6 Nations 2011
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en_force_er
Geoff Shaw (53)
I was getting really into the idea of a competitive Italy and Scotland come WC time.
As lesser Tier 1 nations they rely on all the cards falling into place at the same time to play really good rugby and I thought they were, I was wrong.
It'll be a few years yet before we see either come top 3 in the 6Ns again.
As lesser Tier 1 nations they rely on all the cards falling into place at the same time to play really good rugby and I thought they were, I was wrong.
It'll be a few years yet before we see either come top 3 in the 6Ns again.
Bowside
Peter Johnson (47)
On their day France, Ireland and England can more than match it with any SH team. They may not have a freak athletes ala Beale, Ioane and Cooper, but they make up for with guys like Jamie Heaslip and Imanol Harinordoquy, both of whom would walk into our starting team. And im not even going to mention the goal kicking and scrums.
The deciding factor is whether or not they turn up to play or sink under the pressure away from home.
Italy, Scotland and Wales are a totally different ball game.
The deciding factor is whether or not they turn up to play or sink under the pressure away from home.
Italy, Scotland and Wales are a totally different ball game.
Bowside
Peter Johnson (47)
Fair point. Based on the way they played last night they would'nt have beaten the All Blacks, however they would have given them a run for their money.
Do I think they can win the world cup? No. Do I think they could knock out us or the springboks? Quite possibly.
M
macg101
Guest
I reckon we would give any SH team a good run for their money.. especially at home and with the desire and tenacity we showed on Sunday.
Shiggins
Simon Poidevin (60)
We all know that any of those teams could beat each other on there day. That's why the all blacks only have one world cup
Go the force!!!!
D
daz
Guest
I can't tell you how much enjoyment I would get from that. The odds are one day it is going to happen, and against Oz at the RWC would be my preferred time.
Anyone notice the Italian player ( I think it was the #3) give him a bit to go on with after the dive. I'm in favour of players enjoying the moment but there is a fine line between enjoyment and arrogantly disrespecting your opponent.
Having said all that, by gee, Ashton (with Johnson's guidance) seems to have single handedly transformed this English team from rigid grafters to instinctive playmakers. They might have their shit together come October, dammit.
Anyone else think they have taken a leaf out of the "play what's in front of you" handbook...?
C
CanadianRugby
Guest
People talk about Ashton, and rightly so, being an example of how England have transformed. Same goes for Ben Youngs who is a pretty dynamite player. I think people have missed the really important part of the English team is how the fowards play. The perfect example is Tindall´s try (I think) set up by Nick Easter. Easter held up an Italian and actually threw a one-handed back hand offload to the supporting player. No more putting your head down and smashing a ruck. Same goes for Haskell´s big run. I really dislike Haskell as a player but when was the last time you saw an England loosie running like that.
Just listen to their comments in the paper. They are confident, having fun. They sound like champions. They aren´t yet, but they should certainly be on the list of contenders. They will be even better when Croft gets back as well.
Also, I think everyone is being a bit hard on Scotland. There were opportunities there, but the crappy handling let them down. To me it looked like a bad game, which every team has (The Oz game against Scotland last year, for example). Lets see how the go next round, but right now I still think they look like a team on the rise. Except Dan Parks, he is crap.
Just listen to their comments in the paper. They are confident, having fun. They sound like champions. They aren´t yet, but they should certainly be on the list of contenders. They will be even better when Croft gets back as well.
Also, I think everyone is being a bit hard on Scotland. There were opportunities there, but the crappy handling let them down. To me it looked like a bad game, which every team has (The Oz game against Scotland last year, for example). Lets see how the go next round, but right now I still think they look like a team on the rise. Except Dan Parks, he is crap.
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
Aston did his wanky swan dive today over the tryline... but the ref called it back for a forward pass! :lmao:
A scrappy win for England, but they were still too good for an even scrappier French side that blew their best chances. To be fair, the track at Twickenham was on the heavy side, but there were plenty of dropped passes and knock ons...
A scrappy win for England, but they were still too good for an even scrappier French side that blew their best chances. To be fair, the track at Twickenham was on the heavy side, but there were plenty of dropped passes and knock ons...
dobduff11
Trevor Allan (34)
My boys did me proud, Ben Foden with a match winning try.
Pitch was damp and the ball was slippery as per usual in England, Toby Flood and Sheridan went off injured.
Beat the french who were scrappy but I felt that Trinh-Duc fucked their chances big time and with a more complete 10 they would have challenged hard.
Palmer, Hartley, Haskell, Wood, Easter, Foden were the standouts for England. Tindall didn't have a bad game in front of his wife to be either
Pitch was damp and the ball was slippery as per usual in England, Toby Flood and Sheridan went off injured.
Beat the french who were scrappy but I felt that Trinh-Duc fucked their chances big time and with a more complete 10 they would have challenged hard.
Palmer, Hartley, Haskell, Wood, Easter, Foden were the standouts for England. Tindall didn't have a bad game in front of his wife to be either
Jethro Tah
Bob Loudon (25)
As per what Tindall said in the post match interview - it was an ugly win. If both teams continue playing like this up to and in the WC then I can see the 3N nations dominating.
Larno
Ward Prentice (10)
To get the ball rolling for this weekend here are the currently annouced teams:
France:
http://www.espnscrum.com/sixnations2011/rugby/story/135974.html
Ireland:
http://www.espnscrum.com/ireland/rugby/story/135989.html
Wales:
http://www.espnscrum.com/wales/rugby/story/135990.html
Thoughts? Lièvremont is a f***ing madman! Keeping Chabal? Benching Hairydonkey? Dropping Domingo out of the 22 altogether? Jesus...
France:
http://www.espnscrum.com/sixnations2011/rugby/story/135974.html
Ireland:
http://www.espnscrum.com/ireland/rugby/story/135989.html
Wales:
http://www.espnscrum.com/wales/rugby/story/135990.html
Thoughts? Lièvremont is a f***ing madman! Keeping Chabal? Benching Hairydonkey? Dropping Domingo out of the 22 altogether? Jesus...
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
Italy get their first win 22 - 21 over France!!
Bergamasco kicked penalties all through the match and took the lead with 5 mins remaining to get the Italians home in Rome. - A poor game from the French even though they got 2 tries to 1.
Larno, how do you think Lièvremont will fare after this one?
Bergamasco kicked penalties all through the match and took the lead with 5 mins remaining to get the Italians home in Rome. - A poor game from the French even though they got 2 tries to 1.
Larno, how do you think Lièvremont will fare after this one?
Larno
Ward Prentice (10)
The man's just lost his job
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Haaaaaaaaaa...
D
daz
Guest
The Italians were simply outstanding, while again, the French were simply clueless. In all honesty, the French had a 6 Nations cup to play for and should have romped this home by 50 points. The Poms and Welsh will now be sending chocolates and flowers to the Italians...
Castrogiovani was rock solid in the scrum, Bergamastro brought a very fine pair of kicking boots to the game and the great Parrise led by example.
I thought Trihn-Duc was good for the French. On the whole, even though the French out-scored the Italians 2 tries to one, the French lacked discipline across the park and especially in the Italian half; Italy won this on penalties.
I was on the edge of my chair for the last 5 minutes, begging the Italians to hold on. Great to see the emotion of the squad after the win. You can't help but feel good for a squad that has been smacked from pillar to post for years, beating the Grand Slam champs in front of an adoring crowd.
Nick Mallet has clearly been in Italy too long as even the ex-Saffa had a few tears, probably a combination of joy and relief over job security.
As for Lievremont, he is a dead man walking, and the French are becoming positively Kiwi-ish in terms of RWC timing.
Castrogiovani was rock solid in the scrum, Bergamastro brought a very fine pair of kicking boots to the game and the great Parrise led by example.
I thought Trihn-Duc was good for the French. On the whole, even though the French out-scored the Italians 2 tries to one, the French lacked discipline across the park and especially in the Italian half; Italy won this on penalties.
I was on the edge of my chair for the last 5 minutes, begging the Italians to hold on. Great to see the emotion of the squad after the win. You can't help but feel good for a squad that has been smacked from pillar to post for years, beating the Grand Slam champs in front of an adoring crowd.
Nick Mallet has clearly been in Italy too long as even the ex-Saffa had a few tears, probably a combination of joy and relief over job security.
As for Lievremont, he is a dead man walking, and the French are becoming positively Kiwi-ish in terms of RWC timing.
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