Calcutta cup

[BenBhoy]

Van der Merve ….. brilliant player but he’d all the time in the world to touch the ball under the posts for an easy conversion which would’ve won the game
A1

Agreed, especially as in back of mind he must have known Finn didn't have his kicking boots on. Do Scotland no have a back up kicker? Sometimes it's just not your day at #10 & no shame in letting someone else have a go when you've already missed & missed.

 

[willie_gunn]

England didn’t win the match, Scotland lost it.

This ^

Watching England rugby has become an incredibly frustrating experience. They seem to enter the last quarter with little desire but to protect the slimmest of leads. The law of averages means that this tactic will sometimes work in our favour, but equally it means that against spirited opposition we are likely to end up with a loss. I still can’t work out if the relentless kicking away of the ball is by design, or because of a lack of imagination!

The result last night was an aberration, and had Russell been on form England would have been rightly punished.

The wrong team came away with the Calcutta Cup.

 

[Tim.243]

I always enjoy listening to Princes Anne, sharp and witty.

 

[Frank Homes]

This ^

Watching England rugby has become an incredibly frustrating experience. They seem to enter the last quarter with little desire but to protect the slimmest of leads. The law of averages means that this tactic will sometimes work in our favour, but equally it means that against spirited opposition we are likely to end up with a loss. I still can’t work out if the relentless kicking away of the ball is by design, or because of a lack of imagination!

The result last night was an aberration, and had Russell been on form England would have been rightly punished.

The wrong team came away with the Calcutta Cup.

Like Will Greenwood said in the DT England don't really play any rugby..just endless box kicking,reminds me of the Rob Andrew days,get the ball and kick it in to touch ad nauseum.

 

[tackb]

This ^

Watching England rugby has become an incredibly frustrating experience. They seem to enter the last quarter with little desire but to protect the slimmest of leads. The law of averages means that this tactic will sometimes work in our favour, but equally it means that against spirited opposition we are likely to end up with a loss. I still can’t work out if the relentless kicking away of the ball is by design, or because of a lack of imagination!

The result last night was an aberration, and had Russell been on form England would have been rightly punished.

The wrong team came away with the Calcutta Cup.

they'd had it long enough it's our turn!

it was a dirty win but a win none the less , not a great game to watch for either team

 

[Tim.243]

This ^

Watching England rugby has become an incredibly frustrating experience. They seem to enter the last quarter with little desire but to protect the slimmest of leads. The law of averages means that this tactic will sometimes work in our favour, but equally it means that against spirited opposition we are likely to end up with a loss. I still can’t work out if the relentless kicking away of the ball is by design, or because of a lack of imagination!

The result last night was an aberration, and had Russell been on form England would have been rightly punished.

The wrong team came away with the Calcutta Cup.

The thing is despite all the knocking of the England Team all of the other 5 teams in the Six Nations have had their chances in the Rugby World Cup over the years but the wheels fell off.

 

[willie_gunn]

The thing is despite all the knocking of the England Team all of the other 5 teams in the Six Nations have had their chances in the Rugby World Cup over the years but the wheels fell off.

Yes, that's undoubtedly true, and England also got to the final in both 2007 and 2019. To be fair, France also nearly got there in 2011.

However it doesn't make the current games any less frustrating to watch!

We are almost back to the terrible days of 2009 - this was the first international I took my Godson to watch....it was a truly abysmal England display and I had to promise him that not all Test matches were this bad!!

England 16-9 Argentina | Autumn internationals

Martin Johnson's team produced another disjointed performance against Argentina but managed to overcome the Pumas 16-9 at Twickenham

www.theguardian.com

Just seen who was playing lock that day!

 

[opticron1]

Agreed, especially as in back of mind he must have known Finn didn't have his kicking boots on. Do Scotland no have a back up kicker? Sometimes it's just not your day at #10 & no shame in letting someone else have a go when you've already missed & missed.

Bring back Chris Patterson......now there was a kicker worth having on the field!

 

[Tim.243]

Yes, that's undoubtedly true, and England also got to the final in both 2007 and 2019. To be fair, France also nearly got there in 2011.

However it doesn't make the current games any less frustrating to watch!

We are almost back to the terrible days of 2009 - this was the first international I took my Godson to watch....it was a truly abysmal England display and I had to promise him that not all Test matches were this bad!!

England 16-9 Argentina | Autumn internationals

Martin Johnson's team produced another disjointed performance against Argentina but managed to overcome the Pumas 16-9 at Twickenham

www.theguardian.com

When I hear Ireland are the best team in the world at the moment (yes they are very good) but why is their WC track record not very good? I have yet to read a good reason as to why?

 

[willie_gunn]

When I hear Ireland are the best team in the world at the moment (yes they are very good) but why is their WC track record not very good? I have yet to read a good reason as to why?

That's the $64,000 question!

They didn't have the luck of the draw in some World Cups (e.g. 2023 having to play the All Blacks in the quarter finals, when Ireland were ranked #1), in others it was perhaps more psychological (e.g. after they got beaten by Japan in 2019, when Ireland also went into the tournament ranked #1), and they've certainly suffered at times from being hit by injuries to key players (e.g. in 2015, when they got beaten by the Pumas).

But those situations can of course hit any country. Much of it is down to the rugby World Cup being particularly unforgiving once you make it beyond the pool stages.

Personally I'd love to see Ireland win, or indeed any of the other Northern Hemisphere nations. We just seem to lack both the breadth and depth of skills that you see with the Springboks and the All Blacks.

 

[willie_gunn]

Well, that’s the 6 Nations over, and what a truly memorable Super Saturday.

I only caught the highlights of Ireland v Italy, but it looked a good game, with Sheehan outstanding with his hat-trick.

The England v Wales game shows up how fortunes can change on the basis of some luck. I thought if Murray’s try had been allowed it would potentially have completely changed the game. As it was, England physically dominated, and finally showed some real potential. Hard to single any specific players out, as all of them contributed, but I thought Ben Earls was outstanding, as were the Curry twins, and George Ford reminded us again why he is such a mercurial player, with wonderful hands that fed both of Pollack’s tries. It will be hard for Wales fans to find many positives from the game, although I admired their tenacity in fighting all the way to the end. Not sure what the answer is with regards to the current state of Welsh rugby, but I only hope they find one, as the 6N is all the poorer for their lack of form.

France have proven themselves worthy six-nations champions, but I really thought Scotland did themselves proud. Again, a couple of different calls and the game could have changed - not sure how Mauvaka stayed on and, had Kinghorn not been ruled in touch for Jordan’s try, then the final scoreline would have been much more representative of the game itself.

Andy Farrell must be scratching his head and looking again at his squad list for the Lions tour - a nice conundrum to have!

 

[Rasputin]

Unusual final weekend not even the most optimistic England supporter would have predicted that result.

Italy came out the blocks firing and looked like a half decent team of only they could find consistency.

Scotland also looked good but France really have been the ones to beat.

Say it every year but I think the six nations as a sporting event is hard pressed to beat for a championship.

 

[tackb]

I don’t think the score truly reflects the Scotland game , Scotland impressed apart from there current inability to turn excellent work in the oppositions 22 into a try !

I admire the Welsh digging in and playing to the last but they were outclassed and bullied everywhere , only one way for them to go , up!

Italy continues to improve and impress !

 

[TonyC]

A brief statement made yesterday by the commentator suprised me " Itoje has played every minute of England's last 29 games" in this day and age of injuries and substitutions I see that as quite remarkable.

 

[gazmanthegun]

A brief statement made yesterday by the commentator suprised me " Itoje has played every minute of England's last 29 games" in this day and age of injuries and substitutions I see that as quite remarkable.

He is an absolute beast and doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Incredible performance yesterday.

 

[willie_gunn]

A brief statement made yesterday by the commentator suprised me " Itoje has played every minute of England's last 29 games" in this day and age of injuries and substitutions I see that as quite remarkable.

That really is remarkable.

You would think he has a good shout to be appointed Lions captain as well - I’d presume it will be him or Caelan Doris.

 

[Rasputin]

A brief statement made yesterday by the commentator suprised me " Itoje has played every minute of England's last 29 games" in this day and age of injuries and substitutions I see that as quite remarkable.

That’s just simply incredible even at grass roots let alone the highest tiers.

 

[Tim.243]

That’s just simply incredible even at grass roots let alone the highest tiers.

I only heard Van de Merve's name mentioned a couple of times in the match against France, he could have been out on the wing having a fag break and combing his hair lol