The 6 Nations

[Rosco]

Starts this weekend!

There doesn't seem to be much fanfare or interest in it over this side of pond given Munster and Leinster are struggling.

We play Wales who are on a 7 game losing streak, but we haven't been great lately either. I like the look of our pack but we're still stuck with Murray at nine. He can match up with Phillips physically but I don't like his game otherwise

 

[nealmac]

1: Cian Healy
2: Rory Best
3: Mike Ross
4: Mike McCarthy
5: Donnacha Ryan
6: Peter O’Mahoney
7: Sean O’Brien
8: Jamie Heaslip (c)
9: Connor Murray
10: Johnny Sexton
11: Simon Zebo
12: Gordon D’Arcy
13: Brian O’Driscoll
14: Craig Gilroy
15: Rob Kearney

16: Sean Cronin
17: David Kilcoyne
18: Declan Fitzpatrick
19: Donncha O’Callaghan
20: Chris Henry
21: Eoin Reddan
22: Ronan O’Gara
23: Keith Earls

Cant really argue with that. I'd like to see O'Callaghan starting though.

 

[Rosco]

Can't agree, I like Ryan and McCarthy right now. They compliment each other well.
It's a pity Strauss got injured, even if Best has arguably been the most consistently top class performer on the team for the past few years. Strauss is a cracking ball carrier.

I haven't seen much of O'Brien of late but he has been missing a bit of spark since his injuries hit - that said it hasn't affected his all round game that much, just his carrying.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

I don't hold out much hope for our chances this season, we've simply got too many on the injured list to give it a proper crack (Lydiate, A W Jones and Davies in particular).

France or England for the title, but no Grand Slam this time around.

England v Scotland - England by 15+ (If it's not pissing down)
Wales v Ireland - Too tight to call
Italy v France - France by 12-15

 

[Judge Jules]

It's hard to tell how Wales will go. In addition to the factors you mention you also have Howley looking out of his depth in charge but, as against that, the best of who's left in the squad are still very good. I'd probably tip Ireland for that game, but wouldn't be totally surprised to be wrong.

 

[doctor_mac]

Starts this weekend!

There doesn't seem to be much fanfare or interest in it over this side of pond given Munster and Leinster are struggling.

We play Wales who are on a 7 game losing streak, but we haven't been great lately either. I like the look of our pack but we're still stuck with Murray at nine. He can match up with Phillips physically but I don't like his game otherwise

Kidney continues to be conservative and fails to look to the future. The O'Driscoll / D'Arcy centre partnership is done. Time to move on. How Marshall is still not even getting onto the bench at number 9 is a mystery. Other than Kidney likes a big fucking lump there. I'm writing this season off, and hoping the IRFU finally wake up and write Kidney his P45.

 

[doctor_mac]

Can't agree, I like Ryan and McCarthy right now. They compliment each other well.
It's a pity Strauss got injured, even if Best has arguably been the most consistently top class performer on the team for the past few years. Strauss is a cracking ball carrier.

I haven't seen much of O'Brien of late but he has been missing a bit of spark since his injuries hit - that said it hasn't affected his all round game that much, just his carrying.

Henry has arguably been the best back-rower in Ireland this season. He's been incredible.

 

[Rouge Penguin]

I'm looking forward to this year, last year we over achieved given the changes and the win over NZ, while a great result on its own, should instill confidence that was missing.

I've seen nothing of France this year, so who knows. I think it's going to be close but England for 6 nations and triple crown.

Scotland by a quite a few, Wales/Ireland will be close.

 

[Judge Jules]

I'm always wary of tipping against the Jockoes. Season after season they look, and indeed they are, the weakest of the four Home Union sides but still come up with the occasional victory which nobody anticipated. If they had the ability to match their fighting spirit they'd be world-beaters.

 

[Spionkop69]

In Twickenham this weekend, cos my mum lives there. Been out to the shop and there's already loads of Scots drinking in kilts.

Silly looking twats, poncing around in skirts.

It goes without saying that I hope they get battered today.

 

[Rosco]

Straightforward move with good execution from BOD and Zebo. Try time. 7-0

 

[Rosco]

Wales a bit sloppy here, trying to run out from the 22 and giving us a good line out position

 

[Rosco]

After five mins of pressure Ireland come away with a penalty. 10-0.

Wales lucky nobody went in the bin

 

[Rosco]

Kick blocked and caught by Best. Zebo with a sensational pick up - back heels it into his own hands. Quick ruck and Healy goes over.

15-0

 

[Rosco]

Howley looks lost

 

[Rosco]

36 mins in, Wales turn up

 

[Rosco]

Rory best wins us a penalty on our own line, otherwise it looked like Wales would have scored

 

[Rosco]

23-3 at halftime. Really solid, tough, hard working performance from us so far - just exerting pressure and capitalising on mistakes. Love it

 

[Rosco]

BOD try. More relentless pressure from us. Wales looking well off the pace

 

[Rosco]

All change now, 30-15, game on

 

[Rosco]

Thought that was a try for Faletau, Ireland down to 14 again for the last 10.

This will end up close

 

[nealmac]

Some finish. Great defending from us.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

Fantastic game to watch, well done to the Irish!


If Davies hadn't have blown that 2 man overlap i'd have backed us to win. I don't think i've ever seen a game where each side dominated a half by such a huge margin.

It's gonna be a long six nations for us now, but we should get stronger as the tournament goes on with key injured players due to return. france up next and we'll get humped again.

 

[StevieM]

I introduced Australia to the "curry chip" tonight - it went nuts.

Even the Welsh were eating it.

 

[Athens]

I enjoyed that. Zebo's flick made the bar go 'oooohhhh' - during the reply. I don't think anyone noticed it during play.

Wales could have easily won it though.

The England V Scotland match turned out to be a bit of a non contest though.

 

[Rosco]

A mate of mine used to do stuff like that when we played together, he grew up playing GAelic football and still hurls but his specialty was chipping the ball from the ground straight up into his hands at full pace.

It was a spectacle, especially since he played propr and was about 17 stone in his leaner days.

 

[Athens]

A mate of mine used to do stuff like that when we played together, he grew up playing GAelic football and still hurls but his specialty was chipping the ball from the ground straight up into his hands at full pace.

It was a spectacle, especially since he played propr and was about 17 stone in his leaner days.

I had a dream that one day a young catholic lad, that didn't quite cut it as a gaelic footballer, took up rugby and became a legend at the sport. I also dreamed that a young protestant lad, that didn't quite cut it as a rugby player, took up gaelic and became a legend at the sport. Then Ireland won the world cup and Antrim won the all Ireland.

It won't happen.

 

[Jürgen4PM]

Great performance from our lads yesterday.

A pretty dour game where in which both defences were on top, but when you're on the back of 7 straight defeats any win is fantastic i guess.

 

[Leo]

I was amazed that Ryan Jones wasn't given the Mom.
Halfpenny was excellent but some of the work Jones put in was Herculean.
Wales look a far better outfit minus Warburton whose injury looks a blessing in disguise.
I get the feeling that todays game will be won with a late penalty or drop goal.

 

[Rosco]

It's a pretty miserable day here so this game is probably going to get scrappy