six nations week 2, redux

[waider]

Final scores for the weekend: France v Ireland, 43 - 31
Italy v England, 1e6 - 2 (consolation points)[1]
Wales v Scotland, some inept scoring - less scoring, but also inept

[1] Needlessly unfair. The Italians did a superb job in the first half, which they finished trailing by a mere point, before England did something or other I didn't see which involved scoring and converting a lot. I caught the end of the game; in the 82nd minute, the Italians (who had pulled back a try and conversion so they weren't trailing by quite so much) got a penalty at their own five-metre line; they chose, rather stupidly I thought, to run it instead of kicking it into the stands, the ball was intercepted by the opposition, and they went down another 7 points. Shame.

Comments

Italy V England

[(Anonymous)]

Made perfect sense to run the penalty, they choose to attempt to lose by less. In the end England won by more but that makes no difference.

Re: Italy V England

[waider.livejournal.com]

Dear anonymous netsource.ie (now magnet networks, I understand) user:

if you're going to make a comment in that tone of font, the least you could do is put a name on it.

By running with the penalty they indeed took a chance to lose by less. However, given (a) the amount of time left on the clock (-2 minutes) and (b) the fact that they were on their own 5-metre line and (c) the fact that they weren't just going to be able to walk past the English and, heck, (d) the fact that the try they'd scored guaranteed them at least a consolation finish on a high note and (e) the fact that points difference is a deciding factor in final placings in the league, it is my humble opinion that it was the wrong choice.

Re: Italy V England

[eejitalmuppet.livejournal.com]

I didn't see the game, but the usual option to take would be to kick for touch, and try to win their own lineout. That is, unless they knew that the ref would blow the final whistle next time the ball went "dead" (penalties don't count, but the ball going into touch direct from a penalty does), in which case running from deep was the only "positive" option . . .

IIRC, the Wales - Scotland result was 28 - 18. Part of me wonders how it would have turned out if Scott Murray hadn't gotten himself sent off (for some stupid retaliation over a late tackle that got his opponent sin-binned) after about 20 minutes, but such speculation is rather pointless. My main fear just now is that Italy look quite useful, so Scotland could easily come through this series playing better than they have for several years, and only winning one match.

For you guys, the BBC says that Paul O'Connell is doubtful for the Welsh game, but O'Callaghan would be a pretty good replacement for him.