Rugby thread 2011

[Team Sheep]

Where the fuck's the rugby talk gone? I know we have a good few followers of the great game, and in the middle of the 6 Nations and the World Cup coming up this autumn, let's get one going again.

[Team Sheep]

Current 6 Nations standing after round 2:

http://i53.tinypic.com/wvydlj.png

Results so far and remaining fixtures:

http://i54.tinypic.com/2ltn37s.png

[Team Sheep]

Quite excited for the Wales game this afternoon, to see if Wales have really turned the corner with their impressive win at Murrayfield 2 weeks ago. If we win this one then I quite fancy us in a home game against the Irish in 2 weeks, and then going to Paris on the final weekend with 3 straight wins and momentum on our side, well who knows. Getting ahead of myself, more than likely.

England vs France should be a cracker, hope France pull it off to make it a wide open tournament. Way too much England grand slam talk already for my liking, a lot of rugby to be played yet. A win for them today though will truly give them a strong foothold, but still a tough trip to Dublin for them after that. Scotland/Ireland tomorrow I'm very much looking forward to also. No way will Scotland come out as poorly as they did against Wales after so much hype and anticipation, and Ireland will be looking for revenge after their surprising home defeat to Scotland at Croke Park last season.

Best weekend of the tournament for sure, IMO.

[Team Sheep]

What a day! Italy pull off one of the shocks of the tournament's history, beating France 22-21. And then Wales showing they can win ugly again against Ireland. So happy.

Where the fuck are you rugby fans :'(

[El Capitano Gatisto]

I was pretty sickened by that defeat. Terrible decision from the touch judge to let that try stand and Paddy Wallace's unbelievable decision to go inside at the death instead of playing Earls in. Earls had room to take that ball over the line and work inside when over. Yet more individual errors and poor discipline cost us that game, should have won at home to France and today. Oh well, if we can stop an English grand slam next week it won't be so bad and the team is looking good for the World Cup if those little kinks can be ironed out and some players work back to fitness. Encouraging signs from some of the young players too which means the inevitable raft of retirements later this year aren't as scary as they seemed even a year ago.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

I was over at the Scotland game in Edinburgh a couple of weeks ago, another game that we let the opposition into with terrible discipline. Some of the rugby played by Ireland that day was beautiful which made it all the more disappointing that Scotland weren't wiped out in the first half and were still a kick away from winning the game at the death.

[Team Sheep]

Lol I'll admit that try was very fortunate, but hey that's rugby. We'll take it. Wales have hardly set the world alight when they've had the ball but I've been so impressed with our new found ability to close games out in the last quarter, something we've struggled with since the 2008 Grand Slam. The momentum is quite nicely building ahead of this autumn. I've always suspected Gatland's had something up his sleeve ready for World Cup year. I'm chuffed with 3 wins, 4 wins would put me over the moon next week.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

Yeah I can't put too much responsibility on the touch judge, however annoying it was, as Sexton's kick in the first place was fucking dreadful. Ireland still had the game in their own hands even with that decision, as important as it turned out to be.

[Team Sheep]

Yeah, the fact that even after that incident Ireland had most of the half to reply and we shut them out is what pleased me the most.