Rugby

**Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:49 am**

RIP wrote:http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/mar/16/mervyn-davies

A sad loss of one of the true greats. RIP Mervyn Davies.

**Mon Mar 19, 2012 2:04 pm**

Well congratulations to Wales on a deserved Grand Slam, third time in seven years is some achievement.

None of the matches this last weekend were great, to be honest...
Brief reactions:

Italy-Scotland: Well done to Italy, a merited win. Scotland were very poor, and Robinson must be wondering what to do with them next. If he keeps his job, that is...

Wales-France: Looked like a great atmosphere in Cardiff, though not a great game from what I've seen (missed it live, as well as the game in Italy, as we were on the way to Twickenham). But Wales did what they needed to do. I'll watch more of it later, though I may have to turn the sound off, as Butler and Davies are not a brilliant commentary team together!

England-Ireland: Not a pretty game, terrible handling of the ball by both teams in extremely damp conditions (we got very wet even before the kick-off). But England's scrum was impressively destructive, and made the difference. We met Stuart Lancaster very briefly before the match - he seems a really decent, humble and unassuming bloke, with time to stop and talk to the fans. If the English RFU has any sense, he should get the permanent job, but knowing what they're like, who can tell? Ireland looked like a tired team in need of a few changes, though I'd take a bet that the same players will be back to form when the H.Cup restarts.
Took a few snaps at the game: http://www.flickr.com/photos/15437467@N07/sets/72157629618210603/

Can't believe it's all over already...

**Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:04 am**

Nice one FH, glad you had a good day out. That Irish scrum just rolled over which effectively handed England Vicitory. I really feel for Scotland because they are not a crap side, they just don't seem to have enough strength in all departments. Well done Italy.
Well i enjoyed the Wales victory but also feel "Wales did what was needed to be done" again a very physical match. Lots of big hits. Watched the match in my home town, and enjoyed a sing song post match with Steffan Cush, who most fans will know as the lead singer from The Men They Couldnt hang. lso enjoyed blasting out a few of the more risque sing songs from my playing days. Lots of people knew the chorus, but crikey nobody bar me knew the verses. That i though was a bit sad!
Cheers
Aled

**Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:16 am**

Welshie wrote:... lso enjoyed blasting out a few of the more risque sing songs from my playing days. Lots of people knew the chorus, but crikey nobody bar me knew the verses. That i though was a bit sad!

Someone has to keep the old traditions alive, Aled! :lol:

**Tue Mar 20, 2012 12:37 pm**

firehazard wrote:
Welshie wrote:... lso enjoyed blasting out a few of the more risque sing songs from my playing days. Lots of people knew the chorus, but crikey nobody bar me knew the verses. That i though was a bit sad!

Someone has to keep the old traditions alive, Aled!

Yes i suppose so, but i'm a respectable married man, with 2 children, somebody else should of picked up the mantle years ago, as i did back in 1993!!!! Sad very sad.... :cry:

Cheers
Aled

**Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:19 pm**

Welshie wrote:
firehazard wrote:Someone has to keep the old traditions alive, Aled!

Yes i suppose so, but i'm a respectable married man, with 2 children, somebody else should of picked up the mantle years ago, as i did back in 1993!!!! Sad very sad....

Yeah, I know what you mean... but if they won't do it, it falls to those of us who are old enough to know better to keep it going until someone else finally does. Mind you, then we probably won't think they're doing it properly.

Or is it like being one of the last speakers of a dying language? That is a sad thought...

Meanwhile, next season's Six Nations fixtures have been announced:
http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/match-centre_fixtures-results.php?includeref=736&season=2012-2013

And Danny Cipriani is coming back to save English rugby. Or something.

**Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:23 am**

Or is it like being one of the last speakers of a dying language? That is a sad thought...

Ahhh now me Mam ( a non Welsh speaker) is someone i will be eternally gratefull for doing her bit, 3 Children all of us bi-linguall, 4 Grandchildren, all of them bi-linguall (Diolch/Thanks Mam)
The songs, will we ever hear the dulcet tones of Friggin in the Riggin, or Dinah, or The Woodpecker Song, The Lady of the Manor etc....
Cheers
Aled

**Thu Mar 22, 2012 9:06 am**

Welshie wrote:...
The songs, will we ever hear the dulcet tones of Friggin in the Riggin, or Dinah, or The Woodpecker Song, The Lady of the Manor etc....

Ah the old songs... The Mayor of Bayswater used to be sung with great gusto in the places of my youth.

**Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:03 am**

The Mayor of Bayswater: Now that is one i have only heard on one or two occasions. Brian Moore was on Desert Island disks recently and mentioned that at the amateur level the piss ups and sing songs should still be plart of the game, and in his words "long may it continue" doesnt seem te same any more.....
Anyway it looks like Gatland is going to coahc the Lions, as with regards to captain choices competition is stiff everywhere bar 1 position, Tight head prop so maybe he'll have no choice but to pick Adam Jones as captain as everybody else is fighting it out for positions!!!
Cheers
Aled

**Wed Mar 28, 2012 12:55 pm**

I'm afraid I still probably know chunks of The Mayor Of Bayswater's Daughter off by heart. Scars of one's youth!

Adam Jones as Lions captain? Now that is something to hope for... The more I think about it, the more I like it!

**Wed Mar 28, 2012 2:27 pm**

FH we could do a lot worse and imagine the fear he would strike into that Australian scrum!! There are very few (at the moment) guaranteed "first names on the Team sheet" other than him IMHO!
Anyway 8 weeks for Hartleys biting incident could of been a lot worse.
Cheers
Aled

**Wed Mar 28, 2012 2:34 pm**

Welshie wrote:...
Anyway 8 weeks for Hartleys biting incident could of been a lot worse.

Yes, he's a lucky lad, especially as he has history. Though as apparently there's no TV evidence, I suppose it's not clear-cut. Why exactly Ferris's finger was in his mouth is another matter.

I guess there's a long way to go before the Lions squad is picked. Time for a few to stake their case for a place. If Warburton's fit, he'd have a shout for being captain, I'd think. Adam Jones does look a cert for a place in the XV at the moment, and would indeed be a fearsome captain.

**Fri Mar 30, 2012 8:12 am**

Your right, there is a long way to go, lets not forget there are two ex Lions captains out there (BOD and Paul O'Connell) who are probably looking for a big swasong!
Good question what was Ferris h;and doing near Dylan's mouth anyway!!
Cheers
Aled

**Fri Mar 30, 2012 9:02 am**

Congratulations to Stuart Lancaster on getting the England coaching job on a permanent basis. At least, I hope congratulations is the correct word, as the job's been a poisoned chalice over the years.

Whatever, he seems a decent and straightforward bloke, and the players respect him, which is a good start. Hope he can keep Andy Farrell on the coaching team. And if he could get the benefit of adding some support from an experienced international coach into the team, that could be a big help in the future. Wayne Smith seems keen on being part of it...

**Fri Mar 30, 2012 12:11 pm**

Good news for England FH, i agree but probably bad news for everybody else! If you put the last 6 Nations in contest England won 4 out of 5, and could well of drawn or won the 5th. Personally i would of gladly taken that as a good 6 Nations for Wales back in January!
Good luck to the guy.
Cheers
Aled

ps It would also appear that Warren Gatland is going to coach the Lions.

Rugby

Re: Rugby

Re: Rugby

Re: Rugby

Re: Rugby

Re: Rugby

Re: Rugby

Re: Rugby

Re: Rugby

Re: Rugby

Re: Rugby

Re: Rugby

Re: Rugby

Re: Rugby

Re: Rugby

Re: Rugby

Who is online