NB-(A little late)

[Jules]

This is dedicated to every rugby supporter in the world, especially those
>based in Ireland.
>
>
>CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS
>
>FOR SALE
>One chariot, (low-swinging, sweet type),in urgent need of repair (wheels
>have come off..again). One careless owner, details from Clive,
>Tel.Twickenham 19-13.
>
>FOR SALE
>100,000 Grand Slam t-shirts, ties & scarves - unused
>(choice of 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/2001 and 2003/2004 ) Contact : RFU,
>Twickenham.
>
>LOST (on way to Twickenham) (i) Plan B (ii) Graciousness (iii) Bottle.
>Please contact : L. Dallaglio, C. Woodward.
>
>MEN CHOKE IN FRONT OF LARGE CROWD: 80,000 spectators watched helplessly
>yesterday as 15 sportsmen choked in front of them, apparently after being
>force-fed a large slice of humble pie. A doctor attending the scene said
>that the men had a medical history of this sort of thing: apparently it
also
>happened in 2000 in Edinburgh, Wembley in 1999 and Lansdowne in 2001.
>
>IN MEMORIAM Slam, G : passed away, 7th Feb 2004. Sorely missed by Clive
and
>the boys.
>
Jules

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[IanPoole2]

Ahem - still world champions - NM - NB

NM

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[Twister_Ken]

Everybody deserves a day off. nm

`

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[qsiv]

Or even an off day. nm

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[Fill]

Let's face it, everything's been stacked against them: so many pipe bands in Scotland they could barely get on the pitch and at Twickenham even the grass was in the Irish colours. I mean, favouritism or what? /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[ashanta]

It's very hard for someone born of Irish parents but born in England. I have played 1st class and continued to play 1st team rugby until I was 40. It's a great game. But this country has given me everything and I have always felt that I am English. Watching the game at the weekend was nerve wracking as I wanted England to win. It still does not stop me be a Celt and thats probably why I love the sea and music.
Well done Ireland, excellent lineout play. O'Driscoll think yourself lucky, you had a s--t game.

Peter.

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[tome]

With you all the way, and I get the impression O'Driscoll would agree also. Poor lad is stepping into heroes shoes and that must have an effect on his game.

I really enjoyed the game even as an avid England rugby supporter. The second half was close to a world cup game in terms of tension. But sooner or later this great side has to lose, and I couldn't think of a more sporting and deserving side than Ireland with their attacking play and brilliant defence.

Pleased also to see that Italy managed a win if only to maintain their hunger level.

Anyone who truly loves the game will not be upset by the weekend results.

Now, bring on the French!

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[Twister_Ken]

I wonder if the Irish line-out would have looked quite so good if Regan had replaced Steve Thomson as soon as it became obvious that Thomson had the yips, and if Ben Kay hadn't persisted in calling for long throws? I trust Sir Clive has had them both gelded. And himself as well.

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[tome]

I'm also puzzled by our line-out tactics, both v Ireland and in the world cup. We seem to give away so much ball with the long throws, and yet persist with it.

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[IanPoole2]

Lineouts?

Difficult one - Regan appears to throw more reliably, but Thompsons all round game seems to be prefered.
Any way - England are now building for the next big one - no not France - the next World Cup. Everything else is "training".
Lets leave the 6 nations for the also rans like France.

"Up the might Glos"

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[Twister_Ken]

Re: Lineouts?

I'd say Thomson was a much more dynamic player, this time last year, but he seems to have come off the boil this season.

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[IanPoole2]

Scrums

The ref was much better than I expected. After the WC final andall the other games with Southern Hemisphere ref I thought the scrum as an attacking option going to be nullified. It seemed if a team had an advantage, weight, skill, whatever, they could n't use it against "weaker" scrums.

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[tome]

Re: Scrums

I think the ref was S African, and I remember him refereeing one of the England WC games and thinking he was good then. Couldn't believe the ref penalising England for having a stronger scrum in the final, and indeed Clive lodged a formal protest.

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[IanPoole2]

Re: Scrums

If the stronger scrums were penalised in the Zurich Premiership - then my team Gloucester would n't get a point!
At the weekend I thought the scrumaging was excellent - a real contest - even though I though Dawsons desicion making off the scrum was a bit hit n miss.
Whats the point of playing Robinson - if you never give him the ball - all we seemed to get was first phase - then bad desicion making or turnover.
Although, I did think Grayson played well and seems to offer good coverage for Wilkinson, who - as the papers seem to think he is - is not god. Very good kicker, very brave but sometimes freezes like a rabbit in headlights.



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[tome]

Re: Scrums

Yes, good contest in the scrum. Jason Robinson seems to be taking first pass now and twice saw him playing scrum-half. That's the sign of a rattled England, but it was the turnover especially in the line-outs which IMO cost them the game.

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[Bejasus]

Re: Lineouts?

'Any way - England are now building for the next big one - no not France - the next World Cup. Everything else is "training".
Lets leave the 6 nations for the also rans like France.'

A somewhat arrogant position to adopt.IMHO

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[Jeremy_W]

Re: Ahem - still world champions - NM - NB

That's the problem. Every team England play will treat every match like a Cup Final. Have an off day and your opponents can claim "we beat the World Champs"!

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