Rugby

[Welshie]

Congratulations England on a well deserved victory. The best team won without a doubt.
We looked weary!
So on to the final weekend and the championship up for grabs.
I'll be in Cardiff watching Wales v Scotland, first time i've been to an international for 4 years.
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

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I'll be in Cardiff watching Wales v Scotland, first time i've been to an international for 4 years...

Hope you have a great day out, Aled!

I was surprised by how well England played against Wales, and the victory was well deserved. If points difference comes into play, they may regret not having taken a couple of opportunities in the second half. Wales did look tired, but they've been a lot better when playing at home so far.

Ireland were pretty awesome against Italy, and must admit to a tear in the eye when BOD was bidding farewell. What a great player, still!

How Scotland managed to lose against a poor French team it's hard to tell.

So to the final weekend... thoughts on this tomorrow.

[firehazard]

So to the final weekend:

Italy-England: There's been a lot of talk about England running in a big score, but Italy rarely get beaten by much at home. England need to focus on winning the match. Which is never that easy in Rome. England should win, but not by as many points as some are predicting. Then sit and wait for the result from Paris.

Wales-Scotland: Think this could be a bit of a belter, with neither team in the running to win the 6N, so let's hope they both cut loose and give us some good attacking rugby. Wales to win comfortably in the end.

France-Scotland: BOD's last Ireland match, and a tournament there for the winning by Ireland. Any sort of win should do, as I can't see England scoring enough points to catch up with the points difference after last week. Ireland should be able to win, but I wouldn't put it past France to cause an upset. And France could still win the 6N, strange though it may seem given the way they've played.

Have a great day out, Aled. Fine weather for it, the Millennium Stadium should be rocking. Best few weeks of the year, in my opinion. Why does it always go so quickly?

[firehazard]

Exciting set of matches for the final weekend:

Italy-England: Impressively powerful display by England. Italy rarely get beaten so heavily in Rome. England have made good progress, not quite the finished article yet, in the backs especially. But Mike Brown has been phenomenal at full back. Italy, I can't quite understand. They at last seem to have some quality in the backs, but do they need to start replacing their ageing forwards?

Wales-Scotland: Big win for Wales, but from a neutral point of view it would've been a much better match without Hogg's red card, though the sending-off was fully deserved. Scotland, apart from the somewhat fortunate win in Rome, have been pretty poor throughout. Wales have blown hot and cold, but Biggar looked good at outside half on Saturday, and it was good to see Hook get some minutes on the pitch. Hope you had a great day out, Aled.

France-Ireland: France probably played better than they have all tournament (apart from the first 10 minutes and last 5 against England). But Ireland are deserved winners, and it was good to see BOD winning the thing in his final international. We'll all miss him.

Might post some more thoughts later. Why does the 6N always go so quickly? Best few weeks of the year for me.

[Welshie]

Well congratulations Ireland, and what a way for BOD to finish. We are going to miss him.
England v Italy no surprises there but Brown appears class, and Fareel looks good too.
Wales v Scotland, Hoggs red card really put an end to it and i knew then it was going to be a big score. I would of prefered a more competative match. Cardiff was not as lively as usuall, and actually the visiting Scots had more ooommmph than us Welsh! Still i enjoyed my day in Cardiff, and Dad and i had a tidy sing song on the bus home. Worth noting that i remember the dark days of Welsh rugby, back then had we won three matches we would of been over the moon.
Lots to look forward to over the next 18months, as the countdown to the the World Cup begins.
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

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Lots to look forward to over the next 18months, as the countdown to the the World Cup begins.
...

Sounds like you had a great day out, Aled.

Friend just said to me: "Missing the 6 Nations. When are the autumn internationals?"
But there's a lot of good club rugby before then!

[Welshie]

Well thats it for our domestic NH season, with BOD now fully in retirement, good luck to him and his family he has been a great ambassador for the sport....and lets not forget another legend Johny Wilkinson joining him, and with a rather full trophy cabinet, all the best to him as well.
LOts of summer rugby to enjoy, and some new exciting players to watch accross the World, maybe even a new BOD or Sir JW amongst em....
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

SH nations still dominant so far on the summer tours. England getting closer, but still a long way behind NZ.

Meanwhile, I've just acquired a pair of tickets for NZ v Argentina at Wembley in the RWC in September 2015. Seems madly early, but...

[moose]

Meanwhile, I've just acquired a pair of tickets for NZ v Argentina at Wembley in the RWC in September 2015. Seems madly early, but...

Not sure how I have managed it, but I have 2 tickets for each of the two Twickenham QF's and 2 tickets for the final itself, still keep pinching myself!!!!
Also going to pop along to Cardiff to see Ireland v France

[firehazard]

Meanwhile, I've just acquired a pair of tickets for NZ v Argentina at Wembley in the RWC in September 2015. Seems madly early, but...

Not sure how I have managed it, but I have 2 tickets for each of the two Twickenham QF's and 2 tickets for the final itself, still keep pinching myself!!!!

Blimey, you've done well, moose.

For stupid reasons that I've only just worked out, I don't currently seem to have the presale access to Twickenham tickets for the RWC. Which means I'll have to be taking my chances in the public sale with everyone else...

[Welshie]

Nice one guys thats great news.
Just put my bid in for tickets for the 6 Nations Cardiff games, Ireland & England.
Gutted on Saturday on arm 6-8inches out of place from a famous victory. I think we may of missed a chance which wont come again for a loooong while.
Cheers
Aled

[firehazard]

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Gutted on Saturday on arm 6-8inches out of place from a famous victory. I think we may of missed a chance which wont come again for a loooong while...

Had to feel for Wales on Saturday, they were so close to that vital win, such a long time coming.
A bit like (as it turned out) England in the first test in NZ, where a debatable refereeing decision turned out probably to be the difference between a close defeat and what would've been a rare and famous victory.

[Welshie]

Well we are all staring again this weekend. Summer more or less over and club rugby, European Cups, and Autumn internationals to look forward to!
Hopefully it will help the winter pass a bit quicker.....
Cheers
Aled
ps FH how are you doing friend?

[firehazard]

...FH how are you doing friend?

Just back at work this week, and wishing I wasn't!
But looking forward to the new rugby season... and with RWC to follow this time next year... should be good!
Hope all's well with you, Aled.

[Welshie]

Tmorrow i hope to go and watch my local club (who i used to play for) playing a local mud and blood derby, although the sun is shining so brightly its more like summer than rugby weather! Well at least a cold beer will be good....
Cheers
Aled