6 Nations Rugby ... Round 2

[Clarets4me]

We go again this weekend, with Scotland hosting the French at Murrayfield this afternoon ( 2.15pm ), followed by the small matter of the England v Wales clash at Twickenham ( 4.45pm ). Tomorrow sees Italy travel to Dublin for a 3.00pm kick-off. The Scotland game is on BBC1, whilst the other two are on ITV1.

Scotland will be encouraged by their win in Cardiff, in the ultimate " game of 2 halves ", whilst France surely can't play as poorly as last time out, even accounting for their red card. England need to step up a gear to prevail against a fired up Welsh team, who'll be looking to carry on their 2nd half performance from last week. Ireland should comfortably have enough to take care of Italy.

I take France by 7-11 points in Edinburgh, Wales to spoil my afternoon with a 3-7 point win at Twickenham, and " Tribesman " to be celebrating an Ireland win by 25-30 points in Dublin ...

Enjoy !!

[Tricky Trevor]

Scotland..England.. Ireland. 3 home wins.

[Boss Hogg]

Looking forward to the England match. Not quite sure what to expect in this one though. Missing the earlier Scotland France match unfortunately.

[Claretmisterg]

I agree that Ireland should beat Italy by a comfortable margin but the other two games will probably be very close. I’ll take England to edge out Wales by a small margin and France to do similarly against the Scots.

[Tribesmen]

Now let me see , right then Scotland v France up first very soon , yep game of two halves in Cardiff but France will not be beaten today , i expect the real France to turn up today ans win 34 -21
England v Wales , goodness not sure about this one as i have never seen a poorer first half by Wales but saying that they came back in the 2nd , just not sure about England something is just not right for me they just got by an improving Italy but will go for 18- 24 to Wales in this one .
Ireland v Italy now six changes for Ireland but don't worry they will step up and have too much for Italy who will socre first and last but will be well beaten 38-14 .

Let the games begin

[Clarets4me]

Now let me see , right then Scotland v France up first very soon , yep game of two halves in Cardiff but France will not be beaten today , i expect the real France to turn up today ans win 34 -21
England v Wales , goodness not sure about this one as i have never seen a poorer first half by Wales but saying that they came back in the 2nd , just not sure about England something is just not right for me they just got by an improving Italy but will go for 18- 24 to Wales in this one .
Ireland v Italy now six changes for Ireland but don't worry they will step up and have too much for Italy who will socre first and last but will be well beaten 38-14 .

Let the games begin

England look vulnerable out wide to me it's where Italy got some joy, this high press defence England are trying is fine when it works, but leaves them vulnerable to little chips over the top, grubber kicks and miss moves ... I fear the Wales backline have the ability to exploit this !

That said, I hope I'm dead wrong and we put 20 points on them ...

[Tribesmen]

Its a game that can go either way it's a strange one to predict

[IanMcL]

O Flower of Scotland

[Tricky Trevor]

I feel robbed. Scotland have ball over the line in added time and a try will win the match.
Ref says held up, end of game , but asks for review. Review shows the ball grounded but can’t see where the line is so sticks with refs original call. If he calls held up the ball was over the line or it is play on. Fuming.

[Clarets4me]

I agree that Ireland should beat Italy by a comfortable margin but the other two games will probably be very close. I’ll take England to edge out Wales by a small margin and France to do similarly against the Scots.

Here's a man who knows his onions ....

[Claretmisterg]

Here's a man who knows his onions ....

Ha ha. Scotland was robbed though.

[Firthy]

Ha ha. Scotland was robbed though.

We complain about VAR in football but that decision is one of the worst I've ever seen. It was clear and obvious it was grounded over the line but 95% sure isn't enough to change the refs onfield decision. Ref was pretty weak all game and VAR did not help him at all in the end.

[Tribesmen]

Two very close games yesterday , boy i would be upset if i was a Scot also .
Still shocked with France as i did think they were the best side going into the Six Nations but hey we move on to today , now the sun it out and i expect the Irish to shine or could i have this one wrong also .

[Clarets4me]

Two very close games yesterday , boy i would be upset if i was a Scot also .
Still shocked with France as i did think they were the best side going into the Six Nations but hey we move on to today , now the sun it out and i expect the Irish to shine or could i have this one wrong also .

Betfred has Ireland at 1/500 to win, and Ireland at 10/11, giving Italy a handicap start of +33 points .. my prediction is 38-12, for what it's worth !

In the words of the great Bill McLaren, I strongly suspect " They'll be dancing in the streets of Galway " this afternoon, unless something goes badly wrong !

[ecc]

Are Ireland playing themselves?

[Clarets4me]

Are Ireland playing themselves?

I could have worded it better ... I was pointing it out that Ireland are still odds-on, at 10/11, even giving Italy a 33 point start !

[ecc]

Hi Clarets4me : thank's for taking it in good spirit. I don't follow rugby but know the difference between these two countries in rugby.

I used to follow football. I supported Burnley but I'm taking a sabbatical.

[Clarets4me]

I think it's safe to get the dancing shoes down from the top of your wardrobe, " Tribesman " !!

[Tribesmen]

I think it's safe to get the dancing shoes down from the top of your wardrobe, " Tribesman " !!

Hate when Ireland are fav's going into any game as it never sits well .

To be honest i can't see anyone beating Ireland maybe if it's all on the line in the last game who knows

[Clarets4me]

Hate when Ireland are fav's going into any game as it never sits well . To be honest i can't see anyone beating Ireland maybe if it's all on the line in the last game who knows

I think England will be your toughest test, you've Wales and Scotland at the Aviva ... England at Twickenham is never easy, and I can see England relishing the underdog status for a change. In 2007, no-one gave England a prayer after the group stages, but they then beat Australia in the quarters, and France in the Stade de France, before losing to the Boks in the final. Similarly last year, although aided by the draw, they lost to the 'boks in the semi-finals by just one point ...

I'm probably clutching at straws, mind you ... anyway, Ireland owe England a few big spankings after the late 90's and early 2000's ..

[Tribesmen]

So moving on to week 3
First up Ireland v Wales , yep i know there could be an upset but lets face it i very much doubt it , so saying that going for 38 - 16 to Ireland as they march on .
Scotland v England , should be a good one and close too as the Scots will be up for it and England can make it 3 in a row in the six nations . Think i have to go with the home team here and say 24 -21 to the Scots .
Last up on Sunday France v Italy , yep the bubble has burst for Italy as this will be one sided game so i can see France running out 42 -14 winners .

We will see .

[Boss Hogg]

Tend to agree. The Irish will brush aside Wales. The Scotland England match is a tough call. I wish Italy were more competitive.

[Clarets4me]

Ireland by a distance against Wales in Dublin, 38 - 12 .... Scotland to beat England in a much tighter game at Murrayfield 25 - 19 and France to overwhelm Italy by 56 - 9 in Lille ...

[Lip]

Great. And when you have woken up you can watch the rugby league world club challenge between Wigan and Penrith Panthers kick off 8pm.

[LeadBelly]

My bookie favours 3 home wins:
Ireland by 22 points
Scotland by 4
France by 26

I hope Wakes and Italy can put up better shows than this indicates but Ill be astounded if these aren't home wins.

I think Scotland v England will be closer. Last 5 meetings have been, a draw, Eng by 7 then 3 Scots wins by 5, 3 and 6. Hopefully no unwarranted red cards and not a complete kickfest like Scotland v France. Expecting a few less tries in this than the other two though.

[LeadBelly]

For anybody who cant find any decent footy they want to watch this evening; the U20 6N equivalent games are all on BBC website (Ireland v Wales also on S4C).
HTs in the UK games: Ireland 17-3 Wales, Scotland 0-18 England

France 3-8 Italy only 20 mins in.

[Clarets4me]

For anybody who cant find any decent footy they want to watch this evening; the U20 6N equivalent games are all on BBC website (Ireland v Wales also on S4C).
HTs in the UK games: Ireland 17-3 Wales, Scotland 0-18 England ... France 3-8 Italy only 20 mins in.

Ireland went on to win comfortably by 43-8, as did England ( 17-30 ) after somewhat of a Scottish fightback ... really glad to see France lost 20-23 at home to Italy, the French paying the price for their arrogance in making 11 changes, their scrum got absolutely mullered ....

[Tribesmen]

All set for kick off in Dublin , now have the game on the the TV and will stream the Clarets on the laptop .

Hey the wife thinks i am useless when it comes to IT but can multi task when needs be

[AfloatinClaret]

Who's the Leprechaun, or perhaps he's a visiting Hobbit meeting the teams ahead of the Ireland Wale's match?

[Clarets4me]

Who's the Leprechaun, or perhaps he's a visiting Hobbit meeting the teams ahead of the Ireland Wale's match?

Michael D Higgins ... the Irish President, I suspect !

[IanMcL]

Hallelujah! Turned over, after the match, to see Scotlabd ahead snd then coming out with a convincing win! Cheered me up a little.

O Flower of Scotland

[dougcollins]

Watching England, after that Burnley performance, has been the perfect end to a particularly bad day.

[Shaggy]

Hallelujah! Turned over, after the match, to see Scotlabd ahead snd then coming out with a convincing win! Cheered me up a little.

O Flower of Scotland

I don’t often agree with you but on this occasion I whole heartedly do.

4 in a row and counting

[Bosscat]

Watching England, after that Burnley performance, has been the perfect end to a particularly bad day.

Nah watching my Granddaughter on youtube playing in goal for GBR Lacrosse 6's v Ireland in the semifinals in Portugal ... GBR won 25-5 so play in the final tomorrow at 12-00 thats the bright spot today for me ...


Congrats Scotland in the 6 nations you deserved it

[IanMcL]

Good luck to granddaughter Bosscat.

[Clarets4me]

Nah watching my Granddaughter on youtube playing in goal for GBR Lacrosse 6's v Ireland in the semifinals in Portugal ... GBR won 25-5 so play in the final tomorrow at 12-00 thats the bright spot today for me ... Congrats Scotland in the 6 nations you deserved it

Best of luck to her, Bosscat, you must be very proud ...

A few years ago, 4 of us went up to Vale of Lune RUFC at Lancaster, to watch one of my Rugby friends daughter make her debut for Lancashire women .. her " Papa " is an ex-Para, as she ran out wearing the Red Rose, the tears were streaming down his face ...

[Bosscat]

Best of luck to her, Bosscat, you must be very proud ...

A few years ago, 4 of us went up to Vale of Lune RUFC at Lancaster, to watch one of my Rugby friends daughter make her debut for Lancashire women .. her " Papa " is an ex-Para, as she ran out wearing the Red Rose, the tears were streaming down his face ...

Its Germany v GBR in the womens final and same in the Mens final which follows ... yes we are very proud

[IanMcL]

https://twitter.com/IndigoFast/status/1 ... aZoGg&s=19

A nation sings.

[Longford Claret]

France 13 -13 Italy. Italy had a last minute penalty to win , but the ball falls of the tee as the player is about to kick. He has to rush the kick then and hits the post. Almost a brilliant Italian away win.

[Clarets4me]

https://twitter.com/IndigoFast/status/1 ... aZoGg&s=19

A nation sings.

About time England replaced " God save the King ", and replaced it with " Jerusalem " ... The French, Welsh and Italian anthems are suitably stirring, and even " Ireland's Call " has it's charm, despite being written by Phil Coulter, who wrote " Back home " for the England 1970 World Cup squad, and " Shang-a-Lang " for the Bay City Rollers !! It's always entertaining to remind Irish Americans that the lyrics to " Danny Boy ", were written by a Yorkshireman, Frederick Weatherley !!

[IanMcL]

About time England replaced " God save the King ", and replaced it with " Jerusalem " ... The French, Welsh and Italian anthems are suitably stirring, and even " Ireland's Call " has it's charm, despite being written by Phil Coulter, who wrote " Back home " for the England 1970 World Cup squad, and " Shang-a-Lang " for the Bay City Rollers !! It's always entertaining to remind Irish Americans that the lyrics to " Danny Boy ", were written by a Yorkshireman, Frederick Weatherley !!

Jerusalem is so 19th century! Rees-Mogg would love that. England should have an anthem called 'Just Us' or 'Local People Only'.

[AfloatinClaret]

Its Germany v GBR in the womens final and same in the Mens final which follows ... yes we are very proud

Never mind the rugby - that's yesterday's news - how did the lacrosse go?

[Bosscat]

Never mind the rugby - that's yesterday's news - how did the lacrosse go?

My Granddaughter didin't play in the final as she had played the quarter and semi finals ... Team GB won both the Womens and Mens trophies ...

GBW won 22-5 v Germany
GBM won 16-8 v Germany

She (Granddaughter) is hoping to go to 2028 LA Olympics as Lacrosse is featuring as the guest sport there ...

Very proud Grandparents here

[Bosscat]

Granddaughter 4th back row from right just under the "S" of Sixes.
Squad photo with medals and trophy.

GB womens Lacrosse 6's squad.jpeg (445.03 KiB) Viewed 638 times

[Clarets4me]

Jerusalem is so 19th century! Rees-Mogg would love that. England should have an anthem called 'Just Us' or 'Local People Only'.

That's a bit rich, Ian !!

All three verses of " Flower of Scotland " make reference to the Battle of Bannockburn, which I seem to recall was 1314 ... " Jerusalem " is positively modern, in comparison ...

I'm open to a new anthem, but " If England's so s**t, why does the world and his wife want to live here ", doesn't trip off the tongue too well !!

[AfloatinClaret]

Granddaughter 4th back row from right just under the "S" of Sixes.
Squad photo with medals and trophy.
GB womens Lacrosse 6's squad.jpeg

Congratulations and good luck to her; lacrosse is a deadly sport, it makes rugby - Union or League - look positively gentle.

[IanMcL]

That's a bit rich, Ian !!

All three verses of " Flower of Scotland " make reference to the Battle of Bannockburn, which I seem to recall was 1314 ... " Jerusalem " is positively modern, in comparison ...

I'm open to a new anthem, but " If England's so s**t, why does the world and his wife want to live here ", doesn't trip off the tongue too well !!

But it was written in the 20th century and only references the time when independence was restored in June 1314 by Spiderman!

Seriously - a new anthem for a new independent England, wouldn't go amiss.