Rugby 2023-24 World Cup Year!

Typical Scotland! England go and do you a favour by beating Ireland and you go and lose to Italy 🤦🏻‍♂️

Next weekend could be interesting…if Scotland can play for a whole game

Next weekend could be interesting…if Scotland can play for a whole game

What would happen if they did? It seems quite unlikely, they’ve not managed to play well for more than 40 minutes in any of their games so far. Can they potentially win the tournament, I’m not sure it’s possible? At least they can’t win the wooden spoon.
I wonder what odds I could get on Wales coming second?

I am afraid that’s just the difference between World Cup semi finalists and World Cup quarter finalists.*

*Stolen from Facebook.

Speaks volumes though that Ireland barely got going and only lost by one point on the final kick of the game.

Ireland turned up, they just didn’t have a answer for England. Fair enough not their finest game but not their recent worst either. England should have won by 6+ points really. They left so many points on the table from wayward kicking, whereas Ireland took 100% of their points scoring opportunities and still came up short.

The whole 6N has been dull up until the second half of the France/Italy match. And that went the wrong way due to a crap ref.

Both this weekends matches so far were thrilling rugby, and could have gone either way. That’s more like it!

And as a George Ford fan, it was troubling to see him so out of sorts when kicking; he’s always so steady. Maybe Smith on the bench rattled him

I think we need to win by over 40 points against Ireland and for England to lose or draw.

Mathematically possible I think.

I’ve just seen a twitter clip of Smith’s DG, and then went back to look at highlights. Two things struck me from the last passage of play. England had a penalty out wide that was very missable, but could play with some freedom, but I’d still have Ireland as favourites at that point, just.

In the attacks back close to the posts Furbank ran into trouble and I thought was going to get done for holding on. Two England forwards, Itoje I think and another absolutely bust a gut from the previous breakdown to get in there and clear out. Total underdog desire.

The second may be moot because then someone gave a daft penalty away that was barely missable so the DG was then a free shot, but the Ireland charge down was woeful. Sure they’re knackered after 80 mins of tough rugby but in that moment I wonder if Ireland are going soft and think they deserve to win games.

Ireland have way more quality and experience, they’ve got to make sure they don’t lose the hunger.

The English defence caused Ireland problems. They pressured Lowe who lies deep but can clear a long ball. There were signs against Scotland that the style of defence causes teams problems, but they failed to build on a bright start in that game and Scotland took stock and do what they do well.

Ireland are a multiphase team who are comfortable on the ball or without the ball for long periods, and are good at dealing with pressure. England are right on the edge with their speed and get it wrong and teams will blow them apart, they just about got it right this week and we’re more accurate.

The other thing was they played a bit more and the back line has more threats in it, so reading the defence is a bit harder. They also carried better and in Martin have a player of serious grunt which has been missing.

Delighted as I am, I really like this Ireland team and love watching them and feel they deserved going back to back. I would have been happy to see the evolvement in England and Ireland win in some ways. There will be too much hype around the result and it is just the start, one win and all of that. Ireland are the benchmark and it has taken them quite a while to be where they are, and as has just happened the top teams are all capable of a performance to cause an upset.

Two brilliant games of Rugby.  I think most people would have expected both games to go the other way.

Fair play to Italy the have improved massively, both their centres had brilliant games.

Someone needs to explain to Scotland that rugby games are 80 minutes long  there isn’t a 20 minute break after half time.

It’s turned out as a proper competitive 6 nations – a real levelling of the teams in post world cup phase. Even Ireland showing weakness against a well constructed game plan and hard pressing physical defence.

Disappointing for Ireland maybe, but need to be challenged to improve and remain competitive against NZ and SA

@gauss1777 I believe we need to beat Ireland by 39 points Let’s say that is ahem “fairly unlikely” but better to approach any game no matter how difficult with even a little hope rather than resignation.

At least it makes it clear there is no excuse for anything other than flat out for 80 minutes (plus one stoppage).

And as a George Ford fan, it was troubling to see him so out of sorts when kicking; he’s always so steady.

As a Falcons supporter I think its excellent 😉

At least it makes it clear there is no excuse for anything other than flat out for 80 minutes (plus one stoppage).

Ben Earl… 80 mins at 100%. The guys a machine. Well deserved motm.

I hate it when defences are on top 😳

Perfect 6 nations weekend! 🍻

Wales just ran out of juice after 60 minutes

Wales just ran out of juice after 60 minutes

They bought on experience and quality, we bought on some kids .oh well…..Italy next, what could possibly go wrong!

Ollivon is my new man crush, tall, dark with an immaculate beard. Oh yeah; and bloody good at rugby. Place to crash in Paris and I bet he has cracking taste in wine, what’s not to like?

what’s not to like?

Has he got a Scottish gràndad? If so get him selected!

So we could I think still have any one of four teams win the 6N as we head into the last weekend (ok my money’s on the lads in green) but am I right in thinking the wooden spoon is claimed?

EDIT – nope a bonus point win for the Welsh would get 2nd spot.

but am I right in thinking the wooden spoon is claimed?

Nailed on for quite a while.

Didn’t get to see the Wales game as we are on holiday. However my daughter and her fiance did as they were in the choir that sang the anthems. A perk of winning the National Eisteddfod. #prouddad #CorLundain

George North to retire from international rugby after the weekend 😟😟😟

George is blubbering – I fear he won’t be the only one come the end 😱

Hope he has a great game.

Italy are getting stronger all the time though, this could be ugly.

Getting beaten by a better team….sadly

It’s a shame there’s no relegation in 6 nations, I think I’d sooner see Wales play Portugal.

Lucky not to be 20 points behind at halftime.

If we had a ten worthy of the name we’d just spend all game and try and force errors. We certainly are not running through them

Emphatic. Lovely try.

Surely both need a HIA FFS?!?!

Apologies for this. Imo it’s important to be aware of this though
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/mar/14/first-professional-rugby-union-player-cte-billy-guyton

Italy have played very well, good on em!!

Yep, Italy were way better…Wales clueless for 70 minutes

Edit That will teach me to trust anything Jonathan Davies says. .. don’t know where he was getting his maths from.

Didn’t deserve the spoon. Let off for Wales.

??

Let off for Wales.

Huh?

The whole 6N has been dull up until the second half of the France/Italy match. And that went the wrong way due to a crap ref.

You should try Formula 1 for some perspective on boring. Theres not many sports where you know the champion before the season starts. Or where over 86% of races in a single season were won by one driver.

Pathetic. Nothing to add except Italy totally deserved that.

It was Andrew Cotter who said the thing about the wooden spoon, not Jiffy

Keenan out. Larmour in. Jack Crowley with a strapped up knee. Starting to rain. Eeek.