Mailbox: Six Nations debacle

A dodgy TMO decision, a Vincent Clerc hat-trick and another Italian fightback dominated proceedings in Round Two of last weekend's Six Nations. Were Wales lucky? Will France continue to impress? Are Ireland making a comeback? When will Italy break their duck?And what is going on with England? These are the questions you have kindly answered for us…

A dodgy TMO decision, a Vincent Clerc hat-trick and another Italian fightback dominated proceedings in Round Two of last weekend's Six Nations. Were Wales lucky? Will France continue to impress? Are Ireland making a comeback? When will Italy break their duck? And what is going on with England? These are the questions you have kindly answered for us…

“It seems that your analysis is spot on but we can never discount desire and pride at this level. Scotland are horrible and it saddens me because they have a civilized and sensible coach. Get rid of Eddie O'Sullivan, not because he is a poor coach but because we need fresh eyes and ideas. Ireland are simply stale.

“England? They are horrible and arrogant at the same time. Jonny has been a great servant of the game but he has to go and go now. Bring in the fresh legs and ideas and make the break from Jonny and his monotone style of play. Please! Brian Ashton must move on as well. Another fine gentleman but enough is enough.

“Wales? Gatland will shoot himself in the foot. It is typical of Wales, a passion driven team, to perform right now, however Gatland has a certain arrogance that may come back to bite him. Italy? A loss by 5 points and one by 4. I am tired as is Parissi of being lauded for just another great effort. They deserve more and perhaps they will sting Wales before the tournament is up. Nick Mallet is up against it but may just have the balls to bump up the Italian psyche enough to compete as equals. I hope so!

“France? It is to early to really say where they will go when we consider the French mentality. Hot and really cold depending on how good the breakfast was, however Lievremont has brought freshness to the young and established talents. He was brave to thow in all the youngsters at the end of the Irish match but brilliant at the same time. Ten minutes in a serious trench can add years of experience to his young squad. He is the real deal for now however we saw how his substitutions in the front row changed the game. I know Brugnaut and don't believ he and Servat are that bad. Certanly Lièvremont should not discount the experience that is the Stade Français front row.

“It is a great tournament that can change in a second. I look forward to France being seriously challenged by a proud English side and a classic battle between Ireland and Wales. I also wish for an upset by Italy over Wales.

“Long Live Rugby!”

– Jack in France

“LETS GET REAL! ANDREW IS RESPONSIBLE!”

“The responsibility for the England team's dire performances lies primarily with Mr R. Andrew, Director of Rugby.

“He ducked the issue after being forced to sack Robinson mid season (who he had said was safe) by appointing his number two. He should have stepped up to the mark himself to allow the time for a proper recruitment process to be put in place.

“He compounded this error after the World Cup by re-appointing Asthton without a proper recruitment process once again

“The correct solution surely after the World Cup was to ask Brian Ashton and his team to re-apply for their jobs whilst advertising the position of Manager worldwide.

“The RFU should dismiss Andrew now, as he is clearly out of his depth, and put the recruitment process in place so that England have a new Manager by September 2008.”

– Richard Calhoun

“England can only win the 6 Nations if far more ruthless. They did not take full advantage of every opportunity in their unconvincing win over Italy.

“Danny Cipriani made the same mistake Iain Balshaw did against Wales. This has to stop. Conceding a lineout is better than conceding a try.”

– Paul Gibbs

“It's exciting, being an English rugby fan: you just never know which team is going to turn up. Not even if you know who the starting XV are.
Personally, I don't doubt the talent available to Brian Ashton, but that there's something missing when they get together as a team (and I use the word loosely) is undeniable.

“All the teams in the Six Nations have their own playing style. England's style, the winning ugly style that saw them bring home the 2003 World Cup, is one of forward-leading, multi-phase, hard-yard gaining rugby that simply wears down the opposition, resulting in them conceding a penalty, a drop-goal or, just occassionally, a try. Pretty it ain't, but done well it's almost impossible to defend against. The key is ball rentention. How many phases of play lead to England's points scoring on their build-up to the 2003 RWC? There must have been over a dozen spells per match where the phases of play went well into double figures. We don't see that now. Maybe this English style just doesn't suit the combination of players Ashton has to choose between.

“Clearly it doesn't look like England are going to win the Six Nations Championship this year. Nor do they deserve to, based on what we've seen so far. But I wouldn't rule them out either. I'm off to the bookies to see what odds I can get on a victory over France. You never know: the right XV might turn up!”

– Ian Owers

“Ireland are the 'Court Jesters' of the Six Nations. I do not feel sorry for them – listening to their media and supporters talk negatively of other nations and confidently of themselves winning the RWC, etc. was a little too comical. They have some of the worst players in the world that are deemed to be great such as Stringer, O'Gara, and a pack of forwards no one has ever heard of or seen.

“I have noticed the steady and consistent degradation of optimism from their analysts after their last 7-8 games and it resembled a proud totem-pole's head falling off and downwardly fast, not to the ground, but into a deeply dug hole beside it. You would have been pronged to believe that their opposition do not match them with fifteen big, intelligent and fit men on a constrained perimeter of grass. Every time you here of them losing to Argentina, it is because it was their third XV. Maybe Ireland just are not as good as they believe!

“The reality is that Ireland have been badly over-rated now for about five years and never had any chance of winning a RWC. They will have to change their attitudes (players, coaches, media and supporters at large). They will most likely win two matches and then we can listen to them harp and play their pipe again.

“Maybe try developing players' skills at the ground level and not by over-administrating robotic tactics and systems. The reason the Tri-Nations are so far ahead (and always were) is because they develop and encourage individuality and skills into a game of rugby. The British/Irish have to learn that over-discipline negates the balance of any character or strive – just the thing that beats them everytime by big margins from the Tri-Nations, and as they are shaking their heads, pondering, and still not listening to advise, the minnow nations are quietly going to start beating them soon as well.”

– The