General Chat

~~~~~~~~ Hilary <3

MESSAGE FROM CYPRUS PAT ;-) :-D

We need a good penalty taking - kicking not a strong point today. Good job England not relying on the extra points. :(

NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE

ROUND 2:

Saturday February 10th
1.
IRELAND v ITALY ................ Kick Off 2.15pm
2.
ENGLAND v WALES ........... Kick Off 4.45pm

Sunday February 11th
SCOTLAND v FRANCE ....... Kick Off 3.00pm

THE RESULTS OF SIX NATIONS SENIORS

ROUND 1

WALES 34 ~ SCOTLAND 7
Match Report:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42917731

FRANCE 13 ~ IRELAND 15
Match Report
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42889514

ITALY 15 ~ ENGLAND 46
Match Report
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/rugby/italy-15-england-46-sam-simmonds-six-nations-debut-try-secures-bonus-point-but-win-is-marred-by-ben-a3757591.html

SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP RULES 2018

The Nations Championship is contested by the international sides of France, England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales.

Each team plays the other five once per championship season


POINTS:
WIN = 4 MATCH POINTS with a Bonus Point for scoring 4 or more Tries in one match taking the Total Match Points for a win to 5.

LOSE = 0 MATCH POINTS
But if a team loses having scored 4 or more Tries in the game they lost they will gain a Bonus Match Point.
Also, if a team loses but with a margin of 7 points or less they will gain a Bonus Match Point for that.

DRAW = 2 MATCH POINTS
But the same Bonus Points will apply as in a Loss in the case of drawing having scored 4 Tries or more in the drawn match.


GRAND SLAM = 3 MATCH POINTS
3 Match Points will be added for winning all 5 games.
That team will be given the title of 'Grand Slam' winner.


TRIPLE CROWN:
There is also the title of 'Triple Crown' competed for each season, which is awarded if a team from the 4 Home Unions (England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) beats each of the other 3 Home Unions.

SENIORS

TABLE POSITIONS AT THE END OF ROUND 1

W = Won
D = Drawn
L = Lost
BP = Bonus Point (for a team scoring 4 or more Tries in one game)
PD = Points Difference


POINTS DIFFERENCE is when the points scored against the team in a game are deducted from the points the team have amassed from tries, conversions and penalties.
eg. Wales scored 34 Points against Scotland. Scotland scored 7 Points in the same game. Deduct 7 Scotland points from the 34 Wales points leaves a Points Difference of + 27 for Wales

Points Difference only comes in to play when two or more teams are tied at the top of the Table with the same amount of Match Points.
The team with the most Points Difference will then win.


TABLE

1.
ENGLAND ........W.1; D.0; L.0; BP.1; PD.+31; .......... Match Points 5
2.
WALES ............. W.1; D.0; L.0; BP.1; PD.+27 ........... Match Points 5
3.
IRELAND .......... W.1; D.0; L.0; BP. 0; PD.+2 ............ Match Points 4
4.
FRANCE ........... W.0; D.0; L.1; BP.0; PD.-2 .............. Match Points 1
5.
SCOTLAND ....... W.0; D.0; L.1; BP.0; PD.-27 ........... Match Points 0
6.
ITALY .................. W.0; D.0; L.1; BP.0; PD-31 ............ Match Points 0

UNDER 20s SIX NATIONS RESULTS & POSITIONS

********* Please note - this is the U20s (Under 20s) NOT THE MEN -
The Men's Results and Table Positions were posted earlier on this page.


ITALY U20s 17 ~ ENGLAND U20s 27
Match Report:
http://www.englandrugby.com/news/features/england-u20s-defeat-italy-six-nations-opener/


WALES U20s 36 ~ SCOTLAND U20s 3
Match Report:
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-match-reports/wales-six-nations-under-20-14241062


FRANCE U20s 34 ~ IRELAND U20s 24
Match Report:
https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2018/0202/937953-france-v-ireland-u20-tracker/


TABLE POSITIONS:

1.
WALES U20s ~ 5 Match Points
2.
ENGLAND U20s ~ 5 Match Points
3.
FRANCE U20s ~ 5 Match Points
4.
IRELAND U20s ~ 0 Match Points
5.
ITALY U20s ~ 0 Match points
6.
SCOTLAND U20s ~ 0 Match Points


The above positions are based on wins, bonus points, and points difference

WOMEN'S SIX NATIONS ROUND 1:

Results and Table Positions to be announced after the final game of Round 1 has been played

WOMEN'S SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS & TABLE POSITIONS

Round 1

WALES WOMEN 18 ~ SCOTLAND WOMEN 17
Match Report:
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/wales-women-18-17-scotland-14240878


FRANCE WOMEN 24 ~ IRELAND WOMEN 0
Match Report:
https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-ireland-women-lose-six-nations-opener-to-france-1-8364132


ITALY WOMEN 7 ~ ENGLAND WOMEN 42
Match Report:
http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/italy-women-vs-england/report/86285



TABLE POSITIONS and MATCH POINTS
(Match Points and Points Difference explained in earlier posts on this page)

1. ENGLAND WOMEN ............ 5 Match Points (+35 points difference)

2. FRANCE WOMEN ............... 5 Match Points (+24 points difference)

3. WALES WOMEN ................. 4 Match Points (+1 points difference)

4. SCOTLAND WOMEN .......... 1 Match Point (-1 points difference)

5. IRELAND WOMEN .............. 0 Match Points (-24 points difference)

6. ITALY WOMEN .................... 0 Match Points (-35 points difference)

ENGLAND NEWS

RICHARD WIGGLESWORTH CALLED UP!

Leicester Scrum Half, Richard Wigglesworth has been called up to the England Six Nations Squad to replace the injured BEN YOUNGS.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-5354373/England-call-Richard-Wigglesworth-replace-injured-Ben-Youngs.html

Ben suffered an horrific injury during England's opening game v Italy on Sunday.
Poor Ben's loud scream as his leg got buckled under a mass of players could be heard around the stadium.

Ben sustained a knee injury and was scheduled to have a scan this afternoon to determine the extent of his injury and whether he can play in future games in this years championship.

I shall post the outcome when the news becomes available.

HOPE IT'S NOT TOO BAD, BEN :-)

WALES NEWS

WILL CORY HILL BE FIT FOR SELECTION V ENGLAND?

One of Wales' stand-out performers during Wales' victory over Scotland is in question for Wales game v the "old enemy";-) England in Twickenham next Saturday!

Cory Hill, the Wales and Dragons Lock, received a knock to his head, and was forced off the field for a HIA (Head Injury Assessment) 56 minutes into the game. He will now have to undergo HIA protocol before he will be pronounced fit for selection.


MORE DILEMMA'S FOR GATLAND!

So impressed were all the Rugby Experts and Pundits with Wales' winning team on Saturday, that they are calling for Warren to choose the same men again on the basis of "IF IT'S NOT BROKEN - WHY FIX IT?!"

BUT .....
LIAM WILLIAMS, GEORGE NORTH and HALLAM AMOS, who were injured and therefore not fit to play in the opening round .... ARE NOW FIT FOR SELECTION!


Well in my opinion ....
George North has not been the same since his repeated head injuries and concussions.
Hallam Amos is young and quite exciting- but so are Steff Evans and others.
Liam Williams has moments of brilliance, but also is inclined to give away penalties.
...... and he's NOT having my Little Leigh's place in the team :-| :-| :-| :-| :-D

Keep the Starting Line-Up the same
Put Liam on the bench and maybe Hallam.
Don't think we actually need George .... but I could be wrong- I'm no expert :-D

GATLAND PRAISES LEIGH HALFPENNY

"LEIGH HALFPENNY IS UP THERE AMONGST THE BEST DEFENSIVE FULL-BACKS IN WORLD RUGBY"

"To me he's the best defensive full-back in the world with his positional play at the back, and his workrate is absolutely phenomenal," said Gatland.



JEM'S OPINION:

Leigh's defensive work was a big part of the reason that Wales prevented Scotland in scoring a Try until the very end of their game last Saturday.

His Kicking percentage was 100%. He did not miss a single goal kick even from the most difficult of angles and long distance!

Not only that, Leigh scored 2 of the 4 Tries for Wales helping them to beat Scotland 34 ~ 7.

OUT OF THOSE 34 POINTS LEIGH PUT 24 OF THEM ON THE SCORE BOARD!
...making this his highest tally in any of his International games.


LEIGH IS THE MOST DEDICATED OF PLAYERS- Staying out to hone his Kicking Skills long after the others have packed up for the day.



"To see his numbers after a game, how hard he's working compared to anyone else, how many metres he's covered, it's pleasing to see him get some confidence from an attacking display" said Gatland.

"There's been lots of work-ons, not just his attacking stuff, but the way he goal-kicked!!! We'll keep working and that was definitely a confidence-building performance for him."


High praise indeed from Wales' Head Coach, who has always kept faith with Leigh in the face of criticism from certain quarters.


LEIGH CERTAINLY SILENCED THE CRITICS AND WALES FANS who questioned Leigh's position in the Wales Team!

LEIGH GAVE A WORLD CLASS ALL-ROUND PERFORMANCE LAST SATURDAY!

WELL DONE LEIGH<3

HERE IT IS!!! :-D

THE WALES TEAM TO FACE ENGLAND ON SATURDAY

***** Edited on Saturday February 10th due to Leigh Halfpenny Injury!

Backs:
15. GARETH ANSCOMBE replaces the injured Leigh Halfpenny
14. Josh Adams
13. Scott Williams
12. Hadleigh Parkes
11. Steff Evans
10. Rhys Patchell
9. Gareth Davies

Forwards:
1. Rob Evans
2. Ken Owens
3. Samson Lee
4. Cory Hill
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Aaron Shingler
7. Josh Navidi
8. Ross Moriarty.

Replacements:
16. Elliot Dee
17. Wyn Jones
18. Tomas Francis
19. Bradley Davies
20. Justin Tipuric
21. Aled Davies
22. Owen Watkin (takes Gareth Anscombe's place on the bench)
23. George North.

Warren Gatland has named an unchanged Starting Line-Up to face England at Twickenham .... but no Liam Williams nor Hallam Amos on the bench .... but George North IS on it! :-D George takes Owen Watkin's place on the reserves bench.


The other Round 2 Six Nations Teams to be announce on Thursday.



Saturday February 10th

ENGLAND v WALES ........... Kick Off 4.45pm

Live on ITV 1 ...... and Radio Jem ;-) :-D


ALL WELCOME ..... BUT NO HANDBAGS IF YOU PLEASE ;-) :-D :-D :-D

AND HERE IS WALES' ROUND 2 OPPONENT

Eddie Jones has announced his men to face Wales at Twickenham on Saturday

ENGLAND

Backs:
15 Mike Brown
14 Anthony Watson
13 Jonathan Joseph
12 Owen Farrell
11 Jonny May
10 George Ford
9 Danny Care

Forwards:
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Dylan Hartley
3 Dan Cole
4 Joe Launchbury
5 Maro Itoje
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Chris Robshaw
8 Sam Simmonds

Replacements:
16 Jamie George
17 Alec Hepburn
18 Harry Williams
19 George Kruis
20 Sam Underhill
21 Richard Wigglesworth
23 Jack Nowell



Well, I cannot say that I'm not a bit scared of Saturday's BIG game!
England have certainly been the team to beat for a few years now- and this is a phenomenal team!

Eddie Jones will certainly be training his men hard. He wants England to make history by having three consecutive Six Nations wins under his care!

BUT .... WALES WILL NOT BOW DOWN .... WE WILL GIVE IT ALL WE'VE GOT AND MORE! ;-) :-D

And do you know .... the way Wales played last week against Scotland... we may just do it... I can feel it in my Welsh (well half Welsh Half English :-0) bones! ;-) :-D




Saturday February 10th

ENGLAND v WALES ........ Kick Off 4.45pm

LIVE on ITV, S4C, Sky Sports Action ......... and Radio Jem ;-) :-D


Whether you are Welsh, English or any other nationality ....
...YOU ARE ALL WELCOME ON RADIO JEM (This thread :-D)

But in a spirit of good sportsmanship if you please .... we do not allow fisticuffs on here! :-| ;-) :-D

SCOTLAND TEAM TO PLAY FRANCE

Backs:
15. Stuart Hogg
14. Tommy Seymour
13. Huw Jones
12. Peter Horne
11. Sean Maitland
10. Finn Russell
9. Greig Laidlaw

Forwards:
1. Gordon Reid
2. Stuart McInally
3. Simon Berghan
4. Grant Gilchrist
5. Jonny Gray
6. John Barclay (Captain)
7. Hamish Watson
8. Ryan Wilson

Replacements:
16. Scott Lawson)
17. Jamie Bhatti
18. Jon Welsh
19. Ben Toolis
20. David Denton
21. Ali Price
22. Chris Harris
23. Blair Kinghorn



Edited In

FRANCE

Backs:
15. Geoffrey Palis
14. Teddy Thomas
13. Remi Lamerat
12. Geoffrey Doumayrou
11. Virimi Vakataw
10. Lionel Beauxis

Forwards:
9. Maxime Machenaud
1. Jefferson Poirot
2. Guilhem Guirado (Captain)
3. Rabah Slimani
4. Arthur Iturria
5. Sebastien Vahaamahina
6. Wenceslas Lauret
7. Yacouba Camara
8. Marco Tauleigne

Replacements:
16. Adrien Pelissie, 17. Eddy Ben Arous, 18. Cedate Gomes Sa, 19. Paul Gabrillagues,
20. Louis Picamoles, 21. Baptiste Serin, 22. Anthony Belleau, 23. Benjamin Fall






Sunday February 11th

SCOTLAND v FRANCE ......... Kick Off 3.00pm

Live on BBC 1 and Radio Jem ;-) :-D

Joe Schmidt has announced his team to face Italy in the first game of this weekend's Round 2.

IRELAND

Backs:
15. Rob Kearney
14. Keith Earls
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Jonathan Sexton
9. Conor Murray
1. Jack McGrath
2. Rory Best (Captain)
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Iain Henderson
5. Devin Toner
6. Peter O'Mahony
7. Dan Leavy
8. Jack Conan

Replacements:
16. Sean Cronin
17. Cian Healy
18. Andrew Porter
19. Quinn Roux
20. CJ Stander
21. Kieran Marmion
22. Joey Carbery
23. Jordan Larmour *Uncapped


....And the Head Coach of the Italy Team that will face Ireland in Dublin is an IRISHMAN! :-D

Conor O'Shea has made three changes to the team that faced England last week.
Here is the Italian Side


ITALY

Backs:
15. Matteo Minozzi
14. Tommaso Benvenuti
13. Tommaso Boni
12. Tommaso Castello
11. Mattia Bellini
10. Tommaso Allan
9. Marcello Violi

Forwards:
1. Nicola Quaglio
2. Luca Bigi
3. Simone Ferrari
4. Alessandro Zanni
5. Dean Budd
6. Sebastian Negri
7. Braam Steyn
8. Sergio Parisse

Replacements:
16. Leonardo Ghiraldini
17. Andrea Lovotti
18. Tiziano Pasquali
19. Federico Ruzza
20. Maxime Mbanda
21. Edoardo Gori
22. Carlo Canna
23. Jayden Hayward



Saturday February 10th

IRELAND v ITALY ................... Kick Off 2.15pm

Live on ITV 1
Radio Jem participation to be decided

SOME VERY SAD NEWS

Our dear friend and Radio Jem's Mascot, Fly, lost her partner this morning.
He passed away in hospital at 10am this morning following a short illness.

I know all of Fly's friends on the Rugby Thread would like to join me in sending our heartfelt condolences and love to her at this very distressing time.

WE LOVE YOU FLY, GOD BLESS YOU <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Thinking of you Fly and sending a huge ((((((((((((((hug)))))))))))))) <3 <3 <3xx

So very sorry to read this sad news on here today.

RIP Mr Fly and sending condolences to lovely Fly and all the family right now. xxxx

So very sorry to hear this.

Much love to Lady Fly.
xx

Thank You Kandj and Elizabeth for your kind messages of sympathy and love for our dear Fly. I know she will appreciate them <3 xxx