[2015 Six Nations] England vs Italy (Round 2)

[msf]

I think I've found the worst rugby pundit in the world- Paul Ackford in the Times. He says that Joseph didn't use any skill in scoring his try against Wales (he did): there was no quick feet (there was), no hand-off (there was) and no dummy (there was). The picture for the piece shows Joseph handing off Jonathan Davies. So his whole point, that the team that is best at bashing away wins is redundant, since it took a piece of magic to decide the contest. He also claimed that there was no skill in Wales' try. I never saw Paul Ackford play, perhaps someone else can tell me how many times he picked up the ball from inside a creaking scrum, handed off a players and timed an offload perfectly to the overlapping scrum half?

 

[ratsapprentice]

Wasn't Ackford dismissed by the Telegraph for generally being a a bit ****?

 

[RedruthRFC]

My abiding memory of him playing did involve one of the talking points of Wales vs England - his concussion sustained against Argentina was bordering on legendary!

 

[j'nuh]

I think I've found the worst rugby pundit in the world- Paul Ackford in the Times. He says that Joseph didn't use any skill in scoring his try against Wales (he did): there was no quick feet (there was), no hand-off (there was) and no dummy (there was). The picture for the piece shows Joseph handing off Jonathan Davies. So his whole point, that the team that is best at bashing away wins is redundant, since it took a piece of magic to decide the contest. He also claimed that there was no skill in Wales' try. I never saw Paul Ackford play, perhaps someone else can tell me how many times he picked up the ball from inside a creaking scrum, handed off a players and timed an offload perfectly to the overlapping scrum half?

Wow, there's one thing downplaying skills as not being that impressive, and one where you're actually factually incorrect on those skills having ever taken place! Maybe his next article can be on that sheep are actually fish...

 

[SelimNiai]

Only 3 people think Italy will win?

Cmon people, Fratelli D'Italia etc etc

 

[j'nuh]

The confidence I have in England beating Italy must be the same kind of confidence that All Black fans have when they play anyone.

Would be a national tragedy if we were to lose this one.

 

[SelimNiai]

The confidence I have in England beating Italy must be the same kind of confidence that All Black fans have when they play anyone.

Would be a national tragedy if we were to lose this one.

Ah shaddupa you face :lol:

But yeah. Italy would have to break out the perforfance of their lives and England would have to have forgotten how to rugby overnight to it to happen.

 

[TommiG88]

I'm going for 32-10 to England.

 

[LiRFCMatt]

I'm going for 32-10 to England.

Have to say it is gonna be more than that to the English. Lancaster would be disappointed with a conceded try and England will look to put 40/50 on the Azzurri.

 

[Tony Manx]

I am looking for 60 points unless Italy improve immeasurably on last week........which is unlikely!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Jiffy...what the hell.

"I think one thing nobody's asking, is was George North actually knocked out?"

No one's asking that because it was clear as bloomin' day!

 

[chippieolamus]

People are getting ahead of themselves here - 40-60 points would be great, but 1st thing's first let's look for a win. People are just assuming that we'll win, but Italy usually put up a decent fight, look at how Ireland struggled to break them down last week.

 

[goodNumber10]

Isn't it raining there?

Also Ackford is purely about stirring the pot.

 

[Tony Manx]

People are getting ahead of themselves here - 40-60 points would be great, but 1st thing's first let's look for a win. People are just assuming that we'll win, but Italy usually put up a decent fight, look at how Ireland struggled to break them down last week.

Yeas but Italy were awful and the Irish seemed to have a game plan "to do just do enough and not show their real class until necessary" (my paraphrasing!!) according to some Irish posters. I thought they were just poor and missed the opportunity to score a shedload of points to improve their difference which is what is going to count at the end of the tournament!!

 

[j'nuh]

Jiffy...what the hell.

"I think one thing nobody's asking, is was George North actually knocked out?"

No one's asking that because it was clear as bloomin' day!

Ooh, that's a fun sentence.

"I think one thing nobody's asking is, 'Was George North actually knocked out?'" (Nobody is asking it because it is obvious.)
vs
"I think one thing nobody's asking, is was George North actually knocked out?" (Nobody is asking it, but I think it's worth asking.)

 

[munstermuffin]

Did England get a Chinese band in?? Ha

 

[Tony Manx]

Nepalese?

 

[ratsapprentice]

Bloody hell, Ben!

 

[j'nuh]

So Ben's good form lasted long...

 

[Jbobo]

Gotta say, i've had nothing but praise to give to England after your win against Wales last week. However, has any noticed how much people (media mainly) are comparing this England team to the 2003 world cup winning team? After so much has been made about some comparing the current Welsh team to the one during the 70's (and actually winning things) i find it very annoying and arrogant.

I know it is inherant for all nations, but there really is nothing worse than England as a rugby nation, when it is confident and winning (one game so far).

Sorry had to get that out. Please, proceed to call me a troll/keyboard warrior etc etc. Come at me Chelskikovski (or whatever the hell your user name is)