Six Nations 2012

[Dave Summers]

At the moment our u20s seem to get better every year, given that we need to be willing to drop good players to bring these great players through, I know Mallett has the balls to do that, I don't know if Lancaster does.

This is my main concern with Lancaster as well.

We will know soon enough anyway, I read that they are looking to make a decision next week on the new Head Coach.

[Dave Summers]

Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris has accused England of being "bad losers" ahead of Saturday's Six Nations clash at Twickenham.

The Irish have won seven of the previous eight meetings in the Six Nations but Ferris insists that the England game remains the prize scalp.

"They're a good side and are full of winners, but when they lose they don't like it," said Ferris.

"They're bad losers and hopefully they'll be bad losers on Saturday."

Ferris believes that a series of defeats against the English during his youth international days has led to his huge motivation for the fixture.

"We took so many beatings from England at under-age level.

"Any time we played Under-18s, -19s or -20s we always received a thumping. I never beat them.

 
"They come with bit of a tag about being arrogant and if you asked any team they'd probably say the same thing."

Ferris stresses that he is on good terms with those England players he met while on the 2009 Lions tour to South Africa and admires what they have achieved in this Six Nations under interim head coach Stuart Lancaster.

Under Lancaster's guidance, England have beaten France in Paris, narrowly lost to Grand Slam-chasing Wales and retain an outside chance of winning the title.

"I went on the Lions tour and got to know a few of England's players," said Ferris.

"I got on so well with them and had an awful lot of respect for them. I became good friends with some of them.

"England are a good side at the moment and are very hard to break down.

"Saturday will be two good teams going against each other, but we're also looking forward to getting that result."



 Thanks Stephen, that's Stuart Lancaster's team talk done nicely.  It really gets to me, this constant accusation of England being arrogant when if anything, we go too far the other way in an effort to be seen as anything but arrogant.   Take you back to Saturday and Jamie Roberts try for Wales, did I not see a Chris Ashton style arm in the air before diving down?.  Not been mentioned that has it???.     It's like the tired cliche spouted out year after year, about England being a set piece team and the Premiership being dull and all things Celtic are wonderful.  WRONG WRONG WRONG !!!!

Come on England, lets stuff em on Saturday :-)

[PaulWinch again]

The Welsh are by far the most arrogant Northern Hemisphere side is my opinion. They try to claim the moral high ground through the rugby they play, but their more aggro than most teams.

[N'Rexy]

Wales are the most arrogant side in the northern hemi rugby!?!? Are you on drugs? Phillips is a bit in your face but apart from that I can't think of any arrogance. And as for Roberts doing an Ashton style arm wave well watch it again. He salutes the crowd, he doesn't do a pathetic splash like Ashton.   

[Dave Summers]

Wales are the most arrogant side in the northern hemi rugby!?!? Are you on drugs? Phillips is a bit in your face but apart from that I can't think of any arrogance. And as for Roberts doing an Ashton style arm wave well watch it again. He salutes the crowd, he doesn't do a pathetic splash like Ashton.   

So saluting the crowd before you put the ball down isn't arrogance, but "a pathetic splash" is??.   I can't see any difference myself, but there we are.

Oh and of course I have never seen "Shane" do a splash either have I?  :-)

Talking of arrogance, why is it only Welsh players that are referred to by their christian names?.  Shane, Barry, Gareth, Phil, Sam, as though we should all know who they are talking about.  Not much arrogance there either?.

By the way, I'm half Welsh so I have a foot in both camps so to speak :-)

[PaulWinch again]

Sharples dropped out of squad, seems a bit harsh but I suppose he didn't do a great deal against France. I really hope we beat Ireland. And agreed Dave those are prime examples of arrogance.

[Dave Summers]

Sharples dropped out of squad, seems a bit harsh but I suppose he didn't do a great deal against France. I really hope we beat Ireland. And agreed Dave those are prime examples of arrogance.

Lancaster out !!!!! :-)

Very unlucky, don't think Strettle has dome much at all in the three games before, so was hoping Sharples would get another go.   Hope he doesn't have a Sinbad type career of not getting his opportunities.

Sorry, that's erm Dave, Charlie and James I am referring too :-)

[PaulWinch again]

In fairness Lancaster said he got good experience from the French game, so he clearly has him in mind if he keeps the job.

[paul_e]

I have no problems with the welsh being arrogant but what does annoy me is the hypocrisy of the welsh and the irish when it comes to rugby.  An englishman does something illegal but gets away with it and they mark it down as typical english arrogance, the welsh and irish do it and they're just being smart and 'playing the game'.  The problem is, they've become so vociferous about it that crowds and officials are buying in to it as well.  Watch the games with them playing and look for: hands in the ruck, not letting go of the tackled player, pulling players into the ruck and closing off the ball.  Both teams have become experts at all 4, and they're all illegal but for some reason they're allowed to do it and england (and english sides) are punished far more readily.

New zealand are similar, watch a NZ scrum and see how often the backrow are 'attached' when the ball comes live, they have a reputation for having really sharp backrows who are in your face, it's fairly easy to do that if you don't have to worry about being bound to the scrum.

[N'Rexy]

Meh. I don't see them as arrogant! Sounds like sour grapes from England fans! ;-)Roll on tomorrow, we are Cardiff bound for what should be a great game.

[paul_e]

Meh. I don't see them as arrogant! Sounds like sour grapes from England fans! ;-)Roll on tomorrow, we are Cardiff bound for what should be a great game.

arrogance in welsh rugby can be summed up with one name: Gavin Henson (or overrated, annoying, orange pretty boy if you prefer).

[cheltenhamlion]

Congratulations Scotland. Its not every day you see their rugby team win something.

[PaulWinch again]

Shouldn't really have had Butler and Davies commentating on this, shamelessly biased.

[cheltenhamlion]

Davies gets right on my tits I have to say.

[PaulWinch again]

It's very irritating, I hope the French win.