Not sure how many here are rugby fans but possibly the greatest rugby tournie outside the World Cup starts tonight with Wales v England.
As a Scot the Six Nations really is the closest we get to winning anything in sports - and given our recent performances that's saying something.
England are much improved on years past with a stunning new ability to score tries. They and France will surely duke it out for the championship. Scotland are the form team given the Autumn internationals, Ireland are good and experienced but the core is now dangerously old. Can they hold together for one more title tilt? The Welsh are suffering from a variety of injuries and Gatland's Rex Ryan impression.
And Italy are in there too, for teriffic away trips for the fans of the other five nations...
So rugby fans of SoSH, are you able to watch? If so - who ya got?
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Six Nations 2011
Started by
kosh2262
, Feb 04 2011 08:17 AM
9 replies to this topic
#2
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Posted 07 February 2011 - 11:36 AM
Week one is in the bag and here is a somewhat biased view and a look forward to Week 2.
FYI those of you with BBC America can view all of this year's games for the first time I believe live. Certainly the commentators here in the UK were pimping it.
Wales 16 v England 26
Big brother took on the small brother and showed them who's boss. Two tries from poacher extraordinaire Chris Ashton and one in reply for the Welsh from Morgan Stoddart in what was an excellent game. The Welsh pack fronted up surprisingly but their backs couldn't break through a wet paper bag. Much work ahead for Wales - for England they could be on the cusp of a Grand Slam. Their next three games are at home before a final day's away trip to Dublin.
Italy 11 v Ireland 13
Poor old Italy - taking the lead against a lacklustre and creaking Irish team with less than 10 minutes to go a famous victory was on the cards. But a missed conversion; a muffed kick-off and a drop goal from O'Gara saw Irish pip the Italians by 2 points. Italy will be able to drag teams down to their level especially at home. They now have to convert that into wins. For the Irish this game continued their poor Autumn form - this team is old and needs an injection of youth, especially in the pack.
France 34 v Scotland 21
What France would turn up? A sterotype to say you never know but today was the one from Scotland's nightmares. Gallic flair was in full abundance as offloads came off, passes between the legs set-up one particular try and no little grunt was shown in the scrums where Euan Murray was very publically flogged. Scotland showed they have moved on with three tries scored. I'm unsure whether the scrambling defence was a testament or an indictment of the coaches - France were really on form that day.
Week 2 Preview
Saturday 12th February
2.30pm (UK Time) England v Italy - England should canter to a win but it won't be pretty.
5.00pm (UK Time) Scotland v Wales - If this Scotland team has moved on it's time to put the boot on Wales' neck. This is a poor Wales team.
Sunday 13th February
3.00pm (UK Time) Ireland v France - Potentially the best match of the weekend and France's first trip to the Aviva. If the French are up for it this might run pretty much like the Scotland game.
Forgive the general lack of insightful posts here - I'm doing this sneakily from work but if people are interested I'll write something up much more befitting the tournament and post later at night.
FYI those of you with BBC America can view all of this year's games for the first time I believe live. Certainly the commentators here in the UK were pimping it.
Wales 16 v England 26
Big brother took on the small brother and showed them who's boss. Two tries from poacher extraordinaire Chris Ashton and one in reply for the Welsh from Morgan Stoddart in what was an excellent game. The Welsh pack fronted up surprisingly but their backs couldn't break through a wet paper bag. Much work ahead for Wales - for England they could be on the cusp of a Grand Slam. Their next three games are at home before a final day's away trip to Dublin.
Italy 11 v Ireland 13
Poor old Italy - taking the lead against a lacklustre and creaking Irish team with less than 10 minutes to go a famous victory was on the cards. But a missed conversion; a muffed kick-off and a drop goal from O'Gara saw Irish pip the Italians by 2 points. Italy will be able to drag teams down to their level especially at home. They now have to convert that into wins. For the Irish this game continued their poor Autumn form - this team is old and needs an injection of youth, especially in the pack.
France 34 v Scotland 21
What France would turn up? A sterotype to say you never know but today was the one from Scotland's nightmares. Gallic flair was in full abundance as offloads came off, passes between the legs set-up one particular try and no little grunt was shown in the scrums where Euan Murray was very publically flogged. Scotland showed they have moved on with three tries scored. I'm unsure whether the scrambling defence was a testament or an indictment of the coaches - France were really on form that day.
Week 2 Preview
Saturday 12th February
2.30pm (UK Time) England v Italy - England should canter to a win but it won't be pretty.
5.00pm (UK Time) Scotland v Wales - If this Scotland team has moved on it's time to put the boot on Wales' neck. This is a poor Wales team.
Sunday 13th February
3.00pm (UK Time) Ireland v France - Potentially the best match of the weekend and France's first trip to the Aviva. If the French are up for it this might run pretty much like the Scotland game.
Forgive the general lack of insightful posts here - I'm doing this sneakily from work but if people are interested I'll write something up much more befitting the tournament and post later at night.
#3
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- 940 posts
Posted 07 February 2011 - 06:22 PM
Thanks for starting the thread, I always try to watch as much of the tournament as possible, especially the Ireland matches, though I was not able to see any this past weekend and will struggle to see much this coming weekend as well. The BBC America thing is very nice, but they only show one match per weekend (I think we got Scotland v France on Saturday, and next up will be Scotland v. Wales). The other matches are available via satellite packages, but I won't be able to make it to the pub this Sunday morning.
So nothing to add from actual viewing of the matches, though I do note that Ireland is clearly trying to get younger in the pack, with two young props in Healy and Ross and a new No. 8 in Sean O'Brien, who has been getting strong reviews at Leinster. Of course O'Callaghan and O'Connell are stalwarts at lock, but they have generally been the strength of the pack the past few years, at least prior to O'Connell's groin issues. More worrying to me is the ongoing absence of Tommy Bowe, probably Ireland's most dynamic try-scoring threat on the wing, and Rob Kearney, arguably the best fullback in Europe. It sounds like Jamie Heaslip should be healthy for France, but I am not sure if he will take his spot back from O'Brien or if both of them will be in the back row.
So nothing to add from actual viewing of the matches, though I do note that Ireland is clearly trying to get younger in the pack, with two young props in Healy and Ross and a new No. 8 in Sean O'Brien, who has been getting strong reviews at Leinster. Of course O'Callaghan and O'Connell are stalwarts at lock, but they have generally been the strength of the pack the past few years, at least prior to O'Connell's groin issues. More worrying to me is the ongoing absence of Tommy Bowe, probably Ireland's most dynamic try-scoring threat on the wing, and Rob Kearney, arguably the best fullback in Europe. It sounds like Jamie Heaslip should be healthy for France, but I am not sure if he will take his spot back from O'Brien or if both of them will be in the back row.
#4
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Posted 08 February 2011 - 11:52 AM
Thanks for starting the thread, I always try to watch as much of the tournament as possible, especially the Ireland matches, though I was not able to see any this past weekend and will struggle to see much this coming weekend as well. The BBC America thing is very nice, but they only show one match per weekend (I think we got Scotland v France on Saturday, and next up will be Scotland v. Wales). The other matches are available via satellite packages, but I won't be able to make it to the pub this Sunday morning.
So nothing to add from actual viewing of the matches, though I do note that Ireland is clearly trying to get younger in the pack, with two young props in Healy and Ross and a new No. 8 in Sean O'Brien, who has been getting strong reviews at Leinster. Of course O'Callaghan and O'Connell are stalwarts at lock, but they have generally been the strength of the pack the past few years, at least prior to O'Connell's groin issues. More worrying to me is the ongoing absence of Tommy Bowe, probably Ireland's most dynamic try-scoring threat on the wing, and Rob Kearney, arguably the best fullback in Europe. It sounds like Jamie Heaslip should be healthy for France, but I am not sure if he will take his spot back from O'Brien or if both of them will be in the back row.
Healy's problem, if he has one, is his poor scrummaging. And while Ross is undoubtedly talented Kidney for some reason relies on the Munster stalwarts of Hayes and Buckley. The talent is there for a newer, younger team. It's whether Kidney gives them their chance.
Any team with BO'D has a fighters chance - but they need to blood some of these newer players like Toner and O'Brien with him. England are already ahead of the curve with caps for Foden, Ashton, Flood, Youngs and Lawes; now they're beginning to reap the benefits.
Bowe and Kearney are huge losses - no doubt about it. And Heaslip when healthy is the best 8 in the tournie, with potentially Parisse running him close.
#5
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chapeau rose
Posted 11 February 2011 - 06:02 PM
A couple thoughts...
First off, Wales is the little brother to England at most things...rugby isn't one of them. If Wales had won they'd have tied the all-time series, which considering how shitty the last 20 years has been for Wales is pretty impressive.
Anyway, the Welsh pack fronting up wasn't a huge surprise even without Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones. Alun Wyn Jones is out of form, but the Welsh back five is pretty good. Bradley Davies was the best forward on the paddock and Ryan Jones had an excellent game when he came in, a welcome return to form. Their lineout is and has been shaky for the best part of a decade, but Gatland has really done a good job with the scrum and we even have a little bit of prop depth, which compared to five years ago is absurd.
As for England, they didn't look that great. They finally have a flyhalf who can move the backline a little bit in Toby Flood, and they have a real quality winger in Ashton. But they made a lot of errors, and will have to cut down a lot of mental mistakes to beat the French....who were freaking awesome. Also, I have to pluck for Imanol Harinordoquy as Europe's best eightman. He's fantastic, has done it for a decade now, and really leads that French pack well. Their scrum is awesome, by the way. Prop Bonger may have gotten a little stiff at watching Domingo, Servat and Mas destroy a not half bad Scottish scrum. They are the best team in this tournament by a distance I think.
Ireland looked pretty crappy and BOD had a bad game. If Italy had one or two strike runners they might really be a good team as they've had that pack working well for quite a while now and Edouardo Gori looked impressive before he hurt his shoulder. Easily the best scrumhalf Italy has had since Alessandro Troncon.
Also since I saw this on your twitter, kosh. Fuck Alex Corbisiero. Fuck that traitorous cunt.
First off, Wales is the little brother to England at most things...rugby isn't one of them. If Wales had won they'd have tied the all-time series, which considering how shitty the last 20 years has been for Wales is pretty impressive.
Anyway, the Welsh pack fronting up wasn't a huge surprise even without Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones. Alun Wyn Jones is out of form, but the Welsh back five is pretty good. Bradley Davies was the best forward on the paddock and Ryan Jones had an excellent game when he came in, a welcome return to form. Their lineout is and has been shaky for the best part of a decade, but Gatland has really done a good job with the scrum and we even have a little bit of prop depth, which compared to five years ago is absurd.
As for England, they didn't look that great. They finally have a flyhalf who can move the backline a little bit in Toby Flood, and they have a real quality winger in Ashton. But they made a lot of errors, and will have to cut down a lot of mental mistakes to beat the French....who were freaking awesome. Also, I have to pluck for Imanol Harinordoquy as Europe's best eightman. He's fantastic, has done it for a decade now, and really leads that French pack well. Their scrum is awesome, by the way. Prop Bonger may have gotten a little stiff at watching Domingo, Servat and Mas destroy a not half bad Scottish scrum. They are the best team in this tournament by a distance I think.
Ireland looked pretty crappy and BOD had a bad game. If Italy had one or two strike runners they might really be a good team as they've had that pack working well for quite a while now and Edouardo Gori looked impressive before he hurt his shoulder. Easily the best scrumhalf Italy has had since Alessandro Troncon.
Also since I saw this on your twitter, kosh. Fuck Alex Corbisiero. Fuck that traitorous cunt.
#6
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Posted 14 February 2011 - 08:29 AM
Week 2 in the bag and I am an angry Scotsman - this was NOT how it was supposed to go. The tale of the tape;
England 59 v Italy 13
In previous years this would be a solid but unsatisfying win for England. This year they have continued their development and crushed an Italy side that couldn't keep up in the tight or loose. Ashton is becoming the arch try poacher - his support lines ensure there is always the opportunity to keep the play alive with an offload. France traditionally play poorly at Twickenham - it wouldn't surprise me if England's hardest test left will be away to Ireland. What can you say about Italy? When they can't drag teams into a set-piece battle they inevitably lose.
Scotland 6 v Wales 24
Words will not do - this was humiliating. Whatever exists within the Scottish psyche that when someone tells you that you're the favourite you crumble like a little bitch really isn't funny anymore. At one point Wales were down to 13 men and Scotland still couldn't score. For the Welsh you have to give them credit; they hadn't won in a year previously, their backs were up against the wall and they came through with a gutcheck win. And Shane Williams can still with the dance with the best of them. Fucker.
Ireland 22 v France 25
The closest game of the weekend and what was bad for the Irish was the French barely turned up. Solid and uninspiring compared to the Scotland game, France did just enough to win. Gone was the flair. Ireland can be happy to have outscored France 3 tries to 1 but indiscipline cost them time and again. The scrum was more solid with Ross getting the nod at tighthead but France still looked like they had a few gears to step up. They'll have to at Twickenham in 2 weeks.
Week 3 Preview
Saturday 26th February
2.30pm (UK Time) Italy v Wales - Italy at home are a good bet to keep this close. I can't see Wales losing this game now they have a win under their belt.
5.00pm (UK Time) England v France - This should be the grand slam decider. IF England are the real deal this is the game to show it...
Sunday 27th February
3.00pm (UK Time) Scotland v Ireland - Before this began I would have bet this as being a Scotland win. They'll probably win now to piss me off when I don't back them...
England 59 v Italy 13
In previous years this would be a solid but unsatisfying win for England. This year they have continued their development and crushed an Italy side that couldn't keep up in the tight or loose. Ashton is becoming the arch try poacher - his support lines ensure there is always the opportunity to keep the play alive with an offload. France traditionally play poorly at Twickenham - it wouldn't surprise me if England's hardest test left will be away to Ireland. What can you say about Italy? When they can't drag teams into a set-piece battle they inevitably lose.
Scotland 6 v Wales 24
Words will not do - this was humiliating. Whatever exists within the Scottish psyche that when someone tells you that you're the favourite you crumble like a little bitch really isn't funny anymore. At one point Wales were down to 13 men and Scotland still couldn't score. For the Welsh you have to give them credit; they hadn't won in a year previously, their backs were up against the wall and they came through with a gutcheck win. And Shane Williams can still with the dance with the best of them. Fucker.
Ireland 22 v France 25
The closest game of the weekend and what was bad for the Irish was the French barely turned up. Solid and uninspiring compared to the Scotland game, France did just enough to win. Gone was the flair. Ireland can be happy to have outscored France 3 tries to 1 but indiscipline cost them time and again. The scrum was more solid with Ross getting the nod at tighthead but France still looked like they had a few gears to step up. They'll have to at Twickenham in 2 weeks.
Week 3 Preview
Saturday 26th February
2.30pm (UK Time) Italy v Wales - Italy at home are a good bet to keep this close. I can't see Wales losing this game now they have a win under their belt.
5.00pm (UK Time) England v France - This should be the grand slam decider. IF England are the real deal this is the game to show it...
Sunday 27th February
3.00pm (UK Time) Scotland v Ireland - Before this began I would have bet this as being a Scotland win. They'll probably win now to piss me off when I don't back them...
#7
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Posted 14 February 2011 - 08:42 AM
A couple thoughts...
First off, Wales is the little brother to England at most things...rugby isn't one of them. If Wales had won they'd have tied the all-time series, which considering how shitty the last 20 years has been for Wales is pretty impressive.
Anyway, the Welsh pack fronting up wasn't a huge surprise even without Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones. Alun Wyn Jones is out of form, but the Welsh back five is pretty good. Bradley Davies was the best forward on the paddock and Ryan Jones had an excellent game when he came in, a welcome return to form. Their lineout is and has been shaky for the best part of a decade, but Gatland has really done a good job with the scrum and we even have a little bit of prop depth, which compared to five years ago is absurd.
As for England, they didn't look that great. They finally have a flyhalf who can move the backline a little bit in Toby Flood, and they have a real quality winger in Ashton. But they made a lot of errors, and will have to cut down a lot of mental mistakes to beat the French....who were freaking awesome. Also, I have to pluck for Imanol Harinordoquy as Europe's best eightman. He's fantastic, has done it for a decade now, and really leads that French pack well. Their scrum is awesome, by the way. Prop Bonger may have gotten a little stiff at watching Domingo, Servat and Mas destroy a not half bad Scottish scrum. They are the best team in this tournament by a distance I think.
Ireland looked pretty crappy and BOD had a bad game. If Italy had one or two strike runners they might really be a good team as they've had that pack working well for quite a while now and Edouardo Gori looked impressive before he hurt his shoulder. Easily the best scrumhalf Italy has had since Alessandro Troncon.
Also since I saw this on your twitter, kosh. Fuck Alex Corbisiero. Fuck that traitorous cunt.
The little brother quote was a nice bit of baiting by England's full back Ben Foden - and he backed it up with a decent showing. Agree Bonger that Wales are usually a better bet than this but the win over Scotland could sur them onto a better tournie showing. Davies has been excellent for some time now and has really stepped up for both the Blues and Wales.
Agree to disagree on England - they have some weaknesses in the centres (Tindall FFS - really is out of his depth nowadays) but their back three has developed nicely. Their half backs are young and can move a sizable pack around the field. Woods in two tests show they have plenty of flankers now to fight for two positions - Woods, Moody, Croft, Haskell, Robshaw, S Armitage amongst others. 8 is a weakness - Easter is a fat fuck.
I love the French team too but its a cliche but until they break it is true - you just don't know if they will turn up every week. And they HATE playing Twickenham. I still reckon England will beat them - but it will be close. Harinordoquy, Parisse, Heaslip - on their day they are all amongst the best at their positions. As a Scot I'll mention that Johnnie Beattie may be up there too if he can get fit.
And just for you Bonger - NYC's finest showing off his other 'talent'.
#8
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- 12 posts
Posted 25 February 2011 - 08:46 AM
Just for you US chums - BBC America will be showing England v France tomorrow. The game is a 12pm ET kick-off for those that have the ability.
#9
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chapeau rose
Posted 12 March 2011 - 11:23 AM
Things I didn't bother to watch today: Italy 22-21 France.
#10
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- 940 posts
Posted 12 March 2011 - 10:40 PM
Things Jonathan Kaplan didn't bother to watch today: the ballboy handing a new ball Matthew Rees before an illegal quick throw-in leading to a match-deciding try for Wales against Ireland.
Ireland didn't play all that well and subbing Sexton for O'Gara was baffling, but they were robbed today.
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