[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or_sJ_wrhQc]Six Nations Rugby: Inspirational! - YouTube[/ame]

RBS Six Nations Championship

 

 

The RBS Six Nations Championship - the showpiece international tournament in European rugby - resumes this weekend. France and Italy open proceedings in Paris on Saturday (1430 GMT), before Scotland tackle England at Murrayfield (1700). Ireland and Wales then open their campaigns in Dublin (1500) on Sunday.

 

We asked four of the BBC's expert team of analysts - former England centre Jeremy Guscott (JG), former Scotland scrum-half Andy Nicol (AN), former Wales fly-half Jonathan Davies (JD) and former Ireland hooker Keith Wood (KW) - for their predictions.

 

Who will win the Six Nations, and why? Will it be a Grand Slam?

 

JG: My tip for the Six Nations is Ireland. I don't think they will win a Grand Slam, although it could be possible. The Irish provincial teams are playing so well at the moment and I believe they will carry that form into the tournament.

 

AN: France because they have, by some distance, the most quality to pick from. They have the strongest squad but this caused the previous coach some headaches and resulted in some weird selections. New boss Philippe Saint-Andre will not make the same mistakes and will select a strong and sensible side for every game.

 

Any side that can get to a World Cup final and nearly win it when playing so poorly is going to be a major contender in the Six Nations. Also, the fixtures work well for them - they have England and Ireland in Paris. Tough trips to Cardiff and Edinburgh mean that they will win the Six Nations but not with a Grand Slam.

 

JD: I have a funny feeling it will be France. They have strength in depth, they have a new coach, they didn't play well at the World Cup despite reaching the final, they played well within themselves. I think there is a lot more to come from them, especially with Philippe Saint-Andre taking over. If he can get any kind of team spirit going, they will get better.

 

They have Ireland and England at home, although they have to travel to Edinburgh and Cardiff, and they don't like going there. Overall I think they just have the edge but apart from Italy, who I don't think have the proper balance between forwards and backs yet, any of the rest could win it if they get a good start. Maybe there won't be a Grand Slam this year because it is so competitive, but it's going to be an interesting Six Nations.

 

KW: France, with their playing staff, should nearly always be favourites. But I don't think it will be a Grand Slam.

 

SIX NATIONS GRAND SLAMS

 

•2002 - France

•2003 - England

•2004 - France

•2005 - Wales

•2008 - Wales

•2009 - Ireland

•2010 - France

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/16824077

I had the opportunity to go to the Stade de France in the afternoon but as it is freezing, I prefer watching the game on TV!

I'll be watching it for sure....Wales to win! :)

France 15 - 6 Italy

 

edit: end of the game

 

France 30 - 12 Italy

Scotland 6 - 3 England

 

edit: Scotland 6 - England 13

The youngsters won on their debut, and a victory for the Calcutta Cup is always good

 

England hold off wasteful Scots

 

England's new-look side gave interim coach Stuart Lancaster the best possible start by claiming a first win at Murrayfield in eight years.

 

Charlie Hodgson's charge-down try at the start of the second half plus eight points from the boot of debutant Owen Farrell left Scotland ruing a series of blown try-scoring chances.

 

England's inexperienced players came through their baptism of fire with great fight and resolve, despite waves of Scottish pressure.

 

Dan Parks landed two penalties but dithered with his clearing kick to hand Hodgson and England the softest of tries and the perfect start to their Six Nations campaign.

 

Scotland seemed certain to score in the last quarter only for Ross Rennie to mis-time the final pass with men outside him, while Greig Laidlaw was ruled not to have touched down as he dived for the ball with the desperately covering Ben Youngs.

 

It means Scotland have failed to score a try in five of their last six home matches against the auld enemy, with all their pre-tournament optimism blown away by elementary errors at key moments.

 

It was the predictably frenetic opening, Jim Hamilton barging through weak English arms before being hauled down and England then getting turned over on their first foray into the Scottish 22 after Brad Barritt thumped fellow debutant Lee Jones backwards.

 

Tidy it was not - both sides knocking the ball forward - and when Parks put a clearing kick straight down Ben Foden's throat, the full-back's scything run led to a penalty from 40 metres that Farrell pushed to the right of the posts.

 

The errors continued. Hodgson's pass on his own 10-metre line went to ground; Chris Robshaw's simple pass with Chris Ashton in space on the left sailed through the wing's outstretched hands; Scotland attempted a long line-out that fell into no-man's land.

 

Confusion between Parks and Rory Lamont gave Strettle the chance to dart deep into enemy territory, and this time Farrell landed his first points in international rugby with a simple penalty from 25 metres out.

 

Parks brought the scores level two minutes later when England went off their feet after Phil Dowson spilled the re-start, and Max Evans then chipped ahead after haring down the left to trigger sustained Scottish pressure.

 

When Ashton was caught in possession by Chris Cusiter, Parks made it 6-3 with his second penalty from close in.

 

England's errors were handing Scotland the initiative, sparking the capacity crowd into life on an evening that was fresh but never freezing.

 

Within seconds of the second half getting under way, the impetus changed dramatically. Parks dithered for an eternity five metres from his own try-line, Hodgson charged his kick down and slid onto the loose ball for the only try of the contest.

 

Farrell added the conversion for 10-6, and Parks's night went from bad to worse as he missed touch with another kick and then let the ball bounce into touch, to the dismay of the home support.

 

The impressive David Denton charged down the left wing and when England counter-attacked - Ashton combining with Farrell for an overlap with the Scottish defence stretched - the young back-rower made a brilliant try-saving tackle on David Strettle after Hodgson's cross-kick looked certain to put the winger away for England's second try.

 

At last the game was alive. Richie Gray smashed through a wrong-footed England rearguard only to lose the ball attempting an ambitious offload, and with England going backwards from their scrum, Scotland's forwards tore into the white shirts only to be penalised for not rolling away. With 20 minutes to go coach Andy Robinson threw on four replacements and almost triggered an immediate impact.

 

Ashton chased back to snaffle a kick ahead and save the day, and then Laidlaw sprinted on to another only to be denied when the Television Match Official ruled after countless replays that the fly-half had just failed to touch down.

 

Then it was Rennie to smash through. This time Scotland seemed certain to score - the open-side had men free outside him and only full-back Foden ahead - but the pass was delayed and the ball went to ground once again.

 

England were hanging on as the minutes ticked away. Matt Stevens, Lee Dickson and Jordan Turner-Hall were thrown into the line with Farrell moving to fly-half, joined moments later by two more debutants in Ben Morgan and Geoff Parling.

 

Farrell had a pot from halfway that stuttered two metres short and the tension grew still further.

 

Scotland then failed to release midway inside their own half, and this time Farrell belied his young years to drill the penalty between the posts for 13-6.

 

England grew in strength, making their tackles, keeping their discipline, and when the final whistle went their celebrations told their own tale.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/16863670

Scotland should have won that, I can't see England beating either Wales or Ireland or France for that matter with this team :uhoh:

 

Six Nations: France 30-12 Italy

 

France gave new boss Philippe Saint-Andre the perfect start as they avenged last year's humbling Six Nations defeat by Italy with a comfortable victory.

 

Tries from Clermont pair Aurelien Rougerie and Julien Malzieu helped the hosts into a 15-6 lead at half-time.

 

Kris Burton landed his third kick soon after the break to make it 15-9.

 

But a converted Vincent Clerc score and try for debutant Wesley Fofana saw France cruise home in their first game since they lost the World Cup final.

 

It has been a dramatic year since Italy's historic 22-21 win in 2011, their first over France in Six Nations history.

 

France stumbled their way to the World Cup final, before producing a heroic performance as they slipped to an agonising 8-7 defeat by New Zealand.

 

That heralded the end of the troubled reign of former coach Marc Lievremont, with ex-Gloucester and Sale boss Saint-Andre taking the reins.

 

Italy also have a new coach in the shape of Frenchman Jacques Brunel, who coached Perpignan to the French title in 2009, but despite a positive start from Italy, Saint-Andre's charges ultimately ran out convincing winners.

 

A 50m counter-attacking run from Malzieu, impressive on his recall to the side after being banished by Lievremont, set up the position for Yachvili to kick the hosts into the lead.

 

But Italy levelled after a sustained spell of pressure ended with Burton pinging over a long-range drop-goal.

 

It was the least the Italians deserved, but the score stung France and they went back in front through a 20th-minute try. Recalled number eight Louis Picamoles made good ground from a tap penalty and the Italian defence was unable to reorganise itself.

 

When Yachvili moved the ball out Rougerie found himself up against two front row forwards and scythed through the lumbering Italians to score his 23rd Test try.

 

Yachvilli converted to make it 10-3, but a penalty from Burton kept the Italians well in the hunt.

 

Italy were enjoying plenty of possession and going through the phases well but they lacked the cutting edge of France and the difference between the two sides was perfectly illustrated just before the break. Les Bleus won a scrum against the head and the influential Picamoles broke the initial line of defence before feeding 6ft 5in winger Malzieu, who beat four men on a spectacular solo run to the line.

 

It was the kind of individual ability that Italy, for all their greater ambition and expanded gameplan under new boss Brunel, lack in the backs.

 

And it shows the scale of the task facing the Frenchman as he tries to find players that can give the Azzurri a real threat out wide to go with their undoubted forward power.

 

They briefly cut the gap to six points when Burton landed a penalty soon after half-time but Yachvili quickly restored the margin with a penalty of his own.

 

And the hosts stretched clear when Francois Trinh-Duc and Rougerie both kicked ahead and the ball sat up invitingly for Clerc to cruise over untouched for a converted try.

 

Replacement Italy fly-half Tobias Botes landed a penalty just after the hour to make it 25-12 but France had not finished.

 

After the forwards had hammered away at the line, Yachvili flung the ball wide and debutant centre Fofana handed off Luke McLean to join fellow Clermont three-quarters Rougerie and Malzieu on the scoresheet.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/16861332

Ireland v Wales today, 3pm

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao0YgIW0JHQ]BBC Wales 6 Nations 2012 - History in the making 'Ireland' - YouTube[/ame]

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2FDga5S_7g]BBC Wales 6 Nations 2012 - History in the making 'Scotland' - YouTube[/ame]

Ireland 10 - 5 Wales

 

edit: Ireland 21 - 23 Wales

 

awesome game!!!!

Well done Wales. Bloody good match!

 

Six Nations: Ireland 21-23 Wales

 

Wales staged a thrilling late comeback to launch their Six Nations campaign with a stunning victory over a crushed Ireland in Dublin.

 

Leigh Halfpenny's last-gasp penalty sealed a remarkable victory in a see-saw encounter in which the lead changed hands five times.

 

The visitors led 5-3 after the first of two tries for centre Jonathan Davies, but Rory Best's score gave the Irish a 10-5 interval lead.

 

Davies's second try put Wales back in front before Tommy Bowe appeared to have given Ireland victory, only for a George North try and Halfpenny's kick to steal it from under their noses.

 

Wales, exhibiting much of the free-flowing rugby that marked their run to the World Cup semi-finals, appeared to have blown their chance when Halfpenny failed to convert North's try from out on the left touchline with four minutes left.

 

But the visitors persisted and Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris conceded a penalty 30 metres out, which Halfpenny - who had taken over the kicking duties from Rhys Priestland - drilled between the uprights.

 

Until that point it appeared the goalkicking failures that cost Wales so dearly at the World Cup would come back to haunt them, with Priestland missing two penalties and a conversion.

 

But Halfpenny held his nerve to condemn Ireland to their first defeat in the opening game of the Championship for eight years.

 

Wales made their intent clear early on, full-back Halfpenny eschewing a kick to touch to run from his own line. But Priestland's clearance failed to relieve the pressure and the visitors were swiftly penalised at the breakdown, allowing Sexton to make it 3-0.

 

There was an impressive collective confidence about the visitors though, and they should have hit back immediately after two minutes of sustained pressure on the Irish line.

 

A cheeky line-out throw to Bradley Davies saw the lock charge up the left touchline before Wales set up camp on the Irish line. Jamie Roberts, twice, and Mike Phillips were both held up short in the right corner before North escaped down the left, and Ryan Jones crashed over.

 

But Best and Conor Murray did just enough to stop the former captain grounding the ball, at least to the satisfaction of the television match official (TMO).

 

Wales got the try their early endeavours deserved, however, in the 14th minute. More quick ruck ball saw Phillips feed Priestland and the fly-half stretched around Tommy Bowe to feed Jonathan Davies, who dotted down in the left corner, after confirmation from the TMO.

 

Priestland's conversion from the touchline came back off the upright, but he should have extended Wales' lead with a penalty from straight in front of the posts in the 19th minute, only to see it come thumping back off the left upright.

 

With locks Bradley Davies and Ian Evans and flanker Ryan Jones willing workhorses with their ball-carrying, Wales continued to dominate possession.

 

Giant debutant wing Alex Cuthbert came off his flank to good effect, Jones indulged himself with a cheeky grubber kick down the right touchline, and Priestland spotted space for a cross-kick, but Sexton arrived just ahead of the onrushing North.

 

Ireland, struggling to make any advances themselves, managed to disrupt Wales whenever they went to the middle of their line-out, picking off three Welsh throws inside the first half-hour.

 

The hosts gained what appeared a rather soft penalty, Phillips adjudged to have impeded his Ospreys team-mate Bowe on the touchline, when the scrum-half's momentum seemed to make the contact accidental. But Sexton failed to take advantage, pushing his penalty attempt wide.

 

Ireland finally built up a head of steam as half-time approached and got their reward, quick hands from Murray, Gordon D'Arcy and Fergus McFadden, and an incisive thrust from Bowe, putting hooker Best over for a popular try, Sexton adding the conversion for a 10-5 lead.

 

Wales returned after the interval without injured captain Sam Warburton , who picked up a dead leg and was replaced by Justin Tipuric, while James Hook entered the fray at full-back with Halfpenny switching to the right wing for the departed Cuthbert.

 

Sexton's second penalty on the resumption made it 13-5, before Priestland - whose kicking from hand also became ragged - missed another attempt from wide out, his third miss of the afternoon.

 

That was the cue for Halfpenny to take over the duties, slotting the next attempt after Sean O'Brien was penalised on the deck.

 

Wales, suddenly revived, were back in the lead two minutes later with a stunning score. A tap-down from Tipuric at the tail of a line-out saw North launched off his left wing, evading two tacklers before a wonderful offload out of the back of his hand sent Davies haring in for his second try. Halfpenny added the extras from in front to put Wales 15-13 ahead.

 

But back came the hosts, a series of thundering drives forcing Wales to fall offside on their own 22, with Sexton nailing the kick to make it a one-point game going into the final quarter.

 

The dynamics of a hitherto even contest were altered with 15 minutes left though when Bradley Davies was sin-binned for a tip tackle on Donnacha Ryan, bringing back unpleasant memories for Welsh supporters after the events of the World Cup semi-final when captain Warburton was red carded.

 

The visitors immediately compounded the setback by losing their own line-out ball inside the 22, and Ireland - led by the charging Paul O'Connell - went for the kill. Wales scrambled desperately in defence, but when play was switched right, Sexton and Kearney exploited the extra space to put Bowe over in the right corner.

 

Sexton failed to convert from wide out though, and was also off target with a penalty attempt from inside his own half to keep Welsh hopes alive.

 

Four minutes from time they grabbed the reprieve after kicking a penalty to touch, Roberts and Jonathan Davies combining to send North charging through Bowe and D'Arcy for the try in the left corner.

 

Halfpenny, faced with half the Irish team charging up at him, pushed the conversion wide of the right upright.

 

But moments later Stephen Ferris was also adjudged guilty of a tip tackle, on Ian Evans, and yellow carded and Halfpenny made no mistake from in front of the posts to spark wild Welsh celebrations.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/16882998

halftime:

 

Italy 12 - 6 England

End result - Italy 15-19 England

 

The kids have won their 2nd game

France - Ireland

 

The referee has just decided they wouldn't play tonight because the field is frozen and it would be too dangerous.

First game in over 25 years to be called off due to "adverse" weather. Hasn't the concept of under-ground heating reached France yet?

First game in over 25 years to be called off due to "adverse" weather. Hasn't the concept of under-ground heating reached France yet?

 

:laugh3: yes, it has! But they stopped it at 7pm and within 2 hours it has frozen again;

Wales 27-13 Scotland

 

Good victory for the Welsh

 

Ruthless Wales blitz Scotland with classy second-half show

 

Wales will head to Twickenham in a fortnight with a Six Nations Triple Crown in their sights after a ruthless victory over Scotland in Cardiff.

 

Three tries in a devastating 14-minute spell early in the second half broke the resistance of the visitors, who went in level at 3-3.

 

Wing Alex Cuthbert grabbed the first on his home debut, before a brace from Leigh Halfpenny, who converted all three and added a penalty in a 22-point haul.

Scotland, who had Nick de Luca and Rory Lamont sin-binned, broke their try drought via Greig Laidlaw but suffered a fourth straight Test defeat.

 

They battled bravely after the savage blows of Wales' second-half onslaught, but familiar attacking flaws remain unresolved as they prepare to welcome France to Murrayfield next.

 

Wales captain Sam Warburton was ruled out before kick-off after failing a late fitness test on the dead leg that forced him off in the opening win in Dublin.

Scarlets flanker Aaron Shingler, a Hampshire-born former Glamorgan cricketer whose younger brother Steve is at the centre of an eligibility row between Scotland and Wales, was handed his Test debut.

 

In a frantic opening, the Scots struggled to get out of their own half but had a chance to score when Wales were penalised at a ruck. However, Laidlaw, starting his first Test at fly-half, pushed his kick wide.

 

Wales were then penalised for handling in the ruck, allowing Laidlaw to open the scoring.

 

With half-an-hour gone, Mike Phillips, attempting to clear a ruck, was adjudged to have been impeded by Scotland flanker Alasdair Strokosch, and Halfpenny stroked over the penalty to level it at 3-3.

 

Scotland, without a try in their last four Tests, had chances to end that barren run before half-time, putting Lee Jones into space down the right flank only for Jonathan Davies to cut the wing down.

 

But the Scots recycled the ball, through 21 phases, before a knock-on from prop Allan Jacobsen a metre from the Welsh line saw all their efforts come to naught.

That was to prove costly as Chris Cusiter immediately put the visitors on the defensive after the resumption by letting the kick-off drift into touch after failing to control it with his foot.

 

Ian Evans won the line-out and Wales camped on the Scots' line before going wide, Cuthbert barging through Laidlaw's attempted tackle for his first Wales try. Halfpenny converted and moments later landed a penalty for 10-3 after De Luca was yellow-carded for tackling Davies without the ball as the centre chased his own punt ahead.

The visitors rallied to earn a penalty for Laidlaw to make it 13-6 but Wales duly took advantage of the extra man, showing the composure and cutting edge Scotland lacked.

After sucking in the Scottish defence with a series of charges, the ball was moved wide via Rhys Priestland and James Hook to Cuthbert, who drew the last man and sent Halfpenny over, with the try scorer converting for a 20-6 lead.

 

Moments later Roberts was freed into space and in the ensuing panic Rory Lamont was yellow-carded for an illegal tackle on Hook, who had replaced the hobbling George North just before the interval. Scotland, who were also reduced to 13 men in the same fixture two years ago, did well to repel the initial surge after Wales kicked the penalty to touch and won the line-out. But from an ensuing scrum, Toby Faletau and Phillips combined to put Halfpenny over in the left corner for his second try, and the full-back's conversion from the touchline made it 27-6.

 

That appeared to spell the end of the match as a contest but the Scots hit back immediately, only to bungle a gilt-edged opportunity when Stuart Hogg, with no-one in front of him, was harshly ruled to have knocked the ball on metres from the Welsh line as he tried to pick up a difficult pass when a more accurate delivery would have left him with a walk-in. It was a ghastly moment from a Scottish perspective, but minutes later Laidlaw did get over the line, touching down from half a metre out through a forest of bodies. The fly-half's conversion still left the visitors two converted tries behind, but at least it gave them hope.

 

Hogg then slipped through two tackles as Wales took their foot off the pedal, and a Laidlaw burst and chip ahead was only foiled by quick thinking from Davies.

Wales threatened a fourth try with a minute left after a thrilling break-out led by Priestland, only to concede a penalty for holding on. But a second win of the Championship maintained hopes of a third Grand Slam in eight years.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/16967771

 

Six Nations: Stuart Lancaster relieved as England escape

 

Interim coach Stuart Lancaster said he was "relieved but proud" after England hit back from 15-6 down to beat Italy. Charlie Hodgson's try and Owen Farrell's boot saw them home in the Six Nations encounter in snowy Rome.

 

"We talked at half-time about playing a bit off first receiver rather than just off nine, and having the courage to play," Lancaster told BBC Sport. "We played with a bit more width, which was difficult in the conditions, but it was the right way to go."

 

Two tries just before half-time, from Giovanbattista Venditti and Tommaso Benvenuti, both from English errors, saw Italy take a 12-6 half-time lead at the Stadio Olimpico. "We put ourselves in a position in the first 20 [minutes], we started well, then we had a mad five minutes and came in down at half-time," said Lancaster. "The most pleasing thing from that point of view was there was no sense of panic. I thought Italy played extremely well and put us under a lot of pressure. They were very difficult conditions to play in.''

 

Hodgson inspired the fightback by scoring his second charge-down try in as many weeks. "We knew we had to keep our composure," Hodgson told BBC Sport. "The first half I felt we dominated and they had a lucky try and that got them away. But we didn't lose our heads and came good in the end. To come back and be successful shows what resolve we have."

 

Farrell's contribution was also important, the 20-year-old kicking four penalties and a conversion as England avoided a first ever defeat by Italy. Asked what Lancaster's message had been at half-time, when his side trailed 12-6, Farrell said: "I think it was just to keep doing what we're doing, we don't have to chase anything. I felt we were still on top in the first half and credit to the boys, we dug in."

 

Italy captain Sergio Parisse, named man of the match, admitted there was deep disappointment in the home dressing room. "It annoys me to lose to a poor England side," he said. "We had the chances today to beat England as they weren't at their best. We had a big chance, but now we have to move on and prepare for the next two away matches. I'm convinced that we're on a good path and going forward."

 

Six Nations 2012: apology for Irish and French fans, but blame game for farcical postponement goes on

 

The Six Nations Council has issued a belated apology to the 80,000 fans who wasted time and money in attending the France game against Ireland on Saturday night.

 

The match was called off just moments before the 9pm local-time kick off at the Stade de France, despite earlier assurances that it was not in danger. In a terse statement on Sunday night the Six Nations Council expressed “regret that thousands of supporters were left disappointed and frustrated by this late postponement in Paris”, but went on to to insist that the responsibility for such a late cancellation lay with the French rugby federation and the referee Dave Pearson.

 

This despite the fact that it was the Six Nations Council which, for commercial reasons, sanctioned the 9pm kick off, in early February, at a ground with no undersoil heating. And despite the fact that it was the Six Nations Council which organised a pitch inspection at 4pm on Friday at which the game was given the green light.

 

Data from that time, with the pitch under covers and with the hot blowers full on, had little relevance as to whether a game at 9pm the following night, with -10C temperatures forecast, would be possible.

 

The French Federation itself absolved of blame and has pointed the finger at Pearson. French television is understood to have been rebuffed when suggesting a move to a Saturday afternoon kick-off. Pearson received strong support from the International Rugby Board, which insists that player welfare is a referee’s prime concern. Ireland coach Declan Kidney also supported the official. I’m very disappointed for the supporters and I’m disappointed for the players but I’d be more disappointed if I was sitting in hospital with somebody who had a very bad injury,” he said.

 

The Six Nations Council is expected to announce details of the rescheduled game today with the weekend of March 3-4, a spare weekend in the schedule, the most likely choice. Theoretically this weekend also offers another window but Ireland’s players dispersed for a three-day break last night and re-ticketing the game in such a short period could be problematical. The drawback to the March date is that it would see the teams playing internationals on four consecutive weekends.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/france/9078048/Six-Nations-2012-Apology-for-Irish-and-French-fans-but-blame-game-for-farcical-postponement-goes-on.html

Ireland 17 - 10 Italy

 

end of the game :

 

Ireland 42 - 10 Italy

England 12 - 19 Wales