Sunday, March 11, 2007

Thanks to an odd spot of TV programming from the media bigwigs, most of this week's FA Cup games will be played today, instead of the usual Saturday kickoffs. So, deprived of my usual fix of the Beautiful Game, I decided to buckle down to follow my first Six Nations rugby game in full. Scotland vs Ireland.

The Irish were the more dominant side in the first 20 minutes, running rings around the Scots with their powerful forward pack and brilliant ability to spread play. The gulf in class eventually showed, even as the Scots began to get themselves more into the game, when a mistake from the Scottish number 10 allowed Ronan O'Gara to steal in for the try. O'Gara converted, and added to the two penalties he had scored earlier on. 13-9 to the men in green at the half.

The Scots lost Nathan Hines, their number 4 to the sin bin at the start of the second, but survived the resultant brutal Irish onslaught. This gave them the confidence to take the game to the Irish, and they deservedly took the lead after three consecutive penalties took them up to 18-13. Going behind to unfancied opposition finally stirred the Irish, slumbering as they had been much of the half, and they roared back, with O'Gara netting two more penalties, and the Irish put their noses in front, 19-18. The scores stayed that way till the end, and allowed the Irish to win the Triple Crown, after earlier disposing of Wales on the opening weekend, and thumping the English 43-13 two weeks ago.

Watched the game between Italy and Wales after that, and it was a little more exciting, what with the expansive styles employed by both sides, unlike the parasitic tactics of the Scots in the earlier clash. Brilliant game, but it was sad to watch it end in contravesy at the end. With 10 seconds on the clock, Wales were down 20-23, and had a penalty. Hook, the number 12, received assurances from the referee that they was enough time for a line-out, and he proceeded to boot the ball out to touch. But almost as soon as the ball crossed the line, the referee blew the final whistle, and the furious Welsh surrounded him, robbed of at least a certain draw. Take nothing away from the Italians, I think they played a good game, but the Welsh deserved more than they got out of it.

i heard the crickets at 12:35 pm

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