The Rugby Thread

[pharvey]

Well the 4th Round of the 6 Nations is upon us - both the U20's (this evening UK) and the Senior Competition over the weekend. All available on terrestrial TV BBC/ITV UK) so those with a VPN could access.

The Wooden Spoon decider... Wales having a torrid time of it losing all three opening matches, Italy have also lost their first three matches, but are looking far better than Wales and are playing at home in Rome. Wales have made six changes - LRZ dropping to the bench the big talking point. I for one actually agree with it as whilst he's a great attacking player, he's been found wanting in defence. He's also had little game time since coming back from injury.

The Lillywhites take on Les Bleus at "HQ" in a must win game for them to have any chance of the Championship (2 wins from 3). The big talking point there is Farrell being dropped to the bench in favour of Smith the wannabe Wendyballer. Will certainly be interesting. The French seem to have gone off the boil at tad and are playing away from home....

Scotland vs Ireland - could be a classic.... Could be a walkover for the boys in green - you just never know with the Sweaties, but they'll be looking to bounce back and with the crowd behind them you never know!!

6N - U20's (All Times UK): -
.

U20-1.jpg (55.52 KiB) Viewed 467 times

U20-2.jpg (24.63 KiB) Viewed 467 times

6N - Seniors
.

6N-1.jpg (24.26 KiB) Viewed 467 times

6N-2.jpg (21.35 KiB) Viewed 467 times

6N-3.jpg (30.14 KiB) Viewed 467 times

.
Remember to make your picks!!

[dtaai-maai]

Bit slow off the mark there, pharvey. I had to trawl through the various schedules this morning to work out my sports programme for the weekend. You can do better than this...

[pharvey]

Bit slow off the mark there, pharvey. I had to trawl through the various schedules this morning to work out my sports programme for the weekend. You can do better than this...

Shame.jpg (58.49 KiB) Viewed 460 times

[pharvey]

Well, I was coming into this weekend with shall we say, a spot of trepidation...... Watching last night's rugby has certainly not helped things!!

Supporting my country (at whatever level), Bath RFC, The Scarlets (and other "Regional Sides) playing non-Welsh opposition). With the results achieved, I've come to the conclusion that I'm a bloody Jonah!! Perhaps I should support the Lillywhites.... Nah!!

Get me out of this mess Wales!! For God's sake, pleeeeease put a decent winning display in today!!

Good luck to all in the Prediction League (unless you're supporting you know who ).

[dtaai-maai]

Oggi tifo per l'Italia. FORZA AZZURRI!!!

[pharvey]

CYMRU AM BYTH!!!

ALLEZ LES BLEUS!!!

[pharvey]

So, the 4th Round is over..... Wales (thankfully ) gained their first win of the tournament!!

17-29

Italy this season have been quite superb IMHO - taking a bonus point off France and giving the IRB's Number 1 side Ireland a run for their money. The RWC and next season's 6 Nations is certainly going to be interesting!

Wales - Dire in the Front-Row (again), dire defensively in the Center Channel (again), but big improvements elsewhere! Thank God Webb was there, but at 34 we MUST look elsewhere, not happy at Fly-half but we need to build.

* As for the U20's, the first 8 scrummages lead to (against Wales) 6 Penalties, 1 Free Kick, a Penalty Try and a Yellow Card - I gave up after that!!

7-22

Scotland vs Ireland.... A cracking first half finishing 7-8. Unfortunately things went a tad pearshaped for the Sweaties in the 2nd half. The Lillywhites up next who'll certainly be on the rebound

10-53 .... Giggle

The Lillywhites... Whaaaahahahahahahaahaha - oh sorry, but after all the shite us Welsh get from those wearing a G-Strings and a Red Rose, it's just...... Wonderful!! Beaten? Hell no.. Thrashed? Hell no.. Annihilated? Yeah, pretty much!! The downside of this being Wales have to travel to France next weekend....

[dtaai-maai]

Ireland: Andy Farrell's side close in on Six Nations Grand Slam

Oh come on, they don't have a chance of winning all 5 games! Now, who are they playing in their final game? Oh.
Oh dear...

[dtaai-maai]

Well, it's nice to see 2 Englishmen doing really well. Andy Farrell and Sean Edwards.

EDIT: And could someone please inform the RFU that it's too late to tell Eddie Jones that all is forgiven?

[pharvey]

And could someone please inform the RFU that it's too late to tell Eddie Jones that all is forgiven?

Well, despite the Lillywhites' tactics being ..... Shall we say questionable, you need to stick with Borthwick - a very decent coach as he's proved at Leicester and he will get it right (unfortunately for us Welsh).

England weren't dreadful as some are saying, France were simply superb. I don't believe any side would have lived with them on that display - everything just clicked. England have things to do, but they are certainly ahead of Wales on that front.

The proof will be how England bounce back against Ireland next week. Ireland obviously going for the Grand Slam and playing at home will be a hell of a task..... Wales unfortunately face a bigger one!!

[pharvey]

As for the HHF 6N Prediction League...
.

HHF-6N-R4.jpg (91.55 KiB) Viewed 413 times

.

[pharvey]

And so the final round of the 6N Tournament is almost upon us..... Ireland going for the Grand Slam, France still hoping for the Championship should Ireland slip up..... Of course Les Bleus still need to beat a magnificent Wales side ( ).

On current form, playing at home on St Paddy's Day "Weekend", few would bet against them......

Italy will certainly give it a go, but I think the Scots will just have too much for them - certainly don't think it's going to be a one-sided affair though.

Teams will be named tomorrow (Thursday) and ALL games are to be played on the Saturday... Oh, the LHG will be delighted!! Once again, all matches will be shown on UK Terrestrial TV, so those with Expat TV and the like or a VPN.....
.

6N-R5.jpg (75.36 KiB) Viewed 403 times

.
The Under 20's move from Friday night to Sunday, with all games also available on UK Terrestrial TV: -
.

U20-1.jpg (23.13 KiB) Viewed 403 times

.

U20-2.jpg (23.5 KiB) Viewed 403 times

'

U20-3.jpg (26.54 KiB) Viewed 403 times

.

[pharvey]

Tells a story.....
.

Odds.jpg (24.03 KiB) Viewed 393 times

.
Personally, I've gone all out and put £2.71 on Wales - it was all I could find in the sofa and Piggy Bank!

Hey ho, but here's to a great weekend of sport!!

[dtaai-maai]

A fiver on Italy might be interesting, but the odds on the other two games are very stingy!

[dtaai-maai]

I thought about downloading one of those betting apps, but I've seen guys in the pub who spend more time focussed on their mobile than watching the game. Besides, I'm a gambler by nature, and I'd hate to blow all my recently acquired pension!