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Post by Bristol Rovers on Feb 7, 2015 7:46:18 GMT
What a game it was last night, enthralling for the whole 80 min's.
How good must Stuart Lancaster's half time team talk been? Looked a totally different team, Wales didn't know hit 'em.
We had I think 6 first teamer's injured too, which made it an even better result.
I thought luther Burrell had an excellent game and personally would have given him the man-of-the-match, for a centre he's massive! With Tuilagi and Brad Barritt both injured England look to be very strong at centre.
I'm going for 3 away wins this week, Scotland in France and Ireland in Italy.
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Rex
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Post by Rex on Feb 8, 2015 8:13:38 GMT
I was lucky enough to be there on Friday, so really enjoyed it especially as I was there for 'that' game two years ago. Superb second half performance, apparently George Ford got MOTM on the TV which I found surprising, after what looked like two poor kicks from where I was sat, James Haskell was the outstanding player for me.
By the way, don't let anyone tell you there is never any trouble at rugby, I saw two full on scraps, one just before the final whistle about 4 rows in front of us, and one just after the final whistle in the next section, and that certainly isn't the first time I have seen that. Admittedly things don't tend to escalate, and it tends to be just 'one on one' but lots of blokes, drinking lots of beer always has the potential to end in tears.
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Post by Bristol Rovers on Feb 8, 2015 12:06:35 GMT
I was lucky enough to be there on Friday, so really enjoyed it especially as I was there for 'that' game two years ago. Superb second half performance, apparently George Ford got MOTM on the TV which I found surprising, after what looked like two poor kicks from where I was sat, James Haskell was the outstanding player for me. By the way, don't let anyone tell you there is never any trouble at rugby, I saw two full on scraps, one just before the final whistle about 4 rows in front of us, and one just after the final whistle in the next section, and that certainly isn't the first time I have seen that. Admittedly things don't tend to escalate, and it tends to be just 'one on one' but lots of blokes, drinking lots of beer always has the potential to end in tears. Would loved to have been there!!! The atmosphere on the TV (especially just before kick-off) was phenomenal, how was it for you? On the TV you could see blokes sat there with their pint's & BOTTLES!!! The ladies had their Chardonnay in their glasses.... A bit different from the footy eh..? (We went for a meal at The Mem, we weren't even allowed to have a bottle of wine left out on the table... ) How much did you pay for your ticket if you don't mind me asking? A couple of mates went over and tried getting tickets on the day, it went from £250 at about 12PM, to £500 just before kick-off. |
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Rex
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Post by Rex on Feb 8, 2015 13:09:37 GMT
I was lucky enough to be there on Friday, so really enjoyed it especially as I was there for 'that' game two years ago. Superb second half performance, apparently George Ford got MOTM on the TV which I found surprising, after what looked like two poor kicks from where I was sat, James Haskell was the outstanding player for me. By the way, don't let anyone tell you there is never any trouble at rugby, I saw two full on scraps, one just before the final whistle about 4 rows in front of us, and one just after the final whistle in the next section, and that certainly isn't the first time I have seen that. Admittedly things don't tend to escalate, and it tends to be just 'one on one' but lots of blokes, drinking lots of beer always has the potential to end in tears. Would loved to have been there!!! The atmosphere on the TV (especially just before kick-off) was phenomenal, how was it for you? On the TV you could see blokes sat there with their pint's & BOTTLES!!! The ladies had their Chardonnay in their glasses.... A bit different from the footy eh..? (We went for a meal at The Mem, we weren't even allowed to have a bottle of wine left out on the table... ) How much did you pay for your ticket if you don't mind me asking? A couple of mates went over and tried getting tickets on the day, it went from £250 at about 12PM, to £500 just before kick-off.
The tickets were £80, you can generally get them by being a member of a rugby club , but I also have membership of the welsh and English supporters clubs, it costs about £50 a year for that, but you will nearly always get tickets for the autumn internationals, and sometimes 6 nations .
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brizzle
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Post by brizzle on Feb 9, 2015 18:25:00 GMT
Is there any way that I could vote for Wales in the Six Nations poll? Not that I would want to of course.   |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2015 19:01:21 GMT
How good must Stuart Lancaster's half time team talk been? Maybe it was just cut out the errors.Virtually all of Wales points came about by our mistakes. |
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irishrover
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Post by irishrover on Feb 11, 2015 12:54:04 GMT
As a Wales fan I just thought it was a classic example of a young team with something to prove wanting it more than an older team that just didn't have the same desire as a favourite as it would as an underdog. In most sports I think that's a total myth but in such a physical sport as Rugby I think it matters.
I felt England just didn't come out for the first 15 minutes and that was the difference between the teams at HT. After that it was a pretty even half. England turned the ferocity up a notch in the 2nd half and Wales didn't have a response. It reminded me a bit of the 2005 6 nations game with the roles reversed; a young Wales were desperate to end a decade of English dominance in that game and did it. This England team was desperate to make up for getting hammered 2 years ago.
For the tournament though I sometimes think the press gets stuck in an England/Wales narrative as that's what shifts the papers. But it's hard to understand why Ireland wouldn't be the favourites. They won the thing last year and they were the best Northern Hemisphere team in the autumn; they're definitely the team to beat.
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Post by Bristol Rovers on Feb 11, 2015 13:54:42 GMT
Is there any way that I could vote for Wales in the Six Nations poll? Not that I would want to of course. Ha Ha Totally forgot about Wales!!!! It doesn't look like you can edit the poll! If anyone want's to vote for them just end your post post with Vote Wales. |
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Bridgeman
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Post by Bridgeman on Feb 13, 2015 2:06:34 GMT
Things have been extremely quiet in the office this week with two smug Englishmen  giving themselves knowing looks . I was chatting with two of my Welsh colleagues who were both at the stadium. One was in a shared English/Welsh hospitality box where the atmosphere was less than convivial between the two sets of supporters and the other said the bars were so slow in serving he didn't get a drink all game. Both said they were aware of fights taking place, it will be a sad day if they have to start introducing segregation of supporters at rugby matches. Both said however that neither enjoyed the build up to the start of the game and felt it was very flat after the lights were turned off and the delay in the teams coming out to line up. Both did say they thought Wales were completely outplayed in the 2nd half, could have lost by a bigger margin and England were well worth their win. |
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irishrover
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Post by irishrover on Mar 1, 2015 16:45:09 GMT
Might want to put Wales back on there now!
Big win in Paris followed and Ireland dispatching England in Dublin makes this a 3 way race.
It does make it a 3 way race which Ireland are comfortable favourites to win though (although winning in Cardiff and Edinburgh won't be easy). I don't really understand why they weren't talked up more before the start of the tournament - maybe it was because the first grandstand game in Cardiff swung publicity in England and Wales favour. But Ireland won the thing last year and they had the best run of all Northern hemisphere teams in the Autumn. It's hard to argue against them being the best Northern Hemisphere team right now. They're not particularly exciting but they are extremely effective at getting the job done and building pressure which is what's happened to England here.
I'd love to think Wales could do to Ireland what we did to England 2 years ago but I think it's unlikely - this Ireland team is better and more experienced than that England team and Wales haven't actually played very well in this tournament. Got more than a punchers chance now though.
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Rex
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Post by Rex on Mar 8, 2015 13:44:55 GMT
Might want to put Wales back on there now! Big win in Paris followed and Ireland dispatching England in Dublin makes this a 3 way race. It does make it a 3 way race which Ireland are comfortable favourites to win though (although winning in Cardiff and Edinburgh won't be easy). I don't really understand why they weren't talked up more before the start of the tournament - maybe it was because the first grandstand game in Cardiff swung publicity in England and Wales favour. But Ireland won the thing last year and they had the best run of all Northern hemisphere teams in the Autumn. It's hard to argue against them being the best Northern Hemisphere team right now. They're not particularly exciting but they are extremely effective at getting the job done and building pressure which is what's happened to England here. I'd love to think Wales could do to Ireland what we did to England 2 years ago but I think it's unlikely - this Ireland team is better and more experienced than that England team and Wales haven't actually played very well in this tournament. Got more than a punchers chance now though.
I agree Ireland are favourites (as they were at the start of the tournament), but I'm not sure I would describe them as 'comfortable' favourites. The Irish winning in Cardiff is not a given, and Wales are more than capable of putting a few points on the Italians if required. At least England will go into the last game knowing what they have to do(If Ireland beat Wales of course)
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irishrover
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Post by irishrover on Mar 9, 2015 13:42:50 GMT
Might want to put Wales back on there now! Big win in Paris followed and Ireland dispatching England in Dublin makes this a 3 way race. It does make it a 3 way race which Ireland are comfortable favourites to win though (although winning in Cardiff and Edinburgh won't be easy). I don't really understand why they weren't talked up more before the start of the tournament - maybe it was because the first grandstand game in Cardiff swung publicity in England and Wales favour. But Ireland won the thing last year and they had the best run of all Northern hemisphere teams in the Autumn. It's hard to argue against them being the best Northern Hemisphere team right now. They're not particularly exciting but they are extremely effective at getting the job done and building pressure which is what's happened to England here. I'd love to think Wales could do to Ireland what we did to England 2 years ago but I think it's unlikely - this Ireland team is better and more experienced than that England team and Wales haven't actually played very well in this tournament. Got more than a punchers chance now though.
I agree Ireland are favourites (as they were at the start of the tournament), but I'm not sure I would describe them as 'comfortable' favourites. The Irish winning in Cardiff is not a given, and Wales are more than capable of putting a few points on the Italians if required. At least England will go into the last game knowing what they have to do(If Ireland beat Wales of course)
Wales record in Cardiff against Ireland is just dire though. There is a feeling that they are the one six nations team that has consistently had Wales number during what has been a pretty staggeringly successful run. I'm really not that confident - I don't think this is Wales year and I think as a team they've gone just over their prime now. Difficult for Wales to peak for World Cups and they've failed to do it again. This team is built on the superb partnership at Centre between Roberts and Davies. That's the engine room and they now have a lot of minutes on those legs. They've been very durable but I think a combination of ageing and of other teams adapting is rendering them less and less effective and Wales attempt to develop a plan B has not delivered (I expect to see them lose to England and Australia at World Cup though they have a better shot at the Aussies I think). England have the easiest run in here if Wales can do them a favour - I just think it's a bit unlikely. I'm not feeling the momentum for Wales the way I have done in other years where they've launched this late tournament comeback. They should have lost to Scotland, the French played pretty dreadfully in Paris. It doesn't feel quite right to me but they do have a great battling quality so they definitely have a shot. I do wonder if Ireland might suffer in Murrayfield though from a wounded Scotland team that I expect to take an absolute shoeing from England team bouncing back from a bad loss. |
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Rex
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Post by Rex on Mar 9, 2015 16:37:02 GMT
FWIW, I think Wales will narrowly beat Ireland, England will beat Scotland by 15 or so and the final round will be who can get the biggest points win between Wales (in Italy), Ireland (in Scotland) and us at home to France. Weirdly, I think we may just snatch it  |
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Post by Bristol Rovers on Mar 14, 2015 20:31:42 GMT
looking like its going to be an exciting end to the championship. All three games have a side that could win it. England playing last could be the deciding factor, fingers crossed...
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irishrover
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Post by irishrover on Mar 15, 2015 15:20:22 GMT
looking like its going to be an exciting end to the championship. All three games have a side that could win it. England playing last could be the deciding factor, fingers crossed... I think it's only 2 teams really. Despite Wales winning yesterday I can't see them running up a cricket score in Rome - the Italians just aren't that bad. You'd still probably favour Ireland but then if the French roll over they'll really roll over. Rex had it right I think and England will just sneak it. To be fair though I don't think it matters all that much this year now that no one can win a slam. The World Cup is clearly looming and I'm very pleased that Wales bounced back in this Championship after that defeat to England. I'm much happier about their World Cup chances now. The key thing is that England, Wales and Ireland all look like in decent shape. None of them has taken a terminal blow in this tournament. It's a shame England, Wales and Australia are all in the same group at the World Cup. It'll create 3 amazing occasions but someone will be going out too early. |
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Post by Nobbygas on Mar 19, 2015 8:54:19 GMT
FWIW, I think Wales will narrowly beat Ireland, England will beat Scotland by 15 or so and the final round will be who can get the biggest points win between Wales (in Italy), Ireland (in Scotland) and us at home to France. Weirdly, I think we may just snatch it Rex....um....you wouldn't happen to know what lottery numbers to pick this week would you? |
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Rex
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Post by Rex on Mar 19, 2015 23:52:03 GMT
FWIW, I think Wales will narrowly beat Ireland, England will beat Scotland by 15 or so and the final round will be who can get the biggest points win between Wales (in Italy), Ireland (in Scotland) and us at home to France. Weirdly, I think we may just snatch it Rex....um....you wouldn't happen to know what lottery numbers to pick this week would you?
For a small fee I have a list of numbers that I can guarantee you will include any jackpot winners.
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giving themselves knowing