Rugby Union

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Italy benefited from a dramatic loss of discipline by Ireland in the last 10 minutes, when Ireland had reduced the Italian lead to only one point at 16-15, but with two Irish players being sent to the sin bin and penalties conceded by Ireland, Italy registered their first-ever win over Ireland in the Six Nations Championship 22-15.

 

[Ivo]

Oh well, there's always next year :roll:

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Congratulations to the Welsh team for their excellent team performance today against England, with the second half really showing them at their best.

 

[Oswyntail]

Congratulations to the Welsh team for their excellent team performance today against England,...

Yes, all 16 on the field showed what they can do

 

[anthony263]

Certainly I was listening to the match on the radio while doing deliveries.

Well done Wales

 

[Ivo]

Yes, all 16 on the field showed what they can do

I almost get the feeling that England sensed this too. I stopped watching at about the 55 mark and from roughly then on it just collapsed and showed what advantage an apparently 16-man side has...

Yay for football-esque complaints tripping into rugby

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Does anyone feel that France will finally register their first win in this seasons' Six Nations Championship in their match against Scotland ?

 

[Ivo]

In 2010 France and Ireland came 1st and 2nd in the competition, with the French winning a Grand Slam and the Irish defending a Grand Slam from 2009.

What a difference three years can make

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Yes, all 16 on the field showed what they can do

At half-time, the match at only 9-3 in favour of Wales was still open, but final score of 30-3 most certainly tells a story of "a match of two halves".

 

[Butts]

At half-time, the match at only 9-3 in favour of Wales was still open, but final score of 30-3 most certainly tells a story of "a match of two halves".

I'm suprised at the lack of "crowing"on here from a certain "green" resident of Llanelli

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I have decided I no longer have any interest in international rugby, at least not if it involves my own country....I expect that feeling will only last for a few days, though!

Our man from the Valleys made the above statement early in the campaign, so it shows how matters can change when each side only has a matter of five matches to play.

 

[carlejo]

Now now guys, don't be bitter.

The ref penalised england because they were infringing, simple...... Steve Walsh is one of the best refs around.

They couldn't live with the powerful welsh scrum, dynamic loose play with 7's on the pitch and the brutal defence.

I think it's one of the best defensive displays EVER from a welsh team, they were simply awesome yesterday. One or 2 good turnovers and quick ball out to the wings and it was all over.....

 

[Greenback]

I'm suprised at the lack of "crowing"on here from a certain "green" resident of Llanelli

I prefer to be dignified in defeat AND victory! Unlike soem of my countrymen who are, frankly, a little over the top to say the least.

I think it was Stuart Lancaster who said before the game that the best team on the day will win, and he was obviously right, Wales were the best team on the day and so deserved victory. It was the performance Wales and its supporters have been waiting for since the start of the Autumn Internationals.

But we mustn't forget that England have had a successful campaign and are a young side that are only going to get better. They will definitely learn from their experience yesterday and that will help them immensely.

Our man from the Valleys made the above statement early in the campaign, so it shows how matters can change when each side only has a matter of five matches to play.

Strangely enough my itnerest in international rugby almost disappeared after Wales v Ireland, but has (predictably) returned slowly alongside the improving Wales performances!

Now now guys, don't be bitter.

The ref penalised england because they were infringing, simple...... Steve Walsh is one of the best refs around.

I thought Steve Walsh refereed extremely well yesterday and last weekend.

They couldn't live with the powerful welsh scrum, dynamic loose play with 7's on the pitch and the brutal defence.

Although the England scrum has been lauded in the press, it relies on illegal boring in by certain members of the front row in order to disrupt the opponents. Whenever referees have enforced the scrum laws properly England seem to struggle there.

I think it's one of the best defensive displays EVER from a welsh team, they were simply awesome yesterday. One or 2 good turnovers and quick ball out to the wings and it was all over.....

It was refreshing to see Wales play with an intensity that has been rare since the World Cup and 2012 Grand Slam. What is even better is to see them play with intelligence and not give away a lot of penalties, both of which have been concerns in the recent past.

 

[Ferret]

From what I saw, England's defeat owed more to being murdered at the scrum and the breakdown than it did to any questionable refereeing...

Well done to Wales, worthy winners.

 

[andrew bell]

From what I saw, England's defeat owed more to being murdered at the scrum and the breakdown than it did to any questionable refereeing...

Well done to Wales, worthy winners.

I do think there was 1 or 2 scrums that Wales collaspsed (possibly deliberately) that was given against England, but overall Wales deserved their victory, England never really turned up for the last two games.

Regarding Lions selection I wouldn't be surprised if there was about 12 Welsh, 8 Scots and 5 from both England and Ireland

 

[Greenback]

Regarding Lions selection I wouldn't be surprised if there was about 12 Welsh, 8 Scots and 5 from both England and Ireland

I struggle to see many Irish players being selected after the 6N they've had. Sexton must be a doubt, O'Driscoll appears to be only able to spark things up for a few minutes at a time, and the forwards have looked second rate.

I can see Rory Best going, along with Healy, but not not much more than that. I'd take Zebo if he was fit, and Conor Murray may be an outside bet as 3rd scrum half behind Phillips and Laidlaw, but he will be in competition with one of the English SH's I think.

On a personal note, I;d rather a lot of English players went out to OZ and a lot of Welsh players stayed at home for a rest. The best Welsh tourists normally come back from the Lions exhausted and/or injured!

 

[Liam]

I struggle to see many Irish players being selected after the 6N they've had. Sexton must be a doubt, O'Driscoll appears to be only able to spark things up for a few minutes at a time, and the forwards have looked second rate.

I can see Rory Best going, along with Healy, but not not much more than that. I'd take Zebo if he was fit, and Conor Murray may be an outside bet as 3rd scrum half behind Phillips and Laidlaw, but he will be in competition with one of the English SH's I think.

On a personal note, I;d rather a lot of English players went out to OZ and a lot of Welsh players stayed at home for a rest. The best Welsh tourists normally come back from the Lions exhausted and/or injured!

I don't know so much about the forwards, but my Lions starting 9-15 would be:

Hogg
Brown
O'Driscoll/Tuilagi
Roberts
North
Sexton
Phillips

I think O'Driscoll can still give you a good hour, Tuilagi coming from the bench. Halfpenny had a great 6 Nations, but Hogg has that little bit more creative spark. Sexton beats Farrell for the fly half because I think he has more ability to control the game than Farrell, but I think this will come to Farrell with experience. North has to start, Cuthbert or Brown is a close call, as is scrum half.

The only Scots I can see going are Hogg, Murray, Hamilton, Beattie and Gray if fit, Laidlaw, Visser and Kelly Brown will probably miss out as the competition is so high in those positions.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

France 23...Scotland 16

Even registering their only win in this years Six Nations Championship in the final match was not enough to save France from the indignity of finishing bottom of the table.

 

[Greenback]

I don't know so much about the forwards, but my Lions starting 9-15 would be:

Hogg
Brown
O'Driscoll/Tuilagi
Roberts
North
Sexton
Phillips

I think O'Driscoll can still give you a good hour, Tuilagi coming from the bench. Halfpenny had a great 6 Nations, but Hogg has that little bit more creative spark. Sexton beats Farrell for the fly half because I think he has more ability to control the game than Farrell, but I think this will come to Farrell with experience. North has to start, Cuthbert or Brown is a close call, as is scrum half.

The only Scots I can see going are Hogg, Murray, Hamilton, Beattie and Gray if fit, Laidlaw, Visser and Kelly Brown will probably miss out as the competition is so high in those positions.

I myself would definitely take Laidlaw. Hogg and Beattie will go, and Richie Gray was a cert before his unfortunate injury.

I think Gatland will take as many players as he can who can cover more than one position. His Welsh record shows that he likes to have a combination in the match day squwad who can, between them, cover every eventuality, and this means he doesn't always pick the best player in a particular position.

As a result, I wouldn't be surprised to see Sean Lamont make the plane (wing & centre), the same might go for anyone who can cover lock and the back row!

 

[carlejo]

I'm interested who the captain is going to be.

Obviously as per previous tours, he has to be a shoe in, in his position

I don't think Robshaw will get it as he couldn't inspire his team in a grand slam decider, that has to go against him. Another scenario is that if the majority of pack are welsh then there's no reason why he couldn't captain the side, but I think Lydiate is a better option at 6... he's an awesome tackler.

I'm gonna go with AWJ as outside bet as captain

Welsh players who I think will go

Paul James
Gethin Jenkins
Richard Hibbard
Adam Jones
AWJ
Ian Evans
Dan Lydiate
Toby Faletau
Justin Tipuric
Sam Warburton

Mike Phillips
Jamie Roberts
Jonathin Davies
George North
Alex Cuthbert
Leigh Halfepnny

Others feel free to add you're choice.......I'm not sure how many players they'll take... Woodward took an unprecendented number on his stint

I expect they'll take approx 35-40 players

 

[Greenback]

I don't think 30 players is enough in the modern game. If nothing else, the requirement to have two full front rows in the match day squad has seen to that!

 

[Michael.Y]

Test team:
15 Halfpenny
14 Cuthbert
13 Tuilagi
12 Jonathan Davies
11 North
10 Sexton
09 Phillips
01 Gethin Jenkins
02 Best
03 Adam Jones
04 Alun Wyn Jones
05 Gray (assuming he recovers) or Ryan Jones
06 Lydiate
07 Warburton
08 Heaslip


Tour team:
15 Hogg
14 Visser
13 Scott Williams
12 Roberts
11 Fitzgerald
10 Farrell / Biggar
09 Laidlaw
01 Healy
02 Hartley or Hibbard
03 Euan Murray
04 Ryan
05 Lawes
06 Haskell
07 Tipuric
08 Faletau

 

[Greenback]

Test team:
15 Halfpenny
14 Cuthbert
13 Tuilagi
12 Jonathan Davies
11 North
10 Sexton
09 Phillips
01 Gethin Jenkins
02 Best
03 Adam Jones
04 Alun Wyn Jones
05 Gray (assuming he recovers) or Ryan Jones
06 Lydiate
07 Warburton
08 Heaslip


Tour team:
15 Hogg
14 Visser
13 Scott Williams
12 Roberts
11 Fitzgerald
10 Farrell / Biggar
09 Laidlaw
01 Healy
02 Hartley or Hibbard
03 Euan Murray
04 Ryan
05 Lawes
06 Haskell
07 Tipuric
08 Faletau

I'm not sure that Ryan Jones is a Test class lock, and I can't really see Jonathan Davies in the Test team at all (maybe Jamie Roberts after his efforts in 2009?) otherwise it looks pretty good!

 

[Michael.Y]

I'm not sure that Ryan Jones is a Test class lock, and I can't really see Jonathan Davies in the Test team at all (maybe Jamie Roberts after his efforts in 2009?) otherwise it looks pretty good!

I think Ryan deserves to tour, so perhaps as a substitute 6/7.

I use Jonathan Davies as the antithesis to Tuilagi's brash/brawn approach - my view of centres is you need contrast - think Hook/Henson and Shanklin, Catt/Tindall and Greenwood....

 

[Greenback]

I think Ryan deserves to tour, so perhaps as a substitute 6/7.

I use Jonathan Davies as the antithesis to Tuilagi's brash/brawn approach - my view of centres is you need contrast - think Hook/Henson and Shanklin, Catt/Tindall and Greenwood....

I agree with both points, Ryan Jones definitely deserves to be with the Lions.

My main concern with JD is his passing (or lack of it). Even the Wales coaches are on record as saying that it is a weakness in his game (or words to that effect!).

The selectors may decide to go with Roberts and O'Driscoll again, depsite the decline of the latter in recent years. I think that was a good balance when BOD was at his best.

 

[Michael.Y]

After what he did in the last Test against Italy, I wouldn't take him. Legend or no legend, that was ugly. Also while I have sympathy for what the All Blacks did to him in 2005, he's approaching Jonny Wilkinson territory of being picked because he's BOD, and not because he's at his best.

 

[Greenback]

After what he did in the last Test against Italy, I wouldn't take him. Legend or no legend, that was ugly. Also while I have sympathy for what the All Blacks did to him in 2005, he's approaching Jonny Wilkinson territory of being picked because he's BOD, and not because he's at his best.

I agree. I wouldn't put it past the selectors though. An element of the selection is always politics, and it probably always will be!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Friday night's match result....

Sale Sharks 14...Bath 13

Having noted that London Welsh had been subjected to a points deduction to take them to the bottom place in the Premiership, Sale needed to win this match to further distance themselves, which they duly did, but by the narrowest of margins.

 

[flymo]

For all you fans of the Union short game, the Hong Kong 7's were held over this weekend, finishing today, Sunday.

Wales were defeated in the Cup Final by Fiji 26-19, despite the Welsh leading 19-0 at half time. Fiji just were rampant in the second half. Wales were on a mission in the first half but Fiji were a different team after the break.

England won the Bowl beating the local team HK 42-7.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Perhaps a sign of the relegation dog-fight at the bottom of the Premiership, but Tom Arscott, the London Welsh back has announced that he will be moving to Sale Sharks at the end of this season.

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I see that following the matter of the pitch at Saracens, Cardiff Blues are said to be giving consideration to replacing the turf at the Arms Park with a plastic-type playing surface for next season.