Six Nations
I am always nervous of drawing too many conclusions from the annual burst of Autumn Internationals, especially because it’s the final round of games for all the Southern Hemisphere sides at the end of a long season. Nonetheless, there are some fascinating observations to make as many sides rebuild towards the next World Cup.
Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll is on course to feature in the Six Nations tournament after returning to training with Leinster following ankle surgery.
Wales and Clermont fullback Lee Byrne looks set for a long lay-off after breaking a bone in his back during Saturday’s European Cup clash with Leinster.
A few weeks ago I heard some of what the latest targets were that the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) had set itself but was unable to share this at the time on this website. At the time I did think hats off and good luck guys but also that they were really lofty ambitions. These targets for the next four years include winning a Six Nations Grand Slam and the next World Cup.
England hooker Dylan Hartley has been banned for eight weeks after being found guilty of biting Ireland flank Stephen Ferris in their Six Nations showdown at Twickenham.
England hooker Dylan Hartley has been cited for allegedly biting Stephen Ferris in his team’s Six Nations victory over Ireland at Twickenham.
The Six Nations has run it’s course with an impressive Grand Slam for Wales, worthy champions who beat all comers!
In our first SuperBru Competion to complete for 2012, we now proudly crown our CHAMPION in the Rugby-Talk SIX Nations pool.
Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris has accused an England player of biting his finger in the hosts’ 30-9 Six Nations win at Twickenham on Saturday.
England (9) 30 / Ireland (6) 9 (Final Score)
England and Ireland did battle in the Six Nations at Twickenham, London 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 2 on TV in SA.
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France (6) 17 / Ireland (17) 17 (Final Score)
France and Ireland did battle in the Six Nations at Stade de France, Paris at 17:00 SA Time (15:00 GMT, 16:00 Local French Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Scotland (10) 17 France (10) 23 (Final Score)
Scotland and France did battle in the Six Nations at Murrayfield, Edinburgh at 17:00 SA Time (15:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Hello folks and fellow SuperBru players.
Today is D-Day for 2 of the 3 Rugby-Talk SuperBru pools. Later today I have to decide, who stays and who gets booted out of the Rugby-Talk Six Nations pool as well as out of the Rugby-Talk Varsity Cup 2012 pool.
Here’s a list of players not accepted in those 2 pools yet:
I looked at the SuperSport TV schedules and I could not see any significant live rugby this weekend. So it seems we have one last break to do this…
But then our lives will be annexed by our beloved game RUGBY.
Wales (3) 27 / Scotland (3) 13 (Final Score)
Wales and Scotland did battle in week 2 of the Six Nations of 2012 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff at 17:00 SA Time (15:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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France / Ireland (Game Postponed)
France and Ireland were supposed to do battle in week 2 of the Six Nations of 2012 at Stade de France, Paris at 22:00 SA Time (20:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was supposed to be broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Italy (12) 15 / England (6) 19 (Final Score)
Italy and England did battle in week 2 of the Six Nations of 2012 at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome at 18:00 SA Time (16:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Scotland international fly half Dan Parks has announced that he will retire from playing international rugby with immediate effect leaving Scotland without a first choice pivot for the rest of the Six nations.
Ireland (10) 21 / Wales (5) 23 (Final Score)
Ireland and Wales did battle in the Third Six Nations Test of 2012 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland at 17:00 SA Time (15:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & SHD on TV in SA.
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Scotland (6) 6 / England (3) 13 (Final Score)
Scotland and England did battle in the Second Six Nations encounter of 2012 at Murrayfield, Edinburgh at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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France (15) 30 / Italy (6) 12 (Final Score)
France and Italy did battle in the First Six Nations encounter of 2012 at Stade De France, Paris at 16:30 SA Time (14:30 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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It’s late on Friday night, and it’s been a hard week… far too hard…
But there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, tomorrow there’s good rugby on… and on Sunday too.. and as an added bonus Monday is Varsity Cup time!
The question is, are you prepared?
Is the biltong bought?
Is the beers, or in my case the Jerepico and sletsappies, cold?
Is your SuperBru picks done, and have you seen to it that you have been approved in your Pools?
In the case of the latter, make sure you are a registered Rugby-Talker, otherwise I cannot approve you in the Rugby-Talk SIX Nations SuperBru pool, or in the Rugby-Talk Varsity Cup 2012 pool.. or for that matter in the Rugby-Talk Super Rugby 2012 pool.
Come on, get cracking!
People in the Rugby-Talk SIX Nations pool who have not made their picks yet are: KingPaul, SuperBul, Bono, Blue Bird, Mayhem & Loosehead
People in the Rugby-Talk SIX Nations pool who have not yet been accepted in the pool due to non-registration at Rugby-Talk are: Stormy, Johnny Walker & Geniusboywonder
Old hurts and new hopes will all be in the air when Scotland and England start their Six Nations campaign with the latest edition of international rugby union’s oldest match on Saturday.
World Cup finalists France will bid to get their Six Nations campaign off with a resounding bang when they host Italy at the Stade de France on Saturday.
England caretaker coach Stuart Lancaster has named his team to face Scotland with three new caps in the starting line up for Saturday’s Six Nations match at Murrayfield.
With the Six Nations looming large it might be time to have a look at what we can expect from the tournament the players, coaches and of course the referees.
Wales have suffered a further injury blow with the news that hooker Matthew Rees will miss the Six Nations opener away to Ireland and next week’s home match against Scotland.
Ireland coach Declan Kidney has made three changes to the team that played Wales in Ireland’s final 2011 Rugby World Cup match for this weekend’s Six Nations opener.
New Italy coach Jacques Brunel has changed nearly half of Italy’s squad for his Six Nations debut against his home nation France on Saturday.
Scotland coach Andy Robinson is to hand uncapped Edinburgh winger Lee Jones a debut against England in the RBS Six Nations opener at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Wales came from nowhere to win it in 2008 with a Grand Slam to boot. Ireland emulated them twelve months later, France followed suit in 2010 and last year England made it to the top of the pile before their World Cup implosion.
There is nothing to beat the RBS 6 Nations and not merely because of its capacity to spread the title around. Four different champions in successive years had last happened long before the Five became Six, a sequence completed in 1982 when Ollie Campbell’s fusillade of seven goals swamped a lone Scottish try to guarantee Ireland the Triple Crown and, ultimately, the championship.
Ireland coach Declan Kidney picked five uncapped players on Monday in his final 32-man squad for his team’s Six Nations opener against Wales.
The All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry has described England as “world champions at wasting talent” and as playing a game based on fear.
Friends, Romans, Countrymen.. and ladies, lend me your ears… or in Rugby-Talk’s case, eyes!
Rugby-Talk has registered 3 Pools for 3 of the various SuperBru Rugby competitions so far in 2012.
Come on, join up… and if you’re not registered with Rugby-Talk, just do it!
Registered Users of Rugby-Talk and selective invitees will be allowed to participate in these competitions, and your Captain and Poolmaster will be none other than grootblousmile for these competitions.
The Pool names and codes are as follows:
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Rugby-Talk SIX Nations, pool code: semipage
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Rugby-Talk Super Rugby 2012, pool code: darkruts
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Rugby-Talk Varsity Cup 2012, pool code: dutydeck
(Just Click on the links above, it’ll take you straight to the respective pool applications)
Twenty-seven-year-old Edinburgh Rugby hooker Ross Ford has been appointed Scotland captain for the opening match of the Six Nations Championship – against England at Murrayfield.
Declan Kidney has named a 24-man squad for the 2012 Six Nations with six additional players added to their training camp.