BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: MikeL2
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 09:18 AM

Hi

I was out all week-end watching football matches so I missed the rugby live.

Just watched on my recordings -:

England v Italy game I found entertaining in an odd curious way !!
As expected Italy were very strong in the scrums and at first England struggled here. As the game progressed England began to get better ball from the set pieces but failed to put it to any constructive use.

A mad few minutes just before half time we gifted the Italians two tries.

Two substitutions including the hapless Ben Youngs improved the speed and penetration in the second half. I think England just about deserved to win despite Italy missing some easy penalty chances.

The test will come in a fortnight with Wales at Twickers.

Wales V Scotland

A good game to watch - in the first half with both sides trying to attack but both defences very sound it was very even but the Welsh three-quarters always looking more dangerous.

Two sin-bins made the difference when Wales punished Scotland heavily for their misdomeanours.

To their credit Scotland did not cave in and even managed a try and were still threatening at the end.

I have watched the "knock-on try" many times in slo-mo and I can't agree with the TV referees. That was a try !! When even the usually biased Johnathon Davies says it was a try then it must have been !!

It looks as though the Scotland v Italy game will determine the wooden spoon but I can't decide at this stage who will be Champions.

Cheers

Mike

PS By the way Arthur all the players afterwards said that the Italian pitch was perfectly playable even in the "snowy" areas. Soft under foot with no frost there.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 13 Feb 12 - 07:43 AM

Laidlaw (try, conv, 2 pens) had a good game at least. I will draw a veil over the first 15 minutes of the second half. Otherwise a good 55 minutes with some brilliant defensive play on both sides. Wales looked very sharp with ball in hand and must now fancy the triple crown.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: gnu
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 07:10 PM

Now I am REALLY POd. I decided to watch the USA Sevens and force myself to get into it. I did. I was walking on my treadmill and yelling at great plays and not so great plays. Watched two games in a row. I was getting into it. Looking forward to the final. Done. Over. No championship game on TV. ?

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: Paul Burke
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 03:21 PM

Knock on or not?

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 11:29 AM

Quarterback sneak to Greg Laidlaw!

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: David C. Carter
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 11:05 AM

Wales 10-3 Scotland.

No problem gnu.

David

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 09:52 AM

It's a couple of degrees colder in Paris than it is in London, and seeing it's not Green Bay and they don't wear padding, the referee called the game off on safety grounds - some parts of the ground were rock hard.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: gnu
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 09:03 PM

Postponed? Is that what P - P means? What happened?

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 05:28 PM

We got 'Country Music at the BBC' followed bu a documentary about Pompeii, so I went on the iPlayer and watched last night's game between Edinburgh and the Ospreys in Gaelic. I'd already watched the Wales Scoland Under 20 twice - once live (I'm the guy with a very prominent St Andrew's Cross on my chest just to the right of the stand), then again this morning in Welsh! At least tomorrow the roof'll be closed in Cardiff, and we've got neither Parks nor Godman at No 10, so we've got a chance!

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 05:10 PM

I hope the 80000 get theri money back

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: gnu
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 03:24 PM

Oh, yeah... thanks for your time, help and concern, Dave. Rather ungentlemanly of me not to ackowledge your post and your PM.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: gnu
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 03:23 PM

SOBs 2!. It ain't rugby... it's commercial fishing in the far east even tho the guide says rugby. And, now... oh, nevermind.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: David C. Carter
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 01:56 PM

gnu-France/Ireland is on:france 2 at 20.50 French Time.



David

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: gnu
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 01:46 PM

FOUND IT! On a French channel. Gotta be better than the Newcastle U stomping I stopped watching.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 01:33 PM

Well done England in what can be considered not very good conditions. Surprised there weren't more injuries.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: gnu
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 12:32 PM

SOBs!!! I have been waiting to watch IRE v FRA all week... instead, I get USA Sevens...   grrrr

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: Micca
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 08:04 AM

Nigel, The France V Ireland Game is on BBC2!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: paula t
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 03:02 PM

Some very interesting matches coming up this weekend!I'm not on top form at the moment, so I'll enjoy curling up in front of the telly with a "hot drink" (Purely for medicinal purposes of course!) and watching them all!Fantastic!

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 07:01 AM

Okay, getting the beers in ready for the weekend.
Saturday:
BBC1 16:00 Italy v England
BBC1 20:00 France v Ireland
Sunday:
BBC1 15:00 Wales v Scotland.

Note, Times given are times of the Kick-off (give or take 2 minutes) TV programmes normally start 1/2 hour before.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 09:28 AM

'Scotland have made two changes to their starting line-up and a further three on the bench for Sunday's RBS 6 Nations Championship match against Wales in Cardiff.

The alterations in the starting team following last weekend's Calcutta Cup defeat see a first start for Edinburgh Rugby captain Greig Laidlaw in the number ten shirt, replacing Dan Parks, while his club mate Geoff Cross comes in at tight-head prop for the unavailable Euan Murray.

On the bench, three uncapped players have been called-up, all rewarded for recent form in the colours of both Glasgow Warriors and Scotland A – prop Ed Kalman, 20-year-old stand-off Duncan Weir and 19-year-old full-back Stuart Hogg. Weir and Hogg both scored fine individual tries in Scotland A's 35-0 win against their English counterparts last week.

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson said: "Congratulations to Greig on his first start. He is a gifted footballer who is acclimatising very well to the differing demands of the stand-off position from having spent most of his career at scrum-half.

"Having lost last weekend, I believe the time is right to move on and look to develop our emerging talent at stand-off.

"I've always stressed the importance of the A team and the part that both Duncan Weir and Stuart Hogg played in the game at Netherdale last week is another reason for my continued excitement and belief in Scottish rugby."

Laidlaw, 26, nephew of another of Jed-Forest's favourite sons, the former Scotland and Lions scrum-half, Roy Laidlaw, has also graduated from the ranks of Scotland A and Scotland 7s.

In the pack, Geoff Cross, who made his debut against Wales three years ago, is promoted from the bench and given the opportunity to display the form that has been such a part of Edinburgh's run to the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup.


Scotland team (sponsor RBS) to play Wales in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Sunday 12 February, kick-off 3pm

15 Rory Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 27 caps, 6 tries, 30 points

14 Lee Jones (Edinburgh Rugby) 1 cap
13 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby) 30 caps, 1 try, 5 points
12 Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 61 caps, 8 tries, 40 points
11 Max Evans (Castres) 25 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

10 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) 3 caps
9 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 56 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh Rugby) 61 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) 54 caps, 2 tries, 10 points CAPTAIN
3 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby) 9 caps
4 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 17 caps
5 Jim Hamilton (Gloucester) 35 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester) 24 caps, 1 try, 5 points
7 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) 12 caps
8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps

Substitutes

16 Scott Lawson (Gloucester) 30 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
17 Ed Kalman (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped
18 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) 37 caps, 1 try, 5 points
19 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 33 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
20 Mike Blair (Edinburgh Rugby) 76 caps, 7 tries, 35 points
21 Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped
22 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped

Referee: Romain Poite (France). Assistant referees: Peter Fitzgibbon and Simon McDowell (both Ireland). TMO: Giulio de Santis (Italy)'

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 09:11 AM

"I presume at the end of the 6 nations" He's retired with immediate effect.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: GUEST,Dazbo at work
Date: 08 Feb 12 - 07:52 AM

Hasn't Parks announced his retirement? (I presume at the end of the 6 nations - missed the beginning of the report on the TV)

In a way the Scotland England game reminded me ot the 1990 match - England were by far the better of the two teams but on the day could not find a way to win.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 10:37 AM

Bad news for Sunday - Ruairidh Jackson is back and playing for Glasgow, so we're going into the Millenium Stadium with Cardiff's second (or is that third now Ben Blair's back for the Blues) string kicker!

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 07:16 AM

Aye with Scotland's only other home game being against France then I feel we really need to win that. Don't fancy them having to win in Italy to avoid the wooden spoon! Still as well as suffering with my own team I have Wales (many a Borderers second choice team)to shout on too!

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 03:40 AM

Of course, with 6 teams it's now a case that a team gets 3 Home games & 2 Away games (or vice versa) on alternating years.
Wales have started with an Away win against Ireland & have 3 Homes & 1 Away left to play.
Optimism abounds!

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 05:29 PM

England didn't exactly create any chances either, but Farrell reminds me a lot of his Dad (I used to have to climb over Andy at lunchtime - Wigan's a small town). Wales would have won earlier if they'd let Halfpenny take all the kicks, though Ireland, especially with Tommy Bowe, are always a threat.

Anybody else notice that Stuart Lancaster is the spitting image of Mikael Birkkjaer (the Killing II & Borgen)?

I'm intending to go to the Wales v Scotland U20 on Friday - hopefully Duncan Weir will be playing, though if he's not it'll probably because he's been promoted in place of Parks!

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: Les from Hull
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 02:29 PM

Muddied Oafs!

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 01:48 PM

"how can you have over 70% of possession and 3 good breaks and come away without a score?"

Because you are not good enough.

Come on England.

I am not biased :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 01:45 PM

I'm glad you qualified the Six Nations title. I thought you were talking about the Huron-Iroquis-Onedaga-etc. alliance.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: Raedwulf
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 12:41 PM

The English beat the Horrible Scots. Does anything else matter?

;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 11:20 AM

"how can you have over 70% of possession and 3 good breaks and come away without a score?"

Simple - have Parks at No 10. He's reverting to his old habits of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. He's not even the Blues' furst choice kicker nowadays, and while he may be a really nice guy who gives 110% for the team, what really matters is the ability to control the game. Apart from anything else, he has a tendency to go for the drop goal as soon as he gets in range rather than waiting until it's obvious that a try isn't going to be scored.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 08:16 AM

The Wales-Ireland match was a brilliant game of end-to-end rugby, with particularly the Welsh build up where the pick and drive was sterling work. Ireland have to take care with spoiling the rucks though. If Priestland had got his early kicks in the game would have never been in doubt.

As for Scotland, words fail me, how can you have over 70% of possession and 3 good breaks and come away without a score? By committing stupid errors repeatedly, not least passing back to Parks on the goal line instead of first reciever clearing. I feel another season of frustration coming on

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: MikeL2
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 06:24 AM

Hi Nigel

I agree with your comments but do not share your "slight" Welsh bias. lol

The Wales v Ireland game was a very good one to watch with the final result always in doubt - Wales just about earned their win. The Welsh backs always looked more penetrative and only some great cover play and tackling by the Irish kept them at bay.

Wales too had some magnificent cover defence with some really physical tackling.

Scotland v England was not as high a standard as the other game but was none-the-less exciting in it's own way. Scotland had the best of the game but could not convert that into tries. England for it's part defended valiantly and particularly in the second half showed some glimpses of attacking flair. The inexperienced England side will only improve IMHO but both these teams will struggle to win another game unless they do.

Both sides lack a class fly half to dictate play and create opportunities for their three-quarters.

As it was a bad week-end for weather I did not go to London to watch Man United at Chelsea so I watched all three games which I enjoyed.

It speaks volumes for the Welsh/Ireland game that I chose to watch the end of it in preference to switching to the Chelsea/Man U game!!! - Mind you I did have it being recorded live as I watched the rugby.

I look forward to the coming games and think that the Championship is going to a close thing between France/Wales and Ireland.

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2012
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 06:02 AM

Okay, first weekend over, and a good start to the competition.
France 30 V Italy 12 went as expected. Italy appeared to start well, but fizzled out.
Scotland 6 v England 13. Decent, predictable rugby.
Ireland 21 v Wales 23. To my mind the match of the weekend. Full-on edge of the seat stuff. (I'm Welsh, I admit I may show a slight bias)

All the matches were shown on BBC1 so should be available to view on iPlayer.

Next Saturday:
Italy v England
France v Ireland

Next Sunday:
Wales v Scotland

Cheers

Nigel