View Full Version : Official Six Nations thread - 2006
Radiohead
18-01-2006, 18:20
Well folks, the 4th Feb see the start of this year's 6 Nations shindig, with the opening match between England and Wales at Twickenham promising to be a cracker. Wales will be looking to repeat last year's super win over the World Champs, and England determined to get the new campaign off to a flyer at home. Wales are without some big names (Henson, Cockbain, Morgan, Ryan Jones et al), and England have the pack but are still looking for the right combination to spark in the backs. They welcomed Dallalgio back today, but will he make the starting XV?
As ever, I'll predict the outcome well before it starts and get it horribly wrong. So:
1st France
2nd England
3rd Wales
4th Ireland
5th Scotland
6th Italy
What say you?
neilmack
18-01-2006, 18:30
My prediction is:
1st - Wales (I am welsh and ever the optomist)
2nd - France
3rd - Ireland
4th - England
5th - Scotland
6th - Italy
Although i don't think there will be a grand slam again this year, maybe just the triple crown for the mighty welsh! And hopefully the calcutta cup to Scotland! :clap:
Radiohead
18-01-2006, 18:48
Good to see some ever-hopeful Welshmen.
1. Ireland
2. France
and the rest i don't really care! (i'm half irish, half french)
seriously, i doubt ireland will win, but all i ask for is that we beat england. i will be in england at the time, possibly even at twickers if i can get tickets, and that's all i care about!
With our home games being played at Croke Park this campaign I am going to go with
1. France
2. England
3. Ireland
4. Wales
5. Scotland
6. Italy
Nothing new really, cant see us winning in England
With our home games being played at Croke Park this campaign I am going to go with
1. France
2. England
3. Ireland
4. Wales
5. Scotland
6. Italy
Nothing new really, cant see us winning in England
That looks to be about right to me, possibly switching Ireland and Wales. For the first time in a few years, the 'pressure' on Ireland to come out on top or challenge for it has declined following a not so great 2005 for the national and provincial teams compared to previous build ups. Perhaps I have guaged it all wrong though!
StephenM
19-01-2006, 08:45
With our home games being played at Croke Park this campaign I am going to go with
1. France
2. England
3. Ireland
4. Wales
5. Scotland
6. Italy
Nothing new really, cant see us winning in England
I am fairly sure that Croke Park is available next year (2007 Six Nations), but not this year.
GreyJackal
19-01-2006, 08:50
Aaah, that's what the news was last night - tellies in the gym but I didn't have any headphones with me to plug in and see why Captain Coke's features were all over the box.
I think Ireland will beat us to be honest.
1st France
2nd Ireland
3rd England
4th Wales
5th Scotland
6th Italy
I'll place Scotland at 4th place......................
:)
wolfkiller
20-01-2006, 16:23
England
France
Scotland
Wales
Ireland
Italy
Having seen the way the French pack was demolished by NZ and the fact that England didn't buckle leaves me very positive about this fixture. If Lewsey and/or Abbott get selected in the centre then no worries.
My England 15 for the Six Nations:
Front row: Sheridan Thompson Stevens - Give Chuter, Mears and Freshwater a start in one game and a half in another - we've got to know if these guys have got 'it'
Second row: Grewcock Borthwick Shaw, Deacon and Brown to get at least a game
Back row: Worsley Sanderson Corry Dallaglio to rotate with Corry in at least one game, 20 mins at end of every other game. Worsley tried in one game at 7. Lund to start against Italy.
Scrum half: Ellis Richards to start one game, Dawson as impact sub
Fly half: Hodgson Barkley
Centres: Abbott and Noon Lewsey HAS to be tested here sooner rather than later, like Umaga, centre could be his best position.
Wings: Voyce Cueto Varndell must be given serious game time, Cohen to get the odd run out from the bench
Full back: Lewsey van Gisbergen must be tried. Barkley and Goode should be looked at as backup options.
Ireland 2nd last ? I am willing to bet 5 thousand euros that it wont happen
Radiohead
21-01-2006, 07:17
seriously, i doubt ireland will win, but all i ask for is that we beat england. i will be in england at the time, possibly even at twickers if i can get tickets, and that's all i care about!
Bizarre, I'd have thought you'd want to beat the reigning champions more....
neilmack
21-01-2006, 08:59
Bizarre, I'd have thought you'd want to beat the reigning champions more....
...and i have only 2 more weeks to probably say that too!! ;)
Us "celts" always stick together and want to beat the English - they're the most arrogant! :lol:
(Not all of them of course - i seem to remember bumping into a decent bloke once)
Radiohead
21-01-2006, 09:08
Yawn...
Vulcan101
21-01-2006, 09:39
You can't predict the outcome of this 6 nations based on the winter internationals; Wales had a lot of injuries and it showed in how they performed.
Still think the order will be -
1) Wales
2) Ireland
3) England
4) France
5) Italy
6) Scotland
having said that I suspect no-one will achieve a grand slam this year.
Radiohead
21-01-2006, 12:15
France 4th - that's crazy IMO.
Vulcan101
22-01-2006, 15:48
Well TBH the French are so wackily inconsistent they could either get a grand slam or the wooden spoon but I am betting on them languishing mid-table.
Radiohead
22-01-2006, 15:58
I can't agree with that at all, can't see them finishing worse than second, and their form players are warming up nicely in the Heinekn Cup.
1) France
2) Ireland
3) England
4) Wales
5) Scotland
6) Italy
At the moment that's how I would put it but I wouldn't be surprised if Wales get the wooden spoon.
If O'Driscol plays like he did today Ireland will win it. He was amazing today :)
Radiohead
22-01-2006, 16:11
If O'Driscol plays like he did today Ireland will win it. He was amazing today :)
He was superb wasn't he.
He was superb wasn't he.Yep, the backs for leinster were brilliant today but he was outstanding. Can't help but think he would have made a difference to the Lions cause had he been playing.
Still I think France have an amazing squad at the moment and as most of their squad are playing really well at club level they will be the favourites. England might have a chance but they are really inconsistant.
Ireland have a shot some of the players brought in during the autumn tests looked good and with O'Driscol, Horgan, Murphy and D'Arcy back to form they could have a decent 6 nations.
Don't think there will be a grand slam this year but watch out for the savior of Welsh rugby to have an horrible series and then blame it on the management. I think Wales are on a downturn at the moment and they wont do well this year.
GreyJackal
23-01-2006, 09:33
Might be getting hospitality to England v Wales :D
Radiohead
23-01-2006, 09:38
I hate you.
GreyJackal
27-01-2006, 09:07
Aaaaand got.
:D
That does present something of a dilemma on the camera front though - free booze is never conducive to steady shots :D.
Actually...although I've never had problems with the 300D and 75-300 for example, there might be issues with my 400 and Manfrotto.
Radiohead
27-01-2006, 16:28
Allow me to go with my new 70-200VR in your place.
Six Nations Winners: ENGLAND.
tknapton
30-01-2006, 02:04
Has anyone else entered the scrum.com fantasy six nations comp?
Radiohead
30-01-2006, 06:37
No, but I will now
:D
Radiohead
30-01-2006, 12:09
Martin Corry has been named in a revised 27-man England squad by coach Andy Robinson despite missing Leicester's match at the weekend.
England captain Corry has shaken off a rib injury and takes his place in the squad alongside Lawrence Dallaglio.
Promising youngsters Tom Varndell and Magnus Lund have been sent to join the England A squad.
Robinson will name his 22-man squad for Saturday's Six Nations opener against Wales on Tuesday.
Robinson originally named a 36-man training group to prepare for the Six Nations.
Of that group Olly Barkley (dislocated thumb), Pat Sanderson (back), George Chuter (knee sprain) and Mark van Gisbergen (foot sprain) are ruled out by injury.
Louis Deacon, Perry Freshwater and Stuart Abbott join Vardnell and Lund for Friday's A game in Italy.
Varndell's Leicester team-mate Lewis Moody remains in the frame to face Wales despite playing only 40 minutes since he was suspended for nine weeks after being sent off for punching in the November international against Samoa.
He will be competing for a back row spot with Dallaglio, who moves another step closer to playing for England for the first time since he quit international rugby in 2004.
Moody and Wasps flanker Joe Worsley are believed to be the likeliest players to join Corry in the starting back row against Wales, although Dallaglio remains in line for a place in the 22.
In the backs Gloucester's James Simpson-Daniel makes the cut, along with Wasps winger Tom Voyce.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/4660626.stm
England 27-man squad:
Backs: J Lewsey (Wasps), M Cueto (Sale Sharks), B Cohen (Northampton), T Voyce (Wasps), J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), M Tindall (Gloucester), J Noon (Newcastle), C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), A Goode (Leicester), M Dawson (Wasps), H Ellis (Leicester), P Richards (Gloucester).
Forwards: A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), M Stevens (Bath), J White (Leicester), S Thompson (Northampton), L Mears (Bath), S Borthwick (Bath), A Brown (Gloucester), S Shaw (Wasps), D Grewcock (Bath), C Jones (Sale Sharks), J Worsley (Wasps), L Moody (Leicester), J Forrester (Gloucester), L Dallaglio (Wasps), M Corry (Leicester, capt).
----
That says to me he's playing Tinds and JSD as centres, with Noon on the bench (or him starting with JSD on the bench. I hope, for the sake of pace and flair, it's the former. Like you, I cannot see why JSD gets the nod over Abbott. He's done nothing of note this season, whereas Abbott has been making scores in no space. To me, it looks very unlikely that Lewsey will play at centre - there at limited options at full-back with Van Gis injured, so it is either him or Voyce.
wolfkiller
30-01-2006, 13:33
That says to me he's playing Tinds and JSD as centres, with Noon on the bench (or him starting with JSD on the bench. I hope, for the sake of pace and flair, it's the former. Like you, I cannot see why JSD gets the nod over Abbott. He's done nothing of note this season, whereas Abbott has been making scores in no space. To me, it looks very unlikely that Lewsey will play at centre - there at limited options at full-back with Van Gis injured, so it is either him or Voyce.
From the weekend reports it sounds as though Mike Catt completely bossed Tindall in the Gloucs vs Ldn Irish game. Does not bode well if we pick the big lump on Saturday.
Everytime I start to get positive about England's chances Andy Robinson delivers another mortal blow. No Abbott, no Lund, no Varndell. They're the form players FFS.
We've got Moody who's only played 38 mins since November and still managed to get sin-binned or experiment with Worsley and that's all our openside options for the Wales game. :oh-hum:
Sinbad clearly has a video of Robinson with Faria Alam or something to get himself in ahead of Abbott (no way is JSD a better centre) and Varndell and on form he's not worth a bench spot ahead of either Voyce or Cohen. With Barkley out we should have picked the only genuine Inside Centre in the squad.
What I now expect Robinson's staring line-up to be.
Sheridan Thompson Stevens
Grewcock Borthwick
Worsley Moody Corry
Ellis
Hodgson
Tindall Noon
Cohen Cueto
Lewsey
Not my choice but I wouldn't even be surprised if Dawson started instead of Ellis or Dallaglio started at Blind.
Robinson doesn't seem to have the balls to make the brave decisions. If he could have picked the exact 15 that started against NZ he probably would. Sap
wolfkiller
31-01-2006, 10:16
Andy Robinson is due to name his 22 players to face Wales today and while I'm confident that whatever side we put out will beat Wales at Twickenham I've lost any confidence I ever had in Robinson's ability to bring the team forward.
I'm almost hoping for a Wales win to put an end to his tenure at the England helm. It's almost as bad as when Graham Taylor was in charge of the soccer team. Both men promoted way above their ability.
Radiohead
31-01-2006, 10:25
I would KILL to have Brian Ashton in charge.
wolfkiller
31-01-2006, 10:38
I can only hope that we beat Wales (or should that be Wales A, with their injury list) and it gives Robinson the confidence to bring players in.
The England A squad has arguably the better backline with Abbott and Jon Clarke or Ollie Smith in the centres and Varndell, Sackey and Vesty in the back three. With a back row of Beattie, Rees and Lund they should destroy Italy A.
Our strength in depth is certainly not a problem.
I wonder if Hodgson will finally be able to perform for England at Twickenham. I think he has been brilliant this season. I saw him play last week and he was in total controll of the game.
I think Ireland being complete underdogs is a good thing this year. The expectation on them last season killed the team. Everything is again them this year though, 3 away games including France and England. But I think we will win it :)
I don't think any team will be able to get a grand slam this year. In fact other than France winning I think behind that it's all open.
Radiohead
31-01-2006, 10:57
France clear Grand-Slam winners in my opinion. I can't see Ireland winning it, even with their recent HC games.
Scotland team for France this Sunday:
Full team: H Southwell (Edinburgh Gunners), C Paterson (Edinburgh Gunners), M Di Rollo (Edinburgh Gunners), A Henderson (Glasgow Warriors), S Lamont (Northampton Saints), D Parks (Glasgow Warriors), M Blair (Edinburgh Gunners), G Kerr (Leeds Tykes), D Hall (Edinburgh Gunners), B Douglas (Border Reivers), A Kellock (Edinburgh Gunners), S Murray (Edinburgh Gunners), J White (Sale Sharks, captain), S Taylor (Edinburgh Gunners), A Hogg (Edinburgh Gunners).
Substitutes: S Lawson (Glasgow Warriors), C Smith (Edinburgh Gunners), S MacLeod (Border Reivers), J Petrie (Glasgow Warriors), C Cusiter (Border Reivers), G Ross (Leeds Tykes), S Webster (Edinburgh Gunners).
wolfkiller
31-01-2006, 11:34
France clear Grand-Slam winners in my opinion.
Can't see it myself. France at home against Wales last year is a case in point. They destroyed Wales in the first half in every department, except the one that really matters, the scoreboard.
If you can withstand the initial onslaught and I have every reason to believe the England pack can, then they could be there for the taking. The home fans are very quick to get on their backs.
Why the hell is Varndell in the A squad?
The England manager is a knob, he just seems to be SCWII.
mobile-spares
31-01-2006, 11:42
I wonder if Hodgson will finally be able to perform for England at Twickenham. I think he has been brilliant this season. I saw him play last week and he was in total controll of the game.
Interesting to see what he said in the Guardian - http://sport.guardian.co.uk/sixnations2006/story/0,,1698546,00.html
His own place is assured - but Hodgson pulls an incredulous face at a recent description of him as "the darling of Twickenham". "I find that hard to believe. I don't know whether Twickenham will ever warm to me. It's our home crowd and 60,000 people are meant to be supporting England, but it often feels like you're being abused by them. I find that very strange. Of course spectators are entitled to their opinion, but the amount of groans that come out of that place is unbelievable.
'I really notice it because Twickenham is usually very quiet. It's almost as if they expect brilliant rugby and if it's not happening there's no atmosphere whatsoever. Most home teams have crowds screaming and cheering for them. Twickenham's just a weird place and it seems as if more and more people are there on corporate deals. The true fans aren't getting tickets and the people you get at Twickenham are often drinking, watching in silence and then becoming abusive when one or two things go wrong."
Hodgson eyes the whirring cassette in front of him. "I don't know whether I should say all that stuff!" he grins, before pressing on to reveal that "I'd actually rather play at the Millennium Stadium - even when I'm getting stick from the Welsh fans."
I have never been to watch a game at Twickers so can't comment on the atmosphere there but the atmosphere in the MS never ceases to amaze me.
Radiohead
31-01-2006, 11:42
Can't see it myself. France at home against Wales last year is a case in point. They destroyed Wales in the first half in every department, except the one that really matters, the scoreboard.
If you can withstand the initial onslaught and I have every reason to believe the England pack can, then they could be there for the taking. The home fans are very quick to get on their backs.
Michalak, Jauzion, Fritz et al aren't exactly short of pace or venom. I don't fear their pack, but I can't say the same about the backs. And Nyanga terrifies me full-stop.
IF, and it's always an IF with France, they turn up, I believe they'll turn everyone over this year.
Radiohead
31-01-2006, 12:16
Ireland team to face Italy (and annihilate them) this Saturday:
Ireland: G Murphy (Leicester); S Horgan (Leinster), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain), G D'Arcy (Leinster), T Bowe (Ulster); R O'Gara (Munster), P Stringer (Munster); M Horan (Munster), J Flannery (Munster), J Hayes (Munster), M O'Kelly (Leinster), P O'Connell (Munster), S Easterby (Llanelli), D Wallace (Munster), D Leamy (Munster).
Replacements: R Best (Ulster), S Best (Ulster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), J O'Connor (Wasps), E Reddan (Wasps), D Humphreys (Ulster), A Trimble (Ulster).
wolfkiller
31-01-2006, 12:31
Watch for Reddan to come on and oust Stringer for the rest of the tournament
mobile-spares
31-01-2006, 12:46
Fairly sure the Welsh team will be: G Thomas (capt) , M Jones, H Luscombe, M Watkins, S Williams, S Jones, D Peel, D Jones, R Thomas, A Jones, I Gough, R Sidoli, C Charvis, M Owen, M Williams. Replacements: L Byrne, C Sweeney, G Cooper, G Jenkins, M Davies, G Delve, A Popham
Radiohead
31-01-2006, 13:15
England team to play Wales at Twickenham on Saturday:
J Lewsey (Wasps); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), J Noon (Newcastle), M Tindall (Gloucester), B Cohen (Northampton); C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), H Ellis (Leicester); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), S Thompson (Northampton), M Stevens (Bath), S Borthwick (Bath), D Grewcock (Bath), J Worsley (Wasps), L Moody (Leicester), M Corry (capt, Leicester).
Replacements: L Mears (Bath), J White (Leicester), S Shaw (Wasps), L Dallaglio (Wasps), M Dawson (Wasps), A Goode (Leicester), T Voyce (Wasps).
Absolutely no surprises at all aside from Stevens getting the nod over White - doubtless we will see Moody/Dal swap for the last 20, would expect Worsley to move round and Dal to go at 6. Won't be suprised to see White on for the lasyt 20 if the Welsh pack are wobbling. Concerned at the lack of pace in cover on the bench. Voyce only...
AR wouldn't know flair if it rucked him to NZ.
Watch for Reddan to come on and oust Stringer for the rest of the tournament
bout time aswell. Springer has been under-performing for Ireland for a long time. The last time I can think he did anything good was when he tripped Jason Robinson a few years back.
wolfkiller
31-01-2006, 13:26
What I now expect Robinson's staring line-up to be.
Sheridan Thompson Stevens
Grewcock Borthwick
Worsley Moody Corry
Ellis
Hodgson
Tindall Noon
Cohen Cueto
Lewsey
Looks like I was absolutely spot on. Can't say I'm happy, though. :(
Radiohead
31-01-2006, 13:28
I just don't see how Cohen gets the nod over Voyce. I can't understand that decision.
wolfkiller
31-01-2006, 13:35
I just don't see how Cohen gets the nod over Voyce. I can't understand that decision.
can I refer you back to posts 1 - 45 concerning England?
mobile-spares
31-01-2006, 13:36
I just don't see how Cohen gets the nod over Voyce. I can't understand that decision.
He is AR secret love child. Wonder if he will know who Shane Williams is this time.
Radiohead
31-01-2006, 13:38
can I refer you back to posts 1 - 45 concerning England?
:lol:
Matholwch
31-01-2006, 13:54
Bit late to the predictions, but I reckon
1) France
2) England
3) Wales
4) Ireland
5) Scotland
5) Italy
The Irish may have been performing in the HK Cup, but in the Autumn Internationals they were pretty poor, so were Wales mind, but we still managed to beat Australia, whilst Ireland struggled (probably the missing O'Driscoll element).
Think Wales will hurt up front against England :(
Matholwch
01-02-2006, 09:10
Dafydd Jones receives a three match ban.
BBC report (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/4657710.stm)
Wales' Dafydd Jones will miss the first two Six Nations games this season after being banned for three weeks.
Jones was found guilty by a Welsh Rugby Union Disciplinary Sub-Committee of stamping on Ulster lock Matt McCullough in last Friday's Celtic League match.
The 26-year-old, who was sent off for the offence at Ravenhill, was set to be on the Wales bench for Saturday's Six Nations opener against England.
But flanker Jones will now be suspended until Tuesday, 20 February.
He joins centre Gavin Henson and lock Ian Evans in being suspended for the matches against England and Scotland eight days later.
The WRU's disciplinary panel reduced Jones' ban by a week because of the "player's remorse for his actions".
mobile-spares
01-02-2006, 11:32
Robinson is already defending his team selection - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/4667618.stm
I love this line - "We need to create the space where we can use our power."
Why exactly do you need power when in space, pace would surely be more useful! It might make more sense if he said we need to use our power to create space (for the fast guys).
It seems his idea of a expansive game plan is when you kick for touch instead of taking penalties at goal
Radiohead
02-02-2006, 12:00
http://www.boreme.com/boreme/funny-2006/o2video1-p1.php
o2 in not doing business in Wales shocker.
wolfkiller
03-02-2006, 20:02
England A 57 - 13 Italy A
Varndell 4 tries
Are you watching, Robinson?
Radiohead
03-02-2006, 21:44
England A 57 - 13 Italy A
Varndell 4 tries
:brickwall
Christ Ireland where ***** today. And The crowd at Lansdowne road was rubbish. I used to love going there for an Ireland game and the crowd was always amazing but lately they have been crap.
A lucky win for Ireland hopefully it will scare them a bit and they will wake up for the gamme next week. We have to do something against France if they backs play like that in Paris they will be murdered.
But a win is a win and they are off the mark.
SIMON ADEBISI
04-02-2006, 14:45
Damn, that was a crappy game from the lads. Very lucky to make it, referees decisions were a big help. O'Driscoll was a bad boy as well. Very unlike him.
Radiohead
04-02-2006, 16:16
Wow - what a performance from England. Masses of pressure to win that game and always looked to go forward. The pack were awesome, Dallalgio has such presence, Stevens was superb. Bodies. Everywhere.
I didn't expect a 47-13 win.
...I didn't expect a 47-13 win.
Yes they played very well, but the scoreline was quite harsh on Wales.
GreyJackal
04-02-2006, 23:23
I thought we were mediocre, frankly.
Wales didn't emerge from the dressing room for the second half - it was the yellow card that swung the game for us.
We scored a try while everyone was looking at a player going off for injury ferchrissakes...hardly the mark of an inspiring match.
Photos forthcoming tomorrow...
(The Italians gave the Irish a shock though :thumbs: Scots for the wooden spoon I reckon)
Excellent foward display, still coming up short in the backs. Hopefully the fixtures against Italy and Scotland will allow us to work on this and come the crunch matches we will be strong enough to beat France & Ireland.
Radiohead
05-02-2006, 07:20
I thought we were anything but mediocre, especially when you compare the performances of both teams to 12 months ago (rather than 3 years ago). You can only beat the team in front of you and we did that well.
Jod done, now to Rome.
Its day like these I love being English and living in Wales! Its oh so quiet this morning and not a red shirt in sight :D
Matholwch
05-02-2006, 09:02
The scoreline did flatter England somewhat, but they had some excellent offloading and interplay going on, definate improvement. I thought Wales played marvously first half, with two very close try scores before Martyn Williams' try. Thought that the sin binning was harsh, and should've only been a penalty.
England's forwards stepped forward yesterday, according to the stats they weighed 4.4kg more per man than Wales :eek:
Probably our Hair Bear Bros skew those figures quite dramatically, however they did manage to hold the scrum steady on occassions. I was a wee bit drunk by the second half, so please correct if the scrum was a shamble.
GreyJackal
05-02-2006, 14:49
Some piccies from yesterday's match :
http://www.badgersnaps.com/d/9305-2/9.jpg
http://www.badgersnaps.com/d/9306-2/10.jpg
http://www.badgersnaps.com/d/9308-2/12.jpg
http://www.badgersnaps.com/d/9314-2/18.jpg
http://www.badgersnaps.com/d/9316-2/20.jpg
(I like that last one, despite it being technically rubbish :D - Tindall's try)
Rest at BadgerSnaps (http://www.badgersnaps.com/v/sport/rugby/6nations06walesvengland/) as usual.
Matholwch
05-02-2006, 14:51
Nice photos GJ :)
Ahem.. is no-one watching the Scottish play their finest rugby in years, and making this so-called 'world's second best team' - the French - look decidedly atrocious!!!
:)
13-3 to Scotland at half-time! :clap:
Radiohead
05-02-2006, 15:02
Taxi for France!
:lol:
Well, well, well. What a superb performance from Scotland. Wales are in for a game next weekend.
Ah crap, I completely forgot about this game. Well done Scotland. Wooden spoon Wales?
Radiohead
05-02-2006, 15:42
:lol: at France!!!
Well done Scotland - brilliant performance.
DrZarkov
05-02-2006, 15:45
Outstanding performance from the Scots today.....magic stuff :)
:lol: at France!!!
Well done Scotland - brilliant performance.
We weren't too bad the day, eh? About time though!! :)
Nice to see Scotland stick to a game plan. Difference for me was the tempo and very fast passing. The scrummaging was just superb. :notworthy
mattwakeman
05-02-2006, 16:00
Fantastic stuff by Scotland but looks like France need some lessons in how to hold on to the ball!
What a wonderful game to watch. I knew that the focus and temperament of the Scottish dressing room had chnaged, but to see their game come together properly was great. The French did make mistakes, but if you look at the game stats, the mistakes, errors, missed lineouts etc were roughly even on both sides. Bottom line.. Scotland played better today, and deserved the win.
Yippee!!!!!!
Thought that the sin binning was harsh, and should've only been a penalty.
Red Tinted Glasses Perhaps :n0rty:
It was a clear sin bin offense, so blatantley in front of the ref, could have done a more serious injury :gag:
LiviLion
05-02-2006, 21:30
What a wonderful game to watch. I knew that the focus and temperament of the Scottish dressing room had chnaged, but to see their game come together properly was great. The French did make mistakes, but if you look at the game stats, the mistakes, errors, missed lineouts etc were roughly even on both sides. Bottom line.. Scotland played better today, and deserved the win.
Yippee!!!!!!
Our try early in the 2nd half was probably up there with one of the best we have scored in the last 10 years and should be up there with play of the tournament.
I'm sure normal service will be resumed soon but it was good to beat France again. :clap:
LL
GreyJackal
06-02-2006, 00:05
Red Tinted Glasses Perhaps :n0rty:
It was a clear sin bin offense, so blatantley in front of the ref, could have done a more serious injury :gag:
It was a cockup rather than deliberate I think. I managed to grab a couple of pics of it :
http://www.badgersnaps.com/d/9321-2/25.jpg
http://www.badgersnaps.com/d/9322-2/26.jpg
Matholwch
06-02-2006, 09:11
Ah crap, I completely forgot about this game. Well done Scotland. Wooden spoon Wales?
You never know could be. TBH I think Italy will come bottom of the pile again, they will feel desperately cheated by the Irish, revised standings could be:
1) England :( ;)
2) France (still think they can pull off something special)
3) Scotland
4) Wales
5) Ireland
6) Italy
Ireland were woeful on Saturday, but then again Italy might beat Wales... :cry:
No one in work wants to talk about rugby today :(. Funny that, couldn't shut 'em up on Friday! :D
DarthPearce
06-02-2006, 11:22
No one in work wants to talk about rugby today :(. Funny that, couldn't shut 'em up on Friday! :D
Same here, it's funny but last year everyone in the office (in Cardiff) wanted to speak to the English about the rugby!!
No one in work wants to talk about rugby today :(. Funny that, couldn't shut 'em up on Friday! :D
:lol: My dad can gloat for once at last, being a Scotsman working for a french company with 80% french workforce :D
GreyJackal
08-02-2006, 09:33
Got a couple of tickets for the Italy game this weekend in Rome in the Classifieds if anyone's interested.
Radiohead
09-02-2006, 11:00
Not a happy Welsh camp:
Henson wounds reopen in Wales squad
Evidence of disquiet in the Wales squad over the return of Gavin Henson emerged yesterday when the team threatened to boycott a media conference because of an article in the match programme for last Saturday's Six Nations opener against England that praised the centre.
The Wales squad refused to conduct interviews yesterday because of the presence of the journalist who had written the programme piece commending Henson, who is suspended for the opening two rounds of the championship, for his outspoken views.
Article continues
After an hour-long stand-off, the BBC Wales presenter Graham Thomas, who ghosted Henson's autobiography, parts of which upset the squad when it was published last October, agreed to leave the building at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. When he had departed, the players filed in for interview, but the storm raises the question whether Henson, who will be available for selection by Wales next week after serving a 51-day ban for elbowing, will be welcomed back into the fold.
The dispute started when the Wales captain Gareth Thomas walked into the room where the announcement of the team to face Scotland in Cardiff on Sunday was being held. He was due to share the top table with his coach, Mike Ruddock, but left when he noticed that Graham Thomas was present.
Ruddock held the media conference on his own while his captain was informing the players, who were eating lunch, that Graham Thomas had turned up, the day after the Wales manager Alan Phillips thought he had reached an agreement with BBC Wales that the journalist would stay away. Objections were also raised to an interview conducted with Stephen Jones by the BBC the day after the England match.
Thomas had written: "Honest opinion should be encouraged. Most players will continue to hide behind the bland sound-bite, the opinionless opinion. If there are a few who dare to be different, then supporters, sponsors and especially the media, should all be extremely grateful. It is difficult to see why Henson, a professional player in his early 20s who comes from a working class background, should feel constrained by a set of principles that have a distinct whiff of class, privilege and public schools."
It is understood that a member of the Wales management told the players to call off their protest and make themselves available for interview, but his order was ignored. Only the wing Mark Jones turned up, not having been in the restaurant when the boycott was agreed.
The demonstration raises problems for Wales with Henson available for selection for the final three championship matches. Henson held a clear-the-air meeting with the squad last November following the serialisation and publication of his autobiography and had to vigorously defend himself. There were some who privately wondered whether he could ever become part of the set-up again given the confidences they felt he had betrayed, but even in his absence - he was in South Africa last weekend - controversy rages.
http://sport.guardian.co.uk/sixnations2006/story/0,,1705550,00.html
GreyJackal
10-02-2006, 11:01
The dispute started when the Wales captain Gareth Thomas... left when he noticed that Graham Thomas was present.
Isn't that just a touch childish? :?:
Radiohead
10-02-2006, 12:14
He's apologised for that today - says it should have stayed private.
Cool.
Henson is a ****. Wales are better off without him. There is a bloke in my office who has a full on hard on for Henson (as does most of Wales) yet he hasn't really done anything to justify his hype. Lets see how he does against the Irish after some of the comments he made about them.
Anyway I am looking forward to tomorrow. Hopefully Ireland can step up after their woefull display last week, hopefully France will play exactly the same way they did last week.
I am also hoping Italy beat England (I know it won't happen but they Rugby gods may decide otherwise :)) that would be the upset of the tournament and would shut my boss up for a few minutes.
Matholwch
10-02-2006, 14:34
Well the season before the last 6 nations Henson was playing very good rugby week in week out at club level, and although he did have a few off games he was still a very good player, and is being missed as our centres are lacking since Shanks is injured and Sonny Parker (although he was running out of steam) retired.
I suspect that media hype, his missus and the grand slam have boosted his ego beyond his current capacity. Hopefully all of this grief will have brought him back down to earth.
ParaMite
10-02-2006, 21:54
Not strictly 6 Nations but c'mon glos! What a game!
If only James SD and Tindall were playing too!
Austin who?
Cool.
Henson is a ****. Wales are better off without him. There is a bloke in my office who has a full on hard on for Henson (as does most of Wales) yet he hasn't really done anything to justify his hype. Lets see how he does against the Irish after some of the comments he made about them.
Anyway I am looking forward to tomorrow. Hopefully Ireland can step up after their woefull display last week, hopefully France will play exactly the same way they did last week.
I am also hoping Italy beat England (I know it won't happen but they Rugby gods may decide otherwise :)) that would be the upset of the tournament and would shut my boss up for a few minutes.
Aaah yet another uninformed " rugby fan " making a judgement on what they read in the papers I guess , Henson was IRB ( World rugby ) young player of the year in 2001 , hmm wonder why he won that :thinking:
He also never made coments about Ireland but about O'Driscoll and he more or less said he was a viscious ******* after O'D tried to gouge his eyes and having seen O'D attempt a flying headbutt on a French player last year , stamp all over Cockbain away from the ball and last week again a few more nasty stamping incidents to name but a few I think I agree with what Henson said.
Take a look at this - http://www.planet-rugby.com/Off_The_Field/Laws_And_Referees/Law_Discussions/story_48831.shtml
I reckon it will finish like this -
France
England
Wales
Scotland
Ireland
Italy
Aaah yet another uninformed " rugby fan " making a judgement on what they read in the papers I guess , Henson was IRB ( World rugby ) young player of the year in 2001 , hmm wonder why he won that :thinking:
He also never made coments about Ireland but about O'Driscoll and he more or less said he was a viscious ******* after O'D tried to gouge his eyes and having seen O'D attempt a flying headbutt on a French player last year , stamp all over Cockbain away from the ball and last week again a few more nasty stamping incidents to name but a few I think I agree with what Henson said.
Take a look at this - http://www.planet-rugby.com/Off_The_Field/Laws_And_Referees/Law_Discussions/story_48831.shtml
So what if he was young player of the year in 2001? That was 5 years ago, so Welsh people are going to hold him up as the Jesus of welsh Rugby? When was the last time he did anything of anything of worth in Rugby? (and don't say he scored from the halfway line against England).
And I'm pretty sure Gavin Henson is currently banned for violent play :thinking: so your argument against O'D is a bit hypocritical.
Matholwch
11-02-2006, 00:08
I certainly don't hold him up as 'the saviour of Welsh rugby'. I just feel he has a lot of talent, just that he doesn't always manage to focus it. We'll see if he improves, he's still nowhere near the top of his game. Time will tell.
People could easily have argued the same about Wilko last year (Lions tour), and happily Hodgson has come of age, we'll see if Henson manages anything after all the hype.
As I said, you've probably only seen him on an international stage or the few HK matches he's played, he does (or rather did before injury/suspension) play well for his club.
Have to agree that Henson is one of the more overated players in world rugby. That coupled with the fact he has an Ego the size of the Millenium stadium and Twickenham put together just make me take a disliking to him.
Aaah yet another uninformed " rugby fan "
Is every body who disagrees with you going to "uninformed". stu_69 never mentioned his playing ability just said he was a **** which most people outside Wales would agree with and that Wales dont need players who think they are bigger than the team, and somehow he thinks he is superstar because he goes out with Church (and what, is she supposed to be hot or something :lol: ). If he sticks to playing rugby, which he good at - just overated because of profile, he'll be alright.
England, Scotland and Ireland wins this weekend I'm going for, looking foward to a last weekend decideder between England and Ireland at Twickenham :thumbs:
Radiohead
11-02-2006, 06:33
I think he's a bit dim myself, and has been very badly advised in the rush to market himself after the GS win last year. He's a good player, but not as good as he thinks. Yet.
It remains to be seen whether he ever will be.
Have to agree that Henson is one of the more overated players in world rugby. That coupled with the fact he has an Ego the size of the Millenium stadium and Twickenham put together just make me take a disliking to him.
Is every body who disagrees with you going to "uninformed". stu_69 never mentioned his playing ability just said he was a **** which most people outside Wales would agree with and that Wales dont need players who think they are bigger than the team, and somehow he thinks he is superstar because he goes out with Church (and what, is she supposed to be hot or something :lol: ). If he sticks to playing rugby, which he good at - just overated because of profile, he'll be alright.
England, Scotland and Ireland wins this weekend I'm going for, looking foward to a last weekend decideder between England and Ireland at Twickenham :thumbs:
Is every body who disagrees with you going to "uninformed" No just the ones who base their opinion on what they have seen of Henson in a few 6 nations & lions games last year when he was carrying a groin strain , I have been following his progress from when he started out with Swansea and there's no doubt about his rugby talent , he played quite an important part when the Ospreys won the Celtic league but I do think he is a bit of an ****hole as a person.
Ospreys appearances played 48 , 16 tries , 70 conversions ,120 penalties , 1 drop goal total points 583 :wave:
To say Wales don't need him is bull**** , think back to last weekend and honestly tell me that Matthew Watkins is an international class centre or even look at our cover for S Jones at 10
And I'm pretty sure Gavin Henson is currently banned for violent play :thinking: so your argument against O'D is a bit hypocritical.
O'D should also be currently banned for violent play but I guess it helps having an uncle on the IRB board :thumbs:
Is every body who disagrees with you going to "uninformed" No just the ones who base their opinion on what they have seen of Henson in a few 6 nations & lions games last year when he was carrying a groin strain , I have been following his progress from when he started out with Swansea and there's no doubt about his rugby talent , he played quite an important part when the Ospreys won the Celtic league but I do think he is a bit of an ****hole as a person.
Ospreys appearances played 48 , 16 tries , 70 conversions ,120 penalties , 1 drop goal total points 583 :wave:
To say Wales don't need him is bull**** , think back to last weekend and honestly tell me that Matthew Watkins is an international class centre or even look at our cover for S Jones at 10
Why do you seem to think I have only seen him in six nations games? I have seen him play in the celtic league and he has not played well for a good while. Also the Celtic league has like 3 decent teams at the moments and the rest are pub teams.
When you have finished spunking over your Gavin henson posters and opened your eyes to real rugby come back and argue for him.
And henson is still a ****.
Radiohead
11-02-2006, 11:51
Easy lads.
tknapton
11-02-2006, 12:17
IMO Henson is a good rugby player who has the potential to be a great player. At times he seems to glide through the air and have all the time to make his play.
What's getting in the way at the moment is his perceived ego and the press. He needs to focus on his rugby and not his image.
My Tip
1. England & France
3. Ireland
4. Scotland
5. Wales
6. Italy
Give us the wooden spoon now. We have forgotten how to play Rugby. We are just so predictable at the moment. /me crying
Radiohead
11-02-2006, 12:52
Christ, tough start mate, A point a minute at the moment.
Yup
This is the worst i have seen Ireland play ever. France defence is superb and giving them three tries from mistakes and one from 3 missed tackles isnt helping either. They could get 50 points
:cry:
Yup
This is the worst i have seen Ireland play ever. France defence is superb and giving them three tries from mistakes and one from 3 missed tackles isnt helping either. They could get 50 points
:cry:
Hell of a performance in the second half though!
Radiohead
11-02-2006, 14:02
This is some game - I would love to see France lose this.
This is some game - I would love to see France lose this.
Me and you both mate!! :thumbs:
Second half meant nothing to me. At one stage we where 43-3 down. Which says it all IMO, we are simply not good enough and havent being for the past two years.
I missed the first half of the Irish game as I was out shopping with the wife (it's her B'day this week) and I am glad I did. I saw the second half in a pub. What the hell happened. It looked to me like two crap team played each other and they each had a half.
Italy looked good against england though.
Game tomorrow should be good
Why do you seem to think I have only seen him in six nations games? I have seen him play in the celtic league and he has not played well for a good while. Also the Celtic league has like 3 decent teams at the moments and the rest are pub teams.
When you have finished spunking over your Gavin henson posters and opened your eyes to real rugby come back and argue for him.
And henson is still a ****.
Ahh arrogance and stupidity all in one package how efficient of you :cuckoo:
The only player that forces me to get my c*ck out is Ronan O'Dear as I am quite often ******* myself laughing when watching him , will the Ireland coach ever wake up to the fact that Humphreys is his best option at 10.
Opinions are like like arseholes, we've all got got one, some you like some you don't but there are some that should never ever be aired in public.
SIMON ADEBISI
11-02-2006, 20:32
will the Ireland coach ever wake up to the fact that Humphreys is his best option at 10.
I know you're right but as a Munster supporter it kills me to agree with you.
Ahh arrogance and stupidity all in one package how efficient of you :cuckoo:
The only player that forces me to get my c*ck out is Ronan O'Dear as I am quite often ******* myself laughing when watching him , will the Ireland coach ever wake up to the fact that Humphreys is his best option at 10.
Opinions are like like arseholes, we've all got got one, some you like some you don't but there are some that should never ever be aired in public.
What the **** are you on?
Why do you keep quoting my posts and then wasting my time by talking *****?
Granted Humphries maybe the better number 10 but why you have to say it in the most imature manner is beyond me.
How old are you?
Hensons so overrated and even his teammates hate him, ego the size of his sunbed bill.
Celtic league has what 3 decent teams, its like the scottish football league, i could shine in that league lmfao, he what kicked a long range goal and picked up a 3 stone england centre, big deal, every time he's played a team of any decent level he's looked average at best, when he was subbed on the lions tour as he walked off he looked like a player that had been found out, embarrased, shameful even.
Talking **** ? , immature ? please remind me who posted this
When you have finished spunking over your Gavin henson posters and opened your eyes to real rugby come back and argue for him.
:brickwall
It's obvious that we both have very different opinions on this and it is going nowhere arguing about it , reply with more insults if you like but I'm leaving it at that.
SIMON ADEBISI
11-02-2006, 22:38
ego the size of his sunbed bill.
:lol: Nice one.
Crouching Tiger
11-02-2006, 22:48
My prediction
1.England
2.France
3.Scotland
4.Wales
5.Ireland
6.Italy
Italians put up a good fight against the English today. Have we finally got 6 good teams in this tourney
minus Ireland of course
Radiohead
12-02-2006, 08:17
Their backs looked pretty inventive. We weren't great but AR needed a win on the road. Scotland next then, and we'll need to play much better.
Italy played well yesterday and I was impressed they kept going till the end (except for that last unfortunate try by England) they deserved more. I remember seeing an interview with Kirwin where he said his biggest problem was getting the Italians to play for 80 minutes, that French bloke seems to have cracked that nut.
It should be a pretty close game today. I can't predict who will come out on top as both teams will be up for it. Scotland might just edge it though.
redrhino
12-02-2006, 12:08
Todays game should be a tight tussle. Hopefully Scotland come out on top.
Been impressed by the quality of all the games so far. Italy have been doing well, hopefully they achieve a win before scotland travel there, would hate for scotland to be the only team to lose to them again!
France fired yesterday, but Ireland in the second half showed what they are capable of and certainly shouldnt be written off by the english.
Steve Walsh strikes again. It wasn't that bad.
Radiohead
12-02-2006, 14:37
He's a dreadful ref. Why on earth have we got him reffing a NH game after his behaviour at both the RWC and Lions tour?
Scotland are dead and gone now
That was a great game and I thought Scotland were brilliant. The sending off was their downfall. The wooden spoon is still there for the taking between 3 teams.
I think the Ireland v Wales will be brilliant, I think Ireland will (well I hope) be up for it. And maybe the Welsh tanned Jesus can be the savior ;)
Matholwch
12-02-2006, 21:34
Steve Walsh strikes again. It wasn't that bad.
Rules are rules, whether it was intentional or not - he was seen kicking Gough in the face.
It was a decent game, Wales would've still won even with full Scottish team, you could see Wales changed the structure of their play once Scotland went down a man to a more open and expansive game, whilst their first try showed that they were willing to keep it a closely controlled game at the begining relying on the strength of their forwards.
Fair do to Scotland, they kept it up, and looked more like Wales of last year than we did!
DrZarkov
12-02-2006, 22:19
Rules are rules, whether it was intentional or not - he was seen kicking Gough in the face.
It was a decent game, Wales would've still won even with full Scottish team, you could see Wales changed the structure of their play once Scotland went down a man to a more open and expansive game, whilst their first try showed that they were willing to keep it a closely controlled game at the begining relying on the strength of their forwards.
Fair do to Scotland, they kept it up, and looked more like Wales of last year than we did!
Any relation to Mystic Meg?
How you can say that the result would definately have been the same if we had a full team for the rest of the match?
I would agree that Wales deserved the win after the sending off though :) .
Matholwch
13-02-2006, 09:20
How you can say that the result would definately have been the same if we had a full team for the rest of the match?
Well couldn't say for definite, as I mentioned Wales were willing to play a tight game until the send off. Scotland's rucking and agressive ability to turn over Welsh ball was Scotland's strongest suit, their play in the loose was good - excellent handling skills and passing, but overall they lacked the attacking edge (Mark Jones marshalled Lamont's threat quite well). I do believe that both side's scrum halves dictated the game very well, and kept the tempo up to make it a very exciting game, just a pity that the sending off diminished the status of the game somewhat.
Mike ruddock has just resigned!!!!
Mike ruddock has just resigned!!!!
That's a bit of a shocker. Scott Johnson is now in charge, I thought he was off to Australia?
Radiohead
14-02-2006, 21:27
As did I - this is a big shock.
mobile-spares
14-02-2006, 22:09
That's a bit of a shocker. Scott Johnson is now in charge, I thought he was off to Australia?
Only been announced as temp in charge till end of 6 nations, he was due to stay at least that long anyway.
I'm sure we will hear more about the true reasons for Mike's departure in the coming days (i.e. more than the current party line of family reasons).
It was discussed on radio Wales that there has been some player involvement - and this (http://sport.guardian.co.uk/sixnations2006/story/0,,1709928,00.html ) Guardian snip aligns this with the return of Gavin Henson. It will certainly be interesting to see whether SJ picks him in the squad for the Ireland match. Recently whilst the other banned players (Ian Evans and Daffyd Jones) have been training with the squad GH has not.
Matholwch
15-02-2006, 09:00
Came as a real shock to me :eek: Wales' most successful coach in two decades and he resigns mid-way through the 6 nations - :cuckoo:
Looks like its player power, think the straw which broke the camel's back was that press conference, when none of the players were willing to come to the press conference. The other (which has been suggested) is gameplan, the story going about is that the players didn't like Mike's new tactics, of using the forwards to dominate rather than playing in the loose ala 2005.
Radiohead
15-02-2006, 09:06
Bearing in mind the players relative lack of success pre-Ruddock I think some of them need to have a long, hard look at their behaviour here. This could well ruin any chance of Wales doing well at the 2007 RWC IMO. Pretty rugby is fine, but utterly pointless if you lose in the process.
So what's the players problem with Ruddock? There must be something really wrong for him to walk out mid six nations. If it was only family they surely could have convinced him to stay till the end of the tournament.
Matholwch
15-02-2006, 09:40
Totally agree, to the point that I think winning the Grand Slam last year has gone to the players' heads. :oh-hum: Thought Mike Ruddock brought everything together, cementing the foundations laid by Hanson. Interesting to see that Scott Johnson sided with the players. Also thought it was quite important that we had a Welsh coach, that he could appreciate the Welsh mentality about the game.
What remains to be seen is whether Henson comes back into the squad, as it looks like he was in the mix...
Radiohead
15-02-2006, 09:42
There's a fair amount to play out here. Should be interesting.
Radiohead
19-02-2006, 11:39
Fingers have been pointed at senior players, but Australian stand-in Scott Johnson was undermining his head coach, reveals Eddie Butler
Eddir Butler
Sunday February 19, 2006
The Observer
On a gorgeous afternoon last March, Wales beat Ireland 32-20 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, thereby completing their first grand slam for 27 years. Wales had illuminated the championship, winning more ball than they had enjoyed for years, playing at a high tempo, scoring from deep and doubling the number of passes any of their opponents could make.
Their enterprise was a tribute to the previous coaches of Wales, Graham Henry and Steve Hansen, two New Zealanders whose contributions were immediately recognised by the Welshman who succeeded them, Mike Ruddock. If the new coach, in charge of his first Six Nations campaign, had brought anything to the party it was, he said, an improvement at the basics, the scrum and line-out.
Praise for Ruddock, now 46, from this rugby-mad nation was less modestly expressed. The Blaina boy had put the Welshness back into Wales and he was adored for it. The players last spring all said that being so close-knit had been a huge factor.
Last Tuesday at 9pm in room 31 at the Millennium Stadium, at a hastily convened press conference, it was announced that Ruddock would be standing down with immediate effect. The chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, Steve Lewis, announced that Ruddock's departure was for 'personal and family reasons'.
Lewis denied that a group of senior players had come to see him the week before to demand the replacement of Ruddock with Scott Johnson, the Australian skills coach. He repeated the line that Ruddock's departure - neither a resignation nor a sacking - was down to a wish to put family life before the strains of coaching at international level.
David Pickering was even more vague. Asked if this represented a crisis for Welsh rugby, the chairman of the WRU said: 'We have managed the crisis, formulated a strategy and are now implementing it.'
When asked to pay tribute to Ruddock, Johnson, whose promotion to the role of head coach for the remainder of the Six Nations was also announced, said: 'He's a good coach.' When I suggested to the Australian that this might not exactly represent a ringing endorsement, he said: 'What do you want me to say? He's a great coach. He's a wonderful human being. Is that better?' Family was the reason given, but this was a frosty firing.
Ruddock's arrival was as mysterious as his departure. In 1998 he was coaching Leinster and Ireland A to the same rave reviews he had enjoyed while coaching Swansea before the game turned professional. Now he applied for the coaching job of Wales. After the rounds of interviews, he was assured that the job was his. Then, at the last moment, it was offered instead to Graham Henry.
Having been thus rebuffed, Ruddock did not apply for the job when it was next advertised in 2004, opting to stay with the newly formed regional side, the Newport Gwent Dragons. Hansen was returning to New Zealand to work with Henry and the All Blacks, and it seemed to be a two-horse race between Gareth Jenkins, the long-serving coach of Llanelli, and Mark Evans of Harlequins to replace him.
Again at the last moment, Ruddock was invited to make a presentation. He did so and was almost immediately unveiled as the new coach of Wales.
He agreed to work with the coaching staff - Johnson for skills and Andrew Hoare for fitness - left behind by Hansen, insisting on bringing in just one of his own, Clive Griffiths, his defence coach at the Dragons. Johnson was to be left to work on the game of high-tempo, tap-and-go and counter-attacking. Ruddock would concentrate on the scrum and line-out, and Griffiths would tighten up the defence.
This is where the troubles began. Johnson was soon sniping at Griffiths. Ruddock was aware of the undercurrent and had to warn off Johnson.
But already there were signs of an alliance of forces against the new coach. Since last February, the very time when, with an improved line-out, scrum and defence, Wales were setting off on their memorable grand-slam voyage, Griffiths was working without a contract.
That made two of them. Johnson made it a boast that he worked on a handshake, with nothing ever put down in writing. Griffiths would have liked something more concrete. Before Wales went to the United States and Canada last summer, he had pointed out that, because he had no contract, he would not be insured on the tour. In an email written last May, Lewis wrote on the matter: 'He [Clive Griffiths] is beginning to **** me off...'
In the autumn the sniping grew worse. Johnson complained to the players that Ruddock was delegating too much to him, while the head coach spent too much time shopping with his wife. Out of the camp came the story that Ruddock was known as 'The Bus', because there was no way he could be called a coach.
Ruddock could argue that making Gareth Thomas captain had been an inspired decision. That Michael Owen had blossomed under him at the Dragons and with Wales, that Ryan Jones had been discovered, that Gavin Henson had been brought back into international rugby. That Wales had just destroyed Australia up front.
Instead, he found himself increasingly at odds with some of the very players he had empowered as part of his credo of giving responsibility to the performers. And the source of the discontent was not hard to find. He had to reprimand Johnson for missing coaching meetings. On three occasions he had to confront him on the issue of undermining him.
The trouble for Ruddock was the bond between Johnson and the players. Working without a contract, being linked with jobs at Leicester and with the Wallabies, and repeating that he was under pressure from his 16-year-old son in Australia to return home, Johnson never scotched the rumour that he might just up and leave at any moment. The players grew ever more determined to have him stay.
Ruddock, meanwhile, was negotiating his own contract. He had shaken hands with Lewis on a deal that would take him through to the 2007 World Cup, but there were clauses surrounding disciplinary and grievance procedures that needed to be resolved.
Even when the WRU failed to keep an appointment with Ruddock's solicitors in the build-up to this Six Nations, it seemed there was little to worry about. When Lewis told Ruddock that there would be a take-it-or-leave-it contract on the table in the week before the England game, Ruddock accepted the situation.
The contract never appeared. Instead, after the heavy defeat at Twickenham, Ruddock was told that negotiations had been suspended and that the contract would have to be renegotiated from scratch. While that was happening, he should concentrate on the rest of the Six Nations campaign.
Two final things happened. First, there was the player boycott of a press conference before the Scotland game. Ruddock told his captain Gareth Thomas, who had taken exception to the presence of Graham Thomas, ghostwriter of Gavin Henson's controversial My Grand Slam Year, that to threaten war on the media was not the way to deal with the matter.
Thomas still refused to attend. Ruddock told Owen, his vice-captain, to accompany him instead. Owen said the players were all behind their captain. Ruddock went on his own.
The next day, Thomas apologised to Ruddock and to the media. On its own, it would not have been a big deal; as another strain on the relations between coach and players, it played its part.
Finally, Ruddock told Lewis that he would have to let it be known that after the Six Nations he would be available for work elsewhere. Lewis, around this time, received a delegation of players, ostensibly to talk about insurance and the retention of Johnson, but also to discuss the future of Ruddock. This was the meeting that Lewis on Tuesday night denied had taken place, although by Friday he was saying he had meetings with players all the time. Ruddock was told it would be better if he left immediately. Johnson has taken over, telling the players that the pressure from his son to return to Australia has eased.
Ruddock is saying little, except to his lawyers. He is owed £20,000 for winning the grand slam, a bonus that has been paid to all the players and the other coaches. Lewis claimed on Friday morning on BBC Radio Wales that Ruddock had requested a special arrangement for the bonus to be paid into his pension fund. The chief executive also said that the Union was under no binding obligation to pay any bonus at all. Ruddock was unhappy that such disclosures were made on the radio.
The WRU could afford to delay because Ruddock never signed his first contract, considering it too heavily weighted in favour of the WRU. He had been told that everything would be ironed out in the second, the one that never appeared.
That made it three coaches working for the grand-slam champions without a contract. When Ruddock, in his short tenure as national coach, identified a need to work on the basics, he proved himself far more perceptive than those under or above him could ever know.
In Wales, however, the basics do not come first. Convoluted self-destruction, not rugby, is the national sport, and Mike Ruddock was simply too good to be anything but a victim in his homeland.
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/sport/story/0,,1713180,00.html
There was a piece in the independant the other that that Wales have never had a coach for ore than a year leading up to the world cup. Self Implosion seems to happen a lot in welsh rugby
Matholwch
20-02-2006, 14:00
Seems like the Observer piece mirrors what Stephen Jones wrote in the Times. Its a shame that a coach with Ruddock's ability should have been treated this way, even more so that there was such a rift between him and his no2 Scott Johnson. Its also difficult to tell whether the sour relationship between the Welsh players and the media, are also mudding the water somewhat in the reporting on this debacle.
edit
One thing is certain, Steve Lewis must go. This incident has highlighted the ineptitude in the WRU, where the word professionalism is still as foreign to them as it was in the 80s. It seems nearly that the best thing could happen now is that Wales loose to Ireland, I'm sure the Irish are licking their lips at the prospect after the shake up in the Welsh camp.
Crouching Tiger
25-02-2006, 17:05
The ref in the Scot v England ref game is spoiling it by being too fussy.
I know people complain about referees in football, but to be honest they are 1000000 times better than refs in rugby union. It's been very poor this 6 nations, inconsistent, missing forward passes and just plain bad calls. Lineouts are quite frankly a mess with about 20 indescretions every lineout. Rugby union is a great game, but it'll never be up there with football unfortunately.
Radiohead
25-02-2006, 17:41
Rugby union is a great game, but it'll never be up there with football unfortunately.
Speak for yourself. IMO football isn't fit to lace the boots of rugby.
Can you imagine if rugby managers were like football ones? They'd only ever talk about the refs and nothing else lol...
Speak for yourself. IMO football isn't fit to lace the boots of rugby.
That's just my point rugby should be the better game, but it's the poor officiating and complication of rules like those at lineouts that make it too confusing for the vast majority of people to take it serious.
downhillbiker
25-02-2006, 17:45
I can assure you that there are a lot of people who take rugby a hell of a lot more seriously than football. And for good reason, I might add.
Blimey a penalty for Scotland's defence being offside, I mean it's only been offside the whole game lol
I can assure you that there are a lot of people who take rugby a hell of a lot more seriously than football. And for good reason, I might add.
No you're wrong, football is a much bigger game than rugby.
I used to think rugby was better, but as I'm getting older I realise it's just too complicated and messy.
Radiohead
25-02-2006, 18:01
No you're wrong, football is a much bigger game than rugby.
I used to think rugby was better, but as I'm getting older I realise it's just too complicated and messy.
No-one's disputing that football's a bigger game, but you completely missed his point.
And you've ignored my points
Add the holding on rule, to lineouts and offside as things that need to be sorted properly.
How did Scotland 18 not get sin binned, oh and they were offside again lol
Radiohead
25-02-2006, 18:07
Seems to be you're intent on thread-spoiling here.
Boney Back Jefferson
25-02-2006, 18:10
Well done Scotland, a well played game
I'm intent on sorting out the mess that is rugby union, sorry if it comes over otherwise.
Can someone honestly tell me that they understand lineouts?
DrZarkov
25-02-2006, 18:11
What a result :clap:
Magic stuff from the Scots :)
waddell28
25-02-2006, 18:11
Thank God that's over I couldn't watch the last two minutes.
Well done Scotland.
YES!!!!
Well done Scotland... nothing like beating the English.
Calcutta Cup is ours again....
:)))))))))))))))))
GreyJackal
25-02-2006, 18:13
Arsebiscuits
Radiohead
25-02-2006, 18:14
Well done Scotland - a much better team today. Shocking handling from England's backs.
I agree with you there Radiohead :)
A serious point though, do people think like I do that the officiating in this years six nations has been poor? I don't mean against England either. For instance England's last three lineouts in that game were nowhere near straight and the ref never called them.
England played well.. I think it was Scotland's wonderful defence that kept the England score down. England had the possession, the moves and the ground.. but the Scottish defence were just better than the English runners..
downhillbiker
25-02-2006, 18:17
Can someone honestly tell me that they understand lineouts?
Rugby Union isn't a mess - I played rugby for several years, and understand lineouts just fine thank you.
Radiohead
25-02-2006, 18:18
I agree with you there Radiohead :)
A serious point though, do people think like I do that the officiating in this years six nations has been poor? I don't mean against England either. For instance England's last three lineouts in that game were nowhere near straight and the ref never called them.
Well personally I don't understand why we have SH refs in the 6N, when they refuse to allow teams to scrummage properly. Last year was worse though, the ref cost England the game against Ireland.
Rugby Union isn't a mess - I played rugby for several years, and understand lineouts just fine thank you.
Me too and I've got the scars to prove it lol, but we used to have to throw the ball straight :shrug:
downhillbiker
25-02-2006, 18:18
Oh - GO ON SCOTLAND!!!
Knew I forgot something ;)
Well personally I don't understand why we have SH refs in the 6N, when they refuse to allow teams to scrummage properly. Last year was worse though, the ref cost England the game against Ireland.
Well this year the ref cost Italy the game against Ireland....
Bravoman
25-02-2006, 18:34
Gutted about the result :( But well played Scotland :thumbs:
What a difference a season makes for Scotland. Laughing stocks to beaters of the third best country in the world (France) and the current world champions (England). It's mainly due to Frank Hadden who has given a squad confidence after that idiot Williams did his version of Berti Vogts. Hopefully we can build on this towards the World Cup.
JCTurner
25-02-2006, 18:35
Fantastic defence by Scotland - England played well but our defence (for once) was outstanding.
I'm off to celebrate- woohoo !
(sorry - we Scots dont often get to celebrate a win !)
Fantastic defence by Scotland - England played well but our defence (for once) was outstanding.
I'm off to celebrate- woohoo !
(sorry - we Scots dont often get to celebrate a win !)
England didn't play well (Scotland did). There were far too many stupid individual mistakes from players who are supposed to be experienced. How many times did England lose the ball on turnovers in promising positions. Scotland were great at taking advantage but with a 76%-24% possession advantage in the fiest half Englnd should have done better than 3-3.
We've gone nowhere since the world cup, Robinson just dosn't seem to be able to create a team that knows wht it's doing.
Well done Scotland though on an excellent win, hard fought for and very well executed.
Tristan H
25-02-2006, 18:59
Brilliant from Scotland!
:clap:
GreyJackal
25-02-2006, 19:06
We've gone nowhere since the world cup, Robinson just dosn't seem to be able to create a team that knows wht it's doing.
Agreed. Robinson is great as a number 2 (so to speak :D) but consistently seems out of his depth now.
We're also still noticing Johnno's absence insofar as we don't have an inspiring captain.
Island Swing
25-02-2006, 20:00
Agreed. Robinson is great as a number 2 (so to speak :D) but consistently seems out of his depth now.
We're also still noticing Johnno's absence insofar as we don't have an inspiring captain.
In the posd match interviews Corry came accross very badly and wasnt able to express him well.
We're also still noticing Johnno's absence insofar as we don't have an inspiring captain.
It doesn't help that Robinson keeps replacing him after 60 minutes, dreadful coaching. I can't believe he let Elli go back out after his blood injury, he was lousy and Dawson's decision making would have made a big difference.
Radiohead
25-02-2006, 20:48
Agreed - I don't see Ellis as the England No.9 myself. His recycling is way too slow.
In the posd match interviews Corry came accross very badly and wasnt able to express him well.
There's something about your post that suggests you have been celebrating this famous win! Either that or you have trouble expressing yourself well.
jmdomain
25-02-2006, 22:57
I daresay this thread would be much more popular if England had won but Scotland won!
Yeah!
We won!
18-12!
BBC Link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/4745130.stm)
The English are rubbish! :thumbs: :D ;)
What a great result for Scotland. Their defence was outstanding and at the end they deserved the win.
If Ireland win tomorrow then they will be the only team on for the grand slam :thumbs: if they lose it's 5 teams at evens going into the final two games. Points could decide it this year.
I travelled up from Sussex to watch the game yesterday and the mood on the plane was good on the way up there, on the 9:05 back to Heathrow it was a different story :(
I enjoyed the game even though we lost!
Overall i think England recycled the ball well but then suffered from some very sloppy handling errors towards the end of their plays.
We could have and probably should have won the game but a few minor issues stopped the result from happening.
I also think that the ref had a blue shirt on underneath!
I am not taking anything away from Scotland as they had a superb game whereas England didnt!
What a great result for Scotland. Their defence was outstanding and at the end they deserved the win.
If Ireland win tomorrow then they will be the only team on for the grand slam :thumbs: if they lose it's 5 teams at evens going into the final two games. Points could decide it this year.
Ireland lost to France. They are the only team that can win the Triple Crown this year. It's all to play for in the Six Nations.
Ireland lost to France. They are the only team that can win the Triple Crown this year. It's all to play for in the Six Nations.
Oh yeah I forgot that :doh: must take my green tinited lenses off.
I am not taking anything away from Scotland..You mean apart from suggesting that the game was won because England had "some very sloppy handling errors", "could have and probably should have won the game" and the ref was biased...?!!!!!????!?!!
Perhaps the alternative explanation is that Scotland were just the best team on the day. And in any sport, that is what matters.
Onto today's match, and I'm a little deflated to see that Kaplan is the ref... his controversial decisions have altered games before.. the Welsh are scrumming and rucking well, let's hope he doesn't decide to penalise them at every opportunity.
Not that the referee has given much either way but he is really slowing the game down. He is not allowing any quick penalties.
Why are the SH referees working the six nations?
Come on Ireland. Keep this up!!!
Henson is ***** today!! What a waste.
The ******* referee was right there why the hell can't he call that a try? It was a stonewall try for ********* sake?
Island Swing
26-02-2006, 16:28
game totally changed when Wales lost Jones, Henson was utterly ***** and the same colour too ;). He was brought back way too early. There really was zero leadership on the park too. If only Wales had played that way against Scotland!
O'Driscoll played the way he should and drove Ireland on, certainly sets up an interesting encounter against Scotland in two weeks.
Radiohead
26-02-2006, 18:46
Henson was awful today - poor kicking from hand, did nothing you'd expect from a class 10, and couldn't even stop little Peter Stringer running through him at the death.
A deserved win for Ireland, and where now for Wales?
Matholwch
26-02-2006, 22:07
Groan :oh-hum: Wales were awful, if ever there was a turning point it was Stephen Jones going off, and Henson coming on. He really did nothing. He shouldn't have come back so soon, even then, he did nothing on the pitch totally lacked leadership. Wales really missed Alfie and Stephen Jones. Wales were completely dominant from the start and for the whole first 20min, then injury and wham! :razz:
Just goes to show we have no depth, and I'm pretty certain that all the upheaval in the WRU has had a terrible effect on the team. Steve Lewis should go, totally mis managed the Ruddock affair, and Wales should be rid of the whole amateur WRU board. Its been a shambles since Moffat left.
Congratulations to Ireland, they did well. Wasn't the most elegant of games, but they stood up. Championship's still wide open for Ireland, Scotland, France and England now. Looking forward :)
SIMON ADEBISI
27-02-2006, 06:09
Thank **** for that. Good show from the Irish boys. Nice to see the little man get a late try as well.
GreyJackal
27-02-2006, 09:02
I'm pretty certain that all the upheaval in the WRU has had a terrible effect on the team.
The SRU isn't exactly in a much better state - maybe you'll do a Scotland next match ;)
Island Swing
27-02-2006, 09:08
The SRU isn't exactly in a much better state - maybe you'll do a Scotland next match ;)
to be fair the SRU is starting to pull itself together after god knows how many years of mismanagement, the blazer brigade are slowly getting replaced by ex-players who care about the development of the game and professionals who can run the business side of things.
Henson attention grabbing again.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/4755684.stm
:|
Radiohead
27-02-2006, 21:11
Bloody drama queen.
Quite frankly he gets on my tits now, its always about him, oh i feel like packing it in, good go on, he knows his rugby cant do the talking so he has to grab headlines other ways.
The abuse he was getting from the crowd was funny. Well it wasnt even abuse just wolf whistles everytime he had the ball. He is so handsome....
GreyJackal
28-02-2006, 00:20
Suicidal....but I'll be fine when I get back out training tomorrow.
What a cock.
basegreen
28-02-2006, 08:55
Pathetic isnt it. There's so many people with depression, mental illness etc that have to worry about suicidal thoughts day in day out, and this ponce just treats it like a joke.
Grow up.
So the whole henson situation. Did the team want him back and Ruddock didn't or the other way round?
Henson is ****.
Fraid to say he is really messing up his future, he is so full of himself the guys a prick.
Arthur Fowler
12-03-2006, 15:42
Truly pathetic display from England this afternoon :(
Was a good six nations weekend this, Ireland getting a deserved win, Italy finaly getting some points and England being shown up again.
Todays game was woeful France were bad England were a lot lot worse.
Only Ireland and France can win it now, here's hoping England maintain this run of form and the Welsh can do us a favour.
Triple Crown and the Six Nations for Ireland next Saturday evening :clap:
mattwakeman
12-03-2006, 16:41
Truly shocking by England. Being beaten in France is no disgrace, but a performance so lacking in shape and ideas definitely is.
Radiohead
12-03-2006, 16:50
My God that was as bad a performance from England as I've ever seen. Woeful, inept and downright embarassing.
GreyJackal
12-03-2006, 17:47
Well that sucked.
How backwards have we gone??
Radiohead
12-03-2006, 18:04
1986?
AR just hasn't a clue how to coach this team.
GreyJackal
12-03-2006, 18:42
I agree and never agreed with his appointment in the first place (easier said in hindsight but I did say it at the time, honest :D). I've always thought he was excellent as a No 2 but he just doesn't have what it takes to be the main man.
Radiohead
12-03-2006, 18:44
It's a travesty that one Mr B Ashton, currently seen around Bath, isn't No.1
My God that was as bad a performance from England as I've ever seen. Woeful, inept and downright embarassing.
Agree the worst performance I've ever seen by an England "team".
England need to get back to basics. Goode has to start against Ireland imo, so England can control territory with kicking and they definately need to cut out the schoolboy errors.
I also have a few beefs I'd like the IRU to sort out. I don't think Thompson threw the ball in straight at a lineout once and the ref never called it. England popped up out of the scrum France got a penalty, France popped up and nothing.
Also France were given a long time to hang onto the ball after being tackled on the only occasion England got into their half and yet England were called up on it very quickly. Seems a common thing where the ref decides he's going to call someone for holding when they go into the tackle and not after a certain time. Maybe the rule needs to be changed to the player with the ball being penalised for being isolated and not realeasing the ball, because that's what the refs blow for. I'd reduce this to a free kick award too.....
1986?
AR just hasn't a clue how to coach this team.
This team! Any team. We have gone backwards steadily since the world cup. There was no leadership on the pitch either from the captain or the fly half and no confidence anywhere in the team at all. For 20 minutes they looked like total strangers to each other and the blame for that must lay at the coaches door after 18 months in charge and nearly 6 years with the squad.
GreyJackal
12-03-2006, 23:40
Agreed. Robinson is great as a number 2 (so to speak :D) but consistently seems out of his depth now.
We're also still noticing Johnno's absence insofar as we don't have an inspiring captain.
Actually I addressed both points a couple of weeks ago I just remembered.
No on-field leadership and inspiration and no coherent or successful direction from the backroom staff either.
i don't know about anyone else, but hodgson proved once again he can't hack it at the top level, now i'm a fan of him, but if johnny was in his position would he have made the same mistakes?
Well we miss Wilkinson, but we miss Martin Johnson's leadership and ref friendly banter more ;)
Robinson has made some changes for the game on Saturday:
England team to face Ireland at Twickenham:
T Voyce (Wasps); M Cueto (Sale), J Noon (Newcastle), S Abbott (Wasps), B Cohen (Northampton); A Goode (Leicester), H Ellis (Leicester); A Sheridan (Sale), L Mears (Bath), M Stevens (Bath); S Borthwick (Bath), S Shaw (Wasps); J Worsley (Wasps), L Moody (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester, capt).
Replacements: S Thompson (Northampton), J White (Leicester), D Grewcock (Bath), L Dallaglio (Wasps), M Dawson (Wasps), D Walder (Newcastle), M Tindall (Gloucester).
The Ireland team remains the same:
Ireland: Murphy; Horgan, B O'Driscoll (capt), D'Arcy, Trimble; O'Gara, Stringer; Horan, Flannery, Hayes; O'Connell, O'Kelly; Easterby, Wallace, Leamy.
Replacements: R Best, S Best, O'Callaghan, J O'Connor, Reddan, Humphreys, Dempsey.
I think Ireland go into this game with every chance of winning the Tripple crown and even winning the championship.
Radiohead
18-03-2006, 18:23
Better performance from Eng;and but still nowhere near where they should be. France take the championship, and Ireland the Triple Crown. What a festival of mediocrity this year has been though.
One comment from England vs Ireland - could the touch judges have been any worse?
mattwakeman
18-03-2006, 18:30
Better performance from Eng;and but still nowhere near where they should be. France take the championship, and Ireland the Triple Crown. What a festival of mediocrity this year has been though.
One comment from England vs Ireland - could the touch judges have been any worse?
Pretty much everything that I was going to say here. I really don't think that England deserved to lose this game but really some of the shocking decisions that were made. At least we were slightly more threatening this game but what will this do for the future of Robinson?
Ireland getting the Triple crown is not a bad finish to the six nations.
I think a fair result in that game was a draw but thems are the breaks.
Well done Ireland.
Also we have beaten the current world champions in every game we have played them since the world cup. Not too shabby
Radiohead
18-03-2006, 18:34
Hopefull see the end of him.
tubegeorge
18-03-2006, 18:39
We rode our luck today with some dodgy decisions but boy was I happy when they got the main one right with Horgan's 2nd try! :D
mattwakeman
18-03-2006, 18:54
Hopefull see the end of him.
The funny thing is that the improved performance today may be enough to keep him in the job. We really do seem to have simply lost direction recently with just no sense of somebody saying, 'this is where we are going and this is how we are going to get there'. Talk of too many rugby league coaches is a bit of a smokescreen as far as I am concerned. But after listening to Woodward being interviewed recently, when he sounded like an unbelievable idiot, anybody that Woodward was recommending would be grounds enough to be wary of them.
GreyJackal
18-03-2006, 18:58
Hopefull see the end of him.
Can but hope
Well I'm glad England lost, a win may have covered up the cracks....
However England were pretty dominant in the second half and probably deserved to win. The officiating was truely shocking, how many times did Ireland pull down scrums without getting punished? The ref had no clue what was going on with the forwards and as for not letting Cohen carry on :nono:
Well anyway Robinson has to go and so do a lot of the players......
France were lucky to win against Wales, but they probabaly desevered to win the championship by default. Will anyone stop New Zealand next year? The all blacks must be laughing at the state of northern hemisphere rugby :(
mattwakeman
18-03-2006, 20:24
I think the only thing that will stop NZ will be overconfidence (doubtful as the world cup is now the one they really want) or some truly inspired rugby from France who on their day are as good as anyone.
As to the rest of the Northern teams, well, hmmm....
robbiez666
18-03-2006, 20:30
another uninspiring performance.
Robinson has to go. He is so ungracious in defeat as well. Blimmin idiot
instead of trying to bore the opposition to death we need much much better back play. our handling is poor, we have no ideas and it is too slow.
we don;t have the squad or players available that is as good as those who won the world cup but some of the players on display were a disgrace. Look to the 7's get Tate in and get some speed, intellegence and creativity in.
Aye Tait and Paul looked great in the 7s, but that's when they have a lot of room to play in.......
robbiez666
18-03-2006, 20:39
Aye Tait and Paul looked great in the 7s, but that's when they have a lot of room to play in.......
agreed. different game and some players cannot do both well. I think those 2 will actually add a lot to the team though
Radiohead
18-03-2006, 20:57
Oh yeah, I almost forgot - Jerry Flannery, you're a ponce and belong on a football pitch.
TigaSefi
18-03-2006, 21:16
England will be lucky to win a match in the world cup at this rate, i rather have Clive woodward back, we played much better rugby under him.
What a splendid tournament - I enjoyed every match, especially Scotland's wonderful victories over England and France.
So the final table:
1 France
2 Ireland
3 Scotland
4 England
5 Wales
6 Italy
Looking back at the start of this thread, a few people picked France as winners, but no-one put the rest of the table accurately.
Great to see Italy do so well, and become a genuine challenge to all the other teams. Not sure what's going on with England - is it not a bit unfair to blame it all on the coach? Shouldn't some of the responsibility fall with the 15 men on the field? Perhaps England are just not a good team anymore? There's always been a cyclical ebb and flow of form in the Four/Five/Six Nations..
SIMON ADEBISI
19-03-2006, 10:47
Oh yeah, I almost forgot - Jerry Flannery, you're a ponce and belong on a football pitch.
:D Sour grapes.
I woke up smiling from ear to ear this morning. What a ****** result :clap:
:D Sour grapes.
I woke up smiling from ear to ear this morning. What a ****** result :clap:
Andy Goode has said Ireland won by luck alone. Nice to be gracious in defeat.
Although he had a good game and deserved the man of the match.
Ireland are starting to look good, the new player that have come in have done well, Flannery (despite his dive) Trimble and Best have done well this six nations.
Simon Goode has said Ireland won by luck alone. Nice to be gracious in defeat.
Well they did to be honest......
Radiohead
19-03-2006, 15:22
Who is this Simon Goode?
Who is this Simon Goode?
Sorry I meant Andy Goode.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot - Jerry Flannery, you're a ponce and belong on a football pitch.
:lol:
To be fair, there were some shenanighans going on in the scrum when Thompson came on which went unpunished (I don't know what they were exactly but Flannery's face around the eyes looked a bit reddened) and Dawson did catch him with his elbow before his hand so maybe he had enough with it all!
The English team needs to rebuild and the only way I can see this is without the World Cup winners hanging on by reputation alone - Cohen looks a shadow of his former self, Tindall is similar, Dawson should do entertainment or Rugby, Dallaglio made a booboo trying to come back from retirement.
Robinson has had two Six Nations with probably the best squad in the tournament so I don't see why you cannot blame him, he ultimately picks the team, the tactics and the training they recieve so it just isn't working for him. It doesn't look like a happy camp at all so I think a fresh face with a new attitude and different ideas can do the world of good - in all honesty I wouldn't mind them lingering on for another few years though with me being an Ireland fan :doh:
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