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Its the same here, Saturday at 2.30 for all league games no matter what international matches are on - the about of games I've missed to be at Twickers. Damn annoying.

Still England seem to be getting most of the sunday matches now so it's less of a problem.

As for this afternoons match, that was a bit of a Borefest. The scrum looked weak and the halfbacks didn't seem to be exactly world beaters. Still plenty of others left out to strengthen the team for next week. I don't think we can expect to see Chris Ashton too little form, statistically the worst tackler in this years tournament - to the bench with ye!

 notprop wrote:
. I don't think we can expect to see Chris Ashton too little form, statistically the worst tackler in this years tournament - to the bench with ye!

and the way all the English pundits on the BBC were building him up to be the best player on the team as well really didn't help

 Hlaine Larkin mk2 wrote:

 notprop wrote:
. I don't think we can expect to see Chris Ashton too little form, statistically the worst tackler in this years tournament - to the bench with ye!

and the way all the English pundits on the BBC were building him up to be the best player on the team as well really didn't help

It's clear that there are a handful of players who could qualify as best player on the team.. Chris Robshaw and Owen Farrell would probably be near the top of that list.

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 Hlaine Larkin mk2 wrote:

 notprop wrote:
. I don't think we can expect to see Chris Ashton too little form, statistically the worst tackler in this years tournament - to the bench with ye!

and the way all the English pundits on the BBC were building him up to be the best player on the team as well really didn't help

It's clear that there are a handful of players who could qualify as best player on the team.. Chris Robshaw and Owen Farrell would probably be near the top of that list.

I was talking about the pre-game hype, the way they were complimenting his every move and basically ignoring the rest of the team

don't get how anyone who "knows" rugby could possibly do that, as anyone with half a brain realizes that it takes all 15 men to do what is needed on the field, not just one special player... except maybe Jonah Lomu... but even then, I think that's pushing it.

He did make a few good desperation saves towards the end.

England weren't entirely convincing, but still managed to get the win, so still in with a chance at the Grand Slam. Wales were as good as they needed to be against a backsliding Scotland team, so it should be a close match next week. The Ireland France game was probably a fair result in my opinion, France came back well towards the end, and to balance out the possible barge on Earls (who wasn't likely to score anyway) was the blatant trip earlier on Picamoles which wasn't given and should have been a yellow card for Ryan. Still, hoping for an England win, and a French wooden spoon.

 grrrfranky wrote:
England weren't entirely convincing, but still managed to get the win, so still in with a chance at the Grand Slam. Wales were as good as they needed to be against a backsliding Scotland team, so it should be a close match next week. The Ireland France game was probably a fair result in my opinion, France came back well towards the end, and to balance out the possible barge on Earls (who wasn't likely to score anyway) was the blatant trip earlier on Picamoles which wasn't given and should have been a yellow card for Ryan. Still, hoping for an England win, and a French wooden spoon.

Out of curiosity, and my google searches turn up nothing, where the feth did the Wooden Spoon thing come about?

'The Wooden Spoon' is just what we call the booby prize here. You have that in the States, right? Like a joke prize for the loser?

 Albatross wrote:
'The Wooden Spoon' is just what we call the booby prize here. You have that in the States, right? Like a joke prize for the loser?

not in professional sports we don't... I mean, there is Mr. Irrelevant for the last man chosen in the NFL draft, but nothing that Im aware of for the last place team (aside from a decent draft pick the following year)

No, we don't have it in pro sports either. It's just a figure of speech. I don't think they actually give out wooden spoons.

Funny though it would be, they don't actually give out a wooden spoon. I had no idea where the term came from, but according to wikipedia, it's from Cambridge University, where once upon a time they did actually give out a wooden spoon to the student who got the lowest grade while still passing. As Albatross said, it's a british thing

Scotland were the first country in the world to have a purpose built, state-of-the-art, wooden spoon factory

Back OT. Those three matches almost made me give up watching the game. Come on IRB, get the scrum sorted!

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:

Back OT. Those three matches almost made me give up watching the game. Come on IRB, get the scrum sorted!

Six Nations wasn't the only place for poor srumming this weekend, sadly. My beloved Highlanders, who have 3 All Blacks in their tight 5 couldn't do crap against the Cheetahs, and there were some LV cup scrums that I was surprised the Sir didn't call collapsing, standing or even turning penalties on.

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
Scotland were the first country in the world to have a purpose built, state-of-the-art, wooden spoon factory

Certainly had their fair share.

If they penalised everything at the scrum it would work wonders. Admittedly the ref would end up handing out yellow cards to the front row, flankers and the scrum half in pretty short order, but after that we could just have uncontested scrums and get on with the game.

 grrrfranky wrote:
If they penalised everything at the scrum it would work wonders. Admittedly the ref would end up handing out yellow cards to the front row, flankers and the scrum half in pretty short order, but after that we could just have uncontested scrums and get on with the game.

As a packie, I take offense to that I wouldn't go so far as yellow carding every bloke who collapses a scrum.. the standard, collapse scrum, other team gets feed, collapse again, tap and go restart works just fine... Plus, if you've never been in a scrum, you've no idea the physicality of it all, and after 60 minutes of scrum on the right sideline, jog to left sideline and scrum for new penalty, repeat... ya just get wore the feth out!


Of course, if your team's repeated offense is turning the ruck, then yeah, the flankers and 8 man could probably stand a yellow card, but I'm not sure about a trip to the bin, as it changes the whole dynamic of the scrum, and the game.

Joubert had a shocker reffing the Scotland vs wales game and Clancy too for the England vs Italy game.

Referees cant pause for as long as they were (between touch and set) or there will be additional mess ups come scrum time, worked out well for wales cause Scotland lost patience and engaged early more times than us.

Glad of the win in Murryfield though and looking forward to the decider down the street on Saturday, hopefully ashton and co will tackle as well out wide as they have so far this tournament and north n cuthbert can have a couple of trys. (praying for a game won by the players not ruined by a whistle happy ref)

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 grrrfranky wrote:
If they penalised everything at the scrum it would work wonders. Admittedly the ref would end up handing out yellow cards to the front row, flankers and the scrum half in pretty short order, but after that we could just have uncontested scrums and get on with the game.

As a packie, I take offense to that I wouldn't go so far as yellow carding every bloke who collapses a scrum.. the standard, collapse scrum, other team gets feed, collapse again, tap and go restart works just fine... Plus, if you've never been in a scrum, you've no idea the physicality of it all, and after 60 minutes of scrum on the right sideline, jog to left sideline and scrum for new penalty, repeat... ya just get wore the feth out!


Of course, if your team's repeated offense is turning the ruck, then yeah, the flankers and 8 man could probably stand a yellow card, but I'm not sure about a trip to the bin, as it changes the whole dynamic of the scrum, and the game.

I was mostly joking, but things like a crooked feed and the flankers not binding do get a bit ridiculous sometimes. It does feel like the ref is just guessing who to penalise when a scrum goes down, and usually they just seem to alternate unless one pack is significantly stronger.

 grrrfranky wrote:


I was mostly joking, but things like a crooked feed

Can a scrum-half actually feed the ball straight?? Lol, I can't recall a single scrum where the hooker actually had to hook the ball, everyone seems to actually curve into the desired side and this is mostly from watching a ton of Superugby and Six Nations, with a bit of Aviva Premiership thrown in.

Officially it's supposed to be straight like line outs but they're never penalised so they keep doing it

EDIT: It's like penalties in football, technically only the penalty kicker and the keeper are supposed to be in the box but everyone else is by the time the ball is kicked

So, Lancaster has announced his starting 15 for this Saturdays matchup.. Honestly, I can't wait for this test because of how well hyped everyone is getting about it.. I mean, England v. Wales, plus the Grand Slam, PLUS B&I Lions selections coming up, the rugby media is pushing this to be a great match because guys are gonna want to head down under this summer (for us here on the northern half of the world )

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 grrrfranky wrote:


I was mostly joking, but things like a crooked feed

Can a scrum-half actually feed the ball straight??

Short answer, no. Long answer, yes, straight into the second row. Tomorrow should be good, although Ireland Italy will probably be terrible as Italy had a good game last week and I can't imagine they'll string two together.

Come on England!

And also, because I absolutely hate the French THAT much, I am also rooting for Scotland to beat the piss outta them.

That would just round my day off nicely. England for the grand slam, and France to fail to win a single game

Sergio Parisse has been sin bined for tripping. It's a 7 point game and Ireland have a man advantage, this could have an excellent finish

GG Ireland.

Well done Italy, now come on England! Swing low...

Wow that was a massacre, and i loved it

Groan, what a dismal display.

Well played Wales, the back row won it, but it concerns me that they will now dominate the Lions back row (plus other positions) when they would be better served by others that are better suited to beating Southern Hemisphere teams. But we shall see.

Will Bo'D be good enough for the Lions after that display?