OV9

dinny_g wrote: Sat Feb 14, 2026 6:33 pm Well that’s blown the 6 Nations open.

Has it? Isn't that just telling us that France are on another level and should win it at a canter.

I agree about Italy though, it used to be the only game that was optional to watch as it was more a case of how badly they'd get battered. Now the other nations don't show up and they'll be in trouble. It's very healthy for the tournament.

I'm not the superstitious type, but I am regretting choosing an engraved beer glass that was a Christening present for me and contains my (Scottish) family crest. I won't be doing that again for the Calcutta Cup... at the time I thought it was a nice nod to the game!

duncs500 wrote: Sat Feb 14, 2026 7:40 pm

dinny_g wrote: Sat Feb 14, 2026 6:33 pm Well that’s blown the 6 Nations open.

Has it? Isn't that just telling us that France are on another level and should win it at a canter.

I say this with a hefty dose of blind loyalty but if Wales win tomorrow it would be. It would also be a very French thing to do to use an old cliche

Carlos wrote: Sat Feb 14, 2026 7:54 pm

duncs500 wrote: Sat Feb 14, 2026 7:40 pm

dinny_g wrote: Sat Feb 14, 2026 6:33 pm Well that’s blown the 6 Nations open.

Has it? Isn't that just telling us that France are on another level and should win it at a canter.

I say this with a hefty dose of blind loyalty but if Wales win tomorrow it would be. It would also be a very French thing to do to use an old cliche

It would be brilliant if Wales won tomorrow, I think France have too much, but if (like England today) they aren't at the races in Cardiff, they might find it's harder than expected! We live in hope, I would take anyone but France winning the 6N at this point!

duncs500 wrote: Sat Feb 14, 2026 7:45 pm I'm not the superstitious type, but I am regretting choosing an engraved beer glass that was a Christening present for me and contains my (Scottish) family crest.

We thank you for this McDuncs.

duncs500 wrote: Sat Feb 14, 2026 7:40 pm Has it? Isn't that just telling us that France are on another level and should win it at a canter.

You would appear to be 100% correct Duncs...

It seems to me that our best hope for keeping this tournament interesting is if Scotland can play like they did this weekend again at home to France on the 7th March. France are much better than England, but play like that and they're in the game. It would involve getting up for the game as much as they do for England though...

They could frame it as a "Who hates England the most" sort of grudge match...

dinny_g wrote: Mon Feb 16, 2026 9:47 am They could frame it as a "Who hates England the most" sort of grudge match...

I think the hierarchy is well established: Italy < France < Ireland < Wales < Scotland.

Top three are close though, the rest are a mile off it.

dinny_g wrote: Mon Feb 16, 2026 9:47 am They could frame it as a "Who hates England the most" sort of grudge match...

They'd lose to France to spoil any English hopes of winning the tournament

dinny_g wrote: Mon Feb 16, 2026 9:47 am They could frame it as a "Who hates England the most" sort of grudge match...

That's the tagline of the whole 6 nations isn't it

Well apart from the Italians... though they are newcomers pretty much.

As someone who was brought up on Welsh rugby, it pains me to see them playing so badly...

Despite Wales breaking my heart on more than one occasion, I too am saddened by the current turn of form. Perhaps more worrying for the WRU is the near 15k empty seats in the stadium (57K was the official attendance)

dinny_g wrote: Mon Feb 16, 2026 1:25 pm Perhaps more worrying for the WRU is the near 15k empty seats in the stadium (57K was the official attendance)

That.

It's a shame because Wales have fallen off it as Italy have become more competitive. Putting allegiances aside it would be great for every team to go into each game knowing if they're not at their best they're liable to get beat.

Cardiff should be one of the toughest places to go and best atmospheres in the whole thing really.

There's a lot going on in Welsh rugby as the WRU are intending to cut 1 of the regional teams and appear to have made it a 3 horse race despite the Ospreys being the most successful region.

I would imagine a considerable amount of those empty seats are down to protest rather than just people not wanting to support a losing team.

The score was disappointing although I felt it was a significant improvement over the performance against England but France were superb

Yeah the WRU suits are a problem and have been for years.

They don’t seem to be aligned with the clubs, the regions or the fans