大象传媒

大象传媒.co.uk

Over and out

  • Claire Stocks - Sport Interactive assistant editor
  • 28 Mar 07, 10:35 AM

London - Thanks for reading and contributing to this blog during this year's RBS Six Nations.

Hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. We're now closing the blog - but before we go if you have any feedback on how we did things or ideas for how we might do them in the future, let us know here.

We have plans to revive the blog during the Rugby World Cup this autumn so will try and incorporate good suggestions.

Thanks.


Comments  Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 11:24 AM on 28 Mar 2007,
  • JASON wrote:

hi

  • 2.
  • At 11:26 AM on 28 Mar 2007,
  • irish fan wrote:

have to say i thought it was a great idea having this blog. although there were some inappropriate and downright abusive blogs from every country's fans, the majority of them were realling intersting to read and the banter was great fun. personally, as an irish fan, i think that this year 6n was very enthralling and the blog was great for people to communicate with other fans! just wondering if the bbc would consider setting up blogs for the heineken cup and the various leagues like the magners league and the premiership as they are regular occurences.

  • 3.
  • At 12:14 PM on 28 Mar 2007,
  • paddy wrote:

I really enjoyed the blogs, especially that all the home nations were pretty evenly represented.
Would quite like to see representatives from italy and france in next years blog to cover the full gambit of the competition.
Of course i can't wait for the World Cup Blog to start now

  • 4.
  • At 01:02 PM on 28 Mar 2007,
  • dude wrote:

Good blog, good frequency, interesting topics...BUT this is about the six nations right? I only count 4 different nationalities represented by the bloggers...

Get some Italians and some French blood! Castaignede would be good or Califano or Salviac for the French. Dominguez maybe for the Italians.

  • 5.
  • At 01:12 PM on 28 Mar 2007,
  • sam wrote:

yeh the player ratings did seem to leave out italy and france which seemed a bit odd as tho they arent part of the uk, they are still in the tournament. otherwise a good laugh despite some narrow minded people plus the english believing they are the best was funny to witness too

  • 6.
  • At 01:16 PM on 28 Mar 2007,
  • chief wrote:

Ireland 43 - England 13.

  • 7.
  • At 01:43 PM on 28 Mar 2007,
  • Houstie wrote:

Really enjoyed blogging throughout the tournament and look forward to being able to do the same during the world cup. However, hopefully I'll be able to attend a couple of games in France this year so might miss out on the blogging.

  • 8.
  • At 02:16 PM on 28 Mar 2007,
  • kenboss wrote:

would be decent if you actually posted them

  • 9.
  • At 02:56 PM on 28 Mar 2007,
  • emerald star wrote:

sam france and italy arent part of the uk but neither is ireland which you failed to mention.

  • 10.
  • At 03:04 PM on 28 Mar 2007,
  • Joe wrote:

43-13 Oi Oi

See you at the world cup

  • 11.
  • At 03:49 PM on 28 Mar 2007,
  • rugger wrote:

english believing they were the best? that's not true at all. in fact the funniest thing was scotland thinking they could avoid the wooden spoon!

  • 12.
  • At 03:49 PM on 28 Mar 2007,
  • Conny wrote:

I have to say i agree with chief & Joe. I thought the blog was great. more of the same for the world cup. maybe with more frequent posts

  • 13.
  • At 09:48 PM on 28 Mar 2007,
  • grouchmonkey wrote:

What was wrong with Scrum V? The 大象传媒 hasd a really live forum going there for a while but decided they liked the sound of their own voices more....

  • 14.
  • At 11:58 PM on 28 Mar 2007,
  • liam meighan wrote:

I must say that I enjoyed most of the comments, though some people were quite xenophobic.
How come those people who made outlandish predictions that were wrong did not come on and say they were wrong?
I agree with Joe about having blogs for the Heineken Cup.
Looking forward to the FRIENDLY rivalry in September

  • 15.
  • At 12:25 AM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • fistikuffs wrote:

I've enjoyed the blog as i enjoyed the championship. The only bad thing was some of the bitterness shown by posters of all nations but that can be funny too!! Hopefully for the world cup blog we can have more blogs posted but apart from that its great. Here's to Ireland sorting out their consistencey and having a good run in the world cup....semi's anyone?

  • 16.
  • At 08:59 AM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • Cochenwiwer wrote:

Do not bring in Salviac for France if you don't like xenophobic and biaised views then you'll hate Salviac. Get someone else like Califano or Ibanez to represent us. Really enjoyed this season's six nations especially that last minute Clerc try in Croke park(did you actually think you were gonna win the 6N??? Oh and we'll knock you out of the world cup too!!! Allez les Bleus!! Champions du monde!!!!

  • 17.
  • At 09:16 AM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • munster girl wrote:

cochenwiwer yes france did well at croke park but to be honest comments like yours means we'll we well up for defeating you at the wc in front of your own home crowd! france will definitely not win the wc. nz will and as for beating ireland at the wordl cup, well we're underdogs now which suits us much better, so france should be wary of an irish backlash! that is possibly the most arrogant blog ive read in all the ones on this site!

  • 18.
  • At 10:00 AM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • Phil wrote:

Well, it was a cracking tournament and I thought the blogs were good. Like most on here I think ratings should be given for France and Italy, preferably they should get blogs as well.

Regarding the poster comments, some of them need to learn to take banter in the nature in which it is intended! The banter itself is fine, but though some of the incensed responses can be funny to read they do get tedious quite quickly - and tend to dilute the more interesting posts responding to the blog or on topic posts. Perhaps the blog owners could mod out any that go too far off topic?

  • 19.
  • At 10:12 AM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • Cochenwiwer wrote:

Yes little Irish girl - ireland will beat France in Paris; Just after the Pope flies into the Stade de France in a zeppelin.
Do you seriosly believe Ireland will win? Then I am sorry you - are taking too many drugs.

  • 20.
  • At 10:55 AM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • munster girl wrote:

that french attitude is exactly what england needed to beat the frecnh comprehensively!keep on believing that the french are superior as it'l be funnier when france fal flat on their face again! and i truly beleive that ireland are capablke and will be giving the french team a taste of their own medicine. ireland dont pretend that we will win the wc but we will come out all guns blazing. underestimate us at your cost. by the way i dont do drugs!ladies and gentlemen forget all comments about english, irish, scottish, welsh arrogance. the real and derserved winners are the french! but it'll be funny to see nx annihilate them again. as for the 6n we were joint top with france having both lost one game each- ireland only lost through their own carelessness but france were hammered by england. so therefore it makes us pretty equal and ya i;m not afraid of any perceived frech threat. to be honest i would be more worried about a rejuvenated eng;and team.

  • 21.
  • At 10:59 AM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • Joel Nathan Ryan From Loughton Milton Keynes wrote:

I think rugby is rubbish!!! WHO AGREES

  • 22.
  • At 11:16 AM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • Brian Boru wrote:

Oh Cochenwiwer...

Now your just been silly...there is no way the pope could fly anywhere in France with all those air traffic controller strikes you have there...we'll just take the ferry, knock France out and then see what happens.

  • 23.
  • At 11:36 AM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • munster girl wrote:

love rugby but resent attitudes such as the one 19 wrote. please dont deign to patronise and also remember that pride comes before a fall. france are a good side and ireland are also a good side, we finished level on 8 points each and there wasnt much to choose between the teams. i would underestimate ireland at your peril and dont expect to beat us again automatically as we will be going out looking for scalps. i'm not dreaming nor do i take drugs. in fact the french should have more respect and make less assumptions. france werent much better than ireland in this 6 nations- that's a fact. yes france won in croke park but that does not guarantee a victory in september. in fact i'm glad we've lost the mantle of favourites as we play much better as underdogs!

  • 24.
  • At 12:23 PM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • Cochenwiwer wrote:

I repeat - Ireland have as much chance of beating france as the pope has to be flying to Paris in his zeppelin and landing in the Stade de France, somersalting onto the pitch while singing Bohemian Rhapsody and juggling goldfish. With a fez on his head.
If you believe otherwise then you are clearly delusional. It was not our best team that humiliated you in Choke park. france's best team will roll over the Irish. It will be so sad. I may even cry a little.

  • 25.
  • At 12:27 PM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • dude wrote:

ok ok , everybody chill out...let's not go back into who should have won etc...the results speak for themselves which ever way who want to look at them; France is not half-champion, not co-champion, they are the one and only champions. No one gave anyone the championship, that's just a ridiculous suggestion.

Good blog, get latin faces.

  • 26.
  • At 12:45 PM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • emerald star wrote:

yes that is true france won it fair and square but they are not very gracious winners and also not very likely to win the world cup either. right bring on france in paris!

  • 27.
  • At 01:29 PM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • patrick wrote:

God Cochenwiwer you arte french arent you, and knowing thatwill make it all the funnier when france get stuffed by anyone at the world cup, we all know you are surrender monkeys when the going get tough

  • 28.
  • At 02:24 PM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • Tom wrote:

Bloody hell....STOP IT. Cochenwiwer, the first four letters of your blogging name just about say it all pal. I for one will be well and truly behind the Irish. And before you have a go at me mate, I'm English...and we beat you! Au revoir mmselle!

  • 29.
  • At 02:43 PM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • Marty wrote:

Just sen the fixture list for next seasons 6Ns and OH WOULD YA LOOK!! France get to go last on the final wekend again! Fluke?? I think not!! And come on cochenwiwer although i fully except that fance are the 6Ns champs you can hardly claim to be alot better than Ireland...I fully elieve if BOD had have been playing that day they would have beaten you and as for that final try against the Scotch......give me a break...did you see the ball grounded? I think its time to introduce the bonus point system to encourage attacking rugby right to the final whistle. And if that system was used Ireland would have won the six nations. More tries and fewer points in defeat!

  • 30.
  • At 02:46 PM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • emerald star wrote:

well said tom! have to say the englsih world cup winning team and their fans had alot more to boast about ans yet in my opinion were very gracious in victory and they have also been great in defeat unlike others! the croke match b/n ireland and england was a pleasure to behold and fans from all nations should use that as an example of sportsmanship between fans, yet still involving friendly banter! also tom good luck to england in the wc- i reckon the team will be a very tough side and strettle will be the star!

  • 31.
  • At 03:47 PM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • Mick wrote:

Guys - chill. Cochenwiwer is just trying to wind you up. And they did deserve to win in Croke Park anyway. We'll get them next time though. I hear the Pope has been in training...

I would rather see France win it than the All Blacks anyway. Unlike Le Coq, most of the French fans are not arrogant, but great fun to have a bit of banter with at 6 nations time.

Anyway, Thanks for the forum to air my excitement/ despair over the last few weeks.

If I was to comment negatively, I think some of the comments might be screened a little. There were hints of racism and a bit of nastiness in some of the blogs (from all countries) - which everyone can do without.

Here's to next year. Here's to the World Cup.

  • 32.
  • At 04:17 PM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • joe wrote:

Hello Conny.
World domination will soon be ours.

  • 33.
  • At 04:25 PM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • joe wrote:

Hello Conny.
World domination will soon be ours.

  • 34.
  • At 04:34 PM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • Cochenwiwer wrote:

I do not mean to offend anyone on this blog. I just like to tell it like i see it; and I do not believe Ireland will trouble France in the autumn. Laporte experimented wildly with his side and still won the 6N. What does that tell you?
If Ireland had scored more points against Italy - then France would have scored more points against Scotland. They scored enough in Paris. They scored enough in Dublin.
What does that tell you?
I am more worried about the ABs, but France won't meet them until much later. In France we are more waried of Argentina than of Ireland.
France will win the group, Ireland will struggle to beat Argentina, and will leave the WC then or in the next round. Bye bye, see you later.

  • 35.
  • At 04:59 PM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • emerald star wrote:

cochenwiwer- ok that's fine you didnt mean to offend anyone but you still did. and plus your comments about ireland struggling to beat argentina- if that's the case then france surely will too. laporte experimenting aside, that doesnt mean france will do well at the wc.i dont see where your thoeries are coming from re ireland seeing as we finished joint with you. also no offence to argentina but why exactly do people think ireland will struggle against them? all im saying is cichenwiwer france are a good team but just because you won a closely contested 6n doesnt mean you are automatically win your group at the wc. it;s totally fine to believe in your team but the irish also have a strong belief in themselves so dont go writing us off just yet,

  • 36.
  • At 05:46 PM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • AodhODuinn wrote:

cochenwiwer is welsh, not french. He's jealouse because his countries number one sport rugby, is in a relagation battle with scotland. Ireland, with the best 15 fully fit will beat France. the difference between the two is that france have a better squad and can afford more injuries than ireland. NZ's 3rd team could win the WC. There are 5 teams that can win the WC, NZ, AUS, SA, FR, IRL, no other team has the quility available which has the potential of winning a world cup.

  • 37.
  • At 05:59 PM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • jim wrote:

I have rellay enjoyed reading and contributing to the blogs.

Whats hilarious though ishow someone like Cochenwiwier can write some nonsense on an unrelated subject with probably no harm intended only to insense the entire Irish nation.

AND THEN KEEP DIGGING!!!!

Fantastic entertainment, keep it up.

  • 38.
  • At 07:58 PM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • Mike Moloney wrote:

Surely Jim,(post 37)you exaggerate! The Welsh Coch - who is no more French than spaghetti -is indeed a WUM of note, but don't you think the entire Irish nation falling for his wind up is putting it out of context! He'll never find a hat to fit his head now.

In any case, thanks for the 6N Blog, 大象传媒. Once you get used to it and manage to sift though the dross (provided from all the nations), quite a few gems were provided..some even about rugby!!!!

  • 39.
  • At 11:02 PM on 29 Mar 2007,
  • munster girl wrote:

all ill say is if he is only pretending to be french then apologies for my blog in which i called the french arrogant.although generally ppl dont pretend to be a nationality- strange! as for wales well just about avoided the wooden spoon. it's amazing how things change in oh 2 years!

  • 40.
  • At 12:25 AM on 30 Mar 2007,
  • Pedrito wrote:

is cochenwiwie honest ken in disguise? Remember him?

  • 41.
  • At 08:21 AM on 30 Mar 2007,
  • Tom wrote:

Can anyone help me out here? My girlfriend, who is a lovely Welsh girl, says that my team (England) are playing Wales in a friendly (Wales - England in a friendly...yeah right!) quite soon. I've not heard about this but would obviously be keen to go if possible. Anyone know if it's happening and if so, where it's happening?

The reason I'm so anxious is because it's been 2 weeks now and I'm not sure how much more of her victory induced permagrin I can handle!

  • 42.
  • At 08:34 AM on 30 Mar 2007,
  • Ads Baxter wrote:

fter so many (mainly useless) comments, I hope you will actually read this feedback.

I agree with most in this comment session that Heineken, EDF, and League blogs would be brilliant!

Also a World Cup blog would be AwEsOmE!

For me, I would like to know if it is possible to make the most recently posted comment the first you see. I find it more interesting when the most up to date discussions are the first thing you see.

  • 43.
  • At 09:28 AM on 30 Mar 2007,
  • chief wrote:

France will surrender in Stade De France against the mighty Irish, they love surrendering the french.

  • 44.
  • At 09:36 AM on 30 Mar 2007,
  • honest tim wrote:

hello all

sorry i've been away in the u.s. for a while on business. had a great time watching eng-france in houston with a great bunch of ex-pat french guys (and some fairly bemused but interested yanks)

anyway pedrito, of blog 40 fame, i think you remembered my comments more accurately than my name but never mind.....

anyway it's good to see cochenwiwer keeping up the obnoxious commentary in my absence. however, he does re-iterate the correct point that ireland will get comfortably beaten by france and then annihilated by nz in cardiff. and that's if they can manage to get past argentina. yet another world cup. yet another irish failure even to reach the semis. still, never mind......

san sebastian is a lovely town. the stadio anoeta is a wonderful stadium. and northampton will get pounded there on sunday. all those years of south african mercenaries and that charmless thug krige coming home to roost. still, never mind......

  • 45.
  • At 10:03 AM on 30 Mar 2007,
  • aledwatts wrote:

Yeah Wales are playing England between our Australia tour and the World Cup, July I think?? Not sure exactly, all I know is that its in twickenham. I wish it was in Cardiff!

('Cochenwiwer' is a welsh translation of Red squirrel, so I dunno who he's trying to fool suggesting that he's french.)

  • 46.
  • At 10:28 AM on 30 Mar 2007,
  • munster girl wrote:

tom dont think there's any friendly b/n england and wales before the end of the premiership, magners league and heineken cup campaigns! maybe during the summer though!no offence to the welsh but 3 out of 5 wins for england is much better than 1 out of 5 v england!

  • 47.
  • At 11:00 AM on 30 Mar 2007,
  • wrote:

The Scrum v forum was miles better than 606, and hopefully will be restored.

  • 48.
  • At 11:08 AM on 30 Mar 2007,
  • Tom wrote:

Cheers Aled. You've solved 2 mysteries in one there!

I'm pretty glad it's at home. My lovely Welsh girlfriend's permagrin is really starting to do my swede in! Not that we're guaranteed a home win (please don't mistake this for the English arrogance I've read so much about!), we just have a better chance there as anyone would.

  • 49.
  • At 11:36 AM on 30 Mar 2007,
  • emerald star wrote:

honest tim yes welcome back! however i would feel your comments and the welsh/frnch guy are slightly premature. ireland and france have not much between them except that france have a bigger squad but despite laporte chopping and changing has he found the right starting 15 yet! we shall see and yes i do feel ireland are well capable of beating france! we are looking to wipe the smiles of the home crowd and i feel we can do! no i'm not in denial, i have faith in ireland we have the players that can do it! fair enough if you think otherwise but try not to be quite as obnoxious when putting it across!

  • 50.
  • At 11:58 AM on 30 Mar 2007,
  • Pedrito wrote:

Honets Tim,

sorry about forgetting your name...you should have done well in the US.

Anyway, obviously I was confusing you with Barbie's friend Ken...

  • 51.
  • At 12:31 PM on 30 Mar 2007,
  • Shamrock wrote:

Really missed the Six Nations last weekend, now that it is all over. Really looking forward to the Heineken Cup this weekend, can't wait to see Leinster run riot against Wasps!

  • 52.
  • At 01:33 PM on 30 Mar 2007,
  • Chris wrote:

Someone mentioned the England-Wales "friendly".. Wales are playing France too in Cardiff in august aren't they? Does anyone know how to get tickets? There isn't anything on the millennium stadium website..

I've enjoyed the bbc blogs a lot too, and like others, i think it'd be good to get some French and Italian perspective. Can't wait for world cup!

  • 53.
  • At 04:24 PM on 30 Mar 2007,
  • joe wrote:

Cochenwiwer please be quiet. Munster girl will have you for breakfast.

  • 54.
  • At 04:31 PM on 30 Mar 2007,
  • rugbymadlass wrote:

Agree that it was ood fu having these blogs but it was much more fun with Scrum V as anyone could pose a question to fellow rugby fans, personally I think this was a much better format and allowed much more freedom. Also as posts were instant you could have a proper discussion rather than just leave your views.

  • 55.
  • At 04:57 PM on 30 Mar 2007,
  • emerald star wrote:

ya blogs were great. even the abusive ones were funny to read!

  • 56.
  • At 08:21 PM on 30 Mar 2007,
  • Arash wrote:

I was very dissapointed with the blogs and I can't believe that through my licence fee I was forced to pay for the nasty content that was implied in them, I agree there was so much xenophobia and nationalistic cliches in them. The 大象传媒 seem to think the Celtic Nations are obsessed with beating an underachieving England side. The 大象传媒 in the blogs were also disgraceful in trying to stir up trouble between Ireland and England especially about Croke Park, I couldn't believe some of the tripe I had the displeasure of reading- well I can, because its pretty much standard from a bunch of ivory tower middle class liberal champagne socialist jounralists. Instead they neglected to adquetley mention coaching tactics, team playing style or anything of real interest to real rugby fans, other than being as xenophobic and as contraversial as possible. I found Sky Sports website to be far better than the rubbish I stopped reading after the tripe over Croke Park, and that's free.

  • 57.
  • At 02:23 AM on 31 Mar 2007,
  • liam meighan wrote:

Hi to Honest Tim and "Cocky Wiener"
Thank you for your humorous vitriol.
If Laporte sent out his second best team against Ireland, what team did he send out against England? And what team will he send out in the World Cup against Argentina? The same that was beaten by 40 points in France last year by New Zealand? No one can guarantee who will win. As France have shown (and New Zealand too) it depends which team turns up on the day and do they play to their strengths or their weaknesses.
May the best team win, playing the best open rugby and score the most tries.

  • 58.
  • At 08:02 AM on 31 Mar 2007,
  • Jim Slip wrote:

In order to sanitise your blogs page for the world cup and send the purile in search of the Sun's comment pages why dont you offer two tickets to the world cup finals to the best, knowledgable blog written on the preliminary rounds.

  • 59.
  • At 12:44 PM on 31 Mar 2007,
  • George wrote:

Really enjoyed it but i have some general requests for the 大象传媒 website, The rugby union page could use an equivalent to Crickets: Ask Bearders, this would be useful for people particularly intersted in statistics such as the average winning margin etc.

  • 60.
  • At 01:16 PM on 31 Mar 2007,
  • pedrito wrote:

Post 56 - Arash

I a understand your concern that so many of the blogs here were nationalistic, and, at times...offensive. However to blame the 大象传媒 for what the average person writes is a little unfair. Also, you seem to have no problems throwing around your own insults.

I think the majority of people who were regular contributors to this blog took the comments of the obnoxious few with the grain of salt or sense of humour that they deserved.

Ultimately, no one forced you to read this. We do live in a democracy and you always have the ultimate resort of the individual...to vote with your feet..if you don麓t like what you see or read...then don麓t read it.

  • 61.
  • At 08:36 PM on 31 Mar 2007,
  • declan wrote:

SCOTLAND are gonna get a grand slam next year

  • 62.
  • At 10:30 AM on 01 Apr 2007,
  • joe wrote:

Hello there. I thought the blog was great. Ireland will make the last 4 of the world cup minimum. Munster girl dont let that French supporter get to you. Just console yourself in the fact that we will get our revenge in september!!!

  • 63.
  • At 09:51 AM on 02 Apr 2007,
  • ex_tight_head wrote:

People who are not rugby fans - which appears to include more than a few at the 大象传媒 - may not appreciate that rugby sledging, as well as rugby violence, is almost always good-hearted. Well, except for a few mindless XXXXXXXmen (substitute your own preferred national adjective for XXXXXXX).

As to the blog, it all too often had dead links in it (or appallingly slow servers).

  • 64.
  • At 12:34 PM on 02 Apr 2007,
  • Cochenwiwer wrote:

I never said that France would win the WC. I hope they will but I will not guarantee it. I also know the game with Argentina will be tough.

All I said is Ireland beating France would be be as remote a chance as a "Pope in a zeppelin in the Stade de France in a fez juggling fish"

Time will tell and I hope the Irish will not all drink all the Guinness too much in sorrow.

also I am not Welsh.

Thank god.

  • 65.
  • At 01:17 PM on 02 Apr 2007,
  • wrote:

Good Blog, interesting topics. I enjoyed myself. 大象传媒 is always 大象传媒, that is the best! Ciao Pierpaolo(Peterpaul) - Italy

  • 66.
  • At 05:41 PM on 02 Apr 2007,
  • joe wrote:

I see cochenwiwer is getting his excuses in early by saying he never said France would win the world cup. The reasont they won't win has nothing to do with talent. It's the fact that they will 'choke' when it gets to the business end of the tournament. That's if they make it out of the group. Get ready to take a picture of the juggling pope pal.

  • 67.
  • At 01:06 AM on 03 Apr 2007,
  • liam meighan wrote:

Honest Tim, I hope your predictions for Ireland are as good as your prediction of a Northampton loss against Biarittz.
oh I see they took a pounding as you said , but secretly you thought they would win. Well when you put your neck on the chopping block......

  • 68.
  • At 01:27 AM on 03 Apr 2007,
  • liam meighan wrote:

I was re-reading some of the blogs that were complaining of State of National Anthems and Ireland's Call, and it got me thinking for the World Cup if we took a song from each country and used it instead of the NA. England could use Queen's "We are the Champions", Ireland could use U2 and "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" Scotland could have The Proclaimers "500 Miles" any other suggestions?

  • 69.
  • At 10:40 AM on 03 Apr 2007,
  • honest tim wrote:

wouldn't a more appropriate song for ireland be "exit" by u2 ?

and perhaps catatonia's "dead from the waist down" would suffice for wales ?

and perhaps that early jean michel jarre number from the seventies for france; "exasperated frog"

  • 70.
  • At 11:50 AM on 03 Apr 2007,
  • Cochenwiwer wrote:

Oh Joe, It is not about excuses. France will make it out of the group and then, who knows?
Maybe we will win the WC or maybe we won't but at least we have a chance - unlike Ireland. We beat the Irish in Dublin and I fully expect the score in Paris to be even more favourable to us. That is not a prediction, it is a mere formality.
It is unfortunate for Ireland to be in our group. I do not hate Ireland and I do admire the way they try to play, but I cannot see anything but a French win in Paris in the autumn.

  • 71.
  • At 12:35 PM on 03 Apr 2007,
  • Claire Stocks, assistant editor, 大象传媒 Sport Interactive wrote:

Folks,
Thanks a lot for all your comments - glad to hear that by and large you enjoyed it.

A few points
1. A few people had an issue with the 'nationalistic nature' of some people's comments on various posts over the course of the blog. Firstly, let me say that we rejected any comments that were felt to be overly nationalistic or racist (and readers are always free to hit 'complain about this post' if they want to draw our attention to something). Banter between nations, particularly the home nations, is a fact of life when it comes to sport - and in particular the Six Nations which is unique in pitting the national teams of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland against each other every year.
It is also unusual in that, being rugby union, it generally seems to be conducted with the same passionate fair-mindedness of the sport itself!
We tried to tread the fine line between allowing that to flourish and letting it get out of hand. I think we got it right. As for that cheeky red squirrel..we may have to take a stricter line with people who simply seek to wind others up.
To Arash at comment 56, who felt we "tried to stir up trouble between England and Ireland ahead of the Croke Park match" - we did not stir up anything - we had a duty to reflect the important and deeply-felt sensitivities around this game and I felt we did so with respect, a sense of history and more than that - by doing it via our blog we were able to give a high-profile platform to a cathartic dialogue between people of all viewpoints. I for one find it quite uplifting that sport is often able to bring this sense of man-in-the-street perspective to politics.

2. Some of you felt we lacked a French or Italian perspective. Yes, we took the decision not to attempt to sign up writers from these nations - because:
A. They would have cost money and we had no extra budget for this blog. All of the writers on the blog did so in the course of other duties, ie it wasn't their day job. We just didn鈥檛 have the personnel to do this for France & Italy much as we'd have liked.
B. The blog's main target audience were licence-fee payers so the priority was writers from the four home nations. Having said that, we will be looking at how we can bring at least one international voice to the party for the World Cup.
Also, we are always on the lookout for good blogs to link to, so if you see a good one (especially on national teams other than the home nations) .

3. A few people mentioned that they preferred other interactive formats to a blog. For instance, rugbymadlass contrasts it to Scrum V where "posts were instant so you could have a proper discussion". The 大象传媒 is moving away from the messageboard format - ie using public money to pay moderators to 'referee' chat between fans which often degenerates into abuse, particularly when it comes to passionate subjects such as sport! Instead, we're focusing on more targeted formats such as blogs, where readers can engage with our writers on particular topics. Then there is also our 606 site, where people can share their views on the big stories of the day - or write their own articles on whatever they feel strongly about.

4. A couple of people asked for blogs around other rugby union events such as the Heineken Cup or EDF Cup. The bad news is we won鈥檛 be able to do specific blogs for those events. At the moment, the way we are set up means we can only resource them for big events, or higher priorities. The better news is that in the long run, we're working on ways to make our website as a whole far more interactive, so that the functionality readers seem to enjoy so much about a blog, ie being able to comment to an author direct, is more widely available across everything we do. But that's a long-term thing.

Thanks again everyone,

Claire

  • 72.
  • At 01:25 PM on 03 Apr 2007,
  • UlsterFan wrote:

Big up to Claire as this is the first time i have seen an article writer reply to the blogs though it would have been better to see this a bit more during the tournament! and please post my other blog, u can edit some bits if u think they r a bit rude!

  • 73.
  • At 01:53 PM on 03 Apr 2007,
  • mcgoo wrote:

god cochweiner or whatever his name is, really is the epitomy of the arrogant french. i cant wait for the french to choke and not even get out of their group.

  • 74.
  • At 02:54 PM on 03 Apr 2007,
  • honest tim wrote:

why does cochenwiwer (that cheeky red squirrel) get ticked off by the bbc guard dog when i spent lots of time and trouble trying to maximise the effect of my wind ups - and i don't get a mention ?

once again it's one rule for cheeky (welsh?) red squirrels and another one for honest, yet borderline rude, tims

  • 75.
  • At 05:07 PM on 03 Apr 2007,
  • Claire Stocks, assistant editor, 大象传媒 Sport Interactive wrote:

Thanks Ulsterfan - many of our bloggers did come back on to reply to points - but I agree, we could all do this more often. That's what blogs are all about after all.
And Honest Tim - now don't be petty. I had the pleasure of reading many of your comments (and only rejecting a couple). Thanks for your knowledge and your humour. Til next time.
Claire

  • 76.
  • At 07:31 AM on 04 Apr 2007,
  • munster girl wrote:

honest tim your comments are designed to wind ppl up which is fine! dont think you're much of a rugby fan either way. also you seem to spend alot of time critiscising other teams but why dont you start on about the failings of the england team who lost to wales- so what does that make them???

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