General Chat

9 HOURS TO GO TO THE BIG MATCH!

WALES<3 v ENGLAND

TONIGHT

KICK-OFF 8-05 pm

BBC 1, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, Radio 5 Live,

AND RADIO JEM ;-) ;-) :-D :-D :-D :-D

Thankyou Fly <3

Very diplomatic! ;-) ;-) ;-) :-D :-D :-D :-D

In honour of her Honorary Welshwoman status, and her unstinting support of my little Leigh Halfpenny during the Autumn Series...

....I awarded Fly the position of new Mascot to the Wales Team during Wales' Autumn Season v The Southern Hemisphere.

This enabled Wales to beat the South African team for the first time in ages! ;-) :-D :-D :-D

BUT FLY IS ENGLISH
(but with a smidgen of South Wales blood!:-D)

and tonight is Wales v England

So where does that leave our Fly? :-S :-S :-S :-S

Dilemma ;-) ;-) ;-) :-D :-D :-D

Good luck tonight everyone <3

More exciting rugby clips, music and match build-up tomorrow (or should I say today)...

followed by CHEERING YOUR TEAM!

WALES v ENGLAND :-)
...... just over 20 hours to go!

Friday Evening, February 6th .... KICK-OFF 8-05pm

BBC1, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, Radio 5 Live

AND RADIO JEM ;-) :-D :-D

Two Jonathan's .... One winner.... which one will be on the winning team?

JONATHAN DAVIES- WALES OUTSIDE CENTRE (13)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVfQlreOnd8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdG9p6pkVvY

VERSUS

ENGLAND COUNTERPART JONATHAN JOSEPH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OaDfotGspw

WALES RIGHT WING (14) ALEX CUTHBERT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7N6XAjym70


VERSUS


ENGLAND RIGHT WING ANTHONY WATSON

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AMlaex2tL8

LEFT WING (11) FOR WALES ...GEORGE NORTH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1pq9Fw0yjA


AGAINST

ENGLAND'S LEFT WING JONNY MAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDmHdeYNw5s

A BATTLE OF CAPTAINS

WALES CAPTAIN SAM WARBURTON (7)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POr1EiXjLiA


VERSUS


ENGLAND CAPTAIN CHRIS ROBSHAW (7)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3Qv53_V3yg

WALES FLY HALF DAN BIGGER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpSFLHvWsq4

VERSUS

ENGLAND'S GEORGE FORD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvDhJDPmoxs

A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME? ;-)

HERE'S WALES' 12- JAMIE ROBERTS! <3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMl9IyDJrDQ


and the opposition ;-):-D
LUTHER BURRELL for ENGLAND

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWhLJ0hqYB4

There was much speculation last weekend, as to who Warren Gatland would include in his Wales Starting team to face England, in the opening game of this year’s Six Nations Championship.

How do two of our Wales’ favourites feel about securing their position in the Wales team?


JAMIE ROBERTS:

A case was made by SCRUM V’s Rugby Analyst Sean Holley, for Scott Williams to be given the number 12 position. Warren Gatland stuck to his usual first choice- Jamie Roberts.

What does Jamie have to say?

Despite being chosen in preference to Scott (Scott has not even been chosen for the replacement bench, oddly enough!) Jamie knows that he cannot afford to be complacent and let standards slip!

“International Rugby is about competing for places and it drives me to be a better player” said Jamie. "Never take your position for granted" he advised “ I know this week could be my last game for Wales!”

As reported on BBC Sport Rugby Union- Competition for places is so fierce that Jamie fears for his first team spot. “Your place is always under threat” said Jamie.

64 times capped Jamie Roberts and the world-class Jonathan Davies will forge the Midfield Partnership at Cardiff on Friday Evening.


DAN BIGGAR

Wales and Ospreys Fly-Half, Dan Biggar, says that a prolonged run in the Wales team has been the key to his improvement as a player.

Previously rotated with former Scarlets Fly Half Rhys Priestland, 25 year old Dan has started in Wales’ last 6 matches. This has helped Dan to grow in confidence and become more relaxed, the result of which has been evident to all.

Dan Biggar was “Man of the Match” in Wales’ last game in November 2014 when Wales beat South Africa 12-6.



THE SHOCK ANNOUNCEMENT THIS SEASON WAS THE RETIREMENT OF PROP ADAM JONES!

Following his omission from the Wales Squad for this year’s Six Nations, Wales’ number 3 Adam Jones dramatically retired from test rugby

How does Adam feel about his replacement- SAMSON LEE?

Adam feels no resentment toward 22 year old Samson Lee he told Scrum V’s Presenter Ross Harries.

“Wales have a GEM in Samson Lee”. Adam said. He called Lee a “Once-in-a-Generation Tight-Head” and said “Hopefully Wales will look after him and wrap him up in cotton wool for the next 10 years”.

Adam Jones made a huge contribution to Welsh Rugby. The 33 year old Cardiff Blues Player won 95 Caps for Wales, including 3 Grand Slam victories.

Adam was also selected for 2 British & Irish Lions Tours (2009 and 20013) making 5 Tests.

I will miss Adam Jones :-( AND HIS HAIR! :-D

Happy Retirement Adam.:-)

I wish every success to his successor Samson Lee.:-)

All the better Wend :-D :-D <3

I didn't tell him that you like LH Jem - that was purely his choice :-D <3

I LIKE IT WEND!!!!! :-) :-)

How could I not when it's got my little Leigh!

GO THE HA'PENNY ;-) ;-) <3 :-D :-D

GONE OVER IT AGAIN, AND DECIDED IT'S EXCELLENT
Loads of my fav Welsh boys :-D <3

Jem - here is my old ex-Left Winger's Dream Team :-D . . .

Full Back - Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
Right Wing - Tommy Bowe (Ireland)
Outside Centre - Jonathan Davies (Wales)
Inside Centre - Jamie Roberts (Wales)
Left Wing - George North (Wales)
Fly Half - Johnny Sexton (Ireland)
Scrum Half - Conor Murray (Ireland)
Loose Head Prop - Joe Marler (England)
Hooker - Dylan Hartley (England)
Tight Head Prop - Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy)
Lock - Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales)
Lock - Paul O'Connell (Ireland)
Blindside Flanker - Sam Warburton (Wales)
Openside Flanker - Chris Robshaw (England)
No. 8 - Ben Morgan (England)

Btw Barbara - I only sang the first verse to her and 'da-da-da' for the chorus as I jogged her up and down on my knee, because that's all I know, so don't worry ;-) :-D

I have since googled the whole song :-0 :-0 :-0

The final starting line-up for the Six Nations Championship 2015 is now in.

Here is the ITALIAN TEAM to face Ireland on Saturday

Andrea Masi, Leonardo Sarto, Michele Campagnaro, Luca Morisi, Luke McLean, Kelly Haimona, Edoardo Gori; Matias Aguero, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Martin Castrogiovanni, Joshua Furno, George Biagi, Alessandro Zanni, Francesco Minto, Sergio Parisse (captain)

Replacements: Andrea Manici, Alberto de Marchi, Dario Chistolini, Marco Fuser, Marco Barbini, Guglielmo Palazzani, Tommaso Allan, Giovambattista Venditti



IRELAND v ITALY
Saturday February 7th ...KICK-OFF 2-30pm UK TIME

LIVE ON BBC1, BBC N. Ireland, BBC Radio Ulster
(please check your local TV/ Radio listings to make sure)

AND RADIO JEM ;-):-D

THE IRELAND TEAM IS ANNOUNCED

Joe Schmidt has named his Starting Line-Up to face Italy on Saturday

HERE IS THE IRISH TEAM:

Backs:

15. Rob Kearney
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Jared Payne (Ulster)
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. Simon Zebo
10. Ian Keatley
9. Conor Murray

FORWARDS:

1. Jack McGrath
2. Rory Best
3. Mike Ross
4. Devin Toner
5. Paul O'Connell (Captain)
6. Peter O'Mahony
7. Sean O'Brien
8. Jordi Murphy

Replacements:
16. Sean Cronin; 17. James Cronin; 18. Martin Moore; 19. Iain Henderson;
20. Tommy O'Donnell; 21. Isaac Boss; 22. Ian Madigan; 23. Felix Jones


Saturday February 7th

IRELAND v ITALY
Stadio Olimpico, Italy
KICK-OFF...2-30pm UK Time


LIVE ON BBC1, BBC N. Ireland, BBC Radio Ulster
(please check your local TV/ Radio listings to make sure)

AND RADIO JEM ;-) :-D


So if you are Irish (like my OH) or you may even be Italian, please join me to cheer your team on , on Radio Jem ;-)(this thread) :-) :-) :-)

SCOTLAND TEAM TO FACE FRANCE

Scotland Head Coach Vern Cotter has announced his Starting Line-Up to face France on Saturday.

THE SCOTTISH TEAM:

BACKS:

15 Stuart Hogg
14 Tommy Seymour
13 Mark Bennett
12 Alex Dunbar
11 Tim Visser
10 Finn Russell
9 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN

FORWARDS:

1 Alasdair Dickinson
2 Ross Ford
3 Euan Murray
4 Richie Gray
5 Jonny Gray
6 Rob Harley
7 Blair Cowan
8 Johnnie Beattie

Replacements:

16 Fraser Brown; 17 Gordon Reid ;18 Geoff Cross; 19 Jim Hamilton;
20 Alasdair Strokosch; 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne; 22 Peter Horne; 23 Dougie Fife


Saturday, February 7th

SCOTLAND v FRANCE
Stade de France, Paris

KICK-OFF ...5pm UK TIME
(If you are in France, 6pm local time)


LIVE ON BBC1, BBC Radio Scotland,
(please check your TV/ Radio listings)

AND RADIO JEM ;-) :-D

If you are Scottish, or indeed French, and want to cheer on your team, join me on Radio Jem ;-) (this thread :-D)

I hope we'll both be elated :-D :-D :-D

Thank you so much Ann<3 What a lovely thing to say! :-) :-)

So am I Ann!

with a new LEIGH HALFPENNY Red T shirt for the occasion! :-D :-D :-D

I will look forward to your comments tomorrow evening Ann :-) :-)