6 Nations 2010 - Rugby Union

The start of this nearly slipped by me. I had realised it was on, but then forgot all about it starting until last evening.
I missed the Ireland v Italy game, but in all honesty would not have gone out of my way to watch it. First game it may have been but with Ireland at home there was really very little likelihood of them falling over against Italy. Italy are no longer completely the 'whipping boys' of the contest but at from home the top 4 would consider it a bit of a disaster to lose to them.
Ireland 29-11 Italy
So Ireland did their expected good job & really eased through to victory with little issue. The match was really over at half time with Ireland 23-8 up. Sadly Ireland decided not to bother turning out for the second half which really petered out as a game, let alone a contest at the half time whistle rather than the final one.
England 30-17 Wales
As an England supporter this looks like a result to relish. Sadly that was not the case. England had a bad start to the last 6 Nations & then got their act together. They ended the contest looking like a team who had a plan & were well on the way to execute it. The summer & autumn firmly removed that idea from most people's heads as they had a series of very disappointing matches against the Southern Hemisphere sides.
35 minutes of the first half saw England dominating possession but constantly losing territory!! Most of the movement seemed to be backwards & it was heading to half time at a penalty apiece. Then Welshman Jones received a sin bin for an extremely foolish trip & England scored 17 points while he was off the pitch. Wales hit back to cause some jitters as the points difference narrowed to 3, but then a break away try & another Wilkinson penalty tied it up.
England too often looked devoid of ideas. They were undoubtedly playing to a plan, but it was not working.
Wales were having a terrible time winning their own line outs, yet not one England player seemed to realise it & kick for distance & touch. The kicking too often was this end to end, middle of the field, stuff that hopes & prays the opposition will muff the catch.
England had a torrid time in the scrums & were often lucky the ref was feeling rather generous.
When players did tire & chances start to appear, Wales were unusually poor with their passing. England backs just seemed to be standing still & the half backs seemed unable to provide either quick ball or put the Welsh backs out of play with well placed kicks.
So a poor game, but the records will show England 30-17 Wales.
Today France in Scotland. Never know when France play what you will get but Scotland are now vying for the worst nation with Italy & Italy are actually improving!!
Depends what sort of France happens this year but so far Ireland must be clapping their hands & looking at another title. That after only playing for 40 minutes themselves yesterday!!

I watched the start of the Ireland game on cable Aa, but it was really over after half an hour when I turned over to watch United thrash Portsmouth.
The England game was also shown live - started at midnight. The Scotland game starts at 10 Thai time tonight, so hope that is on as well... might interest you if you are bored for a minute or two Aa...reports are reasonably factual without too much hype.
http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcent ... esults.php

Aardvark wrote:Thanks for that Bob. Amazing isn't it, not one Word of it in todays Paper and not even a repeat on TV guess I'll just have to watch your post to see how it all go's

Saw both the Ireland & England game on Cable, they were repeated again on Sunday afternoon.
(was out for the Scotland game but it was on)
Any Heineken Cup games over a weekend has always been repeated Mon & Tues usually late afternoon.

Not all of the Scotland game was on Tafia - I think it kicked in part way through the first half.
Scotland 9-18 France
About what I expected. Scotland never managed to cross the French line, although they had some opportunities to do so.
France really always looked in control of the game without showing any of the brilliance that past sides have been capable of. I guess France will look at it as a game won without expending too much thought or effort. Scotland look like vying with Italy for 'the wooden spoon' and will have little to cheer them on from this game.

First weekend over....pretty disappointing. The Ireland & France games really not worth watching as only 1 side looked capable of winning from the start. This they achieved without really producing enough to keep the crowd warm.
The England v Wales game was on a bit more of a knife edge, but more because of their joint flaws than because of equality of quality.
Not a rugby feast weekend, but maybe next weekend will prove better..

Sat 13th Feb 10 14:00 Wales v Scotland Millennium Stadium
Sat 13th Feb 10 16:30 France v Ireland Stade de France
Sun 14th Feb 10 14:30 Italy v England Stadio Flaminio

Wales should have an easy run out against Scotland unless something extraordinary happens.
The France v Ireland match will probably decide who wins the title this year. Ireland probably edge it in rugby class but have a shocking record at the stadium (I think only 2 wins) so the odds must be in the French favour. Both their first games do not give much of an indication of the outcome of this one.
England should have a relatively easy run in Italy. Losing should probably cost Martin Johnson his job.

As an aside I read that some of the papers have said that the ref handed England the game with the 10 minute sin bin of Jones & that Martin Johnson has countered by saying the impact of the sending off have been exaggerated. Both are incorrect.
The ref had NO choice - the trip was plainly in sight & clearly deliberate. The only choice was yellow or red. The ref got it absolutely correct. Jones must have realised his error even as it was happening & will need no one to tell him.
The score was 3-3 when it happened & England had looked totally unlikely to score anything other than a penalty. Wales had not exactly been producing last gasp try saving tackles, they had been pushing England backwards nearly everytime they attempted to attack.

Not all of the Scotland game was on Tafia - I think it kicked in part way through the first half.

I think that sometimes happens Bob its a pain but little we can do about it. They may show it again this afternoon.

I agree completly with the yellow card is was a blatant trip and the ref was right. I think that was a key issue in the result but the blame lies firmly with AWJ. If the ref can be blamed for anything its his handling of the scrums with the feed and binding otherwise I consider him a fair ref. But you cant blame Martin Johnson for bulling up his side, I agree he is walking a tightrope regarding his position tho I think he will stay to see them thro the WC...

The telegraphed pass that led to the Winning try was a win or lose event, there was serious lack of communication from the welsh backs (not the 1st time this has happened) and if Armitage had missed it Wales would have scored as it was he didnt and England took the prize, average performance from both sides which I hope can only improve (well Wales anyway).
I didnt think Ireland was very special unless they took their foot off the gas in the second half...we shall see!!

Aardvark .....repeated all games again on Monday afternoon.

Hi All,
I'll be arriving in Udon this week and would like to know if there is anywhere showing the RBS six nations matches, I'd like to be able to see the Wales v Scotland match if that is at all possible so any info would be welcome.. thanks guys

BobHelm wrote:
Sat 13th Feb 10 14:00 Wales v Scotland Millennium Stadium
Sat 13th Feb 10 16:30 France v Ireland Stade de France
Sun 14th Feb 10 14:30 Italy v England Stadio Flaminio

The ref had NO choice - the trip was plainly in sight & clearly deliberate. The only choice was yellow or red. The ref got it absolutely correct. Jones must have realised his error even as it was happening & will need no one to tell him.
The score was 3-3 when it happened & England had looked totally unlikely to score anything other than a penalty. Wales had not exactly been producing last gasp try saving tackles, they had been pushing England backwards nearly everytime they attempted to attack.

Hello to you all on this forum,this is my first post. It has taken a Welsh religion (rugby) for me to make my opening post.

AWJ trip was deliberate but not mulicious or dangerous and did not provent a try, so a red card would never be given.
The yellow card was a bit hard as the game was being plaid in a good manor. A verbal warning & penalty could of been given. The yellow card was given, in the next 10 minites England scord 18 points & won the game by 13 points. This said England did cross the Welsh try line 3 times but could not ground the ball. It was the best game of the weekend.
After the match the Welsh coach said on TV. AWJ penalty most probably cost us the game.

IMO Next week Wales should beat Scotland. The best match will be France vs Ireland. England should win in Italy !
Wales & Scotland have both lost to Italy in Rome. This may be a lot harder than England think.

I love this game. Its part Ballet,part opera, but mainly murder. Plaid by men.

Aardvark wrote:

Tafia wrote:Aardvark .....repeated all games again on Monday afternoon.

taf, I'm in Oz and don't have Cable thanks anyway

Ahh! Might prove to be more difficult then!

Welcome to the Forum both rallyman & Welshboy - I am glad RU decided you to join us!!
As the Wales v Scotland game is the early one (9 at night Thai time) I would think that you stand an excellent chance of seeing it live in many of the bars & nearly all the hotel rooms too. Your only possible problem could be bars with just 1 TV could switch over to a channel showing a live FA cup match at 10 - which could be very annoying . Maybe day&night or Nutty Park would be the best place to try as there will be much choice within a very short distance.
I know that Jan at a Beer to Far (Nutty Park) used to have a couple of tv's in his bar that could be tuned to different channels, so might be a good place to try - nice 'no hassle' bar as well...
I agree that the trip was not malicious, but it certainly was deliberate. I would be amazed if any international referee just gave a penalty (with no card) for an offense like that.

rallyman wrote:Hi All,
I'll be arriving in Udon this week and would like to know if there is anywhere showing the RBS six nations matches, I'd like to be able to see the Wales v Scotland match if that is at all possible so any info would be welcome.. thanks guys

You could try the Orange Moon, Patrick is a big rugby fan or the Scottish Bar in Day & Night.
It should be on cable, I tend to watch it at home as Football seems to have the priority status with most preferring it to rugby.

ok, thanks for the welcome and the info guys, very much appreciated.. thanks again

BobHelm wrote: I would be amazed if any international referee just gave a penalty (with no card) for an offense like that.

Bob. I think you have been watching to much football
The ref has the final word. Yellow card
Alun-Wyn Jones is in the Welsh side to play Scotland. Lets hope he can redeem himself

What i did find amazing. Was Lee Byrne 2 week suspension being lifted after the Ospreys VS Leicester game. He was the 16th man on the field for the Ospreys. This has never happend in the Heineken cup before. The ref only gave a verbal warning & penalty.[with no card]