6 nations 22

Pussyhands

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118588453#Comment_118588453

Rob is an awful bore alright.

When he released his book he was doing the tv and radio circuit and he gave the same old tinned answers every time even if he was asked something completely different.

Boscoirl

What I wouldn’t give for a feed with no commentary. And just the ref mic

Commentary talking over the ref is getting worse.

Cahill had a great knack of doing it and getting the explanation wrong

Dubinusa

Bring back Capt. GEORGE HOOK!!

Problem solved!

Pussyhands

Some fall from grace in punditry.

Tom McGurk with Pope, O'Shea and Hook.

Now we have Jacqui Hurley with Flannery, Ferris and Heaslip. Flannery was actually decent. Ferris and Heaslip are terrible and just speak in cliches and go with whatever the narrative is at the time.

Clegg

Itoje is a very good player when he gets everything right. But when he gets it wrong he's a penalty machine. I think he conceded 4 against Scotland? That's dreadful. It's been an issue for years and one which I think he gets an easy ride about.

His disciplinery issues become evident when England don't have things their own way on the pitch. He pushes too much and gets in the bad side of referees quickly. You expect your locks and backrows to give away penalties. Half their job is to delve into the niggly elements of the game and try and cheat to gain an advantage. But Itoje makes so many ill disciplined errors that he actively hurts the side at times.

Dubinusa

EJ won't like this. Control possession and.. whiff. England should be better than what we saw. Fair play Scotland. 2 in a row!

fitz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118589027#Comment_118589027

There was a long time when he was just getting away with being offside the whole time. I think refs are wise to him now, but he hasn't adjusted to it.

lawrencesummers

England have a few passengers in their team.

Merchant is a terrible defender, as bad a tackler as exists at this level and hes not exactly the best atracker in the world, i can see him getting dropped.

Ford isnt a sub to bring on when a game is close.

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118589398#Comment_118589398

The first game last year was the exact same, he pinged off the park. Then he was back to being an absolute pest for the rest of the tournament and probably will be this time too.

fryup

i think any game involving Italy should be played first thing on a saturday, cause their usually one-sided error strewn yawnfests..anyone else agree??

Dubinusa

I hope Italy improve! It would be better for the tournament. They have been doormats for years.

normanbond

So true!

if tv producer thinks that tv viewers want to hear the pundits opinion instead of ref ….. they’re daft!!

BlitzKrieg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118589885#Comment_118589885

It would be a fun and strange year if only Italy, Scotland and Ireland were in the running for grand slam after today. fingers crossed that they might surprise us.

Xander10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118589783#Comment_118589783

Glad there on Sunday on their own. Watched the two games yesterday and won't waste anytime sitting around today.

lawred2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118588000#Comment_118588000

Hugh Cahill is a bit cringe inducing alright. He's far too much a fanboy.

hold my beer

I'd take Cahill over Lenihan all day every day. Lenihan does my head in.

lawrencesummers

Squidge has a very good piece on Italy, its worth a watch although he overdoes it a bit on the praise he gives them but they have plenty to be optimistic about with their underage investment paying some dividends.

ferpederine

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118588968#Comment_118588968

Totally agreed. I think the Pope, O'Shea and Hook were tough but very fair. The current lineup are for the fairweather fans. Everything is good is all the time. It's airy fairy stuff. Like the late late show on Friday night picking the Eurovision entry. All of the songs were "good" and nobody had a bad word to say about anything.

Hurley in particular is awful - can't ask anything remotely thought provoking.

Watching the Scotland game later on the BBC was light years ahead. Here you have Gabby Logan, a proper broadcaster full of class, wit and insight.

lawrencesummers

Good chance ROG will be in there next week as they dont have a game.

Be interesting to see who they drop for him if he is.

Bridge93

Good to win so comprehensively yet have a number of inaccuracies to iron out. That really should have been 50 odd. Nice to get into the tournament though without any damage done.

That was the worst welsh team I can remember in my lifetime and I’m just about old enough to remember Ireland humping some crap teams in the early 2000’s. They were brutal. With the state of their club teams and useless underage performances as seen on Friday, they are in massive trouble. A few ageing legends returning from injury won’t be enough

OldRio

Talking of commentators. Brian Moore has finished with the BBC. A guy who wasn't frightened to say what he thought.

He did the Scotland v England game yesterday as his swansong. At the end his co commentator asked him did he have anything to say. 'Just thank you' was the reply. Class personified.

costacorta

How I miss Fred Cogley and his famous saying (And it’sssssssss not over )

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118590337#Comment_118590337

He's covering the women's 6N from now on.

Akrasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118589885#Comment_118589885

I think they're on the right path, they're developing a really young team and they finally have a good out Half in Garbisi which can be worth 10+ points per match in terms of missed penalties and oppportunities squandered

France are almost certainly going to win today, but I think Italy will make a game of it for at least the first half. Maybe won't have enough in the tank to stay with France for the full 80

That was a remarkably agile turnover

fitz

Law question: the Italian full back called a mark there, but had both feet in the air when he caught it... I thought you had to have a foot on the ground to call a mark? (Should have been a penalty Italy imo, was contacted in the air by the French attacker).

We started better against Wales than France have against Italy.

Clegg

Toe in touch there I think

Disagree with the tmo

That's about as close a decision as I've seen have to be made. Behind angle he's not in touch in my opinion.

That's just remarkable. What incredible skill.

He literally landed on his toes to stay in field. Fabulous.

I don't know the actual laws but I'd say he can put his hand up whenever and the mark applies from when his feet touch down.

fitz

Would have been incredibly harsh to not give that imo, looked like he stayed in. Blades of grass in it, mind you. Great stuff from Italy. France not looking anything like living up to the hype so far.

c.p.w.g.w

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118590760#Comment_118590760

Think you can call Mark in the air, imagine to reduces impacts and unnecessary contact

Am I going mad or is this not available to stream on Virgin?

Edit, it's on RTE. I didn't know RTE were showing 6N again.

Clegg

Incredible kick from Jaminet

And an utterly stupid off the ball from the French wing which ruins your 50/22. You'd be fuming.

fitz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118590835#Comment_118590835

Idiotic stuff.

That won't be given

fitz

Oh, that's daft.

There was a clear knock on there no???

mangobob

What a kick in the gonads.

Bridge93

Woki clearly touched that

Never showed the original angle again....

Shehal

So typical of Italy... France are rattled and struggling to get a foot hold in the game and now Italy relieved all that pressure with that gift.

c.p.w.g.w

Italy need to take more care with the ball, it's greasy but yet they seem to still wanna throw it about

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118590853#Comment_118590853

It seemed so obvious that you'd hope the tmo checked it quietly in the background.

eagle eye

Referee is really strict. The penalty for too many roles earlier was awful, he only roles to present the ball after he was tackled.

fitz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118590867#Comment_118590867

Italy really do get regularly shafted by officials...a few clear high tackles so far ignored too. But the pass was inexcusable.

All_in_Flynn

Making plenty of mistakes still but Italy look much more organised than previous iterations. Great for rugby if they can keep developing.

All these tackles are going to effect Italy soon enough.

TomsOnTheRoof

Very harsh penalty. Presentation of the ball was in no way affected. Between that and the knock on in the lead up to the French try the Italians can feel very hard done by.