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Blackleaf · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 7:24 pm Post subject:

There was nothing about "mighty Ireland" that scared me yesterday. England will have no problem beating them, after we have 4 points in the bag when we beat Italy at Twickenham this weekend.

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Black Sabbath - 1970

Blackleaf · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 7:29 pm Post subject:

Corby Boy · Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:46 pm Post subject:

The typical arrogant Englishman attitude again eh!

Time will tell, if you are right my friend, about winning it : Very Happy

.

Judging by your boasting which home county is Bolton in, Herts, Surrey, Essex?

Cymro · Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:23 am Post subject:

Blackleaf, you must have been watching a very different game on Sunday then. The match was scrappy but the defensive match played by Ireland was amongst the best you'll see in Rugby Union, it was brilliant to see appart from for us Welsh because it was too painfull! On the pitch Wales had 2 kickers of qual competance to Wilkinson - James Hook (though his alround play needs to develop a bit more) and Steven Jones who wan't having his best match. But the Irish defended in way which meant the kickers where kept out of the match. Did you see how little penalties etc Wales actually had. Nothing at all barely and that is what the score reflected - the fact that Ireland kept Wales' best chance of scoring out of the game. Well done to them.

What you base your assumptions that Wilkinson is the best kicker in any code? Sorry but that is just the usuall English Arrogance - 1 game and he's the best again. He was clinocal in punishing Scotland but that does not make him amongst the best. I watched the England match and to be honest non of the kicks he got where that difficult for a rugby player. They got the balls down in the right place.

England have a lack of good kickers, why do you think Wilkinson having played 40 mins all season was playing? Charlie Hodgkinson is the usuall kicker and is rubbish.And appart from Robinson they have no real try scorers.

Ireland can easily block Wilkinson out of the match leaving the match open for them to take. Ireland are probably the best team in the Northern Hempsphere at the moment. Ronan O'Gara is better than Wilkinson in kicking for points.

So no Blakcleaf I don't think England will win the 6 Nations. I had a worry ythat Wilkinson would do something for England against Scotland (despite me putting £5 on a Scotland win). Ireland will win it.

Cymro · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:57 pm Post subject:

Well, I'm off to Scotland tomorrow for the rugby on Saturday. Can't wait.

Hope the snow doesn't mess things up!

Sorry, but I think Wales should win this, though not as much of a win as it has been the last two times we've been up to Murrayfield.

But what you did against France and England last season is worrying me a little bit.

We'll see......

Corby Boy · Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 3:44 pm Post subject:

Enjoy the swallies, Cymro. C'mon Scotland.

Blackleaf · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 12:56 pm Post subject:

Berbizier: England still number one

England VS Italy, 1:30pm

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has hailed England as the number one side in the world as his side prepare to take England on at Twickenham.

England slumped to seventh in the International Rugby Board rankings under Andy Robinson in November but a change in coach and personnel saw them romp to a 42-20 victory over Scotland in their Six Nations opener last weekend.

New coach Brian Ashton banished the gloom in one fell swoop by welcoming returning hero Jonny Wilkinson back from injury, Jason Robinson from self-imposed international exile and Andy Farrell from rugby league.

And Berbizier - whose side were beaten 39-3 at home to France last weekend - insisted the return of golden boy Wilkinson makes a trip to Twickenham international rugby's equivalent of Everest.

"This team is only going to learn from playing the best and England are the best,'' he said.

"England are still the world champions and that makes them the number one team in the world as far as I am concerned.

"It's important for world rugby to see Jonny Wilkinson back as he makes England the best team in the world but it makes it a lot more difficult for us.

"We made a deal with England - we won't touch Jonny Wilkinson if he doesn't touch the ball!''

Victory over Italy will give England their first back-to-back Six Nations wins since they triumphed in Rome a year ago - with a trip to Ireland's Croke Park looming large on the horizon.

Only four of the England XV that started against the Scots last week survived the record-equalling seventh straight defeat against Argentina three months ago.

Berbizier has made seven changes to the Italy side that suffered stage fright in Rome last weekend - bringing in Italy's most-capped player Alessandro Troncon to replace the ineffectual Paul Griffen at scrum-half.

Berbizier added: "This game is very important for Italian rugby, England are the world champions and it's a great opportunity for the team.

"We played a high-tempo game against France but we faded in the second half.

"We created a lot of chances but didn't take them. If we get opportunities against England, we have to.

"We've been training all week to play a high-tempo game and to be competitive for 80 minutes.''

Meanwhile, Italy captain Marco Bortolami has thrown down the gauntlet to his battle-weary side following Saturday's mauling.

The Gloucester second row will lead his troops on to the Twickenham field without key flanker Mauro Bergamasco and centre Andrea Masi, both of whom sustained injuries against Les Blues.

But the bullish 26-year-old insists the under-strength Azzurri can still give the world champions a headache or two.

"Our level of performance against France was very poor - the players were lacking in confidence,'' he said.

"Tactically, we made a lot of mistakes and we have been working hard to correct them in training this week. I expect to see a strong reaction from the players.

"There is no greater challenge in world rugby than playing England at Twickenham but, if we meet them face on in the contact areas, there's no reason we can't compete.''

Bortolami is no stranger to the England team, having played a key role in Gloucester's rise into the top three of the Guinness Premiership.

And Italy's youngest-ever captain would love nothing more than to put one over Kingsholm club-mates Mike Tindall and Iain Balshaw.

"It will be very interesting lining up against my Gloucester team-mates,'' he added.

"I've spoken to Mike this week and I'll definitely ring him if we win.''

sport.aol.co.uk
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Black Sabbath - 1970

SLG · Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 3:04 pm Post subject:

Blackleaf · Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 7:34 pm Post subject:

England played not too well against Italy - but we've got two wins out of two and now only us and France can win the Grandslam.

I expected Wales (and Ireland) to have done better than what they have been doing - and remember that rugby union is Wales's national sport, whereas it's very much only England's 3rd sport, after football and cricket. Wales are the only team to have not scored any tries so far.

THE STANDINGS

The table now has a more traditional look to it.

...............P.....W....D....L....F....A......T....Points.....P/D
France.......2......2....0....0...59...20...7.....4 .........+39
England......2......2....0....0...62...27...5.....4 .........+35
Ireland.......2......1....0....1...36...29...4.....2..........+7
Scotland.....2......1....0....1...41...51...2.....2 .........-10
Wales........2......0....0....2....18...40...0.....0 .........-22
Italy..........2......0... 0....2....10...59...1.....0..........-49

Next games

Saturday 24th February

Scotland VS Italy (1500 GMT)
Ireland VS England (1730 GMT)
France VS Wales (2000 GMT)
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[img]http://home.att.net/~chuckayoub/black_sabbath/black-sabbath-1970.jpg
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Black Sabbath - 1970

Cymro · Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:39 am Post subject:

Well Scotland deserved to win the match, wasn't a classic by anymeans the amount of passes being dropped by both teams was embarrassing, but Scotland playd much better than Wales - especially in the lineouts.

Really enjoyed myself in Glasgow on Friday night, singing Karaoke in some pub (can't remeber what it was called) on Beuchanan Street and as a result my voice has completely gone.

I really enjoy Murrayfied but I've never known a colder stadium ever. And as a result of that I'm now full of cold too.

Still, all worth it! Looking forward for the next trip in two years now!

fiferjohn · Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:19 pm Post subject:

cymro the islay is a great we pub loads of folk from the uists drink there it is home away from home for them the park tavern is another
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born Scottish not British death to the union

Corby Boy · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 1:05 pm Post subject:

Glad you enjoyed Cymro. Get some Drams down yer neck it will sort the cold out. I am sure Wales will beat Italy, to avoid the spoon.

Bit of a shake up needed in the camp.

Cymro · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 1:32 pm Post subject:

Definatly enjoyed, will have to wait for 2 years time now!

I think Wales have players that are good enough to win the 6 Nations (not this year obviously) but just don't seem to have the want or the confidence to go out and do it at the moment. We could have beaten Scotland last Saturday but made some basic mistakes which should not ben done on an International Rugby pitch. Scotland punished Wales for those and well done them.

It was the same vs Ireland. That game was there for the taking but Wales seemed to panic when option A didn't work allowing Ireland do punosh Wales. Ireland defended fantastically but Wales had the ability to try options B and C but didn't allowing the Irish to take a win.

We've got France next. We'll have to see how that goes. That will be followed by Italy then the English (at Cardiff).

Blackleaf · Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 11:39 am Post subject:

England's Irish history lesson

By Brendan Gallagher

17/02/2007

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Conor O'Shea, the former Ireland full-back and captain, has been brought in to address the England team at a special meeting on Monday about Croke Park and the significance of next Saturday's first game between Ireland and England at the Gaelic Athletic Association citadel.

The history man: Ireland's Conor O'Shea

O'Shea, whose father Jerome was a Gaelic football legend and won All-Ireland finals playing for Kerry at Croke Park in 1953, 1955 and 1959, has been asked by England coach Brian Ashton to put the RBS Six Nations Championship game in historical perspective and explain the strong emotions that could be unleashed.

On Nov 21, 1920, 14 Irish citizens, including the Tipperary captain Mick Hogan, were shot dead by British forces on the field of play at Croke Park in an act of reprisal for the earlier assassination of 14 British secret agents by the IRA on what has become known as Bloody Sunday (not to be confused by the Bloody Sunday of 1972 when the British shot dead 26 Irish civil rights protesters).

The Croke Park killings only underlined the GAA's determination never to allow alien "British" sports such as rugby and football at the venue but the move towards peace in Ireland has seen many barriers come down and last Sunday the GAA staged the first game of rugby at their 82,300 capacity home, against France.

"This is obviously going to be a very special match given all the circumstances and Brian Ashton asked me if I could call into the team hotel in Bath and tell the England lads all about it," said O'Shea, who won 35 Ireland caps and is now the Rugby Football Union's National Academy manager.

"In one way England must treat it as just another game against world-class opposition but it will be more than just another game for Ireland and it's brilliant that Brian wants England to understand the background," O'Shea added. "In Ireland we learn the story from an early age but I will be brushing up on my history over the weekend to make sure I get no facts wrong."

It is also understood that the RFU and the Irish Rugby Football Union are considering suggestions that the two teams walk out together as an act of friendship next Saturday night - as they did on the famous occasion in 1973 when the England team ignored IRA death threats to play Ireland at Lansdowne Road after Wales and Scotland had declined to play there.

telegraph.co.uk
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[img]http://home.att.net/~chuckayoub/black_sabbath/black-sabbath-1970.jpg
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Black Sabbath - 1970

azzuri · 'Our Scotland' Fossil Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 3792

It's astonishing this attitude. The fact that England see themselves as 'Britain' in this case does them no favours whatsoever. I don't imagine the same talk would have been dished out to the Scottish or Welsh lads before a game at Croke park?
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Corby Boy · Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:59 am Post subject:

Same old thing though Azzuri.

England = Britain in the eyes of many home and away.

I am glad that we Scots are not saddled by this political guilt, whatever you want to call it and don't need this sort of PR/history lesson.

Cymro · Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 10:25 am Post subject:

What the hell happened to Scotland yesterday. Couldn't believe what I was seeing - 3 Italian tries in 7 minutes! Shocked

Really nervous for Wales against Italy next week.

Think Wales played well (well better than the last two matches) against a very confident and strong French team. Unfortuantly we are now bottom of the table and prime contenders for the wooden spoon (at least we'll can claim to have won some trophy for our efforts!).

And as for England vs Ireland. Hmmm, fantasic result by Ireland, well played.

Let's look back at what Blackleaf had to say a few weeks ago (purely to gloat)

Corby Boy · Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:58 pm Post subject:

An F***ing disaster to be honest. But happens all too often unfortunately.

Blackleaf's an eejit.

Cymro · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:49 am Post subject:

And a very quiet one at that!

Cymro · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:17 am Post subject:

Difficult game for Scotland this weekdn against the Irish. After the shocking defeat against the Italians two weeks ago the Scots will have a lot to prove this weekend! Ireland will be pushing for that Triple Crown which they will win if they win this match.

I'm really nervous about Wales - not exactly se tthe competition on fire this season, and the Italians are going to be up for it, playing home too. Gareth Thomas is back though so we'll see what happens. Wales have everythning to prove.

How do you think England will get on oh quiet Blackleaf?