Rugby - New Year, New Coaches, New Laws

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I say let's toss him in a lake. If he drowns, he's not a witch, so that's all right. If he floats, he's a witch. Then we burn him.

Yes, one of Wilko's many, many kicks last weekend found its target.

[Joe Kick Ass]

I still wouldn't pick Cipriani, though.

[Joe Kick Ass]

I still can't believe people think Flood outplayed Henson either.


*oh yeah, forgot to mention Henson playing on through his achilles injury, and taking pain-killing injections at half time to play on. What a c*nt.

[kittenOFchaos]

To be honest, had Lewsey been playing instead of Balshaw and had Wigglesworth instead of Gomersall and some proper replacements at centre, England wouldn't have lost.

[Havak]

It is really annoying when you make a detailed argument and some fool dismisses it with one sentence. Or with two.

Great game of rugby this afternoon - Tigers acheiving a great win down at Kingsholm.

Such a shame the Lamont boys are missing for Scotland as without them they don't seem to pose any threat outside the pack. I will concede that both Williams boys had good games for Wales.

I'll leave the assessment of the prince of Wales to others this time around.

An enjoyable game in Paris too - both those sides are unpredictable enough to possibly derail the Wales grand Slam wagon.

I discovered yesterday that Hipkiss is actually injured (as is Blaze) so perhaps Noon wasn't quite such a bad choice. Crane however is playing superbly - whereas Easter has not played this year. I hope Nick justifies his selection tomorrow.

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Even with the Lamonts, the Scots don't pose much threat. They continue to achieve new heights in mediocrity. Thought the Taffys were very good in parts but they should have buried that impotent mob. Extraordinary decision by the TMO to award the little winger's try. He dug a big divot outside the side line before he grounded the ball.

EDIT. Good grief. The little winger says there's no doubt it was a try. He obviously hasn't seen the replay. Even more amazing, the flanker with the same name says it was a try because of the effort involved. Fantasy.

Best, most positive effort I've seen from the Paddys for a long time. Surprised by the French pack's performance. But when they want to be, this French mob can be devastating.

[Joe Kick Ass]

gotta post this from Stephen Jones in the Times before his editor gets a hold of it...

They are still building, still re-discovering confidence and they played only in bursts. The lack of conviction in their finishing cost thenm the three of four extra tries they so thoroughly deserved. But Wales are climbing. They exposed the Saxon tripe that their win at Twickenham last week was somehow down only to a few minutes of poor England play and when they were good yesterday, they were winningly good.

They sealed their victory with a glorious try by Shane Williams after 667 minutes when Stodgeland, sorry Scotland, had not long come back to 17-15 down with the latest in their parade of penalty goals. The try was awarded by the television official as Williams’ left toe came perilously close to the touchline as he danced his way gloriously over, and as his left thinggh came perilously close to wiping out the corner flag. It was a millimetre-close as Cuetotategate in the World Cup final.

However, any Scot contesting this score really would be making a tartan spectacle of himself. This was a match between a team of attacki8nng intent and a team which never brought a single attacking idea, and which and played with a criminal lack of ambitionthat was criminal. Scotland’s sole “attack” was a series of limp-wristed mini-rucks. The score really should have been 50.

Wales fielded two sets of half-backs for which other nations would kill. The extravagant talent of James Hook and Mike Phillips made things happen and with Tom Shanklin at his steaming best in midfield and withGavin Henson’s delightful skills illuminated, Wales played some delightful rugby. Martyn Williams had another miracle match, so heavily involved that it was as if he was out there as one of three identical triplets, who could have; played with delightful skills. Ian Evans was a considerable force in the front five and Lee Byrne is really discovering himself at the back.

Yet while Wales meandered too often for comfort, and there was a semblance ice cool. They are just slightly underpowered up front, into the bargain. But , Warren Gatland brought out the conjurers’ top hat as the score reached 17-15, changeding the style with Stephen Jones and Dwayne Peel replacing Hook and Phillips, and speeding up the game to excellent effect and seeing to see Wales come home utterly dominant.

Scotland offered a defence vastly improved from the debacle against France. They occasionally applied a nudge in the scrum. They were unlucky that Jason White left the field in the first half with a shoulder injury and they negotiated successfully the absence in the sin-bin, also in the first half, of Nathan Hines, who had knocked over Byrne. Apart from that, they did not exist. Chris Paterson kicked his goals cited, andbut spent the wholematch wasted on the wing. Andrew Henderson, ludicrously fortunate not to be sighted for last week, was at least above average but as for the rest, forget it.

At the very end, Scotland pressed hard fort a conso0lation try. Wales had no intention of allowing it and indeed, the idea that Scotland, had they scored, would then have finished within 10 points of Wales would have been the travesty of the decade. But sure, all those Welsh supporters who cheered as Wales cleared their lines at the end, would have been joined by anyone whose sporting soul had been offended by the Scotland approach.

The Welsh tribulations in converting pressure and energy into points began in the opening passage of play when Williams and Hook hacked the ball on to the Scottish line but the Welsh attempt to drive over lacked devil. Throughout the half, it was the same story, most notably when a glorious pass from Henson unlocked the Scotland defence and yet Shanklin, otherwise immense, could not deliver a cool pass to Shane Shane Williams running free down the left.

There were many other golden chances but Wales, no doubt to their own fury, managed to convert only one. The effervescent Phillips, attacked after catching a kick ahead from Hugo Southwell and when Wales moved the ball to the left, electric handling from Haenson and Hook put the impressive Byrne through on the angle and Shane Williams cut the cover to pieces to score. Hook kicked two penalties but Paterson kicked two for Scotland, the second constituting the first peep we had heard from Scotland for about 30 minutes, and at half time, it was only 10-6.

Throughout the match, you sense that Wales were only two scores away from a landslide and aAfter Wales let the pace drop for some time at the start of the second half, they cranked it up again in exciting fashion. The giant Jamie Roberts appeared twice in the same move, Phillips and the remarkable Martyn Williams almost fashioned a try for the giant Jamie Roberts down the left and when the ball came back, Duncan Jones rescued a poor pass from Phillips, popped it to Hook and with a swerve and a hand-off, Hook raced over to score and the conversion made it 17-9.

And still, Wales were profligate. Martyn Williams made a sensational run up the middle but with Welsh supporting runners appearingsupport on either side, his pass could only find the intercepting Mike Blair. Wales thern conceded two penaltieswhen u8nder no pressure, and as the final quarter began it was only 17-15 with a nightmare prospect that Scotland would kick themselves to what they, and only they, would recognise as a glorious triumph.

No such luck.

Hook responded by kicking a penalty for Wales after an attack launched when Gareth Delve flipped a line-out down to Peel, sending Peel straight through the Scotland forwards. Andand then, with Peel and Jones now orchestrating, the match was decided. Shane Williams made some pace for himself with scissors, beat two men down the left hand touchline and the evidence of the replay persuaded the officials that he had scored. Jones kicked the conversion and a penalty, and Wales, with Italy at home next up, are the early Championship bolters.

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Where did you find that?

At least coach Gatland is conceding that the try might not have been legit. The flying divot that the little winger dug must have landed in his lap. Ultimately it's neither here nor there, but players' insistence that a try has been scored when it clearly hasn't been - hullo Mark Cueto - does nothing for their credibility. And, in yesterday's case, it completely destroys the credibility of the TMO.

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Originally posted by Havak
Great game of rugby this afternoon - Tigers acheiving a great win down at Kingsholm.

Looking at the match report, I just discovered where Ayoola Erinle got to. Has he made a tackle yet? If so, burn it onto a DVD and treasure it. You'll never see its like again.

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What a crying crying crying shame. What a tragedy. I suppose teams have been so comprehensively outplayed before and still won but I can't remember when. Moral victory to Italy, I suppose, even if they ultimately cost themselves with silly penalties within Wilko's kicking range and some terrible line out work at crucial times.

Hopefully that will be another nail in Ashton's coffin. Stupid selections - Nick Easter was both unfit and an utter liability to the team - and an utterly dysfunctional performance. Which isn't to downgrade Italy's performance at all. Give Italy just one of the good Welsh backs and they would have won comfortably.

Mmmmmm. How long since the Italian backline has made the opposition backline look poor? Indeed, Masi showed a couple of glimpses today that he might make a #10.

Oh, and D. Cipriani might like to get the basics right before he starts being a fancy pants.

[LDiCesare]

Masi showed a couple of glimpses today that he might make a #10

Until he can kick, he won't. The try the Italians conceded when Bortolussi was countered is largely due to the fact they have only one kicker (although Galon can kick too, but at the wing, you can't really rely on him in open play).
England were in fact quite poor, but it looks like they just managed the score. Italian backs could never get through, and their try was lucky, because English defense was very solid for the whole match. Granted, the English did nothing but defend. They should do much better against France or Ireland if they expect to win.

A little line of despair, now:
Scotland, where art thou?

As for the French team, I hate them. I kept thinking they were doing "n'importe quoi" all match long. Like being able to score four tries and then collapse. They must be trying to kill some of their supporters with heart attacks. I thought the penalty try on the scrum wasn't warranted. Sure, the French had collapsed, but jsut before, they were pressing the Irish who didn't introduce, so a penalty should have been enough. And Lièvremont should have replaced Mas who was stunned and finished the game like he wasn't there.

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Italy's try was as lucky as both of England's. Well, okay, one of them. The one from the charge down. The other, from a line out error, at least featured some good Wilko skills. Beyond that, the England backline was nonexistent. The Italian backs had plenty of chances but lack the skills to penetrate.

You're right about the kicking. Bortolussi is always a candidate for being charged down. He takes far too long. They used Galon more in the second half.

I'd rather support Italy than France. Supporting Italy, you're grateful for any positives. Supporting France, they give you gold, then turn it into tin. I thought the penalty try was harsh.

Italy should beat Scotland.

[LDiCesare]

Obviously Italy should beat Scotland. Look at the way Paterson tackles (or not). If the Italians send a big player at him (Bergamasco for instance), he'll be walked over. So they have a chance of doing something in the backs. If they work on their lineout, Italians shouldn't have any problem.

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I'm not sure how the majority of the Scotland players collect their pay without a guilty conscience.

If only Wilko's creativity extended to what he does on the paddock:

The Newcastle fly-half told BBC Sport: "It wasn't easy - Ireland found that last week and other teams will too.

"Italy are a great side. But the guys all chipped in, they were brilliant to a man. We were fantastic."

And the coach thought the fact that they didn't panic in the last ten minutes was a vast improvement on the week before.

Yep.

[Havak]

That is classic denial from Wilko and the coach Finbar – and also from the skipper:

"We are a side that is growing. The guys will learn from the experience of games like this, and it will make us stronger." - Borthwick

What they are trying to do here is build the siege mentality that did so well for them in the RWC. They would be better advised to practice their basic skills!

That article actually reads like an exaggerated parody of Stephen Jones. And that takes some doing.

Erinle is not the worlds greatest tackler that is for sure. Did you notice that he and Smith scored our tries – two young English centres. And even Erinle should have been in Rome ahead of that defensive tank we did play (who panicked when he found himself in space with the ball ffs!!!)

Croft took a knock during the Glaws game – I hope it wasn’t serious

The fundamental problem with yesterdays match is that England won. It will allow our head coach to keep his blindfold on. You may not believe me but I was rooting for Italy at the end. I felt another carbon copy of a loss would seal Ashton’s fate – and I feel anything is worth it if it achieves that.

Jordan Crane must have been sat at home tearing his hair out watching Nick Eater’s inept display. Given the quality of Parisse we really needed to match him like for like – and that is not Easter at this time (and even fully fit he is not the most dynamic #8).

Cipriani is not ahead of Geragthy at this point so what was he doing in the 22?

Haskell – a player I rate very highly – was a liability for penalties. The late one at the line out was priceless for it’s stupidity – the ref had literally just warned them for closing the gap.

The best I can say for Lipman and Payne is they were better than I expected.

But my word how is Regan getting selected? Does he have incriminating material on the coach? And the Shaw-Borthwick combination is not working – obviously I’d like to see a Tigers combo but I’d even prefer the Wasps combo of Palmer-Shaw to be given a go.

Oh well you get my point – I would have picked a very different 22. They might have been younger, they might well have lost – but I think they would have played better (or at least some) rugby!