Six Nations!

[Louis VI the Fat]

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[Csargo]

I don't see the point in this.

[GiantMonkeyMan]

i can't believe england lost to ireland... i was well annoyed but i am half irish so i cheered anyway and pretended i always wanted them to win
i didn't mind ireland beating us but the french winning!!! oh the embarresment but congrats all the same

[Sjakihata]

I don't see the point in this.

The point is that the French is beating the British at their own game

[thrashaholic]

Wales played well (especially considering almost the entirety of the first team are injured), and deserved to beat France, who played awfully, but the Frenchies had luck (and the ref in some instances) on their side.

All in all I think this has been a pretty poor 6 nations, none of the nations who should have played well did so: Ireland continue to play the most dull rugby in the world, England are 1 dimensional with only one game plan, France continue to be tempramental and Wales' season has been a bit like a soap opera; the real revalations have been Scotland and Italy.

Congrats on the championship though France, they made the most out of this very poor 6 nations and took advantage when opportunities arose...

[JAG]

Wales deserved the win, in fairness, just like we deserved to beat Ireland. Nevermind, well done France.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Italy is steadily improving - they could become a major rugby nation one day. Should be fun.

France was great at times, but we need to get more consistent if we want to win next years rugby world cup.

[Louis VI the Fat]

The point is that the French is beating the British at their own game

And such a great feeling it is.

France is a traditional major rugby power though, the only non-English speaking one. Until Italy joined five years ago, for a century it was the 'five nations': England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France. An exciting tournament as you can tell, filled with ancient rivalries and passion.
The other major rugby nations are the southern hemisphere ones: Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
And to a much lesser extent Argentina and Uruguay.

Hmm, I was thinking, maybe we should try to get a combined Scandinavian team to join the six nations.

Rugby: Viking Invasion - awesome!

[Strike For The South]

The USA should be in. I want a trip to the UK

[Louis VI the Fat]

The USA can join the girls' six nations. We sturdy Europeans don't see the need for wimpy shoulder pads and helmets.

[Strike For The South]

*insert surrender monkey joke here*

[Beirut]

*insert surrender monkey joke here*

*Insert Warning Points above*

[Tribesman]

Triple crown
If only Wales could have won Oh well

[Banquo's Ghost]

The USA should be in. I want a trip to the UK

Actually, the US team is coming on nicely - they could do with more support Since rugby reflects national character in the style of play so well, I'd love to see a Texan team!

I'm pleased that Ireland won the Triple Crown (especially by beating England, always the highlight of this Irishman's year ) but I am concerned it will gloss over our real underachievement this year. Ball handling skills were abysmal throughout the championship teams apart from Italy - who had a fabulous tournament. Our back line is one of the best in the world, but they drop the ball like it was a bar of soap. Worse, they tackle way too high and run way too flat.

[heresy]And BOD is not the right captain for us. We've suffered from a lack of leadership since Woody retired, and we need to make Paul O'Connell captain.[/heresy]

We'll get slaughtered in the World Cup unless we learn to play rugby with good basic execution. Get that right, and we might surprise some people, though I can't see anyone but the All-Blacks taking the Cup next year.

Congratulations to France, but the Welsh should have had you, and you're underachieving as badly as we are.

England look lost. Can they pull it round in time for 2007? And I'm pleased to see the Scots back - the game at Lansdowne Road was a real Celtic mud battle. Finally, they've stopped drafting in 5th rate Kiwis whose great-grandmothers got knocked up by a passing Scots sailor and brought on some real Scottish talent. They'll be a real contender next year.

[InsaneApache]

Originally Posted by strike for the south
The USA should be in. I want a trip to the UK

They can't even win at baseball.

[Duke Malcolm]

Scotland beat France and England! Huzzah!

[Samurai Waki]

They can't even win at baseball.

As mentioned before, England can't even win at Rugby

[Csargo]

The USA can join the girls' six nations. We sturdy Europeans don't see the need for wimpy shoulder pads and helmets.

Do you play this Rugby Louis you shouldn't be making fun of us Americans.



P.S.(I don't think fat counts as sturdy Louis)

[Louis VI the Fat]

Do you play this Rugby Louis

No, I'm quite attached to my front teeth, thank you.

[Csargo]

No, I'm quite attached to my front teeth, thank you.

I too am attached to my front teeth.

P.S. Texas is better than France.

[Papewaio]

Rugby 7 aside is a far more level game (more likely that the smaller nations will have a chance).

The 6 nations are all top ten teams... right behind the top 3 from the Tri-Nations.

[TonkaToys]

It was an *ahem* interesting 6-Nations. England were robbed by the ref in the Irish match, but then it is swings and roundabouts, as everyone gets a taste of dodgy ref'ing every now and again.
Glad to see the Italians are beginning to pull their weight; I hope to see them moving up the table in the next few seasons.
Shame we (the English that is) lost to the Scots, but you can't win all the time!

I was disappointed at the amount of boo-ing this year, primarily the French crowd seemed to boo everything (their team, the opposition, the ref, the weather, ...), which is just not on; however even the English crowd at Twickenham were boo-ing the ref. Come on people, this isn't football you know.

[Louis VI the Fat]

The 6 nations are all top ten teams... right behind the top 3 from the Tri-Nations.

Yes, the All Blacks are hardly quaking in their boots after this Six Nations edition.

[Papewaio]

In all honesty when the French are at the top of their game it is a style of play that is sweet to behold... I even don't mind watching the All Blacks lose if they French are playing at their skillful best... for saying that I might get excommunicated from the land of the long white cloud

[Adrian II]

*insert surrender monkey joke here*

Right you are. Admit it, Louis - American participation in World Cup rugby would be a HUGE boost to the game, both quantitatively and qualitatively. I sincerely hope it will come true one day.

This Six Nations tournament is (was) pretty lame and that fact that Italy is considered the 'surprise' of the party says it all, really. France weren't consistently good this season, but they consistently worked hard. Got to give credit where credit's due. They weren't just lucky against Wales last Saturday, they fought for it. Guys like Michalak and Dominici put in loads of hard work. As a back in the second half Dominici was everywhere at the same time. Wales had flashes of brilliance, but every time Phillips made a break he was out there without any support. End of story.

It wutn't pretty...

[TonkaToys]

Right you are. Admit it, Louis - American participation in World Cup rugby would be a HUGE boost to the game, both quantitatively and qualitatively. I sincerely hope it will come true one day.

USA did take part in the 2003 Rugby World Cup...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Rugby_Union_World_Cup

[English assassin]

France was great at times, but we need to get more consistent

This statement has been true since Rugby began. One of the great things about watching France play rugby is and has always been wondering WHICH France it will be. Will it be brilliant flowing running rugby? Or will they throw all their toys out the pram and self distruct?

England need to take a long look at themselves though. Losing to Scotland, bloody hell.

[Kanamori]

I'm still bored to death when Rugby comes on. I'd rather watch snooker than see people run down a field occassionally kicking the ball to the other side or getting in a huddle for God knows what reason and trying to peddle the ball downfield.

And, it is quite silly in my mind to have as little protection as they have. Why would you want to regularly have your teeth knocked out, and bones broken, when it is quite avoidable?

[Adrian II]

I'm still bored to death when Rugby comes on. I'd rather watch snooker than see people run down a field occassionally kicking the ball to the other side or getting in a huddle for God knows what reason and trying to peddle the ball downfield.

And, it is quite silly in my mind to have as little protection as they have. Why would you want to regularly have your teeth knocked out, and bones broken, when it is quite avoidable?

Snooker may still be too wild for your taste. You might get your eye poked out! Curling looks like just the thing for you, only don't touch the little brooms or you may slip and twist your ankle...

[Al Khalifah]

Typical horrendous reffing - everyone biased against the reigning world champions as usual in Rugby, although it wasn't quite so bad as last year (that Wales game OMFG ARE YOU BLIND AND STUPID?) That line judge in the Ireland game was so pathetic and spineless, he raised his flag to give the right decision then dropped it when he lost his bottle and couldn't face saying that the try Ireland had just 'scored' wasn't a try. I hope he never refs a rugby match at any level again.

When New Zealand win it in 2007, then we should start seeing some impartial reffing back in the 6 nations, although its doubtful since everyone will still hate England for the crime of being the best (no I don't mean at Rugby).