la la lah
England are still unbeaten 8)
la la lah
la la lah

Both games yesterday were far, far more exciting!

Oh yeah, Wales-Scotland was a thriller (in the last 10 mins anyway), but I always want England to play well and.. well, just long for the days when the ball would go Andrew->Carling->Goscott->Underwood…
Did Underwood EVER KICK the bloody ball back into the oppostion hands?!

Well if we play like that in a fortnight, Ireland will hand our arses to us on a plate, I dare not contemplate what the French will do us at the end of March.
If France can maintain the same level of play we saw this weekend, they'll take the Slam, but we know all to well how hot and cold they can be.

just long for the days when the ball would go Andrew->Carling->Goscott->Underwood…
Did Underwood EVER KICK the bloody ball back into the oppostion hands?!

You really have got rose tinted specs on, haven't you Dez?

I rememer England being more of a 10 man team back then than they are now – it's just that the forwards of the Carling era had more intelligence, grunt and dog about them so occasionally they could open up.

Even in the process of putting record scores on Wales, Ireland, Scotland, whoever, they rarely looked exciting.

In fact, I'd go so far as to say that in all of my time watching rugy, 'exciting' hasn't been a word to describe England.

Perhaps what you are really missing is an England team who just beat the other home nations on a regular basis because those other Celtic countries were so appallingly bad?

It was a narrow victory. It was exciting due to the timing of the scores but ultimately scotland suffered injuries to 2 of their better players and had 2 sin-binned. So hardly a massive feat in just beating an injured and depleted side who easily had the better first half.
from the telegraph;

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/wales/7230294/Wales-31-Scotland-24-match-report.html
guardian;

So, what papers exactly are you reffering to?

The times report was written by a GOLF correspondent!
The observer online are displaying the guardian article.
I'm a rugby fan and was rooting for wales on sat but it wasn't a good game in so much that for 70 minutes, it was scotland grinding out a lead and wales playing like they did last week. Except the french, I haven't seen much good rugby so far this tournament. The SH must be laughing at us IMHO.
And the world cup final was significantly better quality than saturday was 😀
EDIT, maybe not 70 minutes 50 would be closer

Who cares what the SH think, not every game in the Tri Nations is a classic, some get played in Dunnedin

+1
The Trinations last year was generally described as being very poor quality, iirc? SA ground out wins in 10 man fashion and did their best not to entertain.

I recommend you find some fun in your rugby I can understand how frustrated you must feel after watching the match in Rome.

+1 again.

A pity that the English fans don't do the travelling on the scale that the other nations do. The weekend I had in Rome 3 years ago stands out as one of the best trips away I've ever had, rugby or not. Pity about the absurd end to the game, but let's face it, the rugby was only the justification for a great weekend away.

No, remember that the English boys have their own curriculum of drugs and doing dodgy things to women in hotel rooms? Stealing golf carts is nowhere near as interesting.

bollocks
Well argued 🙂

DezB, couldn't have put it better myself!!

I do think the press are being a bit too harsh on Eng. We had more scoring opertunities than Italy, and really should have put away at least 2 more of them. However it was more lively than of recent times, but still a bit sporadic. I think Jerry Guscott has got to work out what he wants though. In the autumn it was win at all costs, now he want a win with style. Personally I will happily take the win, and hope we continue to improve. We will have to improve quite a bit before Twickenham in 2 weeks though

I agree DezB. Sounds like we're roughly the same age, and I'm feeling the same about watching the game.

I'll watch any rugby, live or on TV, but the most entertaining stuff I've seen this season is Swansea RFC, a semi-pro team, probably because defences are looser and fitness drops off a bit sooner n the game making it more open.

1-2 boxkicks per game? You didn't have Rob Jones in your team did you? I grew up on a diet of them!

Still, the old stuff on ESPN Classic keeps me entertained. And the Sevens is on Sky Sports today. 🙂
(just so it's not all whinging from me)

Thanks, Pigface. It's how I came to the O's as well, father's family from Swansea. Will give 'em a call….!

Mongo dropped like a stone. Good.

Capt Flash I know – tongue in cheek remark.

I see Flannery has been cited for a wee trip on the French winger.

Well I know Mongo had to go but I for one will miss him, not because he is a great player because he isnt but because Rugby needs characters.

I know he broke the law and is a thick as a brick but he reminds me of the amateur game where fun and enjoyment was the reason people played.

Talking of trips – Godman on Lee Byrne: “The referee was a bit late with his decision. The Welsh players have put their hands up and he’s given it. I did not trip him. I did not block him.”

Scotland coach Andy Robinson backed his player’s version of events, saying: “I think he (Byrne) dived. There was no contact made by Phil and to lose in that manner is very hard to take…"

Was there any replay of that? I didn't see one.