Rugby

[Bud Byrne]

If Ashton pulls off a result against France, especially in the circumstances, he'll have done incredibly well. But looking at that XV, if they can beat France, well then je vais manger mon chapeau.

That's not a bad Six Nations XV, and I wouldn't disagree with it very far. Sure you wouldn't want Dempsey at full-back, Bud?

Every Irishman will be cheering FOR England for a change this weekend. And if they pull it off.........

And I am still quite sure I don't want Girv the Swerve at full back. Still Murphy, who had a grsat game for the Tigers at the weekend I hear, or indeed I would take Poitreneau.

Dempsey was under no pressure against England, save for high balls under which he is excellent. But no one broke cover to run at him, no tackles to make...........not for me, thanks.

[firehazard]

Every Irishman will be cheering FOR England for a change this weekend. And if they pull it off.........

Yes, I know, hard though it may be to be wanting them to win.

I know England have terrible problems with injuries, but it does look a very strange team. Probably it's all some evil English plot to dash the Irish chances of winning the title.

No, I agree on the full-back issue. It wasn't exactly the hardest time Girvan had against England. And Murphy, unlike most Englishmen, does seem to have come through the weekend's Premiership action unscathed. But I wouldn't go against Poitrenau. Unless, I suppose, I wanted Patterson as a back-up goalkicker.

[Welshie]

Well good for you guys i wouldnt mind seeing Irl raising the 6nations trophy.
Me i'm bloody well dreading this weekend i need a new spoon to eat me soup!!!!!
Cheers
Al

[Shaz]

Thank god we're being spared Danny Grewcock and his half a brain.

And I wonder how long into the game it will be before Shane Geraghty gets a chance.

[firehazard]

I wonder how long into the game it will be before Shane Geraghty gets a chance.

I hope he does. Would be good to see him alongside Catt - they've been doing well together for London Irish.

And I think Ashton has run out of patience with Grewcock. Probably about time too. Not even in the 22.

Ireland team the same as last time, except Boss is out injured.

[Shaz]

I wonder how long into the game it will be before Shane Geraghty gets a chance.

I hope he does. Would be good to see him alongside Catt - they've been doing well together for London Irish.

And I think Ashton has run out of patience with Grewcock. Probably about time too. Not even in the 22.

Ireland team the same as last time, except Boss is out injured.

Yeah, don't know anything about Eoin Reddan, the replacement. Have you seen him, Bud? Says he came on at the end of last year's match against France. Don't remember him.

There are a number of England players on borrowed time, I think, particularly in the pack.

Hope Geraghty does get a chance seeing as he and Catt have built up that good relationship at LI.

[Bud Byrne]

Yeah, don't know anything about Eoin Reddan, the replacement. Have you seen him, Bud? Says he came on at the end of last year's match against France. Don't remember him.

There are a number of England players on borrowed time, I think, particularly in the pack.

Can't say i know much about him. I can't really remember seeing him play. Sorry.

The thing is are there other players to come in for the ones that are on the way out........World Cup is just around the corner and not that many matches left to try players out.

[firehazard]

The thing is are there other players to come in for the ones that are on the way out........World Cup is just around the corner and not that many matches left to try players out.

From what Ashton's saying, he's picked this England team as much with a view to the World Cup as to the Six Nations. So that would spell the end for Grewcock and co. And it would give an incentive to the "new" pack that there are WC places up for grabs.

Reddan's a Wasps player. He's done ok for them this season. I only vaguely remember him coming on against France last year.

[Billie]

the greatest thing that anyone ever told me. He was a Celtic Glasgow supporter from Ireland, and he was in the pub I was in Milan.

"Aye, son, yer've to come and play in Ireland. I'm Irish, I love rugby. It's a brilliant sport. Munster, brilliant team. Yeh have to try Irish club rugby. Italy is good, but will take too long to win the Six Nations. Yer've to take yer chances and come in Ireland to play. I have the contacts. I played in the front-row, and I'll tell yeh. Maybe I had the body, and you don't. But that means shit: maybe ye'll do more than I've ever done in rugby. If yeh love the sport and yer good and ye bleedin' believe in yerself, yer've to take out the hands from yer pockets. Yeh mustn't keep yer hands in yer pockets saying 'I might'. Yer've to take yer hands out of yer pockets and shout 'I can! I'm fuckin' brilliant!'. Yer've to try: come to Ireland and play club rugby. Maybe ye'll do it, maybe ye don't, but at least ye'll have tried. Yer've to fuckin' believe in yerself: yer young, yer've all the time to become a great player. It's a brilliant game, remember. 'I can, 'cos I'm fuckin' brilliant!'"

[firehazard]

Wise words, Billie.

Predictions for the weekend:

Ireland by 10-15 (triple crown!)
Italy by 5-10
France by 10-15

[left]

errrmm....anyone knows if there's a tv channel who will be showing online the matchs today?

[firehazard]

errrmm....anyone knows if there's a tv channel who will be showing online the matchs today?

According to the BBC website, they're showing the matches online.

[MissWalshy]

I'm doing great in my Rugby League tipping if anyone is interested..

lol

[Shaz]

I'm doing great in my Rugby League tipping if anyone is interested..

lol

I think I'd do better tipping RL than I do RU and my RL knowledge is what might be called sketchy.

Um, to win this weekend -- Ireland, France and too close to call (one score either way). Hope it's Italy!

[Billie]

I'm doing shite in my RU predictions.