6N Rugby

[Gardian]

Well, we've had two weekends of it and (IMO unusually) 4 good games out of the 6 played.

Some thoughts on it so far:

Ireland

Hardest team to predict. Capable of being excellent (albeit yesterday vs a poor Italy), yet brittle vs Scotland. They miss O'Connell.

Scotland

Stating the obvious, so much improved and capable of turning over any opposing side. Their problem is potential injuries & strength in depth. Hogg is the 'shoe-in' Lions 15.

France

Getting better, but they had to. By fractions, they could have either been leading the table, or nearly bottom. Says it all.

Wales

They weren't unlucky yesterday, but it could have gone either way. They had 4 players who should have been MOTM yesterday over Launchbury. My choice - Moriarty (why did they take him off?)

Italy

Dire & a step or two backwards. Sadly, Parisee (who would in the past have been most people's choice of a 6N 15) is now a shadow of his former self.

England

It has all been said re the 2 narrow wins. It has been a team performance so far, rather than any one individual, although Daly has shone. Dublin could well be dodgy though.

Good entertainment all round though.

[mint]

Yesterday, Wales snatching defeat from the jaws of victory but England was really impressive in the last 5 minutes.

France beating Scotland in the Stade de France today was thrilling to watch; energetic and brutal!

[Gardian]

Well, nobody seems terribly interested, but I'll persist.

The worst 1st half of rugby in this year's 6N this afternoon (Eng vs Italy). That will probably be Italy's best match of the tournament. England ruthless in the end.

Fantastic Scotland! They'll be more than a handful vs England in 2 wks time. Wales the only team of 6 to take nothing whatsoever from the weekend.

France & Ireland? The former just a shadow of their former selves, & Ireland simply aren't as good as they think they are. It would be travesty if they were win the 6N (IMO).

[woolybanana]

Total nonsense the first half. Ridiculous interpretation of the rules which allows players to stand offside and interfere with play.

Too much referee as well, too many petty fogging errors all penalised, on both sides. Major problems round the maul and scrum to be sorted by the rule makers.

But England did learn and manage a reply and were, as you say G, ruthless for a short time.

Pity the kicking game came back. Wales ruined the game years ago playing it and it would just about do the same again if adopted too much.