Rugby - Six Nations, S14, Lions, Can't Wait

[Andydog]

It made me very happy to see that White got two weeks. I'll be cheering for Bath on Saturday.

[MOBIUS]

Was at the Mill to see 'Les Bleus' scrape through against Toulouse today - it was touch and go I have to say and we were fortunate to win in the end.

I love it every time the French roll into Cardiff, they have fantastic fans and the Toulousains did themselves proud by still being so friendly and in such high spirits after the game despite losing.

Next up: Leicester, who we've beaten already this season...

[finbar]

&^%$@ Toulouse! Should have won, didn't deserve to. How very Francese! And is Chris White allergic to yellow cards? Martin Williams had to be binned for his effort in the ruck late in the game.

Leicester's replacements saved their bacon. Along with another Butch James nightmare. Entertaining game, though. Ironic that Leicester haven't looked back since the Afrikaans coach departed. He was a forwards/kicking oriented coach and Leicester weren't consistently good enough in either department, playing confused, schizophrenic rugby and going nowhere. Cockerill - for all his sins, his public undermining of the Argie coach last season remains a disgrace - has them playing with fluency and confidence, and, more importantly, playing what's in front of them rather than pre-planned, rigid tactics regardless.

Cardiff will need to be better than they were yesterday to roll Leicester. They defended very well, but Toulouse - at their flaky best - aren't (or weren't) the professional tough-nuts Leicester are.

[finbar]

Munster have sufficient style and a bottomless pit of substance. Ospreys have a modicum of style. End of story.

I felt sorry for Quins because I like what Dean Richards has done with the team. I'd've felt sorry for Leinster because BOD knows what leadership is all about. Ultimately I don't think it matters who won. Munster will eat Leinster just as they would have Quins.

All things being equal, which they rarely are, I fancy Leicester's hard-headedness and professionalism over Cardiff, and Munster over Leinster.

The final should be a corker.

[Havak]

How ironic it was Dupuy, who has had some howlers this season, who did the opportunistic burgling.

Mobius was being kind - Blues somewhat disposed of us earlier in the season.

Our hope lies entirely in your observations Finbar - that new hand on the tiller.

Munster will be hard to stop. We have done so before - but then they have done it to us too. And I'm certainly not taking Blues lightly - it's remarkable how they have come on.

I'm surprised White got only two weeks, I expected eight. A bit disappointed Herman Munster (Sheridan) was never even cited though. White will surely lose out to the young Saxon Cole next season who looks ready to me.

[finbar]

It seems Andrea Marcato, Italian full back and occasional #10, could be moving to Wasps. Wasps jokes aside, it might help his rugby. I assume he would be going as a #15, because he's not good enough at #10. How he would cope with the hurly burly and pressure of the Premiership would be interesting to see. While he has talent, he's not the strongest or soundest defender in the world.

Is Al Baxter - most-capped prop in Wallaby history - kidding himself? Negotiations with the ARU have hit a brick wall. He says he's had offers from the NH. Where? Georgia?

[Havak]

Well Hayman is leaving Newcastle....

By the way Andydog how did cheering Bath work for you?

[LDiCesare]

And is Chris White allergic to yellow cards? Martin Williams had to be binned for his effort in the ruck late in the game.

At least he was penalised.
In the match I played yesterday, with 15 minutes to go and us leading 10-5, we were 1 meter from the line, our scrum half couldn't take the ball because an opponent dove upon him totally offside.
The referee stopped the match.
The fact my scrummy started a fight with the other player might have something to do with it of course, but I still think the ref should have jsut red-carded both of them, or told them both out to be replaced.
Pretty good match anyway. I even made a move worthy of a full season for a hooker: Called my scrum half to run into the blindside of a ruck. Received the ball without knocking it forwards (contrary to a winger who botched 2 tries that way!!), managed to drag 3 defenders upon me alone, and delivered a pass to my second rower, who even caught it and managed to run straight at least 10 meters before being tackled. The fact someone scored a try later on in the action is of course irrelevant, as I was still trying to rise from the ground at the time.
Unfortunately for you, the really important matches don't show on TV.

[finbar]

I don't need TV. I see your matches in my mind's eye.

You took the ball without flubbing it? Head down to Toulouse. They could do with someone with your skills.

[MOBIUS]

EDF Trophy thank you very much!

Only just managed to sneak past Gloucester, but I'll take that...

[MOBIUS]

Better get my ticket for the Heineken Semi at the Mill before they all sell out...

[finbar]

EDF Trophy thank you very much!

Only just managed to sneak past Gloucester, but I'll take that...

Well, yes. Pity the Gloucester team bus obviously went to the wrong ground and they obviously had to raid the local pubs and gutters for bodies to put on the field in red.

[finbar]

I forgot to add yesterday that the dire Glos effort must finally see the demise of Dean Ryan. I notice this morning that he's getting in first - heaping blame on the players. Hmmm.

[finbar]

Bizarre effort from Bath yesterday. With their territory and possession, they should have won by a distance regardless of Butch James' nightmare kicking efforts. The revelation for me, though, was the Newcastle baby #9, Young. The child has real talent.

[finbar]

No Tom Croft? Good grief. Nathan Hines? Huh? Simon Shaw? Hmm. Thin in the halves, too.

Oh, and I forgot the biggest hoot of all. Andy Powell. WTF?