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What say you?

So folks what say you on the games yesterday.

Im happy to report that my predictions were right on both counts. Tho not exactly what i expected.

Honourable mention for Lydneyian... good call mate! off to the bookies with you next week!

---England v Wales...
was a good game, and im sorry i had to wait for the highlights on BBC 3 before i could get a clear idea of what went on in that game, but from what i saw, i was impressed. Thought England looked quite good and was also pleasantly surprised with the resolve of the welsh who never gave up and ended the game with a loss but with their head held high. All in all i think that game will have lifted the moral of both teams, and leaves them with work to do but its work in a positive manner.

Next week should be a pretty good game... !!!

---Ireland v Scotland

I was massively disappointed by the team selection of the Irish and i voiced my opinions here and was even told to calm down as i was a little bit, let say passionate in my concerns.

Well clear eyed analysis shows us that we have 5 warm up games 4 international tests and 1 friendly against connaught so to be fair i was maybe a little over the top in criticism of the selection but still proved me right.

Lots of positives tho. The injured players.. Kearney, Fitzgerald, TOL, and flannery to a lesser extent had good showings if looking a little bit rusty.
Irish defence was scary good considering it was an out and out second string side the defence was really committed, organised and effective. Quite impressed. DK has 43 players to be reduced to 30 so he needed to see the fringe players and get an idea about who gets the chop.

The win will do scotland the power of good! Playing the italians next they have to avoid injury because the italians are an injury delivery machine so wish them luck in that. I will be watching the Scotland v Italy game with interest as we have the later on our group and they are capable of beating us if they get themselves together and motivated enough.
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So discussion? Analysis?

comment by RL Nut (U9551)

posted on 7/8/11

really enjoyed the Wales game.

I watched the highlights (after several beers I might add) and couldnt see anything wrong with the disallowed try at around the 70 minute mark - any ideas anyone?

posted on 7/8/11

I will be honest Dingbat - I havnt seen the Ireland game - by the time I got in no highlights available - but I was not surprised by the score

Can I be a bit controversial and ask your opinion on something -
Talk over here and in Wales (I live a few miles from the Welsh border) is that Ire are at the point where they will NOT win without BOD - no we all know its a touch tongue in cheek - but how close do you feel it is?

I was pleased with the game yesterday - you summed it up pretty well - both teams had a lot to be happy with - but Englands defense yesterday was absolutely SHOCKING - it was the worst defensive display in at least 4 years - I liked the approach though - you know my thoughts on playing to win - and I was more than happy to see an on form JW kicking goals - make the game safe and then start replacing players and tinkering with things - pretty much how it happened - although I think they underestimated how good Wales were and nearly got their comeuppance.
Wales decision not to kick their first penalty was foolish if you ask me.

Positives - JW, Armitage, Manu, Flutey, Shaw, the Pack as a whole was ample and still understrength which is good.
Negatives - Cueto, Moody
Unanswered - Bananaman, Care,

Next week will reveal a greater picture

Word is that England want their strongest team for Dublin

Finally - if Scotland keep a good positive run going they will be giving it Braveheart when they play us - and it could be tight

comment by gecko (U8371)

posted on 7/8/11

Did you really think Tuilagi impressed?

I'll give him credit for finishing that try and I'm not saying all he had to do was walk it in, but I'd expect most internationals (in any position) to finish that off - did anyone see the Stephen Moore try against the Saffas a couple of weeks back? Other than that I thought his defensive limitations were glaring, and too often his tackles were above the shoulder. He's got form for indiscipline and I can see him being a liability.

That Sharples looked like a flier. I haven't seen much of him to date, but I'd keep an eye on him if I was opposite him on the wing. Wilkinson was very solid and dependable, and was quite annoyingly on-target with his kicking boots.

For Wales I was impressed by Jamie Roberts. He was always making his presence known. Sam Warburton did well too - particularly as the game went on. The front row were quite quiet, and Mike Phillips service looked fairly innacurate - I really felt for Priestland and some of the boys outside him who were being set up to get clobbered. I'm hopeful that these things can be ironed out for next week.

comment by gecko (U8371)

posted on 7/8/11

p.s. I missed the Scotland/Ireland game. Eagerly awaiting highlights.

posted on 7/8/11

Well the talk in wales is wrong. This is not just my opinion but a simple matter of fact. And also at the risk of being controversial... noting makes a welsh man more happy then to have a reason to slate BOD.

Truth is, in the past we were always hurt by the absence of BOD when it happened but 2010, 2011 and the performances of leinster when playing without him have shown us that it is no longer the case. He has lost much of his pace and its showing, most notably against England in the 6Nations where he was stepped quite easily by Foden. TWICE hahaha

That said, he's still a class apart and any team is better for having him in it but were not sunk without him.

Once upon a time he was the only truly world class operator on the team sheet but now we can look and admire the likes of Heaslip, O'Brian, Sexton, Bowe Ferris, and others. We don't have to rely on BOD for the spark of magic to save us. As above are all capable and indeed likely to do something outstanding in 80mins.
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Ye banahan didn't show much... really hard runner but seems bereft of ideas and with talent around him he misses them preferring to take the contact.

Care Bear... well if not him who else? Hes got to travel in my opinion.

Armitage on the other hand was superb. Fair dues to him. Im not gona admit im wrong about him because i still have doubts but he went along way to proving me wrong.

Now if he can go through the England Ireland match without the Late hits to BOD i will accept him

Ye Scotland should do well, they just have one more build up game against the italians but they got a nice draw in the WC so they have the easy games to start so they are banking on that to be part of their build up and aiming to peak come playing the big boys.... cough cough.... who are the big boys in that group anyway... hehehe

The Scotland game is on the beeb iPlayer but i would say watch it with alot of beer because you will need something to entertain yourself

posted on 8/8/11

Gecko - well it was a debut for Manu - he is young - and he played ok and scored a try - it can only reaqlly get better with some experience - I have had issues with our centres for a while - so all in all Im happy with his performance.
Sharples is excellent - I steer clear of going on about him too much cos Im a gloucester lad - and people say "well you would say that wouldnt you" I would give him a start in Cardiff.

J Roberts is fast becoming MR Dependable for the Welsh

Ding - all fair points - like I said - the BOD thing is tongue in cheek - no-one doubts the players in green at the moment although............................... did you notice that we leapfrogged you into 4th in the world this weekend

The Eng scrum half issue - you are right Care does need to go - he is not as good as youngs imo - but youngs was out of form then injured at the end of the season - they are the best we have and both will travel

Ive decided to give the Scotland/ire game a miss - dont be offended - Im gonna take your word on all matters concerning it

posted on 8/8/11

"Im gonna take your word on all matters concerning it"

one word MERDE

posted on 8/8/11

is that french or an impression of Taggart

posted on 8/8/11

Touché

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