The Rugby Thread

**Tooting Carmen** · 01-17-2017, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Tacitus

Also a neat report on the build-up to Italy's historic win over South Africa in November (with English subtitles):

It was an historic and important win for sure, but without wishing to put too much of a dampener on it, keep in mind that:
(a) This has been an exceptionally poor South African side - losing to Japan, losing to Argentina twice in 12 months (never lost to them before), losing for the first time at home to Ireland, record home loss to New Zealand, losing for the first time in a decade to England, losing for only the third time ever to Wales (who ironically have also been below par since 2014).
(b) During those same autumn internationals, Italy were thrashed by New Zealand and then the week after beating the Springboks they lost to Tonga!

**Argentano** · 01-17-2017, 01:14 PM

Last WC

**Tacitus** · 01-20-2017, 02:23 PM

Now England's Six Nations squad. Surely Christian Wade deserved a spot?

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/38689099

**Tooting Carmen** · 02-04-2017, 02:31 PM

Just watching Scotland v Ireland in the Six Nations atm. Scotland are leading 21-8 against a team that recently beat the All Blacks. Have Ireland gone to sleep today?

**Tacitus** · 02-04-2017, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by Tooting Carmen

Just watching Scotland v Ireland in the Six Nations atm. Scotland are leading 21-8 against a team that recently beat the All Blacks. Have Ireland gone to sleep today?

Two words: Stuart. Hogg.

(and as I type this Ireland cuts the lead to six)

**Tooting Carmen** · 02-04-2017, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by Tacitus

Two words: Stuart. Hogg.

(and as I type this Ireland cuts the lead to six)

Ireland are in the lead now. This is very tense and exciting. All the same, maybe that massive Scottish win that looked likely in the first half was too good to be true from the British Isles' perennial losers.

**Tooting Carmen** · 02-04-2017, 04:24 PM

Potential second upset of the weekend? (Maybe Italy beating Wales is not so far-fetched after all). Boring game compared to the previous one though. Re-set scrums, shoddy lineouts, penalties and no tries on the board, all in the finest Northern Hemisphere tradition.

**Jehan** · 02-04-2017, 04:41 PM

France made a good first half against england even if they don't lead. I wasn't expecting this, especially in england.

**Tooting Carmen** · 02-04-2017, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by Jehan

France made a good first half against england even if they don't lead. I wasn't expecting this, especially in england.

True, but the overall quality has been boring and ponderous by both sides. It is stodge like this that makes Southern Hemisphere teams (especially New Zealand) laugh at us. Let's just hope the second-half wakes up.