Rugby 2023-24 World Cup Year!

England for the grand slam @Kryton57 ?

2nd or 3rd, no way they’ll beat Ireland, tomorrow will be a close call as will France. Could almost be a 3 week losing streak from here but the team does look as strong as it could be.

Behind TJ’s Sofa time for us Englanders…

****ing Peter O'Elbows going round making reasonable comments...I preferred it when he hated us...look how far we've fallen 😥

Ok Scotland forget about the two previous games games, forget about the forthcoming games, play to your full potential today and win

Peter O’Elbows going round making reasonable comments

Bit of reverse psychology.

Here we go. This could be very painful. Ireland by 35+ points. Less than 15 and I'll be pretty happy.

Is it just me, or is this ref pretty harsh at the breakdown?! Very little flow to the game

Interesting attack v defence training here. Maybe they will let Wales attack in the second half

I'm biased, but Ireland seem to get away with so much!
It's hard to believe Ireland aren't 30+ ahead already ☹️

Is it just me, or is this ref pretty harsh at the breakdown?! Very little flow to the game

Wales just look outmatched, some silly mistakes around the tackle area that look like they're nervous about Ireland getting quick ball. They need to stop running at Aki too, he's on a good one today.

Ireland are going to pick England apart when we play them, they look like they're in a different competition to the other five teams.

Ireland should be made to play with 14 players from the start - give everyone else a chance. Much more entertaining too. 😃

Are we sure this is the same Wales team?
These half-time bollockings seem to be having an effect this 6N

Nice to secure the bonus point at the end.

Wales really should try playing both halves.

That’s doubled Ireland’s yellow card count for the last few seasons I think. 😂

I thought the ref did well in the ire Vs Wales game. Excellent communication, really clear on his decisions and what he was seeing

All week my prediction for this game has been England score in first 5 mins (4:58) then Scotland come back to take the lead. Soybut we're going to throw it away in the last 20.

England need to learn how to pass & catch the ball

England's bright start seems a long time ago.

Much more entertaining game this but it's all a bit keystone cops!

I think Scotland took the wrong message when folk were saying they only get properly fired up for England games.

Can you all check under your sofas, England's defence might be there as they don't appear to be at Murrayfield today.

VdM, he's got incredible pace, great player.

As an England fan this is making awkward watching.

Great kick by Russell, but a bit of a jammy bounce

Scoreline right. England are terrible, Scotland playing not as well as they could. Great tries by VDM but they shouldn’t have been allowed to happen, Englands Defense has been narrow all tournament.

The Borthwick Era seems to be coming to pass as the coaching ability to make a team less talented than the sum of its parts.

A lot of this game could have been played with the benny hill theme tune
So many handling errors

That’s the best Welsh try today 😉

England would have trouble catching a cold today…

And the first missed conversion by a Scottish fly half

I have to say, Scotland were absolutely clinical in punishing England's mistakes.

Entertaining game, Scotland took their chances. Some positives for England but too many silly errors.

England are all muscle and no flair as is traditional.

World Beaters found out I think. They’re like melting butter in the face of a bit of decent passing sometimes. Earl and Itoje awful. Thoroughly deserved win.

Good warm up for the triple crown decider, stronger test next week to continue the fine tuning.

Who claimed England were world beaters? Put the snide comments away and talk on the rugby. Scotland were class today - I love watching VdM in full flow. I’m glad that England are trying new players and different systems. Too many handling errors and the blitz is definitely a work in progress. As was said in commentary, SA took 16 games to learn it properly according to FJ.

Oh, I thought that was an accepted nickname for England on STW rugby threads. Sorry if it’s upset you. I promise I won’t use it again.*

* until the 2024/25 thread.

stronger test next week

Come on duckers, don’t be mean.

It was in jest Dan, but in all fairness; every year we get the usual crap here about how we aren’t good, England just didn’t play well. Papers tomorrow will be full of it as well. Look on the bright side, you definitely won the celebrating-winning-a-line-out contest. PS; crusader costumes; what the actual?

Also won celebrating an opposition knock on contest.

Andy Brace is an Itoje fanboi. Should have been penalized a lot more. Told him three times in one "ruck" to get out, he didn't and England turned the ball over.

this england team is by far the worst i have ever seen. just poor in all aspects of the game.
scotland played well after the first 10 minutes. but englands gash performance made them look very very good.

this england team is by far the worst i have ever seen.

Blimey, you must be younger than you look. Dusty Hare, Marcus Rose?

Too soon?

Is anyone watching the Wigan v Penrith league game? It seems like a lot gets referred to the video ref but I'm enjoying how decisive he is!
Puts that Scotland call into perspective..

I think that was a poor Scotland performance but I'll take playing poorly and winning over being plucky losers any day of the week.

Watched the Wigan/Penrith game for the 2nd 1/2. What struck me was how poor quality the video refs angles seemed to be. Not much choice and not very clear when slowed down.

Scotland were ok but not great but actually pretty ruthless with taking points when they got a chance.

play to your full potential today and win

Oh well I got one part right.

Fairly uninspiring first half, Italy playing reasonably well. French not so much..

Big 5 minutes now

Blimey....what has happened to France?

I read somewhere that Sean Edwards has become very isolated in the coaching team.

Oh my!!

What an end to the game! So close

Bloody hell….

Gutted

Damn!!

Cruel.

Fabien Galthie should consider himself very very lucky to be 1 1/2 from 3 instead of 0 from 3.

Ginger, plays for Super Dooper Rugby team The Highlanders, Scotland should try poaching him!

https://twitter.com/StanSportRugby/status/1761289522925523296/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1761289522925523296&currentTweetUser=StanSportRugby

I think France infringed at the Italian penalty. And another one should have been awarded. Really really felt for Garbisi. Getting seconds to kick the re-placed ball. 😢

I think France infringed at the Italian penalty.

Thought the same. Clock should've reset, but then after England/Wales it seems like anything goes

I’m not disagreeing nick, but I think the rules for conversions and penalties are different. Conversions can be charged once the player starts his or her run up. Whereas penalties, the defending side have to remain “motionless”, arms by their side etc. There was definitely a run by a French player once Garbisi went to take the kick. I don’t know to be honest. It would need a look at the laws.

but then after England/Wales it seems like anything goes

Bless, still struggling with the idea of approaching the ball in any direction as the law states 😄😄😄

Blimey….what has happened to France?

Some Irish pundits have been blaming it on their immediate return to full Pro 14 commitments after the World Cup. The Irish players had a month off before returning to training with the provinces IIRC.

The Irish players had a month off before returning to

.....Leinster.

It would need a look at the laws.

Looks to me like it should have been retaken, and not only that moved 10m closer. If that really is the case pretty then gutting for Italy.

It's done Wales a favour a kept them off the wooden spoon spot though.

Would appear certain circles are questioning DvdM's eligibility to play for Scotland, conveniently ignoring the players in their own national squads who may not actually even hold a UK passport.

I'll see your VdM and raise you a Feyi Waboso

https://twitter.com/i/status/1761746441112867040

Would appear certain circles are questioning DvdM’s eligibility to play for Scotland, conveniently ignoring the players in their own national squads who may not actually even hold a UK passport

Yeah, ignoring the fact that NZ Maori capped Roots qualified for a home nation WHILE PLAYING IN WALES. Or the unfortunate fact that Tuilagi accidentally forgot to get citizenship. But maybe it could just be because we capped DVM on the wing and England capped Lesley Vainikolo on the wing.....As a Gloucester fan, those were tough times, good when he was bothered brutal the rest.

Blimey….what has happened to France?

There was definitely a run by a French player once Garbisi went to take the kick. I don’t know to be honest. It would need a look at the laws

Indeed, but if you go by the Laws, you can't ruck like this:
[img] [/img]
Law 15.3 Players involved in all stages of the ruck must have their heads and shoulders no lower than their hips.

Swings n roundabouts eh!

Scotland still have far more foreign born players than England. I’m old fashioned enough to think that the residency rules thing should be binned, or at the very least you should have been in the country for a considerable portion of your life.

Bundee Aki started his answer to a question in his post match interview with “Ah sure, look…”

He’s integrated! 😂

I’m old fashioned enough to think that the residency rules thing should be binned, or at the very least you should have been in the country for a considerable portion of your life.

That would be the end of the six nations as a credible tournament.On the basis that two nations would have many more rugby players to pick from than the others.

England have been using it since the days of exiled Russian Princes.

Rhys I couldn't get in a dog shit Scarlets team last season Patchel.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7AppkPGpHR4&pp=ygURSGlnaGxhbmRlcnMgYmx1ZXM%3D

Patchell is absolute class and an all round good guy from what I've seen of him. Glad he's having well earned success in NZ.
To be fair to the Scarlets, wasn't it injuries that kept him out of contention?

Good luck to Ospreys tonight.

Anyone watching the sevens? Got very fit playing it for a few years.

A fit Patchel back in the Wales team would be great next season.

Hogg arrested, looks like someone wound him up in a pub currently…..

Reports up here suggest it was the at the house of his ex wife. That’s after getting his mouth burst by his brother at Hogmanay. He got pelters at the game last week when they stuck him on the big screen.

Not that I feel much sympathy for him, but he sounds like he needs some help.

He's always been like that. Only half the shenanigans have made the papers.

Allegedly.

Patchell is absolute class and an all round good guy from what I’ve seen of him. Glad he’s having well earned success in NZ.

Agreed. He was at school with my kids and co-starred(?) with my daughter in the chapel nativity play. Patch firing on all cylinders would be a shoe in to the Welsh side atm.