[Bruvva]

Does anyone else like rugby on here - apart from S4B?

Possibly the last 6 nations before the southern hemisphere jessies change the rules to outlaw tackling and scrummaging because they're not very good at it but I'm looking forward to it. Don't think England will win but it's always a good competition. For what it's worth, I reckon it'll finish like this:

1) France
2) Ireland
3) England
4) Wales
5) Scotland
6) Italy

England and Wales could quite easily be the other way round but as they're at Twickenham this year where the Welsh haven't won since god knows when I think the English will come out on top.

[Andy B]

Just up the road from me! I enjoy the international matches but thats about it.

Traffic is gonna be a nightmare though.

[Boboff]

I like Rugby.

I think that England stand a good chance of doing well this time around.

There play improved dramatically in the World Cup, and if they can hold onto that then I think they stand a good chance of topping the group, having said that, it's England, so you are probably right.

[S4B]

Bruvva you have no idea what you're talking about! Wales will finish first or second. We have an AMAZING squad this year. Henson is back and back on form, we have an EXCELLENT pack led by Martyn Williams, who is arguably the best flanker in the world and our front row is second to none. Lee Byrne is an awesome fullback and with Sonny Parker & Shane Williams on the wing and James Hook at number 10 the only thing we're missing is Dwayne Peel in my opinion. They all play together too as 13 of them are from the Ospreys! So they know each other's play inside out. How many other teams can boast to have such experience on the bench as well with Stephen Jones, Tom Shanklin & Gethin Jenkins in reserve?

You make one fair point though Bruv - we may lose at Twickenham, however we'll win ALL the rest.

[Bruvva]

S4, I think you missed the turning for cloud cuckoo land - it's back that way.

And picking all the players from one team doesn't often work - look at the English football team from back in the 70s when something like 9 of the team were Liverpool players (when they were good before any of you arses make a comment), didn't work then and I remain to be convinced it'll work now in rugby.

And Henson's a varnished popinjay.

[foot-loose]

Is this the thing thats kicking off on Sunday? I'm working at Murrayfield.


Scotland will obviously beat everyone cos we are brilliant at everything. (What's the game?)

[S4B]

S4, I think you missed the turning for cloud cuckoo land - it's back that way.

And picking all the players from one team doesn't often work - look at the English football team from back in the 70s when something like 9 of the team were Liverpool players (when they were good before any of you arses make a comment), didn't work then and I remain to be convinced it'll work now in rugby.

And Henson's a varnished popinjay.

That was football which is a girls sport at best. We will see who is right at the end of this tournament, if I am right I will give you a suitable punishment!

MISS LALOTTIE! How dare you put Wales at the bottom? There will be Italians after your blood, you know that is their home! BAD GIRL

[Boboff]

It's a men in Skirts - a - thon

[Bruvva]

That was football which is a girls sport at best. We will see who is right at the end of this tournament, if I am right I will give you a suitable punishment!

After you correcting Console for the "where"/"wear" confusion, it's only fair for me to frown at your careless treatment of the apostrophe there.

Oh and are you implying that girl's sports are in some way inferior?

[MK Chris]

What I love about these rugby discussions is that S4B does a Yudwuk (stating her opinion like it's fact; sorry Yudwuk!) and also throws her toys out of her pram when someone slags off the Welsh team or rugby in general, even though she's quite happy to do it to other teams and sports.

[S4B]

Someone has to stick up for Wales! Foots is there for Scotland, even though he has no idea what is involved in a rugby match. I applaud him for his patriotism and I'm just doing the same thing. Oh and I have not yet thrown any toys out of the pram my comment to Lottie was her complete disregard for Italy's rightful place and in no way a complaint about Wales being put last in her opinion.

[Yudster]

What I love about these rugby discussions is that S4B does a Yudwuk (stating her opinion like it's fact; sorry Yudwuk!) and also throws her toys out of her pram when someone slags off the Welsh team or rugby in general, even though she's quite happy to do it to other teams and sports.

I'm glad you're sorry. You're also wrong. I always make it clear that my opinions are my opinions only - except where they are demonstrably fact. I challenge you to find anywhere on this forum where that isn't the case (and I haven't apologised afterwards.....!). But please don't.

I love rugby, and am looking forward to the 6 nations - I am rubbish at predicting who is going to well in it though, so I won't. But I do predict Wales will do badly.

Bruvva, I'm hopelessly ignorant, I didn't know about these proposed rule changes. Whats the point of that, isn't that what Rugby League is for? I protest.

[Bruvva]

Yeah, there are a whole load of proposed changes which are designed to make the game more free flowing and exciting to watch. From what I can tell, it would end up minimising the role of the forwards placing less emphasis on scrums and set pieces which is a shame as I think scrummaging is an important part of the game. Other changes are changing a load of offences to be penalised with free kicks instead of kicks at goal which I think is probably a good thing.

I'll have a nose around, see if I can find a web page with the info.

[Bruvva]

Aha - here we go

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/irb-plans-to-revolutionise-rules-of-rugby-469253.html

* Defending players will be allowed to collapse a rolling maul, hitherto virtually impossible by legal means. Truck and trailer would no longer be an offence.

* If the ball is passed back into a team's 22-metre area, kicks directly into touch will result in a line-out from where the ball was kicked.

* Touch judges will be charged with specifically policing offside in the threequarters. They will attract the referee's attention to an offence by raising their flag in the direction of the errant team.

* Quick line-out throw-ins need no longer be straight. The ball can be thrown backwards, like a pass.

* The technical infringement of "numbers in a line-out" will be abolished. There will be no limitations on the numbers either side can put into this phase.

* Corner posts will be abolished. Disallowing a try because a player touched the flag before touching down is seen as a disincentive to the desire for more tries.

Can't find the changes to the scrum anywhere but it was mentioned in today's guardian. I'll have another look.

[S4B]

OH FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!! I AM NOT IMPRESSED!

[Bruvva]

Here's the one for the scrum...

The offside line for players who are not in the scrum and who are not the teams' halfback, is 5m behind the hindmost foot of the scrum.

These laws are being implemented in the Super 14 down in Australia this coming season so we'll see them implemented worldwide the season after that if they're successful.

[Yudster]

Of course they want to negate the effect of scrummaging, its something that England excel at! Can't have England being good at anything now, can we? I'm sure some of the other changes can equally elicit a similar response from supporters of other Northern hemisphere teams.

Bunch of poofters they are.

[S4B]

The whole thing is ridiculous!

[foot-loose]

I always make it clear that my opinions are my opinions only

Hahaha

Aye right!

[Boboff]

What ?

They all see fairly sensible to me ?

Truck and Trailer move done well is really a great piece of play ! I always thought it was a bit mean to not allow it.

Yuds I know your not well but really, your persecution complex is getting to you! I think you will find that the Northern / Southern Hemisphere thing is not really the issue, just people paying to watch matches means the game has to be as exciting as possible.

[S4B]

I don't mind truck and trailer either actually

[MK Chris]

What is "truck and trailer"?

[MK Chris]

Haha that is the most diplomatic post I've ever read on this board.

[Boboff]

You do have a right to say that, it is valid in some ways, but you have mono brow.

Truck and trailer is where the person carrying the ball is not obvious and I think is carried in, or in front of a pushing ruck, i.e. they are all standing up and I believe rather than having the player with the ball " up front " with his team pushing him along, as is common, it all gets switched and the team push the French out the way while allowing the chap with the ball hides at the back like the doy at Sancat, out the back in the trailer !

[S4B]

correct Mr Boboff. Glad someone knows their rugby!