Rugby Union Thread

[JammieJam]

have u been keeping track of the super 12 emma? cause this years competition has been so close and brilliant. Games are not as predictable, as they were last year. The results have been very close.

[JammieJam]

remember the post about racism?

well

South Africa's rugby officialdom has intensified the culture of fear they are accused of imposing on the country's rugby players by banning Gcobani Bobo from writing on the website which first carried his criticisms of the recent investigation into racism.

According to reports, Bobo was instructed by the Lions president to discontinue his column. As Bobo is under contract to the Lions, he had no choice but to comply with the request.

[ForeverInLoveWithJus]

Its really bad isnt it.

[ForeverInLoveWithJus]

England's Neil Back will retire from international rugby after the current RBS 6 Nations Championship is over. The 35-year-old back-row played in six of England's seven matches in the World Cup in Australia, including the final.

He said: "I no longer feel I can commit to the summer tour so I will be retiring from international rugby post-Six Nations. I phoned Clive (Woodward) on Friday to tell him that the thought of spending another summer away from my family, allied to the situation at Leicester, had persuaded me that I did not want to tour.

"I knew when I made the phone call that I probably had played my last game for England because I am well aware that Clive has said he will only consider players for the Six Nations who are committed to the tour of New Zealand and Australia."

[JammieJam]

he has had a good career with ENG (winning the WC is not too bad!)

all the best to him now.

[ForeverInLoveWithJus]

I think its best if he retires as at 35, he has had his day now.

[ForeverInLoveWithJus]

This is great news, Glad to see Geordan back!

Geordan Murphy returns to the Ireland team for the RBS Six Nations clash against Italy at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

The Leicester player replaces Tyrone Howe on the left wing to make his first appearance for Ireland since breaking his leg in September.

[ForeverInLoveWithJus]

Well done to Ireland who are the triple crown winners!

[ForeverInLoveWithJus]

This RBS Six Nations decider match lived up to its top billing by delivering a pulsating, full-blooded encounter - but England will rue the fact that they decided to join the party after half-time only.

England fans have grown accustomed to watching their side toy with their prey before going in for the kill late in the game, but it was France who did all the early toying in this game - capitalising on some shoddy defence to rack up all 21 points in the first period of the game.

England managed to find their natural second-half grit, and pulled themselves back into contention from 24-6 down - but it was too little to late: the horse had already bolted.

In the lead up to this game, France coach Bernard Laporte accused England of "being a machine" - and that certainly looked to be the case, as Sir Clive Woodward's men seemed unable to power up in time, and were unable to fathom the sheer artistry of the early French raid.

Laporte's scathing remark was not the only one made prior to 'le crunch', and tensions were visible on the pitch - with Imanol Harinordoquy and Lawrence Dallaglio soon locked in an embrace unbefitting of the City of Love.

The England skipper had taken offence to his opposite number's off-side position, and Irish referee Alain Rolland agreed. Bath youngster Olly Barkley duly stepped up to open the scoring after only two minutes, but his effort sailed wide.

The thought of playing an England side that actually missed goal-kicks seems to inspire the French, and they pushed forward, confounding the English defence with some outstanding running lines.

France had pin-pointed England's line-out for attention prior to the fixture, but it was a poor white scrum that led to the first points of the game.

England's pack were penalised for popping up the scrum in their 22 and scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili stepped up to finally get the scoreboard ticking off after 21 minutes.

France wasted no time consolidating their lead. After a brilliant break by strapping centre Yannick Jauzion put England's defence in disarray, fly-half Frédéric Michalak was quickly in position to put in a high kick into the corner which found Harinordoquy lurking in acres on space. The big No.8 cooly collected the ball to touch down a simple unconverted try.

France continued to pin the English back, and were soon rewarded with a penalty after Dawson was adjudged to be off-side at the scrum, and Yachvili had no trouble adding three more points.

Finding themselves in unfamiliar territory, England attempted to break out with ball in hand, but a poor Trevor Woodman pass allowed Pepito Elhorga to intercept and race behind England's startled defence.

England manage to pull down the runaway winger, but were forced to kill the ball and Yachvili punished them with another successful place-kick.

Barkley finally opened England's account with a penalty on the stroke of half-time, but English joy was to be shortlived.

Straight from the re-start, Yachvili gathered at the base of a ruck to find no one home on England's narrow side. Following a neat chip and gather he was lining up a conversion from the touchline.

England gathered in a huddle as Yachvili's conversion sailed between the up-rights, and Dallaglio's words were readily understandable to anyone within 100 yards.

France began the second half looking very sure of themselves - with Michalak using his boot to pin back the visitors.

England needed an early score after the break, which Barkley did via a penalty goal, but another Yachvili penalty cancelled it out and left the score at 24-6.

The game looked beyond England's grasp now, but Woodward played his ace by throwing on Mike Catt to try and inspire some attacking.

Catt - as he has done in the past - answered the call by setting up a move which ended with winger Ben Cohen crashing over in the corner.

The Bath playmaker worked the ball wide after the pack had managed to turn over the ball following a rare mistake from Yachvili. Cohen found himself on the end of the move and used the space and his imposing frame to crash over for his score.

Barkley's conversion was off target and England trailed by 13 with 28 minutes to play.

Yachvili soon missed a penalty chance to increase the French lead, and Barkley showed the tide was slowly turning by converted a kick with eight minutes remaining.

With five minutes to play, England lock Ben Kay managed to wrench the ball free of Christophe Dominici with a big hit, and the ball was worked wide to Josh Lewsey, who did well to cut inside the last defender to score.

Barkley had finally found his range, and his conversion narrowed the deficit to three points - but despite a frantic finale the visitors could not come up with any more points, leaving France to celebrate a well-deserved Grand Slam and the English to rue what could have been ...

[JammieJam]

glad to hear France beating Eng, in yet another exciting weekend. unfortunately i did not watch a single minute of that game.

england losing twice in the VI nations, for the first time in 11 years, just 4 months after being crowned WORLD CHAMPIONS.

I think i am gonna get martin johnsons autobiography.

sorry for not posting earlier Forever.