The multinational character of Crooked Timber means that there’s bound to be more than one view about who is going to win “Rugby Union’s Six Nations tournament”:http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/default.stm this time around. The smart money is on Ireland who have the best player in Brian O’Driscoll and home advantage against the stronger teams. I’ll be tuned into Wales v England this afternoon and there’s every chance of an upset this time. Unfortunately for Kieran and Henry (and for Brian who is an interested neutral) I shouldn’t think that a microsecond of this will get transmitted in North America.
{ 21 comments }
Kieran Healy 02.05.05 at 1:44 pm
I think I can listen — and watch, too — on “the BBC”:http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/4206545.stm.
John Gilks 02.05.05 at 1:56 pm
Radio commentary should be available via the BBC website. Video will be on Sentanta which means $20 to watch at your local pub. The Sentanta deal is a disgrace which has kept the 6 nations off broadcast or cable in north America for far too long. Greedy bastards!
Randy Paul 02.05.05 at 2:02 pm
Fox Sports World may cover some of it (at least the highlights). They covered the Rugby World Cup last year.
As I don’t really have a horse in this race (Irish, British, Scots and French ancestry splits me too much) I’ll pull for Wales, although I think Chris is right.
In my mind it’s just not rugby without the Haka before the game . . .
Andrew Boucher 02.05.05 at 2:08 pm
Who’s gonna win? The New England Patriots, of course.
(C’mon, that’s what a sports thread *should* be about this week-end.)
yabonn 02.05.05 at 2:42 pm
Right now, france (against scotland) looks a bit squishy.
I want my betsen back. And someone able to score a penalty sometimes, too.
dave 02.05.05 at 3:55 pm
It could be worse… you could be supporting Scotland. *argh*
John Emerson 02.05.05 at 4:21 pm
Where does Ulster fit into this picture? Shouldn’t it be Seven Nations?
(Troll).
Troll 02.05.05 at 4:25 pm
Where is Ulster? Shouldn’t it be Seven Nations?
Troll 02.05.05 at 4:30 pm
Where is Ulster? Shouldn’t it be Seven Nations?
Donald A. Coffin 02.05.05 at 5:05 pm
You can come to Chicago and see it all at Fado, an Irish pub at the corner of Glark and Grand.
Henry 02.05.05 at 5:15 pm
bq. Where is Ulster? Shouldn’t it be Seven Nations?
Nope – the rugby team is one of the very few areas of social intercourse where there is already an United Ireland (the same is not true for soccer). An accident of continuing ties among upper middle class private schools, I suspect. Richard Rose, who conducted public opinion research in Northern Ireland in the 1960’s, just before the ‘Troubles’ began, found, as I recall, that the only time when a substantial number of N.I. Protestants felt ‘Irish’ was with regard to the rugby team.
Ben Alpers 02.05.05 at 5:15 pm
When did Italy become the sixth nation? Last time I was in Britain (long, long ago) it was still the Five Nations Cup.
(As for Ulster, I believe the Irish rugby team, unlike the Irish soccer team, includes players from both the Republic and Ulster…see not all us Yanks are entirely ignorant of Euro sports trivia.)
P O'Neill 02.05.05 at 5:58 pm
Italy in since 2000. Their talent pool has been helped by the economic crisis in Argentina.
taylor 02.05.05 at 6:58 pm
Here on the west coast of Canada it’s Arsenal versus Aston Villa that’s on the telly right now. And, by the way, in North America “Six Nations” refers to the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy.
Jim Weldon 02.05.05 at 6:59 pm
Silly egg-chasers. I’d have had that what’s-his-name Webb sent off immediately and nipped this rugby nonsense in the bud.
Jim Weldon 02.05.05 at 7:00 pm
Silly egg-chasers. I’d have had that what’s-his-name Webb sent off immediately and nipped this rugby nonsense in the bud.
Jussi 02.05.05 at 7:09 pm
I can’t even get the BBC radio feed through the web.
Am I missing anything?
Sharon 02.05.05 at 7:23 pm
Wales 11 – England 9. Nailbiting stuff. Gavin Henson, I love you.
There will be celebrations on the streets around here tonight. Stuffed the English! Yippee!
Chris Bertram 02.05.05 at 7:46 pm
Good game, wasn’t it.
And now I owe a Welshman a pint… damn.
(And well done Scotland btw)
Giles 02.05.05 at 8:31 pm
no bad game :(
Brian Weatherson 02.09.05 at 11:30 pm
I’m a little late to this, but I’m actually a little surprised that the games aren’t in the US. I can do a fine job keeping up with Australian rugby through Fox Sports – I usually get at least one of the Aust Super 12 games each week, and all of the tri-nations. But northern hemisphere rugby eludes us. Before 2003 I could have joked that we weren’t missing much, but that joke has sadly dated.
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