Yeah but they've played two matches at home and no-one at England's level yet if they were playing New Zealand away tomorrow would you still use the same logic?

Italy and France are way below England level right now, especially England playing at home

You may well be right but I'd be pleasantly surprised (and delighted!!) if England mess up this opportunity to maybe even win the tournament (if Wales win in Cardiff) by eating up the score difference

The last time I was at England v Scotland match, the Scots were pretty good for at least half the match. We won, but it wasn't easy. Looking back at the score, I suppose a 20 point margin could be considered steam rollering (so I'll take that back )

Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Andrea Masi, 11 Giovambattista Venditti, 10 Kelly Haimona, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Samuela Vunisa, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Joshua Furno, 4 George Fabio Biagi, 3 Dario Chistolini, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Matias Aguero.

Replacements: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Marco Barbini, 20 Guglielmo Palazzini, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Enrico Bacchin.

That's the thing, I just can't see Scotland being competitive for 80 minutes sadly

I've no doubt they'll be hugely up for it going into the match but once the tries start going past them it is very easy for them to just drop the heads and hold back for one last hurrah at home the week after. If this was in Murrayfield it wouldn't be as straightforward for England, but with home advantage it's a real chance to pile on the score difference. it's a big opportunity against a team with no confidence. I am looking forward to it though

You'd have to imagine any neutral will surely be roaring on Wales tomorrow

I know I certainly would be in fairness. It will set up the most exciting final day in 6 nations history. 3 teams with a very live chance of winning the championship on the last weekend, and none of them playing each other!

It would make for a weird final day, with 3 different teams possibly topping the table during the day.

I'm definitely more in the "this would be weird" camp. I know it happens a lot with the 6N, but I think it's all about the Grand Slam or nothing really... last year was weird with Ireland winning it over England on points difference despite England beating Ireland.

Could be vice versa this year if Ireland lose today, England will likely win on points difference but they lost to Ireland, so would feel hollow.

I think that the world cup is really getting good publicity now and could be the biggest boost for rugby union for a generation in the UK.
http://northumbrianimages.blogspot.c...stle-2015.html

God i'm going to miss Paul O'Connell when he finally hangs up those boots -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqlyy7XopG8 - Absolute Legend!

Really looking forward to this. Like it to be a cracker, rather than the tense but hardly classic stuff we've had so far this year. Suspect the latter but you never know. Not nervous because the worst already happened in Wales first game! Hope the Irish fans I saw out and about last night aren't too hungover!
Last edited by Michael_Eve : 14-03-2015 at 14:11

Lovely tribute to him just now on RTE. Legend sums it up.

They just said Wales have only beaten Ireland twice in Cardiff since 1983. Is that right?!?

I hope they were behaving themselves!

Yep!

Edit: Lovely crowd where I was. Only criticism...some of the harmonies in the singing left a bit to be desired.

Right, gonna log off and settle down now!

It's a strange stat that Wales more often beat Ireland in Dublin and Ireland beat Wales in Cardiff. Home advantage doesn't really count in this fixture!!!

Enjoy it. Good start by Wales......

Wales have started really well here.

You'd wonder how long they can sustain it though......Schmidt's team is ultra competitive and can turn a game around in seconds.

9-0 now......Ireland need to get their thinking caps on here, this has been a very sluggish start.

wow Wales have really come out firing on all cylinders

The ref is penalising Ireland at the breakdown, something not all officials have done throughout their winning run.

Shocking mistake from Sexton.Ireland looking under pressure and showing signs of it.

Where's the Irish discipline gone?

Dunno why people were worried about the England game, said it from Day 1 that this one was always going to be the hard one.

Barnes will ensure Wales will win this .. That scum he left Wales away with was disgraceful.

He is a fcuking septic ref

Wales have put up a good buffer of 9 points now.

Lil' Leigh's magic boot

Yes indeed, and this is showing on the scoreboard.

You'd write them off at your peril though, even when Schmidt's teams have lost, they've gone down fighting.

Far more width than your regular Gatlandball from Wales so far.

We may be twelve up but Samson Lee is going off on a stretcher.Oxygen brought out so it may well be a leg break.

Will be a huge doubt for the World Cup if it is.

It hasn't been chaotic but they've looked slightly sluggish and off the pace so far

Ireland definitely rattled....a confident Sexton would have put that over

That's more like it