General Chat

I should have said "Congrats to England" - worthy winners she says through gritted teeth :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

Tis sad indeed Ann, (sobs into the drinks GP bought me :-( :-( :-()

but we are not done for yet! ;-) :-D :-D :-D :-D

Dear Jemima and All

Hello

Hope you are all okay.

So England won, then?!!

Quickly runs off thread!

Seriously, enjoy the rugby

Take gentle care all
With warmest wishes
Love Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Hi Elizabeth :-D :-D :-D

YES indeed! England won :-( :-( :-(

But they did deserve it!

We live to fight another day, however! :-D :-D :-D :-D

Lovely to hear from you!
Love Jem <3

""They came on in the same old way and we defeated them in the same old way.""

Wales were desperately disappointing. Despite their first half lead and lucky strike just on HT the gaps and holes were glaringly obvious. England took full advantage in the second half - Wales did not score at all and England were unlucky not to score a further two tries. If Wales cannot beat the English at home with a French referee they are right up the creek.

If this is the best that the Old Guard can manage then they will be vying with Italy for the wooden spoon and will only embarrass themselves v the All Blacks and Wallabies.

England fielded essentially a scratch team from which Lancaster can draw much encouragement. For sure the fire and drive were with them and not Wales half of whom barely turned up for the match preferring to stay in the tunnel.

Didn't we have a lovely day the day we went to Cardiff
A beautiful day, we had lunch on the way and all for under a pony you know
But on the way back I cuddled with Jo and we opened a bottle of champers
Singing a few of our favourite songs as the wheels went around.

:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

OH recorded the game and watched it later in the evening.

After the first 2 minutes I walked away in embarrassment. Thank goodness Jem had updated her thread by then. It meant that OH could be encouraged to continue watching rather turning off at half time.

His opinion at that time was at least it wasn't a Welsh walk-over. If England could achieve what they did with so many of the stalwarts off injured, things aren't quite as bleak as they might otherwise be.

I must admit I turned to another Channel after first 10 mins thought it was gonna be a route :-0

Thought I'd check the score after half time and continued watching, pleased I did as it was a cracking second half if you were an England supporter :-D

Swing low sweet chariot ;-) :-D

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE :-) :-) :-)

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR SUPPORTING THE RUGBY THREAD :-)


Once again, CONGRATULATIONS ENGLAND on cracking play!
I'm just sad that it was Wales on the receiving end!:-( :-(


Hiya Belle and DET :-) <3
I'm glad my commentary prevented you from abandoning the match!:-D :-D :-D


Hi Rollo :-)
Thankyou for your comments, they are always welcome!

Yes you are quite right about Wales' game plan. It does tend to be "one-dimensional"! As Jonathan Jiffy Davies has often said "When Plan A isn't working- let's try Plan A":-D :-D :-D
We certainly need a PLAN B!:-| :-| :-|


However, despite all the injuries, I do not feel that it was a "scratch" team.

In an interview before the match, this is what Wales Defence Coach had to say...

England will be strong despite injuries: Shaun Edwards

QUOTE:

England will offer up stern opposition against Wales at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Friday despite a raft of injuries, according to Welsh defence coach Shaun Edwards.

But Edwards, the former Wigan, England and Britain rugby league legend, insisted that England's strength in depth meant they would always be a dangerous side against which to play.

"I looked at the team and thought about what team would they have picked," he said.

"They've got first choice full-back, right winger and left winger. The No 12 played against us last year and would have started. Tuilagi's missing so maybe there would have been a different change at 13.

"They've got first choice 10, nine, loosehead, hooker. The second rows probably would have had different ones.

"And for me (recalled flanker) James Haskell is the best forward in England at the moment. Then there's (captain Chris) Robshaw and Billy (Vunipola), who lost his position to Ben (Morgan) at the end of the series but he was the first choice for the first two games.

"Any England team you come up against is going to be very, very strong, especially up front. England are the envy of the world when it comes to tight five forwards, particularly second-row forwards."

Edwards added: "There's no doubt any England team you ever play against are going to have a good maul.......

UNQUOTE.

England was always going to be a tough team!
Wales do need to learn some lessons from this! :-| :-| :-| :-|

ONE SWALLOW DOES NOT A SUMMER MAKE!....
....WE CAN STILL DO IT! ;-) ;-) ;-) :-D

UNDER 20s SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP

The Under 20s Six Nations Championship Kicked off last night with the following result

ITALY Under 20s ... 15 ~ IRELAND Under 20s ... 47

Italy's Points
Tries: Bergamin, Sperandio .... 10 points
Conversions: Azzolini (1) ......... 2 points
Penalty Goals: Azzolini (1)........ 3 points TOTAL 15

Ireland's Points
Tries: Murphy, O'Shea, Moloney, McCall, Dardis, McCarthy, Romaine
................................................... 35 points
Conversions: Byrne (6) ............. 12 points TOTAL 47

CONGRATUATIONS TO IRELAND'S YOUNGSTERS :-)

The commentators mics picked up booing from a small group of (Welsh) spectators. That is not in the spirit of the game were opposing supporters are mature enough to sit next to each other.

You cheer on your team, and acknowledge the achievements of their opponents :-|

UNDER 20s SIX NATIONS TOURNAMENT 2015
FIXTURES:

ROUND 1:

Friday 6th February 2015

ITALY U20S V IRELAND U20S
Stadio Pozzi Lamarmora
Kick-Off 6:00pm (UK) / 7:00pm (Local Time)

Already played
ITALY U20s - 15 ~ IRELAND U20s - 47


TONIGHT
Saturday 7th February 2015

WALES U20S V ENGLAND U20S
Parc Eirias
Kick-off 19:30 (UK)
Live on S4C in Welsh with red button English Commentary.


FRANCE U20S V SCOTLAND U20S
Stade Jean Lavie
Kick-Off 7:55pm (UK) / 8:55pm (Local Time)


ROUND 2
13/02/2015 15:00 15:00
SCOTLAND U20S V WALES U20S
Netherdale


13/02/2015 19:05 19:05
IRELAND U20S V FRANCE U20S
Dubarry Park


13/02/2015 19:45 19:45
ENGLAND U20S V ITALY U20S
Brickfields


ROUND 3
27/02/2015 19:05

IRELAND U20S V ENGLAND U20S
Donnybrook


27/02/2015 19:30 19:30
SCOTLAND U20S V ITALY U20S
Netherdale


28/02/2015 20:55 19:55
FRANCE U20S V WALES U20S
Stade Jules Ribert


ROUND 4
13/03/2015 16:00 15:00
ITALY U20S V FRANCE U20S
Stadio Mario e Romolo Pacifici


13/03/2015 17:30 17:30
ENGLAND U20S V SCOTLAND U20S
Northern Echo Arena


13/03/2015 19:45 19:45
WALES U20S V IRELAND U20S
Parc Eirias


ROUND 5
20/03/2015 19:00 18:00
ITALY U20S V WALES U20S
Stadio Quercia


20/03/2015 19:30 19:30
SCOTLAND U20S V IRELAND U20S
Netherdale


20/03/2015 19:55

ENGLAND U20S V FRANCE U20S
Community Stadium

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE NEW TALENT COMING UP FROM THE RANKS! :-)

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU DET! :-) :-)

Personally, that is my view of Sportsmanship.


NO MORE BOOING WALES FANS! :-| :-| :-| :-| :-| :-|


However it goes on in all matches, more so in football rather than rugby:-(

TODAY'S MATCHES
Saturday 7th February


First match of the day .....

ITALY v IRELAND
Stadio Olimpico
KICK-OFF...2-30pm UK Time


LIVE ON BBC1, BBC N. Ireland, BBC Radio Ulster
(please check your local TV/ Radio listings to make sure)

AND RADIO JEM ;-) :-D




Second match of the day ......

FRANCE v SCOTLAND
Stade de France
KICK OF 5pm UK Time


LIVE ON BBC1, BBC Radio Scotland,
(please check your TV/ Radio listings)

AND RADIO JEM ;-) :-D

Please join me on this thread to cheer on your teams :-) :-) :-)

Can do 1st with you but at a birthday party at 7pm our time which is 5pm UK time.

I doubly hedged my bets last night, with black trousers I wore white blouse and for wear red day of course a red V neck jumper. Whoever won I was covered. :-D

Well done Pat! :-D :-D :-D

Not a lot of people know this ... **** whispers.. my mother was English :-0 :-0 :-D***


My OH is Irish, but supports Wales, even when they play Ireland, because as he says, he didn't follow Rugby until he moved to Wales!

We will support Ireland this afternoon though! :-) :-) :-)

I look forward to your company Pat :-)

My gt grandmother was Irish. Haven't found any Scots but as the Irish part of family were protestant and Church of Ireland they may have been originally from Scotland.

OH has Swedish, English, Dutch, German and Belgium ancestors - told children they are the EU on their own. ;-)

Good Afternoon to any Irish Rugby Fans looking in! :-) :-)

Are you looking forward to your Game?

Here are some of Ireland Rugby's Great Moments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEUrJ3mzNhA

I have Swedish blood too Pat on my father's side, and Dutch on my mothers side!

HERE'S A SONG FOR IRISH FANS TO GET THEM IN A GREAT MOOD! ;-) :-D

IF YOU'RE IRISH COME INTO THE PARLOUR .... RUBY MURRAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCueMl54FdQ

Join me on Radio Jem ;-) for the match... Kick-off 2.30pm UK time :-)

Good Morning Jem and all on the Rugby thread.

What Happened Jem?

Firstly Congratulations to England, you outplayed Wales with fresh players, well done.

My lovely Wales, “ duw, duw it’s hard “ perhaps it was the small contingent of booing Welsh supporters which is not on OR my score prediction that threw a spanner in the works and tempted fate, who knows.

But sadly you were out played and out classed in the last 40 minutes after a good first half you took a 10 – 0 lead inside eight minutes and going into the interval 16 - 8, you will be licking your wounds and having to regroup after crashing to a depleted England.


Some interesting articles below from Rugby correspondents Simon Thomas, Delme Parfitt and Andy Howell. Sam says on the back page “ we have got to win four out of four,” I don’t think so Sam unless you have a PLAN B “


http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/

Shaun