Re: Rugby Union
 

Oh dear...

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/28073290

Re: Rugby Union
 

No wonder our great Scottish friends have gone into hiding.:D

Re: Rugby Union
 

Probably those who watch rugby, don't follow the traditional english way of losing ie "boo hoo, we lost, we are still the greatest, watch us win the next [insert world cup, 20-20 etc]" :D

It always gives me great amusement

Re: Rugby Union
 

Unexpected but nice nevertheless.:D

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31137059

Re: Rugby Union
 

Let's not get carried away, it's only Wales...

Re: Rugby Union
 

l am certainly not getting carried away but this banished the memory of a certain 30-3 mauling here two years ago.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Well, nice to see an England win. However, I cannot stand this stupid tactic of relying on penalties only. As always, supporting the underdog so Italy is my team.

I reckon if Italy put as much effort into rugby as they do football, they would probably win the tournament at some point in the future.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Shows how far we've dropped when we lose to a team Luke England at home.

Re: Rugby Union
 

The tie is now 56-58 to England, with 12 draws. That looks like a pretty even match to me. Over the long term, "a team like England" is exactly what Wales is. :shrug:

Re: Rugby Union
 

Sadly penalties are a important part of the modern game Mark.

By the way Italy have no chance of winning a tournament.

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Current games aren't a matter of being "over the long term": the current Welsh squad is stronger than that of England so for us to do so well in the first half yet throw away the second indicates a serious problem with discipline.

Re: Rugby Union
 

True den, but still get annoyed when teams seem to play for penalties rather than tries.

I did say that if Italy took it seriously they could win a tournament.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Lose to England reserves you mean and by "team like" I take it you mean as in perennial world cup finalists

Re: Rugby Union
 

Was the team that played yesterday in the WC final?

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No it was the b team, clearly all that was required

Re: Rugby Union
 

Re: Rugby Union
 

The current Welsh team is stronger than the English, that's why the game showed how much we had slipped.

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Thanks for clarifying, just wondered what context you meant a team like England, as in multi world cup finalists or as in losing to England b.

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The team that currently play in England shirts and have an overall weaker squad than Wales, clear enough?

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No need for further clarification Russ and clearly they should be weaker, it was the b team Wales lost to after all

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Clarification is needed considering you seem to have difficulty with the difference between a team and a squad.

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Ssssh Russ as stated no need for further clarification, you'll only be in danger of looking like a bad loser

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Time for Jonathan Davies to get a new profile picture methinks. :D

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Oh dear he does look rather unhappy with what transpired on Friday night.:D

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Yup, his face and Eddie Butler's descent into stunned silence was a magical combination. :D

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Ah the pic from last year still smarts then? :D

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Fixtures for 6 Nations this weekend:

14/02 14:30 - England v Italy
14/02 17:00 - Ireland v France
15/02 15:00 - Scotland v Wales

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Not very happy...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31175393

Here's another for the old scrapbook. :D

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Well done Italy for beating Scotland. Excellent news.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Lets hope for a England win tomorrow Mark.

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Aye. Scotland only team now who can win the no wins at all this year.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Sadly the Scots don't seem to have progressed that much since last season.:)

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And England lose to Ireland. A shock. I'd forgotten the match was even on and it was only when I flicked over to BBC 1 to look at what was on that I remembered and seeing the score 19-9 was a massive shock.

Re: Rugby Union
 

It was no shock in my book as Ireland were the bookies favourites before the march and they rarely get it wrong.

Re: Rugby Union
 

What an epic game today, 23-16 to Wales against Ireland. So only the one Grand Slam left, and Scotland will be hoping they don't claim that one. That is the Grand Slam of losses.

If England win today, and how much they win by, next week will be a cracker. Calcutta and Garibaldi Cup weekend this weekend.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Come on Scotland!! :D

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l see we have changed nationality suddenly.;):D

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:LOL:

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The enemy of my enemy.....:)

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I'm just glad to see tries being scored. Penalties might be the modern game way, but it is so boring to see teams relying on kickers and not going for tries.

As it stands, 20-13 England so Scotland need to win next week to avoid their Grand Slam of shame.

Re: Rugby Union
 

They did not help you did they :LOL: ;)

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Very tight going into next week, England Ireland and Wales only countries to win title now.

FIXTURES:

Italy v Wales, 12:30
Scotland v Ireland, 14:30
England v France, 17:00

WHO CAN WIN:

Wales will win outright if they beat Italy and Scotland and France win their matches, seeing Wales finish with 8 points and England & Ireland on 6 points each.

If Wales win, and so do England and/or Ireland, then it comes down to points difference. As it stands tonight, England top the table with +37, Ireland second with +33 and Wales third with +12. With England playing last, this means that England will head into the game knowing what scenario they need.

WHAT HAPPENS IF IDENTICAL DIFFERENCE:

Then tries scored come into play. If this is the case, then England lead the way so far with 11, Wales with 5 and Ireland with 4. If after this countries cannot be separated, then the title is shared.

It is worth noting that under Warren Gatland, the last 3 matches played in Rome have seen Wales win by small margins, with scores of 26-9, 21-16 and 20-15. The last march prior to the Gatland reign was a loss of 23-20 in 2007. During the Grand Slam season of 2005 however, Wales thumped Italy 38-8.

There could also be a really tricky table next week, as both France and Italy have an outside chance of winning if one of them wins BOTH remaining fixtures (obviously they meet tomorrow). In which case we would end up with 4 teams on 6 points each. This is assuming of course that Ireland, Wales and England all lose next week.

All information comes from walesonline.co.uk, thanks to their article for these facts that I have pruned down for here.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Keep up dear boy, they don't need to.

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:LOL:

Re: Rugby Union
 

Half time:

Italy 13-14 Wales

This could be a VERY exciting day for Rugby. If Wales and Ireland lose, France then need to beat England by a minimum of 8 points to win the title.

Re: Rugby Union
 

So after a 61/20 win for Wales against Italy and Ireland beating Scotland 40/10, England now MUST score some tries as they need to beat France by a minimum 26 point gap otherwise Ireland will be the 6 Nations winners. So the one country who didn't get a replica to where they were playing are now looking likely to be the ones who win the trophy.

Bet there is some egg on faces tonight if Ireland do end up winning.

Re: Rugby Union
 

I thought there was a replica at Murrayfield for Ireland and they didn't send one to Rome for Wales?

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Was it? I was going by what my sister told me, so you could be right. If that is the case, then looks like they got it right. More by luck though, as who could have predicted a score like that from Wales?

---------- Post added at 17:26 ---------- Previous post was at 17:16 ----------

And looks like the curse of England strikes again, 8/7 to France. Oh dear.

Still, cannot remember the last time the 6 Nations came down to an epic finish like this weekend. Any of 4 countries still had a chance of winning the trophy.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Well when it comes to the World Cup later this year England have no chance on this performance.:nono::nono:

Re: Rugby Union
 

Getting interesting now den, 27/15 to England at half time. English teams like leaving it late and giving people squeaky bum syndrome.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Oh you could say that :D

Re: Rugby Union
 

Well, that was an exciting end to the tournament. Really cannot remember the last time it was this close. Gutted England didn't win, but congratulations to Ireland. Scotland win the wooden spoon again.

You really have to wonder if Italy invested more time and money into rugby whether they could ever be in a position to challenge for a trophy. Scotland need to buck their ideas up, cannot remember last time they won a 6 Nations trophy.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Well done Ireland.

At least we didn't suffer the embarrassment of finishing below the Welsh :)

Re: Rugby Union
 

Yeah that makes a change :D

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You better get used to it as its going to happen next year as well.;):D

Re: Rugby Union
 

Pulsating match!!! Any team who can put 55 past any French team deserve real credit, especially having been reeling early on after some very costly mistakes. Great tries, running rugby and adventure in abundance. Ford, Youngs and Nowell were terrific. This is exactly the preparation England require for a World Cup campaign in which missed opportunities and points gifted to the opposition will cost dear. If they carry on in this vein bring it on! :)

Re: Rugby Union
 

Well if this is the best we can play we have no chance against the might of Wales and Australia.:td:

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/93711

Re: Rugby Union
 

Oh my god!!!!!!!!!!.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/rugby-union/33719271

Re: Rugby Union
 

That is a stunning result! Well done Japan. :clap:

Just seen the last few minutes! Japan could easily have taken 3 points to get an amazing draw but went for the try right at the end and it paid off. Stunned. :)

I doubt it'll affect the final group positions because SA are probably in the easiest group and unless Japan keep up the good work SA will almost certainly win the group.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Results at a glance:

England 35-11 Fiji
South Africa 32-34 Japan
Tonga 10-17 Georgia
Ireland 50-7 Canada
France 32-10 Italy

Only 3 teams have bonus points so far. England, Ireland and Tonga.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Rubbish , rubbish , rubbish , rubbish.:td::(

Re: Rugby Union
 

:D (Sorry Den)

I lost 50p bet due to Wales winning.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Well what else can we expect when we have been led by a nobody in the last few years who's tactical nous you could fit on the back of a stamp but all praise to Wales who fully deserved their victory despite having half their team out..

Re: Rugby Union
 

Bwahahahahahahaha!!!!

Re: Rugby Union
 

More world rankings for people to selectively ignore :D

Re: Rugby Union
 

The "British" media being typically unbiased given that Wales won tonight.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Well they will be like the hounds of hell after Saturday nights likely defeat for England.:)

Re: Rugby Union
 

England all at sea and we have only had 7 minutes so far.:(

Well Lancaster its best to quit before you are pushed.:redcard:

Re: Rugby Union
 

Well, that's that. I knew in my heart of hearts it was going to be an Aussie win tonight but wanted so much for England to win.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Not the best of ways for Wales to qualify, but I won't complain.

Was this a case of England believing their own hype??

Re: Rugby Union
 

Hmmm, now where should I begin...... :D

Re: Rugby Union
 

Only blinkered idiots ever believed the hype about England as the demise of England was put in progress several years ago by the 57 old farts of the RFU by appointing a delusional nobody like Lancaster in the first place.

Re: Rugby Union
 

England? England who? ;)

Lancaster bombed :D

Cymru am byth!

Re: Rugby Union
 

I see England have blamed Burgess for their humiliation http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34455186

Wouldn't be surprised if he goes to Old Trafford on saturday after the way hes been treated ;)

Re: Rugby Union
 

To be perfectly honest he has done nothing wrong but sadly English Rugby Union likes to find a scapegoat as its obvious that the RFU and Lancaster are not man enough to admit that they are the ones at fault for our embarrassing demise.

Re: Rugby Union
 

I'm more than a little surprised at England fans not supporting Wales and getting behind us now :confused:

Re: Rugby Union
 

Perhaps they know Welsh people, I used to be more of a supporter of Welsh Rugby than I was English, shame really.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Some but not all.:)

Re: Rugby Union
 

Why should we get behind Wales? Would the Welsh be getting behind England if it was the other way around?

Re: Rugby Union
 

Well be it Rugby , football or any other sports my view is we should support the home nations but of course they are many who see it differently.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Its called rivalry, why would you support one of your rivals?

Re: Rugby Union
 

Because they are just as much a part of the UK just like us and l am sure many of them would support us if we were still in the competition.

Re: Rugby Union
 

South Africa - 23
Wales - 19

Yay!

Re: Rugby Union
 

Now for Argentina and Australia to win today. Wanting an Aussie v New Zealand final.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Frankly once our failures and the home nations went out l have lost my interest in it.

Re: Rugby Union
 

They're not all out (yet), den....

Re: Rugby Union
 

Yes l forgot about the Irish.:dunce:

Re: Rugby Union
 

And the Scots. Both haven't been eliminated. YET!

Re: Rugby Union
 

Nice to see you are following it so closely, den.....

Re: Rugby Union
 

l completely forgot about the Irish and the Scots but it was nice to see the French playing last night...;)

---------- Post added at 13:03 ---------- Previous post was at 13:01 ----------

When you get to my age senior moments become the norm.:)

Re: Rugby Union
 

At last.....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/34500716

Re: Rugby Union
 

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2015/11/1.jpg

Let's sack the most successful coach in the last 12 years without having a better replacement - what could possibly go wrong?

Re: Rugby Union
 

In terms of trophies Sir Clive was by far our most successful coach as he won the World Cup which sadly Stuart Lancaster could not even get past the first round when Wales a country much smaller then ours with half their team out injured went much further then us and that in my mind and many others is abject failure especially as we were hosting it as well.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/201...ustralia-japan

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rug...U-respond.html

Re: Rugby Union
 

Great performance by England today, beating scotland, feeling really proud of of the lads.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Not bad for openers but there is still plenty to work on for the future in my opinion.

Re: Rugby Union
 

So it is Ireland v Wales today, then next week it is:

France v Ireland
Wales v Scotland
Italy v England

Re: Rugby Union
 

Yes it should be a interesting game today in Ireland that's for sure Mark.

Re: Rugby Union
 

Fancy Italy to cause an upset next weekend

Re: Rugby Union
 

l hope not.:)

Re: Rugby Union
 

Italy beating England - I'd love to see that. Italy winning the tourney would also be good, expand playing with the right shaped ball over the prima donna's with the sphere.