Saturday, March 15, 2008
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.
Pete Baker @ 12:35 PM
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 gamePosted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 01:49 PMOn 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.
Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 01:53 PMClearly 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.Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 02:46 PMO’Gara as captain… light a candle someone!
Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 03:40 PMHmm
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 FullbackPosted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 03:48 PMHe’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.
Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 04:12 PMDreadful…
Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 04:25 PMFor 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.Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 04:35 PMShame, 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…
Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 04:45 PMBowe 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 leastPosted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 04:50 PMAnd now we have to listen to that gobshite Brian Moore!!!
Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 05:01 PMFair 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.Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 06:53 PMAs 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?
Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 07:17 PMrory
I went for an ENG-WALES dble, its paid off, am quids in.
Hope they sack EOS, nothing personal, he’s just shite ;)Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 07:34 PMGreat 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?
Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 07:36 PMGod 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.
Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 08:51 PMEasy? What on earth happened to you v England.....
Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 10:10 PMDewi,
feck off. More of a GAA man myself.
Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 10:16 PMDon’t despair mun Sammy - these things go round - u got a grand slam iin 1948 mun!
Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 10:30 PMDewi,
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.Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 10:42 PMDewi,
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!
Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 10:42 PMSorry I cant reply - BBc Wales are showing the whole game again !
Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 10:55 PMsammy
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 allPosted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 11:11 PMAnd in the BBC Wales replay we still won ! Wonderful! Grand Slam done - now on to the FA cup!
Posted by on Mar 15, 2008 @ 11:28 PMPhil
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...............................
Posted by on Mar 16, 2008 @ 12:39 AM
