6 Nations Rugby Championship @ Hurleys

It seems like an age since the last game of the 6 Nations so for those who
may have forgotten (perhaps on purpose) here's a quick round up as we get
ready for a packed Saturday programme:

England 20 Italy 7
Italy (clearly stung by my criticism the previous week) lived up to
pre-tournament expectations and rang rings round the English for much of
this game. Brian Moore, former England Hooker, gave the Man of the Match
award to Italian Scrum-Half Troncon and I don't think anyone would disagree
with that. All England's points were scored by the this season's returning
duo of Wilkinson and Robinson (who had scored 37 of 42 points the previous
week).

Scotland 21 Wales 9
Wales and Scotland were as disappointing as only they can be. Feeble ball
handling skills and an inability to finish any move without screwing up
typified the afternoon. All the points were scored with the boot. Wales
now look to be heading for a last place play-off against Italy. They also
match Italy for shockingly bad haircuts - get a trim boys, you never know,
it might help.

Ireland 17 France 20
This was nail-biting, lip-smacking and ultimately heart-breaking stuff as
Ireland conceded a converted try in the last minute of the match. It was
so disappointing that a team that fought so hard all game should have let
its attention wander at such a crucial stage. France had the upper hand
for long periods of the game but until the 80th minute the Irish had fought
hard and well. O'Gara's try was a silky move which should have been the
most memorable effort of the day but for Vincent Clerc's late winner. I
don't like Ref bashing but you have to ask what Steve Walsh was thinking of
when he blew up for a French knock-on with Geordan Murphy half way up the
field, alone, heading towards the try-line. Bah!

Finally a big thank you to Jerry O'Regan who popped in to fix the TV even
at the risk of having the constabulary give him a ticket.

Saturday, 24 February
And so on to this week with all three games on Saturday
First up is Scotland versus Italy at 10am Montreal time. Both these teams
scored tries against England and hopefully this bodes well for our opening
game. The kick-a-thon (or cock-up-a-thon) against Wales may have got
Scotland the points they so desperately sought but it was not good rugby.
In their last three tournament matches at Murrayfield Scotland have beaten
Wales, France and England whilst Italy have a dreadful record away from
home. Apparently Berbizier has never won in Edinburgh - what are the
chances that will change on Saturday?

Next up is the little matter of Ireland against England at 12:30. Those of
you who do not intend to watch the Scotland game should plan to get to your
seats early for this match as turn out is bound to be huge. I had expected
this to be the Championship decider but the defeat against France means
Ireland have some catching up to do. Remember what I said earlier about
Robinson and Wilko scoring 57 of England's 62 points so far this year?
Both have sustained injuries in training and there are doubts about their
appearance on Saturday. Meanwhile Ireland should have O'Driscoll and
Stringer back. Geordan Murphy, who caved in to Ibanez for France's first
try, is out.

Finally we have France v Wales at 15:00. The French have a habit of losing
to bad teams especially when coming off a strong victory: they lost to
Scotland last year and to Wales at the Stade de France two years ago.
Both sides have made a hat-full of changes for this game and Wales
especially will be hoping that fresh blood will lead to fresh inspiration.
At least Charvis won't be there with his muppet hair style.

Laws of the game
There's been a bit of a kerfuffle about one of the moves the Italians have
been making this season. Habitually teams catching the ball at the
line-out instantly form a maul and try steaming up the other end of the
field for a try. Someone on the Italian coaching has spotted this and
turned it into this year's "how did the referee not see that" moment. The
Italian forwards don't tackle the jumper so the maul is not legally formed;
instead the Italians come round the back and tackle the ball carrier thus
giving the impression of being off-side when in fact the other team is
illegally blocking. It worked against France and England but they may need
a few more tricks than that before they get their next win.

If anybody prefers to read their nonsense in French I have added a link to
a French blog below:
http://www.mondialdurugby.com/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=26

See you all on Saturday
Martin Buckle
Treasurer

Having only just made it out of the 19th century I've fast-forwarded to the 21st and bought myself an ipod. Somehow the first "tune" I managed to load onto it is the Ian Robertson commentary for the last few seconds from the 2003 World Cup Finals. It sent shivers down my spine and has me more eager than ever to start the new season.

If you haven't heard it you can check it out on the BBC website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/sport/bestcommentary/day1.shtml

The version I have is slightly longer but you'll get the idea (shame about the girlie screaming from Rob Andrew in the background)

Last Saturday's results in the opening weekend of the 6 Nations Championship may have gone the way most pundits expected but the action on the field threw up plenty of surprises..
Many people had expected the Italians (tutored by former France coach Pierre Berbizier) to show their strongest form to date in this year's tournament but there was precious little in this display to suggest they have made any progress in the last five years. Men against boys would be an apt description but for Chabal - more Sasquatch than man in this metaphor.

That game was followed by Scotland getting a drubbing from the English. It's difficult to say what was the biggest shock of the game: the fact that Jonny Wilkinson could score a record number of points on his first international match in four years; the fact that an Irish referee could award JW a try when he had both feet, his bed, his pet seal and garden shed firmly planted in touch; or the fact that JW could play almost an entire match without being crippled (14 stitches to the face excluded).

Then on to Sunday and a scrappy match that could have gone either way but the Welsh gave up too many errors and the referee missed Easterby tripping Czekaj (thus giving the Welsh whining rights for years to come). Once O'Gara found his boot and D'Arcy and O'Driscoll got going the game was always heading Ireland's way.

So, onto this weekend:
Saturday, 10 February 8:30am
These early mornings are going to kill me. England host Italy and should be able to notch up an easy win: how is the fixture list arranged so that England get the two weakest teams first and at home so that the new coach can settle his team down before facing a real challenge? Jonny Wilkinson apparently believes in Karma, in which case Italy will be comfortable winners; others may place more faith in JW's left foot, in which case the point scoring machine may notch up another record tally.

Saturday, 10 February 10:30am
Two of last week's losers get a chance to put some points on the board as Wales travel to Scotland for the second match of the day. Wales will have to make fewer mistakes this week if they want to score some tries rather than gift them to the opposition. Scotland did score tries last week and have the added benefit of having the Edinburgh crowd behind them. The loser of this match could be fighting Italy for the wooden spoon at the end of the tournament. so expect plenty of heart and soul behind the ball.

Sunday, 11 February 2007 10am
For those of you who won't be in Dublin for the match the next Ireland game is on Sunday at 10am when they host France at... Croke Park. As somebody remarked this is literally going to be a whole new ball game. Even after its renovation Landsdowne Road isn't going to be this impressive and we can only hope the team will get an incredible boost from their temporary home. France snatched the title from Ireland on points difference last year so this really is going to be a huge game. The only thing bigger would be if England were playing here... Saturday, 24 February 12:30pm

As before Bill Hurley has offered us the use of the upstairs bar and the price is $10 for MIRFC members (which includes breakfast) and $5 to watch each additional match (on days when there is more than one game). Non-members will be charged twice as much and don't even get breakfast.
I will be there both days to collect membership fees and the Executive will be meeting after the Wales match for those of you that are interested in that kind of thing.
Regards
Martin Buckle
Treasurer

6 Nations Rugby Championship @ Hurleys

Just a reminder if you're looking for somewhere to watch the 6 Nations Rugby Championship this winter:

Bill Hurley has offered the Montreal Irish RFC the use of the upstairs bar at Hurleys Pub on Crescent and has bought the screening rights from Setanta so that we can watch the cream of northern hemisphere rugby surrounded by friends, team-mates and good quality beer. Nothing comes for free in this life but this is as close to it as you can find: $10 for MIRFC members (which includes breakfast) and $5 to watch each additional match (on days when there is more than one game). Non-members will be charged twice as much and don't even get breakfast.

Membership cards

Paid up members who want to get their MIRFC ID card should contact Scott O'Flaherty. He will need a small photo and proof that you have paid your subscription for 2007.

The MIRFC ID card will get you into Hurleys to watch the 6 Nations Championship at a reduced rate and get you a discount on beer.

As a reminder, Social memberships cost $100 (voting) or $50 non-voting and can be paid over to Martin Buckle (Treasurer) or Eric Hough (President).