The Rugby Union Thread

tbm

Some game. 

Schnozz

Don't worry England fans, Daly's arrived like Gandalf The Shite.

VimFuego

well, that was alright I guess.

koneguitarist

Said they would win! Sorry Ireland, best team on the day won.

digitalscream

Just....wow.

So, England can win when they stop playing not to lose, and start playing like they've got nothing to lose.

Somebody must've played their Uno Reverse card today - we've had two absolutely fantastic games, and the underdogs both pulled it out of the bag.

koneguitarist

Thought England would have won by more, but poor place kicking by Ford cost them. 

elstoof

Ford had yet another poor game, I guess he’ll start next week 

mattdavis

Fantastic day of rugby. Gutted as a half-Scot but happy for Italy. Well deserved. And England now know they can do it. Hope this is the start of something better! 

tbm

koneguitarist said:

Said they would win! Sorry Ireland, best team on the day won.

100%. Scored some great tries and played with real intent. If Earls gets injured England are in trouble. He unreal. 

digitalscream

tbm said:

koneguitarist said:

Said they would win! Sorry Ireland, best team on the day won.

100%. Scored some great tries and played with real intent. If Earls gets injured England are in trouble. He unreal. 

It's not just him, though. With Freeman, Feyi-Waboso and Furbank we've finally got a back line with some fizz in it. Lawrence was obviously doing everything he could to make up for the last match too.

I'm actually optimistic, for the first time in ages.

koneguitarist

I’m very happy for Italy, despite them making Wales likely to be last.
I think we were all thinking it could be 3 away wins, dare I dream in 3 home wins now against the experts predictions?

TJT1979

Yeeeeessssss! Finally an 80-minute performance to be proud of. This is the blueprint of how Eng should go forward. Earl incredible, Feyi-Waboso and Furbank great as well. The only player who didn't have s good game was Ford. Marcus to start next week I hope, with Fin Smith on the bench?

I missed Italy but glad they got a decent win. They're a really good team now. 

fretmeister

Marcus has to start, with Fin on the bench.

Furbs was much better. Theres some online abuse for him already today, but Steward wouldn’t have been fast enough to be in a position to knock on!

Who was the little Irish guy sent flying by Stuart? That was funny. Bit like when Faf tried to tackle Marler off the ball last year.

tbm

digitalscream said:

tbm said:

koneguitarist said:

Said they would win! Sorry Ireland, best team on the day won.

100%. Scored some great tries and played with real intent. If Earls gets injured England are in trouble. He unreal. 

It's not just him, though. With Freeman, Feyi-Waboso and Furbank we've finally got a back line with some fizz in it. Lawrence was obviously doing everything he could to make up for the last match too.

I'm actually optimistic, for the first time in ages.

Yeah some great backs in there but I read a stat midweek about Earls being responsible for 50% of the total ball carried by the English forwards so far in the tournament. Some of the others need to step up. 

You have to love the 6 Nations though. Italy beat Scotland. England were never not turning up today - I never bought into the predictions of tonkings - but Ireland so very nearly got away with it. 

From an Irish POV, the 6/2 split because a problem when Nash went off. It’s a risk worth taking given what happened in France, but it didn’t come off today. Lineout wasn’t great either. Scrum was pretty solid though. 

fretmeister

I think we should thank the real inspiration for the win. The reason why the entire England team was up for it from the first second.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to Ronan O’Gara

fretmeister

digitalscream said:

tbm said:

koneguitarist said:

Said they would win! Sorry Ireland, best team on the day won.

100%. Scored some great tries and played with real intent. If Earls gets injured England are in trouble. He unreal. 

It's not just him, though. With Freeman, Feyi-Waboso and Furbank we've finally got a back line with some fizz in it. Lawrence was obviously doing everything he could to make up for the last match too.

I'm actually optimistic, for the first time in ages.

Despite my earlier skepticism, Chessum was very effective at flanker. Even if he didn’t quite realise how solid Aki is! 

snowblind

Well there's something you don't see every day. England not actually finding a new way to lose.

Almost gives us hope.

Almost......

C'mon Italy!

tbm

fretmeister said:

I think we should thank the real inspiration for the win. The reason why the entire England team was up for it from the first second.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to Ronan O’Gara

Classic ROG. 

Creed_Clicks

fretmeister said:

I think we should thank the real inspiration for the win. The reason why the entire England team was up for it from the first second.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to Ronan O’Gara

ROG could be England manager yet, but would most likely turn it down. 

exocet

exocet said:

Ireland to win by 7
Scotland to win by 10
France to win by 7

Wales for the win then