Six Nations

[BoyBrumby]

My, Italy are average. Their ball handling is just woeful. They're getting a fair bit of the ball, but their use of it is even worse than I thought it would be.

Could get ugly second half.

 

[Scaly piscine]

England have managed to completely dominate the first 15 minutes yet be fortunate not to be level after Scotland miss a penalty (thanks to two mega-dumb pieces of play to set that penalty up). Hmm.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Bit of a curate's egg of a first half. We started & finished it well, but really looked directionless for about twenty minutes in the middle.

Farrell hasn't looked quite up to the pace of the game either; he's made a couple of decent off-loads, but always looks to take the tackle rather than hit the space.

On the plus side tho: Jonny's left boot still seems to work.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Odds on Jonny going to hospital to get his lip sorted out after the match and catching an MRSA superbug?

 

[Scaly piscine]

Heh @ that try being awarded.

 

[marc71178]

It's funny isn't it?

Not that long ago when things were going badly, we were screwed over by the video ref against one of the Southern Hemisphere sides.

This time, things going better and video ref drops a clanger to give us a try.

 

[Matteh]

Not a bad start. Wilkinson had a bit of a fairytale return.

 

[Anna]

F-ing awesome. Still many things to sort out, but what a promising start. Jonny playing like he's never been away, Harry Ellis making some fantastic breaks......bleurgh, my brain is a happy mush

 

[Pup Clarke]

Not a bad start. Wilkinson had a bit of a fairytale return.

Going over the top there.He had a try that was well a shocking decision to give it and he kicked his customery conversations and penalties.Hardly a "fairytale return".

 

[BoyBrumby]

F-ing awesome. Still many things to sort out, but what a promising start. Jonny playing like he's never been away, Harry Ellis making some fantastic breaks......bleurgh, my brain is a happy mush

Think that's about right. Some signs for encouragement, but lets not go nuts just yet. It is only the sweaties, after all.

It is so reassuring to have Jonny's left boot back tho. I'm always confident of him punishing any infringements in the oppo's half, which you couldn't honestly claim to be with Charlie H or even Goodey.

 

[Anna]

Going over the top there.He had a try that was well a shocking decision to give it and he kicked his customery conversations and penalties.Hardly a "fairytale return".

Erm, considering he's just played his first international for 2/3 years & lasted nearly all of the match after having played only 40mins of premiership rugby within the last few months, that's bloody awesome!

 

[BoyBrumby]

Erm, considering he's just played his first international for 2/3 years & lasted nearly all of the match after having played only 40mins of premiership rugby within the last few months, that's bloody awesome!

Yeah, awesome return for mine. Looked like the old Jonny & certainly didn't shy away from the physical stuff. A coupla times when he ended on the bottom of rucks I had my heart in my mouth, but he seemed to emerge unscathed, fat & split lip notwithstanding.

First England appearance since the 2003 WC final btw, although he did play for the Lions in 2005.

 

[Smudge]

although he did play for the Lions in 2005.

I'd say he'd rather forget that...

 

[BoyBrumby]

I'd say he'd rather forget that...

Ha, ha!

Yeah, fair call. Obviously the standard of oppo plays a part, but judging by 05 (which was the last time I saw him on the park) I really wasn't sure he had today's kind of performance still in him.

 

[Anna]

According to him, he's fitter & has more knowledge of the game than when he last pulled on an England shirt.....if that's the case, I can't wait to see how he improves in the next few matches.

 

[Matteh]

Going over the top there.He had a try that was well a shocking decision to give it and he kicked his customery conversations and penalties.Hardly a "fairytale return".

Scored the most points ever by a single person in the Calcutta Cup, good enough to be called 'fairytale' for mine.

 

[steds]

Shocking try. Still spewing.

 

[marc71178]

Like it really made a difference to the result.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Like it really made a difference to the result.

That's quite true, but it doesn't make it anymore right tho. It does really irk me when TMOs get such obvious shouts wrong. The fact is it didn't matter, but it could quite easily have done.

 

[Smudge]

You mean like Noon's "try" against us last year?

Although that evened things up for the ABs after Rocky Elsom was awarded a shocker against us earlier last year.

Not that your lot can take much solace from that, mind you.