6 Nations - Round 4

[pete]

Wales 18 Italy 18 at 69min

Wales are shocking. Italy missing some kley penalties. Bergamasco having great game in the centre. Come on Italy!

Ireland v Scotland & France v England to follow

[pete]

Wales 18 Italy 18. FT

Best chance Italy will have to win away. Pez missed too many kickable penalties.
Wales were a mess. Italy deserved to win. I'd fancy them to beat Scotland.

[Block G Raptor]

Ireland win 15-9
looking good now roll on twickers and the triple crown

[Soko]

How did we not score a try? How Scotland were within a score of winning that game at the end is a little worrying.

[Dodge]

One of those games. On a dry day and with a bit of luck we'd have scored 4/5 tries. Good performance on the back of the welsh display. if England lose tomorrow we'll beat them handily next week

[pete]

I had handicap double & with italy coming up trumps Irealnd let me down badly (needed 4 more points).

Scotland had great defense but didn't know what to do when they had possession.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Scotland play catenaccio style rugby :D

[Superhoops]

Scotland play catenaccio style rugby :D
Only effective if you do not lose!:) Frank Hadden is no Helenio Herrera!!

[finlma]

I don't know if anyone took my tip on Wales to only win 1 game but its a nice winner for me now by the looks of things. 11/1 as well.

It was a good win on Saturday - the weather was muck and didn't make for good rugby. I won't miss the old Landsdowne - left the place soaken wet and freezing cold on Saturday.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Only effective if you do not lose!:) Frank Hadden is no Helenio Herrera!!

This is true. It did work a treat for them against England though!

[tricky_colour]

Wales 13 France 3 (nearly half time)

Will being interesting if Wales win. It means Ireland can win the
championship if they beat England or if England win by less
then 13 points (if my maths is correct!!).


France just scored Wales 13 France 6.

[Block G Raptor]

Wales 13 France 3 (nearly half time)

Will being interesting if Wales win. It means Ireland can win the
championship if they beat England or if England win by less
then 13 points (if my maths is correct!!).


France just scored Wales 13 France 6.

your maths is flawed we need at least a draw if france lose

[sligoman]

France winning now:(. Bout 5 mins left.

[tricky_colour]

Looks like France have won anyway.

[sligoman]

21-16 now:o. Fair play to Wales all the same though, they're not giving up easily.

EDIT: France win. Ireland need to win by 34 points to win 6 nations. Roll over England, please!:D.

[tricky_colour]

I have whacked 25p on Ireland to win by 36 points at 125-1
(only need 34 though, guess I made the wrong type of bet)

[tricky_colour]

England 5 points up already I guess that is 25p down the drain:mad:
(last of the big spenders:D )

[sligoman]

England 5 points up already I guess that is 25p down the drain
(last of the big spenders:D )We got a try now, all's not lost yet;) :D. O'Gara missed the conversion, 5-5.

[tricky_colour]

Well it looks like my 25p is lost and another 25p bet which I thought
was placed to late but suddenly reappeared on my slip when it was clear it was dead.
Still have £2 on Ireland to win at 6/5 hanging by a thread :eek:

[tricky_colour]

YEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

I'm in da money :D :D

[tricky_colour]

Hopefully.....

[tricky_colour]

Phew!!:D

[Dodge]

Good performance by Ireland. 33 in a row v England? is this the first time its ever happened?

[Plastic Paddy]

Good performance by Ireland. 33 in a row v England? is this the first time its ever happened?

Jesus Dodge, I knew we've been on a hot streak lately where England are concerned but please tell me I haven't missed the last three decades...! :eek: :D

:ball: PP

[Superhoops]

Great fighting performance today but before we get carried away let's remember a few things about this season's six nations:

- this is the worst England team for at least 10 years
- the French are still champions but really had an indifferent season
- Wales, last season's champions, self destructed with the worst example of incompetence by a governing body
- we only just beat Italy with a try which should not have been allowed
- we only just beat England with a try which shuld not have been allowed

Still, a triple crown is always welcome!:D :D

[Soko]

Great fighting performance today but before we get carried away let's remember a few things about this season's six nations:

- this is the worst England team for at least 10 years
- the French are still champions but really had an indifferent season
- Wales, last season's champions, self destructed with the worst example of incompetence by a governing body
- we only just beat Italy with a try which should not have been allowed
- we only just beat England with a try which shuld not have been allowed

Still, a triple crown is always welcome!:D :D



Who cares?

[pete]

Worst 6 Nations in my memory. England v Ireland probably highest quality game of the tournament.

[Dodge]

There's been worse. Its just that we were ****e at the time so we didn't really care.

[pete]

I suppose i should say worst 6 Nations in the professional era.

France won the Championship & only really tried in the England match. Would be hard job to come up with team of the championship.

[Superhoops]

I suppose i should say worst 6 Nations in the professional era.

France won the Championship & only really tried in the England match. Would be hard job to come up with team of the championship.
You could put up a good argument for Italy who, without actually winning a game showed they are now competitive and not just whipping boys.

[Macy]

Good result for the tournament, given that we didn't really perform. Ground out the results when playing poorly which you have to give the benefit of the doubt to the management. Next year we'll know whether real progress being made heading towards the world cup. We should at least be given a rest from the Anti-O'Sullivan stuff coming out of Munster for a while now.

The fact that so few Irish teams have won the Triple Crown shows it is still significant, and lets not forget that it's only recently that it wouldn't have been accompanied with a share of the championship. Points difference only a relatively recent introduction.

[pete]

I think the positive signs from an irish perspective was the emergence of Flannery & Leamy. Unfortunately Flannery was an accident as O'Sullivan failed to play him in the autumn internationals. Leamy has however been a good choice at no.8

On the downside - no backup for O'Gara, no backup for Stringer. No left winger (Bowe failed & Trimble looks lost). D'Arcy does not impress & maybe Trimble worth a go there. Hayes & O'Kelly are on their last legs. Other than that everything looks good.

Eventhough Wales were terrible i'd fancy them for have a better World Cup than Ireland. O'Sullivan badly needs to give game time to a few more newbies between now & the WC.

[Hither green]

Great fighting performance today but before we get carried away let's remember a few things about this season's six nations:

- the French are still champions but really had an indifferent season


Though the same can be said about Ireland really, played largely below par in most of the games but still came joint top of the table.

Highlight of the season for me was the second half vs the French, that was the only exciting rugby we played.

[Soko]

On the downside - no backup for O'Gara, no backup for Stringer. No left winger (Bowe failed & Trimble looks lost). D'Arcy does not impress & maybe Trimble worth a go there. Hayes & O'Kelly are on their last legs. Other than that everything looks good.



How does Trimble look lost? He's had very little do apart from receive hopsital passes and man his wing. Unlike Bowe, he hasn't let the side down. D'Arcy needs to get back to full fitness and sharpness, he looks like he's a little big and needs to get his pace back.

[Macy]

D'Arcy needs to get back to full fitness and sharpness, he looks like he's a little big and needs to get his pace back.
Very much like O'Driscoll for a while after his comeback from injury.

I'd agree on Trimble, he was just unfortunate to be outside of Murphy on so many occasions. Never mind Bowe, Murphy was Irelands worst player of the tournament imo. Cost us the championship (and the slam really) with his display against France (both 1st and 2nd half). Wasn't much better the rest of the tournament, despite what was written in the press, and should've been dropped for Dempsey.

[Dodge]

Would be hard job to come up with team of the championship.

BBC...

15: Thomas Castaignede (France):
The impish Saracen missed the opening two games through injury but his creative spark came to his country's rescue against Italy and also played his part in the wins over England and Wales.
Honourable mention: Hugo Southwell (Scotland)



14: Shane Horgan (Ireland):
An under-rated performer for years who had his day in the sun against England, with two match-winning moments that secured a Triple Crown, even if the first owed something to a touch judge's error.
Honourable mention: Chris Paterson (Scotland)


13: Florian Fritz (France):
Brian O'Driscoll had his moments, especially the match-winning play at Twickenham, but in Yannick Jauzion's absence, Fritz lit up a subdued French backline. Scored the title-clinching try in Cardiff.
Honourable mention: Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)


12: Mirco Bergamasco (Italy):
One of the finds of the tournament, the younger Bergamasco finally gave Italy's backline a cutting edge, scoring three tries in five matches. A revelation after switching from the back three.
Honourable mention: Gordon D'Arcy (Ireland)


11: Christophe Dominici (France):
Sean Lamont started with a bang, Shane Williams dazzled again briefly, while Andrew Trimble showed promise for Ireland. But the diminutive Dominici showed he is still capable of unlocking defences.
Honourable mention: Sean Lamont (Scotland)


10: Charlie Hodgson (England):
Stephen Jones, Ronan O'Gara, Ramiro Pez and Dan Parks all had their moments, and Hodgson's first half in Paris was a nightmare. But his first three outings showed his class, if not those around him.
Honourable mention: Stephen Jones (Wales)


9: Dwayne Peel (Wales):
The only player from our 2005 team to make this year's. His class shone like a beacon in adversity before injury intervened, but Mike Blair and Mike Phillips also both showed immense promise.
Honourable mention: Mike Blair (Scotland)


1: Duncan Jones (Wales):
A lack of outstanding candidates, but the blond half of Wales' hair-bear bunch can be proud of his efforts. Showed handling skills and energy in the loose and part of a solid Welsh scrummaging effort.
Honourable mention: Andrew Sheridan (England)


2: Jerry Flannery (Ireland):
Another star to emerge during the tournament. Risen from Munster reserve to Ireland first choice in the space of a few months. Combined line-out accuracy with plenty of oomph in the loose.
Honourable mention: Raphael Ibanez (France)


3: Carlos Nieto (Italy):
Missed the final game against Scotland through injury but the bearded, Argentine-born prop had already made his mark. Showed scrummaging power and considerable energy in the tight exchanges.
Honourable mention: Julian White (England)


4: Marco Bortolami (Italy):
Italy's captain continues to deliver optimum performances in a hard-nosed pack that can more than hold its own in the highest company. A line-out specialist and driving force behind the Azzurri.
Honourable mention: Steve Borthwick (England)


5: Paul O'Connell (Ireland):
Good to see the Munster tyro back to his rampaging best after a mixed Lions tour and a spell out through injury. Consistently disrupted opponents' line-out and led the rip-roaring comeback in Paris.
Honourable mention: Jerome Thion (France)


6: Jason White (Scotland):
No contest. White's big hits and driving play were a major catalyst in Scotland's revival. A man of few words, but team-mates listen when the captain speaks. Should have been on the Lions tour.
Honourable mention: Simon Easterby (Ireland)


7: Ali Hogg (Scotland):
A close call with the resurgent David Wallace, but Hogg's bravura display against England will live long in the memory. A breakdown merchant of great athleticism, and another Lion in the making.
Honourable mention: David Wallace (Ireland)


8: Simon Taylor (Scotland):
Denis Leamy got better as the tournament went on and Martin Corry impressed in adversity, but Taylor made up the best back-row unit. Has footballing skills and the brain to go with a granite defence.
Honourable mention: Denis Leamy (Ireland)

[pete]

The backline especially difficult to choose as more a case of eliminating those not worthy & see whats left.

How could Hodgson & Fritz get picked. Peel only played 3.5 games like Hodgson. No idea how D'Arcy got an honourable mention... Easterby as honourable mention?

:rolleyes:

[joeSoap]

15. Hugo Southwell-Scotland. Unspectacular but consistent and solid. More than be said for any other 15.
14. Shane Horgan-Ireland. Cos he embarrasssed the English on their own patch.
13. Florian Fritz-France. Scored the tries, made the tackles.
12. Mirco Bergamasco-Italy. Powerful, agressive and creative throughout.
11. Aurelien Rougerie-France.Scored vital tries, always looked a threat.
10. Ramiro Pez-Italy. Always got his backs trying to go forward.
9. Peter Stringer-Ireland. The tournaments most improved player.
8. Denis Leamy-Ireland. Grew in stature every game he played. Super try in Twickenham.
7. David Wallace-Ireland. Can't remember him making a single mistake in 5 games.
6. Nyanga-France. What a powerhouse.
5. Bortolami-Italy. Imperious in the lineout throughout, very impressive.
4. Paul O'Connell (captain). No comment required.
3. Carlos Nieto-Italy. Savage scrummager.
2. Jerry Flannery-Ireland. The find of the tournament.
1. Marcus Horan-Ireland. We might have beaten the french if he was there. We certainly wouldn't have been killed up front early on like we were otherwise.

[Over the post]

It has been a poor six nations but I think that's mainly due to all the teams being in transition.
France look a step above the rest and were worthy winners despite not really getting their act together at any stage of the tournament. For Scotland and Italy the only way was up and they've both shown marked improvements. Wales and England need to get their act together big time, they have a lot of off-field problems to iron out. Neither country have a stable management in place.
All the coaches are looking ahead to the World Cup and I think we have developed better than most. O'Sullivan comes in for a lot of stick with his unadventurous selection policy and perseverance with a style of play even when it doesn't seem to be working, but he's obviously got a medium to long-term plan and is sticking to it.

[Macy]

1. Marcus Horan-Ireland. We might have beaten the french if he was there. We certainly wouldn't have been killed up front early on like we were otherwise.
:eek: If he'd put on 3 stone for the game maybe.