Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Great game

Agreed, John - some of the Leinster guys seem somewhat tired -its said that they are over trained and therefore stale! the Ulster guys played out of their skins and McCloskey's chase and tackle on Marcus Smith was just fantastic

It’s a bit quiet on this topic ??? Maybe the wheels have come of the chariot?

I think the chariot has been nicked. Great games to watch over the weekend, a revitalised Wales, strong Ireland, brillant Scotland, disappointing French and a rudderless England beaten by a very up and coming Italy........good to see the ranking being turned on its head and a much tighter competition. Ireland and Scotland hopefully will be a great game next week.

It’s been my wife’s significant birthday this week, we have done lots of things and getting to see the rugby was tricky but managed to see
some.
Got back late from a National Trust house visit and afternoon tea…….only a couple had that but the rest went for full English, it was cold and rained heavily all day ! Managed to see some of Wales and Ireland and was impressed by Wales who could have won with several scoring chances. Ireland just a little better at those important plays. My Irish ‘son in law’ worried about a lack of new talent coming through …?

So during Saturdays pottery throwing experience , done before but still struggling to get past low bowls, we managed to see some Scotland France on his phone. Couldn’t believe the score when we logged in . Scotland well in front. We logged in again and a bigger lead. Pot throwing abandoned by me and the Son in law and we watched . France had to do the impossible , scoring over a point a minute ! Wow what a comeback from the dead. Loved the game, loved the result. But never seen Dupont play so badly during our limited viewing…..

It is such a shame that when Scotland win and win well, most of the English can support and congratulate the Scots. On the other hand Scotland just hate us . Friends from Slovenia toured the 500 route in a mobile home 2 summers back, came down to our daughters festival ‘wedding’ and in talking they said why do the Scottish people hate you and they do hate you !! That was their over riding view. They loved their trip though.
From pottery it was on to a reserved table at a lively pub for the England game.
I had fancied Italy to win ( after never beating us) and that was added to by the 9 changes, (10 in the end) .Brave decision by Borthwick but totally risky if not nuts….hoping for a miracle? Could not get decent odds on Italy earlier in the week to make a bet , so clearly the bookies thought an Italian win was unlikely but not impossible.
Words fail me about the ineptitude, the one plan, kick it. No leadership in time of need - he was off the pitch when needed.
Italy should have closed down the first half in the lead but went back to form and allowed England to lead at half time.
I did think Italy should have gone for the penalty to put them in front but opted for the corner and failed. Great try in the end, summed up the game. I did think they might not close it out but England just had no idea, no passion. Rudderless, lifeless, dismal & defeated as one commentator said.
It was a thumbs down from all of us in the pub in that Roman arena !
On to dinner and whist the girls chatted about what girls talk about, us boys discussed the rugby and if Bortwick will lead us to the World Cup . Daughter piped in and said she wants to go down under and will suffer the rugby. We just wondered how England will perform against the World Champs , Argentina etc…
God help us if France come out smarting after their loss.
Best to all MM
PS one final day of fun , I’m knackered , fun is exhausting as you get older .

Sorry forgot…..Italy didn’t really play that well, they can play better, their forwards can achieve more which makes our loss even worse.
I forecast Jamie George to go off at 55/58 mins but Borthwick frightened to death that C-D would fail to throw in as well as George. Not a fan of C-D but it needed to be risked for energy..
George He was dead in the end
MM

Three fantastic games of rugby over the weekend. First up Ireland vs Wales and it was so good to see Wales finally playing with shape and accuracy and heart after what has been (and still is) a very unsettling period in their rugby history. And Rhys Carre's try was the highlight of the weekend! Ireland in the end were just too good even though they are still in a phase of development.

Scotland played just as we know they can and prevented France from getting into the game until the final quarter. Just brilliant, confident attacking rugby with pace, power and flair. We English are normally on the other end of that so it was good to see another nations getting both barrels! Well played and congratulations to Scotland.

Then onto Italy vs England which was never going to be an easy game for England. And so it turned out. Italy are now a solid international side and proved it here. They have a strong and disciplined pack and some genuinely world class backs. They also have a pragmatic manager who trusts his players. England just seem out of sorts at the moment. Itoje has been a powerhouse and before being given the captaincy was a natural on-pitch leader, but, like Jamie George before him, seems to be negatively affected by the extra "official" responsibility of being captain. He comes in for criticism in the same way as Owen Farrell did but is a bit of a liability at the moment in the same was as Farrell could be. England seem unable to change tactics or alter the plan of hoofing it back to the opposition at every opportunity and until this changes we're in for a rather fallow period in English rugby I fear. Congratulations to Italy though on a great performance and on finally beating us!

Well Borthwick picking the same team (bar 1) comes across as a bit ballsy ! He must have faith in last weeks wholesale changes.
Both teams need to play better but France have been prolific at crossing the white line with flair.
Looking forward to the game but glad we were not able to go.
MM

Enjoyed some great rugby.today culminating in the France England game.but………if you want to win you cannot afford to miss 3 conversions (6 points).
Schoolboy mistake by Chessum , great try but he had time to go to the posts after crossing the line to ensure a conversion ! And why with under 2 minutes and against a team with the try scoring flair of France would you box kick and give the ball back to them. Always a chance of giving a penalty away as well and sure enough they did. They should have kept ball in hand , all of us watching said we are now going to lose.

Still an amazing turn round by the team, they seem to have been allowed to play how they wanted to.
MM
PS roll on summer rugby and the women’s games. Italy above us in the table……agghh.

Probably the best 6 nations ever, went to the wire. Obviously England did not want Ireland to be champions, why else would they kick the ball away to the French with only seconds to play?

Very pleased to see Wales back on it - especially as Arwyn and Sam were in attendance 😎👍

Pollock is an arrogant bunt with more disadvantages from a team perspective than positive, he needs resting and educating in the etiquette of this finest of games.