Rugby

[Welshie]

Thanks FH, looks a good write up. Sorry cannot access the fkantasy leagu(works computer)
Really looking forward to tomorrow. We all love the 6 Nations. Lets enjoy.
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

So... exciting first weekend, and a fair few tries.

Wales-Italy: Wales didn't play brilliantly, to be honest, but did enough to win reasonably comfortably. I think the biggest match for them will be next weekend in Dublin. Italy showed that they'll be competitive throughout, and the backs, with some new faces, seem to be improving. They'll cause at least one upset this tournament.

France-England: Exciting, but a bit of a mess of a match. England looked a shambles at times, but were the better team for a lot of the match. I reckon the early injury to May cost them, especially with no specialist cover on the wing. But once again, they ended up losing a game in which they'd been leading - it's a habit they need to break. France will be overjoyed at the win (though my French rugby friend was very apologetic about it on Saturday night!) and it may just set them up for the tournament.

Ireland-Scotland: Ireland looked good, though against a poor Scottish team. Next weekend against Wales is the big one for them too, and may decide who wins the tournament. Heaslip did a great job as stand-in captain. Hogg looks by far the best player Scotland have at the moment, and I reckon he'll have a few moments this year.

Can't wait for next weekend now!

[Welshie]

Nice round up FH, must say i am pleased that Italy appear to have found some new backs who look like they have that little bit of edge about them. Felt sorry for England, but they were a bit naive. Scotland had chances and possesion to score in the first half but did not do so, h3ad they scored things may of been different!
Ireland looked good, Wales players look very tirerd its been hard rugby for 4 years now, and rather maddly INMHO we are in South Africa this summer!
Still roll on next Saturday.
Also enjoyed my first beer of 2014!
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

Yes, looking back I think I was a bit harsh about Scotland, they did start well enough. Apparently the pitch at Murrayfield is a quagmire with next weekend's Calcutta Cup match approaching fast. There's a surprise. England have drowned in the Murrayfield bog many times before... Foresee a match of wrestling packs.

England in the summer are heading off to NZ, and won't have their full squad available for the first test, as the domestic / European season hasn't quite finished. How stupid is that!?

I see Warburton back in the starting line-up for what should be an epic clash in Dublin.

Hope that pint tasted good, Aled!

[Welshie]

Half actually FH, had to drive my beloved in the evening.
Yes the Dublin clash is looking better everyday, crowd of Dads from my children's primary school are heading out for a few beers as well.
Scot v England game at Murrayfield is always a bit of a wrestle.
And lets not forget France v Italy, France have lost the last 2 encounters!
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

Ok, here we go for week 2:

Ireland-Wales: Really looking forward to this game, could be the best of the tournament, and may well decide who wins the 6 Nations, as they're probably the best two teams. Would love to see a game of running rugby, but it may depend on the weather in Dublin. There's some weird statistic about how often games between Wales and Ireland are won by the away team. On which basis, I'm going for a Welsh win, by not many points. But it's very hard to call.

Scotland-England: Will be a mud-wrestling match on what's supposedly a terrible Murrayfield pitch. With a load of Scots wound up by an English Tory prime minister lecturing them on being part of the union. Got a bad feeling about this from an English point of view, and England often struggle in Scotland. Very few tries, if any, and Scotland to win by less than 5.

France-Italy: Would love to see an Italian win (hello Billie, if you're out there!). But I suspect that, with a win against England behind them, France will do it this time, by 10-15. But Italy will win at least one of their home games.

Anyway, let's hope it's a great weekend of rugby!

[Welshie]

Very exciting time for the 6 Nations, could well be a cracking weekend.
I hope you are right about Wales, but i'm not so sure, a lot will depend on how Jones and Healy par up, not to mention the lineout!
I would love to see Italy do it, but cant see it somehow, its in Paris.
Finally, cannot see Scotland beating England!
Yep Billie come on back my friend we'd love to see you.
Cheers
Aled

[Welshie]

Congratulations Ireland, blew us away, well deserved win. A lot of Welsh players need rest by the looks of it!
England safe win, but Scotland did not look good.
Italy had their moments, but France won.
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

My predictive powers were not exactly on top form in the last round of matches! A big surprise that all three games weren't closer.

Ireland-Wales: Ireland got their game plan just right, and were awesome at times. Sexton seemed in complete control. But yes, Wales did looked tired. Has the Lions tour finally caught up on some of their players? Some difficult choices for Gatland, perhaps, for the next round.

Scotland- England: Hard to tell whether England were any good, because Scotland were very poor indeed. And the pitch didn't exactly help. But away wins always have to be earned in the 6N. The England pack looked pretty good, as it has done for a while. And there are signs that some of the new backs are finding their feet. Time will tell.

France-Italy: Poor first half, but then Italy were blown away by three quick tries early in the second. Italy still struggling away from home, but will be strong in Rome as ever. France, again, it's hard to tell much about. When they cut loose, they have some impressive young backs.

A week off now for everyone. And then a couple of massive games that may well decide the final outcome. Wales-France and England-Ireland both hard to call at the moment.

[Welshie]

Ah looking forward to tomorrow at 8pm, shoulad be a good one!
Lots to play for on Saturday as England & Ireland still in the hunt for the triple crown, and Italy & Scotland hoping to avoid a wooden spoon!
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

Big weekend ahead! Don't like Friday evening 6 Nations, and I'm not sure I'll be able to watch it, as I'll have to be on best behaviour for a trip to Twickenham the next day.

Haven't had the chance to look at the team selections yet, but at the moment I'm thinking:

Wales-France: Strong feeling that there'll be a Welsh backlash from the last game, which will probably be enough to blow away a French team that have looked good at times but haven't maintained it for 80 minutes yet. Wales to win by 7-12.

England-Ireland: Hard to call, though the loss of Cole from the England front row is massive. No obvious fully fit replacement - saw Wilson play for Bath last weekend, and he looked off the pace. That might just swing it for Ireland to win by 3-5.

Italy-Scotland: Must-win for both teams, but on current form I'm backing Italy to win by 5-10.

[Welshie]

Dont know how any of them will pan out, as i'm really at a loss as to who will win!
What i want to happen more than anything else, is a Welsh team which will play with passion and commitment, and look as if they want to be there.
Anything else is a bonus!
Enjoy the rugby.
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

Good weekend of rugby! Though as we were at Twickenham for England-Ireland, I haven't seen much of either of the Saturday games on TV. BBC don't seem to show a highlights package, which is a bit useless of them.

Wales looked good against France, back on form after their performance in Dublin. France looked poor for a lot of the game, they need to start playing for the whole match.

England-Ireland was a great occasion, enjoyed hanging around with both sets of fans, all in very good voice. Exciting match, too, could've gone either way.

And how is it that Scotland can be so terrible in one match and then change completely in the next?

Four teams in with a shout of winning the thing now. Hard to call... though if I had to, I'd say it's between Ireland and Wales.

Anyway, a few pics from Twickenham: http://www.flickr.com/photos/15437467@N07/sets/72157641450945043/

[Welshie]

Yes some good rugby played this weekend, and some much needed wins. However we now know there will be no Grand Slam and as it stands the Championship is a 4 horse race.
Week off this weekend, then another big one on the 8/9th.
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

So, to the fourth weekend, when a few things will be decided...

Ireland-Italy: I reckon Italy were a bit stunned by the last-minute loss to Scotland, as that was their "must-win" match. But I'm likewise stunned by the decision to drop Parisse - I can't recall them ever doing that before. Sexton's been passed fit after a scare, and should be a reasonably comfortable win for Ireland, in BOD's last home international.

Scotland-France: Scotland buoyed up by their win in Rome, unexpected by most. France's team selections look frankly weird - either brilliant or reflecting that they've gone into a panic. May be tight, but I think Scotland could just sneak a win.

England-Wales: Should be the match of the weekend, with so much recent history (as well as ancient history!) behind it, and a few crunch onfield battles. Didn't manage tickets for this one, so will be watching on TV. Result's too tight to call, I'm not going to attempt it.

After which, it should be down to two possible winners... was reading yesterday about the 1973 5 Nations championship, which ended in a five-way tie. I just about remember it.

Hope you had a good St David's day, Aled.