Six Nations 2018
Discussion
Sheets Tabuer said:
b
ks the train back last week was hilarious, everyone had a great time. It was better than the game.
That's not saying much though. ks the train back last week was hilarious, everyone had a great time. It was better than the game.I often watch internationals at the club and we've got quite a mix of nationalities. Loads of Welsh (I think they were there to discover how to play rugby properly. I think it was useful for them) and Irish. Although I didn't go today, I bet the Welsh were shoeing a few of the English. In fact, I know they would be.
There would be a comment or two from the English, perhaps welcoming an emerging nation to the big time, but not much I'm afraid.
At the recent World Cup I went to see the USA against Samoa. On the way out I saw a little group of Americans - you can tell them if you look carefully, look for silver onesies with red, white and blue and stars on them - and congratulated them on their team's play. We started chatting and one asked if it was always as friendly before, during and after the matches. They seemed surprised. I wondered if it was because it wasn't like that for the sport they followed in the USA or they had heard rumours. They didn't seem to believe that the fans mixed in 'normal' international matches.
The worst conduct I've seen at a game, at least off the pitch, was when the away team brought their own alcohol to the match. Just no couth.
Derek Smith said:
That's not saying much though.
I often watch internationals at the club and we've got quite a mix of nationalities. Loads of Welsh (I think they were there to discover how to play rugby properly. I think it was useful for them) and Irish. Although I didn't go today, I bet the Welsh were shoeing a few of the English. In fact, I know they would be.
There would be a comment or two from the English, perhaps welcoming an emerging nation to the big time, but not much I'm afraid.
At the recent World Cup I went to see the USA against Samoa. On the way out I saw a little group of Americans - you can tell them if you look carefully, look for silver onesies with red, white and blue and stars on them - and congratulated them on their team's play. We started chatting and one asked if it was always as friendly before, during and after the matches. They seemed surprised. I wondered if it was because it wasn't like that for the sport they followed in the USA or they had heard rumours. They didn't seem to believe that the fans mixed in 'normal' international matches.
The worst conduct I've seen at a game, at least off the pitch, was when the away team brought their own alcohol to the match. Just no couth.
Looks like my mate was right then, I laughed it off at the time.I often watch internationals at the club and we've got quite a mix of nationalities. Loads of Welsh (I think they were there to discover how to play rugby properly. I think it was useful for them) and Irish. Although I didn't go today, I bet the Welsh were shoeing a few of the English. In fact, I know they would be.
There would be a comment or two from the English, perhaps welcoming an emerging nation to the big time, but not much I'm afraid.
At the recent World Cup I went to see the USA against Samoa. On the way out I saw a little group of Americans - you can tell them if you look carefully, look for silver onesies with red, white and blue and stars on them - and congratulated them on their team's play. We started chatting and one asked if it was always as friendly before, during and after the matches. They seemed surprised. I wondered if it was because it wasn't like that for the sport they followed in the USA or they had heard rumours. They didn't seem to believe that the fans mixed in 'normal' international matches.
The worst conduct I've seen at a game, at least off the pitch, was when the away team brought their own alcohol to the match. Just no couth.
I found this earlier, I understand now, it's just banter:
Dear Eddie,
We want tell you how sorry we are, how sorry all of us who finished in the top 3 are.
We’re sorry you’re the saviour of English rugby, which gave you your platform to make derogatory comments against us. With that in mind, we’re really, really sorry you finished fifth.
We’re sorry the next games of in the Autumn internationals could present you with a 3-0 whitewash, or six key defeats. We’re so, so sorry because it wasn’t like this a year ago.
We’re sorry you didn’t know the microphone was still on.
We’re sorry Wales only has a population of 3 million and we’re so small and stty.
You were right, of course you were right because you’re you, if you combine Wales, Scotland and Ireland, we’re still nearly 40 million behind England. So collectively, we’re sorry about being so small. We’d tell you to your face, but France is in between us in fourth and we can’t see past them.
We’re sorry you promised your corporate friends you’d beat scummy Ireland this year, it’s a shame you can’t deliver. Sorry. Oh, if you’re wondering where Owen Farrell is, you’ll find him in Johnny Sexton’s pocket.
We’re sorry you’ll start next year’s campaign in scummy Ireland. We’re sorry they’ll be so motivated to beat you. Again.
We’re sorry you have Mike Brown, that’s not fair at all.
We’re sorry you’ve hampered your own chances of either having the Lions job, or at least having any credibility throughout the Nations if you do get it.
Most of all, we’re sorry how embarrassing all of this is for you and how embarrassing it is to watch you not realise.
Best wishes,
The scummy, the stty and the Scottish (where’s our f**king nickname?).
Dear Eddie,
We want tell you how sorry we are, how sorry all of us who finished in the top 3 are.
We’re sorry you’re the saviour of English rugby, which gave you your platform to make derogatory comments against us. With that in mind, we’re really, really sorry you finished fifth.
We’re sorry the next games of in the Autumn internationals could present you with a 3-0 whitewash, or six key defeats. We’re so, so sorry because it wasn’t like this a year ago.
We’re sorry you didn’t know the microphone was still on.
We’re sorry Wales only has a population of 3 million and we’re so small and s
tty.You were right, of course you were right because you’re you, if you combine Wales, Scotland and Ireland, we’re still nearly 40 million behind England. So collectively, we’re sorry about being so small. We’d tell you to your face, but France is in between us in fourth and we can’t see past them.
We’re sorry you promised your corporate friends you’d beat scummy Ireland this year, it’s a shame you can’t deliver. Sorry. Oh, if you’re wondering where Owen Farrell is, you’ll find him in Johnny Sexton’s pocket.
We’re sorry you’ll start next year’s campaign in scummy Ireland. We’re sorry they’ll be so motivated to beat you. Again.
We’re sorry you have Mike Brown, that’s not fair at all.
We’re sorry you’ve hampered your own chances of either having the Lions job, or at least having any credibility throughout the Nations if you do get it.
Most of all, we’re sorry how embarrassing all of this is for you and how embarrassing it is to watch you not realise.
Best wishes,
The scummy, the s
tty and the Scottish (where’s our f**king nickname?).Joey Ramone said:
The English system of the national union having to bargain with club owners for access to players and having no control or influence over where, positionally, they play, or indeed being able to rest them at will, will hugely damage the national side's ability to ever reach their potential. It's infuriating to watch the negative effects of that structure playing out on the pitch
Well I for one am glad the National team can't ruin the clubs. Look to how the 'unfashionable' cricket teams have fared....When 'professionalism' was first being considered, I remember crap talk of merging Bath/Bristol/Glos & Leicester and Northampton, to ensure there would be 4 London teams, and two up north. That showed how much of a grip the 'rugby elite' had on reality.
A few years later, England were World Champs on the back of successful clubs like Leicester, Bath, Gloucester, Wasps.....
Fat Fairy said:
Well I for one am glad the National team can't ruin the clubs. Look to how the 'unfashionable' cricket teams have fared....
When 'professionalism' was first being considered, I remember crap talk of merging Bath/Bristol/Glos & Leicester and Northampton, to ensure there would be 4 London teams, and two up north. That showed how much of a grip the 'rugby elite' had on reality.
A few years later, England were World Champs on the back of successful clubs like Leicester, Bath, Gloucester, Wasps.....
England won the world cup not because of English club rugby, but for the simple fact that the team comprised a freakishly fortunate collection of individuals: the best captain England have ever had, a perfectly balanced back row, possibly the best cross code success in the game on the wing, an incredibly talented 12, and the greatest kicking 10 the game has seen. None of that was to do with club rugby per se, as subsequent years have shown. The Premiership is blighted by constant tensions between club and country, and the ever present threat of relegation for half of the teams encourages turgid, conservative and largely one dimensional rugby. It is no coincidence whatsoever that the two most successful international teams benefit from a system whereby the national side takes absolute priority. By all means celebrate English club rugby. But a large part of it explains why the richest rugby nation, with the greatest human and financial resources, perennially underachieves in tournament rugby, and why we just got thumped at home by a tiny country where rugby union trails far behind Gaelic football and hurling in the national psyche. When 'professionalism' was first being considered, I remember crap talk of merging Bath/Bristol/Glos & Leicester and Northampton, to ensure there would be 4 London teams, and two up north. That showed how much of a grip the 'rugby elite' had on reality.
A few years later, England were World Champs on the back of successful clubs like Leicester, Bath, Gloucester, Wasps.....
Joey Ramone said:
England won the world cup not because of English club rugby, but for the simple fact that the team comprised a freakishly fortunate collection of individuals: the best captain England have ever had, a perfectly balanced back row, possibly the best cross code success in the game on the wing, an incredibly talented 12, and the greatest kicking 10 the game has seen. None of that was to do with club rugby per se, as subsequent years have shown. The Premiership is blighted by constant tensions between club and country, and the ever present threat of relegation for half of the teams encourages turgid, conservative and largely one dimensional rugby. It is no coincidence whatsoever that the two most successful international teams benefit from a system whereby the national side takes absolute priority. By all means celebrate English club rugby. But a large part of it explains why the richest rugby nation, with the greatest human and financial resources, perennially underachieves in tournament rugby, and why we just got thumped at home by a tiny country where rugby union trails far behind Gaelic football and hurling in the national psyche.
Gaelic football and hurling?Really?
Is it that bad for England?
Up to 2 in the world and long unbeaten streak last year under EJ. Started the 6N with realistic high hopes. Beat Italy then wales.
Then they lost to a resurgent Scotland who had the game of their lives. It seems then they got rattled and the tournament fell apart after that.
England have done pretty well under EJ, it’s just one tournament that’s gone badly and the points were all very close after Ireland. Wales and Scotland both lost 2 England and France lost 3.
Obviously England should be finishing higher than 5th but it’s not the end of the world. I think it will give them a needed shake up after a long spell of doing well.
Up to 2 in the world and long unbeaten streak last year under EJ. Started the 6N with realistic high hopes. Beat Italy then wales.
Then they lost to a resurgent Scotland who had the game of their lives. It seems then they got rattled and the tournament fell apart after that.
England have done pretty well under EJ, it’s just one tournament that’s gone badly and the points were all very close after Ireland. Wales and Scotland both lost 2 England and France lost 3.
Obviously England should be finishing higher than 5th but it’s not the end of the world. I think it will give them a needed shake up after a long spell of doing well.
El stovey said:
Is it that bad for England?
Up to 2 in the world and long unbeaten streak last year under EJ. Started the 6N with realistic high hopes. Beat Italy then wales.
Then they lost to a resurgent Scotland who had the game of their lives. It seems then they got rattled and the tournament fell apart after that.
England have done pretty well under EJ, it’s just one tournament that’s gone badly and the points were all very close after Ireland. Wales and Scotland both lost 2 England and France lost 3.
Obviously England should be finishing higher than 5th but it’s not the end of the world. I think it will give them a needed shake up after a long spell of doing well.
Lol that’s an answer I’ve used so many times for Wales when playing the SH sides “oh we only lost by a few points”. It matters not the game was lost and the winning side takes foot off the gas. Up to 2 in the world and long unbeaten streak last year under EJ. Started the 6N with realistic high hopes. Beat Italy then wales.
Then they lost to a resurgent Scotland who had the game of their lives. It seems then they got rattled and the tournament fell apart after that.
England have done pretty well under EJ, it’s just one tournament that’s gone badly and the points were all very close after Ireland. Wales and Scotland both lost 2 England and France lost 3.
Obviously England should be finishing higher than 5th but it’s not the end of the world. I think it will give them a needed shake up after a long spell of doing well.
It also shows that frankly nothing has changed really for England as the same old issues they have had since Clive W left re-emerges and it was back to business as usual.
Now Wales - it was a dreadful game but somehow France seemed utterly inept or stupid in the penalty kicking decisions. France should have won but Wales hung on - one of those Ill take the W and move on.
Welshbeef said:
Lol that’s an answer I’ve used so many times for Wales when playing the SH sides “oh we only lost by a few points”. It matters not the game was lost and the winning side takes foot off the gas.
It also shows that frankly nothing has changed really for England as the same old issues they have had since Clive W left re-emerges and it was back to business as usual.
Agreed. England forwards were clueless as usual, but the utter lack of direction or inspiration in the backs is woeful. Once the ball gets past Farrell, the quality of passing is shocking. Joseph, Brown and May in particular have genuinely limited skills in this respect. The one outside back on the field who passes like a fly half is Daly, and he was miles out in the wing, while another, Slade, wasn't even in the squad. The Premiership teams spend all their time lifting tin at the expense of developing clever rugby players.It also shows that frankly nothing has changed really for England as the same old issues they have had since Clive W left re-emerges and it was back to business as usual.
El stovey said:
Is it that bad for England?
Up to 2 in the world and long unbeaten streak last year under EJ. Started the 6N with realistic high hopes. Beat Italy then wales.
Then they lost to a resurgent Scotland who had the game of their lives. It seems then they got rattled and the tournament fell apart after that.
England have done pretty well under EJ, it’s just one tournament that’s gone badly and the points were all very close after Ireland. Wales and Scotland both lost 2 England and France lost 3.
Obviously England should be finishing higher than 5th but it’s not the end of the world. I think it will give them a needed shake up after a long spell of doing well.
It's the age old problem with many commentators and critics of England. Any defeat is seen as a disaster that requires urgent action to rectify. When England win they are accused of 'grinding it out' and playing poorly.Up to 2 in the world and long unbeaten streak last year under EJ. Started the 6N with realistic high hopes. Beat Italy then wales.
Then they lost to a resurgent Scotland who had the game of their lives. It seems then they got rattled and the tournament fell apart after that.
England have done pretty well under EJ, it’s just one tournament that’s gone badly and the points were all very close after Ireland. Wales and Scotland both lost 2 England and France lost 3.
Obviously England should be finishing higher than 5th but it’s not the end of the world. I think it will give them a needed shake up after a long spell of doing well.
As you say, England's done well under Jones. Other 6N teams have changed their style of play to cope and it's been successful. Major restructuring is not required, nor is a change to what the relationship is between the international and club sides.
Someone mentioned that rugby isn’t the main sport in other 6N countries (other than Wales of course) as if it is the main one in England.
It’s a game, that’s all. The best bit about it is the lower levels, 3 downwards, where matches are played on the pitch then replayed in the bar afterwards. The relegation and promotion is the fun part. Whilst it is being played, a match is the most important thing in one’s little world. When it’s over, the price of a pint takes over.
The England defeats and the way normally lower teams played is the best thing to happen to the 6N for some time. It could reenergise it.
Expecting your team to win every match is, I think, a pain. My club’s most exciting season was the last one when we lost 16 of the first 17 matches. Compulsive viewing. When we finished 11 points clear of the relegation battle it was a great victory.
It’s just 30 blokes with a ball. Anything more involved than that and it gets complicated.
A 6N spectators will talk about, for different reasons, for some time. At least it will keep the talk I the club house off Brexit.
It seems odd when, after having just come off one of the great runs in NH rugby history, phrases like England's old problem and referring to CW as the great time. The run was bound to come to an end.
Stella Tortoise said:
I found this earlier, I understand now, it's just banter:
Dear Eddie,
We want tell you how sorry we are, how sorry all of us who finished in the top 3 are.
We’re sorry you’re the saviour of English rugby, which gave you your platform to make derogatory comments against us. With that in mind, we’re really, really sorry you finished fifth.
We’re sorry the next games of in the Autumn internationals could present you with a 3-0 whitewash, or six key defeats. We’re so, so sorry because it wasn’t like this a year ago.
We’re sorry you didn’t know the microphone was still on.
We’re sorry Wales only has a population of 3 million and we’re so small and stty.
You were right, of course you were right because you’re you, if you combine Wales, Scotland and Ireland, we’re still nearly 40 million behind England. So collectively, we’re sorry about being so small. We’d tell you to your face, but France is in between us in fourth and we can’t see past them.
We’re sorry you promised your corporate friends you’d beat scummy Ireland this year, it’s a shame you can’t deliver. Sorry. Oh, if you’re wondering where Owen Farrell is, you’ll find him in Johnny Sexton’s pocket.
We’re sorry you’ll start next year’s campaign in scummy Ireland. We’re sorry they’ll be so motivated to beat you. Again.
We’re sorry you have Mike Brown, that’s not fair at all.
We’re sorry you’ve hampered your own chances of either having the Lions job, or at least having any credibility throughout the Nations if you do get it.
Most of all, we’re sorry how embarrassing all of this is for you and how embarrassing it is to watch you not realise.
Best wishes,
The scummy, the stty and the Scottish (where’s our f**king nickname?).
Utterly cringeworthy.Dear Eddie,
We want tell you how sorry we are, how sorry all of us who finished in the top 3 are.
We’re sorry you’re the saviour of English rugby, which gave you your platform to make derogatory comments against us. With that in mind, we’re really, really sorry you finished fifth.
We’re sorry the next games of in the Autumn internationals could present you with a 3-0 whitewash, or six key defeats. We’re so, so sorry because it wasn’t like this a year ago.
We’re sorry you didn’t know the microphone was still on.
We’re sorry Wales only has a population of 3 million and we’re so small and s
tty.You were right, of course you were right because you’re you, if you combine Wales, Scotland and Ireland, we’re still nearly 40 million behind England. So collectively, we’re sorry about being so small. We’d tell you to your face, but France is in between us in fourth and we can’t see past them.
We’re sorry you promised your corporate friends you’d beat scummy Ireland this year, it’s a shame you can’t deliver. Sorry. Oh, if you’re wondering where Owen Farrell is, you’ll find him in Johnny Sexton’s pocket.
We’re sorry you’ll start next year’s campaign in scummy Ireland. We’re sorry they’ll be so motivated to beat you. Again.
We’re sorry you have Mike Brown, that’s not fair at all.
We’re sorry you’ve hampered your own chances of either having the Lions job, or at least having any credibility throughout the Nations if you do get it.
Most of all, we’re sorry how embarrassing all of this is for you and how embarrassing it is to watch you not realise.
Best wishes,
The scummy, the s
tty and the Scottish (where’s our f**king nickname?).
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