[S4B]

Mauro Burgamascho (sp) I love the fact that JD kept calling bad passes from the scrum half after him,

[Yudster]

Bergamasco. Its Italian, pretty much phonetic really. He and his brother Mirco are cute.

I thought that Wales were as disappointing as England in some ways, maybe even more so. We weren't expecting a brilliant performance from England, and we certainly didn't get it, but at least the gap between the expectation and the delivery wasn't all that massive. Wales on the other hand looked pretty ropey when you consider how they are being hyped up at the moment. They really weren't any better than ordinary, but at least sub standard England capitalised on Italy's misfortune, a supposedly brilliant Wales really didn't put anything like as much past a very ordinary Scotland as they should have.

I have a feeling they won't make those mistakes again though.

[Munki Bhoy]

French try should never have stood - how the touch judge didn't see that clear forward pass I don't know. But that try knocked the stuffing out of us and we never really looked like getting it back after that. Key moment.

Having said that, we looked better than last week but still too many stupid mistakes.

[Yudster]

Well England managed to play some rugby. I'm not sure the ref was entirely impartial, but Wales shouldn't have needed him to win anyway - but even so, it wasn't comfortable for them. I wonder if playing against Wales was the step up in quality that this fledgling England side needed to actually produce some half decent play. It will be interesting to see how we play against Scotland - and even more so against Ireland and France.

I wouldn't be surprised if Wales struggle against Ireland and France,depending on where they play. We'll struggle against everyone of course, but if we keep improving I'll be happier.

[Munki Bhoy]

I don't think that ref was especially good, but I think that's making excuses. England were much improved, yes, but they still didn't really push Wales hard enough that they needed to raise it for the full 80 minutes.

I'm not convinced France will pose much of a threat to them either if today's showing is anything to go on. If Ireland can get to that final game having won all of theirs then it could be a cracker and we might finally get that Irish slam they've been threatening these last few years.

Still, from a neutral perspective I quite enjoyed that second match today. It was only really over as a contest when Flood missed that late penalty.

[Yudster]

I wouldn't argue with the penalty count - we were the weaker team, inevitably we will have a far greater penalty count as we are put under greater pressure. It was more the inconsistency in how he dealt with misdemeanours on both sides. It certainly wasn't a factor in the outcome of the match. And even if it had been, Jonno was right, you just have to deal with it and be better.

No arguments with the result at all, but I still don't think Wales have justified any of the expectations which surround them. Yet. But like you, I have a sneaking feeling for Ireland this year.

[Yudster]

I think if Brian Moore - who never ever says anything supportive of any England side that he isn't in - is commenting about the biased refereeing, there must be something wrong. Thats even more telling than the fact that the Welsh commentator was perplexed by it all at times!

[Munki Bhoy]

You are joking?! Brian Moore is the most laughably biased English commentator I know! And it's the biased commentators that usually stop me wanting any English team to do well! They're all mad. Either England are the best in the world or they are doom and gloom personified.

Brian Moore is as biased as they come. Even today.

[Boboff]

[Removed at request]

Well done the Welsh, good game, you played very well, we lost but it did show a glimmer of "MJ" style, dirty bugger.

[Yudster]

You are joking?! Brian Moore is the most laughably biased English commentator I know! And it's the biased commentators that usually stop me wanting any English team to do well! They're all mad. Either England are the best in the world or they are doom and gloom personified.

Brian Moore is as biased as they come. Even today.

Not joking at all - he was part of very good and successful team towards the end of the amateur era, and has never forgiven the game for going professional. He is one of the most outspoken critics of English rugby and the RFU there is. Criticising the RFU is not a problem, they deserve all you can throw at them, but a lot of what Brian Moore has written and said in the past 10 years or so just smacks of sour grapes and bitterness.

As for doom and gloom/best in the world - how do you get that from what I wrote? I said we were the weaker team - we were, but it was great to see a glimmer that there is a team that could play rugby in there waiting to get out. I think that opinion, which is shared by pretty much every English rugby follower I have spoken to, represents a realistic viewpoint at the moment, and certainly isn't at either of your extremes.

[Yudster]

Well the Irish anthem was great. Especially everyone applauding in the middle of it.

Sorry for the double post - but I had to add, the Welsh anthem gave me goosebumps. Its even more adrenaline-inspiring than a Haka. Welsh rugby crowds are the best sports crowds in the world - even when they hate you.

[Munki Bhoy]

As for doom and gloom/best in the world - how do you get that from what I wrote? I said we were the weaker team - we were, but it was great to see a glimmer that there is a team that could play rugby in there waiting to get out. I think that opinion, which is shared by pretty much every English rugby follower I have spoken to, represents a realistic viewpoint at the moment, and certainly isn't at either of your extremes.

Sorry, I wasn't suggesting you thought that. My point was that's how most of the commentators and pundits come across. It doesn't even seem restricted to any one sport. Your average fan tends to be far more realistic. Your stupid fan doesn't think for themself and believes everything the pundits tell them, but I don't class you as one of them either!

[Yudster]

Since when has anyone with a brain listened to commentators and pundits, in any sport?! They've all got their own agendas one way or another.

[Munki Bhoy]

You'd be surprised. It seems especially bad up here. My favourite example recently was a revolt by Rangers fans against those currently running the club. One group put a statement out saying what they wanted to change. The phone ins that night were split right down the middle with Rangers fans both backing the statement and backing Rangers.

The newspapers the following day were full of pundits and other so called experts condemning the statement claiming everyone should get behind Rangers. That night every single call was in support of Rangers and against the statement. People had clearly changed their minds after reading the papers!

Sadly Rangers haven't changed as was evident today. They're still garbage, their fans are still suffering for it. And I say sadly because Celtic always rest on their laurels when it comes to staying ahead of Rangers to the point that we're just as garbage.

Anyway, enough of that example!

[Yudster]

Ok - here's a great example, and you were watching the match so you will be able to confirm or otherwise. last evening I was sat at the computer with my back to the TV. Mr Yudster was watching the second half of the Milan Derby. My take on the match was that the game was over, Milan were rubbish, Inter were all over it, Milan might as well have not been on the pitch and might as well give up playing because they were so rubbish - this was, of course, the impression I got from the commentary alone. Mr Yudster, who was watching the game, tells me that in fact the second half was all Milan, they could have scored a few, and although Inter were looking dangerous on one or two breaks, they pretty much had nothing of the play.

I would tend to believe Mr Yudster because I know he knows what he is talking about.

[Munki Bhoy]

To be honest, Milan only seemed to come back into the game when Inzaghi came on. They had someone to aim at up front. The subs made the difference because up until that point Inter were easily soaking up the pressure.

So basically while Mr Yudster was right in that it was all Milan, Inter were still in control. When the goal went in, Milan grew confident and Inter started to panic.

So really, they were both right. The commentators just lost faith before the Milan manager did. That's why he's in the game and the commentators only talk about it.

[S4B]

It was a great game. We really weren't on the pitch in the second half and Shanklin was lucky not to have got sent off in the first half.

Was nice to see Gavin back and I really feel that Dwaine should've been on the pitch from the beginning, I really don't rate Philips that much.

[Yudster]

I only caught the end but it looked like it had been a belter. Personally I'm pleased at the result - and I'll also be pleased if Wales can beat Ireland. I know its a dog-in-the-manger attitude, but if we can't have the slam then no-one should! Although Ireland are due, they've deserved it before and not got it.

I'm really enjoying this seasons competition, of course I wish England were doing better, but it'll be a long time before we are competetive again I think. I almost feel like a neutral! Almost.

[Bonanzoid]

Chuffed with Scotland's win today. We should have won by more though if it wasn't for those 2 very nearly tries.

[john-leybourne]

England were terrible. It's now 10 yellow cards in 4 matches, and Martin Johnson's reaction to Care's sin-binning summed it all up. The scoreline was very flattering for England, and they need to buck up their ideas.

Well done to Scotland, a good performance.

[rustybike]

Is it too much to ask for three simple things - 1) Stop giving away stupid penalties. 2) Stop kicking away our hard won possession. And 3) Get the ball out a bit bloody faster! Watching France and Ireland going forward almost made me dizzy after our game, it seemed so quick!

Agreed. I mean seriously. What. The. *. Care. Schmuck.

Scotland were on fire!

[S4B]

Missed both matches today as I was at work

[le_moribond]

Thing about England is they're not so terrible that they keep needing to give away stupid penalties. Once again, they make it harder for themselves and Ireland deserved to win that today. O'Driscoll's contribution was outstanding. Bet they're hoping he doesn't get injured for the last two games!

[rustybike]

I can't even say England did their usual "great first half and give-away-the-penalties second half"! They were just awful! I'm ashamed!

[john-leybourne]

I can't even say England did their usual "great first half and give-away-the-penalties second half"! They were just awful! I'm ashamed!

I thought the second half was see-how-many-players-we-can-get-sin-binned