Six Nations - The Ignorance Of Crowds

I have a confession - I think I may be addicted to internet rugby forums. It's not big and it's not clever but now it's out there. These forums are nasty, nasty, nasty, nasty but spiced with occasional shafts of wit and wisdom. They are peopled by a disproportionate number of Welshmen (usually seems to be men) who, at their best, outsmart their English brethren with ease and, at their worst, are quite pitiful deluded racists. As for the English, they display far less wisdom and, one regrets to say, less wit. They do manage plenty of racism but it's rather less barbed. Don't you just love racial stereotypes.

So England are the champions, notwithstanding a concerted effort to chuck away their hard-won and substantial lead. I was surprised quite how much I wanted England to win this match. I think some of the less moderate Welsh bilge had affected me. Thus I was mightily pleased with the English first-half dominance but disquieted by the slightness of the resultant margin. A lot of opportunities were butchered. Possibly this will improve - one suspects that the very knowing Eddie Jones will in time ruthlessly discard players he determines are ineducable. Once again I have checked the Laws of Rugby Union and the number of points scored is the only determinant of the victor. Sometimes one wonders. In case you missed it, England won. Narrowly. That for now is enough.

The major talking points revolve around two props and a referee. In turn: Joe Marler - the crafty punch might have elicited a yellow card if spotted, therefore end of story; the 'Gypsy Boy' comment was misguided and stupid - he apologised promptly but that mitigates rather than excuses; Tom Francis - I seem to be almost alone amongst Englishmen in thinking he didn't mean to 'gouge' the eyes of Dan Cole - there is much unreasoned blather on this voguish crime but the mood is to punish 'recklessness' (see my last 6N blog) so one suspects he ought to be on the look out for thrown books. [Since drafting that remark the book has duly been thrown and he got eight weeks - I remain of the view that he is unlucky.] Finally the referee - never has a rugby subject been so prejudged quite so inaccurately. Craig Joubert had a perfectly acceptable game, not faultless but a far remove from the abject horror show in the RWC quarter-final. Not so good from the video offiicial who was prim, over-zealous and had an annoying voice.

My concentration has been an English one. Sorry I'm English. Nice to win and, though not blind to his roguishness, I find it hard not to like Eddie Jones. I am quite sure he knows his boys are far from world beaters but the project is underway and that, for and Englishman, makes a pleasant change.

Poor old Wales. It is tiring to keep saying it but they have a rich seam of talent. It is presently underused. Gatland (and I'm afraid he can come across as a graceless twat at times) may have reached the end of the road. It happens to the best. Incidentally there is no excuse for a 'world class' professional wing like George North consistently to carry the ball under the wrong arm. It's sloppy and self-indulgent and you can, if of a mishievous bent, construct an argument that it cost Wales the game on Saturday.

Elsewhere poor old Italy capitulated to Ireland and Scotland continued their improvement by downing France. There was more proof, not that it was needed, that Stuart Hogg is a very good player.

Onwards and upwards.