England Rugby/Six nations 2023

[Johnny Byrne's Boots]

I wonder if there's a tacit understanding that referees should err on the side of harsh when punishing hits to the head? If further down the line, players claiming for long term brain injuries can point to head contacts being treated leniently and therefore not being deterred, governing bodies would be leaving themselves open to massive claims for damages.

[Eggchaser]

I wonder if there's a tacit understanding that referees should err on the side of harsh when punishing hits to the head? If further down the line, players claiming for long term brain injuries can point to head contacts being treated leniently and therefore not being deterred, governing bodies would be leaving themselves open to massive claims for damages.

I think you're almost certainly right, however, and I may have mentioned this before, if World Rugby were truly interested in player welfare, why have they not made headguards compulsory?

[Whitters]

I see the red card has been rescinded. As always too late really as it was the turning point of the game (although Ireland were always likely to be too strong)

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/65035837

[3times]

I see the red card has been rescinded. As always too late really as it was the turning point of the game (although Ireland were always likely to be too strong)

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/65035837

Just see this. Pyper ruined what could have been a good game because of his arrogance.

[ageing hammer]

Agreed, it could have been a right ding dong if he hadn't mucked it up.

[alf git]

Looked the wrong call at the time.

[view from the shires]

It also took the ref over 50 minutes to ping Ireland for coming in at the side of the ruck and not one penalty for hands in there either. I thought it was the worst ref performance I have ever seen.

Congrats to Ireland though as I thought they would slide after BOD retired.

[alf git]

Women's Six nations starts with a win for Wales over Ireland.
England against Scotland next and Italy France tomorrow.

England's coach leaves at the end of this campaign.Today's match is the last for Englands captain and record cap holder Sarah Hunter.

[alf git]

England won 58-7.
The scoreline wasn't really a true reflection of how utterly dominant England were in this match. Six conversions were missed and due to injury England played the last 15 minutes with 14 players on the pitch.
Good opening performance.

[Loftyhammer]

Didn't catch her name, but the England 6 looks a player

[alf git]

Round one finished with France beating Italy 22-12.
Conditions were terrible and France weren't much better but their superior set piece saw them get the win.

[alf git]

Round two.

Ireland 3-53 France

Scotland 22-34 Wales.
A closer match than the Welsh would have been expecting or the form book would have suggested.
Only a converted try at the death giving the Welsh an air of respectability.

[alf git]

England 68-5 Italy.
Italy provide a sterner test than the Scotch. Twelve tries to one. Goal kicking remains an issue.
Wales next, in a fortnight.

[dave_l]

On a side note for the womens game, the France game will be held at Twickenham at on the 29th. Over 42,000 tickets already sold which breaks the previous record for a womens rugby game and the hope is that they'll achieve 55,000 which will pretty much fill the lower 2 tiers at Twickenham.

Wales are looking slightly stronger but England will be expected to beat them and Ireland comfortably. France, as always the sternest test.

[alf git]

Wales 3 - 59 England

A very disjointed first 40 for the English. That coupled with the amount of handling errors and a bit of Welsh passion made for the worst hall of rugby for the English women in this years championship. Listening to the commentary you'd think that the Welsh had produced a world class performance. Despite this England went in to the break leading 3 - 19.
Different story in the second half. England looked like a different team. Even with the English going down to 13 (2 yellows) late in the second half, Wales failed to trouble the score board. 40 unanswered points meant England won 59 - 3.

[alf git]

Ireland 0-48 England.

Not a great match in all honesty. Three tries in the last twenty minutes meant the scoreline didn't reflect the match.
Lots of handling errors and too many penalties conceded by England. The Irish didn't really offer any attacking threat and couldn't take advantage of a poor England.
There were a couple of first half injuries to key England players and the coaching staff will hope they aren't too serious.

Scotland beat Italy for their first win in twelve and France beat Wales to set up the Grand Slam decider at the weekend.
50+ thousand tickets sold and counting making it the record for a standalone womens international.

[alf git]

15 minutes of French pressure. England score the first try.

[alf git]

25 minutes.
12-0

[alf git]

French yellow, deliberate knock on.
19-0

[alf git]

Second French yellow. Penalty try.
26-0