6 Nations Hero & Villain Award - Week 2

The 6 Nations are resting this week but there is plenty to ponder from last weekend's festivities.

England Italy was hardly a classic, but I was impressed that England didn't panic and chase the game after going behind. Youngs and Dowson need to be dropped though. Youngs doesn't even look interested. And is it just me or does he look like he's got fatter? Complacency, that's what that is. The chubby little funster needs a dose of reality. Drop him, get Dickson in and let's start playing with a bit of vibrancy. Similarly, Morgan needs to start ahead of Dowson, he offers so much more with ball in hand. I also think we need Lawes back in the picture - but I'm probably preaching to the choir here, aren't I? You all know what your talking about - well most of you anyway.

Wales served up another belter of a performance - Wales France really is going to be the game of the tournament - and Scotland gave their fans yet more reason to be depressed as the wheels came off early in the second half. Young Hogg looks like a real talent though and his ability should be utilised to the full if Scotland are to avoid the wooden spoon.

But who are my heroes and villains from last weekend I hear you cry.

Hero

Well, having picked up most of his side's points on Sunday, little Leigh Ha'penny gets the hero gong this week. He is Shane Williams' natural successor as Wales' pint-sized points machine and has the boot of a hero - much as it pains me to say it.

Villain

Whichever cunt decided it would be a good idea to let 70,000 fans travel to the outskirts of Paris to watch a frozen pitch get harder. The organisers should be rounded up, stripped naked and left in a room full of horny male baboons stuffed to the eyeballs with Viagra and tequila.

6 Nations Opening Weekend Hero & Villain

New for the 6 Nations 2012, the Eyes Right Hero and Villain award. This will be presented after each weekend of the 6 Nations. The hero wins a lifetime subscription to this blog, the villain wins a fart in a jar.

So, after the opening weekend the awards go to...

HERO

Julien Malzieu - Quick, strong, clinical. He will be a real handful this competition and, for my money, could be the player of the tournament.

Allez le stubble!!!




















Villain

Wayne Barnes - Started so well and oversaw the game of the weekend. But two bad decisions cost Ireland the game. A match of that quality should never be decided by the ref.

To the gallows with you, Barnes.




















Who were your heroes and villains this weekend? Leave a comment with your thoughts.

Countdown Proper

So with 24 (ish) hours to go the count down has definitely started for England’s 6 Nations campaign and that tingly feeling of nervous anticipation is sitting firmly in the belly. England will have been boosted by Gethin Jenkins suffering a last minute calf strain but typically we now have to suffer an injury blow ourselves. Flutey is out with a dead leg.

A DEAD FUCKING LEG!!!!

Now I’ve played a lot of rugby in my time and received countless dead legs, some more serious than others and generally pretty painful I grant you. But on the whole they don’t put you out of fucking action.

I appreciate the level of rugby that Flutey is playing is slightly – only slightly mind – higher than my own, but he didn’t get hurt in a contact session. This happened during a non-contact drill. How bad could it have been? This raises the question of whether professional rugby players are too wrapped in cotton wool?

At any rate we now have the ex-Newcastle backline of Wilkinson, Flood, Tait. Be in no doubt that Jamie Roberts will be chomping at the bit to take the ball flat and smash the 12 channel. Flood has to absorb this pressure and not rely on Wilko to do all the defending.

Even with Flutey out I’m beginning to grow in confidence for an England win tomorrow. It won’t be by much but a win is a win. It’s about time England started turning Twickenham back into the fortress it once was.