Tom
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Post by Tom on Mar 21, 2009 12:44:31 GMT 1
Yeh. It's going to take some time before they compete competitively for anywhere near the title. Even with Australian and New Zealand players. They joined to help improve their standards, just I think they expected to be a little more competitive by this stage, after 7 or 8 years in the competition. Wonder if any more countries will ever join. Romania have a rugby squad who compete at the world cups, and will are EU status. Never know, could be having matches out in Romania sometime. Well it took France over 40 years to win the Five Nations... I can't see Romania joining the Six Nations anytime soon. Rugby's been in decline there for about 20 years. If the Five Nations had been expanded in the 80s, rather than the 90s, Romania probably would've got in ahead of Italy as they had a pretty good team. The reason for this was their Communist dictator, Nikolai Ceaucesku, was a massive rugby fan and ordered it to be played in every school. This meant Romania produced a few good players. During the 80s, they beat France, Wales and Scotland and narrowly lost to the All Blacks. Since Ceaucesku's execution in 1989, rugby is played a lot less in Romania and the team is now much weaker. If any European team was to join the Six Nations, it's more likely to be Georgia. Personally, I'd like to see the Six Nations become an 8-team European Championship, with 2 groups of 4 and a final between the 2 group winners. The bottom team in each group would be relegated and replaced by 2 teams from a qualifying tournament. Tradition will stop it ever happening, though. Interesting post. The subject of Romania has come up with my dad in the past, do get the feeling they've missed the boat. He actually says that several of their players were shot in the Communist revolution that saw Ceaucesku's execution in 1989. Remember when i got into rugby in the mid 90s they were the best European side outside the Five Nations, and were the the other European side taking part in the 95 World Cup.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Mar 21, 2009 12:54:52 GMT 1
As for England, obv they'll beat Scotland convincingly. Don't say that! Yes, they were great against France but when was the last time England managed to string 2 performances like that together? It would be a big surprise if Scotland won but this England team is still more than capable of beating itself... If this was an away match i would be worried of an upset, but i just feel that playing at Twickenham gives England a big advantage.
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Paddy
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Post by Paddy on Mar 21, 2009 13:05:52 GMT 1
France to win by a large margin over Italy. England to reclaim calcutta cup and Ireland to win grand slam.
My guesses.
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Post by paulgilb on Mar 21, 2009 17:31:29 GMT 1
1 out of 3 correct!
Italy 8-50 France (Italy have thus lost all 5 of their matches)
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Paddy
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Post by Paddy on Mar 21, 2009 18:29:43 GMT 1
2 out of 3 correct . England 26 - 12 Scotland But maybe too many head injuries? Not good to see.
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Post by Panda on Mar 21, 2009 19:51:51 GMT 1
Wishful thinking... Looking good for a clean sweep though, Paddy. Wales have lost their heads in the second half...
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Paddy
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Post by Paddy on Mar 21, 2009 19:58:53 GMT 1
Cheers mrH.
And yes, Irish have come out all guns blazing for the first 10 mins, we will see, really should have had a go down the bookmakers in January!
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Post by Panda on Mar 21, 2009 20:25:28 GMT 1
Wales have a penalty to prevent the Grand Slam!
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Post by Panda on Mar 21, 2009 20:25:40 GMT 1
Missed!
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Post by Panda on Mar 21, 2009 20:31:08 GMT 1
FINAL TABLE:
1. Ireland 10 (+48) 2. England 6 (+54) 3. France 6 (+23) 4. Wales 6 (+19) 5. Scotland 2 (-23) 6. Italy 0 (-121)
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Paddy
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Post by Paddy on Mar 21, 2009 20:32:35 GMT 1
Well well well. 3 out of 3 for me today . And Ireland 1st woop woop England second WOAH! But yay anyway. Really should have gone to the bookmakers in January!
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Post by Panda on Mar 21, 2009 20:46:21 GMT 1
Well well well. 3 out of 3 for me today . And Ireland 1st woop woop England second WOAH! But yay anyway. Really should have gone to the bookmakers in January! Go next week and get your money on England for next year...
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Paddy
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Post by Paddy on Mar 21, 2009 21:01:08 GMT 1
Yeh. If they stop giving away fouls...they will win.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Mar 21, 2009 21:22:50 GMT 1
Bit surprised by Italy-France, especially after last week. France were the only side to give Italy a good thumping.
Closer for England than i expected, watched about half the match overall, 1st half good, 2nd half not so.
As for Wales-Ireland...did suggest it could go either way!
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Post by nic3007 on Mar 21, 2009 21:41:03 GMT 1
Oh come on Tom, everybody can sit on the fence It was always going to be Ireland's game but Wales put up a decent fight. Too little too late unfortunately! Well done Ireland
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Post by Panda on Mar 21, 2009 21:55:36 GMT 1
Very good championship overall. Very little between the top 4.
Congratulations to Ireland for the Grand Slam but they must be the least convincing Grand Slam winners ever. They could easily have lost 4 of their games... Their combined margin of victory over Wales, England, France and Scotland was 19 points...
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Mar 21, 2009 21:57:51 GMT 1
Oh come on Tom, everybody can sit on the fence Eh? I wanted Wales to win but as i said above i was genuinely undecided about who was going to win, the match that is not the title, which i expected Ireland to clinch. Thought it would be very close, as it proved!
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Post by paulgilb on Mar 21, 2009 23:25:36 GMT 1
Interesting to see Wales only finish 4th despite having a chance of winning going into the last game.
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Post by Anne-Marie on Mar 22, 2009 2:02:28 GMT 1
Wooooo well done to Ireland, very well deserved!
My friend was at the match today and i bet she had a fab time and is probably still celebrating!
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Post by paulgilb on Mar 22, 2009 12:23:38 GMT 1
Another interesting point to note is that England only came 2 points away from winning the championship - if they had scored 2 more points against Ireland, both England and Ireland would have had 4 wins and 1 defeat but England would have had a superior points difference.
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