England V France

[PAH]

England were poor first half today. Deserved to go out.

Maybe it's my naivety in not understanding the game well enough but at one point we were only 9 points behind (16-7) and were going for tries and cocking it up when 3 drop goals would have been easier and good enough to get back on even terms.

Then you had Flood trying to run the ball out of his own 22 and getting nowhere fast when I'm sure I've seen Wilkinson kick it long into touch many many times in that position.

[Doggy Styles]

I was out to dinner with two ex-rugger bugger mates last night, one played for Leicester, the other played further down the food chain.

Opinion was that:

• The on-field leadership isn't good enough
• Wilkinson should probably have been put out to grass ages ago
• We didn't have any great players
• We didn't see much variety running with the ball

One of them now wants France to win the tournament because he hates the Welsh, the other doesn't care but wants Wales to get to the final because he hates the French.

[Mich the Tester]

I was out to dinner with two ex-rugger bugger mates last night, one played for Leicester, the other played further down the food chain.

Opinion was that:

• The on-field leadership isn't good enough
• Wilkinson should probably have been put out to grass ages ago
• We didn't have any great players
• We didn't see much variety running with the ball

Yep, and I'd add that I think MJ intimidates players to the point they´re scared to try amything creative.

Als, the RFU is a mess generally.

[Mich the Tester]

Don't make it right.

Doesn´t make anyone care. Side issue, irrelevant, leave it alone.

[Doggy Styles]

Yep, and I'd add that I think MJ intimidates players to the point they´re scared to try amything creative.

Possibly right there.

Apparently the Leicester ethos is that everyone on the pitch has their job and they stick to it.

[oracleslave]

Gutted Gutted Gutted

Go Wales

[shaunbhoy]

Go Wales

WOSS

Come on you Taffies!!

[DodgyAgent]

WOSS

Come on you Taffies!!

If Wales win that will leave Scotland out on its own as a Nation of losers

[shaunbhoy]

If Wales win that will leave Scotland out on its own as a Nation of losers

Not sure how you work that out, but if it makes you happy.

[DodgyAgent]

Not sure how you work that out, but if it makes you happy.

SB it must be a "pressure free" existence being a Scot. Knowing that your team will not compete you can pick another team. If they then lose so what? I think the scots need to establish a London premiership side (which they seem to be doing quite well through London Scottish) and invest all their money in that. They should then track people with Scottish ancestary. This is what the Irish are trying to do.

Maybe they should do this with football too