RBS Six Nations 2007

quote:

especially when the wind and rain are driving hard at Lansdowne Rd...*

*Obviously Ireland are playing at Croke Park this year due to the re-development of Lansdowne Rd, but you know what I mean!

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by IanGtoo:

quote:

Originally posted by Chillkram:
Hopefully your boys will have recovered from the hammering they're going to take from England by then, Ali!

Mark

Aye, right !

quote:

originally posted by arf005

...aye.....just like last year.......

Sorry, chaps?




Mark

ehem, old news now...... shuffle, shuffle

I didn't see the whole game but from what I saw the presence of Super-jonny transformed the attitude of your other 14, and maybe of our 15 lads too!

A grudging well-done - but the video ref is blind.

Ian

quote:

Originally posted by IanGtoo:
A grudging well-done - but the video ref is blind.

Ian

Agreed, Ian - it was never a try in a month of Sundays and you are right about Super-Jonny, he has made a difference. With due respect to your boys, though, Ireland and France will be a different proposition for us and I am not sure we can cope with them yet.

Of course the old bravado will come out nearer the time, though; "We're going to thrash the pants off them, etc etc!"

My sister-in-law called me after Saturday's game, which was good of her considering I wouldn't answer the phone after Scotland beat England last year! Made me feel a bit ashamed really!

Good luck for the rest of the tournament, though. I hope Scotland do well as my son counts himself scottish (much to my dismay!) and likes to see them win (especially against England).

Regards

Mark

...sorry I missed your gloat Mark - the forum was down....

I recorded the match, watched bits of it round at friends while it played, thought we were in for a good scrap when we got the first try, but it all went horribly wrong after that.....funnily enough I haven't watched the recorded match!!
Wilko is a kicking machine.....

I hope we've raised our game for this sat too - we've got tickets!!

Cheers,
Ali

Jonny was very good, very good indeed.

I'm carefully optimistic, but the Italy game will tell us more - their forwards will be more up for it, and the Ireland game will confirm a revival, or be a reality check.

France, as always, are the unpredictable ones to watch....

Wilko was almost spookily impressive but I thought England were still fairly poor (against a woeful Scottish team). Stuffing the ball up your shirt and trundling up the pitch is all well and good but will not defeat the better teams. The pack was slow to the breakdown, and rarely generated quick ball, I also hardly remember them carrying much ball in open play. Is Corry really the best No 8 in the land?

I think they will need to develop significantly to beat Ireland or France. I hope they can get more confidence and cohesion against Italy.

Ireland had the look of champions, not playing that well but taking every chance on offer and defending with vigour. Good game that was!

Bruce

Agreed Bruce. One swallow does not make a summer and all that. But a win is a win and we'll take them wherever we can at the moment.
Italy next and another win should keep the ball rolling nicely and maybe give an opportunity for some more fluidity to develop. At least the England players drew the defender before releasing the pass this time, unlike the last few tests where they have 'got rid' asap and allowed the defence to drift across nice and easily.

I think you're right that Ireland will win the championship, though.



Mark

Well, another victory against Italy, but a pretty poor performance and it puts the England 'revival' in to perspective. Italy really deserved something more from the game and a more accomplished team of finishers may well have beaten England with that amount of territory.

Well done to Scotland for beating Wales. Wales look much better than England defensively and we could struggle to beat them.

Let's hope we get a more expansive and open game tomorrow from the two favourites.

Mark

Two pretty poor games I thought. The Southern hemisphere guys must be looking forward to the World Cup more with every passing game.

During England v Italy I cannot recall a single off load or line breaking run. Perhaps I missed it by nodding off...

The pack still lacks urgency, Ellis completely failed to add any drive or penetration and the wide players had little to use. Poor stuff.

Ireland v France is up. Croke Park looks very intimidating.

Let's hope this is a better game than yesterday's.

Mark

Certainly was a better game than either of yesterday's. Very exciting, especially second half, despite relatively few points.

Commiserations to Ireland who should have won if they had kept their concentration just for a few more seconds.

Both of these teams will dispense with England with some ease, I think.

Mark

France for the Grand Slam?

Ireland for the Triple Crown?

It's a shame, Robert. I thought you guys could have won the Grand Slam this year.

Regards

Mark

That's the second match Ireland have played that's had me clinging on to the edge of my seat - last week's match against Wales could have gone either way also.

Brilliant entertainment, shame about today's result.

Commiserations to Ireland but what a game. International sport as it should be, a roaring crowd, passion, skill and committment, ebb and flow on the pitch.

Shame about the ref, far too quick with the whistle at times. He always seems a bit too matey too, and at times he actually seemed to get involved in rucks; batting players out of the way as they were about to infringe. Someone will clock him one day!

Not enough to spoil the entertainment-or influence the result.

Bruce

All ready for the six nations to resume tomorrow? England have the toughest challenge they have faced in a long time to get anything more than a severe tonking at Croke Park tomorrow in my opinion.

Let's hope Jonny is fully fit and in the form he was in against Scotland. Billy Whizz is out which is a shame after his display last Sunday when he was fantastic for Sale against Wasps. New cap David Strettle takes his place and he is a bit quick so it will be interesting to see how he does.

I'm not too impressed with the choices at 2, 4, 8, 9 or 17 though!

Mark

Looking forward to Scotland vs Italy tomorrow. Hopefully the boys can prevail but Italy are due some reward for their recent improvement. Let it not be tomorrow.

Ian (trying to remain neutral in the Ireland vs Engerland tie but not doing too well so far ... )

quote:

Originally posted by IanGtoo:
Looking forward to Scotland vs Italy tomorrow. Hopefully the boys can prevail but Italy are due some reward for their recent improvement. Let it not be tomorrow.

Ian (trying to remain neutral in the Ireland vs Engerland tie but not doing too well so far ... )

Come on Ian, the Irish won't mind you singing along to 'Swing Low'!

Mark

There's only one match that matters tomorrow, as my friend Kieran and I surely know... Guess...

James

Not taking the bait today then, James?

oh s**t! 18 seconds....

oh s**t 4 mins .....

unbelievable 6 mins ....