The rugby

[Blazing Saddles]

This feels really strange. It’s certainly had an effect on the French signing of Le Marseillais. Many baritone strangling cats.

 

[Chromatic]

Right, here we go.
Allez les Bleus.

 

[Blazing Saddles]

wtf! ITV showing an ad during the game.
Absolute shiites.

 

[Blazing Saddles]

France playing all the rugby. Ireland using the Wales playbook, only with better kicking.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Some lovely handling from France.

 

[Dorset Boy]

One way traffic that half.
Sam Pendergast really is so average - he offers no dynamism at all.
Ireland need to start winning some collisions, and their kicking game hasn't worked as they can get the ball back.

 

[biggs682]

Let's hope the Irish half time chat is a good one

 

[Blazing Saddles]

France now playing champagne rugby, like only they can.
Poor Ireland continue to give a good impression of Wales.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Well, I enjoyed that. Lots of entertainment, even a smidge of jeopardy late in the 2nd half.

 

[Pross]

Glad to see Ireland’s bubble bursting. Hope it continues.

 

[Beebo]

I thought the ref kept the speed of play going well.
I’m still unhappy with the forward pass interpretation, but as long as it’s fair for both teams I don’t see it changin.
If it does come down to a final in Paris in March, the French will take some beating.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I can't see any of the other nations living with France if they play like that.

Mind you Ireland were rather passive until their subs came on.

England have the blue teams away this year. Tricky visit to Murrayfield, which is always risky even when England are big favourites, which they aren't right now.

How rubbish are Wales? Are they about to start improving?

Not sure where Italy are at the moment. They beat Australia not so long ago but also got utterly marmalised by South Africa.

 

[T4tomo]

Ireland missed a lot of tackles, or France slipped their way out of a lot of tackles, depending on your viewpoint. some slick handling and exciting rugby for the French though. Question is, can the do it on a wet Tuesday night in stoke?....oh hang on wrong cliche!

 

[Rusty Nails]

I can't see anything other than a last day France/England decider for the championship and a Wales/Italy battle to avoid the wooden spoon.

France have set down the marker and a lot will depend on whether England can continue their good form. I have a feeling that this could be England's year.

Wales have a real struggle with England and France for their first opponents.

 

[BrumJim]

Was discussing the collapse of Welsh rugby with Shaun Edwards this week (not THAT Shaun Edwards). He is so frustrated that he has stopped watching rugby. Not even any hope of beating England to put a smile on the season.

(Although worried that prediction might come back to haunt me tomorrow)