A good afternoon of rugby on BBC today.
The minnows Italy, punished a lackluster France 22 – 21. Good for them, they very nearly beat both Ireland and Wales as well.
Wales managed to get rid of their jinx about playing Ireland in Wales and managed a win, 19 – 13 albeit, with the help from a useless South African Ref and an equally useless Linesman. Wales will not have a problem accepting their decisions. 🙂
Boadicea's Chariot 
Hi, toc.
In a very real sense, it’s the taking part in the Six Nations that matters. It really does not matter, in my opinion, who happens to come last in any particular year.
When all is said and done, it’s only a game. Rugby is the real winner and none of this matters in the slightest in the great scheme of things.*
* Without prejudice and reserving the right to revisit this comment in a spirit of naked triumphalism in the extremely unlikely event that the good guys win at Twickers tomorrow.
It is not just a game down here in Wales JM it is a way of life. It is serous stuff. There is far more coverage on TV before and after the the match than you would ever see on TV in England.or anywhere else.
I’m looking forward to England – Scotland tomorrow. The only certain thing in rugby is, nothing is certain. 🙂
Scotland haven’t won in Twickenham since 1983, when Kajagoogoo were No1 in the hit parade……..
Coincidentally Kajagoogoo haven’t had a No1 since Scotland last won in Twickenham
And I suspect, neither will repeat the 1983 scenario!
Well done Italy, congrats to Wales, about time too, rugby surely is the winner. No poncey footballers falling over blades of grass!
However, great that the 6 Nation is, if you want to see proper rugby with brilliant skills and lots of tries, watch the Super 15 series. Phenomenal stuff.
I very much hope for a Scottish win today, being Welsh. Also, having read in the Telegraph this morning that the English squad are in line for a bonus of £500,000 if they land the Grand Slam.
The joy has gone for me…
Zen – that amount of money in the game is vile. Surely playing for the jersey should be sufficient? They all get paid handsomely by their clubs. *sigh*
In the early 60’s my Rugby Master at school was Carwyn James. My father’s closest friend managed Welsh Schoolboy team for 30 years, having once been reserve for Wales, and uncle of Billy Cleaver, the Triple Crown winning Welsh captain. My late sister in law’s cousin is Roddy Evans, no slouch – I played against him once at school – frightening! He was guesting! I am steeped in the tradition of amateur Rugby, and when I read that article I felt sick.
I didn’t see the Wales game but I felt bad when I read about that ball error. It lasted for thirty seconds, at least. I’m all right again now. This afternoon? All together now “O flower of Scotland… etc etc” 🙂
It’s about values, Janh.
22 – 16 to England. Not the match the English fans were looking for. So many basic errors! Well played Scotland you nearly did it. 😦
Nearly doesn’t cut it though, does it? Winning ugly is still winning 🙂 I did enjoy the Italy game, though!
England will need to up their game for Ireland.
I live in hope!
I do not begin to see why anybody should begrudge Grand Slam winners a 500k bonus. It is to be shared by the squad of about 22 players with each receiving an average of about 23k before tax. If you are the best in your field throughout the nation, that is hardly a jaw dropping reward. The money involved in professional rugby is substantial. These people train immensely hard and suffer numerous injuries which can curtail their already short-lived careers. In the meantime they provide great entertainment for millions of spectators. Club rugby, while it may provide the bread and butter for these players does not have the same cache as international rugby and does not raise the same revenues. Players should be entitled to a respectable chunk of it. If they are the best in their profession, they should be rewarded accordingly. When one considers the salaries bonuses and winnings of other sports such as golf, football, horse and car racing and tennis etc rugby players receive relatively modest remuneration.
Whether or not rugby should be professional is another debate. The fact is that since it turned pro, there is much more rugby being played worldwide in better stadiums with greater coverage, better technology and better players. As a fan of the game, I am glad it went that way though I regret that some of the traditions have been lost and some of the unseemly behaviour of players. But one should not forget that even in the amateur days rugby players, especially the All Blacks, received substantial and illegal ‘boot money’.
Sipu, much of your argument is sound concerning the world of professional rugby, a game I have much love and involvement, and I agree with much of what you say.
I was also lucky enough to play to a very high standard in amateur days. My point was a little more basic – playing for one’s country should be reward enough. I know about boot money – I have specific knowledge of what Harlequins paid in the early 90’s, but, the professional rugby player I believe shouldn’t get paid for playing for the country of their birth.
Golfers don’t get paid for the Ryder Cup, Tennis players don’t in the Davis cup. I won’t bother talking about soccer as that just ruins everything!
Incidentally – England have no hope in the World Cup – they should stop pretending they’re contenders! All Blacks all the way!
Typo corrected. 😎
Possibly cuprum,
New Zealand haven’t covered themselves in Rugby World Cup Glory since they won the very first one in 1987 and that was a competition of only 16 teams. Since then, this is what the rugby fans have thought of their efforts.
🙂
Can you do the same for me please Bearsy.
Yup! 😎
Ta muchly. What did I do wrong?
Most of it! 😦
Toc – Mmm, they have a point! However, I feel they’ll succeed this time!
Cuprum, the emphasis of golf and tennis is not on international but on individual competition. The Ryder and Davis Cups are diversions. International rugby is a fundamental aspect of the popularity of the game. Without it, club rugby would suffer immensely. In your day, as an amateur, you were able to hold down a steady job, even a profession. That is not possible to day.
As for England having no hope in the World Cup, that is a particularly defeatist attitude which I find somewhat depressing; unless of course you are expressing a wish. I do not know which country you do support. I recall that in 2007 England was given no chance. Even after a drubbing by the Springboks in the group matches they made it to the final and gave the Boks a good run for their money. And that was more than the favourite All Blacks were able to do.
Hmm. We’ll have to agree to disagree on this one. The jump of your arguments is too great. Agreed International rugby is needed and that professional sportspersons can’t have a full time job – that’s why the clubs pay them so much. My point is that is sufficient. The extra 10 games a year for one’s country is what you should do for the motivation of the shirt and love of the game. Not for money.
As for England’s chances in the World Cup – not defeatist, just realistic. Southern Hemisphere rugby is so far in advance of the North technically, it is a no-brainer. Only France (who are schizophrenic – which team turns up makes a difference) have a chance through pure flair which is difficult to maintain over 7 games in a tournament. England just has a stick the ball up the jumper mentality that bores but tends to win. For the sake of rugby I hope a Tri-Nation wins. Who I support depends on who is playing!
C3.14, how very dare you! Aren’t you a a true Brit, man? You can’t support random antipodean or pseudo-gallic upstarts who’ve only been playing the game for a few years. Get a grip, p-lease! 😉
Janus – Nope, not a true Brit or Englander! And C3.14? Is this another Pi joke? 😀
(Just for the record….either way, I could never cheer for the cheese eating surrender monkeys! Unless against Pakistan obviously…..) 😉
I see that Kaplan has been relegated to the touchline for the France-v-Wales game when he was down to referee it.
“which team turns up makes a difference” & ”England just has a stick the ball up the jumper mentality” are two out of date clichés over used by wannabe rugby pundits. 🙂
Cuprum, ” Unless against Pakistan obviously…” The betting might be spicy too! 🙂
I didn’t see the game – was Kaplan have a poor one? Surely not as bad as Steve Walsh?
Clive Norling was the best for me – he who told Andy Robinson that even though he was a British Lion he couldn’t do that – then most recently Paddy O’Brien. I had the pleasure of meeting him in Chch once – lovely fella.
France v Wales should be a good one – two teams who through the ball around. Cheering for the valley boys in that one. England v Ireland – sneaky suspicion Ireland will win by 3 – England have too much to lose and will be too cautious.
Toc – I plead guilty – I am indeed a wannabe rugby pundit! 😀
Doesn’t make me wrong though!!