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  1. Originally posted by germcevoy[..]

    I sense that this campaign is gonna be the World Cup all over again. Hopefully i'm wrong


    Let's hope it was a stutter. If you get in the faces of the French and get their own team against them then every chance. You've got the players.

    On a separate note - I never thought I'd see the day Jonny Wilkinson got cited. Bloody hell.
  2. Love the 6 nations!!

    best tournament about in my opinion, so exciting and unpredictable.. Seems like an age to the next lot of matches though.

    Some points:

    1) I dont understand why Ashton's contract was renewed for just a year- what is he meant to achieve in that time? get a new coach or extend it (although extending it may not be a great move).

    2) Love Wales, what a come back!!!!! we did it to france in 2005 and now we have done it to england in 2008. Glad the record of 20 years defeated at twickenham can now be put behind us- im sure that played on the welsh player's minds a bit.

    3) Never underestimate the welsh rugby team! The critics have no respect for them. Jeremy Guscott in particular. Lack of respect from him. Should never write us off. Even one of our own johnathan davies doesnt believe we have what it takes.

    4) Ryan Jones- great choice for a captain. Gatland chose well for picking an osprey dominent welsh side. Given the short time he has had with us, that was a good move, and he predicted correctly that iain balshaw would be the weakest player in the english side.

    Although gethin jenkins and tom shanklin should come back in the starting lineup.

    5) Good to see wilkinson rattled. Think that swinging arm to jonathan thomas's head was intentional.

    Shame for the english that Strettle will miss the next match cos of his injury. Got a world class player there.

    6) James hook was simply awesome, best game for him in a welsh shirt. His kicking has really improved, although i still think henson is still the better kicker.


    Good luck to ireland (my second favourite team) next week. France did enough against scotland but weren't particularly impressive. Cant believe two scottish players miss kicked the ball which led to a french try- school boy errors there.
  3. They have no faith in Ashton but didn't have the bottle to dump him after they made the final. Coward's way out. Suffered ever since Woodward left.

    Gatland and Shaun Edwards have rammed a very stiff rod that Wales haven't had since Steve Hansen left. Outstanding. Older Welsh teams (I'm think early 90's in particular) would have crumbled like Caerphilly cheese.

    Agree about Guscott but not Jonathan. He expressed some sensible doubts but if you read what he wrote in the Independent on Sunday there's no doubting he's fully behind the Welsh team. Always will be. Just has some justifiable concerns about previous management techniques:-

    Originally posted by JonathanHis (Shaun Edward's) approach, and Gatland's too, is just what Wales need at the moment. I have said before that there is a soft culture in Welsh rugby.
    The last two Wales coaches, ..., both allowed a lax atmosphere to develop around the squad but that won't happen now and that will be good for the Welsh players. Life will be a lot tougher under these two, but enjoyable too judging by yesterday


    Agree about Ryan Jones, and also that Shanklin should be in next to Henson.

    Also share your view about Ireland as I wrote above.

    This tournament should be very interesting.

    Footnote. I don't agree about Wilkinson. He's never been that type of player and at the time there was no reason to be either (if you allow yourself to think that when losing players will do silly things). England were well in control at the time of it and it was just an awful accident. Unwise, ill-judged, careless - yes. Deliberate? - no.

    This is Wilkinson's own thoughts from todays Times:-

    Originally posted by JonnyThere has been speculation that it was my tackle that led to it (the injury). I feel that it was not my tackle and I would add that it is always very sad to see a player go off injured. I stand firmly against foul play in the game. It has never been my desire or intention to be involved in anything like that and neither will it ever be
  4. Hopefully Jake White will still be jobless after the 6 nations, if not Deano, Pat Howard or someone. That is if Ashton can't turn it around
  5. Originally posted by Hans23Hopefully Jake White will still be jobless after the 6 nations, if not Deano, Pat Howard or someone. That is if Ashton can't turn it around


    Jake White has to be sitting pretty for it. Even if you do win some games, I feel that will be more to do with the players than the coach. Certainly was in the World Cup I think. He just doesn't seem to be able to cut it at international level for some reason. No idea why, he was a stunning club coach.
  6. Originally posted by djrlewis[..]

    Jake White has to be sitting pretty for it. Even if you do win some games, I feel that will be more to do with the players than the coach. Certainly was in the World Cup I think. He just doesn't seem to be able to cut it at international level for some reason. No idea why, he was a stunning club coach.


    the game has moved on alot since the start of professionalisms in the mid 90's, maybe he hasn't kept up with the times (and this could explain him favouring ex-bath Balshaw and Tindall)
  7. Originally posted by Hans23[..]
    (and this could explain him favouring ex-bath Balshaw and Tindall)


    something has to.

    Where is Lewsey I really don't understand
  8. So. Wilkinson escapes a citing. Fair enough. My final word on the matter.

    Gatland is not sitting on his laurels with my team. 3 changes (1 due to injury). Shanklin gets the start he should have had last week.

    More on the BBC
  9. Great win for Wales, if it did take us a while to cement the victory. Couple of stunning tries.

    Very bad luck for Ireland. I was convinced we were about to witness a brilliant French defeat. Why did O'Gara kick that ball away with the clock run out??

    So, England v Italy tomorrow. Interesting...
  10. Originally posted by djrlewisVery bad luck for Ireland. I was convinced we were about to witness a brilliant French defeat. Why did O'Gara kick that ball away with the clock run out??




    he went for the all or nothing but what a useless decision when you are on the 10 yard line in possession of the ball with. Valiant effort but oh how brutal they were in the first half. It got the heart racing though. 1 win no loss isn't the worst they could do though
  11. Gloucester 13 - Leicester 20 , as for England, i can't see this going to well
  12. Originally posted by germcevoy[..]

    he went for the all or nothing but what a useless decision when you are on the 10 yard line in possession of the ball with. Valiant effort but oh how brutal they were in the first half. It got the heart racing though. 1 win no loss isn't the worst they could do though


    Especially not when it's been your forwards that have been winning it for you. Maul/ruck and drive - that's the way.

    Ah well, as you ay, could be worse.
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U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.
U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.