France

APV1 says...

@ letsgoboks - then don't watch or comment. Some Bok supporters are so insular that they think their rugby is the only rugby worth watching. Fine. Just go away and do that.

For the rest of us, let us enjoy all of the different competitions, tournaments and cups available and the different teams, players and styles they offer.

Vive la difference!

Posted 10:20 08th February 2012

pog_mahone says...

edhutson - Let's play guess the nationality. Scottish, right? Even so, do you really think they merited 25% of the places on the team of the week? PS did Ghiraldini stick his fingers in anyone's eyes this year, I missed the match. Rougerie's, perhaps?

Posted 20:50 07th February 2012

letsgoboks says...

6 nationzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

Posted 10:11 07th February 2012

giomamo says...

Mm, i think it should be better with 15. Halfpenny, 14. Bowe, 8. Denton, 7. Barbieri. I agree about other positions.

Posted 07:53 07th February 2012

ThinkingGame says...

No-one from *that* game should be near this. There was no honest physical graft, no craft, no clash of styles. Just 30 guys without a clue at international level desperately trying not to get beaten. A real horror show.

Ireland play a 6 at 7, France play an 8 at 7 and a 7 at 6, Warburton went off at half time, his replacement went well but not show stopping so Barbieri was probably the pick. If Rennie hadn't binned the chance to put Blair under the posts he would have walked it. Small margins. Thought Nallet and Pape were their usual unstoppable, monstrous, machine like, ruck hitting nuisance machines, and won, unlike the two picked above. I cannot agree Kearney should be anywhere near this. R Lamont was far more impressive in attack, Foden better defensively, Halfpenny kicked the winning points, Medard is the finest FB up here, and even Masi was better in a team getting well beaten.

Then there's Laidlaw. Better than Parks, better than Hodgson (who despite his try, kicked like a drunk and passed like a drunk's grandmother), didn't almost cost his side anything (unlike Priestland), didn't actually cost his side anything (unlike Sexton), didn't have class everywhere to play with (unlike Trinh-Duc) and actually touched the ball a few times in the opposition half (unlike Burton). So good choice?

Posted 21:48 06th February 2012

gingergenius says...

@ dannyC

England don't have a 7, hence the fact that they had absolutely no possession while Rennie, a proper 7, was all over the ball throughout the match. Robshaw played well in a 6 role, but in the battle at the breakdown he got absolutely dicked.

Dusautoir, or Rennie (whose excellent performance was marred by the shocker 2 on 1) should be there.

Posted 19:21 06th February 2012

munster13 says...

wat cn u say really, i have this slighly annoying feeling that wales are going to dominate world rugby for the next few years. They have great depth in their squad and their all ******* big men, but their also fast. seriously with north on the wing coming into midfield once in a while, the big boot of halpenny and a great bunch of forwards. this welsh team is only going to get better, very worried

from an irish rugby fan. btw kearney was outstanding

Posted 18:17 06th February 2012

GCP_JONES says...

@edhutson..

Your 12 and 13? Are you nuts....

OK Barritt defended well and Farrell kick his scores but really did they actually play any rugby, Fair play to England in Grinding it out, what happened to lancaster's promise of an attacking, heads up game plan.

the Scotland v England game was anti-rugby

You can't compare the English Centres with Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, Fofana and Rougerie it was like they were playing a different sport.

Posted 16:55 06th February 2012

edhutson says...

this is the team i came up with:

1)Jacobsen (thought he did well, got around alot)

2)Ghiradini (same as Jacobsen, got around alot in the loose and very solid in the tight)

3)Castrogiovani (Solid as ever, and no-one else really stood out for me)

4)Richie Gray (Great work in the loose, tbh him and Hamilton share this spot)

5)O'Connell (Good leader, unlucky with the result, solid performance, good lineout)

6)Thiery Dusatoir (just class all day long)

7)Ross Rennie (played amazing at 7, except that pass...)

8)Dave Denton (not very expirienced but set the standards for scotland)

9)Mike Phillips (a key leader for wales now, good game)

10)Priestland (Good attacking game, kicking was off but best 10 I reckon)

11)Malzeu (What a performance, becoming world class now? )

12)Farrell (does anything phase this lad? on debut kicked the goals, well done)

13)Barritt (best defensive centre in europe? chopped people down all day)

14)North (whats there to say? 19 years old and the best player of the weekend)

15)Foden (coped well with alot of pressure coming through, tackled well)

Posted 15:57 06th February 2012

BigRugbyBalls says...

@curates egg

North can play and has played on the right wing numerous times for Wales.

Posted 14:41 06th February 2012