Rugby Union

[kieran_vale]

Much more intense start from England to the half. Still getting dominated at the breakdown even during that period.

 

[RavenBish]

That's an abysmal call. Owens tells Launchbury to let go, Launchbury lets go, pass intercepted, Care scores and seemingly Owens calls it back despite being happy a few seconds earlier. Match changing decision, he might as well be wearing a Wales shirt.

Not a good day for officiating.

 

[Cornish Piskie]

England have been a lot more solid in the second half and the first disallowed try was harsh although the second was quite correct. As I write, Underhill has just been yellow carded and Scotland have a penalty. It's almost impossible to see England getting back into this from 13 - 25.

The Scots are good value for their lead and have shown so much determination and sheer will to win that England have been overwhelmed. 13 minutes left. Not enough for England to turn it around, I fear.

 

[RavenBish]

I don't like blaming officials for a loss because when it's the other way round it's annoying and Scotland were very good in the first half. However, Owens has simply done far too much to affect the result of this match - to the point of being questionable rather than youwinsomeyoulosesome

 

[RavenBish]

I mean, seriously, he's a superb referee (him and Barnes are far and away two of the best officials in world sport) but this is genuinely outrageous

 

[Cornish Piskie]

I can't bring myself to criticise Nigel Owens who is by far the best referee in the world in my opinion. It's true his decisions affected the outcome of the game but he's there to make the tough calls and both of the disallowed tries can be supported by video replay.

The Scots deserve their win and their fans will rightly enjoy themselves. I wish I was in Edinburgh tonight because it's going to be one heck of a party.

 

[Cornish Piskie]

I've just had a rather <ahem> 'vigorous' exchange on a rugby site about Nigel Owens.

I can understand disappointment at being beaten but don't blame the ref. For a start, blaming the ref is just not rugger and for another thing, we all know that if he'd been giving those calls against the Scots and the situation was the other way around, we'd all be saying what a great game he had.

England fans just have to man up, congratulate Scotland and accept losing a good game gracefully.

 

[SALTIRE]

Blimey, was coming out the hospital and this was on. Had to do a double-take that we were beating England! I can't remember the last time we did that. I was expecting a trouncing as well.

 

[RavenBish]

Oh look, a referee who won't let Ireland cheat at every breakdown - let's see how they get on now.

 

[Cornish Piskie]

Oh look, a referee who won't let Ireland cheat at every breakdown - let's see how they get on now.

Errrrrr..... Ireland have just scored their 3rd try, Bish. They lead 21-3 after 47 minutes.

I hope that answers your question.

 

[RavenBish]

They were good. Scotland were shite though. They're that classic side you shouldnt bet on or against - so inconsistent and look a different side away from Murrayfield.

England aren't scoring 4 tries here either. Well done Ireland.

 

[RavenBish]

Theu really need to sort out the seatbelt tackle rule. How Watson can avoid a penalty try and a yellow card there is impossible and his arm is 3 foot off the ground.

 

[Cornish Piskie]

I agree on all counts. Scotland were well and truly trundled over by a good Irish team. The Scots played well early on but you always knew that if Ireland scored the first try they would take complete control of the game.

England have just gone ten points behind in Paris and frankly, look a mess. Far too many penalties conceded and although the penalty try and yellow card against England were harsh it was a technically correct decision in the letter of the law. All I can say is that England did well not to concede any more points while a man down.

Danny Care is a great impact sub at Scrum Half, but doesn't have the consistency over 80 minutes. We miss Billy Vunipola like hell and having to put Anthony Watson at full back because Mike Brown is past it has deprived us of a first class wing without really improving things at full back.

Congratulations Ireland on winning the Championship. I don't give much for England's chances at Twickenham next week because the Irish will want that Grand Slam and if we play like we have today it could be embarrassing.

 

[Super_horns]

Well I guess we have to hope England do bounce back as they will certainly need to improve against an impressive Irish team .

 

[RavenBish]

Unless Polledri was only intent on playing for Italy. There needs to be an inquest into how a 22 year old Englishman who is arguably the best ball carrying back row in the Premiership has ended up playing for Italy

 

[Renegade]

I suspect England will get revenge for last year's scuppered Grand Slam, surely some sort of bounce back at home after their last two dreadful performances.

 

[RavenBish]

Hilarious that hasn't been called a knock on by Kearney.

 

[Renegade]

Lovely break.

 

[RavenBish]

No arms tackle with the lead shoulder making contact with the face. Penalty only. Superb.

 

[Renegade]

Even I'll admit we've been outrageously lucky in that half. On another day both of those tries would have been knock ons.

 

[Cornish Piskie]

England were a tad hard done to with the first try. The TMO didn't even check for an Irish knock on. Having said that, the whole thing stemmed from Farrell's stupid penalty offence that allowed Ireland to get into that position.

England have been as utterly brainless as Ireland have been smart and shrewd. We have little more to offer than bashing-up-the-middle when in possession, only to eventually knock on or concede penalties...... which Ireland then take clinical advantage of.

It's difficult to see how England can get back into this game. Ireland have shown up every frailty in the England team and I would be very surprised if they took their foot off the English throats now.

Game's just restarted. Let's get on with it.

 

[RavenBish]

England badly need an attack coach, they've been very poor in that area since the success under Glen Ella in 2016.

 

[Cornish Piskie]

I agree. It's not just a lack of intensity that England suffer from it's also a lack of invention. Remorselessly bashing away at the opposition's defence has been shown up in this tournament as easily defendable by teams who are willing to trade blow for blow. If you add to that the number of penaties England concede at the breakdown because of failure to release the ball, we're unable to build any telling momentum.

In the end, the match finished at three tries each, but that flatters England and is no reflection on the game which, effectively, was over as a contest by half time, such was the domination of a canny and well organised Ireland team.

Congratulations to the Irish boys. Worthy winners and worthy champions too. The best team in the tournament this season by a long way.

 

[Cornish Piskie]

Harlequins vs Saracens at the London Stadium, just about to kick off.

51'000 fans in the stadium (not bad for a sport that, according to some posters on this site, nobody watches). Nobody seems to mind watching the match from the far side of the running track.

There are stewards in evidence but they seem to be fully occupied pointing people to their seats - which is what they're meant to do - rather than forming a demilitarised zone between tribes who want to kill each other.

Lots of people enjoying a pint at their seat and there are plenty of kids - boys AND girls - attending the game with their parents. None of the children are having to take refuge in the away team's dug out for their safety.

Everybody seems to be smiling and looking forward to a tough fought derby match.

Welcome to Rugby Union.

 

[RavenBish]

Marcus Smith is ridiculous, what an obscene talent. It will be really interesting how he's handled, at the minute it's all very softly, softly with both England and Quins but you look at what England have regarding attacking flair and George Ford's disappointing international career and you realise you can't keep him out of the 23 for much longer.

 

[Super_horns]

Bit of a catch 22 situation now for Jones - does he pick some younger players who might get into the World Cup team or try and stick with the tried and tested to re-gain some form ?

 

[Aberstone]

Positive start under Brad Thorn for the Queensland Reds, despite the bonus point defeat in Cape Town today. He's sorted out the problems from set pieces that have plagued the Reds for years.

As for Filipo Daugunu - that man is unreal. Utterly ridiculous length of the field try at the end of the game today to go with a superb try scored in Buenos Aires last week against the Jaguares.

 

[Cornish Piskie]

There is a lot of good rugby played in the Super Rugby series. It's difficult though, to see how anybody is going to take the title away from New Zealand this season though. Waratahs were the last to do that in 2014 and before that, Queensland Reds in 2011. Other than those two occasions New Zealand franchises have dominated for a long time.

Crusaders, Chiefs and Hurricanes have all gotten away to a good start. They look to me to be the teams to beat.

 

[Super_horns]

Leinster v Scarlets and Racing 92 v Munster in the semi finals of the Champions Cup?

All Irish final or can the Welsh cause another shock as per last season in the PRO12 semi finals.

 

[RavenBish]

Kingston out at Quins. Please bring in a fun Kiwi coach and let them loose with Smith, Marchant, Ibitoye and Earle. Thanks.