Six Nations 2005

[Asashosakari]

I don't agree with you!!!

For France-Wales, in the first half, Wales didn't exist!!! France should have scored more tries, if they had been more lucky!!! The Welsh were jolly better in the second half, espescially at the beginning (France has always problems at the beginning!!! :'-(  )!! They scored 1 1/2 tries... Good!!!

  But France played well too!!! What's striking is, for their fisrt matches (scotland and england), they played toooooooooooooooooo baaaaaaddd!!!! And they won!!! I don't know why!!!

ps : we have four goal kickers!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I want one of those triple-bang keys. (Sigh...)

(Showing respect...)

[Kasugaran]

Whatever the case, Wales are winning the Six Nations!

Byddan nhw'n canu !

[Elenrian]

Byddan nhw'n canu !

Hmmmm.... I don't know that language... What does it mean?

But Wales may win, that's right... If they beat Ireland... It will be a bit hard, huh?!

[Manekineko]

I guess that's Welsh... if it seems to have too many consonants, it's a fair guess. (Shaking head...) "w" is a wovel in welsh, right?

Well, learning Irish is right after Icelandic on my list of languages it'd be cool to know, and I might just add Welsh to that. :-)

Edited March 1, 2005 by Manekineko

[Kasugaran]

Byddan nhw'n canu !

Hmmmm.... I don't know that language... What does it mean?

But Wales may win, that's right... If they beat Ireland... It will be a bit hard, huh?!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It means " They'll be singing in the Valleys" which they will be very soon.... Oh yes, it is Welsh....

[Elenrian]

Ireland - France : 19 - 26 (9 - 18)

For his first selection Benoit Baby made an excellent match and scored a try (see photo). For his 100th selection, French captain Fabien Pelous was offered a good win by his teams mates.

In the first half, Irelandhad the wind with her, but could not dominate really. France profitated and scored 2 tries. One of them started from a touch in the middle.

In the second half, wind had turned : it was blowing from left to right. So the penalty kickers were a bit disturbed. Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll scored a wonderful try! At this time, there was 21-19 for France!!! But Dominici scored the final French try!!!

There is no longer hope for Ireland to clinch the grand slam!!! (Depressed...) But how about the special prize given when a british team beats all the other british teams?

New French player Benoit Baby is scoring France seond's try!!!

England - Italy : 39 - 7 (22 - 0)

Well... England did not lost, this time!!! But did they really win?

I must confess they didn't convice me at all!!! Italy is certainly the lowest team this year!!! What I saw is a good English start, then about 20 minutes of italian domination (!!!), where, happily for England, they couldn't score any try or point because of numerous blunders!!! french commentators said England was "lifeless" during these 20 minutes...

But England made soooooooo much blunders!!! If they had been more skilful, they could have scored at least 2 or 3 more tries!!! Italia could have scored about 1 more try!!!

To conclude, I am not conviced by England "performance"... And Hogdson mised soooo many kicks!!! Jonny, where are you?! (I am not worthy...)

He didn't score!!!

[Hakuyobaku]

well i guess now it's between wales france & scotland isn't it?

a bit of celebration for me too! 20-13 Georgia-Romania Six Nations A.

so Georgia still has a chance to clinch that if Romania beats portugal.. quite possible and georgia beats Czech.. virtually inevitable . yes!

p. s. go Ireland!

[Elenrian]

There is no longer hope for Ireland to clinch the grand slam!!! (Depressed...)  But how about the special prize given when a british team beats all the other british teams?

please think before you make comments like this! ireland and britain are separate islands. ireland is no more "british" than france is

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am sorry! I meant British Islands!!! :-) Please excuse me!!!

They still can win the "triple crown", can't they? And of course the tournament!!

Now I think that Ireland has more chances than France to win the tournament, because they scored more points!

I think there is some extracts of the match in the bbc site! But be careful : it is very long to download and we don't see well! But it is better than nothing! :-)

[Sasanishiki]

Yes, the Triple Crown is for Ireland, Scotland England & Wales to compete for. If one of the teams beats the other three then they have won the Triple Crown. I'm not sure if it is an actual trophy or just symbolic (more likely the latter, just like the wooden spoon).

[Manekineko]

Ooo, French tries in the first half against Ireland were nice... but that try of Irish captain in the second half, to bring his team within 2 points of French, that was a thunderbolt from clear skies! Excellent! But France was unwilling to lose a won match again (after last time against Walles). French played well, Irish made some mistakes they really could have done without. Good game, tho'.

Italians impressed me: instead of crawling off to die in a hole after 22-0 in first half (where they spent good 20 minutes relentlessly attacking the English goal), they kept on coming as if their lives depended on it. No wonder that Lady Luck decided to smile on them (Audaces Fortuna Iuvat or sth like that) and kept the English from taking advantage of some terrible Italian blunders. But finaly their defence gave... The quality of Italian play was obvious by the utter exhaustion of both teams near the end. Thumbs up for the Azzuri!

Oh, that blunder by the Englishman who caught up the ball behind the Italian goal-line only to let it pass through his hands... (Applauding...)

First two tries of Walles against the Scots were pure poetry. (Applauding...) That red shirt sprinting across the empty field to lay the ball down in dead center of the goal had me shouting amazement in several languages to great distress of my flat-mate. Flying Welsh attacks, powerfuls Scottish attacks, this was a fine game to watch. The 5-minute non-stop Scottish attack at the end of first half was incredible in its persistance.

Welsh look incredibly good. Final results might well be:

Walles 5-0

France 4-1

Ireland 3-2

Scotland 2-3

England 1-4

Italy 0-5

Positions of England and Scotalnd are open for negotiation. (Applauding...)

[Elenrian]

Italians impressed me: instead of crawling off to die in a hole after 22-0 in first half (where they spent good 20 minutes relentlessly attacking the English goal), they kept on coming as if their lives depended on it. No wonder that Lady Luck decided to smile on them (Audaces Fortuna Iuvat or sth like that) and kept the English from taking advantage of some terrible Italian blunders. But finaly their defence gave... The quality of Italian play was obvious by the utter exhaustion of both teams near the end. Thumbs up for the Azzuri!

Oh, that blunder by the Englishman who caught up the ball behind the Italian goal-line only to let it pass through his hands...  (Sad goodbyes...)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I totally agree with you!!! I thought they'll lose 150-3 in the second half! But, when it's 22-0 at halftime, there are two solutions :

- To become Asashoryu and win 22 - 35

- To become Takamisakari basho and lose 54 - 7

Most of the time, the team becomes Takamisakari, but when it becomes Asashoryu, it is veeeeery impressive and I still remember some transformations!!!

Italia showed a lot of things last week end!!! France should worry a bit!

[ilovesumo]

I am wondering to see no carves at the players knees. They must have often injured knees. (Eek...)

Hey, let's talk about boxing :-P (Sad goodbyes...) Markus Beyer (Laughing...)

*JOKE!!!* (I saw the fight...it was a tie in my opinion)

I am waiting and waiting and waiting for Sumo on TV........ (Depressed...)

[Elenrian]

I am wondering to see no carves at the players knees. They must have often injured knees. (Sad goodbyes...) 

It doesn't happen often because the grass is comfortable enough. But once (last november), there was some sand behind the last line, and a player sliped there and had his knees in blood!

When a player is bleeding, he must leave the field to get healed.

And congratulations to Wales, who beat Scotland 22 - 46 (3 - 38). Most of the work was done in the first half, and scotland played better in the second half (they scored 3 tries!!!).

[Sasanishiki]

While on the 6 nations and in line with some of the posts earlier about Ireland, I wanted to know how rugby became established in Ireland and why it is popular. I suppose I am addressing this largely to Nishi or anyone else that knows.

To my mind, rugby in the northern hemisphere in most coutries is about privilege. For example, in England it was the sport of private (called public in England) schools and universities, and predominant in the South. It has never been a working man's sport - these are rugby league and soccer, which have strongholds in teh working class North. This may be changing after the Rugby World Cup victory and with the onset of professional rugby, but I would still think that some of these attitudes hold.

Rugby in Wales, however, is not tied up with the same class conciousness. It has always been the number one game and seen as a test of courage and masculinity.

Now, I would see rugby in Ireland as the epitome of English colonialism. How did it start? Was it under the English? Or, has rugby taken off with less of a class conciousness in a way similar to Wales.

Interested in any thoughts.

[Manekineko]

Not really connected to Sasanishiki's query, but it reminded me: a lot of rugby men (are they called forwards? the ones in the scrum, anyway, the "muscle") look like working-class men, ones you could find with a pint in a local pub after a hard day's work in factory/mines... So I'd be interested to know is there a difference in background between those "heavy" guys and "light" runners and goal-scorers (you know, guys who can kick the ball well).

I really should look up some rugby terminology... (In a state of confusion...)

[Manekineko]

One other Q (and feel free to send me to google for it): in case Walles loses to Ireland, which score-differential matters - just between Walles-Ireland-France (who wins against Italy) or the totals? In other words, do their respective scores against Italy, England and Scotland matter?

[Elenrian]

in case Walles loses to Ireland, which score-differential matters - just between Walles-Ireland-France (who wins against Italy) or the totals? In other words, do their respective scores against Italy, England and Scotland matter?

- For England and Scotland, no matter : they can't win

- To win, Ireland must win over Wales by over 13 points, AND France must win (or loses) over Italia by LESS than 41 points.

- To win, Wales has to beat Ireland.

- To win, France must win over Italia by at least 41 points, AND ireland must win over Wales by 13 points or more.

To sum up, Wales has more chances to win.

Not really connected to Sasanishiki's query, but it reminded me: a lot of rugby men (are they called forwards? the ones in the scrum, anyway, the "muscle") look like working-class men, ones you could find with a pint in a local pub after a hard day's work in factory/mines... So I'd be interested to know is there a difference in background between those "heavy" guys and "light" runners and goal-scorers (you know, guys who can kick the ball well).

I don't think there is a real background difference... BTW, you can call the the scrumbers "Forwards", or "Pack".

[Doitsuyama]

in case Walles loses to Ireland, which score-differential matters - just between Walles-Ireland-France (who wins against Italy) or the totals? In other words, do their respective scores against Italy, England and Scotland matter?

- For England and Scotland, no matter : they can't win

- To win, Ireland must win over Wales by over 13 points, AND France must win (or loses) over Italia by LESS than 41 points.

- To win, Wales has to beat Ireland.

- To win, France must win over Italia by at least 41 points, AND ireland must win over Wales by 13 points or more.

To sum up, Wales has more chances to win.

There is a big hole in your enumeration. What happens if Ireland beat Wales with less than 13 points? I suppose, then Wales also is the winner regardless of the France-Italy outcome?

Edit: Wouldn't it be easier just to answer Manekineko's question with a yes or no, or just stating the rules? I must say, I didn't understand why France-Italy necessary points difference is exactly 41 points regardless of the points difference between Ireland and Wales, in case Ireland beats Wales with more than 13 points. If total points difference is important, why can't France win it all with a 100 points smashing over Italy and Ireland beating Wales with less than 13 points?

Edited March 15, 2005 by Doitsuyama

[Elenrian]

So we have now :

1/ Wales + 62 points

2/ Ireland + 37

3/ France + 9

If Ireland wins by less than 13 points, we will have :

Wales + 50 (or +51 etc)

Ireland + 49

And it depends of the French's results. Ireland will not win if they win with less than 13 points.

[Azumashida]

To my mind, rugby in the northern hemisphere in most coutries is about privilege.

It is not in France. There it's mostly a regional issue: it's the number one sport in the South-West and all the top teams except for Paris are from the South of France - and mostly from fairly rural areas (bigger cities like Toulouse, Bordeaux or Grenoble being more or less exceptions to that rule). IMHO that explains, among other things, why there are rather few black players in French rugby (although their numbers are growing), as opposed to the other big team sports in France (football, basket-ball, volley-ball and handball)...

The sociological aspects relating to rugby are quite interesting worldwide. One of the strange things is that a lot of Commonwealth countries that play cricket a lot (e.g. India, Pakistan, but also Carribean and African countries) and are, for some of them, extremely good at it, play very little rugby if at all. OTOH, rugby is played at a very high level in Argentina (where I understand it's quite

[aderechelsea]

in Greece there is only one team (to my knowledge) so there is no league.Just some guys who get together and play the game ....

they are ex-wrestlers in majority (we have a lot of those here in Greece) who want to find an excuse to beat the hell out of each other

[Elenrian]

WAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow!!! Grand Slam for Wales!!!!!!!!!! (Punk rocker...) (Applauding...) (Sign of approval) (Nodding yes...) (Enjoying a beer...) (Applauding...) (Applauding...) (Applauding...)

What a match!!!

Wales - Ireland : 33 - 20 (16 - 6)

Wales did a greaaaaaaaaaat match!!! They played veeeery well and clinched the grand slam, the triple crown, etc!!!

At the beginning of the second half, wales was leading 29 - 6, and I thought Ireland would collapse. But they didn't. And scored two good tries.

Congratulations to both teams : I enjoyed watching this wonderful bout.

Special congratulations to Wales, and to all the Welsh members of this forum! (Applauding...) (Spooky TV program...)

Two cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute boys : (I loooove them!!!)

There was another match...

Italia - France : 13 - 56 (10 - 24)

Well... A good match, but I didn't see Italia... Seven tries from France, and a wonderful one for Italia (after a 80-meters-run!!!). The "New" French, David Marty, scored two tries...

The best french player of this tournament in action!!!

[Sasanishiki]

Absolutely bloody marvellous!!!!

I'll be wearing my Welsh shirt to work on Monday to celebrate!

[Azumashida]

Yes, great to see Welsh rugby romanticism back at the top (of Europe at least)!

And generally speaking, beautiful six nations this year, lots of flair, lots of attacking three-quarter rugby, especially thanks to guys like Shane Williams, O'Driscoll or (the guy coming from nowhere) Laharrague... B-)

[Manekineko]

Yes, that was a nice Saturday afternoon, couch-potatoing for 6-7 hours straight! ;-)

BTW, I guess Dominici (sp?) wasn't that badly hurt in the game against Italy? I couldn't find any news on the web, but it did look mightly nasty when he was carried out with the neck-brace and oxygen mask... ;-)

Highlight of France-Italy match: that Italian runner in the first half, that grabbed the ball during the French attack and then ran for his dear life as two Frenchmen chased him... from the bird-view it looked as two fighter-planes chasing an intuder. Very nice try.

Ireland-Wales: Irish fought well, but it was clear they were lacking that something extra Walles had in barells in the last couple of matches. All in all, very good game, not lacking in excitement and fine moves on both sides. I bet there were streams of beer flowing down Cardiff streets this weekend...

Scotland looked too weak against the English - pity, 'cause I cheered for them. ;-) Ah, but that was a lovely try for Scots at the beginning of second half, when the runner kicked the ball over three English "defenders" just before they piled on him...