Six Nations rugby

Post by **Randy Cornhole** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:24 am

Bamber wrote -

Ireland will beat Wales at Cardiff
France will beat Italy
England will beat Scotland.

I don't think there's much doubt regarding the outcome of these games. The only one I can see that may change is the Wales game. But I cant see them beating the de Orish by 13...

Post by **Big Boy** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 2:32 am

A respectable 2nd for England - not bad for a team re-building.

Well done to the Irish

Post by **Randy Cornhole** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 2:38 am

Sweet Buddha the Wales Ireland game was close...

Well done to the Irish boys...

England comming second is all part of our bigger team building senario and world domination...

AGAIN!!!

Post by **JimmyGreaves** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 2:40 pm

What a great game

After getting close so many times during these last years a great Ireland side defeated Wales 17-15 in a game of dramatic and escalating tension (leaving me with no finger nails) to win their first Six Nations grand slam since 1948.

Great celebrations last night and with spurs beating chelsea, what a day!

Post by **bambergasgoigne** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:05 am

Randy wrote

England comming second is all part of our bigger team building senario and world domination... AGAIN!!!

World domination at being rather poor at sports that they invented perhaps !!. Hats off to the Irish, thoroughly deserved. A little earlier in this thread, I did promise a drink for anyone I met in Hua Hin the night of an Irish slam, and if you were in town last night, you will have heard the bell ringing many a time. If you availed of a free drink, cheers - your very welcome. I have an awful habit of buying alot of people a drink and never ever getting to meet them. England are improving and with Wales and Ireland at home, have a chance of a Slam next season if they can beat France in Paris, but a certain little nation in Green, have their hopes up now and as holders of the Magners League, the Heineken Cup and the 6 Nations are not going to make it easy for the boys in White. 3 out of 5 wins England against Italy, Scotland and a French team that played like Canada. Not exactly world domination yet!!.

Bamber

Post by **Big Boy** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:25 am

bambergasgoigne wrote:

World domination at being rather poor at sports that they invented perhaps !

Well you've had a lucky streak predicting recent results; but you seem to be well out of touch with reality. England participate in this tournament each year in preparation for the big one. OK, I accept that they're only the second best team in the world at the moment, but they'll get better

Post by **bambergasgoigne** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:31 am

Big Boy wrote

OK, I accept that they're only the second best team in the world at the moment, but they'll get better

I love it when you talk dirty Big Boy. May I ask who is the team that England unfortunately find themselves behind, and guessing that your answer might be the All Blacks, where does that leave the team that beat England twice in the last World Cup, South Africa, and a certain other Southern hemisphere team that has won the World Cup on two occassions.

Just for the record, here are the official World rankings, but Big Boy I prefer your HHAD version, keep it coming....

1(1) NEW ZEALAND 92.68
2(2) SOUTH AFRICA 89.45
3(3) AUSTRALIA 85.86
4(6) IRELAND 81.98
5(5) WALES 81.88
6(4) ARGENTINA 81.56
7(8) ENGLAND 80.80
8(7) FRANCE 79.02
9(9) SCOTLAND 75.39
10(10) FIJI 75.24

Post by **Big Boy** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:48 am

You can make statistics read whatever you like - its when it comes to the worldwide showdown that it counts.

That chart surely can't be right, else how did England manage to finish so far ahead of Wales in this Mickey Mouse tournament? Like all good atheletes, the England team peaks when it matters - anything else doesn't mean a lot.

Post by **Randy Cornhole** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:00 am

The World Cup is the tournament to win obviously. The 6 nations is a local tournament and is an entertaining way to guage how an international team may gel togeather when it comes to the big one.

If you were to ask Martin Johnson how he feels about the 6 nations, sure he will say that he's disapointed England didn't win but more importantly he will be worried at the way his team is shaping up. He has 2 years to get it right until the next world cup. That is his main ultimate goal.

You can spout stats until the cows come home but you ask any player which medal they would rather have around their knecks and you know what the answer will be.

If you really want stats here are some interesting World cup one's. Who has the best record in the world cup finals over the last 8 years?...

England - finalists - 2007 (new Zealand and Australia both knocked out in the quarters, Sth Africa Winners)
England - winners 2003 (Sth Africa out in the quarters, NZ out in semi's, Australia lost in final)

Post by **JimmyGreaves** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:27 pm

England are shit and you all know it!

In fact they are shit at most sports especially football. It's ingrained in english peoples sports culture that they are the best and are having a few blips at the moment. However in reality they are an arrogant bunch especially the media.

Paul O'Connell replying to Warren Gatland's comments:

When asked to name the core values of his Ireland side, O'Connell responded: "Honesty and integrity - big Irish things - and being humble as well. Humble is something that is alian to English sports teams!

Post by **Randy Cornhole** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:16 pm

I will stick my kneck out and say that you don't get to be world champion(s) at any sport without being dedicated, ruthless and a little bit lucky.

However in reality they are an arrogant bunch

What! and the Aussies aren't? At rugby and cricket they are arrogant and ruthless to a man. Thats why they win so much...

Post by **Big Boy** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 7:24 pm

JimmyGreaves wrote:England are shit and you all know it! In fact they are shit at most sports especially football. It's ingrained in english peoples sports culture that they are the best and are having a few blips at the moment. However in reality they are an arrogant bunch especially the media.

I tend to agree that they are not playing very well at the moment, but if they are (to use your eloquent phraseology) 'shit', where does that put Scotland, Wales, France and Italy?

Post by **bambergasgoigne** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:11 pm

oh dear, what have I started?

BigBoy wrote

I tend to agree that they are not playing very well at the moment, but if they are (to use your eloquent phraseology) 'shit', where does that put Scotland, Wales, France and Italy?

to answer you BigBoy, in your order, Shitter, not as Shit, Shitter, alot Shitter (sorry Italy, I know you are trying).

Randy wrote

I will stick my kneck out and say that you don't get to be world champion(s) at any sport without being dedicated, ruthless and a little bit lucky.

Correct Randy. Martin Johnsons side in 2003 were dedicated and ruthless. The 2007 side that got to the final was neither dedicated or ruthless but just a whole lot lucky. Lucky it was an awful World Cup. Lucky they had a player mutiny against an ineffective Brian Ashdown just in time to let them play their own style against Australia. Lucky France can only ever play 1 brillant match in a row by beating the All Blacks, but then forgetting to play in the Semi against England. Lucky that they didnt draw South Africa or even Argentina in their Semi.

and Randy

What! and the Aussies aren't?

arrogant - of course they are. But they have the results to back it up and England don't. You have to win alot and often and keep stuffing your enemies to be arrogant, and the Aussies get away with it, although NZ hate them just as much as the Celtic sides hate the English (at sport and press, nothing personal).

and finally BigBoy wrote

else how did England manage to finish so far ahead of Wales in this Mickey Mouse tournament? Like all good atheletes, the England team peaks when it matters - anything else doesn't mean a lot.

Ooh - BigBoy - Bill Maclaren would turn in his grave (not that I'm sure Bill is dead yet), A Mickey Mouse tournament ??. You wouldnt have said that when England were Slamming... But if you believe it to be so - so be it, but heres a challenge into the future, which if you agree to now, you can't write sh*t excuses after the event, and write it off as 'something that doesn't matter'. Pre the next World Cup, would you agree that the upcoming Lions tour to SA is not a Mickey Mouse event. If you do believe it is a serious rugby event and something that every Home Nations Rugby player wants to represent, then will you take a bet with me. No bragging rites, but no sh*t excuses when its over.

I bet you 2 Singhas to 1, that there will be fewer English players than Welsh and fewer English players than Irish players on the 1st test side to play SA this year. If you believe its another Mickey Mouse event, there is no bet, but if you believe that every English player would want to play in this match, then please consider the bet. If your not in HH at the time of the match, I will mail the beers over to you, or more preferably wait at the port-side for yours to arrive... !!

Bamber

Post by **Big Boy** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:20 am

Actually, I never rate the Lions as a decent team. I know that in theory they are the best of the UK's best, but I've not been that impressed in recent years - even when they win. I'd rather watch Egland play badly, building towards another World Cup succes than risk injury to valuable English talent - sorry, I know that I'm in a very small minority, but I consider Lions games as little more than a circus sideshow.

Whilst I'll have to forego your kind offer of a bet - I'm not a gambling man anyway (never even bought a lottery ticket), I'll gladly buy you a beer or 2 next time I'm out.

Post by **bambergasgoigne** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:43 am

OK BigBoy

We'll leave it at that. Its the World Cup or nothing for you. Fair enough. No pressure then for Johnsons side. Good luck to them. If the other Celtic Nations don't step up to the mark, I hope that England do - regardless of their press and that unbelievably annoying patriotic jerk- Brian Moore - and as for Jeremy Guscott - Jaaaysus, is it the glare of the white shirt that makes them only see one team on a pitch.... stop me stop me. JimmyGreaves I'll let you do the real bitching....your better at it than me.

Signing off on the 6 nations - see you next year. Early prediction for 2010 - (this will keep you happy BigBoy - England,Ireland,France,Wales,Italy,Scotland.

Bamber