Six Nations 2011

[cookmanchef]

Agree that we need to improve but don't forget we were without Lawes, Moody and Croft, Croft is world class, Moody is the heart of the side and Lawes is imperious in the lineout. Unlike the Celts England love playing France and I am confident we will beat them at Twickers, have to say I fear the resurgent Scots more.

[pharvey]

Agree that we need to improve but don't forget we were without Lawes, Moody and Croft, Croft is world class, Moody is the heart of the side and Lawes is imperious in the lineout. Unlike the Celts England love playing France and I am confident we will beat them at Twickers, have to say I fear the resurgent Scots more.

Fair comment, Croft is a hell of a player and also gives added options at the line-out. Lawes, well IMHO I think you have fair strength in depth there. Moody, again a great player, but not irreplaceable.

As for Scotland...... I'm certainly not looking forward to Wales' visit there next weekend. Certainly a do or die game for us.

[cookmanchef]

Think you'll get beaten at Murrayfield, good job Italy joined the tournament, at least you won't get the wooden spoon! I just hope the refs start to adjudicate the scrums properly now, England could win the world cup with their pack if they do, best scrummaging teams in the world are England, Italy, South Africa and Argentina, I do love the scrum, it's what rugby is all about.

[pharvey]

Think you'll get beaten at Murrayfield, good job Italy joined the tournament, at least you won't get the wooden spoon! I just hope the refs start to adjudicate the scrums properly now, England could win the world cup with their pack if they do, best scrummaging teams in the world are England, Italy, South Africa and Argentina, I do love the scrum, it's what rugby is all about.

Nope, nope and nope!!

Wales WILL wake-up and turn things around..... well, I have to say that

Refs adjudicating the scrum correctly... not a bl**dy chance, far too many regulations, not enough knowledge (especially of the front row) and IMHO refs blowing far too quickly.

Wales with their full and first choice pack would give anyone a go - British Lions front row, 1 2nd row and 1 back-row...

Italy?...... Wales, wooden spoon? Typical bl**dy Lillywhite !! First win against us in Cardiff for what, 8 years (?) and now you're Grand Slam/Championship favorites.....

After seeing the Italy vs Ireland game though...... I am now somewhat worried about Italy!! The Italian forwards were superb - Ireland IMHO very lucky to come away with the win (11-13 with a drop goal in the final 3 minutes). Admittedly a poor display by Ireland and several of their players, but you cannot take anything away from the Italians performance, very, very unlucky.

Well...... now for the Surrender Monkeys vs the Sweaties.

[pharvey]

34 vs 21 to France........

By far the best game of the weekend, but by Christ do France look frightening!! On this display (despite the numerous errors) France will tw@t one and all....... Scotland will also stuff Wales based on relative performances - Scotland played very well, BUT at the end of the day... outclassed

For me, I thoroughly enjoyed the game, with the one exception being the ref...... sorry, but Wayne Barnes is cr@p ..... what a bloody @rse

Congrats to France, commiserations to Scotland and Wales to win the Championship!!

[redzonerocker]

On this display (despite the numerous errors) France will tw@t one and all.......

at the parc de princes maybe, . . . but not at twickers

Scotland will also stuff Wales based on relative performances -

that'll be nice for you

[Randy Cornhole]

Italy had it today as did arsenal. Both threw it away big time...!

[redzonerocker]

Italy had it today as did arsenal. Both threw it away big time...!

alright alright! don't rub it in

[caller]

Actually, I thinks Wales performance yesterday may have been down to wearing a set of shirts supplied by the Arse!

[JimmyGreaves]

Italy had it today as did arsenal. Both threw it away big time...!

Actually I think Ireland threw it away by cocking up a simple try chance, then all the drama probably would not have unfolded!

[pharvey]

Italy had it today as did arsenal. Both threw it away big time...!

Actually I think Ireland threw it away by cocking up a simple try chance, then all the drama probably would not have unfolded!

Ireland certainly made mistakes, but you can't take it away from Italy - sound performance. The Irish pack certainly new they had been in a game, and had it not been for Ireland winning the battle in the loose, it could well have been a different story. Italy had the upper hand in the scrummage, and the line-out...... not forgetting the rolling maul - 25-30 meters one of them. Italy are a bit static in attack due to slow second phase ball, but certainly a good defense and solid front 5. They were also missing a few players remember......

Anyways...... a depressing tale for Wales (and supporters) - HHAD Table after Week 1: -

[Jaime]

Its odd, isn't it? I enjoyed the win, but the game and the quality? Hmmmm

Amongst the English euphoria some sense!

Much as I predicted the game went the way of the Anglo Welsh Heineken cup encounters with a below par Wales performance coming up short against a pretty ordinary but well organised England side.

England had a few first choice players out but Wales had, crucially, the Lions front row test props out and England hardly did a demolition job on Wales in that area. I think describing England as the best scrummaging side in the world at the moment is stretching it quite a bit!

Englands half backs controlled the game well, whereas Phillips and Jones didn't make it happen for Wales. When Phillips isn't terrorising around the fringes of rucks and mauls, the rest of his game can look pretty second rate at times and so it was on Friday night. I can't believe it took so long to get Peel on, who certainly changed things up a bit. Too little too late though.

In terms of the physical confrontation I thought Wales matched England and, Alun Wyn Jones aside (he should be referred to as MIA instead of AWJ), the pack put in a reasonable performance although the ball they were winning was slowed down dramatically at the breakdown by a fairly cynical, 'Jonno' inspired, England approach to the game that Rolland failed to recognise. Should've gone to Specsavers. I couldn't believe it when, after numerous infingements in 'the danger zone' Ashton was finally yellow carded and then Mitchell was carded for a technical infringement when in the opposition half on Wales first offence! Bradley Davies was immense - if only all Wales' forwards put in the same sort of performance as he does.

Agree that Hook is wasted at full back. I think he will play out half or centre next weekend to provide something different in midfield. Byrne will probably come in at full back but he is quite a long way short of his best form and needs a big game for Wales.

I think the Scots will fancy it against Wales next weekend, although I still believe that Wales should be good enough to beat them up there.

[Jaime]

And to substantiate my assertions above - here are ESPN's stats from the game. Apart from the line out - which was pretty poor for Wales - Wales were ahead in almost every stat (including the scrum) except for the one that really mattered!

England were just more effective because they had quicker ball, which allowed their half backs to control the game, create more chances and have the time and space to finish them off. It's a simple game really.

Wales England
1 Tries 2
1 from 1 Conversion goals 2 from 2
4 from 6 Penalty goals 4 from 4
71.4% Kick at goal success 100.0%
0 Dropped goals 0

Kick/pass/run
25 Kicks from hand 22
168 Passes 124
137 Runs 116
422 Metres run with ball 350

Attacking
4 Clean breaks 2
15 Defenders beaten 11
8 Offloads 12
105 from 108 (97.22%) Rucks won 83 from 88 (94.32%)
11 Turnovers conceded 14

Defensive
133 Tackles 160
10 Missed tackles 16
93.01% Tackling success rate 90.91%

Set pieces
6 won, 1 lost Scrums on own feed 5 won, 1 lost
85.7% Scrum success rate 83.3%
6 won, 2 lost Lineouts on own throw 12 won, 1 lost
75.0% Lineout success rate 92.3%

Discipline
11 Penalties conceded 9
1/0 Yellow/red cards 1/0

[redzonerocker]

here are ESPN's stats from the game.

Wales England
1 Tries 2
1 from 1 Conversion goals 2 from 2
4 from 6 Penalty goals 4 from 4
71.4% Kick at goal success 100.0%
0 Dropped goals 0

Kick/pass/run
25 Kicks from hand 22
168 Passes 124
137 Runs 116
422 Metres run with ball 350

Attacking
4 Clean breaks 2
15 Defenders beaten 11
8 Offloads 12
105 from 108 (97.22%) Rucks won 83 from 88 (94.32%)
11 Turnovers conceded 14

Defensive
133 Tackles 160
10 Missed tackles 16
93.01% Tackling success rate 90.91%

Set pieces
6 won, 1 lost Scrums on own feed 5 won, 1 lost
85.7% Scrum success rate 83.3%
6 won, 2 lost Lineouts on own throw 12 won, 1 lost
75.0% Lineout success rate 92.3%

Discipline
11 Penalties conceded 9
1/0 Yellow/red cards 1/0

& the most important stat . . . . . . .

wales 19-26 england

[Jaime]

In your excitement RZR you missed that I beat you to that one in my post - complete with !