Six Nations 2012

[joe_c]

Shocking that France vs Ireland was called off 5 mins before kick off.

Evening of Swing Low Sweet Chariot (Has Been Cancelled).

I personally fail to see a problem with another couple of hours of fun in Paris and not having to watch the worst game on earth but that's just me.

[Dave Summers]

Well, I don't why England are bothering to turn up to Twickenham in a couple of weeks, it's a foregone conclusion that Wales will beat us with a display of Rugby that won't have been bettered since the halcyon days of Gareth, JPR, Phil and Merv the Swerve.   

Honestly, I know England haven't set the world alight but for crying out loud we have played two games in the most horrific conditions possible for Rugby and got two wins.  Wales weren't great for the fist half today and only cut loose when the Scots were down to 14 and they played under the roof in "perfect" conditions. 

I think a couple of changes in the next game are called for.   Certainly Dickson and Morgan have to start and if Lawes is fit and available he would slot in ahead of Palmer for me.   It will be interesting to see if he changes the midfield and my gut feel is that one of Tuilagi or Flood will come in but not sure who and for whom.  One thing I do know, Farrell will stay in for his kicking.

Should be good and looking forward to it.

[paul_e]

The performance of Dickson when he came on makes me feel quite vindicated for saying I thing Youngs is holding us back.  The difference when we had someone organising the big guys and generating quick ball was huge, Morgan was also part of that.

I thought hodgson had a really poor first half.  He did get better in the 2nd half but I'd still replace him with Flood.  Farrell has to play, his kicking has been superb, which means manu in for barritt.  I'd be tempted to swap in sharples or may to replace strettle as well.

[PaulWinch again]

The performance of Dickson when he came on makes me feel quite vindicated for saying I thing Youngs is holding us back.  The difference when we had someone organising the big guys and generating quick ball was huge, Morgan was also part of that.

I thought hodgson had a really poor first half.  He did get better in the 2nd half but I'd still replace him with Flood.  Farrell has to play, his kicking has been superb, which means manu in for barritt.  I'd be tempted to swap in sharples or may to replace strettle as well.

I'd definitely have Manu in, I'd also bring in Lawes for Botha.

[Dave Summers]

England team to face Wales: 15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints), 14 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints), 13 Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), 12 Brad Barritt (Saracens), 11 David Strettle (Saracens); 10 Owen Farrell (Saracens), 9 Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints). 1 Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), 2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), 3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), 4 Mouritz Botha (Saracens), 5 Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), 6 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), 7 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), 8 Ben Morgan (Scarlets)

Replacements: 16 Rob Webber (London Wasps), 17 Matt Stevens (Saracens), 18 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), 19 Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints), 20 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), 21 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), 22 Mike Brown (Harlequins)

Well I think the injury to Hodgson is a blessing because they have now got the centre pairing they should have picked all along.  I don't think that Lancaster would have dropped Charlie if he hadn't been injured and that's probably why he shouldn't get the job full time.  Contrast that with Gatland who has whipped out one of the star performers in Ryan Jones and brought Alan Wynn-Jones back in.  Hard decision, but right decision.

Don't anticipate Roberts and Davies running over our midfield now, so that is one aspect that has been null and voided in my eyes.   

Can't wait for this, Wales must be favs but playing at Twickenham balances it out.  if the weather is dry, then can England play a faster and more expansive game than we have seen?.

Just wish I had a ticket :-(.  Anyone got any spares !!! :-)

[lovejoy]

I'm going but suspect Wales will win. That half back pairing looks like a ballsy selection!

[UK Redsox]

There's a feature on Da Beeb's website today about the Forest's** own Alex Cuthbert

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17120949


** Well, he's from Westbury-On-Severn, so we're claiming him.

[cheltenhamlion]

I am going to Wigan so won't get to see the game. Is there a highlights programme?

[Dave Summers]

I am going to Wigan so won't get to see the game. Is there a highlights programme?

There has been a Six Nations highlights programme late on a Sunday night for the first two rounds and presuming there will be one again?.  On the red button, they run highlights of the games for the following week I believe.

For a more "Welsh balance" on things, if you have Sky then you can get BBC2 Wales on channel 991 for the "Scrum V Six Nations Special on Sunday evening too.   This is presented by a chap called Jason Mohammed who I met in the Marriot hotel at Twickenham stadium when I stayed there in the Autumn of 2010.  I'll just pick that name up I have dropped now :-).  In all seriousness I thought he was a bit of a wassuck before I met him, but a nicer person you couldn't wish to meet and he was keen to talk Rugby and Football with me.

Hopefully you will be able to pick the highlights up from at least one of those sources over the weekend?.

Be nice if you could bring back 3 pts from Wigan tomorrow as well, while you are at it.

[paul_e]

Really looking forward to the game tomorrow, I don't think they'll be much in it at all, wouldn't risk anything on predicting a winner, Wales have to be the favourite butbeing our first game at home for the tournament will close the gap and with Morgan, Dickson and Tuilagi we've got a lot more dangermen starting than we've had so far this tournament.

I predict a great game and some big defensive displays in the england midfield, getting on top of priestland is the key as he is very good at hanging kicks up for the big backs to hit at pace, if we can pressure him into mistakes it takes away one of their big weapons.  I think we'll go all out to challenge them in the lineout as well as that looks a real weakness for them.

[PaulWinch again]

I'm hoping Youngs being dropped will regain his focus and he'll come back, because I think he's a top player.

[paul_e]

I'm hoping Youngs being dropped will regain his focus and he'll come back, because I think he's a top player.

I prefer Dickson for the style we're wanting to play, but the reality is it's a position you pick based on the game plan and between the 2 of them we have great options.

[PaulWinch again]

England were really unlucky there, played really well.

[Villan For Life]

We paid the price there!

Thought we played but you have to give credit to the Welsh defence who kept us out on several occasions.

[taylorsworkrate]

What went on with the non try at the end?

I thought the directive for the officials was to give the benefit of the doubt to the attacking team? Surely when the video ref stated it was inconclusive a try should have been awarded.

Anyway we didn't deserve to lose that. Unfortunate that the kick Farrell missed at 12-9 looks critical now, considering how well he played.