The rugby

[Chromatic]

Entertaining stuff from Georgia, lets hope they can keep it up.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I listened to eng-rsa on the radio and just watched some rubbishy highlights on YouTube. Seems like a pretty fair scoreline. Both the non-tries looked like good officiating to me. England again generally not bad (except for when they were bad) but generally not good enough to compete with RSA

Super happy to see France beat NZ. Ever since the days of Jean Pierre Rives, France have always been my favourite team. I support England out of a kind of sense of duty, but I'm always happiest when France win.

I'm looking forward to the 6N. England have the blue teams (France, Scotland and Italy) at home this time round. First match is Ireland away, second is France at home, which is quite a daunting start.

Listening to Wales Aus at the moment. Maybe it's just the commentary but it doesn't sound very exciting.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Incomprehensible 20-minute sort of orangey yellow/red card for Aussie.

 

[Beebo]

Entertaining stuff from Georgia, lets hope they can keep it up.

Gutted for Georgia.
Georgia were 6-17 up at half time, but didn’t score a single point in the second half.
Ended 20-17.

 

[AndyRM]

Gutted for Georgia.
Georgia were 6-17 up at half time, but didn’t score a single point in the second half.
Ended 20-17.

Every time I've seen them play recently they've impressed me. Definitely one of the stronger European nations outside the traditional "big" ones. I've said it before but a rejig of the 6 Nations to include relegation and promotion would seriously help them out.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I remember Georgia giving Ireland a massive fright in a Rugby World Cup.

I've just looked it up. It was 2007

 

[Dogtrousers]

Every time I've seen them play recently they've impressed me. Definitely one of the stronger European nations outside the traditional "big" ones. I've said it before but a rejig of the 6 Nations to include relegation and promotion would seriously help them out.

I'd love to see something done for them. For instance, England in the autumn internationals have just played NZ, Aus and RSA. If there was a rule that every tier 1 side should play one autumn international vs a tier 2 side, then Georgia, Portugal et al would get regular top tier matches - not just oddments and RWC fixtures.

But that would cost money. Why do you think England have just played NZ, Aus and SA at Twickenham?

So it won't happen. A rejigged 6N I also can't see happening. Shame.

 

[Alex321]

I'd love to see something done for them. For instance, England in the autumn internationals have just played NZ, Aus and RSA. If there was a rule that every tier 1 side should play one autumn international vs a tier 2 side, then Georgia, Portugal et al would get regular top tier matches - not just oddments and RWC fixtures.

But that would cost money. Why do you think England have just played NZ, Aus and SA at Twickenham?

So it won't happen. A rejigged 6N I also can't see happening. Shame.

I think rejigged 6N with promotion & relegation MAY come.

Which might not be good news for Wales, the way things are going just now

 

[Beebo]

I’d be in favour of it, but they won’t implement it because of the financial risk of dropping out. It would bankrupt wales if they dropped out.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I'm actually rather sad about Wales at the moment. I've always had Wales as my No 1. rugby enemy, and I'm always keen for England to beat them. And I'm always happy to imagine Max Boyce being forced to eat a giant leek. But I don't want them to be rubbish. (Just incapable of beating England. )

 

[rualexander]

I'd love to see something done for them. For instance, England in the autumn internationals have just played NZ, Aus and RSA. If there was a rule that every tier 1 side should play one autumn international vs a tier 2 side, then Georgia, Portugal et al would get regular top tier matches - not just oddments and RWC fixtures.

But that would cost money. Why do you think England have just played NZ, Aus and SA at Twickenham?

So it won't happen. A rejigged 6N I also can't see happening. Shame.

At Scotland's game against Portugal on Saturday at Murrayfield, there were some empty seats but the attendance figure was still 60,983 out of a 67,144 capacity, pretty impressive, and probably a lot due to Portugal's performance at the World Cup last year.
The last time Scotland played Portugal at Murrayfield was in 1998 when only 5,691 spectators turned up.

 

[geocycle]

I'm actually rather sad about Wales at the moment. I've always had Wales as my No 1. rugby enemy, and I'm always keen for England to beat them. And I'm always happy to imagine Max Boyce being forced to eat a giant leek. But I don't want them to be rubbish. (Just incapable of beating England. )

Me too, the teams of the 70s and 80s defined rugby for me. I remember a great Max Boyce story where he changed the vertical hold on his tv so the English kick missed. Unfortunately the small player pool has caught up with them and I can’t see that Gatland is doing much wrong.

 

[Beebo]

At Scotland's game against Portugal on Saturday at Murrayfield, there were some empty seats but the attendance figure was still 60,983 out of a 67,144 capacity, pretty impressive, and probably a lot due to Portugal's performance at the World Cup last year.
The last time Scotland played Portugal at Murrayfield was in 1998 when only 5,691 spectators turned up.

Wonder what the actual revenue was. I bet the tickets were cheap

 

[rualexander]

Wonder what the actual revenue was. I bet the tickets were cheap

Cheaper than the big names sure but same price as Fiji match.
For example, ticket for Portugal game fairly high up behind posts, £20, ticket for South Africa game high up in corner area £40, ticket for Fiji game , same area as Portugal game, £20, ticket for Australia game high up in corner area, £30.
Don't know about the more expensive tickets in East and West stands facing the pitch sidelines.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Me too, the teams of the 70s and 80s defined rugby for me. I remember a great Max Boyce story where he changed the vertical hold on his tv so the English kick missed. Unfortunately the small player pool has caught up with them and I can’t see that Gatland is doing much wrong.

Every time I start feeling a bit sad about the state of Welsh rugby I just think about Max Boyce. And suddenly I start to cheer up a bit.