Blood & Mud

SHIT/GOOD™ Ratings: RBS 6 Nations, round 2

Another week, another verdict

SHIT

Jonny Wilkinson - I don't care how much big game experience he has, or what England may feel they owe him after his injury years, he is woeful.  Stands too deep, kicks too often and mostly poorly, and simply cannot get a backline moving.  We have all been quick enough to have a pop at the forwards, and rightly so, but surely this is the time for us to take a serious look at St Jonny?  Just because he is finally fit, does not mean he should be the default setting.

England Management Omnishambles -  What exactly did they say at half-time?  Went in 6-6, playing abysmally against a poor Italy team and emerged to do exactly the same thing.  I can only assume they said "looking brilliant out there lads, keep it going".  Abject.

Scotland's resolve - As dazzling a game as that was, you have to say that Scotland did throw it all away.   After dominating most of the game when they had some tough luck with injuries, they fell apart discipline-wise from about the 65th minute onwards as the panic set in.  I suppose they will learn something from this.

Dishonourable mentions: Gareth Cooper (surely that is it now), Delon Armitage, Ireland's front five.  

GOOD

Shane Williams - Every time you think that maybe the magic has gone as his body ages slightly he proves you wrong.  Was at the heart of everything that was good about Wales' comeback, and once again proving that you don't have to be a 16-stone lump to be a top player at the top level.

Yannick Jauzion - Much of the build up focused on Bastareaud, but it was the seasoned rock-solid class act inside him that held it all together for the formidable French.  Puts me in mind of Walter Little, and you can't have much higher praise than that. 

Alessandro Zanni - Many players shoes are very hard to fill, and if you are Italian and you have to fill Sergio Parisse's shoes then it's a bit like a four-year-old putting on his dad's workboots.  However, the Treviso man was outstanding this weekend and gave Harinodoquy a run for his money as the best 8 on show.  Carried like a man possessed, played cleverly in defence and ritually made a bit of a fool of Nick Easter.

Dan Parks - A friend of mine who is not a big rugby fan said to me on Saturday evening, "That Parks is a great player isn't he?"  Which sums up what the ScotsAussie did that afternoon.  Of course I responded with, "No, he's shit.  For some reason he was good today but it won't last".  I am cruel.

Honourable Mentions: Craig Gower (much better than last week and more go forward than Jonny), Luke McLean, Riki Flutey (a diamond in the SHIT), Leigh Halfpenny, Clement Poitrenaud

Agree?  Disagree? Give us your nominations and/or abuse in the comments.

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SHIT/GOOD™ Ratings: RBS 6 Nations, round 2

Another week, another verdict

SHIT

Jonny Wilkinson - I don't care how much big game experience he has, or what England may feel they owe him after his injury years, he is woeful.  Stands too deep, kicks too often and mostly poorly, and simply cannot get a backline moving.  We have all been quick enough to have a pop at the forwards, and rightly so, but surely this is the time for us to take a serious look at St Jonny?  Just because he is finally fit, does not mean he should be the default setting.

England Management Omnishambles -  What exactly did they say at half-time?  Went in 6-6, playing abysmally against a poor Italy team and emerged to do exactly the same thing.  I can only assume they said "looking brilliant out there lads, keep it going".  Abject.

Scotland's resolve - As dazzling a game as that was, you have to say that Scotland did throw it all away.   After dominating most of the game when they had some tough luck with injuries, they fell apart discipline-wise from about the 65th minute onwards as the panic set in.  I suppose they will learn something from this.

Dishonourable mentions: Gareth Cooper (surely that is it now), Delon Armitage, Ireland's front five.  

GOOD

Shane Williams - Every time you think that maybe the magic has gone as his body ages slightly he proves you wrong.  Was at the heart of everything that was good about Wales' comeback, and once again proving that you don't have to be a 16-stone lump to be a top player at the top level.

Yannick Jauzion - Much of the build up focused on Bastareaud, but it was the seasoned rock-solid class act inside him that held it all together for the formidable French.  Puts me in mind of Walter Little, and you can't have much higher praise than that. 

Alessandro Zanni - Many players shoes are very hard to fill, and if you are Italian and you have to fill Sergio Parisse's shoes then it's a bit like a four-year-old putting on his dad's workboots.  However, the Treviso man was outstanding this weekend and gave Harinodoquy a run for his money as the best 8 on show.  Carried like a man possessed, played cleverly in defence and ritually made a bit of a fool of Nick Easter.

Dan Parks - A friend of mine who is not a big rugby fan said to me on Saturday evening, "That Parks is a great player isn't he?"  Which sums up what the ScotsAussie did that afternoon.  Of course I responded with, "No, he's shit.  For some reason he was good today but it won't last".  I am cruel.

Honourable Mentions: Craig Gower (much better than last week and more go forward than Jonny), Luke McLean, Riki Flutey (a diamond in the SHIT), Leigh Halfpenny, Clement Poitrenaud

Agree?  Disagree? Give us your nominations and/or abuse in the comments.