The World Cup has come and gone, France consider themselves “vice-world champions” 🙂 a lot of people consider Wales to be in with a good shout, some even consider the South Africans in the England side to be their saviours.
One thing is sure and that is that there is quite a bit of uncertainty regarding the form of each team after the RWC retirees’ places have been filled.
France: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Aurelien Rougerie, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Julien Malzieu, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Dmitri Yachvili, 8 Julien Bonnaire, 7 Louis Picamoles, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5 Lionel Nallet, 4 Pascal Pape, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 William Servat, 1 Vincent Debaty.
Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Yohann Maestri, 19 Imanol Harinordoquy, 20 Morgan Parra, 21 Lionel Beauxis, 22 Maxime Mermoz.
Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Giovanbattista Venditti, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Luke McLean, 10 Kris Burton, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Robert Barbieri, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Quintin Geldenhuys, 4 Cornelius van Zyl, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D’Apice, 17 Lorenzo Cittadini, 18 Marco Bortolami, 19 Simone Favaro, 20 Fabio Semenzato, 21 Tobias Botes, 22 Gonzalo Canale.
Date: Saturday, February 4
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 15.30 (16.30 RSA)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Andrew Small (England), John Lacey (Ireland)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
============================================
Scotland: 15 Rory Lamont, 14 Lee Jones, 13 Nick de Luca, 12 Sean Lamont, 11 Max Evans, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Chris Cusiter, 8 David Denton, 7 Ross Rennie, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford (captain), 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Geoff Cross, 18 Alastair Kellock, 19 John Barclay, 20 Mike Blair, 21 Greig Laidlaw, 22 Graeme Morrison.
England: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Brad Barritt, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 David Strettle, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Phil Dowson, 7 Chris Robshaw, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Alex Corbisiero.
Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Matt Stevens, 18 Geoff Parling, 19 Ben Morgan, 20 Lee Dickson, 21 Jordan Turner-Hall, 22 Mike Brown.
Date: Saturday, February 4
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 17.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
TMO: Tony Redmond (Ireland)
============================================
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Fergus McFadden, 12 Gordon D’Arcy, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O’Brien, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Paul O’Connell (captain), 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Tom Court, 17 Sean Cronin, 18 Peter O’Mahony, 19 Donnacha Ryan, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Ronan O’Gara, 22 Dave Kearney.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Michael Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Rhys Gill.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Paul James, 18 Andy Powell, 19 Justin Tipuric, 20 Lloyd Williams, 21 James Hook, 22 Scott Williams.
Date: Sunday, February 5
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 15.00 (17.00 RSA)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Dave Pearson (England), Stuart Terheege (England)
TMO: Geoff Warren (England)
Tweet
15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Brad Barritt, 12 Owen Farrell,
Still can’t believe it!
😮 😀 😀
@robdylan (Comment 1) : me neither. 😛
Mate of mine is a teacher at Kearsney. As you can imagine there is lots of excitement at 2 old boys being included in the England team
France, England and Wales for me
France and England will win comfortable but the Wales/Ireland is hard to call
@JarsonX (Comment 4) : Same here, but think we have England wrong.
11min
France 3 – 0 Italy
DG Italy
France 3 – 3 Italy
18min
Italy looking the better team. 😯
Rougerie try
France 10 – 3 Italy
22 min
allez les bleus!
forza il azzuri
etc 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 11) : 🙂
And for the Bulls?
BULLE!!!!!!!!! 😆
Quite chuffed with the new sports package. Because the decoder doesn’t have a PVR function I can record things to an external HDD and then have full portability 😎
One thing i dislike about the PVR is that I don’t know how to tranfer stuff off it to a DVD. 😳
30min
France 10 – 6 Italy
Great try by Malzieu off a tighthead scrum and a break by the 8.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 15) : poor defence by Italy 3 missed tackles in the try, but almost more great evasive work than actual poor tackling.
As ever, some good play by Italy, but then a simple error and they concede.
Am amped for Scotland game, our A side beat the English A side 35-0!
38min
France 15 – 6 Italy
HALF TIME
France 15 – 6 Italy
Italy almost score, stopped a few meters short after a great break.
While I was getting applecrumble Italy scored.
France 15 – 9 Italy
51min
PK France
France 18 – 9 Italy
52min
A bit of loose play and a hack ahead and Clerc scores.
France 25 – 9 Italy
55min
Super vision by Trinh-Duc. The obvious choice wud have been to pass the ball.
One can never underestimate the value of having perfectly weighted cute kicks as a weapon in the modern day game
Botes on for Burton (Sounds like South africa is playing.) 🙂
Only started watching from begin of 2nd half but this Fofana guy looks quite the part today.
Tobi Botes PK
France 25 – 12 Italy
60min
France by 13
@KSA Shark © (Comment 28) : @JarsonX (Comment 29) : 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 6) : I have the same feeling 😳
halftime
Cheetahs 9 – 6 Stormers
@JarsonX (Comment 30) : tooooo early to get excited 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 32) : Go Cheetahs 😈
Interesting game, been impressed with parts of the Italian display but they just run out of steam too much. They have a very competitive pack, strong set piece, and an inept backline. Just hope Brunel can add an incisive dimension to their backline play and they would be really competitive at international level. Have been impressed with Andrea Masi and the bulk of Italian forwards. I think their Scrumhalf Gori has some potential (but still a bit too inexperienced too have a telling influence).
France are looking the main contenders for the Six Nations crown. Malzieu and Fofana give them an extra dimension.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 33) : I know but nothing wrong with hoping
Quintin Geldenhuys YC
poor tackling and france score.
France 30 – 12 Italy
72min
Come on Italy! 😈
76min
France 30 – 12 Italy
79min and Italy are 5m from the French line
Unconverted try by the Italians will be great
FULL TIME
France 30 – 12 Italy
My margin is 17. 😎
Hey guys…I got france by 15.so close,dammit
Still get a margin point 😎
England by 2
Wales by 2
@JarsonX (Comment 47) : to small on both 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 48) : We shall see 😉
@JarsonX (Comment 49) : 😛
Okay I’m only giving score updates in the enxt game. keen to see Brad Barritt. 😛
Can anybody assist or advicse me on how to change my username.I’m using a blackberry.been wanting to cahnge since the wrong joubert joined the sharks
@KSA Shark © (Comment 51) : hallow mate, I’ll chirp a bid from the side, missed the previous game, any good?
@juba_fan (Comment 52) : 😆
@juba_fan (Comment 52) : have to be on the main site, not the mobile site, go to ‘site admin’ then ‘profile’ and change your name in the ‘display name publicly as’ .
that Scottish song gives me goosebumps
Scotland into England 22, twice and spills it twice ……
first Scrum, reset, Scotland put-in
penalty, Scotland holding on, England take the line-out
Scotland turn the ball over on the ground
England setup a driving mall be Scotland drives them over the sideline
Scotland 0 – 0 England
10 min
And the Whitest jersey on the field belongs to? 😆
Penalty to England, Farrell miss is to the right
@KSA Shark © (Comment 63) : 😯
Did someone instruct Robshaw to the be trouble maker tonight? 2 incidents and he’s been in both.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 63) : a toss up between 2, 12…… and 13
@JarsonX (Comment 65) : Barritt.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 66) : he has the dirtiest jersey, and now stukkend too
@KSA Shark © (Comment 68) : I figured that with your smiley 😈
England penilised @ Scrum time, Scotland takes the line out and spills it
@JarsonX (Comment 70) : 😈
How’s the commentator try and justify England #2 standing up in the scrum Bwhahahahahaha
Kickable penalty for England
Farrell slots the Penalty
Scotland 0 – 3 England
22 min
Thanx FrankShark
And I’m in for a margin point
😛
Possesion
48 Scotland
52 England
Territory
30 Scotland
70 England
Scotland have a chance to get it equal again, and does so through a penalty kick
The last exciting battle between these to countries was when William Wallace kicked some Pommie arse 😈
Parks PK
Scotland 3 – 3 England
26 min
Scotland in England 22 on attack
11 phases, and they knock the ball…..
England hold the ball on the ground and Scotland gets a penalty
Scotland 6 – 3 England
32 min
A kick out on the full from Young gives Scotland the momentum in England’s have
Penalty to England this time @ scrum, one for you….. one for me…..
on half time, Scotland on the attack…..
And that’s half time
Scotland 6- 3 England
Both teams showing good intensity so far.a hard and high pace game.
Anybody know what happened with the warm up games ?
England have got npbody of real interest on the bench, going to be interesting once the subs are used.
@juba_fan (Comment 90) : Cheethas beat Stormers 22-14, according to SS match report Goosen played a good game
@juba_fan (Comment 90) : Last knight the sharks beat the sharks in durban
@juba_fan (Comment 90) :
FULL TIME
Cheetahs 22 – 14 Stormers
The whole of the break the Jazeera commentators were talking about if Parks stayed on England would win. And at the start of the second half he gets a kick charged down and England score try.
The 2 nd half starts with a England charge down try
Flippen Dan Parks.
The last tim e a try was scored in the calcutta cup in Scotland was in 2004. It was also the last time England won in Scotland.
Scotland 6 – 10 England
42 min
Good for cheethas..anything on the bulls vs queens game ?
Hodgson scored the try, his first in the last six years for England
@KSA Shark © (Comment 94) : 😆
@juba_fan (Comment 100) : 16-12 to the Bulls
@Franshark (Comment 101) : 😯
Thanx Franshark.
Scotland down the side line but tackeld out, and the commentator just used foul language on international tv
Succesful passes
Scotland 146
England 61
Grey with a great break down the middle but the support can’t pickup the ball, and gives the possession back to England
A whole bunch of replacements on for Scotland
Young breaks from a loose scrum but knocks the ball @ taking contact
Scotland kicks the ball towards England’s Lin and forces them to clear quickly, and gets a line out in a good position
How much time left.
its a dive over the line by two players gives the tv ampire some work, and calls no try
@JarsonX (Comment 112) : 6 min
Rennie breaks up the middle but forgets to pass…..
@Franshark (Comment 114) : Thanks 😎
Scotland 5 meters out….. and concedes a penalty, relieving the pressure on England
12min, Scotland has to score a try too win, and they have a line out in England half, but they spill it…
PK for England, just short, and Scotland attacks with the ball
😕
@JarsonX (Comment 116) : 😳 that was 16 min
@Franshark (Comment 114) : ????????? Only 9min left now.
@Franshark (Comment 121) : Eish dude 😆
England awarded a penalty, and Farrell looks to put England 7 points ahead, and does
Scotland 6 – 13 England
75min
@JarsonX (Comment 123) : sorry mate, its been so long I forget how to subtract from 80min
David Denton Man of the match. Played a DAMN good game.
The Sharks should buy him. 😛
Scotland within England 22 and again a knock on…..
on full time, and Scotland with one last chance….
FULL TIME
Scotland 6 – 13 England
2 from 2 and 2MPs on SB. 😎
Just made margin again 😎
The ball rolls out, and England win
Scotland 6 – 13 England
FULL TIME
Top 10 SB after today
1 Die Kriek 3.33
2 Jeremy 13 3.25
2 BLOU BLOU BUL 3.25
4 LouisV 3.25
5 HansDas 3.25
6 Bergbok 3.00
6 I am Legend 3.00
8 pom 3.00
8 Sandshark 3.00
8 smurre 3.00
Dave Denton. Yet another great product of our schools system and dare I say it – the Eastern Cape
@beet (Comment 134) : The last South African educated player to represent Scotland at loose forward was Roland Reid. Played SA Schools and SA U19. Played 7s for them as well
Denton definitely the best player on the pitch, he has size and speed and was all over the place. Disappointing that a team in SA never picked him up, he could be particularly useful for the Kings having gone to Kingswood.
As for the match, it was abysmal from both teams. The skill levels were abject and Parks has surely extinguished any hopes of ever playing for Scotland again. I feel a bit for Scotland as they really should have dispatched that England side. It was really a case of Scotland failing to put England away that England coming out of it with much credibiility.
@beet (Comment 134) : Awesome player. Had a fantastic game. Scotland were the better side but of course they can’t score tries and then gift the Poms a try. Can’t believe how many “open goals” they missed!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 133) : Jeremy 13 = Original Pierre
The stadium and setting looks awesome……
I have a serious soft spot for Ireland, but picked Wales to win…..
great play by Ireland earns them a penalty very early in the game, but Priesland messes it up by not kicking the ball out
2min in and Ireland gets another penalty, this time going for goal….
Priestland kicks in a dead quiet stadium and slots the PK
Ireland 3 – Wales
3min
A break from a line out brings Wales 5 meters from Ireland’s line
Wales drives their hooker over the line, TV-rev to decide if its a try…..
inconclusive, 5 meter scrum…
Early engage by Wales gives releave to Ireland
Wales scrum just inside their half
Wales winning territory after a kicking dual
still
Ireland 3 – 0 Wales
13min
Davies in the corner, TV -rev having to do some work again
Davies and Wales awarded a try
Priestland miss the conversion
Ireland 3 – 5 Wales
15min
Wales into Ireland 22 after some continuous play….
Ireland penalized for slowing the ball, Priestland hits the post from straight in front…..
counter attack fram Ireland end in a knock on
Wales kicks in the corner and Ireland under pressure again
Ireland runs the ball out their own 22
Charge down kick put Ireland under pressure in the own 22
bad decision from wales see the ball kicked dead I goal and Ireland get the feed to a scrum just inside their own half
Ireland chasing their kicks up field and forcing the 3rd penalty by putting the ball receiver under pressure
Ireland kicking their PK, and Sexton miss
Ireland 3 – 5 Wales
29min
wales slowly making their way up field…
Ireland gets the turn over but run out the side line
right on the half line Ireland keep wales up and win the feed to a scrum
Ireland with good play, but looses all momentum by knock on
Rory Best over for an Ireland try…., good play specially from Tom Bowe…..
Sexton extend the lead by slotting the conversion
Ireland 10 – 5 Wales
39min
HALF TIME
Ireland 10 – 5 Wales
first penalty of the 2nd half goes to Ireland, and Sexton line it up….
and seek it in….
Ireland 13 – 5 Wales
43min
Hook on the field for Wales
Wales play themselfs into Ireland’s half, and gets awarded a penalty….
Priestland makes a hash of it……
Ireland not rolling away gives Wales another go at goal, Halfpenny to take the PK
Its over
Ireland 13 – 8 Wales
54min
set move from line out, North—–Davies score for Wales…..
The conversion put Wales back in the lead
Ireland 13 – 15 Wales
56min
Ireland with waves of attack, penalty for Ireland, Wales slowing the ball…
PK over
Ireland 16 – 15 Wales
59min
Both teams looking a bid desperate at the moment…
Yellow card for Davies, spear tackle…. very close to a red card….
15 min to go and Ireland having advantage for 10 of those…
And Tommy Bowe scores in the corner…..
Sexton miss the conversion
Ireland 21 – 15 Wales
69min
Penalty to Ireland, Wales holding on, in the middle of the field two meter inside their half ,
Sexton…….. going for post, pulls it to the right
Wales with a line out just outside of Ireland 22
North over in the corner, TV-rev called in again….
Try awarded
Mixed fortunes for Tommy Bowe today.
Halfpenny from the side line, and its miss
Ireland 21 – 20 Wales
76min
Wales back to 15 players, O’Gara on for Ireland
Another reason why Wayne Barnes show be kicked off the international panel
Wales into Ireland half, penalty to Wales and a yellow card for Ferris…
PK over
Wales win
Ireland 21 – 23 Wales
FULL TIME
Well done to Wales, missing some important players and disrupted preparations through injuries, yet somehow they did it.
For me it was a very good game, very entertaining……. the better game of the first round of six nations 2012
Yebo yes! 3 From 3, 3 margins and a bonus point! 😛 😛 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 48) : Say what? 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 133) : Can we have an update
@JarsonX (Comment 195) :
1 JarsonX 6.50 😎
2 BLOU BLOU BUL 5.75
3 pom 5.50
3 The BOOM 5.50
5 Sandshark 5.50
5 pokkel 5.50
5 Short Shark 5.50
8 berroos 5.50
8 Pump 5.50
10 Maverick 5.50
10 Whindy 5.50
@JarsonX (Comment 195) : good going 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 196) : @Franshark (Comment 197) : Thanks. Hope I can keep it up. I need a trophy above my name
3 out of 3 for me, good weekend