HoH's Annual RBS 6Nations Thread!!!

Also remember, the referee for the England/Wales match is drunk aggrohead Steve Walsh.  He hates the English, has a tendency to lose his head, and did I mention he hates the English?

Also, be weary if a possibly Welsh try goes to the TMO.  It will no doubtedly be disallowed as the TMO is Scottish and he's never seen a try scored before.

In Northern Hemisphere rugby, it is a must.

ireland by 7+ ? ireland half/full?


looking at setting up a multi

Ireland should win by more than 7 and also cover the HT/FT, but how these teams come out is a full ?????? given the circumstances.  My best bet on this slop is Ireland Penalty Goal as First Score or Penalty Goal as First Score.

I've got this capped at Ireland by 14.  But, like I said, too many unusual variables in this match that does not allow for a clear insight.

WALES -2.5 

And........................................

WALES TRIPLE CROWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats and well done..

a moment of brilliance won it for the welsh in a match they were below par

Said half in jest, half in faith.  And HOOOO BOY did I need that to be true in the 81st Minute!!!! 

Have always been a fan of Strettle, from the days of his first call up, through all his injuries, etc., and to see him being the one possibly sinking my ship was devastating.....but no downward pressure on the ball and the Scotsman got it right.

Also, to give credit where credit is due, it is now extremely clear why alcopop aggrohead Walsh got another go of it granted by the IRB.  When he is level-headed and secure, there is simply no other whistle-blower on the planet better than him.  He officiating of the match was pure bliss to watch from a purist's standpoint and will no doubt go down in the IRB's video handbook for training new referees. 

Breadman, Bollox,

Great game overall and the final 5-6 minutes highlights why there is none other like the Six Nations. 

For tomorrow's Scotland v. France tie, Sportingbet has MOST TRIES - FRANCE at $1.55.

HAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHA.



Scotland doesn't score tries.  And if they get one against the French tomorrow, France will get 2+.

This simply has to be taken.

Good luck guys.

Well, hot damn.  Scotland scored some tries!!! 

Well, France just missed a dropper at the end to beat the handicap.  Poop.  But the march of tourney (so far!) comes in thanks to Lawes being sloppy yet once again and the Triple Crown to boot!

Matches: 3-3

Wales to Win Triple Crown: WIN

France to Win 6N: Outlook GOOD

No play on the France. Ireland match this Sunday.

This match shouldn't have been this Sunday.  Hard to tell what the motivations will be or how the teams will come out.

7.5 is too tall for me to back the French on and too short for me to back the Irish in Paris on.

NO PLAY.

17-6 Ireland at the Half.

Some of the worst refereeing I have ever seen.

Ireland offside EVERY PHASE on the French attack.

Cian Healy 25 metres OFFSIDE runs into the French back getting ready to receive the ball FROM BEHIND, knocks him around....no yellow card.  Announcers are dumbfounded, crowd is dumbfounded.

All I can say is:  WHAT THE FUCK?!

Pearson better get his head out of his ass for the Second Half.  Amazingly egregious fouls on a constant basis.  No yellow for behind 25 metres offside and running over the French back from behind 20 metres from the Irish tryline.....GTFOH!!!!!

And the British announcers are annoying at their very best.  And heaven's forbid the lone Frenchman speak up as he is quickly hushed back down by the other nitwits on the announcing squad.

Irish lineout 22 metres from their own tryline knocked forward by the Irish, grabbed by the French and French rolling.  Pearson whistles it dead, orders scrum, no advantage play-on.

Well, I guess we all know whose he's been instructed to make sure wins this match.

France scores a try cleanly and OBVIOUSLY.

Pearson goes upstairs to the TMO and asks if it was a try.



Davey boy, you're making it waaaaaaay too obvious now mate.  You fucken slag.

Draw.

Lines for Round Four:


Wales -19.5 Italy

Ireland -8.5 Scotland

France -7.5 England

Going to keep this round's write-ups short and sweet.  If you have anything else to add or want to know, please do so.


First up.....Wales -19.5 at home versus Italy.


The first thing I thought when I saw this spread was:  WHAT THE %$#@!!!?!!!    That is a whole lotta of points.  I've even seen up to -21.5 at some places.  If there ever was a game to lay off...

Then I got to digging and I absolutely love this play.

Warburton wants to smash the Italians in Cardiff in order to lay down a fearful marker against the French, for whom they will see on March 17th.  Gatland is selecting his strongest XV with full plans to play to the bone.  Gatland also knows that if England beat France, then the English are the only team that can take the 6N away from Wales, and to do so, they will have to beat them on points-differential.

Wales smashes Italy = impossibility for England.

The play is:


WALES -19.5 

Next up, the Scots travel to Dublin for what should be a down and dirty game.

Again, like last round, it is hard to get a handle on the Irish game because of that frozen farce a month ago in Paris.  I also think France were given a shake because of this postponed match and that led to them eventually drawing.

While Ireland should be too strong against a brave Scottish outfit, will they cover the 8.5?

Scotland is known to bogging down games and making mush out of 80 minutes, even though Andy Robinson is trying to instill some heightened activity in his backline starting with more positive play through the forwards.

That being said, the Scots will also have one eye on the Italians next week in order to avoid the bummer called the Wooden Spoon.  Will they come out fully 100% for the Irish......or just making up the numbers to get on with the Italians on the 17th?

I am going to pass on this game but my gut is strongly telling me the Irish get it done here.  Still, no play for me, but if you want a go, I advise taking a lick on the Irish at -8.5. 

Next up is Le Crunch with the English traveling to Paris to take on the demoralized French.

When this line came out, I was rather surprised, as I didn't expect to see England getting more than a converted try.  The hook on the 7 was really confusing and leaned me heavily in favor of backing the steadfast and resolute English, even in Paris.

However, midway through the week, Saint-Andre did something quite peculiar...........he changed his half-back pairing, even though France has yet to lose a game. 

Spotting this as the key to solving this match, I realized while Parra and Trinh-Duc are the two most recognized, and used, halfbacks in the French side, they do not offer any strategic advantages against an English side that will not be bullied upfront nor negatively phased by the typical slowball Parra likes to play.

Introducing Dupuy and Beauxis.......................

While many have scoffed at this decision, I see it as a brilliant masterstroke by the rookie French caretaker.  The key to beating England will be to use speed against them.  Disallowing the slowball, disallowing the shaky English backline defense to get set, and allowing the superior French wingers and centres to make their mark.  This is something that, quite frankly, Parra and Trinh-Duc while possibly more experienced and technically superior, wouldn't be as adept at doing against the English.

But the coup-de-grace............the piece-de-resistance......is Beauxis' foot.  His kicking ability is a MASSIVE upgrade to either Trinh-Duc or Parra.  Not only is his accuracy solid, but the distance he receives on his kicks is better too.  We all know England will kick away position constantly, trying to pin the French deep and force an error.....as they played against the Welsh to an almost success.  France is having none of this as Beauxis can and will kick further and stronger than anything any of the English can boot his way.  Like becoming dehydrated more and more with every drink of salt water you take.....the English will find themselves further and further in a disadvantageous position the more they kick the ball away and Beauxis gets the responce.  What is the English counter to this?  I don't see one....

This is a masterstroke from Saint-Andre and, I think, a coming sign of his clever stewardship of the French national side.

That being said....................

Lay the wood.............

Vive la France!


France -7.5