S8N 666
Typical Hodgson, getting his hands on his own chargedown to score the only try, after I'd been slagging him off again

Hodgson has been too inconstant in an England shirt, he has had some great games, but he's also had some mediocre and very poor ones too.  England really have had a problem at 10 since mid way through RWC2003, Wilko lost form and never regained it, Hodgson too inconsistent, Flood just not good enough for international rugby, Cipriani great on the field but a total pillock off it....in the long term it will be Owen Farell with Charlie as a stop gap until Owen gets enough experience.

rew37
England really have had a problem at 10 since mid way through RWC2003, Wilko lost form and never regained it,

I've never understood why Wilkinson kept getting picked after losing form - there seems to have been some kind of hero-worship thing going on with him since that world cup final, but I didn't see the form to justify his constant (when he wasn't injured, anyway!) selection. It is the position England seem to have been struggling with for a while, and his place in the squad could possibly have been better used to bring on some youngsters (I also never really understood why Andy Goode didn't get more caps through the period when he was clearly the in-form English outside half). For me, Wilkinson wasn't anywhere near 'special' enough to justify the hype that seems to surround him. Decent enough kicker (often in an England side that relied heavily on kicked points), but not really a 'great' no.10, and not really even that 'solid and reliable', apart from the goal kicking.
 
I sometimes wonder whether Martin Johnson suffered a bit with the same problem that Woodward seemed to as Lions coach - believing that the 2003 England side were untouchable genius players and all clearly 'the best in the world', rather than remembering how they sc****d through the tournament and ground out close wins with penalties. Not to take anything away from them as World cup winners - they did the job on the day, and fair play to them - but clear, great and undisputably miles ahead 'best of the best' champions, hammering the rest of the world with style and ease, they certainly weren't!
 
A little surprised by Dan Parks decision, but it opens the door for some else to come in and stake a claim while Ruaridh Jackson is still out, which I think is a good thing for them long term. Parks has been one of those who has always seemed to underperform on the day at international level, for some reason, but has been a good servant in filling the gap (mostly) competently through a period when they had a no.10 shortage. Sunday should be interesting!

I'm at a loss to explain why Wilko kept getting picked, he clearly lost form mid way through RWC2003, and never recovered it at international level - the injuries can't really be blamed for that.  He was hero worshipped for that drop goal, and poor Charlie Hodgson has suffered the derision of England fans for years purely for not being Jonny Wilkinson!!!!  Andy Goode didn't get more caps because struggled to make the step up, like Flood does now, Goode did a great job for Leicester Tigers, but he simply wasn't up to international rugby.  If you look at Premiership form since RWC03, the best performing English qualified 10 has consistently been Charlie Hodgson, something that's widely ignored or explained away by the "we love Jonny" brigade.

Though I've only been getting into Union recently, from what I saw of the last World Cup Wilko didn't meet up to the standards of what I'd heard. Thinking he must be a one hit wonder, like you say Rew, think he was just worshipped for the drop goal.

From 1999 to mid way through the 2003 RWC, Wilko was a class act, there's no doubting he was a great player who was instrumental in getting England to the number 1 ranking in the world.  Half way through the 2003 RWC he seemed to lose confidence & form, Mike Catt had to come into the inside centre position to steady him a little which subsequently affected England's team structure and their game plan, although that drop goal required nerves of steel!!!  Just after the 2003RWC he picked up the first in a long string of injuries which really blighted his career, but he never regained his pre 2003 form.

rew37
 Andy Goode didn't get more caps because struggled to make the step up, like Flood does now, Goode did a great job for Leicester Tigers, but he simply wasn't up to international rugby.

Like James bloody Hook, you mean?! I always felt that Goode, unlike Hook, was never really given the chance to get a proper run in the squad (let alone the side - only 3 Six Nations starts in total) to settle in and show what he could do. There are those who just can't cope with international rugby for some reason, though - Hook is an obvious example (he's proved consistently that he's just too indecisive, takes too much time, and his ball distribution is nowhere near good enough), but there have been many others.

I think you're being a bit harsh on Hook there, he's not brilliant but when he first started playing for Wales I thought he was great, he read the game well, distributed well and had moments of individual brilliance. He rescued a draw vs Australia in his home debut when Count Wellies was injured and was a key figure in the grand slam in 2008 (including creating a good try vs England) but his major problem  seems to be that he looks for individual opportunities rather than for the rest of the team, so I'm glad that Priestland is now around as he seems best suited to get the most out of the backs. Shame his place kicks are a bit rubbish...
 
For whatever reason Hook was shunted around the backs at the ospreys and wales and that seemed to reduce his confidence. I've not seen him for perpignan yet but I'd hope that playing regularly at 10 will sort him out. 
It seems a waste to me that he's now used as bench support for Wales - Priestland is first choice fly half but I'm not convinced that Roberts and JDII are the ideal centre partnership - needs a bosh merchant and a distributor.
I wish one of these 6'6" backs would retrain as a lock, we need another one! Cuthbert is ugly enough!

I completely agree with Hook always having an eye on the individual opportunity being his worst problem, and Mike Phillips has exhibited the same issue, so when the 2 play together none of the other backs ever see the ball! Hook's just too slow - by the time he's looked for the gap, not seen one, thought about it and made up his mind the only thing left to do is either kick the ball away or make a silly pass (which is then in danger of being intercepted). With the backs we have, we need them to get the ball!
 
Priestland is doing well at the moment, and obviously has plenty of years left, but I'm also keeping an eye on Mathew Morgan for the long term - he's been outstanding for the Ospreys. Biggar shouldn't be forgotten, either - he's off form currently, but still a very talented player. With S. Jones still around and playing well too, I just don't think Hook is needed at no.10 at all - I think he'd be more use concentrating on retraining as a full back.
 
I thought JDII had an outstanding game against Ireland - easily man of the match for me (I though Mike Phillips had a pretty average game - don't know why he got it, to be honest). We also have Scott Williams and others around for the centre, and Henson possibly on his way back too (and even S. Jones - he's proved to be a more than capable centre in the past, too), so we don't really need Hook as anything more than back up there either. Hook is one of those I'd always pick on the bench as a useful person to come in and fill any back position required, but not on the field as  being the best at any of them.
 
Lock is going to be a problem for us now with our first 3 choices out - I'm guessing Ryan Jones will move into the second row on Sunday - he's played well there for the Ospreys (as has Jonathan Thomas), and Lydiate is fit again to replace him in the back row. I dount we'll see Gatland go for an uncapped player against Scotland. It says something about the state of things at the moment that it seems to be the only area where we're lacking a bit of strength in depth, but hopefully the next batch of youngsters should be coming through soon.
 
Has anybody got any comments about the WRU's idea of reorganising the Welsh regions?

Predictions for this weekend......
 
I'll go for:
 
Wales to beat Scotland by 15 pts
France to beat Ireland by 7 pts
England to beat Italy by 5 pts

rew37

Predictions for this weekend......

I'll go for:

Wales to beat Scotland by 15 pts
France to beat Ireland by 7 pts
England to beat Italy by 5 pts

 
Think that could be spot on. Wales could win by more if Scotland aren't careful. I hope England win convincingly today but I just don't see it happening.
 
Going to miss the England game today as I'm off to The Rec to watch Bath (hopefully) beat Newcastle Falcons. They appear to be looking much more up for it under the new management so nothing can be taken for granted. We haven't got Donald playing either which could be an issue. Not sure if he is injured though - haven't heard anything

rew37

Predictions for this weekend......

I'll go for:

Wales to beat Scotland by 15 pts
France to beat Ireland by 7 pts
England to beat Italy by 5 pts

Can't really disagree with that. I think Wales will be too strong for Scotland to really cope with when they aren't able to convert what they do well into points. France Ireland will be a big battle, but I think the French backs will be too strong for the Irish. I also think England will struggle against Italy, but I expect England's supierior fitness to be enough for them to shade a victory towards the end of a close game. Should be an interesting weekend - I've got tickets for the Wales Scotland game, so hopefully it'll be a good display of flowing rugby! Wales have gone for a very mobile side with Ryan Jones in the second row, and with Gethin Jenkins and Dan Lydiate coming back in, sadly (and it does genuinely make me sad for Scotland) I really just can't see Scotland being close to parity in any area of the game at the moment. Nothing's ever certain, though - there's certainly plenty of talent in the Scottish side.

France v Ireland should be the game of the weekend, but I expect France to have too much in the backs for Ireland.  I want to see England make a step up in performance from last week, a big step would be nice, but I'll be happy with a small one as long as I see the squad progressing & growing game by game.  Wales should win comfortably even with their second row problems, Scotland are going to have a tough 6N this year, they'll struggle to win a single game I think.

Wobbly Bob

I think you're being a bit harsh on Hook there, he's not brilliant but when he first started playing for Wales I thought he was great, he read the game well, distributed well and had moments of individual brilliance. He rescued a draw vs Australia in his home debut when Count Wellies was injured and was a key figure in the grand slam in 2008 (including creating a good try vs England) but his major problem  seems to be that he looks for individual opportunities rather than for the rest of the team, so I'm glad that Priestland is now around as he seems best suited to get the most out of the backs. Shame his place kicks are a bit rubbish...

For whatever reason Hook was shunted around the backs at the ospreys and wales and that seemed to reduce his confidence. I've not seen him for perpignan yet but I'd hope that playing regularly at 10 will sort him out.  

I agree with this about Hook, he's kinda shot himself in the foot by agreeing to play anywhere between 10,12,13,15. Shows how much he just wants to play for Wales, but without being settled in a certain position, which makes him the ulimate bench player. Like said above with playing week in, week out at fly half at Perpignan he will hopefully settle into the role and cut out his indecisive mistakes. Even tho i think to claim that 10 jersey from Preistland will take some doing.
 
Thoughts for this weekend:
 
England to beat Italy by 12pts
France to beat Ireland by 6pts
Wales to beat Scotland by 18pts
 
Got me tickets for the Wales v Scotland game tomorrow hoping for a good running game of rugby!!
 

Well, another 80 minutes of rugby without England actually creating a try (just scoring one from a chargedown, again)! Another game they would have lost if only the opposition had been a little more clinical in taking their chances (and putting over their penalty kicks). England were better in the second half, but still didn't seem to have much in the way of attacking ideas at all, and in the first half in particular the defense didn't look as solid as it should have been. I'm sticking with my prediction of France, Wales and Ireland (in any order) being the top three by the end of the championship, based on form so far - England will have to improve alot if they are going to get a win against any of those three.

We looked a lot better when Dickson came on at 9, Youngs just didn't look interested.  I thought the defence was quite good today, Italy's tries came from two mistakes by Foden, apart from those they didn't really look like creating anything, niether did England to be honest but the conditions really weren't conducive to running rugby.  It was good to see Dowson step up this week & Morgan looked good when he came on at 8, Farrell & Hodgson played well again, Barritt not quite so good as last week.  Our scrum struggled all game, line out didn't really function and too many mistakes again.  Overall I'm just about happy.

France v Ireland called off minutes before kick-off due to a frozen pitch!!!!  Why in gods name was kick off scheduled at 2100, in February, at a stadium without under soil heating?  Someone at the IRB needs sacking.

It's a joke, eh?
 
Don't have high hopes for tomorrow but my wee cousin is in the squad now so hope he gets a run out, make it worth watching even if we get done in.

Who's your cousin Neil?

Matt Scott. Well, Matthew, bloody media and their snappy names. He plays for Edinburgh Rugby in the PRO12s. Him and his brother have been playing Scotland A and U20s but he got pulled into the squad last week.
 
I've just discovered he has a wiki page and am outraged 

rew37
France v Ireland called off minutes before kick-off due to a frozen pitch!!!!  Why in gods name was kick off scheduled at 2100, in February, at a stadium without under soil heating?  Someone at the IRB needs sacking.

You never know - maybe someone somewhere will see sense and stop scheduling 6 nation games at stupid times in the evening! I doubt it, though! That was a farce - they should really have known days ago that the pitch just wasn't going to be playable, from the forecast (knowing the lack of facilities they have to stop it freezing when it's cold).
 
I'm so glad we had the foresight to build a stadium with a roof! The pitch for tomorrow should be nice and warm and cosy, relatively speaking!