Posts Tagged ‘ Warren Gatland ’

Six Nations 2015 – What We Watch It For

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You couldn’t predict it. If you think you did, you’re wrong. 240 minutes of rugby and not a single one went as anyone would have expected. We knew that Gatland would have his Welsh squad fired up of course and that they have one of the best backlines in Europe, but we didn’t know that Italy were going to collapse as spectacularly as they did. Nobody could have seen Ireland coming out of the traps like that either, matching their best ever winning margin over the Scots. Of course, England and France, thank you. Quite simply the best game of rugby I have ever seen and Welcome back France, you have been missed.
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Six Nations 2015 – Heaslip Returns For Welsh Showdown

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Freak. There’s no other word to describe Jamie Heaslip in relation to his healing abilities. We won’t complain, but many others would be out of their desk job for six months but here he is, the sole change from the team that beat England two weeks ago, ready to take the field in the Cardiff cauldron. Schmidt has made only enforced changes this Six Nations when you might think variety and choice are crucial in winning a championship – conservatism or wisdom? Continue reading

Six Nations 2015 – Wales Stay In The Race…Just

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Dual blogged on I’m Talkin’ Here

Alongside England Wales are the second team vying to knock Ireland out of pole position in this year’s tournament after a less than comprehensive win over France on Saturday. Even less comprehensive was the turgid affair between Italy and Scotland that preceded it and title ambitions remain anything but immediate concerns for these two sides.

The concern remains for Warren Gatland’s Welsh side that they have simply run out of ideas. It’s not all that long ago that players like George North and Alex Cuthbert were instilling fear into their impending defenders. Sam Warburton was heralded as the second coming of the 7 and Wales were to be seen as a threat and nothing else. Skip ahead to now and both wins in the Six Nations have come from high levels of good fortune. Even last year, after a comprehensive defeat to Ireland and again to England after they had barely tamed France, Wales still managed to make life look difficult against a 14 man Scotland (though the 51-3 scoreline begs to differ). Continue reading

Six Nations 2015 – Ireland On Course For The Ultimate Prize

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Dual blogged on I’m Talkin’ Here

The chariot has been derailed and Ireland remain unbeaten. Such was the plethora of wins Ireland experienced over England before 2012 that seems strange to write with such enthusiasm but it has to be appreciated for what it means. How did they do it? Well it’s more than worthwhile taking a look.

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Six Nations 2015 – Can Wales Tackle The French?

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Dual blogged on I’m Talkin’Here

Before Ireland’s crucial game this Sunday we will see Scotland play host to Italy and France the same to Wales. All four sides are finding themselves in turmoil of sorts with underperforming the operative word. Can Scotland show the results of their new coaching team with a result worthy of the quality and can Wales put themselves back in contention against the strongest French side for some time?
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Six Nations 2015 – Are You Not Entertained?

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Ah here c’mon now, how negative can we be? All the buzz since our emphatic win over France, Irish rugby fans all over have been harping on about how we still don’t look great and there is still work to be done. I won’t disagree with that second point but, we’re looking better than ever guys and here’s why.

Remember back a few years, just before David Wallace’s career ending injury? Remember when The Bull hung up his boots and we crawled into a humiliation in Twickenham two years ago? Do you remember, this time last year, wondering what the hell we would ever do without that fella wearing 13 on his back? Well what we have done since all of these things is win five games in a row, two against top three southern hemisphere teams and one against a side who up until last year had only suffered three defeats from us in this century. What I’m saying is – stop focusing solely on what happens on the pitch and take a step back. Ireland are neck and neck with England for the title of best team in Europe, neck and neck in the Six Nations race too and most importantly – they’re winning. Up until the “Golden Generation” arrived we would always be happy with the win. Dirty wins like Scotland 07, it didn’t matter. Then we became seriously good, always managing to score but more and more we couldn’t manage to win. Now it’s all about the win. Not that Ireland at this moment in time are playing ball up the jumper rugby and that’s that rather there are tailored game plans (and cards being held with a World Cup later this year). Ireland scraped past France and should have had another point or two on Italy but they won. Continue reading

Six Nations 2015 – Battle For The Title

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Dual blogged on I’m Talkin’ Here

Here we are again for the third consecutive year; Ireland face off against England for what looks to be the deciding game of the tournament (so far, of course). The last two years havn’t gone that well for Ireland, can anything make this year any different?

It is always a foolish notion to consider one single game to be a decider when it isn’t on the final weekend. Regardless of who wins this weekend (or if there’s a draw for that matter) there are still two more games for each team to play. England will go on to face a French side with reason to play a big game as well as the Scots who are a little scary when they’re cohesive. Ireland face the Scots too and a Welsh side who could be seriously smarting if things don’t go their way against France. Wales are nearly more daunting when the championship is not at stake for them. Continue reading

Six Nations 2015 – England Seek Revenge

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Of course Irish fans want one team only to run in as title contenders when the Six Nations kicks off, but there can be up to four potential victors in a given year. Even Italy, when they started in 2013 with that famous win over France, looked hotter than ever. England are without doubt second favourites and Wales, well they’re just always a threat in this tournament year on year. Scotland have that Vern Cotter fella in charge, maybe you’ve heard of him. Yes it’s not plain sailing for Ireland by any means. Continue reading

Schmidt Calls Upon Experience To Seal The Series

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True to his word, Joe Schmidt has presented the potential for all 29 touring players in Argentina to get game time over this two game tour. While he may not have proven to be the ultra radical, anti predictable coach when it comes to selection, that’s still some bloody good work in 160 minutes. So who is in? Continue reading

Six Nations 2014 – Do Or Die For Gatland

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As well as the much anticipated meeting of Ireland and England, there are of course two other imminently watchable Six Nations clashes this weekend. For Italy and Scotland, keeping off the bottom is the aim of the game. For Wales and France however, this is the weekend one will see their championship hopes effectively disappear.
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