Rugby 6 Nations 2007

[I Look Like Kevin Costner]

WELL DONE THE PADDIES, how pish were england!!!!

Not as bad as Ireland were good. Greasy surface, bucketfull of rain, 3/4 line play with the slickest passing and invention that made the conditions look bone dry. It was a shame the All Blacks weren't playing at Croke Park, a proper voodoo would have been laid to rest, as nobody would have stood up to O'Driscoll's men on Saturday!

 

[FOMz]

Not one for watching rugby (I was swanning round Lincoln in relative peace during the World Cup Final win). Based on the hype from all the rugby types on e-goatI thought I'd give it a go.

Saturday, 24 Feb 2007.

5.30 - BBC1 Ireland vs England.

What a load of rubbish. Is it always as bad as that? I though me telly was bust, with all the stoppages.
If that game was representative of international rugby then it's obvious why it remains a minority sport. It was POOR viewing. Also, listening to those two morons (commentators) arguing with each other was off-putting. They did nothing to keep me viewing. Just had to put Harry on.

6.20 - ITV1 Harry Hill's TV Burp.

Heathen............

 

[Albert Park]

Heathen............

I honestly tried to enjoy the game - but it was painful.

Who were the commentators? They were doing my nut in.

 

[FOMz]

Eddie Fookin Butler and Brian Moore. Brian moore speaks sense, Eddie Butler just speaks out of his ar$e. I cannot stand the man. I met him at kingsholm a few years ago, what a thoroughly horrible little man. He should have stuck to being a PE teacher, because he's a sh1te Rugby journo and an even worse commentator.

 

[Albert Park]

Eddie Fookin Butler and Brian Moore. Brian moore speaks sense, Eddie Butler just speaks out of his ar$e. I cannot stand the man. I met him at kingsholm a few years ago, what a thoroughly horrible little man. He should have stuck to being a PE teacher, because he's a sh1te Rugby journo and an even worse commentator.

As a non-rugby type the rules (laws) seem a bit complicated. The commentators did nothing to explain to the layman what was happening. They might have held my interest longer if they did explain the play and stoppages etc. It was like a re-run of George and Mildred listening to those two.

Was the game I started to watch typical? Am I to give it a second attempt? If so, when's the next game?

 

[FOMz]

England were pretty poor. England/France will be a good game as will Ireland/France

 

[gemarriott]

Eddie Fookin Butler and Brian Moore. Brian moore speaks sense, Eddie Butler just speaks out of his ar$e. I cannot stand the man. I met him at kingsholm a few years ago, what a thoroughly horrible little man. He should have stuck to being a PE teacher, because he's a sh1te Rugby journo and an even worse commentator.

Of course Brian Moore speaks sense, he is a front row god and everyone knows we front row adonis's are all ultra bright, witty, knowledgeable on all things and as tough as old boots. You only hve to look at S2 and read his posts to know that.

 

[sparks will fly]

Take The 3 Points

Take The 3 Points

I thought the first 3 tries came from a lack of respect for the Italians. Especially that looping miss-2 pass that was just begging to be intercepted.

Also, if Paterson had taken the kicking opportunities that were presented to him Scotland would have had 15 more points on the board at half-time and Italy would not have been so confident later on. 2 attempts to score tries from penalties I can forgive but it was obvious that the Italian forwards were too powerful, so take the 3 points FFS!

Thats how I lost my voice screaming at Patterson to kick for goal 3 penalties totally wasted. I honestly believe they just panicked at being 3 trys down.

 

[cockneyrock]

As a non-rugby type the rules (laws) seem a bit complicated. The commentators did nothing to explain to the layman what was happening. They might have held my interest longer if they did explain the play and stoppages etc. It was like a re-run of George and Mildred listening to those two.

Was the game I started to watch typical? Am I to give it a second attempt? If so, when's the next game?

Don't waste your time mate. You should have switched over to Sky Sports 1 and watch Bradford -v- Wigan in a Super League thriller. Non stop cut and thrust for 80 minutes and not a single penalty kick for points all night.DT_Xtremez_14:

 

[True Blue Jack]

Don't waste your time mate. You should have switched over to Sky Sports 1 and watch Bradford -v- Wigan in a Super League thriller. Non stop cut and thrust for 80 minutes and not a single penalty kick for points all night.DT_Xtremez_14:

Please don't contaminate this thread with your League drivel.::

I mean, "I've been tackled 6 times so you can have the ball now". What's that all about? Give me kick and clap any day.DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[mightyhunter]

Of course Brian Moore speaks sense, he is a front row god and everyone knows we front row adonis's are all ultra bright, witty, knowledgeable on all things and as tough as old boots. You only hve to look at S2 and read his posts to know that.

well said that man (i'm a fully paid-up member of the FRC myself).
except for the first bit. think the man is a bit of a tw@!
anyway, what an embarrassing performance at murrayfield. i hope we don't play that pish again. there is a good possibility that we might get the wooden spoon.

 

[rugby then work]

Eddie Fookin Butler and Brian Moore. Brian moore speaks sense, Eddie Butler just speaks out of his ar$e. I cannot stand the man. I met him at kingsholm a few years ago, what a thoroughly horrible little man. He should have stuck to being a PE teacher, because he's a sh1te Rugby journo and an even worse commentator.

Met him when he came up to Saxa Vord to film a Saxa Vord v Lerwick game for the BBC as a fill in before the 1995 Calcutta Cup game. (most northerly RFU affiliated team versus the most northerly SRU affiliated team). The bloke was a complete t*sser, never left the officers mess except for filming and didn't even watch half the game (p1ssed in the bar as it was raining). To top it all all off we lost the only game of my tour up there.

 

[cockneyrock]

Please don't contaminate this thread with your League drivel.::

I mean, "I've been tackled 6 times so you can have the ball now". What's that all about? Give me kick and clap any day.DT_Xtremez_30:

Precisely the point, I always thought rugby should be played with ball in hand, not a game of aerial ping pong between 2 players with 28 spectators standing around in the middle wondering when the ball will eventually go out of play!

 

[True Blue Jack]

Precisely the point, I always thought rugby should be played with ball in hand, not a game of aerial ping pong between 2 players with 28 spectators standing around in the middle wondering when the ball will eventually go out of play!

In fairness, the kicking game of the '90s has largely been eradicated, and Union tends to be a much more physical, ball-in-hand game nowadays (not all the time, I grant you). You still get kicks for territory, but that happens in League too.

 

[cockneyrock]

In fairness, the kicking game of the '90s has largely been eradicated, and Union tends to be a much more physical, ball-in-hand game nowadays (not all the time, I grant you). You still get kicks for territory, but that happens in League too.

You say that but the first 17 minutes of play were largely taken up with kicks for territory and 3 penalty goals (at this point I turned over because I was board and the Super League was kicking of on Sky Sports).

Look at the match stats:

Match playing time was 90.52 mins
Ball in play for 45 mins total (what were the players doing the rest of the time?)
Total of 8 penalty kicks at goal of which 7 were successful making up 21 of the 56 points scored during the match.

The guy asked for something more interesting to watch as he found the game boring, going on the above, I not suprised and therefore I commend Rugby League to his viewing pleasure.

 

[I Look Like Kevin Costner]

You say that but the first 17 minutes of play were largely taken up with kicks for territory and 3 penalty goals (at this point I turned over because I was board and the Super League was kicking of on Sky Sports).

Look at the match stats:

Match playing time was 90.52 mins
Ball in play for 45 mins total (what were the players doing the rest of the time?)
Total of 8 penalty kicks at goal of which 7 were successful making up 21 of the 56 points scored during the match.

The guy asked for something more interesting to watch as he found the game boring, going on the above, I not suprised and therefore I commend Rugby League to his viewing pleasure.

Can you reply with the stat's on the super league game, on the time the ball was actually on the move and "Live"? I would be surprised if it was massively different! I don't mind watching both codes, but prefer Union as pocession is harder to maintain in the 15 man game (as England clearly showed shortcomings on Saturday).

 

[wgaf]

I've played both codes and love watching both. Biggest bugbear though is that Union have learnt huge amounts from league, defence and fitness especially, but league coaches think they've nothing to learn from union. Compared to a union player your average league players ball handling skills are apalling.

 

[cockneyrock]

I've played both codes and love watching both. Biggest bugbear though is that Union have learnt huge amounts from league, defence and fitness especially, but league coaches think they've nothing to learn from union. Compared to a union player your average league players ball handling skills are apalling.

Would have to beg to differ there. An awful lot has been written and said about the superior ball handling skills of top flight RL players, particularly when off loading in the tackle. Just look at how commentators waxed lyrical about Farrell and his distribution, accuracy and skills with ball in hand in the first 2 games of the 6 Nations, and this after only a few games of RU after a lifetime of RL.

I would also argue that this is the main reason that the RFU keep slooking to the RFL to find players rather than looking within. A quick fix from the RFL when looking for a new back is becoming a seasonal norm. Get someone in with good ball skills and pace and worry about teaching him the rules of the game slow time.

 

[cockneyrock]

Can you reply with the stat's on the super league game, on the time the ball was actually on the move and "Live"? I would be surprised if it was massively different! I don't mind watching both codes, but prefer Union as pocession is harder to maintain in the 15 man game (as England clearly showed shortcomings on Saturday).

Trying to get you an answer, however, getting stats from an "open" source that I don't have to pay for very hard. As an example, I recall a caption flashing up during the Friday Saints -v- Brisbane WOrld Club Challenge that said something like 17 mins of ball in play at about the 22 minute make of the first half. This would equate to the ball being in play for approx 60 minutes over an 80 minute match (or 70 mins over a 90.52 min match).

Having said that, I don;t expect you to take my word for it so I'll continue to try to find a comparible source of stats.

 

[wgaf]

Would have to beg to differ there. An awful lot has been written and said about the superior ball handling skills of top flight RL players, particularly when off loading in the tackle. Just look at how commentators waxed lyrical about Farrell and his distribution, accuracy and skills with ball in hand in the first 2 games of the 6 Nations, and this after only a few games of RU after a lifetime of RL.

I would also argue that this is the main reason that the RFU keep slooking to the RFL to find players rather than looking within. A quick fix from the RFL when looking for a new back is becoming a seasonal norm. Get someone in with good ball skills and pace and worry about teaching him the rules of the game slow time.

Farrell was bought into union by the rfu and saracens mainly for his leadership abilities and ball carrying skills.
The transfer of players between the 2 codes has been going for decades both ways, the only players who have made a success of both codes are people who would be classed as outstanding athletes in any era, i.e Jonathon Davies, Jason Robinson etc. I believe there were a couple of Aussies years ago but not too sure of names, I'd not put Farrell in their league(pun intended) yet. I thought that he was actually found out a bit by the Irish. Don't get me wrong I think he's a good player but just not sure if he's as good as made out to be.