Welcome to our Six Nations blog
- 17 Jan 07, 11:25 AM
We鈥檙e aiming to enliven the northern hemisphere鈥檚 biggest rugby union tournament, which starts on 3 February, by bringing you as much insight, passion, anecdote, rumour and behind-the-scenes chat as we can.
Our bloggers include 大象传媒 commentators Nick Mullins, Andrew Cotter, Gareth Lewis and John Beattie as well as some of our best rugby writers such as Jim Stokes, Bryn Palmer and Rob Hodgetts.
And we will also have regular posts from a top referee, who will explain and answer questions on, some of the action鈥檚 finer points (be nice to him please, it won鈥檛 be his fault if the man in the middle gets it wrong...except in the England/Italy game when he will be officiating).
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Wales 27-18 England
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I have been a rugby fan all my life. This transcends nationality. However, I have given up going to Murrayfield now as the mood is so partisan against the English of whom I am one. I really enjoyed Murrayfield in the 60's and 70's (I lived in Glasgow between 1967/70)when the rivalry was good natured and often amusing. This is not the situation now so I don't go despite having easy access to tickets.
I do however go to Cardiff regularly where they still enjoy the game for its own sake and being English is not a problem.
I wish those Scots, who obviously have a problem, would stop being so anti English as I love visiting their country which I do regularly. It will require a change of attitude by these people before I go to Murrayfield again. I'm sure the Scots don't suffer the same animosity when they come to Twickenham.
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National rivalry will always be there in rugby - and it's the fault of the English! They invented the game and then found they had no one to play, so they turned to their Celtic neighbours.
This, inevitably, generated an increased sense of self-awareness in these these nations, and among sections of their populations that may hitherto have concerned themselves little with their relationship to England. (This was certainly the case in Wales.)
Realising this mistake we now have -paradoxically, in the age of devolution - politicians urging British or UK teams in all manner of sports!
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Let's hope this old and new look England can get us back where we belong as a power house in the intrernational game!
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I absolutely adore the Six Nations Championship. It seems to bring Wales together, as i'm sure it unites the other nations involved. My memories as a child of beating England 10-9 in the Arms Park, or Mike Rayer sliding over against Scotland will never leave my head. The true passion of the common man can be shown, and i'm glad to say that unlike football it is rarely taken too far. I was over in Cork when Wales won the Grand Slam two years ago, and after the games had finished the Irish, Welsh, and Scots that were there all gathered around sang hymns from their respective nations, with each other - not at each other. I can assure you this does not happen at Cardiff City FC after the game.
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Re: 6 Nations video highlights on 大象传媒 website
in anticipation of this weekend's 6 Nations, I was delighted to see your archive footage available for viewing on your website. However, having seen the highlights package of Wales and Scotland at their best, the England package consists mostly of the very same tries being scored against them before a solitary win against Ireland is shown.
You subtitle the selection with "Watch key moments from England's successive Grand Slam defeats before they claimed the crown in the 2003 Six Nations" - is this a joke!?
Why the discrepancy? Has this been the cheap shot of a welshman or a scotsman on your staff? Either that or it is political correctness gone mad...
I suspect the former of the 2 explanations, but having grown up admiring welsh greatness during the 70's and having suffered these last 4 years since our World Cup high, it seems perverse for you to have done this.
I'd love an explanation.
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For all those thinking it鈥檚 the wee Scots against the big English team
The facts speak for themselves, Scotland Team are Bigger and Heavier!
Food for thought!
Looking forward to a great game!
Av weight Eng 101. v Sco 102.5
Av Heights Eng 1.86m v Sco 1.89m
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For all those thinking it鈥檚 the wee Scots against the big English team
The facts speak for themselves, Scotland Team are Bigger and Heavier!
Food for thought!
Looking forward to a great game!
Av weight Eng 101. v Sco 102.5
Av Heights Eng 1.86m v Sco 1.89m
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It鈥檚 so funny Frank Hadden described the decision to award Jonny Wilkinson a try in England's 42-20 Six Nations win at Twickenham as "a farce".
Well he was right it wasn鈥檛 a try.
But not much was made of all the bad decisions going against England in the last couple of seasons.
Up until Jonny Wilkinson鈥檚 try it鈥檚 been 15 men against 19
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Not all Fairy tales are about fairies as we know them. The mysterious power of the Fairy is reflected in the energy they have. This is no better described by the 大象传媒 in the comeback of two of England鈥檚 rugby Union players who rallied their team and enthusiastic supporters throughout England in turning the fortunes of the English team who have lost the last nine matches. Long live the energy of Fairies!
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I have read a number of comments on the Wales Ireland game and I wonder whether the fact that I can only get my transmission via satellite caused me to see a different game to the one that most others are making comment on.
From the outset it was clear that the sole intent of the Irish was to kill the ball in the loose in a manner fashioned by the All Blacks. Sadly the referee did not have the ability or desire to stop such blatant gamemanship. There were many occassions in the first half when an Irish player should have been yellow carded. It was clear that the team wishing to play the creative rugby was Wales. Ireland had little desire to do so. Sadly due to the ineptness of the referee such negative tactics were condoned. If we are to engender high quality, open running rugby, then we must stamp out the All Black and Irish tactics when the opposition have the ball.
There also seems to be little condemnation of either the referee or the touch judge for not giving a penalty try. Where was the touch judge looking? A score then early in the second half would have caused a much different outcome and perhaps the winner would have been RUGBY and not cynical disruptive play.
Finally it was not many years ago when rugby coaches, managers and players would give an honest appraisal post match. Sadly it would appear that both Easterby and the Irish coach have been given some Arsene Wenger blinkered glasses for Christmas.
One of the reasons that rugby, as a game, has been respected to date is because of the fair handedness and gentlemanly manner in which all aspects of the game pre and post match have been undertaken. Please don't let ourselves be drawn into the muddy unscrupulous waters of football.
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Okay as a Welsh fan it was hard to watch England beat our allies - Scotland. And yes they played well. However, it'll take a bit more than Mr Wilkinsons boot to beat Wales. It takes a team to beat quality. It just peevs me off when the media frenzy takes over (one eyed as per usual a bit like Brian Moore and Eddie Butlers interpretation). An English revival- I dont think so!!!
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Why was there no commentary on the Wales / Ireland game available on terrestrial radio?
Instead there was an hour of drivel about an upcoming football match, when we could have had the first half. Luckily, my car radio managed to pick up an Irish channel so I had coverage, but no thanks to the corporation to which we pay our license fees.
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Hi
I'am a great fan of Italian U21 Team.
I was not able to find any tv coverage about England-Italy match next friday in Bath. I can watch satellite channels so please let me know which I must tune.
Many Thanks.
Paolo
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Interesting team selection for Italy game , a game which is likely to bore us to death.
The Italian pack and revitalised Scottish pack will produce a stalemate-Disappointing that there is no place for Hogg - our best openside available would have made a difference given the breakdown was the only place where Scotland struggled due to Martyn Williams generally being there first.
The selection of di Rollo is one of the great mysteries and I still do not understand why there is no attempt to change a backline which could not score a try with 65% possession, a lot of which was in the opposition 22.
Hopefully Paterson will be on form with the boot to provide us with victory.
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Mr. Cannon No. 1. Have you ever been a Scottish fan at an England match??
Before you make trivial comments about partisan anti-english behaviour, you should look to the other side of the fence. Many Scots are not exactly welcomed with open arms down south.
Most Scottish people are only anti-english when it comes to sport. Unfortunately, the 大象传媒, SKY & most other channels are heavily slanted towards coverage of Engish sporting interests & past English glories. The rest of the British Isles get pretty fed up with it.
If you don't want to go to Murrayfield that's fine. Believe me, small minded buffoons like you will not be missed.
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I'm an exiled Welshman, having lived in England for 30 years - but am still passionate about Welsh Rugby.
My current state of despair got me wondering the following: how can the land that produced Cliff Morgan, Barry John, David Watkins, Phil Bennett and Jonathan Davies have allowed itself to abandon the heritage of inventive, mercurial and spontaneous outside halves for the metronomic boredom that has been Neil Jenkins and Stephen Jones?
Paul Jones
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A lot of heat would be taken out of today's match in Dublin, and in other Six nations matches, if the English would adopt an anthem of their own as they do in the Commonwealth Games. It is arrogant and insulting to the othe nations to use the United Kingdom national anthem
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As an England supporter for 50 Years what was this all about?
The forwards supplied the worst performance from an England team for years. Do they have no pride? where was their belief? They are much better players than than they showed today and someone needs to sort out their psychological problems. Get rid of the those who cannot perform on the day we dont need them!
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Saturday was a great day for the Irish, a wonderful stadium, fantastic atmosphere, wonderful fans, an outstanding team display.
In terms of the 6 Nations, it is disappointing that they did not close out the game against France, and England are a limited side, Wilkinson has only his kicking to offer and then only if England can impose to create the penalty opportunities, no leaders anywhere, especially at centre, half back and second row so the result was not a surprise to me. In terms of the World Cup, Ireland are in the most difficult group with France and Argentina and so it will be crucial that they keep Saturday's team fit and well for the Autumn. It could be early elimination or World Cup Final. If they are lucky enough not to have any key injuries or loss of form then imagine the celebrations if they get to the final.
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I find it very sad that we have all these Ex international players bleating on about how this should be done and he should be dropped etc etc.
From the teams of the eighties we have very few players who have actually helped the sport by becoming coaches/managers.
This is now creating a void in the sport because there are too few inspirational people passing on their knowledge to the youngsters.
Perhaps we can blame the RFU. They seem to get it for everything else!
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Mike Catt always fails under pressure, does he? Well, im pretty sure the 2003 semi and final- where he changed the game- had a fair amount of pressure.
There are lots of promising young talents that id say will become worl class- namely Anthony Allen, but they have the potential. Catt on the other hand has the skill, a turn of pace, and crucially experience. England have lacked leaders and a true presence (particularly up front) in the mould of Johnson, Back, Leonard or Dallaglio since the last world cup.
The ommision of a lineout specialist in favour of Corry- whose leadership and warrior-esque qualities are surely why he keeps his place, and not because his ability, pace and lineout prowess- underlines this.
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Mike Catt always fails under pressure, does he? Well, im pretty sure the 2003 semi and final- where he changed the game- had a fair amount of pressure.
There are lots of promising young talents that id say will become worl class- namely Anthony Allen, but they have the potential. Catt on the other hand has the skill, a turn of pace, and crucially experience. England have lacked leaders and a true presence (particularly up front) in the mould of Johnson, Back, Leonard or Dallaglio since the last world cup.
The ommision of a lineout specialist in favour of Corry- whose leadership and warrior-esque qualities are surely why he keeps his place, and not because his ability, pace and lineout prowess- underlines this.
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What about giving marks to the coaches who dictate tactics? Frank Hadden has to take responsibility for Scotland's poor performance today (and in previous games). While we understand that it is difficult, with no fly half who can read or control a game and no genuine pace in the centre, Scotland will continue to wallow around the foot of the six nations table so long as they continue to do the opposition's work for them - i.e. to slow their own ball from breakdowns to a dead stop taking five minutes to decide what to do with it.
How you can give 6 points to Parks I do not know - he only has one kicking gear (big bash) and frequently failed to find touch when he should have but did when he shouldn't have.
Chas
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I think Brian Moore has now shown his true colours as an impartial, unprofessional commentator and he should not be allowed to get away with it. I for one have made a formal complained about him to the 大象传媒 and I recommend all in agreement should do the same. Go to the following:
/complaints/make_complaint_step1.shtml
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After watching an improved England performance against Grand Slam favourites France, I tuned in to listen to the "wise" words of the professional studio commentators.
A discussion prompted by Mr Inverdale touched on the debate of who should wear the no:10 shirt for England next week. In reponse Mr Guscott replied that he would not include Jonny Wilkinson based on today's peformance by Toby Flood and Shane Geraghty, a good point. When this question was put to the resident French representative Thomas Castaignede, he replied that he would still pick him as "when fit" he is the best no:10 in the world...another good point. Imagine my disdaine to hear live on the 大象传媒 a certain Mr Guscott "snoring" during these comments. Not only is this disrespectful to the other commentators but also to the man who kicked England to World Cup glory!
I have been appaulled at the lack of support and encouragement by Mr Guscott towards a struggling England team during this championship. One can only hope that Sky regain the contract for showing England matches so that an impartial put patriotic view can be taken.
I put this question to My Guscott, is it just sour grapes having never won a World Cup medal or is it purely that since retirement your heart of an English rose has simply turned to stone.
From a very insulted...but happy with their performance, England fan.
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Gareth Jenkins has to go.His loyalty has to be wales first and not his old scarlets players. Stephen Jones must be replaced by Hook at No. 10 and also I think the captaincy position is to much pressure for him and his effecting his game just the same when Rob Howley took over the welsh captaincy.
I think the WRU should go back on their hands and knees back to ruddock because with the world cup starting soon I cant see Jenkins turning it around.
All that hard work from past coaches Henry,Hanson and Ruddock has gone completely down the drain and it will take Wales a long time to recover
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In my opinion the Welsh team have played with more passion than in the last ten years sadly with negative results altough I feel that Irland and Italy should have been WINS for Wales.
Last Saturday I did not hear any singing from the Welsh suporters and when Wales play at home some supporters seem more interested in going back and for to the bar I find it very sad if people can not go without a pint for 40min.Please sing with PASSION NEXT SAT. 17TH MARCH.
AND HAVE THE RESULT NEEDED
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As a lifelong rugby supporter and having lived in Wales for a number of years I am so sad to see that Wales hold Stephen Jones in such high esteem. He is a good footballer, but not anything like the traditional Welsh outside halves.He always lays too far back from the ball and has too much ground to make up before crossing the gain line.Lets see what happens on Saturday with a new number 10 - it's up for grabs James, now is your big chance - go for it, never mind that it is the last 6 nations.
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I realise that my comments will be totally disregarded but i would like to complain in the strongest way about the 'impartial' comentary of eddie butler in the wales-england match today.It was perhaps not wise of the bbc to give this job on enlish tv to such an obviously biased commentator.
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I feel the six nations as a whole has been a great advert for rugby union in Britain. There are so many positives to come out of it. It has provided many tense and exciting moments. The competition has made me more interested in the sport, it has been a joy to watch.
Italy - They are usually the whipping boys in this competition but they really stood up to be counted and have now firmly established themselves in the competition
Wales - Not the greatest of tournaments, but at least they were able to end on a high note by beating England. The performances of James Hook were also a big positive for Wales
Scotland - A mixed tournament, but at times lacked the finishing touch. The boot of Chris Patterson was superb, and they showed several positive signs throughout the tournament. Inconsistency let them down at times, and despite positive displays they sometimes found themselves on the back foot.
Ireland - I may be an Englishman, but I can't help but admire the way Ireland played in this tournament. They were so unlucky not to take the title, and had O'Gara kicked more conversions in the final game against Italy things could have been different. They may not be six nations champions but they should be proud of the way they played throughout the tournament.
England - A mixed tournament for the English. A lot of positives, but considering we are World Champions we should be performing better than we did. It was a superb performance against France, and Mike Catt was inspirational but we have a lot of work to do still.
France - Did well to clinch the title. People go on about how important the try was in stoppage time against Scotland, but I think another big factor was the last minute try they scored against Ireland earlier in the campaign. Credit to France for winning the tournament, but as the table shows it was a closely fought contest.
Thanks for listening
Joseph
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