RBS Six Nations 2010

Italy 12 England 17.

Two points won - that's just about the only positive thing you can say.

It's been a fairly lucky weekend for everyone, bar the Irish.

Basil wrote:Italy 12 England 17.

Two points won - that's just about the only positive thing you can say.

Terrible game - well done the Italians!
England poised to have their arses handed to them by the French.

Johnson really hasn't a clue ... has he!

Cunning Pommie bairsterds. Lowering all expectations for the matches to come with an apparently dismal performance ....esp in the pack.

Johnson seems to have no tactical or technical plan at all. Steal Shaun Edwards back ffs.

Ugo Monye and the three-quarter line okay.

Even a sub-par Ireland should roll over that England side. No doubt bringing Shane Horgan the galloping old warhorse back. And I suppose Johnson will still have no idea how to stop him. After all, has had no time to prepare his team against the battering ram tactic.

Good to see Italy gradually justifying the extension to Six Nations, though.

I'm tempted to put some money on France walking away with the Grand Slam.

DJ_Smerk wrote:I'm tempted to put some money on France walking away with the Grand Slam.

I already did that - got a skinny miserable 3/1 two weeks ago before a ball was kicked!
Someone somewhere knew something.
You'll be lucky if you get Evens for the Frenchies now Smerks.

I could do the the unthinkable and stick a fiver on England....


I'd probably get banned from all betting shops in Cardiff.

DJ_Smerk wrote:I could do the the unthinkable and stick a fiver on England....


I'd probably get banned from all betting shops in Cardiff.

Post it to me mate ... and know it's gone to a better cause!

PeterCS wrote:Cunning Pommie bairsterds. Lowering all expectations for the matches to come with an apparently dismal performance ....esp in the pack.

They've been doing that for about 7 years now.

Merls -

Despite England's win today, they must still be high/low odds to win the whole shabang.


If Ireland and France were England's first two matches - (with similar results to the current two) - the odds might be even skinnier than that of France's. (I know nothing about betting).

Wales and Ireland have the opportunity to shatter England and France's Grand Slam dreams in the same weekend.

Wales really don't look much of a team. Ireland were blown away yesterday by a French side that decided to perform, but even so they look under real pressure every time they come out. Ireland might well beat England next week because they're better than England, but I can't see Wales beating France, unless France have one of their infamous non-performances.

And by the way, top work Andy Powell.

France have several more home games to come (England and Italy), so they've already got an advantage. I can see England folding in Paris.


Plus, if the France of yesterday turn up to Cardiff next week, then not even two minutes of extra time, will save us from the Parisian war-machine.

Shoeshine wrote:And by the way, top work Andy Powell.

I know - just imagine what he would have done if he had been man of the match.


This is Powell after a quiet game. :|


Can't afford to lose him for the France encounter.

England will get smashed in Paris. At least they will if they play the way they are. We all know England don't have worldbeaters, but they are just so utterly clueless. No direction, not plan, certainly no plan B, no thought, no flair.

Can't knock Wilkinson today, he relieved the pressure just long enough for England to run down the clock.

Borthwick was living in cloud cuckoo land in the post-match interview. Apparently, England played very well.

Shoeshine wrote:England will get smashed in Paris. At least they will if they play the way they are. We all know England don't have worldbeaters, but they are just so utterly clueless. No direction, not plan, certainly no plan B, no thought, no flair.

Found it hard to detect Plan A actually.

DJ_Smerk wrote:Can't knock Wilkinson today, he relieved the pressure just long enough for England to run down the clock.

Borthwick was living in cloud cuckoo land in the post-match interview. Apparently, England played very well.

He's getting to be a right dickhead in my opinion ... that's twice now he's done a football gesture to the ref ... viz., making a card sign to him following an oppos misdemeanour.
Prick - and as Brian Moore pointed out on comm. "Enough of that ... he must cut that nonsense out ... this is not football"
He'll soon be doing a Vawn ... taking 'positives' from dour performances.

Apparently Monye was diving around like a fondant-nancy for a majority of the game.

He is one!
He's a Quin !!

DJ_Smerk wrote:Can't knock Wilkinson today, he relieved the pressure just long enough for England to run down the clock.

Borthwick was living in cloud cuckoo land in the post-match interview. Apparently, England played very well.

Eh? Wilkinson was diabolical yesterday. Too deep, appalling tactical kicking (and far too much of it), refusal to bring his centres into the game, preferring to take it into contact again and again, no sense of strategy - and his place kicking was poor. The only time Wilkinson has ever looked a true giant of the game as when he had the likes of Dawson and Greenwood inside and outside of him, telling him what to do. He simply can't run a game and if you don't have the strong characters to do it, he ends up taking wrong decision after wrong decision. Far too many people think that Wilkinson won the World Cup in 2003, when it was the forwards and scrum-half who got him in a position where he could barely miss.

Not a Jonny fan then, SS?

I am yes. But the hagiography of him every time he bangs over a drop goal is a bit much. He's a fine, fine players - but it shouldn't blind everyone to his shortcomings. Without a creative scrumhalf, and a centre pairing who are more worried about their places than dominating the game, Wilkinson goes into his shell - and that's why England are so limited.

Wales v France, 20:00.


Late start, Wales missing several key players - France with a close to full strength squad that hammered Ireland. Mike Phillips is going to be such a vital replacement.

Bloody stupid to have a Friday night game, takes all the fun out of it. As for the result, it's France, you've never got a clue which team is going to turn up. My prediction is somewhere in the range between a Wales win and a French one.