6 Nations 2015

[Vocal Minority]

budfox said:

Yes I knew about playing until the ball goes dead, but I'd have thought that this "so much more sporting than football" game should have seen France keep the ball in play. Ah well, thanks for the answers.

The trouble is, the extension of that logic is, why can't they keep playing until England won? Seeing as they couldn't win themselves... Then where would that leave Ireland in terms of 'sportingness'

Even in an idealised gentlemanly version of sport, whether a team has done enough is that teams problem, and not something for their opponents to worry about

[Vocal Minority]

London424 said:

Joey Ramone said:

Worth pointing out that Vunipola's try wasn't a try. He dropped the ball over the line. Had England sneaked it at the end Ireland would have felt justifiably aggrieved.

Like the French bloke dropping it while being pushed out the back?

Indeed. Some go for you, some against. It all comes out in the wash.

[Derek Smith]

Kermit power said:

Derek Smith said:

Just got in from a great day's rugby watching. 'My' team won 69:12

I hope they kept a little back for Wimbledon next week. The poor little cherubs are likely to be in a bit of a sulk after today!!

London One South is getting rather tight at the top. It made standing in a freezing cold field without a hat well worth it!

The division is segregated. There's the top four, the ones in the middle and the three at the bottom.

It's been an odd season, with matches not going to form. Putting 69 points past a team two places below you is rather odd.

We've had a few injuries of late (my lad - captain, Will Smith, 2nd row, out for concussion early on and with an injured foot recently, his worst season for injuries ever) but today we fielded a side of mostly first picks, perhaps two or three promoted youngsters. The front five dominated and fed the backs. The pitch just about took a stud so our runners were up for it right to the end.

What happened to 'stoke today? Not been their season one way or the other. I like the club, their supporters are very welcoming, remarkably so. It's hurt Hove as the walk-over puts Twickenham a few points in front of the relegation battle.

We had no injuries today so might field a full strength team against Wimbledon. Teams at the top sometimes get a bit nervous. We've nothing to play for so are quite relaxed.

[larsson7]

It's already been said numerous times, but what a day of rugby, Ireland deserved to win the championship as the table doesn't lie, but as a Scotsman I was really disappointed by Scotland's display, yet another poor display, I keep hearing that we are improving but all I see is a team that makes the same basic mistakes game after game, and this has been happening for several years. Wales played superbly against an admittedly poor Italian team but will be a threat at the world cup especially if the stories of them training for the world cup rather than the six nations are true. I.E working much harder than they would normally during the six nations, leaving them a bit drained for it, but which should pay off come the world cup. As for England, very impressed by them, definitely have a chance of winning the world cup especially with home advantage, although ultimately it's difficult to bet against one of the southern hemisphere teams.

[Harding91]

MiniMan64 said:

Bloody hell, what a day...GET IN!!!

Absolutely nail biter at the end....if Hogg hadnt dropped the ball...Jesus!

Anyone else think we should have a rule change with points awarded for higher points wins? Bloody hell it made for exciting rugby today, what's the record for tries scored in a 6N day?

The points thing is used in all of union.

"4 points for a win. 2 points for a draw. 1 "bonus" point for scoring 4 tries (or more). 1 "bonus" point for losing by 7 points (or fewer)."

It wouldnt make sense in an international tourney with such few overall games though.

[Harding91]

Also i feel bad for Scotland, in all of their games they had some really promising play, and in my opinion were unlucky to lose to the Italians, had Parisse (Who is possibly our hemispheres best player) not have been playing for Italy it would've been a different game, but i think Scotland were unlucky not to win a single game.

Ireland deserved the overall win though, and although us English still made too many mistakes, we beat Wales at home and that last game tonight was bloody awesome.

Bring on the world cup for some more insanely good games

[Joey Ramone]

London424 said:

Like the French bloke dropping it while being pushed out the back?

He didn't drop it. Watch the close up. Downward pressure (if only by fingertips) and feet in touch. Legitimate try

England have some great players. They're just not a particularly intelligent team, key players are not consistent enough in their performances, and collectively they continue to make silly mistakes at crucial points. Ultimately, they're not ruthless enough.

[Robbo66]

Agree with above. England are still the team to beat, and so they should be with all their resources.

This issue is the intelligence of several key players. Brown, Head-Skull, Hartley, Marler, Nowell wouldn't pass the 11+.

Phillips for us, had similar issues upstairs, but he's gone and Wales have at last matured. Ireland has O'connell who is the best Captain out there.

Robshaw still looks lost. Gabbing to the ref with his hang dog expression, convinces no one. Johnson was far more intimidating.....and so were England as a result.

[Derek Smith]

I can't speak this morning. Always a sign of an enjoyable match. I would so loved to have been there.

[Road2Ruin]

Joey Ramone said:

He didn't drop it. Watch the close up. Downward pressure (if only by fingertips) and feet in touch. Legitimate try

England have some great players. They're just not a particularly intelligent team, key players are not consistent enough in their performances, and collectively they continue to make silly mistakes at crucial points. Ultimately, they're not ruthless enough.

He did drop it. The ball left his hand, even though for a fraction of a second, and then his fingers catch up and touch it just before or his the ground. Anyway it's done now and England through away far more than seven points against Scotland! !!

[Fishtigua]

Derek Smith said:

I can't speak this morning. Always a sign of an enjoyable match. I would so loved to have been there.

DS, as I said on another thread, I have never shouted at the telly so hard for a full afternoon before.

A great display from all the teams, that should shake-up the World Cup by the willywongas.

[IainT V6]

Not a big Rugby fan but found myself at Murrayfield yesterday to see Ireland pump Scotland - did get a good view of a Scottish try:



The late non-try happened at the other end and what a moment for the Irish - a few hoops tightened around us whilst they awaited the decision on that one! All in all, good craic and exciting finish to the Six Nations.

[Blackpuddin]

Incredible how the fixtures fell so perfectly for maximum drama. As noted above though it's a bit disturbing to see so much questioning of the ref, most disappointingly by England's captain but not restricted to him. Hope this isn't the beginning of a trend.

[anonymous-user]

Blackpuddin said:

Incredible how the fixtures fell so perfectly for maximum drama. As noted above though it's a bit disturbing to see so much questioning of the ref, most disappointingly by England's captain but not restricted to him. Hope this isn't the beginning of a trend.

I think, in general, the manner in which the captains question the ref is in line with tradition.

The thing that is becoming established is 'appealing'

One of the England lads had his arm pulled off the ball and he was gesticulating before the ball had hit the ground. That looked a bit off to me.

I miss the old punch ups if I am honest as well. And proper rucking.

And it feels like I am alone in this but although the situation was exciting I thought some of the rugby was shocking yesterday.

[irocfan]

I too miss the rucking - all these people "honest I can't move" knew they were going to be rucked out of the way they wouldn't hang around. As for appeals against foul play - it's happened for a long time and I guess in part is why we now have the TMO... who remembers this classic from Neil Back? Couldn't happen today - to be honest though I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQlJ8K7XjQc

[DocJock]

No, you are not alone in missing proper rucking.

I also miss penalising not-straight scrum put ins, lifting in lineouts being illegal.

I also feel players are getting away with stretching the "one movement to place the ball" after a tackle way beyond what can be considered fair. You see some players hit the ground, roll over thgeball and then push it back and even flip it up off the ground.

Referees need to be stricter in enforcing the laws.

[anonymous-user]

irocfan said:

I too miss the rucking - all these people "honest I can't move" knew they were going to be rucked out of the way they wouldn't hang around. As for appeals against foul play - it's happened for a long time and I guess in part is why we now have the TMO... who remembers this classic from Neil Back? Couldn't happen today - to be honest though I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQlJ8K7XjQc

That's a classic.
Neil describes that as a 'life lesson' for Stringer. 'Put it this way, I bet it never happened again so it proves he learned something'!

Being a forward was a dark art, and whilst there is still some mystery the TMO has changed the game.

[mike9009]

What a great day for six nations rugby! As a Welsh fan, there was plenty of shouting at the telly during the Italian game, scaring my two year old son and the cat!

I think Ireland were deserved winners, overall and there are a lot of 'what-ifs' left from the three games yesterday.

Someone else mentioned it earlier in the thread, but is it possible to incentivise every game in the six nations so that we get more drive in 'other' earlier games in the championship? Could an extra point be awarded for every five tries scored, for example?

It might also make the northern hemisphere teams more aggressive and competitive against southern hemisphere teams??

Mike

[9mm]

Joey Ramone said:

London424 said:

Like the French bloke dropping it while being pushed out the back?

He didn't drop it. Watch the close up. Downward pressure (if only by fingertips) and feet in touch. Legitimate try

England have some great players. They're just not a particularly intelligent team, key players are not consistent enough in their performances, and collectively they continue to make silly mistakes at crucial points. Ultimately, they're not ruthless enough.

Yet. But they have vast resources and they will finish closer to the title in this year's WC than Ireland, Scotland or Wales, just as they always have before.

[TheGreatSoprendo]

9mm said:

Yet. But they have vast resources and they will finish closer to the title in this year's WC than Ireland, Scotland or Wales, just as they always have before.

Run that one by me again...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Rugby_World_Cup#...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_Rugby_World_Cup#...