What a nightmare game against france really was shocking, I would love to see an Ireland team actually amount to something rather than choking all the time.
Ireland-England is going to be an awsome specical if it is half the game it was last year we are in for a showstopper.
That being said Ireland to rebound and put 20 points on England.
Oh man - England-Ireland this Saturday.
I can’t wait. I have an early kick off myself which means I get to watch the game live as well.
Hoo-boy for all you guys missing your football you should get a load of the rugby.
and just for posterity here are a couple of my favorite youtube rugby video’s.
enjoy ! and especially for this weekend
BUMP !
[quote]bluebear wrote:
Oh man - England-Ireland this Saturday.
I can’t wait. I have an early kick off myself which means I get to watch the game live as well.
Hoo-boy for all you guys missing your football you should get a load of the rugby.
and just for posterity here are a couple of my favorite youtube rugby video’s.
enjoy ! and especially for this weekend
BUMP ![/quote]
the last video showing NZ ABs was fantastic. How I long for the days when this sport is as popular in the US as it is overseas
[quote]bluebear wrote:
Oh man - England-Ireland this Saturday.
I can’t wait. I have an early kick off myself which means I get to watch the game live as well.[/quote]
I’ll be at the match 
I don’t know if you guys are getting to hear much about the all the uproar surrounding God Save the Queen being played in Croke Park? It’s nearly bigger news than the rugby itself here.
Yeah it’s all bolix, I really hope any piece’s of scum that start booing get their heads kicked in to be honest.
Rule42: like it or not, deal with it and enjoy what will be a great match.
Obviously I’m biased but with a full strength Ireland, particularly the centre partnership back it’s gonna be tough.
Having said that, with Wilkinson back and in great form England have a great platform to attack with.
damn.
damn
damn
that’s harsh.
I’d love to experience Croke Park
You’re one lucky lady.
soooo, thoughts on outcome…? My heart says England but head says Ireland.
[quote]bluebear wrote:
damn.
damn
damn
that’s harsh.
I’d love to experience Croke Park
You’re one lucky lady.
soooo, thoughts on outcome…? My heart says England but head says Ireland.[/quote]
yes, yes I am!! I’m ridiculously excited about it.
It’s a hard one to call. The English team is solid, but do Tindall and Farrell have what’s needed to stop BOD/ d’Arcy when they’re in top form? And just saw that Robinson is out and Wilko is in doubt? Of course our boys are consistently proving their inability to cope with massive pressure, but in a funny way I actually think they’re better off coming at this one after a loss against France?
Three successive wins against the English and we have a huge home advantage - and as cliched as it sounds given the history of the stadium, there’s the pride of a nation at stake.
Ireland to win, but it won’t be a walkover.
Well, Ireland’s got Stringer back, England lost Robinson, and now Wilkinson’s fitness is questionable. Things are starting to look a bit dim for the English. I have to agree with supermick though, the forwards’ game will be crucial, especially now with England’s back line suffering and Ireland’s back at full strength.
If the England pack can pull it together and play like they’re capable they should be able to put enough pressure on at the breakdowns to keep Ireland from cycling the ball quickly. If Stringer starts getting good, quick ball to O’Gara though, the English back line is going to find themselves in trouble.
I’m hoping to see the Irish pack step it up a notch and the whole of the Irish side hit the track running from kick off, not suddenly realize they’re playing a test match and switch on 20 minutes in.
Haha. Eddie is onto us!
This week I reckon:
England (I always back my team!)
France (by a lot)
Scotland (this will be close)
[quote]g’em wrote:
I’ll be at the match
[/quote]
DIE, DIE, DIE…(can I be your heir?)
One thing we can be certain of…
After the game, England will either be the best team in the world, or have four hundred rational explanations why they really should have won;-)
In envy
TQB
ok , robinson out - but if anyone saw how well David Strettle played against Italy A i wouldn’t get too smug if i was you…
and does everyone recall the Munster-Leicester Heieken Cup match…
becasue John Hayes scrummaged sooooo well that day… If I recall he was handed his butt on a plate by Julien white (who can;t even make the starting line up)
BOD against Farrel though - am looking forward to how that goes.
lol, John Hayes consistently gets his ass handed to him against decent scrummagers.
What’s Englands most likely front row going to be?
They’ll have Ireland outmuscled and out scrummaged I’d say there, though hopefully we can work well from the lineouts with Stringer and O’Gara paired up again.
perry freshwater at loosehead
George Chuter (I played against him 6 years ago when he was with Saracens, hard bastard)
Phil ‘raging bull’ Vikery at Tighthead.
and FYI
Danny Grewcock
Louis Deacon
Joe Worsley
Martin Corry
Magnus Lund (good British name that…)
Harry Ellis
Johnny Wilkinson
Andy Farrel
Mike Tindel
Josh Lewsey
Olly Morgen
David Strettle
[quote]bluebear wrote:
perry freshwater at loosehead
George Chuter (I played against him 6 years ago when he was with Saracens, hard bastard)
[/quote]
I actually think chuter has done really well to come back into the international reckoning - after all, im sure he went into semi retirement a couple years ago.
Our pack, as per usual looks solid but were going to miss robinson. He adds something we dont have anywhere else - top class finishing, which is something the Irish are bringing back this weekend in the form of BOD. Im a bit pissed that two full strength teams cant go at it.
As for the politics, this team of Englishmen and their supporters have fuck all to do with what happened nearly 100 years ago.
[quote]
Ashes wrote:
By the way Mick, dont you think the All Blacks will bottle it again in the semi or final? The pressure and expectation is going to be MASSIVE and I think they’l miss Umaga’s leadership when it comes to the big crunch.[/quote]
Not bottle it, but are they capable of losing - yes. One of my favourite all black teams in 1995 lost in the final but lost to an inspired South Africa - not bottling it. Can France be inspired if the meet the AB’s in the final - yeah - do i think it will happen. No - a close call though and world cups are NEVER walkovers. Well, except for the first one in 87.
Mick.
Look for Julian White to come on at some point and smash up the Irish scrum.
And lets hope the Mr Jutge the ref stops Easterby and Callaghan flopping over the ball at the breakdown.
Bring it on…
[quote]Gregatron wrote:
Ashes wrote:
By the way Mick, dont you think the All Blacks will bottle it again in the semi or final? The pressure and expectation is going to be MASSIVE and I think they’l miss Umaga’s leadership when it comes to the big crunch.
I can only assume this is meant to be tongue in cheek because surely everyone must be sick of saying (and hearing) the ‘same old shit’ comments like this one.
Tana was a fantastic captain but there are plenty of ‘leaders’ in the ranks. Both McCaw and So’oialo have shown their leadership abilities time and time again not to mention other players who would be just as good.
As far as cracking under pressure…You should check out Allblacks.com and look at the test match statistics. Although you will have to pull your head out of your arse to be able to see the screen.
Mick - Good to see you back! Will PM you soon.
Now i’ll let you get back to your 6 Nations ballet recital.[/quote]
Ha ha, Sounds like I hit a very raw nerve there!
I hereby promise to revoke all statements questioning the mental toughness, leadership qualities and bottle of the All Blacks Rugby team
once they actually win the world cup in France. Until then I reserve the right to wonder why such a talented rugby playing nation hasnt been crowned world champions for 20 years?
And I’ll enjoy watching you crack under the pressure again!
Billy Whizz is out of the game tomorrow unfortunately and is being replaced by Dave Strettle, what a game to make your debut in! I used to watch Dave regularly playing for Rotherham and am very excited to see how he gets on tomorrow. Big shame about Robinson though.
England to win sneakily close…
This is going to be a great occasion
Well done Italy! What a crazy first 10 mins.
As the big kick-off approaches I still cant call it confidently, I’ll go for England to knick it late on. I think Wilko and Faz’s battle against the best midfield in the world is going to be immense but if we’re gonna do the business we need a massive performance from the boys up front.
SWING LOW!
.jpg)
congrats italy - a scrappy but never the less entertaining game.
Scotland - what now?
