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Weekend Round-up: The Six Nations so good no one wanted it to end
The pick of the weekend’s matches as the Six Nations reached its thrilling and at times extremely weird conclusion.
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Six Nations: Scotland vs Italy
Full Game | Condensed
Scotland wanted to send outgoing coach Stern Vern Cotter off with a win to remember. And, in the opening match of the final weekend of the 2017 Six Nations, they delivered. This was the first time they had won three matches in the tournament since 2006. Their try tally of 14 was a new competition record, as was their points tally of 122. And it was the first time they had kept their Six Nations opponents scoreless since 1990. So, Vern heads off for a deserved break before taking over at Top 14 side Montpellier next season – and Gregor Townsend, who takes over after finishing the season with Glasgow, has big shoes to fill, and high expectations to meet.
Six Nations: France vs Wales
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The otherwise unassuming international that threatened to break social media – one of the most WTF Six Nations matches ever. Even before it ended, this 100-minute game had entered rugby’s ‘Most Notorious’ list. Within minutes, it had rocketed to number one. It had everything: reset scrums, advantages, penalties, a disputed HIA substitution, a yellow card, and a try. And that was just after it was supposed to have finished. When the clock ticked past the 80, Wales were five points ahead but had their backs to their tryline. No one could have guessed there would be still another 20 minutes to go. Truth be told, this was a mostly forgettable encounter, but the extended conclusion was crazy.
Six Nations: Ireland vs England
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If France vs Wales in Paris threatened to break social media, this tension-fuelled affair in Dublin risked melting the internet. England were chasing it all: a new winning run world record; the first back-to-back Grand Slam of the Six Nations era; and a triple-whammy of clean sweeps this year, after the women’s and under-20 sides had done their bit the day before. Ireland were once again cast as Slam-killers. And Joe Schmidt’s side were clearly up for the job, as every tackle was made with added ferocity, every break with 12% extra threat. If England had not realised they were in for a dogfight before the game, they would have been aware within 20 seconds of the kick off.
Super Rugby: Crusaders vs Blues
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Twice in as many weeks, the Crusaders overcame massive first half deficits to beat first the Highlanders then the Reds – would they do the same against the Blues? It was said half in jest before the game but when the scoreboard read 21-5 to the Blues at halftime it was all on. Is sleepwalking through the first half and blasting everyone off the park in the second 40 really a sustainable game plan? Maybe new coach Scott Robertson is onto something.
NRL: Panthers vs Roosters
Full Game| Condensed
The Roosters bussed out to Pepper Stadium with a formidable first couple of rounds under their belts against the Titans and Bulldogs the city boys look like they’re well and truly back. But the Panthers are also hotly tipped as a Premiership contender this year, and would pose the toughest test yet for Trent Robinson’s side. That proved to be the case in a gripping 80-minute encounter which saw tries, no tries and more than one lead change.
Comments on RugbyPass
Dont know if the Irish players said it or not, but lets all be honest with ourselves, and hopefully both the Irish and French have healed by now, the Media did jump the gun, be realistic, according to 90% of the media it was a France and Ireland final, and the media had 1 of them winning the world cup, not even mentioning the All blacks? Just remember world cups are different, Australia was not the most in form cricket tean in the last cricket world cup, but they have a nack of winning when it matters. I wont go into whether what Etzabeth is saying is true, all I am saying is that its very easy for a team to get ahead of themselves due to the media. Nothing wrong with it, the media got the springboks over confident against England and we nearly lost that one.
33 Go to commentsHey Finn, Well done to the Junior Wallabies…a win is a win but it was a wet and scrappy game. Would be interesting to hear your opinion on two things from watching the game at the Not So Sunny Coast Stadium. Firstly, what is your opinion on the rule change of being able to call The Mark from a kick off and what is the reason for the change? Secondly, your thoughts on the lack of action for the high tackle on the SA fullback. I understand the TMO ruled that he had fallen into the tackle and the tackler didn’t have time to adjust but it was clearly shoulder on head and the Aussie 11 had not made any attempt to adjust his tackle height leading into the tackle. In my opinion he was never going to get his tackle technique correct to complete a safe tackle. If that tackle was made at a more senior and more scrutinised level would we have seen the same result?
2 Go to commentsI don’t think this has been ventilated enough. Discuss. Perhaps the lessons in all of this is that, in the game of life, one should do all the talking on the field of play. And in the game of rugby, what’s said on the field - stays on the field. Take care of yourselves. And each other.
33 Go to commentsLow skills compared to the Junior ABs. The ball handling and ball retention of the SAns in particular was utterly woeful. The latter will be better on home turf.
2 Go to comments1. Heard this so often over the yrs. One Warriors CEO even claimed future kids wouldnt know which came first, the ABs or the Warriors. Always keen to talk themselves up. 2. That fella Barakat who says he will drop HBHS sponsorship because HBHS quite rightly wants its players to focus on rugby is an odd fit as a sponsor in the first place. As a recruitment official for the Warriors he seems to regard his sponsorship as a paid licence to help to select players from HBHS for the league side. Maybe he should find a league school to fund.
1 Go to commentsNZ U20s are the team to beat this year for sure. And how nice after so long that NZRFU is actually taking this seriously. For far too long they have been sending woefully coached and woefully underprepared teams to the U20 WCs. That Wrampling boy is a star in the making.
2 Go to commentsI agree ..come on keyboard warriors and journalists looking for a cheap win ….. only 2 mins to go 12 points down …this DID NOT decide the game and beside JM was hit after the whistle and in response it was a pat on the back of the head …harmless ….watch soccer if this is your issue
4 Go to commentsRest is for namby pamby sissies, I see. True men should overcome their trifling injuries by playing week in, week out. Bidwell’s stance reminds me of a Jon Gadsby character from the 70s, a rugby captain giving an after-match speech: “It was a very physical contest. One of our players caught a boot on the back of his head in a ruck, and he died, actually. But to his credit, he played on.”
1 Go to commentsI still see nothing in Sotutus play that hes changed his upright running style that failed so many times against decent international defences like the french. Other than that… Iose? Well you have covered his limitations well. If Sititi had been playing the the season… Jacobson? Grace?…Neither shout pick me. So Ardie it is.
1 Go to commentsThere isn’t one element you mentioned there that every top class or successful team gets up to. The great All blacks sides used to play on the ‘fringes or edge’ but it was essentially saying they were doing something illegal or borderline to gain dominance. The fine margins at the top are minute between the top sides. La Rochelle, the crusaders, Saracens, Toulon etc etc…..have all been accused. Get over it, the comment comes across as salty and naive. Northampton as well as they played to get back into the match were thoroughly beaten and controlled for 60 minutes and Leinster have only themselves to blame for kicking it away and hence losing control of the match and being nearly the architects of their own downfall.
2 Go to commentsThere is some talent coming thru thats for sure. The 10 looks special to me. Rico Simpson is a name to look for in the future.
2 Go to commentsI think this quiet honestly is just an innocent misunderstanding by someone who is pig sh*t stupid. Eben is a fine player but by christ, if he can’t understand or get what the Irish players were trying to say to him after the match…..well i hope he has someone looking after his finances, career and is reading the fine print for him, cause life after rugby may be quite difficult for the vacuous echo chamber.
33 Go to commentsIt could be Doris' day!
3 Go to commentsThe whole thing has blown up because Eben’s words have clearly struck a nerve in Ireland. Otherwise they would just laugh it off. I think some former Irish players, commentators and some Irish fans know deep down this Ireland team started to believe its own press and that a certain amount of arrogance had started to creep in during the World Cup. The topic was actually brought up by Irish pundits on Off the Ball recently. It’s fine to be arrogant if you can back it up. Ireland didn’t.
33 Go to comments‘The Irish are good people'. Why is Goode praising a people who hate his own? Wet wipe.
33 Go to commentsLa mejor final que se puede ver en el emisferio norte.
1 Go to commentsA lot of cope from south africans in the comments. Etzebeth is a liar and a hypocrite; you don’t have to defend him!
33 Go to commentsHe got big and really slow for a flyhalf…not sure he’s relevant in a bok conversation anymore
4 Go to commentsBest tourney team vs best team in the regular season for 3 games in RSA - talk is cheap, let’s see what’s what on the tour
33 Go to commentsOne overlooked statistic from their 2016 winning season is the Huricanes are still the only team in Super rugby history not to concede a try during the playoff rounds.
4 Go to comments