- Sean Davies
- 28 Feb 07, 05:59 PM
Cardiff - There can only be one way to go after Super Saturday - the Six Nations must be expanded and taken to Spain.
Now we could have the worthy Argentina side playing from there, or we could allow the Spanish national team in to give Wales the chance of winning a game (I鈥檓 sure Scotland would throw the new boys a few tries to get them started).
But the basic plan is the only sober conclusion I can come to after witnessing Saturday鈥檚 eight-hour marathon feast from the depths of Finnegan鈥檚 genuine Irish bar in Valencia.
Continue reading "Super Saturday from a skewed angle"
- Phil Harlow
- 27 Feb 07, 12:48 PM
After the pivotal third weekend, the is starting to look more settled.
France are the only team who can still achieve the Grand Slam, while Wales, with three straight defeats, are looking up at the rest of the sides.
Ireland are on course for a Triple Crown, but England took a big step backwards with their massive defeat in Dublin.
Italy showed they are a genuine force in the tournament with their first ever away win over a misfiring Scotland.
I've assessed the state of play with two weekends left to go.
Continue reading "Six Nations state of play"
- Hugh Watkins - Professional rugby union referee
- 27 Feb 07, 09:39 AM
Cardiff - Plenty of you had questions for my colleague Nigel Owens and I after an exciting third round of Six Nations matches.
Here are a selection of our responses. We'll be answering more after the penultimate round on 10 and 11 March.
Q: Ross Smith - Why are players allowed to target players in a - ie push them away/out of the maul - when they don't have the ball?
Continue reading "Answers to your latest laws questions"
- Nick Mullins
- 26 Feb 07, 05:11 PM
So that鈥檚 it then. Why don鈥檛 we just cut out the middle-man and tell France they can keep their Grand Slam for another season?
With the greatest of respect to England and Scotland, it鈥檚 all over, isn鈥檛 it?
was the latest a Six Nations match had ever kicked off, so by the time we were ordering our coffees and crepes it was well into Sunday morning.
Around our dinner table in the late-night brasserie there was consensus. France fought off a stirring early challenge from Wales but then won with depressing ease 鈥 rather like a boxer holding off a plucky opponent at arm鈥檚 length.
Continue reading "Wales wary as France build for World Cup"
- Francis Keogh
- 26 Feb 07, 02:22 PM
White City, London 鈥 In the end, my dilemma of who to support in the at Croke Park was solved, but not quite in the manner I intended.
Scores of you replied when I outlined my divided loyalties 鈥 born, schooled and living in England to Irish parents, and from a long Irish family line.
Many shared my dilemma, some scoffed at my neutrality, while others were simply dismissive.
I was called a Whether that was with English or French mustard had not been made clear...
Continue reading "United by a sporting spectacle"
- Jim Stokes
- 26 Feb 07, 09:42 AM
Belfast 鈥 Wow. What a beautiful day Sunday was. It was only after I had finished my weekly jog around the green pastures of the Stormont Estate that I was able to take it all in. Like Saturday, it needed a sharp intake of breath.
I have been attending international matches since 1961, but none have matched the power, passion and emotion that emanated from
I had to pinch myself, to realise Ireland had stuffed England out of sight. Okay, okay it was a very poor England team, but there again, who cares...
Continue reading "How Ireland stood tall"
- Bryn Palmer
- 25 Feb 07, 12:30 PM
So the dust is beginning to settle on the Six Nations' "Super Saturday" - three games, 163 points and 16 tries.
A good day to be a rugby union fan (although , and supporters may dispute that), the middle Saturday of the tournament was a real test of endurance.
Continue reading "How was "Super Saturday" for you?"
- Nigel Owens
- 25 Feb 07, 12:11 PM
After an exciting third round of Six Nations matches, my colleague Hugh Watkins and I are ready to answer your questions about the laws of the game.
Did you see something during the three matches that you didn't fully understand? If so, we are here to help.
As I am sure you will appreciate, we won't be able to comment on the rights and wrongs of individual decisions, so please ensure your question is about a general point of law rather than a personal comment.
That way you'll have a better chance of getting your question answered! We look forward to hearing from you.
- Dewi Hughes - 大象传媒 Wales Sport journalist
- 24 Feb 07, 11:44 PM
Cardiff - Wales stunned France with two early tries but were unable to stop the powerful home side from thundering back to keep alive their Grand Slam hopes with a 32-21 victory in Paris.
See if you agree with my ratings.
Continue reading "Wales player ratings"
- Phil Harlow
- 24 Feb 07, 05:48 PM
Ireland produced a tremendous display to record their best ever win over England in a pulsating encounter at Croke Park.
See if you agree with my ratings for both sides.
Continue reading "Ireland v England player ratings"
- Phil Harlow
- 24 Feb 07, 03:28 PM
Scotland self-destructed at Murrayfield on Saturday, gifting Italy three tries in the first seven minutes as the visitors gained their first ever away victory in the Six Nations.
See if you agree with my ratings.
Continue reading "Scotland player ratings"
- Nick Mullins
- 23 Feb 07, 04:07 PM
Paris - I guess Wales will have a tougher French test to overcome when they run out at the Stade de France, but I hope they react with slightly less bemusement than the fans from Neath on the table next door this lunchtime, who struggled to decipher the bistro's rather unhelpful English menu.
This city is one of the gastronimical centres of the world - but I doubt chefs in the Place de la Republique will be rustling up too many dishes of "paving slabs on of top pepper sauce" for the red army this weekend.
A fortnight after trooping rather disconsolately away from Edinburgh, the fans are back out in force this weekend. It remains one of the enduring features of this grand old championship that no matter how badly your team might have let you down last time out, it'd be rude not to be with them again next time, especially when that next time is in Paris.
Continue reading "Welsh fans set Paris abuzz"
- Gareth Lewis - 大象传媒 Wales Sport presenter
- 23 Feb 07, 03:53 PM
Cardiff - You can always rely on Welsh rugby to throw up something controversial when things are starting to settle down again.
As thoughts turned to beating France rather than beating up the coach and captain, stole the headlines.
It's hard to disagree with the general consensus of wishing Phillips well in negotiating - or having had his agent negotiate - such a big deal, which constitutes a pay rise of anywhere between 拢50,000 and 拢100,000 depending on who you talk to.
All power to the scrum-half's elbow.
Continue reading "Will Phillips deal spark pay spiral?"
- Jim Stokes
- 23 Feb 07, 02:14 PM
Dublin 鈥 There's one sure thing that unites Irishmen and that is a confrontation with the English. Somehow, I suspect it could be the same with the Welsh and Scottish, but don鈥檛 quote me!
And if there's one thing that really fuses the Irish together, then it's when an Englishman says that they're not really up to it. Well, the 大象传媒鈥檚 very own Brian Moore has now given Irish coach Eddie O鈥橲ullivan the perfect motivational material for his pre-match pep-talk.
"Ireland can take no comfort after choking - again," was the headline on Moore's usual hard-hitting column in the Daily Telegraph column following the last-minute defeat to France.
And when 大象传媒 Northern Ireland鈥檚 took him to task for his views - and indeed general Irish perceptions of bias - Moore, in his typical Pit Bull style, took an even harder line - insisting: "If people are honest in Ireland they ought to be furious about this because the team has blown yet another Grand Slam".
Continue reading "Moore blast provides perfect Irish pep"
- John Beattie
- 23 Feb 07, 01:18 PM
Glasgow - The Scottish papers today had an amazing story. .
One of our country鈥檚 most potent attacking weapons and a man with the best rugby years ahead of him was actually going to play across the Irish Sea.
What do you think about this?
There were rumours flying around that , the papers had already carried stories of two more Edinburgh players leaving, as well as .
Continue reading "Is the Scottish exodus a worry?"
- Mark Orlovac
- 23 Feb 07, 11:30 AM
London - For England fans, Friday has not been a good day so far.
So will miss Saturday's contest at Croke Park and England's bid to claim their first win over Ireland since 2003 has got a whole lot harder.
Continue reading "Robinson KO tests Strettle's mettle"
- Francis Keogh
- 23 Feb 07, 11:04 AM
White City, London - It鈥檚 the match Irish and English supporters have been waiting for 鈥
As anticipation reaches fever pitch around Dublin with the arrival of the first batch of travelling fans, I am left with an awkward dilemma.
You see, and for some reason I鈥檓 slightly embarrassed to admit this, I support both sides. Yes, that鈥檚 both...
Continue reading "A game of two halves"
- Nick Mullins
- 22 Feb 07, 08:16 AM
Cardiff 鈥 I don鈥檛 think England鈥檚 rugby players know how lucky they are sometimes.
Sure they鈥檝e been rightly pilloried for that insipid performance against Italy, but they ought to pay their 拢5.10 and spend some time on this side of the .
Then they鈥檇 know exactly what when you live in an oval-shaped goldfish bowl.
It鈥檚 interesting to see how quickly a team dubbed by some as potential Grand Slammers before the opener against Ireland can attract two games later. It鈥檚 either feast or famine when it comes to the national team - the middle line is rarely popular.
Continue reading "Why Wales have cause for hope in Paris"
- Mark Orlovac
- 21 Feb 07, 04:48 PM
Bath - It鈥檚 international week and England are about to head to Dublin for their historic date with Ireland but seeing the players at their training base on Wednesday 鈥 you never would have guessed.
After a full-on training session - with members of the Bath academy standing in for the Irish - they talked respectfully and sincerely about the emotional backdrop that accompanies this game, using words like "privileged" and "honoured" in describing the prospect of playing at the home of the GAA.
But I could definitely detect a sense of calm as they gathered in one of the vast halls that make up Bath University鈥檚 impressive sporting complex.
I didn't actually see Jason Robinson get injured - most of the reporters had gone back into the complex by then.
Details of the injury were sketchy - and no-one was telling whether it was a tackle from a promising Bath youngster that did the damage!
Continue reading "England cool before Croke Park cauldron"
- Andrew Cotter
- 21 Feb 07, 08:46 AM
Now I could talk about Scotland's team selection for the game against Italy, but it looks fairly settled. which is fair enough and Simon Webster is out for a while which is not fair at all, but there you go.
Instead, I'd like to talk about other people who won't be there on Saturday. At the moment, about 20,000 of them.
At the time of writing (Tuesday afternoon) some 45,200 tickets have been sold. Sales are currently averaging about 1,000 a day.
So that would be fine if we could somehow squeeze a few extra days in before Saturday, but I'm told that may be impossible. A lot of paperwork involved. Special forms to be filled in.
Continue reading "Where are the Murrayfield missing?"
- Jim Stokes
- 20 Feb 07, 02:30 PM
Belfast - The England team will travel to Dublin this week well versed in the historical importance of Saturday's Six Nations match.
Former Ireland full-back is now the (English) Rugby Football Union's Director of Regional Academies and to allow rugby to play on the hallowed turf.
O鈥橲hea would have been the perfect intermediary as his father was a genuine GAA star who won three All-Ireland medals with Kerry in the Fifties.
Reams of paper, a spectrum of radio waves and have been filled explaining what Saturday鈥檚 visit of England really means. Hopefully history does not overshadow the future.
Continue reading "Why England may win historic Croker contest"
- John Beattie
- 20 Feb 07, 09:51 AM
I wonder who has a harder job, a football manager or a rugby manager? In fact, let鈥檚 get down to it, which is the better game, soccer-type football or rugby football? I think rugby is.
It was arranged for Scottish rugby boss and football counterpart to have lunch the other day, in a rather nice little bistro on .
Rather than sit with them, Andy Gillies (Five Live鈥檚 supremo north of the border) and I thought it would be a good idea if we just left them to have lunch together and then interviewed them afterwards.
And it was interesting - you can listen to it here
Continue reading "Does McLeish or Hadden have the harder job?"
- Gareth Lewis - 大象传媒 Wales Sport presenter
- 17 Feb 07, 01:29 PM
Sixty-four minutes into the Dragons' match at Ravenhill on Friday night, a mop of curly hair threw itself onto the ball with Ulster players' feet, elbows, arms and legs all heading in the same direction. But Colin Charvis emerged with the ball and set up a great 10 minutes for the Dragons as they bombarded Ulster's line and did everything but score.
The Dragons' effort was monumental, but was not enough as they lost 14-7. Does the same now apply to the former Wales captain in his effort to start against the French?
Continue reading "Charvis shows what might have been"
- Claire Stocks
- 16 Feb 07, 05:58 PM
Some of you may be interested in a post on the 大象传媒 Sport editors' blog from Carl Hicks, editor of the Six Nations TV coverage.
He's been writing about the last-gasp drama in Dublin and answering some of the questions you raised in feedback.
- Jim Stokes
- 16 Feb 07, 11:46 AM
Belfast 鈥 Apart from the obvious, will Eddie O鈥橲ullivan tinker with his line-up against England next weekend? Going by previous selections I doubt it.
There will be no new faces emerging into the 22-man squad next Tuesday, that鈥檚 for sure.
Watching the Ireland A performance last week in Belfast where they were well and truly whipped by the England Saxons, there was certainly nobody putting their hand up.
So I reckon O鈥橲ullivan will not be making too many changes other than the much-missed Brian O鈥橠riscoll, and Peter Stringer returning to action for the second game at Croke Park - which I'm not sure is ideal for hosting rugby union.
Continue reading "Tips for O'Sullivan & my Croker verdict"
- Andrew Cotter
- 16 Feb 07, 09:18 AM
What was missing from last weekend's game between at Murrayfield?
Tries? Max Boyce? A general feeling of well-being? (Wales fans only)
All good and true answers, but not the one which I'm looking for, which is, alcohol.
Oh, I'm sure there was a hip flask or two (thousand) being put to proper use inside Murrayfield and I'm also sure that plenty had been purchased from the pubs and tents around the ground before the 3.30pm kick-off.
Inside the ground, though, you could buy not a drop.
Continue reading "Should Murrayfield alcohol ban be lifted?"
- James Standley
- 15 Feb 07, 06:14 PM
London - So Jonny Wilkinson is not being rested by Newcastle after all.
Falcons boss John Fletcher says the star fly-half is on Sunday because he is too battered and bruised after playing for England on consecutive Saturdays.
You can see why Fletcher has felt the need to stress that the injury-prone Wilkinson - who is less than three games into his latest comeback - is not being rested to make sure he is fit for England.
Firstly, he has to reassure some of his own supporters, .
Continue reading "No rest for the Wilko"
- Rob Hodgetts
- 15 Feb 07, 09:58 AM
London - I can't quite decide how I feel this morning. Not about life in general, though that's got me unusually stumped too, but about whether it's a good thing there's no this weekend.
By this time, we're normally upping the ante and starting to salivate over the weekend's clashes.
The teams have been named, the coaches and captains are in the process of delivering their final news conferences and we, the fans, are easing into our familiar pre-match routine of talking a load of old cobblers at each other until 30 seconds before kick-off.
Continue reading "Breaking the spell"
- Stevie Miller - 大象传媒 Scotland Sport journalist
- 14 Feb 07, 05:23 PM
Here's an analogy for you.
It's the football World Cup finals, Brazil have negotiated a tough group stage and are looking forward to the next round, when, all of a sudden, the English Premiership clubs demand the return of their Brazilian players for some league matches that weekend.
Can you imagine it? No, quite frankly, because it would never ever happen.
Yet, in the free week of the Six Nations, three Scottish players have been refused permission to train with the rest of the national squad! How has been allowed to happen?
Continue reading "Club v country rant"
- Bruce Pope
- 14 Feb 07, 04:15 PM
Cardiff - Are professional rugby players, specifically international rugby players, allowed to have a drink?
By drink I don't mean rehydrating with some fancy isotonic concoction or, heaven forbid, plain old water. I mean booze, hooch, the devil's brew - alcohol.
I only ask because one of the daily tabloids down here in Cardiff dedicated Wednesday's back page to a report on how after Saturday's defeat to Scotland.
Apparently there were more than a few Welsh fans "enraged" by seeing Gareth Jenkins' boys out supping a few ales after .
Continue reading "Drowning sorrows brews trouble"
- Nigel Owens
- 14 Feb 07, 11:01 AM
Thank you for all your rugby rules questions after another much talked about week in the Six Nations.
This week we cover a wide range of subjects, from the line-out and calling of marks to television match officials and binding at the scrum.
Here are the latest set of queries. Keep your questions coming in.
Continue reading "Your laws questions answered....pt two"
- John Beattie
- 13 Feb 07, 05:46 PM
Here's another photo from the bash we held at the Jam House in Edinburgh after Scotland beat Wales.
Scotland scrum-half is on guitar in the foreground rocking the house down.
- Mark Orlovac
- 13 Feb 07, 04:30 PM
London - To update the earlier discussion, Newcastle have just announced that star fly-half Jonny Wilkinson will in fact be rested for Sunday's crucial Premiership game against Bristol.
The Falcons are the first Premiership club to show their hand and decide to go along with the Rugby Football Union's request that the England starting XV against Ireland should not feature for their clubs this weekend 鈥 especially the ones playing on Sunday.
Continue reading "Wilko rested....who's next?"
- Mark Orlovac
- 13 Feb 07, 11:18 AM
London - Hands up who would like to be filling John Fletcher鈥檚 shoes this morning?
In case you don鈥檛 know, the Newcastle director of rugby is facing a massive dilemma as he prepares for his side鈥檚 crunch game with high-flying Bristol on Sunday.
Does he pick star fly-half Jonny Wilkinson for the trip to the Memorial Stadium or give in to the request by the Rugby Football Union and leave him out?
It鈥檚 a tough choice.
Continue reading "Clubs facing tough choices"
- John Beattie
- 12 Feb 07, 11:50 AM
I seek knowledge. Could someone please explain to me the concept of home advantage? Eh? What is it all about?
Why do teams playing on a piece of turf that is 100m by 70m and largely identical to any other such piece of turf .
Hoarse, tired, happy. That鈥檚 how it feels after you鈥檝e won, and all I was doing was a commentary!
Having been at Murrayfield on Saturday and marvelled at how a Scottish rugby team with such a paucity of comparative resources can beat a Welsh team, life is a bit sweeter.
Continue reading "Why does home advantage make a difference?"
- Jim Stokes
- 12 Feb 07, 08:33 AM
Dublin - Ah well, the old can be tucked away for another year.
That old warrior Jack Kyle was sincerely hoping that the days of him being wheeled out to talk about Ireland鈥檚 chances of emanating his '48ers would end this season.
I鈥檓 afraid that title is now going to be as elusive as Kyle was in his Pimpernel days in the late 1940s when the French tried to seek him here and seek him there, but failed to stop him dancing over the try line.
Continue reading "Slam slips away"
- Jim Stokes
- 11 Feb 07, 06:09 PM
Croke Park - I was one of the 82,000 or so spectators who witnessed Sunday鈥檚 historic Six Nations encounter as Ireland's dream was shattered by France.
See if you agree with my ratings for players on both sides.
Continue reading "Ireland v France player ratings"
- Sean Davies
- 11 Feb 07, 04:26 PM
Cardiff - 鈥淭he Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.
鈥淭he others are those who who pushed their control as far as they felt they could handle it, and then pulled back, or slowed down, or did whatever they had to when it came time to choose between Now and Later鈥 - .
So how can a side like Wales, who lived and thrived on that edge between prudence and disaster in 2005, be reduced to the ineptitude of ?
Continue reading "Wales flounder around The Edge"
- Mark Orlovac
- 11 Feb 07, 09:30 AM
Twickenham - What a difference a week makes.
Last weekend, England fans were celebrating the comfortable win over Scotland and revelling in a much-improved display.
This Saturday, the Twickenham faithful were far more subdued as they made their way home or into the various bars and pubs around the ground.
Continue reading "Back to earth with a bump"
- Andrew Cotter
- 11 Feb 07, 09:22 AM
Edinburgh - My co-commentator Jonathan Davies finally got out of snowy Cardiff airport late on Friday night. Arrived in Edinburgh at 1am. On Saturday afternoon he must have wished he hadn't made it.
I don't think he, or most of the thousands of Welsh fans who are now drowning sorrows in various Edinburgh bars can really believe what has happened to their side.
Continue reading "Wales wails"
- Mark Orlovac
- 10 Feb 07, 05:50 PM
Twickenham - I was the website's man at Twickenham on Saturday and after seeing England overcome a stubborn Italy, here are my player ratings.
Let me know what you think.
Continue reading "England player ratings"
- Gareth Lewis - 大象传媒 Wales Sport presenter
- 9 Feb 07, 01:49 PM
Cardiff - Spare a thought for Colin Francis of Porthcawl, he's on page three of today's sitting on a suitcase outside Cardiff airport.
But he's not posing in the style you'd expect in The Sun, if he had, he might well have lost vital bits of equipment.
Scottish weather has hit Wales so Mr Francis and thousands of others have faced cancellations and delays on the big trip up to Edinburgh.
Continue reading "It's snow joke"
- Mark Orlovac
- 9 Feb 07, 12:29 PM
London - Right, we鈥檙e agonisingly close to the second weekend of the Six Nations and I reckon it鈥檚 prediction time.
We want your thoughts on how your side will fare in what could be crucial weekend and if you are already setting off for London, Edinburgh or Dublin, we would like to hear from you as you travel in the cold.
Who is going to win, what are the scores going to be and what are your selection worries?
Continue reading "Seconds out, round two..."
- John Beattie
- 9 Feb 07, 12:22 PM
Glasgow - Who is the best Scottish player of all time, and who is the best Welsh player of all time? What the heck, who is your favourite player of all time?
Here I am, dribbling, looking ahead to the Scotland Wales game. ESPN the other night had a Wales/Scotland game on from the nineteen seventies, and it was brilliant.
I love these games and they remind me firstly of sitting with two rolls with ham and mustard, a tomato, and a glass of milk, and Andy Irvine taking penalty kicks with me, my brothers and my Dad running to the hall unable to watch and my mum left in the front room.
Also they remind me of great days on the old Murrayfield terraces, or of actually being on the pitch itself.
Continue reading "Pick your favourites"
- Andrew Cotter
- 9 Feb 07, 12:04 PM
Edinburgh - They are coming鈥︹︹..
Friday morning - I have arrived in Edinburgh and already they are everywhere.
Legions of them, bringing strange sounds and songs. They are unstoppable. Soon they will take control of the city and will run red.
No pub is safe. Flee while you can.
So, is it still true that Welsh fans travel in greater number to Edinburgh than they do for any other 6 Nations game?
Continue reading "Hail the Welsh invasion"
- Jim Stokes
- 8 Feb 07, 03:39 PM
Dublin 鈥 La France, un accueil chaleureux au parc de Croke.
Gauls against Gaels at the cathedral of Irish sport where this weekend .
The French are certainly accustomed to what Dublin itself has to offer, and were well used to the concrete mausoleum that was with its shifting, swirling winds.
However, the little corner in the north of the city may surprise, or even shock the visitors. They鈥檒l enjoy themselves, but hopefully not too much on the green acreage around Jones鈥檚 Road!
Yes, Les Bleus do like to embrace their rugby in the purest sense, particularly on hard, perfect surfaces with wide open spaces like the one that will be offered on Sunday.
Continue reading "Why Ireland could be undone by Croker choker"
- Mark Orlovac
- 8 Feb 07, 03:11 PM
It must be pretty difficult being an Italian sports fan at the moment.
is again in chaos following the death of a policeman in last weekend (which followed last year鈥檚 massive ) while the rugby team were thumped by France in their opening Six Nations game.
So to judge the Azzurri mood ahead of Saturday鈥檚 clash against England at Twickenham, I spoke to the rugby correspondent of , Andrea Buongiovanni.
Continue reading "Crucial times for the Azzurri"
- Martin Conaghan - 大象传媒 Scotland Sport journalist
- 7 Feb 07, 05:21 PM
Only last week, I made my first post here on the Six Nations blog, and sang the praises of the tournament - in particular, the technology employed to make it a more interesting spectacle.
I'm not going to waste my time by debating a moot point, but how ironic was it that the very technology I singled out for praise was to become the most controversial aspect in the Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham?
Whether you think the Television Match Official called Jonny Wilkinson's try rightly, or wrongly, the technology which produced the action replay appeared to have been largely ignored.
Of course, the match was over as a contest by that stage, so it's all academic anyway.
Ultimately, what it proves is not the inefficiency of computers, cameras or microphones, but the fallibility of human beings, even when faced with fairly incontrivertible evidence.
Unfortunately, all the computers in the world won't change intransigence.
But I'm not bitter. Let's just hope the TMO is wearing his prescription specs on Saturday.
- Andrew Cotter
- 7 Feb 07, 12:00 PM
London - I'm not going to write much since I'm deep in the middle of preparing for the Scotland v Wales game on Saturday and about to listen to the Wales team announcement which I'm sure will be given plenty of discussion.
So , eh?
More or less the changes expected I suppose and when Frank Hadden prefers Phil Godman to Dan Parks, you know he wants to play a slightly more open game of rugby. But is he Scotland's best option at ?
Rob Dewey coming in? Few could argue with that for a bit of pace and finishing power. Is Marcus Di Rollo's passing ability enough to merit a recall?
Simon Webster and Nikki Walker - how many would like to see their very different running abilities feature on the wing at some stage?
Plenty to discuss so with that I'll return to finding out how many Jones' I have to confuse on Saturday and throw it open to the floor........
- John Beattie
- 6 Feb 07, 12:57 PM
Handling in rucks, it is starting to get to me.
Now, I am a big fan of Irish rugby as I think their efficiency in keeping hold of the ball looks to be the best in the Six Nations.
But exactly how much handling in a ruck are we going to allow for goodness sake, and isn鈥檛 too much of it going to spoil the game?
Referees have to be far stricter, don鈥檛 you think? Aren't killers of the ball murderers of the game?
Continue reading "Refs must punish handling in the rucks"
- Mark Orlovac
- 6 Feb 07, 12:54 PM
We鈥檝e all seen the headlines - 鈥淛onny B God鈥, 鈥淩eturn of the Hero鈥 and 鈥淜ing of Sporting Comebacks鈥.
Yes, it was an incredible performance by against Scotland on Saturday and rightly he claimed all the plaudits after the victory.
But as the focus now drifts to Italy this weekend, and perhaps more importantly the crunch Croke Park clash with Ireland on 24 February, I would like to look at four other areas that give England reasons to be cheerful.
Continue reading "Move over Wilko"
- Nigel Owens
- 6 Feb 07, 12:13 PM
Thanks to everyone who sent in their laws questions last week. It was an eventful first week in the Six Nations, that's for sure.
We had plenty of questions on all sorts of subjects, including lots of comments on .
Unfortunately myself and my fellow referee Hugh Watkins cannot comment on the rights and wrongs of individual decisions from matches - our job is to help clarify points of law which can be difficult to understand.
Anyway onto my answers - in no particular order...
Continue reading "Your rugby laws questions answered"
- Sean Davies
- 5 Feb 07, 03:43 PM
Cardiff - Considering Wales鈥 early February dreams of Triple Crowns and Grand Slams had been shattered after the , there was a remarkably positive feeling reverberating around the streets of Cardiff on Sunday night.
Now there鈥檚 no doubt that the liberal amounts of alcohol doled out on St Mary鈥檚 Street had a major influence on that.
But, inebriation aside, I think that the lightness of Welsh spirits can be attributed to three specific factors.
Continue reading "Wales revels in defeat"
- Jim Stokes
- 5 Feb 07, 09:33 AM
Belfast - Jeepers, ! Somebody hadn鈥檛 read the original script at the Millennium Stadium.
Shame on those darn Welshmen trying to spoil Ireland鈥檚 party before it even started. Do they not realise that Ireland have not won the Grand Slam for nearly 60 years!
Okay, the Irish did win in the end, and I suppose you could not argue about chalking up three tries to zilch. But let鈥檚 be honest, it was a fairly ugly, dog-day victory only punctuated by sublime performances by Gordon D鈥橝rcy and Denis Leamy.
While D鈥橝rcy and Welsh scrum-half Dwayne Peel were the apple of the pundit鈥檚 eyes, I have to say that for me Leamy was the outstanding player on the field.
Continue reading "Ireland's close call"
- Andrew Cotter
- 5 Feb 07, 08:22 AM
"He's impressive with ball in hand. No doubt about it," said my co-commentator Phillip Matthews before the Italy-France game. "But he does have a tendency to drift in and out of games."
I nodded wisely, but silently, since the object of our attention, was standing just a few feet away, looking like an enormous, brooding version of .
The criticism has been levelled at Chabal before and, for all his talents, Bernard Laporte has never really warmed to the giant, furry creature known affectionately by supporters of his club Sale, as 'Sea Bass'.
Incidentally, I know it's inspired by his own name, but could Chabal not have a nickname more suited to his terrifying form? It's like calling Martin Johnson 'The Monkfish'.
Continue reading "Sea Bass is the new French National dish"
- Sean Davies
- 4 Feb 07, 06:07 PM
Millennium Stadium- I witnessed at first hand the thrills and spills of Sunday's Six Nations clash in Cardiff. See if you agree with my ratings for players on both sides.
Wales
K Morgan - 8. Wales鈥 biggest counter-attacking threat; pulled off a stunning, try-saving tackle on O鈥橠riscoll.
H Luscombe - 4. Luscombe鈥檚 talents in the centre are often unfairly criticised, but he showed again that he lacks the pace of an international wing and is only an emergency stand-in in the role.
J Robinson 鈥 5. Although Robinson offers genuine pace at 13 there was a lack of penetration from the Wales three-quarter line.
J Hook 鈥 6. Flashes of his attacking skill came through, but he struggled to handle D鈥橝rcy鈥檚 physicality and had a crucial second-half clearance kick charged down.
Continue reading "Wales v Ireland player ratings"
- James Standley
- 3 Feb 07, 08:50 PM
Twickenham - It can be very hard not to use hyperbole when writing about Jonny Wilkinson at the best of times, and having just watched I鈥檓 not even going to try.
So, which word plucked from the gushing end of the semantic spectrum shall we use to describe the return of the perfect 10 (sorry Dan, but Wilko was here first).
Remarkable? Not even close.
Incredible? Getting there I suppose.
Continue reading "The wonder of Wilko"
- James Standley
- 3 Feb 07, 07:45 PM
Twickenham - After witnessing at first hand England's Calcutta Cup victory, here are my ratings for the players of both sides.
Let me know if you agree or disagree below this post.
Continue reading "England v Scotland player ratings"
- Sean Davies
- 2 Feb 07, 02:28 PM
Cardiff - Altitude training and an escape from the all-consuming Six Nations build-up with a stay in Tenerife was the meticulously planned schedule for this year鈥檚 Championship.
I鈥檓 not sure whether this would have worked for any of the squads, but my pre-tournament jolly didn鈥檛 quite maximise my effectiveness for the mighty tasks to come.
The Wales team announcement should have been done and dusted by the time I plunged back into work, with time to build up the battles before heading down to the Millennium Stadium for the on Sunday. But nothing is ever that straightforward in Welsh rugby 鈥 certainly not when Gareth Thomas is involved.
Continue reading "From the volcano to the cauldron"
- Martin Conaghan - 大象传媒 Scotland Sport journalist
- 2 Feb 07, 01:30 PM
Three main things strike me about rugby, and the Six Nations in particular.
The first is the general level of interest in the tournament in recent years. With 大象传媒 coverage on television, interactive and radio - and billboards across the country promoting the tournament - it's difficult to avoid mention of the forthcoming matches, or fail to be even mildly hyped by the thrilling prospect of an event like the Calcutta Cup.
The second is the general organisation of the tournament. Speaking as an outsider, the Six Nations presents as a well-organised, well-attended and generally popular event. Crowd trouble is almost non-existent and the over-enthusiastic horse-play from players which characterised the game in the past is being gradually phased out of the game by the introduction of sensible rules and strict sanctions.
Continue reading "Can football learn from the Six Nations?"
- James Standley
- 2 Feb 07, 09:28 AM
London - The northern hemisphere鈥檚 annual rugby-fest is upon us and the debate about just who the best players on show are has begun once again.
Our team of rugby union journalists sat down in 大象传媒 Sport鈥檚 glistening digital media centre and came up with our XV to start the tournament.
Injuries have cost the likes of Shane Horgan and Dan Ward-Smith a place in the team - they'll be gutted, we're sure.
No doubt we could have done better, so, who鈥檝e we missed and who should not have got anywhere near our selection?
Continue reading "The 2007 Six Nations all-star XV"
- Hugh Watkins - Professional rugby union referee
- 2 Feb 07, 09:07 AM
My colleague Nigel Owens and I will be on hand throughout the tournament to answer your questions about the laws of game - starting this weekend.
So if you see something during the three matches that you don't fully understand, just ask it here.
As I am sure you will appreciate, we won't be able to comment on the rights and wrongs of individual decisions, so please ensure your question is about a general point of law rather than a personal comment.
That way you'll have a better chance of getting your question answered! We look forward to hearing from you.
- John Beattie
- 1 Feb 07, 08:30 AM
Glasgow - English players playing as if holding a grudge? I couldn鈥檛 believe my flaming ears.
At the end of my road lives on old woman with one leg, bad breath, and a dead dog from whose eye drips lots and lots of yellow-matter custard. The trouble is, she can see into the future and I think I saw Martin O鈥橬eill leaving her house just the other day.
She told me what鈥檚 going to happen on Saturday, and I wonder if you agree. This, after I had poured her a whopping great big whisky, is what she said, and I will need to rush as she is banging at my door demanding payment...
Continue reading "An unhappy medium!"
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Wales 27-18 England
