did anyone win yet?

very true! How embarrasing, even beating Italy by 13 pts is bad.

 

Oops.

 

Has anyone actually lost to Italy before??:P

Gah...gonna drown mah sorrows at Jimmy Carr live tonight...

:dance: yay...one victory LOL :laugh3:

 

 

 

*goes away to watch the game..go Ireland* :uhoh:

were you not paying attention when I said goodbye? :rolleyes:

You mean the moment when you walked into the front door on your way out? :thinking:

Scotland 17-37 Italy

 

 

Scotland: (10) 17

Tries: Dewey, Paterson

Cons: Paterson 2

Pens: Paterson

 

Italy: (24) 37

Tries: Bergamasco, Scanavacca, Robertson, Troncon

Cons: Scanavacca 4

Pens: Scanavacca 3

 

Scotland handed Italy their first away win in the Six Nations with a suicidal first six minutes at Murrayfield.

 

They gifted tries to Mauro Bergamasco, Andrea Scanavacca and Kaine Robertson to trail 21-0.

 

Tries from Rob Dewey and captain Chris Paterson helped the hosts cut the gap to 24-17 after an hour.

 

But two penalties from Andrea Scanavacca, who kicked 17 points, and a late try from scrum-half Alessandro Troncon made the game safe for Italy.

 

Scotland started to self-destruct after just 18 seconds.

 

606 DEBATE: Give your thoughts on Scotland's performance

 

Fly-half Phil Godman tried a hugely ambitious chip over the on-rushing Italian defence inside his own 22.

 

Mauro Bergamasco, back on the Italian flank after injury, charged it down and gathered the bouncing ball to score.

 

A bad situation soon got a whole lot worse for the Scots as Chris Cusiter twice handed gift-wrapped tries to the Italians.

 

First his pop pass to Dewey was intercepted by Scanavacca, who scampered over under the posts.

 

And the scrum-half then compounded his error by floating out a hugely ambitious pass to Hugo Southwell which Robertson pounced on before streaking over for the third try.

 

Scanavacca was on target with all three conversions and the Azzurri led 21-0 with 74 minutes still to play.

 

Scotland managed to cut the gap after 13 minutes when Dewey scored a controversial try.

 

The inside centre, all 17st 4lb of him, made the most of a block from referee Donal Courtenay and burst through the Italian midfield defence to score, after some hesitation, with Paterson converting.

 

Despite losing Simon Taylor to the sin-bin Scotland had much the better of territory and possession, but some powerful Italian defence and impotent attacking combined to keep them at bay.

 

Paterson spurned the chance to kick several penalties before finally slotting one on the stroke of half-time to make it 24-10 at the break, Scanavacca having landed an earlier effort for the visitors.

 

Scotland redoubled their efforts after the break but looked lightweight until they switched an attack to the blind side on the hour mark.

 

Paterson flew through a yawning gap before out-pacing the cover for a fine try and his conversion trimmed the gap to seven points with a quarter of the match to go.

 

It looked as though Scotland might save themselves, but the score prompted the visitors to go on the offensive.

 

The powerful Italian pack earned the chance for Scanavacca to slot two simple penalties.

 

And he was on target again with the conversion after the veteran Troncon burrowed his way over late on as Italy claimed only their fourth win since joining the Six Nations in 2000.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/6389855.stm

You mean the moment when you walked into the front door on your way out? :thinking:

 

Ouch!!:stunned:

Ireland 43-13 England

 

 

Ireland: (23) 43

Tries: Dempsey, Wallace, Horgan, Boss

Cons: O'Gara 3, Wallace

Pens: O'Gara 5

 

England: (3) 13

Tries: Strettle

Cons: Wilkinson

Pens: Wilkinson 2

 

Ireland got their Six Nations campaign back on track by demolishing England in their first meeting at Croke Park.

 

Three Ronan O'Gara penalties edged the hosts into a 9-3 lead before tries from Girvan Dempsey and David Wallace gave them a 23-3 lead at the break.

 

A try from debutant David Strettle helped England cut the gap to 26-13 early in the second half.

 

But Shane Horgan and Isaac Boss added further tries as Ireland claimed their record win over England.

 

There had been an emotional build-up to the match at Croke Park, home of the Gaelic Athletic Association, and it was more than matched by a pulsating encounter.

 

England took a second-minute lead through a Jonny Wilkinson penalty but the hosts were soon back on terms when O'Gara replied in kind.

 

The opening quarter of the match was fairly even but as the half wore on the Irish started to gain the upper hand and two further O'Gara penalties saw them lead 9-3 after 26 minutes.

 

With the rain bucketing down once more Ireland's pack began to exert their influence at the line-out and just before the 30-minute mark came a crucial moment.

 

England just managed to halt the rampaging Simon Easterby but Danny Grewcock cynically went offside at the ruck and was yellow carded.

 

With England down to 14 men Ireland went for the kill, kicking the penalty into the corner, and it paid off as they scored the opening try of the match.

 

England managed to repel the initial driving maul but the Irish, after some dithering and a poor pass from Stringer, spun the ball down the line.

 

Fine passes from Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll rescued the move and they sent Dempsey over, with O'Gara adding the extras.

 

Horgan and Paul O'Connell then both went close, with Mathew Tait making a fine tackle to deny the former, before Ireland stretched well clear when Wallace burrowed over after 38 minutes.

 

O'Gara made no mistake with the conversion to give Ireland a 23-3 lead at half-time.

 

O'Gara stretched the lead further with a penalty soon after the re-start but the visitors hit back almost immediately when the debutant Strettle skated over in the corner after England whipped the ball down the line.

 

Wilkinson converted from the touchline and although he fell short when he tried his luck with a penalty from halfway, he made no mistake from closer in soon after.

 

It looked as though the world champions were building some momentum but from the kick-off replacement prop Julian White was penalised for illegal use of the boot in a ruck and O'Gara cancelled out the penalty to restore Ireland's 16-point advantage.

 

From that moment Ireland assumed total control, launching a series of threatening attacks on the England line.

 

England just managed to repel one assault when captain O'Driscoll was held up over the line by Mike Tindall, but the visitors could not hold out for long.

 

From the resulting scrum O'Gara cross-kicked and the 6ft 4in Horgan soared above Lewsey to claim a fine try.

 

O'Gara landed the conversion, his eighth kick out of eight, to make it 36-13.

 

And replacement scrum-half Boss claimed a late interception try as the hosts surfed a wave of emotion to victory, with the Croke Park faithful loudly acclaimed a stirring display.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/6389727.stm

Oh dear England.

 

How is the welsh doing against the french?

Ireland :D

Ouch!!:stunned:

 

MARK....DO YOU REMEMBER SCANAVACCA:D:D:D:D:D?

 

SCO-ITA 17-37...................THE SPOON COULD BE GIVEN TO WALES THIS YEAR:P!!

MARK....DO YOU REMEMBER SCANAVACCA:D:D:D:D:D?

 

SCO-ITA 17-37...................THE SPOON COULD BE GIVEN TO WALES THIS YEAR:P!!

 

I think you might just be right!!:P Holy COW!!:rolleyes:

What a fall for the welsh, after winning the cup 2 seasons ago to finish bottom.

the Welsh started off so well though. they looked really strong in the first half hour or so, and then it slowly unravelled.

What a fall for the welsh, after winning the cup 2 seasons ago to finish bottom.

 

hope they won't wake up in rome.....

WUHUU!! :D go IRELAND!! lEgEnDs!! that really was some game at croke park

Resurgent England see off France

 

 

England 26 (9)

Tries: Flood, Tindall

Pens: Flood 3, Geraghty

Cons: Flood, Geraghty

 

France 18 (12)

Pens: Skrela 3, Yachvili 3

 

England ended France's hopes of a Six Nations Grand Slam as they beat them for the first time since the World Cup.

 

Three penalties from David Skrela and one from Dimitri Yachvili, to three from Toby Flood, gave France a 12-9 half-time lead at Twickenham.

 

England went in front soon after the break through Flood's converted try.

 

France hit back with two Yachvili penalties but replacement Shane Geraghty kicked five points and set up a Mike Tindall try to secure victory.

 

After their static and laboured displays so far in the championship England, who had made 11 changes, were determined to inject some life into their performance.

 

The pack, so disappointing in the defeat by Ireland, matched their French counterparts in the tight and the mobile back row ensured England were competitive around the park.

 

Flood prompted to good effect and Josh Lewsey made one fine break as England started brightly, while David Strettle looked a threat virtually every time he touched the ball.

 

It was far from perfect from the world champions, with Mike Catt, Tindall and Lewsey all making mistakes, but France were largely kept at arm's length in the opening exchanges.

 

However, on the rare occasions they visited the England half indiscipline from the home side gave them the chance to kick for goal.

 

Skrela, who made a miraculous recovery from a serious-looking ankle injury, landed three penalties, with Flood replying with one for England, to give the visitors a 9-3 lead after 25 minutes.

 

Despite the setbacks England refused to go into their shells and although they struggled to go through more than three phases without losing control of the ball they earned four more penalties.

 

Flood could only land two of them, missing two difficult chances, and with Yachvili on target when he took over from the hobbling Skrela the visitors led 12-9 at the break.

 

 

After their efforts in the first half England were determined to keep the tempo high after the break and they launched a sustained attack on the French line, only to meet some ferocious defence.

 

England were driven back from the French goal-line to the visitors' 22 and it looked as though there was nowhere to go.

 

But Catt realised he was opposed by French hooker Raphael Ibanez and sliced through the cover before feeding Flood, who crossed untouched.

 

Flood converted and England led 16-12 with just over half an hour to play, but the hosts' indiscipline soon reappeared and Yachvili kicked France back into the lead with two penalties.

 

England then lost Flood, 21, with a dead leg but they continued to play with pace and when France infringed to halt a threatening attack, replacement fly-half Geraghty, just 20, marked his debut by slotting the penalty.

 

France went back on the attack but England held firm and they clinched the game with a cracking try set up when Geraghty ran a French kick back and made a dazzling break through the middle.

 

When he flung the ball back inside Catt could not take it but Tindall was on hand to romp over by the posts.

 

Geraghty added the conversion as England showed there are signs of life in coach Brian Ashton's rebuilding world champions after all.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6429955.stm

Well done England for beating those pesky French

hahahaahahahahaha!

 

 

Yeah, we are pesky!!! :laugh3:

 

Now, we have to win... to win the trophy, like eveytime! :smug:

If you beat Scotland and Ireland beat Italy (Ruling England out), if Ireland beat Italy by 5 or more points compared to the french score, they win.

 

For example, say you beat Scotland 20-10, and if Ireland win 25-10 against Italy, they win.

 

And unless England can have a white-wash against the welsh, they won't win, as your point-difference is 29+

it would be better with the Grand Chelem... :cry:

HA HA all you scots WE WON THE TRIPLE CROWN!!!.......and then ye go and try to throttle ronan o gara

Wales v England (Sat)

 

 

Saturday, 17 March

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Kick-off: 1730 GMT

Live on BBC One, Five Live, Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, BBC Sport website

 

England will know if they still have a realistic chance of winning the title by the time the 2007 RBS Six Nations' final game kicks off in Cardiff.

 

Mark Cueto is in for Josh Lewsey, with Mathew Tait and James Haskell for the injured Mike Tindall and Nick Easter.

 

Wales host their oldest rivals seeking to avoid a Wooden Spoon and whitewash.

 

Missing injured captain Stephen Jones, under-pressure coach Gareth Jenkins has brought back ex-skipper Gareth Thomas as leader and moved James Hook to 10.

 

Before Saturday's France v Scotland and Italy v Ireland games, England stand level on points with the French and Irish at the top of the table, but with a far inferior points difference.

 

Wales will be desperate to avoid the second Six Nations whitewash in their history, and if they win and Scotland lose in Paris it is also possible for Jenkins' team to escape the Wooden Spoon.

 

"The Wooden Spoon would be disappointing, embarrassing and humiliating, but that is where we are," said Jenkins, whose only wins in 10 games in charge are against Canada and the Pacific Islanders.

 

"Even if we lose against England I don't think my job is under threat, sacking coaches is not the way to get success, especially in World Cup year.

 

"I don't think anyone else would have done the job dramatically differently, and, if you take 2005 out of the last 10 years, we are having an average season.

 

"It has not been a successful Six Nations but I don't think this is a poor team, it is a work in progress.

 

"It is nice to be back in Cardiff and I am sure the support we will have will give us that percentage extra we will need to put a performance in to beat England."

 

With Phil Vickery, Jonny Wilkinson and Mike Tindall still injured, England coach Brian Ashton will again be looking to 35-year-old captain Mike Catt to provide inspiration from inside centre, with exciting youngsters Toby Flood and Mathew Tait at 10 and 13.

 

"It is not going to be an occasion for the faint-hearted," said Ashton, who will be looking to make amends for England's defeat in Cardiff in 2005.

 

"The Welsh are very passionate about their rugby and I am looking forward to going there.

 

"They have played some pretty good stuff in the Six Nations, and if they get it right it could be our toughest game of the tournament."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6454287.stm

France v Scotland (Sat)

 

 

Saturday, 17 March

Stade de France, Paris

Kick-off: 1530 GMT

Live on BBC One, Five Live Sports Extra, BBC Sport website

 

France aim to seal their fourth Six Nations title in six years when they take on Scotland in Paris on Saturday.

 

France are level on six points with Ireland, who play Italy, but are four points better off on points difference.

 

Coach Bernard Laporte saw his side blow their chance of a Grand Slam with the defeat to England last week and has made three changes to his side.

 

Scotland have only won one game this year and they make five changes to the side which lost to Ireland.

 

France are level with both Ireland and England on six points following their lacklustre 26-18 defeat at Twickenham.

 

If the French lose or record a narrow win, the title could be heading to Dublin.

 

However, France will have the advantage of kicking off after Ireland's match with Italy in Rome.

 

Laporte said: "We will know what we'll have to do on Saturday but it's not because we'll know the result of the Ireland game that Scotland will become a bad team.

 

"Scotland have had mixed results this year but their defeat to Italy is misleading because they were down 21-0 after five minutes, they stood up to England for an hour and to Ireland until the whistle and they defeated Wales.

 

"We must not forget they beat us last year at Murrayfield and that our win at the Stade de France two years ago was not an easy one.

 

"To beat them, we'll have to be ourselves, and we were not ourselves at Twickenham.

 

"We will have to play our true game, which we didn't do at Twickenham, we'll have to recover the momentum of our first three matches."

 

Captain and hooker Raphael Ibanez says his side are still angry with the way they performed at Twickenham and are determined to put it right.

 

"We have watched the match again," said the Wasps hooker. "We have done review after review after review. We have digested it, but we have not accepted it.

 

"We have to play better. This is a decisive match and we have to be good in every department, we must have a collective ambition."

 

Scrum-half Pierre Mignoni, number eight Imanol Harinordoquy and wing Cedric Heymans are all recalled to the starting line-up with Dimitri Yachvili, Sebastien Chabal and Christophe Dominici missing out.

 

Fly-half David Skrela is also out of the match because of a tibia injury and is replaced by Stade Francais colleague Lionel Beauxis.

 

Scotland coach Frank Hadden has made five changes to the team with wing Nikki Walker, centre Andrew Henderson and number eight Johnnie Beattie coming in.

 

Scrum-half Rory Lawson and hooker Ross Ford will make their first Scotland starts while skipper Chris Paterson moves from the wing to full-back.

 

"I'm not denying that this is an enormous challenge for us, that the French are a very good side, or that Paris is a difficult place to play," said Hadden.

 

"But Edinburgh came within a hair's breadth of winning in Agen earlier this year, Borders were within a point of Biarritz until the last minutes of their game over there, and Glasgow actually won in Narbonne this year.

 

"So we have made progress, we have moved on, and we go over there not just expecting a good performance, but believing that we can win this game."

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/6455035.stm

Italy v Ireland (Sat)

 

 

Saturday, 17 March

Stadio Flaminio, Rome

Kick-off: 1330 GMT

Live on BBC One, Five Live, Radio Ulster, BBC Sport website

 

Ireland will be the first of the title contenders in action as they face Italy in the RBS Six Nations on Saturday.

 

Eddie O'Sullivan's men are level on points with France and England going into the final games, but the French have the edge on points difference.

 

Mick O'Driscoll comes into the Irish pack in place of Paul O'Connell who fractured a thumb against Scotland.

 

Flanker Maurizio Zaffiri, prop Salvatore Perugini and centre Ezio Galon come into the Italian line-up.

 

Zaffiri replaces Mauro Bergamasco who was banned for four weeks for striking Stephen Jones in the win over Wales.

 

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan is well aware of the threat posed by the Italians.

 

Pierre Berbizier's side have already beaten Wales and Scotland and are eyeing their own version of a Celtic triple crown.

 

It is the first time Italy have achieved two wins in a Six Nations campaign.

 

Their victory over Wales may have been a narrow and controversial one but it was a powerful display.

 

Earlier in the championship, Italy clinched their first-ever away win in the Six Natiosn with a four-try sucess in Scotland.

 

O'Sullivan insists that winning is the masin objective - not running up a big points total in an attempt to overhaul France at the top of the table.

 

"If we get the win then we are back in the championship and it puts pressure on France and England," he said.

 

"If we win by more then that is great but the amount we win by is a consequence of the performance. We have to get our head around winning."

 

Whatever happens, France, whose points difference is four better than Ireland's, will know exactly what they have to do when they face Scotland in Paris.

 

More than 17,000 Ireland supporters will descend on the Stadio Flaminio, capitalising on an error in the Italian Rugby Federation's ticket selling procedures to effectively turn the 25,000 capacity ground into home territory.

 

Two years ago Ireland won their fourth successive match in Rome but had to really battle for their 28-17 victory.

 

Making it five straight wins in the eternal city is likely to be every bit as difficult.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6455369.stm