…..Come the power and the glory! Yes, dear readers, I am a happy man again. We are once again blessed with one of the finest collections of teams hard at each other again in one of the most glorious sporting tournaments ever conceived.
The Six Nations is with us once more! Glory be!
It seems only a short while since last we met and yet I feel I have been hanging forever with eager anticipation for the kick off! I have been caught at work whistling and humming various rugby favourites with a silly grin plastered all over my face, much to the annoyance of some my work colleagues.
Mind you, these individuals wouldn’t know a line out from a driving maul so they don’t count….
As the more astute of you out there will be aware by the title of this latest offering, I am achingly longing for the Irish lads to do us proud. We have to salvage some pride once more following our abysmal showing in the World Cup last year. I have no idea what happened there but it is time to chalk it up to piss-poor efforts all round, bury it and move on.
That being said, I have just watched the first match, with Ireland hosting Italy at Croke Park for the first time…..and I am not a happy camper, people! I am, in fact, a nervous soul, if the truth be told……
We won. Just. Only just….by the grace of God and the skin of our teeth did we only just win!
I have to say that a lot of folks down the years have been disparaging of Italian rugby but I have always had a grudging respect for these lads. Given that they finished ahead of two of the home nations in the 2007 tournament there is a lot of raw talent there to be tapped. That along with the fact that the opening line up today looked like it was able to block out the sun was a bit of a worry!
They are young, fit, hungry and fecking huge!!
That was reflected quite convincingly in the fact that the score-line was so tight at 16-11 to the Irish lads.
Now that is a worrying notion, boys. I am not sure about anyone else but I think it smacks way too much of the start that we had in France against Namibia.
Looked what happened to us thereafter….!
Not pretty lads, was it?
Irish manager, Eddie O’Sullivan, recognised this fact after the game,
“I’d have preferred if we hit the ground running but I have to be sensible and know the winning the first game is hard.”
Hmm, alright. Fair enough, Eddie, but I fervently trust that this is taken on board by the lads when next they stand line abreast and shuffle their way through ‘Ireland’s Call”.
On a slightly fluffier note, however, I am fresh from bouncing around my abode following the second offering of rugby today. Wales have just comprehensively handed the English squad their arses on a big-ass platter with a very convincing 26-19 trouncing.
It was made all the more delicious given the fact that Wales were 10 points behind going in from the first half and the world and his wife figured that England had it in the bag.
Including my (English) girlfriend.
Really? How’s that, then?
I think it is fairly safe to say that there will be much jollity in the valleys tonight.
What am I saying? It is not unfair to say that you can pretty much write the weekend off and there will be a shitload of sick calls in the likes of Swansea, Cardiff and the like come Monday morning!
And why not, I say? It has only taken the daft Welsh buggers two fecking decades to beat the English in their own back yard!
About bloody time….
Yes, yes, I know! Hardly the right spirit in these days of fair play and non-partisan behaviour in sports and that! I know. I got the pamphlet. I chose not to subscribe…..
Guess what? I care not a bar! I am still staunchly of the opinion that I only support two teams when it comes to international sport.
Ireland (natch) and anyone who is playing against England…..
That put your back up, did it? Good. I couldn’t give a tuppennny cuss! It is a standpoint that I have had for as long as I remember and I do not plan to change now to please the huddled masses. I have no axe to grind with anyone particular. It is just that England has always been considered ‘the old enemy’ and t’will ever be thus!
Get used to it. I have. It still gives me the warm and fuzzies when the wheel falls off England’s sodding chariot……..especially when it happens in such a spectacular fashion!
That being said, my smugness may well be short lived when the Irish boys face the French next week. In Paris.
True, it will be a fantastic weekend away for all those who choose to make their way over to see the action but I am praying (oh Lord, how I am praying!) that we get our shite together and bring the game to the French.
But, sure, that is what makes the Six Nations everything that I love about international rugby. We are a long way from the end and there is still all to play for……
Go on, ya good things, ya!!
