Six Nations 2015

mentasm

Very surprised that this hasn't come up before now given the number of visitors on here.

Good game tonight (for the most part), with England running out deserved winners. It wasn't a vintage performance, but to win in Cardiff against a full strength Welsh team with a number of key players missing was no mean feat.

My biggest concern is the standard of officiating, which was once again below par. Some very poor decisions made by the referee (who seemed to be ignorant of some of the basic laws of the game) and the support staff. Hopefully the standard will pick up as the tournament progresses.

Pecker

A great game of rugby.

Last year's championship was extremely exciting, nail-biting stuff.  If you next few weeks live up to last night's game it'll surpass even that.

Steve W

Amph

Was a good game indeed. England's talent pool is vast and Lancaster is a capable manager so even with an under strength team, would expect England to win that. Couldn't have said the same under Johnson. The win was deserved no doubt but I've taken heart from a competitive performance and despite the Welsh team being "full strength" there were a number of players with only a relatively small number of caps.

The real test for England comes against Ireland away. The atmosphere won't be as intense but the fight on the pitch should be. If England win that, you'll be nailed on for the tournament and I think the Grand Slam too.

PU6HY

Wales were dreadful. Can hardly remember us breaking the gain line. Suppose that's as bit difficult when we keep kicking the ball back. All the talk about our backs and we just don't use them. Very poor tactics. England were solid and thoroughly deserved the win. Don't agree with the under strength comments that have kept cropping up. England have a big pool of players to choose from and when one is injured, a like for like player just steps in. They are all much of a muchness. Especially the forwards.

Tom1986

Manu > Joseph
Eastmond > Burrell
Lawes > Attwood / Kruis
Slater > Attwood / Kruis
Morgan > Vunipola
Wilson > Brookes

If by "like for like" you mean they play the same position, then you are, of course, correct. Otherwise, you're just wrong

EDIT: Forgot, an on-form Tom Wood also > Haskell

Dony

Don't you believe it, the Aviva will be bouncing.

PU6HY

There isn't much of a difference between one big massive lump in the pack tackling and pounding into players, compared to another. That's the point I'm trying to make. Some are a bit better than others but not by a huge amount.

Tom1986

So that's the case for any team in world rugby?

Swap the All Blacks pack for the Namibia pack (both full of "big massive lumps"), and you have the same team?

Forwards win games (& therefore makes a difference which "big massive lump" you have), backs decide by how many points

PU6HY

You not what I'm getting at. England's team wasn't exactly weak was it? Was bored listening to the media going on about how under strength they were. They weren't. Clearly. Deserved the win.
The alleged best player in a position is just an opinion. Player B can step into A's position and a lot of times you wouldn't really notice. I was on about England basically have a decent pool of replacement players to call upon. Wherever though.

Tom1986

Agreed, was just feeling like a bit of light hearted debate for some reason

The thing is, I believe England will only get stronger come the World Cup once the named players (plus Corbisiero) return. Whereas, I'm not sure where Wales can go from where they are right now. I have a feeling they needed to change Gatland a year ago to refresh ready for the World Cup, they seem to have been worked out now.