The Six Nations Thread
- Thread starter Infidel Castro
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Well, at least England won the IRB Sevens tourney down here at the weekend.
We beat the Kiwis in the final by scoring with the very last play of the match!
A bunch of folk from work went down to Wellington to watch it. They were not happy chappies today...
We beat the Kiwis in the final by scoring with the very last play of the match!
A bunch of folk from work went down to Wellington to watch it. They were not happy chappies today...
Infidel Castro
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Originally posted by Spacemunkie
Just heard the cricket score as well.
I\'ll get my coat.......
I wet myself when I heard it on the radio lol
Infidel Castro
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Aye, Wales v England, the one that gets the juices flowing. And for once we\'re massive favourites. I think we need to be careful, but if we play to our potential I can see a 20-point win. Now that\'s not something I\'m used to saying and I feel awkward even suggesting it, but Wales are bloody good. I can\'t escape that fact and it freaks me out
That Sevens result was amazing, and it turns out that even Wales beat NZ on the way through the groups. And Fiji! We lost to S Africa in the final of the Plate, and Scotland won the Shield. What the hell\'s going on! To be fair, England have been class at Sevens for nigh on 10yrs now and were World Champions a few years ago. That\'s an impressive achievement.
Work just texted me asking what time I\'m due in today. I had the pleasure of telling them I\'m not in till Wednesday and that they should update their rota. Booked it off over a month ago, diligent rugby fan that I am lol
That Sevens result was amazing, and it turns out that even Wales beat NZ on the way through the groups. And Fiji! We lost to S Africa in the final of the Plate, and Scotland won the Shield. What the hell\'s going on! To be fair, England have been class at Sevens for nigh on 10yrs now and were World Champions a few years ago. That\'s an impressive achievement.
Work just texted me asking what time I\'m due in today. I had the pleasure of telling them I\'m not in till Wednesday and that they should update their rota. Booked it off over a month ago, diligent rugby fan that I am lol
Infidel Castro
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Wales still to announce the team....
1pm it\'ll be....
Oh, the joy!
1pm it\'ll be....
Oh, the joy!
Infidel Castro
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I\'m not counting my chickens, dear boy! I\'ve seen the whole deck of cards fall down around our ears before now...
Beelzebrush
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Close match... we gave a decent account in terms of play. Stupidity and several ropey decisions cost us.
The ref didn\'t have the greatest of games
The Welsh didn\'t start singing until the 76th minute!
I\'d say on balance the Welsh just edged it - apart from the score that is
Ahh well... there\'s always next year at Twickers..
F**k I\'ve got a sore throat!
The ref didn\'t have the greatest of games
The Welsh didn\'t start singing until the 76th minute!
I\'d say on balance the Welsh just edged it - apart from the score that is
Ahh well... there\'s always next year at Twickers..
F**k I\'ve got a sore throat!
Infidel Castro
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I was worried at our lack of a plan B, but England, giving it their best, still lost. I know our lot can do better, and we seemed quite comfortable despite the England efforts, so I\'m not down about affairs. 2 out of 2 and a wonky French team to come...it might yet be our year!
paintingpauper
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Two good wins for Ireland. There is some hype in Ireland at the moment, with even talk of Grand Slams and final match winner take all games with Wales.
I\'ve been bitten two many times by this team to buy into any of that stuff though. A good win against France when they gave us arces of space to run into, which in turn made us look amazing. It was the opposite against Italy yesterday. Ireland were very nearly beaten up and if it wasn\'t for two intercept tries and a try from a quickly taken line-out the score would have looked a lot different.
England in Croker next, god only knows whats going to happen.
I will say though that Kidney seems to have gelled the team together and we do have some serious operators with our 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 13, and 15 all putting pressure for a starting place down in SA this summer.
I\'ve been bitten two many times by this team to buy into any of that stuff though. A good win against France when they gave us arces of space to run into, which in turn made us look amazing. It was the opposite against Italy yesterday. Ireland were very nearly beaten up and if it wasn\'t for two intercept tries and a try from a quickly taken line-out the score would have looked a lot different.
England in Croker next, god only knows whats going to happen.
I will say though that Kidney seems to have gelled the team together and we do have some serious operators with our 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 13, and 15 all putting pressure for a starting place down in SA this summer.
Infidel Castro
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I agree with those numbers there, though O\'Gara flatters to deceive. Pressure cripples him. Looking forward to the last weekend
paintingpauper
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As a proud Munster man, I have to stick up for O\'Gara.
There has been plently of times in his Munster career, where he has managed to pull a late kick out of the bag to win a game. Two years ago from the half way line in awful conditions against Lecester after he had run his mouth about Irish players being just as good as English players being the one that comes most readily to mind. So when it comes to pressure kicks I think he can handle it.
On the other hand though I agree with you in open play. He is well known to be a relatively weak tackler and can be spooked by getting hit, hence teams focusing on the 10-12 channel. I think though that this is a common enough fault with most teams. Rarely is an outhalf a big tackler by their nature, the only one that comes to mind is Wilkinson.
The point I am trying to make is how well O\'Gara plays in open play is often dependent of who is playing open side and inside centre. If they can help him out with the big hits in his channel O\'Gara can make a big difference with his tactical kicking. Which he is the best at in the six nations IMO.
Oh that post went a bit long!
There has been plently of times in his Munster career, where he has managed to pull a late kick out of the bag to win a game. Two years ago from the half way line in awful conditions against Lecester after he had run his mouth about Irish players being just as good as English players being the one that comes most readily to mind. So when it comes to pressure kicks I think he can handle it.
On the other hand though I agree with you in open play. He is well known to be a relatively weak tackler and can be spooked by getting hit, hence teams focusing on the 10-12 channel. I think though that this is a common enough fault with most teams. Rarely is an outhalf a big tackler by their nature, the only one that comes to mind is Wilkinson.
The point I am trying to make is how well O\'Gara plays in open play is often dependent of who is playing open side and inside centre. If they can help him out with the big hits in his channel O\'Gara can make a big difference with his tactical kicking. Which he is the best at in the six nations IMO.
Oh that post went a bit long!
Infidel Castro
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Hey, nothing wrong with long rugby posts, miladdo! I take on board everything you say about O\'Gara, but I would suggest that what he does so well for Munster he hasn\'t always achieved for Ireland or the B&I Lions. When he\'s in charge on the pitch though, it looks so easy. The tactical kicking-game and place-kicking are his strengths.
paintingpauper
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Agreed, but that can be said about quite a few of the munster players. Irish papers after last Novembers internationals were asking the same question. Why do Munster players seem to try harder when wearing red rather that green? It got to the stage where some people were saying that Munster players would like to win the HC rather than the SN. I think it came to the stage where O\'Connell came out and said it was stupid question to even ask, highlight off rugby career playing for Ireland, young boy dreaming of pulling on the jersey, etc, etc, etc.
I don\'t think Munster players would want to win the HC over the SN\'s. They are pro\'s for god sake. They should want to win everything. Ireland has not won a Six Nations since 1984 and a grand slam since 1948. This year I do honestly think we have as good a chance of winning it as anyone, and a lot of that is down to the coach. Kidney\'s record is beyond discussion, not many coaches have two HC\'s to his name.
I don\'t think Munster players would want to win the HC over the SN\'s. They are pro\'s for god sake. They should want to win everything. Ireland has not won a Six Nations since 1984 and a grand slam since 1948. This year I do honestly think we have as good a chance of winning it as anyone, and a lot of that is down to the coach. Kidney\'s record is beyond discussion, not many coaches have two HC\'s to his name.
Infidel Castro
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Aye, be fair, Kidney could well be the man to get Ireland over the line. I\'m keen to see what they do against England, as suddenly England look like they have a platform and a marker to use after the way they played against Wales. It\'ll be tough for Ireland, but if your lot keep their discipline it could well be 3 from 3!
Donga, get inolved lad
Donga, get inolved lad
Infidel Castro
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France v Wales? On a Friday? At 8pm GMT?
WTF!
It\'s a nice incentive to finish work though. Going to have a few ales tonight.
I\'m going to put my neck on the line here and say that if Wales can use the scrum as well as they have been (the French scrum has appeared weak this turnie) and also crank up the tempo to the level they can perform at, France are really going to struggle and I can see a win by two scores. France have a short turnaround from their domestic league games (playing on Sunday ffs!) and are low on confidence (their game-plan is all over the place). The back-row is quite lightweight as well. In fact, I just don\'t think France are that good at the moment. The poistional changes and personnel changes are baffling.
I am aware I\'ve probably jinxed Wales now.
WTF!
It\'s a nice incentive to finish work though. Going to have a few ales tonight.
I\'m going to put my neck on the line here and say that if Wales can use the scrum as well as they have been (the French scrum has appeared weak this turnie) and also crank up the tempo to the level they can perform at, France are really going to struggle and I can see a win by two scores. France have a short turnaround from their domestic league games (playing on Sunday ffs!) and are low on confidence (their game-plan is all over the place). The back-row is quite lightweight as well. In fact, I just don\'t think France are that good at the moment. The poistional changes and personnel changes are baffling.
I am aware I\'ve probably jinxed Wales now.
green stuff
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So true ... then again we\'ve had David vs Goliath moments in the past.
Here\'s to you Rev :beer:.
Infidel Castro
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Aye, but normally with you guys in the role of Goliath lol :beer:
