[andyman]

Yey Italy.

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by andyman

Yey Italy.

haha

[Iceman]

6 minutes left....

[Iceman]

France Win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Iceman]

1 Ireland 1 1 0 0 29 11 +18 2 2
2 England 1 1 0 0 30 17 +13 3 2
3 France 1 1 0 0 18 9 +9 2 2
4 Scotland 1 0 0 1 9 18 −9 0 0
5 Wales 1 0 0 1 17 30 −13 2 0
6 Italy 1 0 0 1 11 29 −18 1 0

[Captain.Remy]

[Sophii3x]

Congrats to the French! Game wasn't that exciting though.. I was expecting more tries!

Damn at Wales being 5th on the table Alun Wyn Jones has been ripped apart in all the welsh papers today, it was expected though!
Oh and why do Wales not have their OWN thread tag? not fair!

[Novo]

No one cares about wales that is why

[Iceman]

I can't put more than 5......

[Chantel]

Originally Posted by Schumacher

1 Ireland 1 1 0 0 29 11 +18 2 2
2 England 1 1 0 0 30 17 +13 3 2
3 France 1 1 0 0 18 9 +9 2 2
4 Scotland 1 0 0 1 9 18 −9 0 0
5 Wales 1 0 0 1 17 30 −13 2 0
6 Italy 1 0 0 1 11 29 −18 1 0

Poor Wales

[Iceman]

Ireland could 'only' beat Italy by 18 points? That take on Saturday's match is still not satisfactory.

Granted, Ireland's attacking sequences did not always quite come off but Italy came to Croke Park in focussed and defiant mode and, unlike their Heineken Cup sides, there was no question mark over their motivation. Allied to good coaching and a decent display from Craig Gower at number 10, that was more than enough to give Ireland a difficult afternoon.

Ireland could only really threaten from well supported linebreaks in which several players made the right decisions and executed well and that type of move yielded both tries. They will be more of a force off first phase next week. Ireland also had to fight for field position with Gower and Luke McLean kicking effectively if somewhat unimaginatively throughout.

Chances were limited and there were no easy tries to be had, while Kaine Robertson's opportunistic try tightened the margin and prolonged the match as a contest (of sorts).

Italy will give somebody else an even tougher time of it before this Championship is over. The negative focus on the 'low' scoreline obscures several important positives.

Scrum and lineout among positives

Lineout - Ireland's key platform?Starting up front, the scrum stood up well and after Munster's Romain Poite experience against Northampton that is excellent news. Ireland will bring huge pride to big matches and that is often just as important as technique. It is still a worry going into next week but the signs are that Ireland will continue to cope.

The awesome performance of the defensive lineout is also an excellent sign. Gert Smal coached South Africa to become the best at this the game has ever seen and the signs are that he is doing a similar job for Ireland. By the end of the Championship, we could be talking about this as Ireland's key platform.

In the backs Ronan O'Gara's superb form at out-half was another big plus. This was arguably a better display from the Irish 10 than anything he managed in last year's tournament. The Munster man took the ball flat and his excellent passing and kicking helped keep Ireland from really getting sucked into a physical battle: he was the difference between an 18 point win and a real dogfight. O'Gara's goal kicking was also assured while alongside, Tomás O'Leary also had a very good day out.

The final lift for Ireland is that there are important players coming back on stream: Declan Kidney has up to five positions (second row, blindside, out-half, first centre, left wing) in which switches could be made. Getting the starting team, the psychology and the chemistry right is a massive challenge in Tuesday's team selection. No better man than Kidney for it.

So: why the unsatisfactory feel after this win?

The problem for those of us looking on is that with no realistic chance of Ireland losing once they went clear, any move that didn't end in a try felt like a failure. Against France, the emotional side of things will feel very different for both supporters and players: more rollercoaster, less frustrating jaunt to suburban shopping centre.

England and Wales - even stronger than expected?

James HaskellIreland are in a strong place. The problem is that the other contenders look like being even more dangerous than expected. England and Wales both showed enough to suggest they will present real problems for Ireland in Rounds Three and Four.

England looked very athletically impressive at times - the likes of Danny Care, Delon Armitage and Ugo Monye have a pace and strength that will pose a test to the Irish backline and back row. Alongside Care, Jonny Wilkinson, Nick Easter and Dylan Hartley also played well and England look good down the spine of their team - they have control.

They are still brittle and stilted at times, but are improving fast and were far less hesitant than in November. After an unsatisfactory Autumn, England relished the chance to play a real Test match and that is exactly what Ireland will get against them.

Again looking back to 2009, it may be that Ireland will have play better than at any stage in last year's tournament to beat them.

Wales - have they found Hook's best position

James Hook - enjoyed having time at outside centreWales also had plenty of positives and despite England's improved form they probably should have won. Like two years ago, the energy came from the tight five and fed out through the team - they have managed to get their intensity back.

Even more important, Wales look as though may just have found James Hook's best position: outside centre. The Osprey scored a try of the tournament contender with a classic break from the wider channel. He looked to relish the little bit of time on the ball he got and his trademark balanced running really suited the position. Mentally, he seems far more comfortable making the last pass in a move than the first.

France were slightly less impressive. Granted, they won well enough despite Scotland's huge commitment in defence but there was a softness to the midfield defence and linebreaks were yielded throughout. Ireland's top carriers are better than Scotland's and Brian O'Driscoll might just fancy himself to make hay against Matthieu Bastareaud.

It won't be easy, but there was enough there to suggest Ireland can do it in Paris.

[Iceman]

Jonathan Sexton and Donncha O'Callaghan are in line to be available for the pivotal RBS 6 Nations clash with France on Saturday but doubts remain about Stephen Ferris.

Sexton was not considered for Saturday's 29-11 victory over Italy early last week after picking up a dead leg but the prognosis on the Leinster out-half is good.

However, with Ronan O'Gara giving a masterclass in out-half play against the Italians, Sexton could be hard pressed to regain the starting spot he took for the 15-10 win against South Africa in November.

Speaking before training today, Ireland team manager Paul McNaughton told RTÉ Sport's Michael Corcoran: 'Jonny Sexton has recovered very well and the latest word is that we will have him fully training today and we are at this stage quite optimistic that he is available for selection in Paris.'

The Ireland management team reviewed the injury situation on Sunday night and McNaughton added that most of the players who left the field against Italy - including Ronan O'Gara, Paul O'Connell and Tomás O'Leary - were due to take part in today's session.

But Ulster and Ireland winger Andrew Trimble has a strained hamstring and is a concern ahead of Ireland's departure for France on Thursday.

McNaughton said: 'We will know more about that on Tuesday but we still think he could make it onto the availability list.'

Second row O'Callaghan, who was ruled out of the Ireland team to play Italy after being named in the starting XV, could be available but with Leo Cullen impressing in his place against the Azzuri a return to the starting line-up is not guaranteed.

Ferris injured his knee playing for Ulster in their final Heineken Cup match over two weeks ago and his ability to train has been limited since.

Commenting on the injury situaton, McNaughton said: 'The guys we are concerned about are Stephen Ferris and Donncha (O'Callaghan) and again we will know more over the next couple of days on that and we're not ruling them out yet.

Asked if O'Callaghan had a better chance of getting into the selection mix, McNaughton said: 'Donncha fully trained in the last couple of days and he probably is ahead of Stephen but these things change and there can be reactions.

He added: 'We'll know more about Stephen in the next couple of days because Stephen hasn't done a lot (of training) over the last 10 days.'

On Sunday, eleven players, including Ferris and O'Callaghan, were added to the Ireland squad that faced Italy.

The team for the match against France will be selected tomorrow afternoon.

Additional Players:

Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster)
Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Shane Jennings (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Johne Murphy (Leicester Tigers)
Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)

[Iceman]

France coach Marc Lievremont has named an unchanged 23-man squad for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash against Grand Slam champions Ireland.

Les Bleus started their campaign with an 18-9 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield yesterday and Lievremont has kept faith with his charges from the Edinburgh trip.

'The group of 23 players will be retained despite the uncertainties,' he said. 'It's been a while since there was continuity in the France team, given injuries and dips in form.'

Clermont Auvergne wing Aurelien Rougerie, Bayonne wing Benjamin Fall and Castres prop Luc Ducalcon are having various injuries assessed in Paris today.

'We will know more tonight,' Lievremont added.

The starting XV for this weekend's clash at the Stade de France will be announced on Wednesday morning in Marcoussis.

Centre Mathieu Bastareaud completed a fairytale comeback against Scotland yesterday by scoring his first two international tries in his first Test start since falsely claiming he had been assaulted during his country's tour of New Zealand last summer.

Morgan Parra kicked France's other points as try-saving tackles from Thom Evans and Sean Lamont prevented them adding to their tally, while Chris Paterson landed three penalties for the toothless hosts.

France squad to play Ireland in the RSB 6 Nation at the Stade de France on Saturday 13 February:

Forwards: T Domingo (Clermont Auvergne), L Ducalcon (Castres), S Marconnet (Stade Francais), N Mas (Perpignan), W Servat (Toulouse), D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), P Pape (Stade Francais), L Nallet (Racing-Metro), J Pierre (Clermont Auvergne), J Bonnaire (Clermont Auvergne), T Dusautoir (Toulouse), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz), F Ouedraogo (Montpellier).

Backs: M Parra (Clermont Auvergne), F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), F Michalak (Toulouse), M Bastareaud (Stade Francais), Y Jauzion (Toulouse), D Marty (Perpignan), V Clerc (Toulouse), A Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), B Fall (Bayonne), C Poitrenaud (Toulouse).

[Iceman]

Wales captain Ryan Jones believes his team remain firmly in the title hunt despite suffering their heaviest RBS 6 Nations defeat of coach Warren Gatland's reign.

Jones and company must regroup for Scotland's Millennium Stadium visit next Saturday following a 30-17 loss to England.

Gatland is due to name his team tomorrow, when changes could be made in the front row, second row and back row.

Lock Alun-Wyn Jones will feel a degree of uncertainty about his prospects after his Twickenham sin-binning for a trip on England hooker Dylan Hartley cost Wales dear.

England scored two converted tries and saw Jonny Wilkinson kick a penalty in Jones' absence - an unanswered 17-point burst that left Wales reeling, although they fought back with two touchdowns of their own before the home side finished strongly.

But Jones is adamant Wales can recover, starting with the Scotland clash.

'I don't think we were beaten by a better team, but a team that played better on the day in parts,' said Jones.

'We could have grabbed it at the end - the momentum changed in the second half. You can't afford to write us off in the tournament yet with four games to play.'

Alun-Wyn Jones, despite his monumental indiscretion, is likely to feature in Gatland's line-up for Scotland.

Skipper Jones added: 'It is called Test rugby for a reason, and it's a test for Alun-Wyn as to how he responds. He is the first name on the team-sheet most weeks, and he has a long and illustrious career ahead of him.

'All of us have done something stupid on the field, and it is about not doing it twice.'

Gatland's immediate attention will centre on prop Gethin Jenkins and hooker Matthew Rees, who both missed the England clash through injury.

If fit, they can expect recalls, but Jenkins (calf muscle) and Rees (groin) could find time is against them with such a short turnaround between Six Nations fixtures.

Tries by prop Adam Jones and centre James Hook took Wales tantalisingly close at Twickenham, but they were finished off by James Haskell's second touchdown after Stephen Jones' pass was intercepted by England full-back Delon Armitage.

Gatland said: 'We got back to 20-17 and showed what we were capable of doing with some quick ball, and we've got to keep building on that.

'I think you will see a really positive reaction from the players against Scotland,' he said.

'If we go out and play and be as accurate as we can be, we will produce a good performance against Scotland.'

[Iceman]

Jamie Heaslip is unconcerned by Ireland's form at the beginning of the RBS 6 Nations after their hesitant 29-11 victory over Italy.

The Grand Slam champions launched their title defence in unconvincing fashion at Croke Park, giving up a try off a charge down to allow Italy to stay in the game at the end of the first half and never quite managing to get clear of the Azzuri thereafter.

France, who are considered the most likely team to seize Ireland's crown, are next up and while Heaslip refuses to hit the panic button, he admits progress must be made this week.

'We were all over the place at points in the second half and lost our shape a bit,' he said.

'There was a load of kicking and it was hard to build any momentum, but we're happy with the way our lineout and scrum went. The game got loose at times and we needed to buckle down. Instead of throwing the ball around we needed to square up a bit more. In the end we did.

'We'll improve on those things and hopefully be in better shape against France. There are little things that need to be tweaked. There's nothing to be worried about. A bit of tweaking and it will be fine.

'It was a first day out in a few weeks for some of the boys. It was good to get the win and get the ball rolling and I'm sure we'll be in good shape for next week.

'France will be as aggressive as the Italians and will look to attack a bit more. I don't know if they'll kick as much though.'

Ireland were coasting in the first half as they amassed a 23-8 interval lead, Heaslip and Tomás O'Leary crossing for tries while Ronan O'Gara kicked 16 points but Kaine Robertson's try after blocking Rob Kearney's kick put a different complexion on things.

Heaslip rounded off a clinically executed move for his score, opting to cross himself despite having support on his shoulder.

'I'm greedy and I like scoring myself!' he said.

'There were good odds on me scoring and a few of my mates had a punt on it so why not. I'm happy to get the try and kick it off.'

Heaslip felt Ireland answered their many critics in the scrum, traditionally an area of Italian strength that was subdued at Croke Park.

'Cian Healy and John Hayes did a great job for us. The front five did a fantastic job in the scrum - it was a great effort by the pack,' he said.

'People were saying stuff before the match but I don't think they'll be saying it now.'

[Chels]

the amount of abuse alun wyn jones has been having is pretty harsh tbf
yeah it was stupid but he doesn't deserve some of the **** he's getting.

[Iceman]

Yeah he's still getting it.......

Few injusry woes for Ireland......hopefully that should be sorted by weekend...

[Iceman]

Thanks for the sticky James!

[Sophii3x]

Thanks for all the reviews and news

My fave moment from the weekend! When Shane Williams picked up Johnny Wilkinson and carried him into touch (with some help from James Hook) lmao..

God I hate Wilkinson sfm. Was a really good tackle, not quite like Gavin Henson's tackles on Matthew Tait in 2005 though, now those were legendary!

Who's playing first on Saturday?

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by Sophii3x

Thanks for all the reviews and news

My fave moment from the weekend! When Shane Williams picked up Johnny Wilkinson and carried him into touch (with some help from James Hook) lmao..

God I hate Wilkinson sfm. Was a really good tackle, not quite like Gavin Henson's tackles on Matthew Tait in 2005 though, now those were legendary!

Who's playing first on Saturday?

No Problem!!!

Here's the fixtures for Saturday:

Saturday 13th February
Wales v Scotland :- 14:00 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
France v Ireland :- 16:30 Stade de France, Paris

[Sophii3x]

Ahh thanks! Yay for our game first.. I hate waiting :P

[Iceman]

I prefer the later games but i'll be busy next sat

[Captain.Remy]

Originally Posted by Schumacher

France v Ireland :- 16:30 Stade de France, Paris

Already a big afternoon to remember.

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by Captain.Remy

Already a big afternoon to remember.

Ireland's year against the French this year!!!!!!!

Oh and we don't mind if you handle the ball in this match...

[Sophii3x]

I actually have a feeling France will win the championship this year I don't want them to though, Wales or Ireland pleaseee.