NEW YORK, NY – Another exciting weekend of rugby was on the books. There was also news off the field which required attention. That said, here’s why we are better at the [Weekend Wrap-Up] breakdown than any 7 you know… or so we hope:
6 NATIONS:
Wales managed to do just enough in a penalty fest match against Scotland, with only one try scored and a total of 13 kicks at goal… Ireland could not stop a fightback from France in the last 15 minutes of their match, as Les Bleus forced a draw. Granted, it was abysmal weather but how many penalty kicks did Paddy Jackson miss that Ronan O’Gara or Gareth Steenson would have made??? One too many… For a team that said all week that they were not looking past Italy, England looked like they were. Lucky for the English the Italians haven’t mastered composure when the tryline is in sight. Next week’s match between England and Wales will now be for the 2013 6N Title… Here are the results:
Scotland 18 – 28 Wales
Ireland 13 – 13 France
England 18 – 11 Italy
6 NATIONS B:
Our friend Pedro Leal and Portugal had to swallow a tough defeat at home to Russia… Romania continued to prove too tough in the forwards to be dealt with, as they put away Belgium… Georgia ran were clinical against lowly Spain. This means next weeks match-up between Romania and Georgia will be for this season’s title. It should be great viewing for fans of scrumming and good forward play… Also with promotion/relegation in 6N B it looks like Germany will be promoted at the cost of Spain… Here are the results:
Portugal 23-31 Russia
Belgium 14-32 Romania
Georgia 61-18 Spain
WOMEN’S 6 NATIONS:
Ireland are the 2013 Womens 6N champions after their victory over France. They still need to beat Italy next week to win the Grand Slam, though, so stay tuned… England got back to their winning ways by defeating Italy… Wales managed to win 2 straight by shutting down Scotland on the road… Here are the results:
England 34 – 0 Italy
Ireland 15 – 10 France
Scotland 0 – 13 Wales
LV= Cup: A bright spot in a terrible season for Sale has been their performances in the LV=Cup (Anglo/Welsh Cup). They surprised everybody by beating Saracens to make the final. In the final, they will face a Harlequins side on the verge of winning a “treble” (3 titles in 3 comps in 1 season). Quins fans would love to win this cup since it is mostly their second-choice players playing. It would show the depth of the squad and their academy. Here are the results:
Harlequins 31 – 23 Bath
Sale 21 – 15 Saracens
TOP 14: Racing Metro continued their good form as they defeated Montpellier… Stade Francais demolished Mont de Marsan while Perpignan edged out Grenoble… Bayonne beat Agen and Toulouse scrapped past Bordeaux-Begles… Toulon put Biarritz to the sword and Clermont did the same to Castres… Here are the results:
Montpellier 15 – 17 Racing Metro Paris
Stade Francais 42 – 14 Mont de Marsan
Perpignan 20 – 18 Grenoble
Agen 20 – 30 Bayonne
Toulouse 33 – 32 Bordeaux-Begles
Toulon 50 – 15 Biarritz
Clermont Auvergne 37 – 10 Castres
SUPER 15 Rugby: RWU friend Todd Blackadder’s Crusaders came up short against the Hurricanes and the Richie McCaw cries can be heard all across Canterbury… Meanwhile, another RWU Friend, Sir John Kirwan, made controversial wholesale changes that resulted in a loss for his Blues against the Bulls. The Reds were victorious against the Rebels… The Cheetahs shocked observers by beating the Highlanders while the Brumbies beat up on the Waratahs… The Stormers just edged out the Chiefs and the Sharks fought off a fiesty and brave Kings side.. Here are the results.
Hurricanes 29 – 28 Crusaders
Melbourne Rebels 13 – 23 Reds
Highlanders 19 – 36 Cheetahs
Brumbies 35 – 6 Waratahs
Stormers 36 – 34 Chiefs
Southern Kings 12 – 21 Sharks
Blues 21 – 28 Bulls
Tyson Keats Saga: Here’s a story one would think could only existed on TV… London Welsh are appealing a 10-point deduction (5 this season, 5 next) and 15,ooo UK Pounds for fielding Tyson Keats for 10 matches while he was ineligible. At the center of the scandal is former team manager Mike Scott, who was turned in to the RFU by London Welsh RFC. Scott was found to have provided fake documentation to both the RFU and the London Welsh regarding the New Zealand-born Keats’ eligibility as an England qualified player. Click here for all the details from our friends at Plant Rugby.
That is it for now, 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. And until the next time… stay low and keep pumping those legs.
