Talking of one-eyed bile here's what everyone's favourite and most impartial sports journo, Neil Francis vomited onto his keyboard in between bouts of kicking his cat yesterday
Neil Francis: 'No invention, no surprises, no continuity and no wit - Ireland have become mediocre in three months' - Independent.ie
It's the way he manages to give pretty much zero credit to Wales that I love the most.
It was ever thus. I think the only slam we've ever had real credit for was '05 (though the mood music then was that it was a flash in the pan and that we only won it because our betters were off colour or rebuilding). People are making a lot of England's try count (which was impressive) and a number of journos are insinuating that they have more reasons to be confident going into the World Cup. Me, I'd take 14 games undefeated against every tier 1 side bar the ABs in a calendar year and winning, sometimes with panache, sometimes ugly but always with guts, determination and confidence in the gameplan and in their fellow players over running in a load of tries, getting bossed in Cardiff and blowing a 31 point lead anytime.
Hard to argue Wales aren't the second-best team in the world at the moment. That's kind of worrying.
I have to admit that the highlights DVD for this campaign will lack the sparkle of the '05 one or the '12 one with Shane in his pomp. For me, though, the sheer physicality we brought to collisions and our absolute dominance of the gainline were things in their own way that are just as beautiful as dancing feet and well-worked tries. Seeing attacks dismantled by the drifting blitz, Gareth Davies haring up like an exocet in the faces of opposition outside halves and their carriers smashed behind the gainline again and again are things of rare beauty. It's still rugby at its best, it's just a different kind of appreciation.There is a certain elegance to winning a slam with no bonus points (aside from the slam ones).
Compare and contrast England's defence vs Scotland with Wales's.
When I was a young kid, Wales being great was a given - and Wales not playing like England was also quite important. (I only really pay attention to the SN/WC, tbh.) But then during the 90s, I remember a load of performances in which moments of brilliance were interspersed with giving away brainless penalties. I still don't want Wales to play like England, winning is nice, though.
Hard to argue Wales aren't the second-best team in the world at the moment. That's kind of worrying.
Nailed on, mate. Barely any point in the other teams wasting money on flying over thereGreat. A Wales world cup victory here we come
Maybe. There's the danger of talking down opponents when you beat them rather than talking yourself up, though. Before the start of the 6N this year, I was reading about England's opening match being effectively a GS decider, while bigging up England's chances at the WC already. It's that kind of thing that makes results like Saturday's at Twickenham that much more enjoyable, but before the campaign, England were supposed to be really good. Isn't there a case for saying that Wales made them look ordinary by outplaying them?
Absolutely. You can only beat what's in front of you. And at no point did Ireland look like they'd break our defence down at any stage. As Edwards says "attacking rugby sells tickets and defence rugby wins games" and I frankly don't care how we win. As long as we win
He's such a barefaced little fucker, isn't he?The key thing is that none of it is the fault of the coach.
You know how fucked he is when he's mentioning something that happened 4 years ago... With a different team and a different managerThe key thing is that none of it is the fault of the coach.
Oh I agree. He brings out the worse anti English rugby sentiments in me without doubt. He also has the type of face that makes me want to stamp on it several times.
I was screaming at the ref at the time. Think I posted something or other on here.
But you're right. It was a straight red. Was galling cos it was so bloody early.
Warburton was a world class 7 and at the time of retirement was peerless, and I include SOB, Tipuric and Hooper among his competition. I really can't believe that there's still a significant rump of rugby followers who don't get what he brought to the teams he played in
It was a tip tackle. An accidental/heat of the moment one but as blatant a tip as you can get. Warburton was unlucky insomuch as other players had got away with identical tackles in the same tournament, the IRB had been stung by the criticism of refs' lax attitude towards an aspect of dangerous play and had issued guidance to refs just days before stating that they had to show a red. Sam's sending off was as a result.I was screaming at the ref at the time. Think I posted something or other on here.
No doubt hell take some time out from chucking double tops at his Warburton dart board to write some more fact free shite about him.
