Ireland claim the 6 Nations 2014 title, despite conceding a record number of heart attacks in the last 5 minutes!

 

Ireland rocked Paris this weekend, with a tough, hard fought victory, in a match that was alive until the last  second. They claimed only their second 6 Nations title in 14 years, had the best points difference, had the best points scorer, Jonny Sexton (66) , who also shared the most tries scored (4) with Mike Brown.  We conceded the least penalties (36) , and managed to win the final despite conceding the most heart attacks in the last 5 minutes (4.5 million). Yes, it wouldn’t have been a proper victory without giving the opposition every opportunity to snatch the win in the last few minute – ‘You’re sure like?’.

Brian O’Driscoll was 21 when we last beat France in Paris, so what better way to end your career with a victory in a place that was so hard to get wins. He retires with the record for international caps, was both an Irish and Lions captain, he put his body on the line for 15 years for his country, and it’s really tough to say goodbye, but better to celebrate his career than be sad he’s leaving.

It was day for heroes, Trimble, Kearney, O’Connell, Murray, Toner, world class performances but even more the ultimate team performance. France of course, couldn’t have played rubbish like they did the three matches before, oh no, they came out all guns blazing, but the team, and coaches Joe Schmidt and John Plumtree had a plan, and the rest, as they say is history!

Elsewhere, worthy runners up England put 50 points on Italy, playing their rugby this year with a lot of heart and skill. Italy had an awful tournament, with no wins, taking over from where France left off last year!

Wales got a big win over Scotland, in a match that ended as contest  when Stuart Hogg was red carded for a late hit in the 22^nd minute. Fortunately, Dan Biggar wasn’t badly injured, and Hogg will never in a million years deliver such a sweet uppercut with his shoulder again! Not a great season for Wales, after back to back tournaments, but they have all the players, they just need the x-factor back. Scotland still lack the players and the belief, but maybe new coach Vern Cotter will start to fix that next season.

RBS Six Nations

Saturday , March 15

Italy 11 - 52 England 

Wales 51 - 3 Scotland  

France 20 - 22 Ireland 

Ireland by 10...

This is it, the last weekend of the 6 Nations 2014, and WE (ie Ireland) have a decent chance of winning it!
First up on Saturday though is Italy v England, where England’s target will be to thump the Italians and  overhaul Ireland’s point difference. They have form, no injuries and a lot of self belief going in to the match. The Italians have been saving themselves for this match, after resting Parisse and a few other front runners against Ireland last weekend.  In the 19 matches between them, Italy have never won, and have lost by an average of 27 points.  In Rome, the average is 22, and in the last three matches Five. The result isn’t in question, and I could see England winning by probably 30 points.

Wales v Scotland is a dead rubber, two underperforming teams jostling for mid table positions. Wales just haven’t really clicked this year, but go into this match with a few changes, notably Biggar at 10, which might liven them up a bit. If Scotland had just hung on last week, they could have had a decent season, but Italy look sure to get the wooden spoon, so it isn’t an out and out disaster year for them. Wales by 10-15 points I’d say

Finally, the match of the weekend, hopefully the tournament, will see Ireland rout the French in Paris, for the first time in forever, and storm home with the trophy. It’s the final FINAL farewell for BOD, and it’d be rude not to send him off with another 6 Nations gong. Ireland have a settled look, it’s been the same team week in, week out this tournament, the players all know their roles, and have approached each game with a good gameplan. France, meanwhile are typically all over the place – no consistency in selection and no apparent tactics apart from Joue Joue. Ireland really have to win this match in a blow for sanity and order in this world. And of course, the win is no by means secure. France could be out chasing an 80 point winning margin to win the whole thing, and nearly do it…or they could try and get a record margin, fail miserably, and end up losing by a record margin themselves. Anyway, my call is a 10 point margin for Ireland. Allez les vertes!

RBS Six Nations
Saturday , March 15
Italy vs England 13:30
Wales vs Scotland 14:45
France vs Ireland 18:00

Ireland thrash, France fumble, and England smash

The whole of the Aviva stadium was swept away with emotion as BOD donned the green jersey in Ireland for the last time on Saturday. He was subbed on 62 minutes – not before setting up three tries, and a putting in a typical amount of crunching tackles and steals at the breakdown.  There’ll be a book, and a musical out of it, I‘m thinking along the lines of Evita… they’ll probably call it ‘Brian’ though, or maybe B O D Superstar.  He’s the man!  Italy were competitive for half an hour, then got blown away in the second half, with Ireland scoring 7 tries, including two each for Sexton and Trimble. Sexton had a great game, and Paddy Jackson did well when he came on. Job done, points difference up to 81!

Scotland and France each produced a performance that was pretty well expected, France were rubbish, but just good enough to win, while Scotland look much improved, but just couldn’t finish the job. This is so beautifully set up for Ireland, they will rarely enter the last week of the 6N in a better position, with France all over the place, and probably just a win enough o claim the title.

Finally, England were comfortable winners at Twickenham, playing really well and scoring all the tries. It wasn’t like Wales weren’t trying, but they just seemed to be going backwards all the way. In context, Ireland did really well to keep the losing margin so tight against England, and France hit the luck jackpot when they beat them. England are the form team.

RBS Six Nations
Sunday , March 9
England 29 - 18 Wales 
Saturday , March 8
Ireland 46 - 7 Italy 
Scotland 17 - 19 France

Do you believe in the power of BOD Almighty?

 

 One more cap for the record (picture http://bit.ly/1kBfExZ)

Another BIG weekend of Six Nations action get’s going on Saturday afternoon in Dublin this weekend. Ireland have only two objectives:
1.    Celebrate the awesome playing career of one the all time greats of the game, BOD Almighty, in his final appearance in green in Ireland, the same match he sets the world record for international caps (140)
2.    Rend the Italians limb from limb, smite them down, get downright biblical on their asses, and rack up a record points difference win against them
Ireland have the same amount of points as France, England and Wales going into this weekend, but a points difference of 42, 21 better than England.  If we could push that points difference out to 60-70, then a win against France in our final match and we’ve done it! Italy have rested a few of their front runners for the match, and seem to be saving themselves for England next week which suits us fine. We have essentially the same team starting again for the third match in a row, BOD on our side – I could see us winning by 20!

France need to try and catch up Ireland points difference against Scotland, which means a 40 point win, but in all honesty they’d be lucky to win at this stage. They’ve made a whole lot of changes for the match, but in my experience, once those French heads go down, they don’t come up in hurry, so I think they’ll win, but not by much. Scotland have Kelly Brown back in the team and captain again, and where they are now a narrow defeat by France would be a result.

Finally, the big one will be England and Wales. Whoever loses that will be out of the running this year. From an Irish point of view, it’s better if Wales come out with a narrow win, as if we beat France next week, I don’t think they’ll make up the points difference they need against Scotland in their final match. England lost this fixture 30-3 at the Millennium stadium last year, so payback will be on their minds. It’s really down to Wales, whether they surrender like they did in Dublin, or come out rampant style like in the France match. It’s a tight call, and  I think England will probably win – they have the size to stop Wales’ ‘A’ game, which is to stomp all over them, and, In Dublin anyway, Wales didn’t have a B plan. But it’ll be a hell of a match either way!

RBS Six Nations
Saturday , March 8
Ireland vs Italy 14:30
Scotland vs France 17:00
Sunday , March 9
England vs Wales 15:00

Even with BOD on our side...

 

 (picture http://bit.ly/1enrZNK)

Wales finally put in a proper performance on Friday against a shambolicly inept French side. Playing away from home seems to be too much trouble for France, especially at an intimidating place like the Millenium Stadium. Wales beat them up in the first 10 minutes, and then watched them implode. Whilst France are not out of the championship race, the wooden spoon isn’t impossible either.

Scotland meanwhile, dug deep and got  a well earned victory with a last minute drop goal in Rome. They don’t quite look like they could beat the All Blacks yet, but a win for them is like gold dust. After a dire first half, both teams picked up the pace and there was some good rugby played. Italy are up against it now, with both Ireland and England looking for big victories in their remaining two matches to improve their points differences.

Finally, England burst Ireland’s grand slam bubble with a hard fought win at Twickenham. There was very little between the sides, but England had better chances than Ireland did, played hard disciplined rugby, and kept the championship alive with this victory. No shame losing a close game like that.  But , to look on the brightside, we are top of the table with a good points difference, and we have winless Italy and make it up as you go along France left to play. Don’t write Ireland off just yet!

RBS Six Nations
Wales 27 - 6 France
Italy 20 - 21 Scotland 
England 13 - 10 Ireland

Saturday is judgement day!

This weekend is about as juicy as it gets for rugby fans in Europe. Three big matches that could pretty well decide the 6 Nations this weekend.

Starting off at the Millennium Stadium, with a Welsh side still to find their mojo this year, taking on a French side from whom you can only expect the unexpected. Wales have dropped Mike ‘Street Fighting Man’ Phillips from their starting lineup which should settle things down a bit, and improve their tempo. Speculation behind the reasons for Welsh coach Warren  Gatlands’ persistence with Rhys Priestland is rife, maybe what goes on tour stays on Rhys’ phone! France have been uneven so far, sparkling and overwhelming, and also shaky and uninspiring. Two from two so far, but only  playing at home so far . Wales must start firing soon, Ireland was the kick in the pants they needed , and I think they’ll redeem themselves on Friday with a win.

Ireland v England at Twickenham is butterflies in the stomach stuff. For Ireland, a win would set them up for the Championship, and beating England never hurts that bad. For England, a loss and this 6 Nations is a write off, they’re playing in front of their home crowd, they really, really don’t want to lose this one. They were competitive but let one slip through their fingers in Paris, and then not particularly ruthless against a dire Scotland side. They’ve got good players, but not the finished article yet. Ireland are looking settled, they have a really good win under their belts against Wales and look organised and confidant. Scary stuff, I really want this win, and I think we’ll get it, I’m backing Joe Schmidt to have hatched the right plan.

Finally, Scotland face the unenviable task of trying to avoid the wooden spoon in Rome this weekend. ‘All over the place’ is where they are at the moment, if you play well you the coach drops you, the Italians’ wouldn’t be building Hadrian’s Wall to keep this lot out. I can’t see past more woe and soul searching for Scotland, with Italy to finally get their campaign on the go.

RBS Six Nations
Friday , February 21
Wales vs France  20:00
Saturday , February 22
Italy vs Scotland 13:30
England vs Ireland 16:00

Ireland produce a gem

 

The only area where Wales had parity with Ireland was when Jake Ball ran on, a man who’d offer Gordon D’Arcy some serious competition in a beard off. But apart from that, It was Ireland all the way, man for man, in the lineouts, the scrums and the in the mauls. Garda are conducting an enquiry as Sam Warburton,  Dan Lydiate and Toby Faletau were seen entering the stadium, but went missing after the anthems. Ireland were organised, clinical and tactically proficient, while Wales, weren’t. That has to be one of most dismal flat performances out a Welsh team in ages,  and one of the least reactive coaching performances as well , with Hook, Webb and Tipuric kicking their heels one the sideline while the carnage unfolded. And as one of my Welsh acquaintances tweeted, ‘What has Priestland got to do to be dropped, pull down his pants and do a poo on the pitch?’ Wales were one from two this time last year as well, though, so things could turn around still. Not time to put the champagne on ice for Ireland just yet, but you never know…

While the competition for the 6Nations champions heats up, Scotland have already laid down a marker for the wooden spoon. They’ve put in the training for it,  are well on course at this stage, and it will take an epic effort fromm Italy to snatch it from them..  I suppose the best you could say about the match against England was that they managed to lose at a slower rate as the match went on. England look burly and up for it, but not very clinical, you would have expected them to rack up a much better score than that. All things being said though, England look like they are going to provide the biggest test of the 6N for Ireland.

France and Italy wrapped things up for the 6N, with an erratic match in Paris. There was lots of toil and puff in the first half, but neither side has anything much to show for it. Then Louis Picamoles and Wesley Fofana got the show on the road for France, with a few individual moments of magic.  After that, the match descended into Frances’ favourite style, the farce, with sendings off and an Italian try. The French could go all the way, or just as easily collapse in a heap.

RBS Six Nations
Ireland 26 - 3 Wales 
Scotland 0 - 20 England
France 30 - 10 Italy