Jump to content

Recommended Posts

I watched England vs France from 1995 on ESPN classic yesterday. It was quite upsetting. England played with pace and adventure, combining powerful runs from the likes of Rodber and Ben Clarke, impressive and effective mauling led by Dean Richards and Brian Moore, intelligent kicking for territory by Rob Andrew, and then spinning it wide to take advantage of Guscott and the Underwoods.


Verdict on the England match from Saturday - not good, its just all so pedastrian. But a few lessons from the 95 team - when things have slowed down then kick, but kicks have to be effective - either gain the yardage and make touch or cause problems with a nicely weighted garryowen, don't aimlessly hit it up the field. Get big forwards to take the ball at pace, not amble into contact for a net loss of ground. Mauling is an underused art, it ties up defenders and wears them out, creating space for the backs. Ho Hum

Predictions and team news for the weekend, gents:


Ireland v Wales


Ireland are unchanged, so Murphy at 15 and Sexton keeping O'Gara out the team. For Wales, Martyn Williams takes over as captain for the injured Ryan Jones, Delve starts at 8, Charteris "the Giant" is in the second row and Matthew Rees returns. In the backs, Mike Phillips fails to make the bench but the rest are unchanged.


Prediction: Ireland by 5 points


Scotland v England


The Scots make just one change with De Luca replacing Danielli at centre. England have resisted gambling (yet again) retaining Armitage at 15 but dropping Lewis Moody and bringing Joe 'Wurzles' Worsley into the back row. Deacon keeps his place at lock replacing the injured Simon Shaw. *Yawn*


Prediction: Scotland by 3 points


France v Italy


Monster-centre Bastereaud is dropped to the bench through injury and Malzieu is replaced on the wing by some other quick French fella. Does it matter if Italy make changes or not?!


Prediction: France by 15 points

david_carnell Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------


> Prediction: Ireland by 5 points


Ireland by 15 - good victory for the Irish but points difference means they'll have to settle for the Triple Crown regardless of next weekend's results.


> Prediction: Scotland by 3 points


A bore-draw. Where to begin? But for the woodwork (twice) Dan Parks would have kicked Scotland to victory as England were poor again. Further injuries and nothing-to-lose will hopefully mean some fresh faces and a bit more invention against the French next weekend. Scotland might be hoping to sneak something against the Irish but without tries it seems unlikely.


> Prediction: France by 15 points


France by 26! Superb performance and Gallic running flair rugby at it's most devastating. Strength in depth, the Grand Slam nearly in the bag.....what price for the World Cup next year?

Re: Scotlands draw with England.


Haskell has shown his true colours as the pretender I always knew he was. There's no use looking like Tarzan if you're going to play like Jane. Borthers, Deacon, Easter and Worsley all had a hand in sullying the Rose by consistently conceeding ground in the collision. It took that scruffy oik Foden to actually biff and bloody those savages at Murryfield.


A sad revelation for the England XV.

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
  • 6 months later...
  • 1 month later...

Yes I came across that one Declan thanks. If I have to stand up to see parts of the game, presumably when the ball is in the corner closest to my seat, then I'm ok with that. My ticket was only euro35 face value, so I'd much rather be there than not.


Apparently there are some overhang issues which might obstruct a view of the high ball in other seats.

  • 2 weeks later...

Are you going to Cheltenham en route Mick?


Anyway the rugby is upon us and I've been trying to work out who is going to win. Here is my case for Ireland. Feel free to put yours forward too.


Ireland start away to Italy with a lot of newcomers due to injury. However, they should be good enough in the backs to get a win, albeit narrow.

France at home and hopefully a few more players now available. Always difficult to beat but home advantage might be enough.

Scotland and then Wales away. Great records in both places in recent years. Should win one out of the two.

That's three wins out of four.

Last game, England at home. England have 3 games at home after the Welsh match. I can see them going for either the championship or a Grand Slam in Dublin. I also see them losing there.

So I reckon it's down to points difference. England will stuff Italy by more points than Ireland will. England to win.......

I wouldn't bet on it though. That's why I'd bet on Ireland!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • What was he doing on the stage at Glastonbury? Or on the stage at the other concert in Finsbury Park? Grinning like a Cheshire cat whilst pissed and stoned 20 somethings on the promise of free internet sung-- Oh Jeremy Corbyn---  What were his policies for Northern mining towns with no jobs or infrastructure? Free Internet and university places for youngsters. What were his other manifesto pledges? Why all the ambiguity over Brexit?  I didn't like Thatcher, Blair or May or Tony but I respected them as politicians because they stood by what they believed in. I respect all politicians across the board that stick to their principles. Corbyn didn't and its why he got  annihilated at the polls. A socialist, anti imperialist and anti capitalist that said he voted for an imperialist and pro capitalist cabal. He refused to say how he'd vote over and over again until the last knockings. He did so to appease the Islington elite and middle class students he was courting. The same people that were screaming that Brexit was racist. At the same time the EU were holding black and Asian immigrants in refugee camps overseas but not a word on that! Corbyn created and courted a student union protest movement that screamed at and shouted down anyone not on the left . They claimed Starmer and the centre right of labour were tories. He didn't get elected  because he, his movement and policies were unelectable, twice. He turned out not to have the convictions of his politics and died on his own sword.    Reform won't win an election. All the idiots that voted for them to keep out Labour actually enabled Labour. They'll be back voting tory next time.    Farage wouldn't be able to make his millions if he was in power. He's a very devious shyster but I very much doubt he'd actually want the responsibility that governance requires.
    • The purge of hard left members that were part of Corbyn's, Mcdonnel's and Lansmans momentum that purged the party of right wing and centrist members. That's politics. It's what Blair did to win, its what Starmer had to do to win. This country doesn't vote in extreme left or right governments. That's partly why Corbyn lost  We're pretty much a centrist bunch.  It doesn't make it false either. It's an opinion based on the voting patterns, demography and statistics. Can you explain then why former mining constituencies that despise the tories voted for them or abstained rather than vote for Corbyns Labour?  What is the truth then? But he never got elected!!! Why? He should have been binned off there and then. Why he was allowed to hang about is an outrage. I hold him party responsible for the shit show that we've had to endure since. 
    • Depends on what the Barista says doesnt it? There was no physical confrontation with the driver, OP thinks she is being targetted when she isnt. These guys work min wage under strict schedules so give them a break unless they damage your stuff
    • CPR Dave, attendance records are available on Southwark's website. Maggie Browning has attended 100% of meetings. Jon Hartley has attended 65%.
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...