Former Australian fly half Michael Lynagh has not only dodged a bullet but “dodged a cannonball” according to a doctor who treated him after his recent stroke which almost claimed his life. The 48 year old who was visiting Brisbane when he had the stroke, was out with friends when it occurred. After being taken [...]
So with the Welsh salary cap coming into place soon, it is debatable whether it will benefit or negatively impact Welsh regional rugby. The salary cap will see all Welsh regions having a £3.5 million limit on the total amount that the club can pay it’s players. Yes, on the one hand it makes it [...]
There are any things that have been learnt from the varying performances shown in the Six Nations this year. Here is a list of what I think the rugby world has gained in knowledge from this Championship. 1. Wales if not already are, have the potential to be one of the best teams in the [...]
Wales have won the Grand Slam on home turf with a team that looks as strong as anybody in the world at the moment. The final score was 16-9 with a brilliant try from 21 year old wing Alex Cuthbert which after a great turnover from lock Alun Wyn Jones. The try meant Wales would [...]
Former Australian fly half Michael Lynagh has not only dodged a bullet but “dodged a cannonball” according to a doctor who treated him after his recent stroke which almost claimed his life. The 48 year old who was visiting Brisbane when he had the stroke, was out with friends when it occurred. After being taken to hospital in an ambulance he went into the hospital’s ICU where he was treated. Luckily, two weeks later the legendary man has pulled through and was released from the hospital after a remarkable recovery. However, his eyesight in his left eye has decreased by 45 per cent, which is set to decrease, but not guaranteed to ever return to what it previously was. Hopefully this will not be the case and Lynagh will regain his full health, with the whole rugby world behind him, as soon as possible.
So with the Welsh salary cap coming into place soon, it is debatable whether it will benefit or negatively impact Welsh regional rugby. The salary cap will see all Welsh regions having a £3.5 million limit on the total amount that the club can pay it’s players. Yes, on the one hand it makes it seem that the cap is stopping rugby becoming the money game that football has evolved into at the top level. Rugby until recently hasn’t seen millionaires and has been a game with loyal support and players who see playing as the main aspect of the sport. However this cap now means that the top players in Wales are moving out. In a way who can blame them, it’s their job and if somebody else is going to pay you more, then you will probably go. But the players aren’t the only ones being affected. The clubs in France will pay Welsh players at the top level such as Gethin Jenkins, Lee Byrne and James Hook double what they could get back at home, whilst guaranteeing them playing time and what Byrne describes as an “international atmosphere.” Surely this means that the quality of the Welsh rugby will deteriorate due to the loss of the top Welsh players. So the question is still posed, who is the salary cap meant to benefit, the players, fans, clubs or Welsh rugby as a whole? Do you have an opinion, comment below.
There are any things that have been learnt from the varying performances shown in the Six Nations this year. Here is a list of what I think the rugby world has gained in knowledge from this Championship.
1. Wales if not already are, have the potential to be one of the best teams in the world. The World Cup taught us this actually, but this Grand Slam has proved it. The whole team seem to be one tight knit unit, and their closeness off the pitch reflects their performance when they are on it. As a Welsh fan myself I can see that the core of this team wasn’t picked before the Six Nations, but last summer when the team had three international friendlies before the World Cup. Since then Gatland has made few changes to the squad, and a core has developed as we are seeing the same players week in week out. The fact that the same back line started every game this tournament shows not only their strength as a unit, but also the fact that Gatland doesn’t need to change it, what they are doing is working and making them possibly the strongest back line in the world at this time. The forwards had a bit more change, but mostly because of injury, and with the best front row available for Wales playing together the forwards seemed to be able to control the game. I could go on and on, Lydiate, Faletau, Warburton, the whole team seemed to gel and play well throughout the tournament and hopefully can carry is forward for many years to come.
» Read more.. «What we have learnt from the 2012 Six Nations»
Wales have won the Grand Slam on home turf with a team that looks as strong as anybody in the world at the moment. The final score was 16-9 with a brilliant try from 21 year old wing Alex Cuthbert which after a great turnover from lock Alun Wyn Jones. The try meant Wales would not be behind for the remainder of the match, but France were hot on the Welsh team’s heels with great tight defence that was stopping most of the Welsh attacks. Flanker Dan Lydiate had an utterly world class performance, which even at half time was earning him the Man of The Match award, which he did officially receive at the end. The Welsh deserve this win when you look at how well this Welsh squad have bonded and performed over the last year, only making you look ahead to the Southern Hemisphere tests in the summer and thinking sure they can do it. Well done to Wales, a great tournament has ended with an even better and completely deserving result that will provide all the confidence and winning experience for this young team to cement their place as one of the world elite.
So with a match to go Wales are at the last hurdle. France. After beating Italy on the weekend, they find themselves in a place where at the start of the tournament I hoped they would. A win will seal the Grand Slam, and the recognition as a major world rugby power after the good world cup campaign. But just because France are out of the winning equation doesn’t mean Wales don’t face a tough test. If Wales do lose and England beat a strong Irish team it will go down to points difference which makes the situation more complex. But not if Wales win, which returning captain Sam Warburton will hope happens after guiding his team through the most promising year Welsh rugby has seen for a while. Do you think Wales can do it, comment below, and make sure to return tomorrow for pre and post match reactions.
Two of the three games this week have been played, with Ireland giving Italy what the score shows was an absolute smashing, but didn’t seem that way the whole time, and the second game, between Wales and England, which the Welsh pinched right at the end 19-12 to claim the Triple Crown in their thirsd match of thhe tournament. This previous game was not exactly what it was built up to be with England leading for most of the match and both teams finding it hard to score any points at all. The match reports and opinions are going to be put up soon so come back to check them out!
So I have decided to search all around the web to bring you 51 facts about the great game of rugby. I guess some of the facts are common knowledge to big rugby fans but still some are fun and will increase everybody’s knowledge of the sport. So here we go.
1. The game of rugby was supposedly created by William Webb Ellis in 1823 whilst playing football.
2. A try is called a try because originally you recieved no points for crossing the line but gained the opportunity to try and kick at goal.
3. Rugby balls are oval because when first made they we’re created using pigs bladders, which when inflated became oval.
4. The reigning Olympic rugby champions are the USA, they won it in 1924 and the sport has not been played at the Olympics since.
5. No Rugby World Cup winner has ever retained the trophy in the next tournament. » Read more.. «51 facts about rugby»
The new date for the match has been announced, it is going to be the 4th March. Ireland are not said to be happy with this announcement as they wanted it on Saturday 3rd of March so they would have a longer rest period, but even without this rest period of an extra day France and Ireland will now have to play four matches in a row. Surely this is an advantage to the other teams in the tournament, by the time France play Wales on the 17th in the final match they will have played the previous three weeks meaning they are sure to be fatigued. I honestly thnk this one match could change the way the whole tournament plays out and may determine a different winner. Leave a comment below about your opinion on the rescheduled date!
Just a quick update, no new date has been announced for the France vs Ireland match that was meant to be played on Saturday. The likely date is meant to be early March, and of this does happen in means both France and Ireland will be forced to play four games in a row, which isn’t going to help either team. I have even heard that The French Rugby League wants to play the game on June 9th after their domestic season, but I highly doubt that will happen.
Three yellow cards, four tries and many kicks decided this game in the Millenium Stadium under a closed roof. At half time The score was 3-3 and Scotland had the advantage in possession, but the second half was a completely different story. The first twenty minutes of the second half was as close to a nightmare as Andy Robinsons’ Scotland are likely to see. A try by Cuthbert within the first few minutes was worsened when Nick de Luca was sent to the bin for tackling Davies without the ball, a silly choice for the centre because Jonathan Davies never actually had the ball in his hands. After a penalty converted for each team the score was 13-6 to Wales but in the 50th minute Halfpenny scored his first of the match, a deserved try for a player who kicked exceptionally throughout. Halfpenny seems to be on of those players who is everywhere but always gets the ball passed to him when he has about half of the opposing team stood in front of him, so it was nice to see him cross the line twice today. After his first he scored again two minutes after Scotland were down to 13 men due to an offside tackle from fullback Rory Lamont. The score was now 27-6 and Wales looked out of reach but on the offence Scotland broke through and looked to score, which they did, but wrongly French referee Romaim Poite ruled the try invalid as he thought Scotland’s bright new spark Hogg to have knocked the ball on. Nevertheless Scotland fought back and fly half Laidlaw cleverly slotted the ball under Falatau and converted to make the final score 27-13. Just before the end Gethin Jenkins was sent off but if you were watching the commentary team missed it so there we are! The first half proves my previous point that Scotland have potential, especially Hogg who made some outstanding runs, but although th first half wasn’t the best Wales still dominated the second and showed their worth meaning next game against a rather inexperienced English team could win them the Triple Crown. What are you thoughts on the game? Should Scotland have made more out of the first half with the possession they had? Could George North have increased the score if he hadn’t of gone off injured in the first? Leave a comment below!
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