Wrote a lengthy response only for my PC to crash...

• It's a proper competition now instead of a 3 horse race although difficult to asses Wales as they were playing Italy..

• England VERY fortunate to win but their superior conditioning made the difference. Sign of a good team is when they can win a game playing poorly. They'll hit their stride next match and only get better. Itoje needs to pick a position and stay there, world class player in the making IF he specialises.

• RIP Joost van der Westhuizen. The best 9 ever to grace the game IMHO.

Watched England with some forumites after an art walk. Unfortunately missed the first half and after sinking a few caught up on the second half. England looked shaky but as always there residence shone through. Itoje is a great player in the making and looking forward to seeing him grow as a player. England did look a little sloppy dropping the he ball a number of times, but I think they will be geared up for the next game. I have say France looked strong on my the ball and although England won they still pose a threat.

England remind me of 2003. Shame they have peaked now more than two years away from the World Cup. The grit to pull a win from a clear loss is the sign of a great side. I will be cheering Ireland and Scotland however!!

exactly, good post and I am still hurting here

Ready for you now Mr H...

I can't see the Scotts mounting a challenge at Twickenham. They got scrummed in Paris and hardly troubled the French in the 2nd half.


It'll come down to the Ireland match.

But you'll have to say it with a French accent. La transformation!

I think the issue with the recent influx of South African players (and I can think of only three currently playing regularly in the 6N - CJ Stander for Ireland and WP Nel and Josh Strauss for Scotland -- EDIT -- Scott Spedding plays for France but has lived there seven years and is a French citizen, Brad Barritt has lived and played in the UK for 10 years, has English grandparents and Rhodesian parents and holds an English passport) is that they are 'project' players. This term means they are, effectively, cherry picked from SA provincial sides and brought to 6N countries with the express intention of having them qualify for the national team concerned.

I agree with you Harveyn , this is wrong and a bending of the rules that is unsportsmanlike. I think it's very different though (and I'm sure you'd agree) from Dylan Hartley, Taulupe Faletau, Vunipolas etc who were raised and schooled in their countries and who, in this age of multicultural countries, should be celebrated as part of our national make up, not excluded.

In terms of the conversion or la transformation (something knew learned for me too), apparently it was nothing to do with the referee or the time allowed for conversions (which, at one minute, is the same as for penalties). It was taken quickly at the urging of the Scottish kicking coach, who was on the field with the kicker and who had been informed that there was a chance the try scored was about to be reviewed by the TMO. (There was a feeling that the chasing Scot had pushed the French full back out of the way to get the ball). Once the kick has been taken, the try must stand. So, perhaps the canny Scots lost two points but gained five!

Anyway. I've finally sobered up. Looking forward to a quiet week then doing it all again.

Gotcha.

Good point yobaby.  Don't recognise their names though.  

Need to brush up on my Italian rugby!

Agreed the win was ugly and we were probably outplayed but they all count 

As for Itoje, after storming performances by Launchbury and Lawes against Wales and the fact when Kruis is fit, he should be a starter, I think that we are going to see more of Super Maro at 6, he's young and I think he will only get better and better wherever he plays. He's certainly athletic enough and gets through his share of work for a 6 and playing him at 6 gives an extra option at the lineout. 

I don't know about you, but I would like to see Steffon Armitage at 7 or at least available for selection. 

As commented on earlier the Lions tour should be something special and it will be really interesting to see who goes and more importantly who makes the Test team.

Maro needs to decide where HE wants to play. There's competition in all departments and that is a good thing for any team. He's an athlete who's quick off the mark and is developing some decent ball slowing skills, this takes time to evolve as not all fetchers are born with the skill. He's not a blindside when you look at who's at your disposal in the squad but he could fill that open side roll for you guys. Robshaw gets through a mountain of work but I'd have him and Maro fighting it out for that spot. Maro is just too quick out the blocks to be in the 2nd row, you want his stopping power and breakdown work at the first tackle point not the 3rd/4th. A nice selection headache to have. Armitage will struggle to get into this current squad, great player but you've got by without an out and out fetcher and are playing more of a power game where carrying and stopping power holds more of a premium for Eddie. Stroll on the Lions tour!

All fair points - Wales haven't lost to Scotland in 10 years - I have been in Edinburgh for every Scot v Wales game so far and each time I think this year will be Scotlands but it doesn't transpire. Ireland seem to struggle against France even at home and France are better this year than for the last 5.