6 Nations 2019
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During the 1992 5N, the week after England v France, I met Brian Moore doing some promo work for Gillette in Brent Cross shopping centre, north London. He was basically flogging shaving foam for them (how the commercial opportunities afforded to players have changed, eh?), and the store was pretty empty, so we had time to have a bit of a chat about that year's 5N, the disappointment of the '91 RWC, the poor sportsmanship shown by the Scots in refusing to roll over in the '90 5N, etc. I then asked him to sign the cheap white "England" shirt that I had received as a free gift with my purchase. "Sign it England, Grand Slam champions '92" I said. "I can't do that!", he said, "We've still got Wales to come". I may have said something potentially hubristic about the state of Welsh rugby at that time, and that it was at Twickenham, etc. Well, I was obviously convincing, because he signed the shirt with that prediction, which of course turned out to be correct. I was secretly thinking that win or lose, I'd be able to sell it to a Welshman at some later date as irrefutable proof of English arrogance. It was only when I left the store that I realised that I had forgotten to ask him to date his signature. D'oh.
Incidentally, this took place at least a week after the France game, but Brian's face still looked like someone had repeatedly taken a barbed wire-covered coal shovel to it. When checking back on the relevant dates for this post, I came across this account of the match, which reminded me what a slugfest it was. Such antics are not big, and not clever - not now, certainly, and with hindsight they never were. The game is better without those shennanigans. Nevertheless, but I did get slightly dewy-eyed with nostalgia when reading the article.
The Forgotten Story of … France v England, 1992
Among Anglo-French skirmishes in the early nineties, the 1991 World Cup quarter-final is often held up as the ultimate battle, but the rivalry reached its zenith four months later in the Five Nations
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Looking forward to Wales v England and seeing if England can keep playing this very impressive style of rugby. I really hope Wales can make a game of it, I am sure Gatland has some strategies on how to counter it. Will largely depend which version of Anscombe comes to play as he was pretty dire last time.
What is the feeling in Wales in regards to their chances?
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@chimoaus said in 6 Nations 2019:
Looking forward to Wales v England and seeing if England can keep playing this very impressive style of rugby. I really hope Wales can make a game of it, I am sure Gatland has some strategies on how to counter it. Will largely depend which version of Anscombe comes to play as he was pretty dire last time.
What is the feeling in Wales in regards to their chances?
what does Hadleigh Parkes bring to the table that Jamie Roberts doesn't?
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@MN5 said in 6 Nations 2019:
@chimoaus said in 6 Nations 2019:
Looking forward to Wales v England and seeing if England can keep playing this very impressive style of rugby. I really hope Wales can make a game of it, I am sure Gatland has some strategies on how to counter it. Will largely depend which version of Anscombe comes to play as he was pretty dire last time.
What is the feeling in Wales in regards to their chances?
what does Hadleigh Parkes bring to the table that Jamie Roberts doesn't?
NZ Bloodlines?
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@chimoaus said in 6 Nations 2019:
@MN5 said in 6 Nations 2019:
@chimoaus said in 6 Nations 2019:
Looking forward to Wales v England and seeing if England can keep playing this very impressive style of rugby. I really hope Wales can make a game of it, I am sure Gatland has some strategies on how to counter it. Will largely depend which version of Anscombe comes to play as he was pretty dire last time.
What is the feeling in Wales in regards to their chances?
what does Hadleigh Parkes bring to the table that Jamie Roberts doesn't?
NZ Bloodlines?
Blues winning pedigree? 🤣
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@MN5 said in 6 Nations 2019:
@chimoaus said in 6 Nations 2019:
Looking forward to Wales v England and seeing if England can keep playing this very impressive style of rugby. I really hope Wales can make a game of it, I am sure Gatland has some strategies on how to counter it. Will largely depend which version of Anscombe comes to play as he was pretty dire last time.
What is the feeling in Wales in regards to their chances?
what does Hadleigh Parkes bring to the table that Jamie Roberts doesn't?
Passing and kicking
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Huget having a massive game. Fatbarstadeau organising defence really well and showing some flashes of skill.
Scotland look dire and lacking any nous or penetration in the backs. Forwards doing OK though with some great defence.
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@Victor-Meldrew Oops France let in a consolation try at the death, but this version of Scotland is horrible.
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So Japan feeling very happy this evening.
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That's ridiculous. Player drops short, own player drives the opposition off, opposition pulls player over, definite try. Tmo calls double movement.
Justice as they get the try anyway. What idiot called France by ten?
Scotland manage to make the Blues look like silky geniuses with amazing vision.
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Half an hour gone,England leading 10-3 only looking like one winner to me and it’s not the home team,,England’s defence very dominant
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Taff loose forwards being pawned by the Poms back 3. Welsh lineout its usual rubbish self.
Some great defence from Liam Williams - class act.
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@Victor-Meldrew I think this could blow out,I sense Wales are hanging by a thread..First half impressions dominant England defence close in and also getting defenders in amongst Wales backline attack
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I cannot fathom how Hadleigh Parkes makes the Welsh team. The Welsh must really have a midfield deficit if he nis considered good enough. Bloody hell poor guy, he must be about 45 by now. And Anscombe, well...Wales have only yhemselves to blame.
Seriously though, England's dominant D is and should be of real concern to Shag and everyone else. -
@ShadowTrooper you would definitely have to look at taking them on through the middle or around the fringes..it’s does bother me if anyone knows how an All Black Team operates it’s an ex All Black coach and in John Mitchell he’s got England’s defence humming ..been the feature of 6 nations,agree about Parkes always considered him a cart horse
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@Steven-Harris Concur absolutely. Reckon Mitch may have a point to prove.
