Six Nations 2015

[BabyBlueElephant]

That was one of the best days in Six Nations history. It had everything and the game was played the way it should be, going down to even past 80 minutes with the French running the ball out, almost teasing Irish and English fans into wondering what might be still.

27 tries scored. Over 200 points scored. Three teams ending on 8 points. The 6N is the best rugby championship around when you see days like this (which isn't a knock on the quality of the RC teams.).

 

[the plastic paddy]

A week too late for the Grand Slam but St Joe let up the clutch and we got a vision of what this Irish team can do. Back to back champions!!!!

 

[Wales Fan]

A week too late for the Grand Slam but St Joe let up the clutch and we got a vision of what this Irish team can do. Back to back champions!!!!

Thoroughly deserved too, most consistent side in the 6nations over the last two seasons.
Not much to choose between Ireland, England or Wales. Fine margins - Ireland threw away chances to win in Cardiff last week which spoiled their grand slam chance. Similarly Wales stayed in the changing rooms after h/t against England - that awful 40mins cost us a potential slam too.
Good to see France attempting to play some rugby & scoring some special tries against England, hope that gives them a boost in RWC2015 year.

 

[Marcelo]

Yeah, that happens when they play in decent weather. You antipodeans try playing in sleet storms week-in and week-out and see how much running you decide to do. #GlobalSeason

(Do you even get sleet in Australia?)

That's bullshit, they played running rugby because they needed the points.

I've seen hundreds of 6N games with good weather and despite that they played low risk

 

[Cardiffblue]

A week too late for the Grand Slam but St Joe let up the clutch and we got a vision of what this Irish team can do. Back to back champions!!!!

Glad it was Ireland that won but I wouldn't get carried away. Scotland and Italy were godawful. Cement is going to have to some homework on England if we re going to beat them in the rwc. We were one dreadful half of rugby away from grand slam ourselves

 

[Quick Hands]

Yeah, that happens when they play in decent weather. You antipodeans try playing in sleet storms week-in and week-out and see how much running you decide to do. #GlobalSeason

(Do you even get sleet in Australia?)

There was nothing wrong with the conditions the week before when Wales played Ireland - both teams just decided to play that game in a particular way. It was certainly a good game, but both sides could have been more adventurous had they wished.

 

[Cardiffblue]

Thoroughly deserved too, most consistent side in the 6nations over the last two seasons.
Not much to choose between Ireland, England or Wales. Fine margins - Ireland threw away chances to win in Cardiff last week which spoiled their grand slam chance. Similarly Wales stayed in the changing rooms after h/t against England - that awful 40mins cost us a potential slam too.
Good to see France attempting to play some rugby & scoring some special tries against England, hope that gives them a boost in RWC2015 year.

There has to be better half back combination in France. Been joking all season about them not having practiced together. Seems when it comes to plisson it was true! And it showed.

 

[Quick Hands]

There has to be better half back combination in France. Been joking all season about them not having practiced together. Seems when it comes to plisson it was true! And it showed.

Morgan Parra?

 

[Cardiffblue]

Morgan Parra?

At 9 or 10?

 

[Wales Fan]

Morgan Parra?

Brilliant player, but France need a settled combination at halfback. They chop & change too much for my liking.

 

[Cardiffblue]

There was nothing wrong with the conditions the week before when Wales played Ireland - both teams just decided to play that game in a particular way. It was certainly a good game, but both sides could have been more adventurous had they wished.

If Ireland played Wales this weekend the game would look much like it did last weekend. The quality of the opposition and what the games meant to both winners and the losers created the try feasts

 

[Cardiffblue]

Brilliant player, but France need a settled combination at halfback. They chop & change too much for my liking.

I agree. For first 15 mins every pass was embarrassing. Mind you if the French coach did get his act together at rwc..... Will it be psa in charge?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

France v England:

England by not enough to deny Ireland back-to-back titles.... or by 30, could go either way

Called it! Well done Ireland. For the record:

Wales 61-20 Itlay
Ireland 40-10 Scotland
England 55-35 France

So the three winning teams all finished with 8 comp points & the title went to the team with the best points differential:

Ireland +63
England +57
Wales +53

I'm guessing there were a few very nervous Irishmen watching the Orcs go nuts..............

BTW, when did they sto having shared titles? I'm not convinced that PD is that important over such a short comp.

 

[Quick Hands]

At 9 or 10?

He could play either. Certainly better than most of the others the PSA has tried at 9.

 

[Quick Hands]

Brilliant player, but France need a settled combination at halfback. They chop & change too much for my liking.

PSA hasn't picked the same backline for two tests in a row for at least a year. Perhaps he's looking for something which doesn't exist?

EDIT: PSA has made such a mess of coaching this team, there's just no way he can solve the problems that he has created for himself. He should have worked out months ago who his best 23 were, and spent some time coaching them. Every week he makes 7 or 8 changes looking for a better result.

Whoever replaces him basically has to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch to build a side. The best thing the FFR could do would be to pick ther RWC squad, pay for PSA and his family to spend October and November in a Chateau in the Loire Valley and let the players sort themselves out. His "coaching" actually has a negative impact on the team, they'd be better off with no coach.

 

[Quick Hands]

Called it! Well done Ireland. For the record:

Wales 61-20 Itlay
Ireland 40-10 Scotland
England 55-35 France

So the three winning teams all finished with 8 comp points & the title went to the team with the best points differential:

Ireland +63
England +57
Wales +53

I'm guessing there were a few very nervous Irishmen watching the Orcs go nuts......

BTW, when did they sto having shared titles? I'm not convinced that PD is that important over such a short comp.

The importance of the points differential is what prompted the positive play and thus the avalanche of points this weekend.

Does anyone really believe that if the points differential didn't matter and all Ireland, England and Wales had to do was win to secure a joint title we would have seen the usual dour matches with 15-12 type scorelines.

There's no doubt that the weather sometimes makes positive rugby with teams looking to score tries difficult, if not impossible, in the NH, but more often than not it is coaches and teams going out not to lose by playing the percentages that results in dour rugby.

 

[Cardiffblue]

Cmon lee, bbe and Bardon. Let's have the team of the tournament! IMHO Absolutely no way of picking some positions. Too many great performances for different reasons. My player of the tournament has been Awj but England could make claim for parling. how do you pick #4? Poc was excellent as usual but I don't think charteris put a foot wrong. Mike brown versus shove? I couldn't choose. I'm not even sure I can pick between Conor Murray or youngs. I prefer Murray but in England setup youngs is right. Warbs and l'idiot were peerless in the end but clueless against England second half where Haskell shone briefly. Sob was Ireland's standout vs us and awesome last night.

 

[Cardiffblue]

Called it! Well done Ireland. For the record:

Wales 61-20 Itlay
Ireland 40-10 Scotland
England 55-35 France

So the three winning teams all finished with 8 comp points & the title went to the team with the best points differential:

Ireland +63
England +57
Wales +53

I'm guessing there were a few very nervous Irishmen watching the Orcs go nuts......

BTW, when did they sto having shared titles? I'm not convinced that PD is that important over such a short comp.

Picked the winners or the margins?

 

[Bardon]

We're voting on the team of the tournament tomorrow. I need about 50 votes just from the fantastic performances today. Overnight I've got to somehow narrow it down to 1 nomination per position. It's going to be tight in a lot of positions.

 

[mxyzptlk]

That's bullshit, they played running rugby because they needed the points.


I've seen hundreds of 6N games with good weather and despite that they played low risk

There was nothing wrong with the conditions the week before when Wales played Ireland - both teams just decided to play that game in a particular way. It was certainly a good game, but both sides could have been more adventurous had they wished.

Jokes, you thin-skin basta-- people, that was a joke.

(I still don't think Aussies really know from sleet, though. Face it, you live in paradise. Just own up to it already.)