One thing that is very good for rugby is the number of close games we seem to get. OK, we got a few one-sided games in RWC, but the Bokke won quarter, semi and final by a single point…remarkable.

Italy have beaten Scotland and drawn with France. The days are over when they would go to Twickenham &c. and regularly be on the wrong end of 60+ points. I suppose it was good in a way to gorge on a try-fest (if you were winning) but a nail-biter is much more exciting.

GrahamB wrote:I was there at Studio Olimpico today (Scottish girlfriend...) with my CW Atoll. Atmosphere was amazing and the Italian crowd really made the difference in a tight game. They reckon nearly 15000 travelled.over to watch.

And then to cap a great day, England beat Ireland (I watched through a crowd of people in an Italian cafe!).

Good.times all round.

I was there too! By far the best atmosphere I have experienced at any rugby match. The Italians were awesome. Just landed back in a rainy Brum but spirits still high

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JAFO wrote: ↑Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:44 pm Why on earth did Ireland kick the ball away from their own 25 with a bit over a minute to go? Surely they could have just recycled for a minute, and the clock out?

I said that myself, seems madness and may well have cost them the match. Ireland did seem a shadow of themselves for long spells in the match although England were vastly improved from their earlier poor performances.

I did think Scotland would have a tough match against Italy and so it proved. Our achilles heel of too many handling errors and penalties against count cost us again. The turning point was probably when we had a try disallowed after a TMO review that would have put us 14 clear, only for the Italians to go up field and Michael Lynagh's son got his debut try.

I'd agree with Steve's comment that there have been some great matches in this year's championship, end to end stuff and close results. It's also clear Italy are much improved over prior seasons after they should have won in Paris and now beating us.

I can’t believe from an English point of view I missed Saturdays games.

Never missed an England game for years and this happens.

Not to mention, the perfect weekend. Italy winning too, and to drag football into discussion Everton lost again. Fingers crossed for another points deduction.

Is football perhaps too tribal for a thread of its own, probably!

Hi Gents,

Are any of you planning to attend the England-France match on Saturday evening in Lyon ?
I will be there and would be more than happy to meet a fellow member !

Interesting afternoon. Well done to Italy, great fighting performance by Scotland but the overall result was right.

France v England for 2nd. Will England regret a complete lack of bonus points in 4 games?

According to Hugo M, one of the pundits on ITV…

The French bench weighs 200kg more than the English bench!

Neil

Que le meilleur gagne !
May the best win !

Well played France.

scooter

scooter wrote: ↑Sun Mar 17, 2024 10:56 am Well played France.

scooter

Indeed. The table is interesting (taken from BBC website).

If there were no bonus points, just 4 for a win and 2 for a draw, Italy would be above Scotland. Other places would remain unchanged.

Look at the Points Difference for France, England and Scotland. It illustrates how many close games there were, as in RWC 23 when a lot of the top teams met. Good for rugby.

France were brilliant last night, no complaints, fantastic game. But they were very lucky against both Scotland and Italy.

What I can't fathom is why, with c. 3 minutes to go and with possession, did England kick ahead (up & under)?

This would give the French a chance of possession, which they got and then had the opportunity to score; which they duly did (admittedly courtesy of a Penalty Kick).

It was a similar move to what cost Ireland their match against England last week.

Surely England should have simply kept possession and rumbled forward a few metres at a time until the clock was up.

Guy

@Bahnstormer_vRS Agreed. Any top team should be able to do that. The equivalent of taking it to the corner flag in football.

Back in the old days Winterbottom or Richards would have stuck it up his jumper, a static maul would form and that would be that.

Women’s Six Nations under way. Not expecting quite as many nailbiters as in the men’s.

Wales 7 points down in red time, #9 box kicks, Scottish lass boots into touch, ta very much!

Italy v England this afternoon on BBC2.

Women’s Rugby and Football not for me.

In particular, the women commentators

I watched some of the Wales v Scotland women's match yesterday. Scotland won by 2, but really they deserved more. If the Wales #10 had slotted that late conversion for a draw, it would have been unjust to Scotland. The Scottish #13, Orr, is an exceptional runner.

Why the Welsh #9 kicked the ball out when time was up and they were losing, I don't know. Our #11 was hopeless in defence, but things looked a lot better when she was replaced.

All in all, I would recommend the Women's 6Nations to all rugby fans. You get to see different skills when the play is not dominated by overwhelming physical power.