BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021

Subject: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 08 Feb 21 - 05:40 AM

A good start to the new season with three excellent matches this weekend.
Italy 10   France 50.    A not unexpected win for France
England 6 Scotland 11. A surprise result, overturning the expectations, and Scotland's first win at Twickenham for 38 years (19 matches)
Wales 21 Ireland 16.    A result which went against the pundits views, but would always be a close one to call. Wales benefitted by Ireland being reduced to 14 men for most of the game due to foul play. I would have liked to have seen a higher score, but Wales seem to have relaxed a little too soon when they saw they would be playing against 14 men, and allowed Ireland to take control of the remains of the first half.

Next weekend:
Saturday:
England v Italy k.o. 14:15 (ITV Sport)
Scotland v Wales k.o. 16:45 (BBC Sport & S4C)
Sunday:
Ireland v France k.o. 15:00 (ITV Sport)

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 08 Feb 21 - 07:30 AM

England just could not get it together against a very strong Scotland. Very disappointed but well done Scotland.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: MikeL2
Date: 08 Feb 21 - 09:45 AM

Hi Nigel.

Spot on..... I watched the England v Scotland game.

Scotland played much better deserveved their good win.

Back to the drawing board for

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Allan Conn
Date: 08 Feb 21 - 12:07 PM

It is indeed the first time Scotland have won the actually match at Twickenham for a long time - but it is actually the second time in a row that England have lost the Calcutta Cup at Twickenham. Because Scotland were the holders when they played two years ago they only needed a draw to retain the trophy.

Saying that I went into near apoplexy when Russell went for the drop goal when they were winning by less than a try and conversion with just a minute to go. Rather than just keeping it tight for another few moments. They got away with it though.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 08 Feb 21 - 12:11 PM

With Covid19, HIA, HIV, etc. at the Six Nations rugby union, anyone for tennis?! http://davidfranks.blogspot.com/p/extras-on-football-and-tennis.html

Or "One Rugby?"

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 11 Feb 21 - 05:31 AM

Allan,
If you're looking for a technicality, England didn't 'lose' the Calcutta cup two years ago. It hadn't (immediately) previously been in their possession. They failed to regain it.
Just as two years ago Scotland didn't 'win' it. They retained it.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Feb 21 - 06:02 AM

Nigel, you ould pedant you. Allan is using the words in the way sports fans use them. There's nothing wrong with that. Your frequent sniffy dismissal of the vernacular is positively Spock-like at times.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 11 Feb 21 - 09:24 AM

Steve,
In case you didn't read it all, Allan was being pedantic about my statement A surprise result, overturning the expectations, and Scotland's first win at Twickenham for 38 years (19 matches), and replacing it with a statement which was of dubious accuracy.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Allan Conn
Date: 11 Feb 21 - 11:56 AM

I clearly said it was the first time Scotland had won at Twickenham for ages. Just pointed out that they did retain the trophy there two years ago in what was one of the most astonishing comebacks in interactional rugby. So it hasn't been all England successes in recent years anyway. They may not have lost the match but they lost in their attempt to win the Cup. Or failed if that is the preferred word to lost. Both sides drew but it was a better draw for Scotland in that they retained the trophy.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 11 Feb 21 - 12:21 PM

Although England were the stronger team, and as such should have been in a much better position to win, their discipline in the breakdown was appalling conceding penalty after penalty both in attack and defence, which Scotland punished England.

France v Italy was the result of a forgone conclusion, although Italy did show some promise for the first few minutes.

The Wales/Ireland match was the best match of the weekend.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 11 Feb 21 - 02:41 PM

My mrs reckons Wales were playing against tough opposition - the English referee.. and Ireland...

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 12 Feb 21 - 06:31 AM

I would hope English referees are unbiased. Wales have got one again this weekend against Scotland. Maybe any bias will be against Scotland for beating England last weekend.

In fact, for the remaining 12 games the appointed referees are from the following countries:
England      (4 matches)
France       (4)
South Africa (2)
Scotland    (1)
Ireland      (1)
Round 1 last weekend had two English referees & 1 Scottish, making the predominance of English referees even greater, covering 6 out of 15 possible matches during the competition.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 12 Feb 21 - 06:39 AM

I don't know about English ones but:

I am an entertainer,
and I sing for charity.
For Oxfam and for Shelter,
for those worse off than me.
Bangladesh, Barnardos Homes,
and though I don't get paid,
It does one good to do some work
for things like Christan aid.

But of all the concerts that I've done
for the homeless overseas,
The one I did that pleased me most
was not for refugees.
Was for a home in Ireland
that stands amongst the trees -
The Sunshine Home in Dublin
for blind Irish referees!

(Max Boyce)

What was the game that gave reason for the verse?

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 12 Feb 21 - 07:19 AM

Twickenham 1974. Wales lost to England.
Referee John West (Ireland) disallowed a try by J.J. Williams which would have made all the difference.

(Details from "I was there!" Max Boyce)

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 12 Feb 21 - 07:34 AM

Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Allan Conn
Date: 12 Feb 21 - 10:58 AM

This a great clip of Henry Douglas (the father of sports commentator Jill Douglas) signing about the refereeing of a rugby match. Not an international but a Hawick v Gala match which is an intense rivalry like Scotland v England. Filmed at Denholm and Real Time's Kenny Speirs (about the only Galashiels born man there) gets a bit of a leg pull from Henry. Great fun...    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF6Dda5Muso

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: The Sandman
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 01:02 AM

will ireland beat france

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 06:06 AM

will Ireland beat France
We'll see this afternoon. If Ireland win it will mean Wales are the only team on two wins out of two.
Yesterdays results:
England 41: Italy 18
Scotland 24: Wales 25

Next weekend is a 'break' weekend, with games resuming
Saturday 27 Feb:
Italy v Ireland    14:15 kick off (ITV)
Wales v England 16:45 kick off (BBC & S4C)
Sunday 28 Feb
France v Scotland 15:00 kick off (BBC)

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 03:16 PM

Sooner or later Wales will have to play against 15 men
[not including the referee]...

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 04:23 PM

Wales did play against 15 men for the start of both their matches.
It is not the fault of Wales that both the opposing teams had a man given a red card.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 14 Feb 21 - 04:39 PM

What I've learnt from 40 years with my Welsh mrs,
is she has a cunning knack for antagonising me so much
I will eventually react and tell her to eff off..

So she can then enjoy a smug self righteous sulk..


My theory is the Welsh team have developed this trait
into winding up individual opposition players behind the ref's back,
but making sure the ref is looking when the rival team member snaps and retaliates...????????????

Red Card...!!!

Such is the Wales v England warring conflict dynamic in our house...

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 01 Mar 21 - 06:08 AM

Results from Saturday:
Italy 10    Ireland 48
Wales 40   England 24
France v Scotland (match postponed)

Next fixtures (Covid permitting)
Saturday 13 March:
Italy   v   Wales         14:15   ITV, & S4C (commentary in Welsh)
England v   France   16:45   ITV
Sunday 14 March:
Scotland v Ireland    15:00   BBC

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 01 Mar 21 - 11:04 AM

My theory is the Welsh team have developed this trait
into winding up individual opposition players behind the ref's back,
but making sure the ref is looking when the rival team member snaps and retaliates...????????????

Could be, that might explain the number of penalties given against England on Saturday. Or it could just be a failure to understand and follow the rules of the game.
If referees are going to concentrate on a particular aspect of the game (such as high & dangerous tackles) they usually ensure that all teams know at the start of the season in order that they can improve their playing and avoid penalties/cards.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 11 Mar 21 - 11:06 AM

A bit of a quandary this coming weekend. Of course I want, and expect, Wales to beat Italy. But England v France?
It would be nice to see Wales going into the last weekend as the only side with four wins out of four matches (ok. France may not have played four games by that point). But to see France lose would mean hoping for an England win.
Hmmmmm. Difficult    ;)

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Raggytash
Date: 11 Mar 21 - 11:11 AM

One question Nigel, where were you born. If Wales I can see your reluctance to England winning anything.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 11 Mar 21 - 11:41 AM

Cardiff.
"To be born Welsh is to be born not with a silver spoon in your mouth, but with a song in your heart."

Played rugby for:
Bishop of Llandaff High School,
Old Cantonians
Llandaff North
Llandaff
and Lloyds Bank

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Raggytash
Date: 11 Mar 21 - 12:15 PM

Ta

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 13 Mar 21 - 02:39 PM

Wales now 4 wins from 4 games. Setting up France v Wales (next Saturday) as a crunch match.
France lost to England today, so now have 2 wins out of 3 games. Their match against Scotland is still to be played (when??).
But France could equal Wales if they beat us next week, and win their outstanding match. Interesting times.

Today's results:
Italy         7    Wales   48
England 23    France 20

Tomorrow:
Scotland v Ireland (kick off 15:00)

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Raggytash
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 11:02 AM

Once again I am watch Italy in the 6 Nations tournament and once again I am asking the question as to why they should play in this competition.

It is clear they are not capable of competing at this level and after 21 years they have not noticeably improved.

I would think it is time they were dropped.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 05:56 AM

Of course it's not proper rugby like they play in Swinton and Salford. Too many men for a start ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Raggytash
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 08:21 AM

Cracking game last night.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 11:19 AM

Yes, "cracking game". I was hoping Wales would get the Grand Slam, or at least win the championship, last night. Now we've got to wait for the deferred game.

Subject: RE: BS: Six Nations (Rugby) 2021
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 27 Mar 21 - 08:14 PM

Well wasn't that a very exciting finish to this year's Six Nations?! A few drams were poured last night up here en Ecosse!
We had been at the 1999 France v Scotland game in a very new Stade de France, this being the last time that Scotland had beaten France while playing away. Another statistic someone came up with: the last time Scotland beat both England and France in away fixtures in the same 5 or 6 Nations season was........1926!

And well done Wales!