as it's not on regular tv here and I don't have satellite.

That's a shame - err, about not watching, that is, not supporting Ireland. :)

[Hagbard Celine]

So long as we support one of the nations, in whatever capacity, we can feel the comfort of knowing we did our bit.

[Chiaroscuro]

Scrappy game from England. Well scrappy altogehter really.

Ireland/France much better.

Of course, it all really starts tomorrow. ;) Though I'm sure I heard the dreadful phrase 'weather permitting' earlier.

Also had a dream last night that Wales lost. :eek:

[Deep Black]

So when do Italy kick off?

[Chiaroscuro]

So when do Italy kick off?

Yesterday, against England.

They lost.

[Hagbard Celine]

So when do Italy kick off?


LOL, too subtle for some:p

[Deep Black]

;)


They lost
Hurrah

[RedKing]

Bit harsh on Italy, that, Deep.

[haddonsman]

Italy forgot to play a scrum-half in the first half. England forgot to, er, play rugger. But, guess what? We still won. With a better points difference to put us top. We played a game that was enough to beat Italy. Now we go do the same v everyone else.

But if someone wants to lock Shane Geraghty in a room and make him watch *that* tackle over and over again, please feel free. And, James Haskel, you just can't do that in an international. I barely got away with that as a schoolboy/

[Chiaroscuro]

LOL, too subtle for some:p
Doh.

Good one Deep.

Sorry, was being very slow there.

[Deep Black]

But if someone wants to lock Shane Geraghty in a room and make him watch *that* tackle over and over again, please feel freeWhat did he do?

[Chiaroscuro]

Glad my dream didn't come true though I was getting very nervous in the last few minutes there.

Should have been 12 more points on Wales' score really. Still, they won - now I can start worrying about next week. No switching off in the second half from here on in, lads.

[Champagne Socialist]

Boo to Wales.
They did play well though

[Adamus]

Late rely from me, wasn't online this weekend due to fun being had in Dublin, pre- and post-match.

Ireland-France was a great game. France played good rugby, very technically proficient and good position play. Ireland won on sheer determination. A lot of fun to watch.

[Chiaroscuro]

Boo to Wales.
They did play well though
It's made me worry the way they went off the boil in the last 20 or so minutes. OK, they might have just relaxed a bit because of the score, but that's still no excuse.


Late rely from me, wasn't online this weekend due to fun being had in Dublin, pre- and post-match.

Ireland-France was a great game. France played good rugby, very technically proficient and good position play. Ireland won on sheer determination. A lot of fun to watch.It was a really enjoyable match - Ireland are certainly looking strong. I might have said that already.

[the blondini gang]

hahaha the 6 nations, well it's all right for second division stuff, everytime any team from downunder bowls up for an end of year holiday it's the usual trousers-down-six-of-the-best-spanking. Why not watch the Super 14 instead so you can see your next season euro club superstars before they get fat and injured in France? I'm looking at you, Dan Carter

[Chiaroscuro]

Ooooh, miaow.

[haddonsman]

hahaha the 6 nations, well it's all right for second division stuff, everytime any team from downunder bowls up for an end of year holiday it's the usual trousers-down-six-of-the-best-spanking.

We *let* you win. Then you think you'll ace the World Cup. Then we piss ourselves laughing. Again... ;)

What bothers me is that the Six Nations can churn out some tasty rugby and some ugly-yet-effective rugby but the Lions are still nearly always crap.

They weren't in my day, mind. But only if my day was when I was a toddler.

[the blondini gang]

We *let* you win. Then you think you'll ace the World Cup. Then we piss ourselves laughing. Again... ;)

What bothers me is that the Six Nations can churn out some tasty rugby and some ugly-yet-effective rugby but the Lions are still nearly always crap.

They weren't in my day, mind. But only if my day was when I was a toddler.

Well you're all welcome to come down to my place for the next world cup for sure, and of course the All Blacks will win, who doesn't win it in their own back yard :D

Talking about mad optimism, I went to a couple of games on the last Lions tour and there were some tourists about who thought ya had a chance but it's not 1971, maybe if you allowed some french in the squad the ABs would have to worry. Ah yes, curse the french :mad:!!!

So, the 6 nations, who's it going to be? I guess it'll come down to between Ireland and Wales for the grand slam? May the best Kiwi win, so I'll pitch in for Warren Gatlands crew (that turncoat in the English backline doens't count, Riki Flutey reeks of desperation :eek:)

[Chiaroscuro]

I've been told by one of my work colleagues I've got to wear a red rose in my hair if England win tomorrow. I told him he's got to eat leek soup all next week if Wales win. He says he likes leeks.

[Hagbard Celine]

I've been told by one of my work colleagues I've got to wear a red rose in my hair if England win tomorrow. I told him he's got to eat leek soup all next week if Wales win. He says he likes leeks.

Lucky for him.

[the blondini gang]

Wayhey! Go Wales!

[Chiaroscuro]

Lucky for him.

:D I might just settle for giving each of the lads in my office a daffodil.

My nerves were a little wracked during that match, but ultimately it was very enjoyable. :)

[RedKing]

:D I might just settle for giving each of the lads in my office a daffodil.

That's a Welsh euphemism isn't it, you minx! :eek:

[Chiaroscuro]

That's a Welsh euphemism isn't it, you minx! :eek:

:D Ach y fi.

[Adamus]

Another super Rugby weekend. Loved the Wales - England match, didn't have a preference either way (though my girlfriend is very anti-England so she cheered for Wales all the way).

Italy - Ireland got off to a difficult start, Ireland made a lot of errors and Italy profited. Then in the last minutes of the first half Ireland, through sheer persistence, scored a try and that seemed to break Italy's spirit. The second half was all Ireland's, they dominated the game and brought a monster score to the board.

It'll be interesting to see how Ireland will fare against England. They will need to get their errors under control, and their position play isn't as good as it should be.

[Chiaroscuro]

Italy also seemed to play in the spirit of "Let's see whose neck we can break quickest". ;)

Yep, we've got some potentially thrilling matches coming up - bloody hell I sound like a BBC pundit - although no doubt whoever wins John Inverdale will see it as an England revivial.

A work colleague really hacked me off today saying Wales were only slightly less shit than England, hence the win. :rolleyes:

[Chiaroscuro]

Meh.

French defence.

Waaaaah. No Grand Slam this year. :(

<sulking>

[scooterman]

I've been told by one of my work colleagues I've got to wear a red rose in my hair if England win tomorrow. I told him he's got to eat leek soup all next week if Wales win. He says he likes leeks.
Leek soup rocks.

[Adamus]

Ireland - England was not a pretty match this weekend. England's tactic was to disrupt Ireland's game, and Ireland seemed more intent on not losing instead of going out to get a win. The score (14-13 for Ireland) may indicate an exciting match, but it was everything but that. The score should have been substantially stronger in Ireland's favour, but O'Gara's thorough demonstration of why he desperately needs to be replaced by a better number 10 (Ian Humpreys perhaps?) gave the English a glimmer of hope in the last moments of the game.

Still, Ireland undefeated and England with another loss, I can't really complain. ;)

Too bad I missed France - Wales, I heard that was a superb match.

[Chiaroscuro]

Ireland - England was not a pretty match this weekend. England's tactic was to disrupt Ireland's game, and Ireland seemed more intent on not losing instead of going out to get a win. The score (14-13 for Ireland) may indicate an exciting match, but it was everything but that. Absolutely. I agree entirely that Ireland seemed to want to not lose rather than win. What the hell Care was thinking of when he shoved Horan I just don't know.


The score should have been substantially stronger in Ireland's favour, but O'Gara's thorough demonstration of why he desperately needs to be replaced by a better number 10 (Ian Humpreys perhaps?) gave the English a glimmer of hope in the last moments of the game.

Still, Ireland undefeated and England with another loss, I can't really complain. ;)

Too bad I missed France - Wales, I heard that was a superb match.

It was great - just the wrong result. At least I've stopped swearing about it now.

[haddonsman]

Absolutely. I agree entirely that Ireland seemed to want to not lose rather than win. What the hell Care was thinking of when he shoved Horan I just don't know.

He was doing what everyone wants to do, just he forgot to do it when the referee/camera wasn't looking. Wasn't smart, either - Horan hardly moved... must thump harder...

Anyoldhow, sod the five nations. Looking forward to our annual Beat The French day ;)

[Chiaroscuro]

Deep - can we pretend you're supporting Italy? You don't have to watch just come in and say "Bugger, we lost" every now and then. ;)

Well that comment nearly came back to bite me on the bum didn't it?

What a horrible game.

Scotland/Ireland was much more enjoyable, particularly the first half. I was really rooting for Scotland - and not only because I wanted them to do Wales a favour.

[Adamus]

Scotland/Ireland was much more enjoyable, particularly the first half. I was really rooting for Scotland - and not only because I wanted them to do Wales a favour.

I was at Murrayfield stadium for that match last Saturday (my girlfriend managed to get tickets and we made an Edinburgh tourist weekend out of it) and I preferred the second half myself. :) Ireland still on track for the Grand Slam, though Wales is a dreadfully tough opponent so we'll have to see how it plays out upcoming weekend.

[Chiaroscuro]

I was at Murrayfield stadium for that match last Saturday Ooh, you lucky swine!

(my girlfriend managed to get tickets and we made an Edinburgh tourist weekend out of it) and I preferred the second half myself. :) :D Understandable.


Ireland still on track for the Grand Slam, though Wales is a dreadfully tough opponent so we'll have to see how it plays out upcoming weekend.

Well, they need to be a bloody sight tougher than they were against Italy or Ireland will mash them.

Much as I'd love Wales to win the championship, I think Ireland will do it. I'm not sure if they'll get the Slam - and I don't agree with Jeremy Guscott's comment that Ireland will choke - but I've got a funny feeling Wales will win the match, but not by enough points to take the title from Ireland.

The above prediction almost definitely means Ireland will get the Grand Slam. ;)

[Deep Black]

Did I do well then Chiaroscuro?

[Chiaroscuro]

Did I do well then Chiaroscuro?

Now is that a serious question this time? :)

[Deep Black]

Not really ;)

[Chiaroscuro]

Not really ;)

You swine! :D

[Hagbard Celine]

Great win for the Irish..:D

Yeah baby

[RedKing]

Try not to wait 61 years for the next Slam. England second in the table, I'll settle for that, in the circumstances.

[Chiaroscuro]

Great win for the Irish..:D

Yeah baby

Yes, well done Ireland.

Felt so sorry for Stephen Jones with that last kick, especially as he'd got all the other points for Wales.

Still, lovely for the Irish to have a Grand Slam after all this time. :)

[RedKing]

Still, lovely for the Irish to have a Grand Slam after all this time. :)

She said, through gritted teeth... ;)

[Hagbard Celine]

Hahahahahahahahaha

[Adamus]

It was a true nailbiter of a match. I thought Stephen Jones was going to make that last penalty. When it came just short, the crowd in the (Irish) pub where we were watching exploded (in a non-'Real IRA' way).

I'm still recovering from the post-match celebration.

[Chiaroscuro]

She said, through gritted teeth... ;)

:) Not at all.

I actually thought it would have been a bit of a damp squib all round if Wales had won by just a couple of points. It wouldn't have been enough for them to take the championship, but Ireland would have been denied the Grand Slam.

I was elated for weeks after Wales got the Slam last year so know how happy Ireland and their supporters are feeling now and I'm genuinely pleased for them.

[jag]

Man falls on ball, man kicks ball, man misses, men cry. Yawn!

[Adamus]

Man falls on ball, man kicks ball, man misses, men cry. Yawn!

Man makes irrelevant comment extolling his dislike for team sports. Yawn.

[Hilarity Unit]

For me it was Mark Cavendish winning the Milan-San Remo that made the weekend. The man is already a legend at just 23 (not that you're know it from the British press). See here (http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/mar09/msr09/?id=results) and here (http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/mar/24/richard-williams-column-mark-cavendish) for details.
_________________________________

On the hijack/can't-be-bothered-to-start-new thread sig

[RedKing]

Man makes irrelevant comment extolling his dislike for team sports. Yawn.

Man has to make unnecessary addendum to comment to show how clever it is to like team sports.

[Adamus]

Man has to make unnecessary addendum to comment to show how clever it is to like team sports.

You forgot to add 'Yawn'. :D

[sofa]

Anybody watching this years championship?

Poor quality but nail biting stuff...
Scots have had a hard time, should have beaten Wales and Italy but now facing Wooden spoon,
Italy great result against Scotland and will be looking forward to the visiting Welsh
Wales could've beaten England and France but deserved both defeats and still not sure how we managed to squeeze past the Scots. Ireland will be confident as will the Italians...
England plodding along picked up results but no great performances
Ireland missing the spark of last year, but good enough for second place
France heading for the Grand Slam