Rugby Union 2008

[Mike]

Yo! People! The Rugby calendar will be be starting very shortly with the Six Nations. The first matches are in the first weekend in February. We need to start planning which of them we are going to watch!

First England match is February 3 2008 who's with me?!

[BarcelonAl]

I'll be with you on the 2nd Mike when England are playing their first match or have you become a closet Frog? ;)

BBC - Six Nations Fixtures

[Mike]

Was thinking from memory and got the first and second weekends mixed up. . . .

[stimpsonslostson]

I'm up for rugby related antics (and I'm sure Bex will be too).
I went looking for a new Scotland shirt today. NOWHERE in the city centre has one!
P

[mr_e]

Count me in for the rugby. Hopefully the final stages won't clash with anything my sister chooses to do for her birthday...

[Mike]

I'm up for rugby related antics (and I'm sure Bex will be too).
I went looking for a new Scotland shirt today. NOWHERE in the city centre has one!
P

I struggled to find myself an England rugby shirt in Manchester until the World Cup started. I bet you will have to try and get one from scotland or a website. . . .

[Mike]

Yay. Sale won against the Quinns on Friday (did not see the match but heard the highlights from Chrissie and James). Am really looking forward to the Six Nations now. Will be away for the first weekend but I am hoping to find a nice country pub to see the matches. . . oh and I can use the Sky+ power to record and view later. Will have to try and avoid the news though because I don't want to get the suspense ruined.

[mr_e]

I'm curious as to who Chrissie will be supporting in the first match, or if she'll be watching it in a neutral capacity. In all honesty, I'd totally forgotten the rugby was upon us! I do enjoy watching it, but I just suck at keeping up with the world of sport in general...now we just need to find some suitable rugby-watching venues.

[Mike]

I have watched the full England match and it was so good in the first half and then going down the pan for the second half. It was such a shame but you have to respect Wales for taking advantage of the moments.

It was funny though, BBC almost missed the second try it of Wales, it was so quickly after the first. I was watching pretty intensely as I was sitting in a pub on my solo geekness!

The Ireland - Italy match seems to be a return to form for Ireland but I have only seen about 25 minutes of the first half so far so I will reserve judgement until I have seen the whole game.

[mr_e]

The last twenty minutes saw me watching it in a permanent "WTF!?" state. Wales definitely took their chances when the play got a bit scrappier, and that's what it's all about. I was still thinking England might have a chance of scoring right down to the last five minutes, then it became obvious Wales were going to win. Ho hum.

[Mike]

Again another wonderful start in the first half for the England side of Brian Ashton. The Wilkinson factor was on form to day and he managed to break his 1000 points for the national side too. Shame about the second half. I don't know if it is a fitness thing or a mental thing but they are really struggling. I hope that they can turn it around a bit more for the France game next.

[mr_e]

Yup, the second half let England down once again. I was quite worried about Brian Moore's blood pressure, although he was making some very... succint points. If England slip up like that in the second half against France, then France will most likely punish them for it. Still, a win's a win.

[Mike]

It is true but for us to struggle so consistently in national competitions then there must be a reason! I don't know what it is but the side needs to either have more time together or something. I suppose they are a side that is still getting used to playing together and is moderately inexperienced. I suppose it is only going to get worse as the more experienced players retire and new blood is brought in.

[Mike]

Nail biting but good rugby was played yesterday as England beat France 24-13. I was glad to see the Sharks Wiggleworth getting a last minute try on his England debut. You could see it was a really amazing experience for him just based on his reaction! At least they did not cave in the second half AND did get a try in the second half too.

PS If I was going to win the shirt of a players back it would have to be Sackey at the moment, he seems to have an amazing talent.

[Mike]

Regan has been dubbed a clown by the french coach - according to the article he was quite pleased about it! lol