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Surprised I've not seen a thread on this yet.
Sooo... what are your predictions ?
I've just moved to Brizzle but am going back to a pub in Caerleon (Wales) this weekend to watch our boyos beat the Irish.
Im not optimistic enough to hope for the Grand Slam ....aslong as we beat the English !
:2thumbsup:
I suspect that you are going to be disappointed.
If we can turn you Welsh over in Cardiff, I rather hope Ireland will finally win the Grand Slam we've been letting go for the last four years.
I hate it when we're favourites. :beam:
Go the Welsh! :wales:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost
It should be a great game no matter what the outcome. I shall be drinking my Guiness but cheering on Wales :inquisitive:
And here I thought, "Finally, a thread about the Iroquois..."~:doh:
GO IRISH!
All I can do is pray that England actually win against the Scots to try and end our dismal run (what is it now? lost 8 out of last 9?!?).
The worrying thing is I am not all that hopeful, whatever happened to the times you could almost guarantee a win at Fortress Twickenham? (Had the misfortune to be there to watch the Argentine debacle in the Autumn :thumbsdown: ). I feel Scotland under Hadden (sp?) are playing with much more confidence again, and I hope Ashton has had enough time to try and get some confidence and pride back in the English team.
I think on current form Ireland are the clear favourites, with France probably coming second. England, Wales and Scotland are all struggling a bit with injuries etc. and its probably going to be a dogfight to claim 3rd between those three. Italy probable wooden spoon, but I imagine they will beat one of the above three teams in the championship.
Looking forward to watching the games though! Saturday when I'm not playing and Sunday from the comfort of my sofa with accompanying bruising and aches from Saturdays game :laugh4:
Oh no, is it the six nations this weekend? I'm back in Cardiff, all of the pubs are going to be packed.
Cardiff is going to be quite full mate.Quote:
Originally Posted by Big King Sanctaphrax
Stick to the sofa if I were you
EDIT: Interesting metaphor, but perhaps not quite suitable for a PG site :bow: BG
Hmmm. I'm going to have to watch this.
Go Wales!
The 24th will certainly be a historic event
:england: :england: :england: :england: :england: :england: :yes:
~:cheers: ~:cheers: ~:cheers:
Go :italy: Why are they in it anyway?
They joined in 2000. Wiki Link for the Rugby-impairedQuote:
Originally Posted by Strike For The South
hmm, hopefully it will be a good one this year, for me favourites are Ireland and Wales, maybe Enlgand or France can steal it though :2thumbsup:
I'll worry about the home nations later. All I want is to bruise some Italians. :whip:
Oh, and go Scots. Give us a nice suprise!
Well Louis, you should be a happy bunny. France did very well.
Looks like the English have rediscovered some pride too. I was glad to see the determination and open game after the Robinson era.
It's going to be a good old ruck this one.
:2thumbsup:
Ah, I think this one is going to be one of the closest ever. Four good candidates for the win, and two of them started well. After the Ireland-Wales game we'll know more about the other two.
Meanwhile, I got to see those bruises I was hoping for. :beam:
I enjoyed watching the England/Scotland game yesterday, we seemed to be playing better, and i was very impressed by the forwards especially... Ellis played fantastic too (i thought ithe whole wilinson thing was slightly ott)
missed Italy/France due to work, but sounds like France played well..
Looking forward to Ireland/Wales, although Ireland are favourites
:2thumbsup:
Well, that was a fantastic game!
Hearty congratulations to Wales - what a tempo, what fight and style and skill! We played really poorly, I'll admit, and you were on the wrong end of at least one really bad decision - should have been a penalty try, but my goodness did you play out of your skins. I think we probably deserved to edge it because of our defense keeping you from a try, but you scared me half to death.
All Welshmen should be right proud, even though you lost. Wonderful rugby.
I'm so annoyed I missed being there - had a ticket, but got a real nasty cold and couldn't go. I can't even have a drink to celebrate. ~:mecry:
In case any of our US brethren are interested, this is an example of toughness.
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...rae/hickie.jpg
Dennis Hickie had his forehead split open by a boot, ran around for a few minutes blind as a bat with blood, tackling on sonar. Went off, got a few stitches and a skull cap, came back and played a blinder. No helmets over here. ~;p (A Welshman copied the act just a few minutes later, so it's not just an Irish thing :beam: )
Now for France. We'll have to play a universe better if we are to beat them. And Ronan, practise that kicking thing. :beadyeyes2:
Nevermind
I'm putting my money (or pocket fluff, rather) on France.
Gah ! We was robbed !
Sat down with my first pint and Ireland had allready got a try !
I swear the ref was sponsored by Guiness.
And I burnt my hand on the half time curry.
Great game though, shared the train back to England (from Wales) with a load of bladdered singing Irish fans and had a great time. Wouldnt get that after a football match.
Hope Ireland play better next time, didnt exactly run rings round us considering you're tipped for the top. Ah well, aslong as we beat the Saesneg:2thumbsup:
What train did you get, Monkian? I was on the 7.15 back to London and had a drunken Irish fan fall asleep on top of me.
pity Italy got whitewashed saturday by the froggys...
I think it was the 7'oclock one from Newport and we got off at Bristol- two carriages so standing room only :wall:Quote:
Originally Posted by Big King Sanctaphrax
Well, we approach the second weekend of the Six Nations - what are people thinking?
Saturday sees England facing Italy - should be straightforward, though it's rarely fun to play a team with nothing to lose like Italy. I can't say I was impressed with what Berbizier had done with them so far - they looked disinterested against France. England seem full of confidence now, if not real skill.
Wales go to Murrayfield - not sure it was a good idea for Paterson to call the Welsh "cheats". Pretty sure a feeble Scotland will get turned over by a vengeful Wales.
And then on Sunday to Croke Park. Still a bit stunned that I can say that for a rugger game. I'm fearful we are going to "choke in Croke" as the saying goes. The myth is that France don't travel well, but they know how important the match is. A freezing, sleety day in Lansdowne would have them worried, but a big stadium like Croke? It looks like O'Driscoll and Stringer are out, which makes it all the more difficult.
I really hope the emotion of the occasion brings out the best, in which case we'll win, but I'm not so sure. Goodness will it be a great moment though!
A walk in the park for England I think. France was good last saturday, but the score was as much owing to the weakness of Italy. As much as I love to see them lose, it's almost a pity that Italy still isn't quite there yet. They haven't been able to advance their game since their good performances last year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost
My money's on Wales.Quote:
Wales - Scotland
Teh Big One:But do we really? Does Bernard Laporte? With all the changes he's going to make for the match, I wonder if he isn't doing what I feared: looking ahead to the World Cup already. Of course it's the bigger prize, but I wouldn't mind defending the Six Nations too. There's still plenty of time for preparation for the World Cup.Quote:
And then on Sunday to Croke Park. Still a bit stunned that I can say that for a rugger game. I'm fearful we are going to "choke in Croke" as the saying goes. The myth is that France don't travel well, but they know how important the match is.
Then again, why not experiment a little? Ireland always loses to us anyway. And not even Croke Park is going to change that...:sneaky:
So much for that, eh.Quote:
Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost
And what a load of bollocks it was.
Hmm, what's happened to Wales then? No tries now in two matches and staring at the wooden spoon.
England had the gloss taken off them despite the win. Deadly dull game too.
So much for the Welsh then.
England were rubbish too. Wilkinson was good of course, but I don't see England winning it at this rate.
So I think it's beginning to increasingly look like this competition will be decided tomorrow. Should be exhilarating, the two best teams of the tournament battling it out in front of 80000 excited Irish fans.
Ah, I must grant it to the Irish, indeed to all the British fans, what spirit they show. They just keep on singing and supporting, no matter what. So much better, and so much more likeable, than French audiences, who only ever break their silence for displays of sarcasm thrown at their own teams.
Bugger .
France beat Ireland? Didn't see that one coming. Nice to see the occasional ear explode on impact, too. :yes:
It's eighty minutes, lads. Games last for eighty minutes. :yes: :beam:
But seriously, what a cracker. Ireland really didn't deserve to lose this. My, those last five minutes were fantastic, some of the most exciting I've ever seen, but my heart goes out to Ireland. What a way to lose.
First Trimble slips at a crucial moment, giving us the chance to get back still, only for Beauxis' attempt to come off the post. Followed by those cunning green devils getting themselves a penalty in the 79th minute. :wall:
And then just when I think it's all over Clerc goes for this great last second try and...phew...:sweatdrop:
Certainly one for the history books this.
Tribesman managed to capture it eloquently.
Actually Louis, I have to disagree with you. Ireland did not deserve to win. You cannot play only thirty minutes of the second half against a team like France and expect to win. (Especially if you forget to bother with the last one).
We were awful. We were awful against Wales, and we were doubly awful against France. Some stunningly stupid decisions, some stunningly useless plays, especially in the first twenty minutes. Young Boss needs a good slapping - one point ahead, a kickable penalty advantage and he keeps the ball moving?
The worst of it was the lack of aggression. How many times did France throw in after a good kick unchallenged? You've got to chase the ball. You have to look like you want to win.
We tackled without conviction. For all the possession domination in the early second half, did we even look like breaking through the French defence, let alone score a try? Line-outs - what are they?
No, you are being generous, my Gallic friend. France deserved to win that game and we need to get a grip.
(Not to mention, a captain. BOD is OK, but I've never been a fan of backs as captains. Someone should have taken the whole team by the scruff after five mintues and found them some mojo. Can you imagine a team led by Keith Wood playing so spinelessly - at Croke Park?)
I'm nursing the mother of all hangovers after what was, after all, a wonderful, historic day out, and a fabulous game of rugby. I remember the heartbreak we inflicted on Wales in Cardiff in 2003, so fair's fair. I had the pleasure and privilege of entertaining a good posse of French fans afterwards (Dad, the inheritance is gone, BTW) - my goodness can you Frenchies drink!
Ah well, at least I can recycle an old joke
Why do French women prefer Irish men?
Because they can stay on top for 75 minutes and still come second...
I'm here all night. Tell your friends.
No offence to any English people here, but both my grandads will be turning in their graves when the god save the queen is played in Croke Park...
That could have been avoided .Quote:
No offence to any English people here, but both my grandads will be turning in their graves when the god save the queen is played in Croke Park...
Cremation .:hide:
I know what you mean (I have a whole mausoleum of mouldy bones that will be rattling like a Mayo disco) but I think it will be an hugely emotional moment that proves just how far we have come in the last few years.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grey_Fox
I shall be singing it with as much gusto as Amhrán na bhFiann - and I hope my countrymen do too in the spirit of rugby.
And then I shall be baying for a suitably cathartic stomping of the English rugby team.
:viking:
Hehe.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tribesman
And BG, while you might be right, I have a feeling there will a deal of violence off the field. Hope I'm wrong, but oh well.
You see, when brutish british fans leave Landsdowne Road, they find themselves in the middle of Stillorgan, while on leaving Croke Park hey're in the middle of Drumcondra with no other option but to walk for about half an hour through the dreaded North Side with potentially angry irish fans all around...Quote:
Originally Posted by Tribesman
This is not the Irish disease raising it's head again, is it? Suffering from too much historical awareness that is.
With emotions like these, it looks like you guys might 'choke at Croke' again. The historical significance of the occurance last sunday didn't impress the French. It was just another large crowd to our players. It were the Irish who were hampered by playing there. They seemed to be intimidated in the opening quarter. By the large crowd, by the historical significance of the game, the venue, playing at one of the spiritual centers of Irishdom.
Let it go, let the past be the past, or the England team will have no trouble in adding eighty minutes of insult to eight hundred years of injury.
Let it go? :shocked2:Quote:
Originally Posted by luigi VI di Fatlington
Hey, Louis, it's what our entire culture is built on. You might as well demand that the Académie Française gives it up and starts promoting Estuary English using David Beckham as their poster boy.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Right, he we go again after two long weeks. It's Super Saturday.
Scotland against Italy: A chance for the Italians first win away? Certainly the wooden spoon decider.
France take on Wales in Paris. Where Louis' Lovelies have a real hard time beating the Welsh. I think Wales are due a big game and with substantial changes to the French pack, maybe they'll have a good chance. (Also known as wishful thinking...)
Ireland against England at Croke. What more needs to be said? :fainting:
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Ireland - England and France - Wales and I'll be in Germany for the weekend. :furious3:
Chances of finding a tv channel there that broadcasts them are about as likely as there being an Angolese ice skating championship or a Pygmee Basketball Association.
Or of finding an intact historical German inner city. Or of the Irish not being a 'joke at Croke' again. Or of a suspiciously large amount of drunk Welsh not asking for directions to the nearest Paris pet farm. Or of... [Edit: Yes, thank you Louis. I think we get the idea. :bow: BG.]
But maybe I can find myself one those Irish pubs that have sprung up everywhere in the last few years. With any luck, full of Irish I can try my newly learned jokes on: 'What's green and can't count to eighty?', 'two Irish guys walk out of a bar.', 'Wow, I think I must've like drunk 17 to 20 pints already!'.
Last edited by Banquo's Ghost : 22/02/07 at 02:14:20. Reason: drastically shortening pointless list of things that are more likely than Louis seeing rugger this weekend.
The bloody RSF are having a protest before the match , they say they are not planning any trouble but will not be responsible if people who want to start trouble turn up .:furious3:
Sickening isn't it? Mind you, the Gardai are asking the three people who might want to hold a protest to check with them at the station, so they don't seem to be expecting much trouble.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tribesman
Oh and Louis, I'm off to the game in a short while. Rest assured, I won't be thinking of your plight, nor dwelling on how I mysteriously got up in the middle of last night to apparently edit your post. :beam:
Well. It's a good thing I don't care much for this game. I think that says enough.
Huzzah for Ireland!
:2thumbsup:
What does that bring them up to? 2nd or 3rd?
Second. Very well done, that was.
:2thumbsup: :balloon2: ~:cheers: :balloon2: :2thumbsup:
Whoooooooooooooooooooo etc.
Wow.
A perfect day.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost
Well apart from Wales beating France but oh well.
BTW how did Scotland manage to beat Wales 2 weeks ago? They were awful yesterday.
England lost to Ireland England lost to Ireland England lost to Ireland na na nana naaaa na:clown: :joker: :jester:
Best not speak of this, I say. Ever. :yes:Quote:
Originally Posted by ShadesPanther
You wouldn't believe how many brits I saw in town this afternoon getting this sort of treatment ,.Quote:
England lost to Ireland England lost to Ireland England lost to Ireland na na nana naaaa na
I had to intervene , it was a historic occasion , the game didn't matter , the Brits entered Croke , made themselves look powerless , but managed to leave without shooting anyone ....a great day :laugh4:
On another note , the RSF protest managed to gather a great crowd ....of 30people....6 got arrested for being gobshites....but what about the other 24 ?:inquisitive:
Anyhow , to more important matters , did anyone hear the result from this weekends really important match , the Craggy Island title ?
It was unbelievable in the stadium. When "God Save the Queen" was sung, I was completely overwhelmed by the respect given and the English sang it with such gusto. And then "The Soldier's Song" - I don't know what it was like on the TV but it was the most incredibly emotional moment - never heard anything like it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tribesman
Good result too. :laugh4:
I'm told the score was 2-0 to Inis Mor.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tribesman
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tribesman
The old North-South-East match?
this oneQuote:
The old North-South-East match?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/n...nd/6378983.stm
I am only posting this to record the fact that the weekend's events have not entirely passed my by, for fear of being thought a bad sport. Gillingham losing 3-1 to Scunthorpe, my god, I know they are top of the division but even so. Scunthorpe. :no:
I gather there might have been some rubgy at the weekend too but I am sure it wasn't important.
Father Ted football- Gills fact: Tony Cascarino used to play for Gillingham. We paid his old side 11 new shirts for him.
Well we sure got schooled at the weekend!
Heaviest loss ever in the Championship for England.
Great game to watch and can only imagine what the atmosphere inside Croke was like. Ireland were simply better than England in all parts of the game. Virtually all the tackles resulted in an English player going backwards after being hit by at least 2 Irishmen. (Why didn't they play this way against the French last time out!?!)
I felt some of the criticism of Farrell was a bit unfair, after all the English backs had nothing to work with. That said we could do with someone with a bit of pace in the centres, oh and that Strettle (sp?) bloke sure seems quick.
Congrats Italy on the first away win, but sorry Scotland what game were you lot playing in the opening 7 minutes?
Time for the pub:2thumbsup:
Gawd, that was awful.
Commiserations to the Scots - you didn't deserve to lose. That must have been one hell of a party two weeks ago, because we clearly had to send on a bunch of impersonators.
:no: :embarassed:
Oh dear, how sad, never mind. :laugh4:
Congratulations to the English for a timely victory. I fancy France were at the same party as our lot, because they looked as jaded and bored as Ireland yesterday.
Except that we won yesterday, of course. ~;p
We wuz rubbish!
:wall: Yes, yes. So much for that grand slam. Gah!Quote:
Originally Posted by BG
We drastically need to improve on our attacking play, they were all invisible yesterday. England could very well be a strong team in the making, I wonder how they'll perform in the World Cup. As it is, there's a different England every time I see them play. That second try was great, a fantastic run followed by a great single-lefthand catch of a deflected ball. Good stuff.
On the upside, next week promises to be very exciting. Three teams still in it, though realistically it's between Ireland and France. France - Scotland and Italy - Ireland should both be fun. I do think Italy are stronger than Scotland this year. I can not bare the prospect of those maca..er, Italians winning three times in a row, so here's hoping for a tight Irish win while we thoroughly thrash the Scots.
Congratulations on that Triple Crown btw- it will be a well-deserved consolation price for Ireland. :knight:
Well, who'd have thought it, really didn't expect to beat the French. God knows what they were playing at, they appeared to have forgotten the good bits of French rugby, the attacking.
English forwards were good (quite some change from Croke Park) but the backs didn't look that threatening for most of the game and made too many mistakes. At least they were trying to play and luckily the French forgot to tackle for at least one of the tries, still will take the win and sets up a good final weekend, with 3 teams in contention (well 4 if you include the unlikely scenario of Italy, Scotland and Wales all winning :beam: )
Should be good with Ireland and France both trying to rack up the points to win the championship in the final game. I don't think England are in with much of a shout and suspect the Welsh will be out with points to prove and probably 50/50 for who wins that game.
(Oh and sucks about the refs decision in Rome, but it was kinda funny :laugh4: )
Well done to the English yesterday! It was very strange to see the Irish pub-goers cheering FOR England for once!
If Ireland beat Italy by 5 points more than France beat Scotland* then Ireland win. Hooray.
I hate when things get mathematical.
*No offence to Scotland, but you'll lose. Try not to lose that badly though.
Scotland is going to get annihilated so badly Mel Gibson is going to turn it into a movie. :knight:Quote:
Originally Posted by ezrider
To quote Tribesman: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4:Quote:
Originally Posted by luigi VI di Fatlington
To quote Tribesman :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4:
blimey everyones a comedian today .
Anyhow I will be watching the games in a welsh pub , as far as I know there will only be 3 other Irish there .
Going to be one hell of an afternoon , all three matches could count for deciding the eventual winner , just a pity that the Paddys day club finals clash with the rugby and I doubt they will be showing them over there .
Still just think , St.Patricks day without the Guinness :sweatdrop: ...well apart from the early house and then again at the airport~:cheers:
apostate.Quote:
Still just think , St.Patricks day without the Guinness
True Irishers could find Guinness for the day - even in the wilds of the states, United.
Um... Go Scots?
Oh, very good. :applause:Quote:
Originally Posted by luigi VI di Fatlington
As long as we give you a fight in that other game, I'm not overly fussed.
[Although I might just be the one to take the slightest measure of
satisfaction in seeing you eat your words, all the same.] ~;)
I don't think the Welsh are that uncivilised.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tribesman
Yep you can find guinness nearly anywhere , you can even find good guinness, but the pub I will be in does not keep good guinness.Quote:
True Irishers could find Guinness for the day - even in the wilds of the states, United.
Its ales though are spot on .
Nae luck, eh.
Hope you're having a good few anyway, lads.
Congratulations to the Six Nations Champions - FRANCE! :balloon: :france: :balloon:
(Let's assume the English don't score 60 points more than Wales in Cardiff, otherwise I'll look silly).
I am gagging with disappointment, but the truth is, the best team won. Ireland are a long way from being the team they could be. Most specifically, two incredibly stupid 80th minute decisions and too much reliance on lucky wins.
We didn't deserve to win against Wales, we screwed up royally against France by going to sleep, certainly didn't deserve to beat Scotland and had the Italians dead to rights (even without being able to win a set piece, like ever) and instead of sending a 31 point margin to the Stade de France, went to sleep again to let the Italians get a try back.
Conversely, apart from a tribute team that impersonated them at Twickenham, France played some lovely rugby whilst killing off games - or as against Ireland and Scotland, refused to fall over hwne times got tough.
Bodes well for the World Cup in France, where I hope you do well until the All-Blacks destroy you. Ireland on the other hand, need to learn to play as if they are facing England every match.
Well done France, Champions of Europe once again. :bow:
*I'm not even allowed to get very, very drunk as Lady Ghost has invited over a lot of polite friends for St Patrick's Day dinner. You may pity me.* ~:mecry:
Dito! Well done les Bleus!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost
See it from the positive side. England also lost today. Always a reason to celebrate.Quote:
Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost
Quid
http://matousmileys.free.fr/france2.gif
This was an exciting day! Scotland showed up very strong today. They had three good tries, including a devastating one five minutes before the final whistle. Just when we had at last, finally, got that twenty-five point lead...~:mecry:
It was tense. Could it have had a more dramatic end? A controversial stoppage time French try scored by a guy named Elvis and an Irish video referee who had to decide on Saint Patricks day if he would allow it or not. :beam:
And I don't think Ireland where that bad. With the benefit of hindsight, it's easy to say they should've clung on to their 31-point lead. However, all through the match the Irish attacks were clinically ripping Italy apart. Why should Ireland ever have satisfied themselves with their lead? They had every reason to try for more. If Italy hadn't scored that last try nobody would've complained about their tactics.
Last minute tries have decided this Six Nations. Like in the game at Croke, they were all the difference between France and Ireland.
England never had more than a long shot at the title today. I didn't expect them to have any realistic chance to win by 57 points, but I was quite happy to see the Welsh being all over them in the first half. That James Hook guy was lethal, what a talent. ~:eek:
I didnt get tickets but me and my mate blagged our way in to Cardiff student union and watched it on the 20ft screen.
£3 a round,a decent view, drunknen student girls AND we beat the English.
Who could ask for more ? (well, winning a few more matches wouldve been nice)
On a side note, the English fans REALLY were only singing when they scored and booed when out anthem came on... something not right about that.
But then EVERYONE booed when the French got that dodgy try :wall: