Long day of rugby ahead..
The final day of the Six Nations tournament sees all six teams playing again on the same day. Italy host Scotland in a battle to avoid the wooden spoon, kick-off 1pm. Ireland have only pride, and Eddie O’Sullivan’s continued employment, to play for against England at Twickenham, kick-off at 3pm. The only meaningful game starts in Cardiff at 5pm. Wales will need to stay within 20 points of a reshuffled France to take the trophy and can claim a Grand Slam by beating the once tournament favourites. BBC’s iPlayer will have the games later. Update Results below the fold. Congratulations to Wales. Six Nations Champions with a Grand Slam.Adds It may be only to avoid the wooden spoon but it’s an entertaining game so far. Half Time. Italy 10 – 17 Scotland Now Another entertaining 40 minutes of rugby sees Italy secure their first win of this year’s tournament. Final score. Italy 23 – 20 Scotland Twickenham And they’re off. 5min in And, after some nervous kicking, an early first try for Ireland. 7min And a penalty. 12min Good attacking play by England, and good defence from Ireland, ends with a penalty. 20min Another entertaining game, so far, and an England try. 30min Better play from both sides, but England look sharper in attack. And get a penalty. 35min Geordan Murphy limps off. Half-time Entertaining half, but Ireland’s early lead was too easily reversed by England. More possession might produce better attacking play.. might.. England 13 – 10 Ireland 2nd Half Underway. 44min England forward pressure rewarded with penalty. 50min Better play from Ireland’s backs brings a penalty. But it’s missed. 58min Another converted England try. 70min And another. 74min And a penalty. Final score England 33 – 10 Ireland. A poor second half from Ireland, but England deserved the win. Sharper in both attack and defence and helped by Irish errors and flat play. Cardiff Now the big one. Allez les Blues! 7min Another frenetic start. Penalty to Wales. 18min Sustained pressure from Wales, and a penalty. 20min France reply. 22min Swapping penalties. Half-time France beginning to find their feet in attack against a strong Wales defence. But Wales start the 2nd half a man down. Henson sin-binned. Wales 9 – 6 France 2nd Half 50min France draw level. 65min Wales have a converted try and a penalty. 73min Swapping penalties again. 77min Great attacking play from Wales rewarded with a try. Full-Time Wales 29 – 12 France. Well done Wales. Deserved victors on the day. Now Six Nations champions and with a Grand Slam.
What a frenetic paced game.
I think the Italians were lucky with the award of a penalty try. A bit of Italian front row jiggery pokery there methinks.
Half time and on balance i think 17 – 10 is fair enough.
Couple more tries from Scotland i think, i can’t see the Italians overcoming the Scots.
Exciting game
On review of that penalty try the italian tighthead dropped his shoulder making the scots loosehead lose his grip. The scrum should have been reset as it was potentially dangerous as the italians drove over him.. Very tough decision i think.
Clearly i’m no pundit tho i stand over my comments about the penalty try but what a great game very exciting. Well done Italy.
Does anyone else find the kicking backwards into touch at the end of the game feckin annoying.
O’Gara as captain… light a candle someone!
Hmm
Too much kicking from O’Gara. Bit of an obvious statement but you can’t score tries without the ball.
We will miss Murphy at Fullback
He’s a good player, and at times is brilliant with the boot. But his judgement and focus has often been highly questionable. Cool head is what’s needed from the captain. I got worried at 10 up when he let a confident smile break out on his face.
Dreadful…
For sure Mick.
Bye Bye Eddy close the door on your way out.
If he has any decency he would announce his resignation after the match.
Shame, there is a hint of a second generation team coming through, Bowe, Kearney, Best(s). But Eddie’s old reliable are popping: one; two; three.
O’Gara is never going to live this one down… two major muck ups out from goal…
Bowe impressed with his effort as did Kearney but there was no cohesion to the team, too many times they were takin it on at the base of the maul/ruck straight down the English defense.
Very Very disappointing to say the least
And now we have to listen to that gobshite Brian Moore!!!
Fair Play to Wales they have been the best team throughout the 6 nations.
The Gatland/Edwards combo is one to watch as they have proven today and over the course of the championship.
As i said at the beginning of the Championship it was a HUGE mistake by England (read Rob Andrew) not finding a role for him.
As I believe I have indicated before I am not a great fan of rugby but I must say that I was thrilled and delighted by Wales’s terrific victory over France to claim the Grand Slam.
I am already hearing some niggling whispers that Wales was flattered by the poverty of the French performance but, although it cannot have helped France to have Sir Cliff Richard as coach (that was the sainted one in the turtle neck, dark blue blazer, curly hair and glasses scowling at the gaffes of the French team wasn’t it?)I do not believe anything can take away from Wales’s triumph.
I absolutely loved it – but, please, don’t let it get around, let’s just keep it between ourselves, shall we?
rory
I went for an ENG-WALES dble, its paid off, am quids in.
Hope they sack EOS, nothing personal, he’s just shite
Great win for the little red feckers – thoroughly deseserved.
p.s. They just need to get rid of the funny Prince at the end – what the feck has it do with him?
God did I cheer the Welsh on over those last 15 mins, they were gemme, and played like absolute champions!
What a shit day for Ireland and Scotland, although Kearney was a shining light.
Easy? What on earth happened to you v England…..
Dewi,
feck off. More of a GAA man myself.
Don’t despair mun Sammy – these things go round – u got a grand slam iin 1948 mun!
Dewi,
I take it you won (well obviously you lot did). Although I have explained before my deep fear of rugby, I suppose congratulations are in order.
Dewi,
Congratulations old bean. Missed your moment of triumph though as I was at The Grove watching our title hopes slip a little further away. Saw the first half of our game against Ireland and shit, un-English anthem apart, I was much happier with the performance than I was with the shambles against Scotland last week. Who was this funny Prince that that Sammy is refering to? If it’s one of those Windsor mob, I’m sure I saw one of them celebrating with the Scots last week and last October a couple of them were in Paris supporting England in the World Cup final. A fickle bunch if you ask me!
Sorry I cant reply – BBc Wales are showing the whole game again !
sammy
terribly snobby I know, but if Ireland could decide to play Rugby or Football, and not that ridiculous cross-game.
Ireland would do better in International Rugby and Football.
Only America play their own football- game, oh sorry and Ireland.
I don’t get it at all
And in the BBC Wales replay we still won ! Wonderful! Grand Slam done – now on to the FA cup!
Phil
I’m only glad that you didn’t have that fella with the Italian name playing against us last week, he had an excellent game. Poor auld Ireland, not only had they to play England, but a Commonwealth select. Let’s see, there was a Tongan(Maori perhaps?) and a South African………………………….
Oh and don’t think we are going to take those Germanic inbreeds of your hands when we give you your independence.
They my friend are all yours! Perhaps Dewi’s mob will have them. Quick ask them just now whilst they are all pissed and in a benevolent mood.
Those Welsh are insufferable when they win….
Dewi,
” What on earth happened to you v England….. ”
You need to proceed cautiously now, these are delicate times – for reference to what might have happened to Ireland you could look to any number of worse Welsh defeats in last 20 years at the same venue – i.e. a big bunch of fat feckers kicked the shit out (of you ) and us.
Dewi,
and another thing.. don’t dare mention 1948 again particulalry in that patronising tone of voice – and yes, sometimes, tone of voice is audible reading between the lines.
Well done the Welsh. Easily the best team this year . We can be glad we held them to 4 points !
What a championship . Ireland showed some signs of a turnaound against the French and Scots but we seem to be two separate teams on the field – =one trying hard to win and the other doing everything its possible to do to lose !
This year they reminded me of that old quip by some football manager who said that a team which is ahead by 4 goals should not lose by 7-1:(
Oh well there’s always next year
Prince,
LOL, perhaps that is what you might call the multicultural dividend! Regarding the inbreeds, they do like a nice tartan so I’m sure that they’ll feel much more at home with you-).
No way Phil that is not a price worth paying. Looks like you are stuck with us for the time being.
Joking aside, Salmond is too feart to let on about his real position regarding the royals. Sadly we still have our fair share who like the Battenburgs, some of whom vote SNP. And in tight times every vote counts.
I believe a deal is more or less done with Lib Dems regarding scrapping council tax. Great material for you guys as we on average will be paying hundreds of pounds less, some including pensioners paying nada.
Indeed Prince, the same is true here although if Cyclops goes ahead with Goldsmith’s proposals regarding the pledging of oaths in English schools it may just backfire. I strongly believe that one of the things that keeps the monarchy going is apathy towards it. If kids are made to think about what the monarchy means then they may just realise what an un-democratic institution it really is. Regarding Scottish council tax, yes that could be used as ammo for English grievences in the same way as tuition and prescription fees have been in the past but as you know I am a firm believer in Scotlands right to spend her money and charge her citizens as it pleases even if I don’t agree with the way that those funds are allocated. As you and I know only too well, independence for the nations that make up these islands is the only way forward that will end all of the fiscal squabbling.
>>Regarding Scottish council tax, yes that could be used as ammo for English grievences in the same way as tuition and prescription fees have been in the past<<
Disagree slightly Phil. Free education is hard to argue against, and possibly free prescriptions for the elderly also. We will have the reality of poor people, mainly pensioners paying over a thousand pounds for council tax in England/Wales and nothing in Scotland. A one income family will also benefit by at least around £500 and possibly more. Only households with 3 or more incomes, or perhaps those earning 50K will perhaps pay more.
Although I believe it to be a just and equitable system(rich pensioners and those with income from shares aside) I do not think many average people will see it that way south of the border.
Should be implemented next year I believe.
How can you complain about Ronan O’Gara! He’s clearly the best number 10 in europe and sure half the english team aren’t from England!!
Lighten up Sammy – you are certain to redeem yourself against the All Blacks…
Sorley Boy – O’Gara best 10 in Europe heh….. Couldn’t see him get into Welsh squad.
“Couldn’t see him get into Welsh squad”
My magnaminous nature is now under serious strain.
Quite fortuititous for the little red feckers
that the 3 teams all ranked above them (England, France and Ireland ) all decided to play like tuzzers.
Somebody needs to have a word with O’Connell – its one thing playing like that for Ireland in a dead match – but if he plays like that against Gloucester he should be shot.
Maybe Prince, time will tell on that. Getting back to the Rugby, I’m with Dewi, O’Gara has been poor right through this tournament but as they say, form is temporary, class permanent. I think that Ireland had a great chance to win it last year and blew it. I expected something from them this time but their quality players failed to perform. Wales on the other hand rode their luck at times but ultimately managed to up their performance when required.
Phil,
I know it’s bad form to assign motives to another posters blabberings – but – you must remember that any statements issuing from the little red feckers may well be designed to propagandize the performance of their players. So when for instance you hear the statement O’Gara had a bad tournament thait is really meant to impart the message that the Welsh players’ in the same postion in the Welsh team are better than him and by extension should be picked for any Lions team next year.
Although it was correct to allow them their moment of glory that by my reckoning that has now expired and to faciltiate this fair position all personages with Welsh sounding names should be banned from Slugger for the forseeable future.
Dewi: [i]Couldn’t see him (O’Gara) get into Welsh squad.[/i]
He’d get into the squad ok, but like your other OHs, he might not get to play all & full matches! Didn’t Warran first blood O’Gara when he was a youngster when Ireland already had a quality OH!
Trimble looks a hell of a lot better player with O’Driscoll beside him! The same could probably be said for O’Gara with regard to O’Driscoll.
Sammy: [i]Somebody needs to have a word with O’Connell – its one thing playing like that for Ireland in a dead match – but if he plays like that against Gloucester he should be shot.[/i]
Hopefully, O’Connell will have Leamy & Wallace making sure he does not get isolated when playing against Glaws! Leamy went off injured very early yesterday. Silver lining for Ulster fans maybe here that Leamy, Wallace & Hayes will probably not be available for next week’s ML game against Munster!
btw Dewi – delighted for Wales – enjoy the moment.
“All posters with Welsh sounding names should be banned”
Agreed with immediate effect.
JaneyMac,
I have seen Ulster a few times on telly and live and Ryan Caldwell and Ferris both look like forwards with real potential. Caldwell looks really fast and a good passer of the ball. I have been a massive fan of Wallace ( and written him off before ) but next year I can’t see him being in Ireland team. Similalry I think Leamy and O’Connell are living off their reputations a bit. With the All Blacks and Australia next up -there will be no room for experimentation – even a new coach will be in the business of damage limitation – pity we didnt tour somewhere like Argentina or Fiji.
Re. The Lions – Kearney, Trimble and Bowe might make it if they improve next year – on current form O’Driscoll would not be picked – O’Gara touch and go. 2 second rows also not as rampaging as usual. I’m still a huge Wallace fan – you’ll need people like him against NZ…
As for Lions test team how does:
Byrne, Lewsey, Noone,Henson,S Williams, S Jones, Phillips.
R Jones, M Williams, Wallace, O Callaghan, O Connell, Jenkins,Best,Vickery.
Sound ?
Dewi,
on current form I honestly dont think that any of the above Irish players would be in the team.
Cant see Wally survivinng until next year even in Irish team. I think O’Gara would be a probable – but that depends on Cirprianis and Hooks progess. D’Arse and Drizza would be in contention if fit and also back to form but I dont think Drizza’s hamstrings have been/will be right again.
So mainly Welsh players with a few fat Englezes
thrown in. My usual policy is that unless there are no Englezes in the team I’m with the other guys. Last time out Alistair Campbell and some sort of funny prince were involved – so with type of carry on you gotta side with the Africans.
p.s. In the highly unlikely event of your little red feckers beating them this year there would not be much point in sending down a combined team to beat them again.
I fink we might do a touch better than you against the All Blacks….
Looking back on tourament after that second half against England it all had a certain inevitability. Shane’s decisive interventions yesterday and against Ireland decisive however. He gets better with age.
Others to impress – hate to say it but that Cipriati looks good, Kearnay and Trimble look good for you.
And Scotland England probably the worse game of rugby I have ever seen….
And Sammy Scrum V at 10.20 – must watch!
Dewi,
the Old Sluggeronians 3rd 15s would do better than us against the All Blackes.
But do I detect a hint of unreality creeping in here re. the All Blacks – this was a poor quality 6ns with Wales clearly the best team based on the performances.
SA, All Blacks will not be quaking in their boots after watching the videos.
re. Scrum V it’s times like this I reach for my GAA greatest moments dvd.
Maybe not quaking but there’s a defensive resiliance to this Welsh team – along with a strength in depth – and I think Ryan Jones is one of those blokes who just has the “luck” – Next Lions captain without a doubt!
Ryan Jones had a great tounament and should be captain based on this years performances.
My only gripe(s) about Ryan is, although I’m not a great one for protocol – against Ireland he was introducing players to Mary Mac whilst she was still talking to the previous player and he then took off his big coat and threw on to the red carpet – it just looked kind of petulant or as if he as trying to make some sort of point. Perhaps he was just nervous?