NEW YORK, NY – This weekend in rugby was as crazy as the weather in NY. While we had a freak snowstorm to make season-opening games here a bit nippy, titles were being awarded all over Europe in comfy confines like Cardiff’s enclosed Millennium Stadium. But enough about the weather… Let’s power through today’s Weekend Rugby Wrap-Up like a ornery prop crashing from 5 meters.
6 Nations: Wales did it! They are back-to-back 6 Nations Champions. Though they didn’t repeat last year’s Grand Slam, they left no doubters as they throughly dismantle England in a match they needed to win by 8 points. Interim Coach Rob Howley, who I’ve been all over and still don’t like, said, “This year’s title was twice as rewarding as 2012’s Grand Slam.” Meanwhile, the Romans took an 80-minute break form the Pope parties to watch Italy beat Ireland for the first time. The Irish lost The Catholic Bowl in part due to an injury list that saw a forward playing the wing, but fair credit to Italy who have shown they are not to be taken lightly. That’s now two consecutive St. Paddy’s Day Weekend losses for the Irish. So much for the luck Kevin Fegan, Declan Yeats and Matt McCarthy always talk about! Finally… In Paris, the French did just enough to win The Wooden Spoon Award, as Scotland’s late try by Tim Visser ensured Les Bleus would indeed have the infamous cooking utensil for at least a year. The home crowd was none too pleased.
Here are the results:
Italy 22 – 15 Ireland
Wales 30 – 3 England
France 23 – 16 Scotland
6 Nations B: The were some big matches and even bigger results in the 6NB. In the Iberian Penisula Derby, RWU friend Pedro Leal and Portugal fought Spain to a draw… In a high-scoring and entertaining affair, Russia outlasted Belgium… The big match of the weekend saw Romania and Georgia fight to a standstill. The draw was enough for Georgia to claim their 3rd straight 6NB Title.
Romania 9 – 9 Georgia
Spain 9 – 9 Portugal
Russia 43 – 32 Belgium
Women’s 6 Nations: Ireland won their first ever 6N Grand Slam by defeating Italy in a low-scoring game… Jamie Loyd’s England just managed to fight off Wales in a tense match, claiming some sense of vindication for his countrymen/women… France vs Scotland was anything but tense, as Scotland got steamrolled Les Frogettes.
France 76 – 0 Scotland
Italy 3 – 6 Ireland
Wales 16 – 20 England
LV= Cup: Harlequins fired a warning shot to all of England and Europe by winning the LV= Cup final against Sale. The Harlequins young guns looked very good and the victory was never in doubt.
Harlequins 31-14 Sale
Super Rugby 15: Things are heating up in Super Rugby. The Hurricanes edged out the Highlanders… The Cheetahs scraped by the woeful Waratahs after we said they were awful… The Chiefs remained undefeated by beating the Kings… Friend of the show, Todd Blackadder, got his Crusaders firing on all cylinders against the Bulls and Dan Carter insists Canterbury’s attacking style is here to stay… In a big shock, the Force defeated the Reds at home… The Brumbies managed to take advantage of the Sharks mistakes and win on the road.
Highlanders 19 – 23 Hurricanes
Waratahs 26 – 27 Cheetahs
Kings 24 – 35 Chiefs
Crusaders 41 – 19 Bulls
Reds 12 – 19 Force
Sharks 10 – 29 Brumbies
And there you have it. Feel free to comment below, look for and “Like” our Facebook Rugby Wrap Up Page and follow us on Twitter @RugbyWrapUp, @JunoirBlaber, @Declan Yeats, @Mathew Drew Turner and @Ebstide52, respectively.
