Official Rugby Thread

[Molehill]

If they take the ball into a few more rucks they only need to avoid mistakes for 90 seconds. By giving England the ball they have to avoid mistakes until England make one. It gives up control of the clock, we could easily be facing 50 phases of attack. Plus England train drop goals, so even letting them into our 22 could be enough to cost us the game.

I think it's a 50/50 call. The gap was only 2 points so any penalty given away in the 22 was likely to be decisive. Ireland would normally back their defense to hold a team out from the halfway line without giving away penalties. However, on this occasion they just came up against an inspired England team who to be honest had been the better side for the 80. Ireland had grabbed the opportunities that came their way (as good sides do), but England had created far more.

Really nice to see the continued improvement of Italy. Barring that match in Dublin this must already be close to their best season yet.

I think it's dangerous to judge a 6 Nations too closely straight after a World Cup. You quite often get slightly unusual results. The pre tournament favourites could easily end up with the wooden spoon if Wales beat them today. And frankly, but for some bizarre refereeing in Edinburgh, they'd be all but nailed on for it.

 

[Furball]

And frankly, but for some bizarre refereeing in Edinburgh, they'd be all but nailed on for it.

France should be sitting on 0 wins and 0 draws were it not for refereeing nonsense. Both Scotland and Italy were done out of wins against France through frankly baffling decisions.

 

[Uppercut]

As a more general conclusion I think the buzz about Ireland needed punctured somewhat. This 6N they’ve looked good, but a step back from the WC side, with the large points margins more down to poor opposition than Ireland playing unstoppable rugby.

It’s a bit of a red flag when pundits start treating average performances in wins as evidence that a team is special. ‘They weren’t even at their best and still won by X points, aren’t they amazing’ kind of thing. The truth was they looked good but beatable, and it turns out they were.

 

[Uppercut]

Can’t have been too many better 6N weekends than this one.

 

[ripper868]

I was late to turning this one on, but it's been a ding dong back n forth game so far.

 

[ripper868]

Love that from La Garroc.

 

[Ali TT]

Entertaining match thanks to the huge flaws in each team

 

[ripper868]

France swap out props - "down from the beanstalk comes Romain Taofifenua" is a quality bit of commentary. 6'8 and 135kg, it's a fair call.

 

[Ali TT]

France swap out props - "down from the beanstalk comes Romain Taofifenua" is a quality bit of commentary. 6'8 and 135kg, it's a fair call.

French pack at the start averaged 19st a man.

 

[ripper868]

France finally have a clear no try called just that.

 

[ripper868]

French pack at the start averaged 19st a man.

Yep it's not really a small mans game up front anymore.

 

[Ali TT]

Yep it's not really a small mans game up front anymore.

I looked back at the pack weights from the 2003 WC final - only Phil Vickery was over 19st. It's not even a big man's game any more.

 

[ripper868]

Impossible to stop a man that big and that low from that close. Absolute behemoths this French Pack. Last 10 minutes could be fun though if Wales can get some of that broken play stuff happening again.

 

[ripper868]

Hard to kick it over a big man as well it seems, terrible passage for Wales.
Love a big man try like that though.

 

[Ali TT]

Slipping away for Wales now but they should take something from the first 60 minutes, just over-powered since

 

[BoyBrumby]

It's been the tightest tournament for a while; not-at-all hilarious Leekist crapness notwithstanding.

Going into the final weekend there's a possibility that Scotland could win, securing the triple crown and (mathematically, at least) the title, but could equally lose and finish fifth.

 

[andruid]

Acknowledging the game is dead in Aus and only watched/considered by those with 15 surnames and a cutlery draw up their proverbial, the Reds and Waratahs Games I've caught this year have been pretty damn good.

Edmed for the Tahs looks assured and like he knows how to run a backline, shame he shanked the kick to win it on Friday.
Lynagh for the Reds also looks assured and confident.

Probably still transfers into a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of the Lions next year, but some small positive glimmers are showing.

Less said about Rebels the better.

Elite Southern Hemisphere Rugby just doesn't feel right sans the 'Tri-Nations/Super XV' branding.

 

[howitzer]

George North to retire from internationals after the weekend game against Italy. He's been a great servant to both Wales and the Lions and his carry of Folau will be burnished on my memory for years to come.

 

[_Ed_]

Brain injury from head knocks discovered in late Blues halfback Billy Guyton

Billy Guyton, the former halfback who died last year, had a brain injury likely connected with repeated head knocks, scientists have found.

www.rnz.co.nz

 

[ripper868]

Skysports having a shocker here. Reds v Rebels advertised and shown on the guide, click in to it and its a Super W replay of Rebels vs Force...


EDIT: Seems enough folks had a whinge via Elon, regular programming restored.