6 Nations

[duncs500]

I'll take that! For most of that game I was thinking that their backs were just too good to be stopped, almost every time they got in the open it almost looked like they were a man up. They just couldn't make it count. I couldn't see us winning the game for most of it.

We're the kind of team though that give everyone a game. Beat Scotland and we've got a real chance.

Six nations delivering again.

[mik]

Fucks sake.

Scotland fell apart a bit in the 2nd half, and that was a horrible pressure conversion for Russell.

More annoying as that first England try was held up. Stoopid ref.

[Carlos]

For whatever reason Scotland didn't get enough out of that in the 1st half and then England where always in the game.

Not sure if England won or Scotland lost it lol

Great game though.

Likewise with Wales very little in that and nice to see Wales have the dog about them again.

[mik]

Yeah I caught the 2nd half of Wales-Ireland : found myself rooting for you guys as you need a break.

[dinny_g]

2 great games today. An fantastic advert for the 6 Nations

[Swervin_Mervin]

I've just watched the Wal/Ire match on catch up. Cracking game and great to see Wales playing again. You have to wonder why Llewelyn and Anscombe weren't being picked by Gatland.

I reckon if France have watched that they might fancy their chances against Ire. Move the ball around quick enough and the holes open up. With fewer handling errors Wal might have pushed that even closer.

Eng and Sco should be good games if they keep it up.

[duncs500]

I was on a stag do in Prague with a load of football fans so it was hard work watching the games. I was actually watching the Scotland game on my phone sitting in a football ground while they all watched Sparta play.

Never mind, I was still able to enjoy Russell missing the kick.

Did have a slightly better view of the Wales game which seemed good. Definitely nice to see Wales improving, although would have preferred different timing / schedule!

[Carlos]

Cracking game and great to see Wales playing again. You have to wonder why Llewelyn and Anscombe weren't being picked by Gatland.

Gatland spoke many times about England based players at a disadvantage in being selected. They aren't allowed to train outside of the International window with Wales and are expected to return to the clubs in fallow weeks. England RFU make their clubs enforce their rule even if the player has contract conditions saying they can train and play for Wales whenever! Northampton were fined £60k for letting George North play for Wales in an out of window fixture in 2016

I'm on the fence whether it was a Gatland line or a WRU line though.

[dinny_g]

I watched the highlights last night and, out of the cauldron of the live game, I noted a few things.

Jack Conan Try - We were very lucky. I know the Ref's only 3 feet away but I didn't see any grounding at all on that one. No Try in my book

Ringrose Red - I was definitely sloppy and he definitely deserved to go but the 20 minute red was created for just this sort of thing. The Wales lad stayed on the pitch ( I think) and no HIA was needed. This lowers the bar on punishment in my book. If he had to leave the field, either temporarily for a HIA or permanently then it HAS to be a full red but given the new laws, the 20 minutes one was appropriate.

The Ref - was out of his depth. Several Forward passes missed by both sides. Missing the Conan thing and allowing the conversion to be taken too quickly. Scrum Pen after scrum pen against Ireland but no warning, or even a yellow etc.

[Swervin_Mervin]

Cracking game and great to see Wales playing again. You have to wonder why Llewelyn and Anscombe weren't being picked by Gatland.

Gatland spoke many times about England based players at a disadvantage in being selected. They aren't allowed to train outside of the International window with Wales and are expected to return to the clubs in fallow weeks. England RFU make their clubs enforce their rule even if the player has contract conditions saying they can train and play for Wales whenever! Northampton were fined £60k for letting George North play for Wales in an out of window fixture in 2016

I'm on the fence whether it was a Gatland line or a WRU line though.

It sounds like a bloody mess! If it were down to me I'd want World Rugby to knock these sorts of shenanigans on the head - players free to play where they like and be picked for internationals.

I did read one piece last week that suggested Anscombe was left out because Gatland wanted to build from the ground up with a player he knew would still be around in a few years, whereas Anscombe is at that age where he may not be. I think when you're struggling as badly as Wales were though you need confidence more than anything and bringing in the likes of him and Llewelyn clearly gave them that as well as some experienced heads.

[dinny_g]

Well that wasn’t in the script.

France defence was brilliant but Ireland were a bit shite today.

It’s up to Scotland now to do us a favour…

[mik]

Well that wasn’t in the script.

Ireland didn’t seem to fully get into their zone. I missed the first 15mins and was surprised to see Lowe wasn’t on - now I know why.

Wales lucky that eye-gouge was deemed accidental.

[duncs500]

Lowe is such a beast that I do wonder if he'd have been on perhaps that early period of dominance might have ended in some points. On such things psychologically games can hinge. Having said that, they lost Dupont just happened that Lucu came on and played really well.

[duncs500]

Seems like a complete lack of class by France that they are angry about the Dupont injury and asking for disciplinary action. Looked like complete bad luck to me @Carlos you're more up on the current game, what do you think.

If it was anyone else, I'm sure they'd be much less bothered.

[Carlos]

There's been quite a few rugby players with career ending ACL ruptures the last couple of years as a result of croc rolls, where a player is twisted out of a ruck which can cause players damage to ankles, knees etc as the leg is twisted but planted to the ground due to the studs on their boots.

It's quite topical as they are now banned and the ruck is now a contest of hitting or pushing only forwards or back.

France like to wave their arms at an incident more so if it's a poster boy but I see that as a rugby incident. The Irish player wasn't trying to clear him out, he just happens to fall on his leg after being hit from behind by another Irish player.

Tryfest for both games

[Carlos]

Ruptured ACL

Hopefully something he recovers from

https://www.bbc.co.uk/ws/av-embeds/arti ... 6gv/en-GB/">

[duncs500]

Yeah, assumed it would be cruciate. Always a nasty one.

[duncs500]

I hope the rumours of the rights going to TNT aren't true - this could be the last year of FTA 6 Nations. Which would be a huge blow to the sport imo.

From BBC article:

The BBC will provide live TV coverage, TV highlights and digital clips of the championship, including five matches involving Scotland and Wales each year.

ITV will broadcast 10 live games each season including every England fixture for the duration of the deal, which starts in 2026.

I'm trying to get my head round the permutations of this, does this mean we might not get Ireland vs France anymore?

[Carlos]

I hope the rumours of the rights going to TNT aren't true - this could be the last year of FTA 6 Nations. Which would be a huge blow to the sport imo.

From BBC article:

The BBC will provide live TV coverage, TV highlights and digital clips of the championship, including five matches involving Scotland and Wales each year.

ITV will broadcast 10 live games each season including every England fixture for the duration of the deal, which starts in 2026.

I'm trying to get my head round the permutations of this, does this mean we might not get Ireland vs France anymore?

There's only 15 games per tournament so that agreement covers them all

[dinny_g]

Yeah that’s what I thought - it’s a weird way to describe the deal