2012 6 Nations

[Cardiffblue]

He’s at it again. The three foot high over-exhuberant maniac has turned up for Grandslam week far too early and is plaguing the households of Welsh people everywhere with talk of easy wins and pre-ordering victory T-shirts and DVDs. Do stop it, there’s a lovely butty bach.
He’s pointing at all sorts of evidence for his manic chipperness; France want the roof open, Fofana’s been hidden on the wing, Sam’s back, the letters spelling “Cymru” in scrabble are worth “12” points – but the empty bottle of penderyn and four-pack of red bull are more likely to be the fuel for the little fella’s fit of frenzy. But when he caps it off trying to look up your missus’ skirt and starts hosing away in the kitchen sink singing ‘hymns and arias’ then it’s time to stow him away in the airing cupboard and gag him. Leave him in there with a warm flannel and a copy of Razzle and he should burn himself out soon enough.
Some say at full moon he wears a deer’s skull and rides a chariot along the Heads of the Valleys road pulled by George North and Alex Cuthbert, some say he turned down a role in the new Hobbit film over a philosophical protest at large corporate media killing innovation in the arts, some say his erogenous zones cover most of South Wales. All we know is that sometimes before a match you want to stick his head in a food blender, but at the end of the day, he’s only trying to help. He loves us, and sometimes we love him back.
Here’s to optimism, the amazing prospect of 3 grandslams in 8 years and the 22 boys trying to get us there. C’mon Wales!

 

[Cardiffblue]

 

[Bardon]

Well lets start winning regulary be for we change a winning formula heh! besides knowing how one is going to play does not mean you will stop them playing that way.

Agree with you Dai. No one of ever tells the ABs to change their style of play incase teams figure them out. Style of play should reflect both your nations rugby heritage and the players available so that you play to your strengths. Playing the same style doesn't have to be predictable you can easily play a certain style but vary the point of attack and keep the oposition guessing.

 

[Bardon]

Today I'm going for the following in the games:

Italy v Scotland: Scotland

The Scots have shown progress and a bit of adventure. They're bringing through some pretty good players and aren't afraid to have a go. The wooden spoon would be a slap in the face to the progress their players and coach have made this year. Richie Gray and David Denton have put their hands up for the Lions in a major way.

Italy have been utter dross this year. Getting the wooden spoon would hopefully encourage them to look at their half back picks for next year. While the Italian teams in the Pro12 and the HEC have made great strides forward the national team have taken a step back in this years 6Ns and winning today would offer false encouragement. Until proven otherwise I'm chalking up this years Italy team to a new coach getting to know the players at his disposal.

Wales v France: Wales

Wales have been lucky this years with certain calls going their way and winning when maybe they haven't been the best team on the day. BUT over the whole 6Ns I think they've been the best team and I really enjoy watching them. They've been my tip for the GS since I watched them in the Aviva against us. They've had a few decisions go their way this years and these things normally even themselves out so I hope they're not on the wrong side of a game deciding decision/mistake today. Plenty of nominations for player of the 6Ns and they've shown they can win without Warburton.

As any rugby fan knows France are the most unpredictable team. The old cliche is that you never know what you'll get with France. But there's normally healthy mix of brilliance and ineptitude so they are exciting to watch. This year however they've been painful to watch. Lots of dross and very few moments of magic. Wesley Fofana has made a major break through this year which I'm very happy about. One thing that worries me is the signs of Ashton symdrome (personal glory being greater than team glory) that he was showing against England. Hopefully someone can keep his feet on the ground as he's a special player.

England v Ireland: Ireland

England are a completely different team to the WC. Lancaster has done a great job. He's brought through players, brought back some discipline and also brought some humility to the squad. He's made England a likable team. This may actually work against him for the permanent gig. There are those at HQ who believe that you have to be hated to be WC winners. Thier problem is that they've got it the wrong way round. Being success normally leads to teams being hated in some quarters, but they want to start with being hated and think that will bring the success. They'll use the excuse of him not having experience at international level replace him with someone who may or may not do a better job.

Ireland this year have disappointed me. I was hoping for a wave of fresh faces on the international scene. There are so many players ready to make the step up but not given the opportunity. The fact that Donnacha Ryan had to wait for injury to POC to get a start speaks volumes. We often bemoan a lack of dept here in Ireland but it's our own fault. Players play on longer than they should in starting positions. I'm a huge fan of D'Arcy but not of the imposter that's been playing 12 for Ireland for the last few years. He offers nothing in attack and he's a target on defence now. It's time to bring the new generation through and let the likes of Donncha O'Callahan provide the dept from the bench or in the wider squad. Positives from this year have been O'Mahony and Ryan from the point of view of new blood. McFadden needs more game time to announce himself. Kearney must be up there for player of the 6Ns and possibly the most dangerous FB on the planet at the moment. Ferris has been immense. The rest of the back row needs to be rotated to provide more competition and to keep performance standards high.

 

[Bardon]

Italy 3 Scotland 3 at half time. One of the worst halfs of rugby in this years 6Ns, surely it can only improve in the 2nd half.

 

[Bardon]

Final score Italy 13 Scotland 6. Italy deserved the win on their 2nd half performance. The game improved a little but not by much. It was a well worked try for Venditti and then Burton pop a drop goal to seal the win.

 

[Bardon]

Half time Wales 10 France 3. Turn over try for Wales by Cuthbert with an excellent angled run. Halfpenny missed a gimme pen just before halftime where he hit the post. Wales still on track for the GS. Not the most exciting or quality filled half of rugby, but it's a GS game so a win by any means is what you want.

 

[Bardon]

Wales 16 France 9, congratulations to them on the grand slam. France started the 2nd half well but showed very little desire in the last 20. Deserved win by Wales.

 

[Cardiffblue]

Cardiff Blues 16 France 9

 

[Cardiffblue]

Can't wait to see them out yur

 

[Cave Dweller]

Congratulations to Wales. Very well done and well played. Hope to see more from this young welsh side and they have worked their socks off.

 

[Cardiffblue]

Quarter of a million very happy people in Cardiff. Wish I was there

 

[Cardiffblue]

Blatant self interest demands an Irish win. Then we get our fourth place in the world rankings back. C'mon Oireland!

 

[the plastic paddy]

Congratulations to Wales, your best performance of the tournament IMHO because the players had to think on their feet and adapt and showed themselves more than capable of doing it against a French team who turned up for the first time in the tournament. A GS won playing away in Dublin and London is a proper GS!!!!! Added bonus is all the Lions will be Welsh so we won't be destroyed by injuries for the next 2 years as happened last time. Congratulations Butties but I will still be boycotting you boys against England next year, whether I keep it up after that I don't know.

 

[Cardiffblue]

Irish scrum under pressure

 

[Dai bando]

Italy and England managed to do it.

Did they win????

 

[Bardon]

England are really monstering Ireland in the scrum. The difference between the two is th England have a good scrum, Ireland have a good scrum coach, Ireland will probably shore it up after half time but it could be too late then.

 

[Bardon]

Mike Ross off with a shoulder injury, may be part of the problem in the scrum but no deny England had the upper hand regardless. Tom Court on and not many in Ireland will be confident.

Kearney dragging Ireland back into this game with some amazing kick and chases.

 

[Bardon]

England 9 Ireland 6. Well done to Ryan winning the penalty right at half time. First Irish scrum with Court in pushed England back and disrupted their ball. We'll see how it goes in the 2nd half.

D'Arcy has looked clueless and it's a real pity to see a hero who's clearly passed it out of his dept. If he gets the winning try all will be forgiven. Either way he'll still be a hero to me but that doesn't mean he should be wearing the green.

 

[Bardon]

Ireland unlucky with that penalty try there. The ball came out of the scrum. England deserved a try for their pressure but the call by the ref was wrong.

Long way back for Ireland now.