Rob wrote:The beers are in - thank god for my job.
The Calcutta Cup begins tomorrow, as an Englishman should I be excited or am I going to suffer for another 6-8 weeks of near misses!
I'm nervous which at least shows I have a feeling we may do better this year - we cannot do worse
Let the games begin!!!
Beer Necessity wrote:I agree about Ireland - I definitely think they will provide the sternest test of the 'Home' nations.
What do you think about Jonny Wilkinson's inclusion, btw? I predict he'll be off before half time, but I hope I'm wrong, obviously.
Nervosa wrote:Beer Necessity wrote:I agree about Ireland - I definitely think they will provide the sternest test of the 'Home' nations.
What do you think about Jonny Wilkinson's inclusion, btw? I predict he'll be off before half time, but I hope I'm wrong, obviously.
I'm really proud of the Ireland team. O'Driscol (#13) is one of the best players of all time, IMO. He reminds me a lot of Joana Lumo (sp) actually.
Nervosa wrote: As for Wilkinson, I think it's pretty stupid putting him on. No offence, but I think he's a total has-been. Don't get me wrong, I think he was the man that won England the World Cup....well his right foot won it. But these days, I think his Ruggers career is well and truly over.
Nervosa wrote:My desired order would be:
1st - Ireland
2nd - Scotland
3rd - Italy
4th - France
5th - Wales
6th - England
Putting England in last place is simply because of my dislike of English sportsmen/commentaters, nothing against you English folk! I think the commentaters are sooooooo bias, and even after the team has got a total thrashing, there's always the predictable excuses by the commentaters/players/coaches.
Rob wrote:Nervosa wrote:Beer Necessity wrote:I agree about Ireland - I definitely think they will provide the sternest test of the 'Home' nations.
What do you think about Jonny Wilkinson's inclusion, btw? I predict he'll be off before half time, but I hope I'm wrong, obviously.
I'm really proud of the Ireland team. O'Driscol (#13) is one of the best players of all time, IMO. He reminds me a lot of Joana Lumo (sp) actually.
Not even close, yes he's good, and possibly was one of the best in the world a few years ago, but will never be a legend of the International greats.Nervosa wrote: As for Wilkinson, I think it's pretty stupid putting him on. No offence, but I think he's a total has-been. Don't get me wrong, I think he was the man that won England the World Cup....well his right foot won it. But these days, I think his Ruggers career is well and truly over.
He has suffered from injury yes, and is possibly not fully match fit, but how on earth can you say his career is over and he is a "has been", when he hasn't played since 2003?? He is still young and he has skills far beyond his boot and any other fly half in England. I dare you to go up to Martin Johnson and tell him that the only reason England won the World Cup was down to one kick!!
I'm sorry but when I hear anyone who claims the World Cup was won by Wilko, it just shows to me that they do not know Rugby, probably didn't watch the game, and just read about it in the tabloids. It took 15 men and years of sweat at sheer guts, and fine leadership.Nervosa wrote:My desired order would be:
1st - Ireland
2nd - Scotland
3rd - Italy
4th - France
5th - Wales
6th - England
Putting England in last place is simply because of my dislike of English sportsmen/commentaters, nothing against you English folk! I think the commentaters are sooooooo bias, and even after the team has got a total thrashing, there's always the predictable excuses by the commentaters/players/coaches.
It's odd isn't it, when England lose a game (I do not think they have been "thrashed" by anyone other than NZ for some time!) how they are slagged off and are constantly compared to the 2003 side. And yet when Wales, Scotland or Ireland lose a game, they are courageous, unlucky etc.
The bias is actually against England, and critics are so much harsher against England compared to any other home nation - So I'm not sure who you are listening to??
Rob wrote:I'm sorry but when I hear anyone who claims the World Cup was won by Wilko, it just shows to me that they do not know Rugby, probably didn't watch the game, and just read about it in the tabloids. It took 15 men and years of sweat at sheer guts, and fine leadership.
The bias is actually against England, and critics are so much harsher against England compared to any other home nation - So I'm not sure who you are listening to??
Nervosa wrote:I've played Rugby for years, watched the match live, have seen plenty of clips of that match, and I don't read the papers or regularly watch the news. It was my own view that Wilkinson won the game for England, I wasn't jumping on any band wagon.
Rob wrote:Nervosa wrote:I've played Rugby for years, watched the match live, have seen plenty of clips of that match, and I don't read the papers or regularly watch the news. It was my own view that Wilkinson won the game for England, I wasn't jumping on any band wagon.
I take it you play in the 3/4's????
Nervosa wrote:No idea what that means.
Rob wrote:Nervosa wrote:No idea what that means.
Hey, mate I'm not disputing that you haven't played Rugby, I just asked if you played in the 3/4's - the backs - scrum half to full back? - 3/4's - a well know rugby term for the backs??
It's just that most of the time it's lads who play in the 3/4's (backs) that praise Wilko and tend to forget that there were 8 massive men in front of him including Johnson, Hill, Back, Dallaglio who set the platform for Wilko to show his stuff.
And if you watch those last few minutes of the World Cup final it was once again the forwards who set it up and I, put it all down to the 10 yard run by your mate Matt Dawson, which put Jonny in the position to take that legendary kick.
Nervosa wrote: But it can't be over-looked that that kick came in the last minute of play, and if it had been missed, the Aussies would have won it.
Rob wrote:Yes I played from 5-25, started at Fly Half until I eventually moved to Openside flanker, and the injury took me down!! I played school, town & county and loved every single minute of it both on and off the field.
It's such a great game.
Nervosa wrote:English critics are bias against English sportsmen?? I totally disagree. I've yet to see England playing footy (1-0 Norn Iron) when the commentator doesn't bash on about 1966. Or a Rugby match when 2003 isn't mentioned.
Nervosa wrote:As for Cricket, you never hear it being stated that "England lost because Australia were the better side"....it's always "The high humidity made it difficult playing conditions" or "So-and-so's shoulder injury" etc..
Nervosa wrote:Rob wrote:Yes I played from 5-25, started at Fly Half until I eventually moved to Openside flanker, and the injury took me down!! I played school, town & county and loved every single minute of it both on and off the field.
It's such a great game.
I hear you on the injury, broken finger (doesn't sound much at all) took me out of competative Rugby. I only get to play for fun now.
Well what's the verdict on the first match? Tbh, I think England played well and Johnny put in a good effort. Scotland also pulled their socks up too I think.
Moon-Crane wrote:Nervosa wrote:As for Cricket, you never hear it being stated that "England lost because Australia were the better side"....it's always "The high humidity made it difficult playing conditions" or "So-and-so's shoulder injury" etc..
If you were a cricket fan, or happened to listen to the Commentary team during the Ashes, you'd hear that the English commentary teams have done nothing but criticise the England team, while praising the fantastic ability of Australia? I guess people do hear what they want to hear, though?
Beer Necessity wrote:Moon-Crane wrote:Nervosa wrote:As for Cricket, you never hear it being stated that "England lost because Australia were the better side"....it's always "The high humidity made it difficult playing conditions" or "So-and-so's shoulder injury" etc..
If you were a cricket fan, or happened to listen to the Commentary team during the Ashes, you'd hear that the English commentary teams have done nothing but criticise the England team, while praising the fantastic ability of Australia? I guess people do hear what they want to hear, though?
I would have made that point myself if you hadn't, MC. I listened/watched a great deal of the whole sorry affair this winter (our worst tour down under in history) and quite rightly the commentators have made no excuses for England. The Aussies beat, nay thrashed us at cricket this winter becuase they are far superior right now. End of. For one thing, the commentators would begin to sound pretty silly if they tried to put our awful displays down to the weather or who won the toss. I'm confident we can give it a go in 2009 when half of this once-in-a-generation Aussie side will have retired. Until then we just have to admit we're lagging a long way behind the Australian side and the commentators and experts all do do that, to a man.
Your comments have much more validity regarding international footy. We tend to delude ourselves about how good our players actually are in this country and yes, if we lose the media has to give some reason for that (i.e. instead of admitting our players are over-hyped and overpaid).
Just a quick word about today's game - Go Jonny! I never doubted you for a minute, mate!
me123 wrote:Another victim of this is Scottish football (the most embarassing thing since... ever). They will never admit that they are one of the worst teams in history, so they come out of a loss saying:
"Yeah, we lost 29-0 to the Faroe Islands, but I'm sure we'll thrash Brazil tomorrow!"
The sad thing is many Scots fall for it over and over again.
Rob wrote:Nervosa wrote:Rob wrote:Yes I played from 5-25, started at Fly Half until I eventually moved to Openside flanker, and the injury took me down!! I played school, town & county and loved every single minute of it both on and off the field.
It's such a great game.
I hear you on the injury, broken finger (doesn't sound much at all) took me out of competative Rugby. I only get to play for fun now.
Well what's the verdict on the first match? Tbh, I think England played well and Johnny put in a good effort. Scotland also pulled their socks up too I think.
Not too bad a start, but I am yet to be convinced. I hope it is enough to boost moral in the England camp, however against tougher competition, we must be tighter up front, and less mistakes, but if Ashston allows this new team to play together for the next few tests to allow the team to gel and knock a bit of rust from the edges then it may be interesting against Ireland, France & Wales. And if we can beat these 3 teams then only New Zealand have a better team on this planet.
Beer Necessity wrote:Just to get this back on to rugby - how did you think we handled ourselves without the ball today Rob? I thought that aspect in particular was a huge improvement over the last few games.
Moon-Crane wrote:Nervosa wrote:As for Cricket, you never hear it being stated that "England lost because Australia were the better side"....it's always "The high humidity made it difficult playing conditions" or "So-and-so's shoulder injury" etc..
If you were a cricket fan, or happened to listen to the Commentary team during the Ashes, you'd hear that the English commentary teams have done nothing but criticise the England team, while praising the fantastic ability of Australia? I guess people do hear what they want to hear, though?
Fair enough, we have English commentators, as we are in England. We do happen to have Andy Gray as the 'expert' on Sky Sports Premiership coverage, however. On Match of the Day we have Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson.
I'm sure in this digital age, and the age of poiltical correctness, we'll no doubt get the option of choosing an audio option based on our own region.
Nervosa wrote:It's just that the stuffy commentators rub me the wrong way (and a lot of other sports fans I know as well) and therefore give me a bad impression of the team they're talking about. I suppose part of their aim is to generate national prestige, but to an outsider (ie. me not being English) it really does come across to sound very arrogant.
As for the match today, I was impressed with how England managed to shut down a lot of Scotish advances before they materialised into anything much. I do think the English pack is one of the strongest in the comp.
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