OV9

I don't think there's much between Wales, Ireland, England and France.

Scotland are there but can't seem to do it consistently !

Next week should be a cracker

I was in the pub so couldn't hear the analysis, but the red looked crazy to me. From there on in it was probably the most disciplined England performance I've seen in some time.

France will muller England. Their defensive line has been so strong.

Wales should never have let Shaun Edwards go!

The Wales v France game was brilliant to watch. I think the Welsh can go away from this tournament pretty happy with their performances all things considered.

I can't see England winning in France but maybe a Scotland win next week.

Super Saturday regardless

I didn’t watch the Scotland game today. Because Italy. (I have no idea how they (and their fans) keep going with this).


The England Ireland game was great. Questionable red but they are so cautious now - obvs they lost, but at times England were hugely impressive .

I'll have to look up the analysis, just looked like he got himself on the wrong side unintentionally. Looked like a yellow to me just because danger, but never a red. Ruined the game of course, but maybe I'm not so clued up on the current rules.

Got plenty of stick from the Irish lads I was with, but I do think England will give France a game next weekend.

duncs500 wrote: Sat Mar 12, 2022 11:48 pm I'll have to look up the analysis, just looked like he got himself on the wrong side unintentionally.

There was very clearly no malice / intent. But in the cold light of the camera it was a head butt.

mik wrote: Sat Mar 12, 2022 11:57 pm

duncs500 wrote: Sat Mar 12, 2022 11:48 pm I'll have to look up the analysis, just looked like he got himself on the wrong side unintentionally.

There was very clearly no malice / intent. But in the cold light of the camera it was a head butt.

No intent at all but the responsibility is on the tackler to bend/dip to hit below the shoulder line. The ball carrier wasn't dropping so no mitigation, it's a red card all day, every day.

Sadly it ruined what was likely to be a 1 score game but changing technique is important for health as well as rugby long term.

mik wrote: Sat Mar 12, 2022 11:32 pm Questionable red but they are so cautious now

I think there should be some leeway in the very first passage of play. Players get so pumped up before kick-off and are then expected to be perfect.

Any Red Card offence is just a yellow from kick/off to the first break in play. Although England were superb, it killed the spectacle and I’m old school - I’d sooner win against 15 men than win against 14

Carlos wrote: Sun Mar 13, 2022 12:07 am

mik wrote: Sat Mar 12, 2022 11:57 pm

duncs500 wrote: Sat Mar 12, 2022 11:48 pm I'll have to look up the analysis, just looked like he got himself on the wrong side unintentionally.

There was very clearly no malice / intent. But in the cold light of the camera it was a head butt.

No intent at all but the responsibility is on the tackler to bend/dip to hit below the shoulder line. The ball carrier wasn't dropping so no mitigation, it's a red card all day, every day.

Sadly it ruined what was likely to be a 1 score game but changing technique is important for health as well as rugby long term.

Good summation Mr Carlos. Rugby is built around discipline. Now more than ever this has to be paramount.

Mr Carlos is correct. Under the new laws of the game, which is focussed on player safety, it was always a red. Eweles’ tackle was reckless and was a head butt to the side of the head, to a player who didn’t even have the ball. There’s little commentary/sympathy that James Ryan didn’t return to the game. His game lasted less than two minutes before a head butt ended his afternoon. The loss of Ryan disrupted Ireland’s game plan too.
Positives for England, they had a go and found new spirit. Scrum dominance was a surprise and with 5 minutes to go they were still in the game. They will take confidence from yesterday’s game to Paris next week.

mik wrote: Sun Mar 13, 2022 12:33 am

Carlos wrote: Sun Mar 13, 2022 12:07 am

mik wrote: Sat Mar 12, 2022 11:57 pm

There was very clearly no malice / intent. But in the cold light of the camera it was a head butt.

No intent at all but the responsibility is on the tackler to bend/dip to hit below the shoulder line. The ball carrier wasn't dropping so no mitigation, it's a red card all day, every day.

Sadly it ruined what was likely to be a 1 score game but changing technique is important for health as well as rugby long term.

Good summation Mr Carlos. Rugby is built around discipline. Now more than ever this has to be paramount.

Yeah, fair enough, seems like it was the right decision.

Was disappointing to see the card happen as it killed the game as a contest before it even began - crowd did go mental though and however it sounded on the TV it was louder in the stadium and my voice was one of them Shook hands with the irishman i was talking to at the end and would have bought him a beer if a)there wasn't an 18 deep queue at the few remaining open bars and b)he wasn't already so pissed that he lost us in the crowd as he was weaving pretty erratically

Great opportunity next week and if we beat the French by enough - Ireland could still squeak in as champs and we finish in top 3 instead of bottom 3 for 2 years in a row

teacherboy wrote: Sun Mar 13, 2022 8:56 pmhe wasn't already so pissed that he lost us in the crowd as he was weaving pretty erratically

That sounds very unlikely for an Irishman…

Here we go!!!

If England can repeat last weeks performance, we’d all greatly appreciate it!

Doesn't look like it, French look too good.

Yeah - they really are excellent

England got absolutely ruined at the breakdown, that's where the game was won really. England players got isolated so often, French players were always in so quick on defensive and offensive rucks.

Right team won the Championship in the end

I don’t suppose it pleased many Welsh fans, but I felt a bit emotional seeing the Italy reaction to their win.