NPR

Accuracy picked up pretty quickly! Probably assisted by the Scots having a man in the bin, but try bonus point now secured on 32 minutes with two fairly quickfire tries.

If you told me Jack Bracken was 15 years old, I'd believe you.

14 - 0 in Newport, with 20min gone

This Wales U20 batch is night & day versus the squads they've fielded the last 2-3 years, they're much more aggressive tonight & are making the most of their opportunities.

Cute little lineout move that from England. Really starting to give the Scots a bit of a mountain to climb.

Coen looks really good. Anyone know if he's getting much time at Exeter?

14 - 12 HT in Newport

Ireland very wasteful, & Wales dogged & taking their chances

Loads of pressure on Scotland now and eventually they concede again.

Hit the 50 on the cusp of 60 minutes. It'll be good for these lads to see how much they can put their collective foot down and to keep their Scottish counterparts from getting anything back. Really challenge themselves.

20 - 12 FT in Newport

Massive defensive effort by Wales, 228 tackles & they left Ireland scoreless in the 2nd half

fishfoodie wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 9:40 pm 20 - 12 FT in Newport

Massive defensive effort by Wales, 228 tackles & they left Ireland scoreless in the 2nd half

That's a great result for the Welsh. Hopefully they'll give England a tough game (but not too tough, of course).

Marylandolorian wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 7:35 pm

SaintK wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 7:19 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 7:12 pm

After the kicking in the press they've received, French players have no choice but to go out and hammer Italy so zero chance of an upset now.

Penaud and Jalibert dropped and a 7/1 split on the bench!!!!!

I’m tired of Galthie, 5 years with one of the best generation that France ever had and only 1 Grand slam but hundreds of excuses.

Yes I’m not sure I agree with Torq’s view as to how things will go in this light, colossal head loss is also a very real possibility in the circumstances and I don’t think this team (as opposed to the individuals) is as good as we’re told it is. Not saying I’d stick my mortgage on Italy but I think they have a very real chance if they turn up

SaintK wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 7:19 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 7:12 pm

Paddington Bear wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 5:37 pm Looking forward to this weekend. England Scotland is a genuine toss up which ought to go to the wire, Wales will come out pumped up against a changed and almost unavoidably complacent Ireland and I think Italy turning over France is heavily heavily underpriced (should have won both of the last two 6N meetings).

After the kicking in the press they've received, French players have no choice but to go out and hammer Italy so zero chance of an upset now.

Penaud and Jalibert dropped and a 7/1 split on the bench!!!!!

Galthie has thrown his toys out of the pram. According to Bernol, management thinks Penaud was too lazy to 3 breakdowns (resulting in turnovers) and missed tackles. Jalibert missed tackles too but you can't help thinking the November rift is prominent here.

Accusing Jalibert of not getting the backline working is a bit silly given how many chances Fra butchered. And comparing what Ntamack did to the backline against sh*thouse Wales. Also, the worst player on the park for Fra was Ramos and he's now been entrusted with the FH position.

Marylandolorian wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 7:35 pm I’m tired of Galthie, 5 years with one of the best generation that France ever had and only 1 Grand slam but hundreds of excuses.

100% this. He's going to have p*ssed a once in a lifetime generation of talent up the wall. As per earlier, he's developed a Clermontesque reputation of chokers.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 7:05 am

Marylandolorian wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 7:35 pm I’m tired of Galthie, 5 years with one of the best generation that France ever had and only 1 Grand slam but hundreds of excuses.

100% this. He's going to have p*ssed a once in a lifetime generation of talent up the wall. As per earlier, he's developed a Clermontesque reputation of chokers.

On the train home last time out a bloke compared them to English football’s golden generation under Sven, which I thought wasn’t a bad comparison

Ovals wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 10:47 pm

fishfoodie wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 9:40 pm 20 - 12 FT in Newport

Massive defensive effort by Wales, 228 tackles & they left Ireland scoreless in the 2nd half

That's a great result for the Welsh. Hopefully they'll give England a tough game (but not too tough, of course).

Considering how poor they were against France that's surprising.

I’ve just read that the Curry brothers are known as The Twindaloos, is that right?

Hats off to whoever came up with that.

Good article on the BBC by Tom English about some of the ridiculous predictions for the England Scotland match coming from the usual suspects:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 725g19d03o

Difficult not to agree when he says that the English pundits' predictions for this match "have bordered on the barmy". I also enjoyed Frazer Brown's comments about Woodward: "Can we just retire him? ... His opinion on the modern game is outdated and lacks education."

I'd be delighted if England manage to put Scotland away with a comfortably large margin, but the head says it'll be a tight game and Scotland are certainly more than capable than making it 5 in a row.

Clive writes clickbait bullshit for the Daily Mail.

Writing an article about his drivel is paying it more attention than it deserves. I know there's a quote from noted big thinker Courtney Lawes thrown in there, but it's mostly rebutting Woodward's nonsense. Smacks of Mr. English struggling for an article of his own tbh.

sockwithaticket wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 8:44 pm Hit the 50 on the cusp of 60 minutes. It'll be good for these lads to see how much they can put their collective foot down and to keep their Scottish counterparts from getting anything back. Really challenge themselves.

I thought it was an excellent performance.
Half the squad had 2 capss or less and al;most the same number of 1st year U20's
Fitness levels and conditioning looked pretty good as well.

SaintK wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 11:21 am

sockwithaticket wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 8:44 pm Hit the 50 on the cusp of 60 minutes. It'll be good for these lads to see how much they can put their collective foot down and to keep their Scottish counterparts from getting anything back. Really challenge themselves.

I thought it was an excellent performance.
Half the squad had 2 capss or less and al;most the same number of 1st year U20's
Fitness levels and conditioning looked pretty good as well.

Yeah, they were still hitting hard in defence pretty much up to the whistle and had it in the legs to go on the counter in the last couple of minutes.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 7:05 am

Marylandolorian wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 7:35 pm I’m tired of Galthie, 5 years with one of the best generation that France ever had and only 1 Grand slam but hundreds of excuses.

100% this. He's going to have p*ssed a once in a lifetime generation of talent up the wall. As per earlier, he's developed a Clermontesque reputation of chokers.*

Yep, he mainly pisses me off when claiming that “we” have 80% victories and when the team loses, half of the time is by less than 5 points (* this is the problem)
The wins are mainly against teams like Italy, Wales, Giorgia, Japon and temporary wick teams like England, NZ Oz.

Marylandolorian wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 12:03 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 7:05 am

Marylandolorian wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 7:35 pm I’m tired of Galthie, 5 years with one of the best generation that France ever had and only 1 Grand slam but hundreds of excuses.

100% this. He's going to have p*ssed a once in a lifetime generation of talent up the wall. As per earlier, he's developed a Clermontesque reputation of chokers.*

Yep, he mainly pisses me off when claiming that “we” have 80% victories and when the team loses, half of the time is by less than 5 points (* this is the problem)
The wins are mainly against teams like Italy, Wales, Giorgia, Japon and temporary wick teams like England, NZ Oz.

Exactly. Beating Japan. Woohooo. Losing to SA in RWC and Eng in 6N is what matters.

laurent wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 8:16 am

Ovals wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 10:47 pm

fishfoodie wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 9:40 pm 20 - 12 FT in Newport

Massive defensive effort by Wales, 228 tackles & they left Ireland scoreless in the 2nd half

That's a great result for the Welsh. Hopefully they'll give England a tough game (but not too tough, of course).

Considering how poor they were against France that's surprising.

Combo of things
1) Wales defended like demons. They quite literally had zero possession for the entire 2nd half.
2) Ireland played like mugs. So many bad decisions in the conditions given the 99% of the ball they had.
3) Conditions were awful which helped the side not holding the ball......... which Ireland frequently didn't.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 7:05 am

Marylandolorian wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 7:35 pm I’m tired of Galthie, 5 years with one of the best generation that France ever had and only 1 Grand slam but hundreds of excuses.

100% this. He's going to have p*ssed a once in a lifetime generation of talent up the wall. As per earlier, he's developed a Clermontesque reputation of chokers.

Coincided with a pretty strong Irish team also so it's not like they've been uncontested.

Uncle fester wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 12:22 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 7:05 am

Marylandolorian wrote: Fri Feb 21, 2025 7:35 pm I’m tired of Galthie, 5 years with one of the best generation that France ever had and only 1 Grand slam but hundreds of excuses.

100% this. He's going to have p*ssed a once in a lifetime generation of talent up the wall. As per earlier, he's developed a Clermontesque reputation of chokers.

Coincided with a pretty strong Irish team also so it's not like they've been uncontested.

I think the difference is that Ireland are pretty consistent whereas the cliché about "which France turning up" is still true - there no way Scotland are beating Ireland at the moment but I don't have the fear the same way against France. Twickenham saw flaky France a couple of weeks ago, even the GOAT was butchering tries.

sockwithaticket wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 11:21 am Clive writes clickbait bullshit for the Daily Mail.

Writing an article about his drivel is paying it more attention than it deserves. I know there's a quote from noted big thinker Courtney Lawes thrown in there, but it's mostly rebutting Woodward's nonsense. Smacks of Mr. English struggling for an article of his own tbh.

A man who has never missed a chance to stir the pot and throw mud at England, worth ignoring to the same degree as Sir Clive

Gatland is gone, right?

In which case I give Wales permission to start winning again (for this week at least)

Ireland with only one anthem this week

That Guinness advert on the pitch is rubbing off and making players look like All Blacks today.

Sandstorm wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 2:20 pm That Guinness advert on the pitch is rubbing off and making players look like All Blacks today.

Goes with the spilled green paint on the Irish away (spit) kit.

Good power from Conan, as the coms are saying, the recycling speed is very high

Insane_Homer wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 2:13 pm Ireland with only one anthem this week

Only get their two anthems when they're at home

Wonderful BBC camera work at the scrum. NOT.

Sandstorm wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 2:27 pm Wonderful BBC camera work at the scrum. NOT.

It's infuriating!

I do find it funny that Wales have a player called Blair Murray now to counter Scotland having Huw Jones.

Press red for final score

Irish frontrow in trouble already and they have some kids on the bench later. Shame Wales can’t capitalise on that.

sockwithaticket wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 2:30 pm I do find it funny that Wales have a player called Blair Murray now to counter Scotland having Huw Jones.

But they get no grief for it, despite Murray being born in NZ.

3/3 scrum pens now, yellow card soon

sturginho wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 2:32 pm Press red for final score

Prendergast has a touch of the Toby Flood about him.