Dein erstes Forum » t south Carolina for the first time in a long t

Stuart Barnes discusses the main themes after round two of the Six Nations including the form of George North and how Englands campaign is only going to get tougher... 1. After two rounds it has not been much of a showpiece for European rugby. It is intense, aggressive, all those nasty snarling things but for class, its a different and inferior game to what we see south of the equator. That is why the highlight of the competition so far has to be that magical moment in the 70th minute in Cardiff when George North awoke from his slumbers and scored his superb solo try.He was OK against Ireland and solid enough in the Scotland game but that try may have ignited his stuttering recent last year or so - not to mention the Six Nations itself. To see someone of Norths size moving so quickly, with such balance, is a thing of rugby beauty. We need our stars shining brightly. Englands Jonathan Joseph scores against Italy 2. Sunday afternoon is a perfect reminder that selection is a long-term issue and not a knee-jerk reaction to current form. Jonathan Joseph scored a hat-trick and was acclaimed Englands hero. Never mind if two of the finishes were as routine as they get. Yet only a few weeks ago the only outside centres name being mentioned in England was Elliot Daly. No wonder Eddie Jones was happy to give his Bath man the big rap. Jonathan Joseph scored a second-half hat-trick as England beat Italy 40-9 in the Six Nations in Rome. Courtesy of ITV Sport. 3. We can talk tactics and selection as much as we like but sometimes Lady Luck intervenes and theres nothing a coach can do about it. Joe Schmidt and the good lady once seemed to be close but from the day Ireland beat France in the World Cup she has turned her back on him. Ireland and Schmidt have done wonders in the past few years but with so many injuries they were left struggling to hang on against the depth of the French squad in Paris.There was nothing unlucky about poor Irish hands when they were building pressure close to the French line in a first half of complete domination and there was nothing Schmidt could do about it. The Irish coach hasnt become a bad coach overnight, he has become unlucky. The good news for England came from the bench. The old guard may still splutter but Maro Itoje looked the part from the minute he stepped onto the Test match stage. Stuart Barnes 4. Lets not pretend the action has been riveting on the field. Non-rugby fans would wonder what all the fuss is about but for the crazy lovers of this frequently frustrating but often beguiling game, it is the atmosphere that draws them to the tournament. Will Greenwood joins Alex Payne to review the weekends Six Nations action on Rugby Club Wrap-up On Saturday afternoon, four hours before kick-off in Cardiff, the wind blowing and the media centre locked up for another hour, I was heading for the shelter of a restaurant and a burger in the company of my old mate John Cleave, a substantial voice among Cornwalls finest Sea Shanty singers, Fishermans Friends. Then, from nowhere, six men of indeterminate sobriety jumped me. They were the Zaragoza veterans, Spanish fanatics. One of them recognised Stuart Barnez and demanded a chat and photo. Every year, he explained, the Zaragoza veterans head for a Six Nations match and a weekend of revelry. All hail the Zaragoza veterans and rugbys smiling supporters everywhere. Guy Noves has won two out of two so far 5. Staying continental, France may be two for two under Guy Noves but they are not playing well. The strength of their pack from the bench prevailed against Ireland but as a team there is absolutely no coherence. Having belittled their form, selections and management, is it time to reverse ferret as we call it in the press and cover my non, Monsieur position? Is it heck; Wales will beat them Friday week unless we see a completely different France.....hmm, that unless lacks conviction doesnt it? Wales will beat France. Ireland will need the likes of Sean OBrien back from injury for their Twickenham clash with England 6. Four years ago England had a new regime. They had played two and won two. They had beaten Scotland without playing well. They beat Italy without playing well. That regime went on to win 16 Six Nations games but never a title and most importantly, it fumbled the ball at the World Cup. Beating Scotland and Italy away is the easy part. Two games (played) and two won and no major injuries. Were sailing along pretty well at the moment. Note Jones keeping the facts to the bare limits, which is pretty much where Englands game has been. The waters will get choppier from here. Ireland look very beatable at Twickenham unless they get several players back fit and at full tilt. Then it is Wales at Twickenham which will be interesting, to say the least. Englands future looks bright with Jamie George (L) looks and Maro Itoje 7. The good news for England came from the bench. The old guard may still splutter but Maro Itoje looked the part from the minute he stepped onto the Test match stage. The combination of his carrying the gain-line, Danny Care receiving front foot ball, George Ford unleashing a late pass with Italy in retreat, Jamie George running a perfect late angle onto it and popping a lovely pass into the waiting arms of Owen Farrell for a try was lovely rugby. The present remains muddled but the future looks bright. The big question is how quickly will England reach for tomorrow? Danny Drinkwater avoided punishment for his challenge on Aaron Ramsey 8. A word in defence of rugby referees. I confess, I am an Arsenal fan. I watched the referee give Arsenal nothing in Sundays first half and everything in the second - bar a straight red card after a Leicester tackle which he contrived to miss. Leicester escaped a penalty call against them when a defender had his arms out like a scarecrow to deflect the threat of an Arsenal cross. Later in the day, Manchester City conceded a penalty when their player tucked his arms almost behind his torso, incredible inconsistency from the two leading referees in England…its a tough job, whatever the sport but this cross-sport musing is a reminder that our lot arent as bad as we make out…not always anyway! Jamie Roberts of Wales is congratulated by Taulupe Faletau after scoring their second try against Scotland 9. The player of the tournament to date has to be Jamie Roberts. Defensively he was titanic against Ireland. He repeated that effort in Cardiff and added a try-scoring gain-line bashing element to his 80 minutes against Scotland. As someone who had no left hand either Id love to see him pass off his weak hand...still, you cant have it all. He is playing superbly.10. Spare a thought for Tommy Seymour. He chased and won everything that was put in the air. He scored a smart try, he did everything you could have asked of a winger but the Glasgow star only makes an entry in 10th spot this week and George North steals the headlines. No one said this world was fair, Tommy, but crikey, you played well. Scotland wing Tommy Seymour scores a try against Wales P.S. My real moment of my weekend was Danny Welbecks goal but this is a rugby column so my Arsenal emotions have no place here. But here they are anyway. Have a great week everyone, referees, Cornish Shanty Singers and Zaragoza veterans all. Now have your say… Please tell us what you think by giving us your comments below or alternatively, why not Tweet us @SkySportsRugby? Also See: Brutal England please Jones Ireland count cost of defeat Follow @SkySportsRugby Noves: French feet on the ground Air Force 1 Alte Hand Wash Cold . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. Air Force 1 Mid Nere .com) - Richie Incognito has reportedly been admitted to a psychiatric care unit in Arizona. http://www.airforce1outletitalia.it/scontate-air-force-1-alte-supreme.html .C. -- Rodney Hood connected from all over the court while freshman Jabari Parker was busy swatting shots and scoring in transition. Air Force 1 Alte Special Field . A big centre with all the tools to be an elite player, Johansen paced the Blue Jackets with a standout game Saturday night. He had a goal and two assists for a career-high three points as Columbus beat the New York Islanders 5-2 to snap a five-game losing streak. Air Force 1 Outlet . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Opening the season on Thursday night has become quite the tradition for Vanderbilt, taking advantage of the chance to lure a few more eyes.Now the Commodores want to tweak that trend.By winning.The Commodores open Thursday night hosting South Carolina -- the fifth straight year theyve helped open the college football season. Theyve come so very close to wins over the past four seasons but have not won an opener at home since beating Elon in 2011.Coach Derek Mason isnt sure if theres any benefit to being among the first to play each season.I like getting the season started early, Mason said Tuesday. Its nice to have a kickoff game that people talk about and everybody knows and understands when college football starts. So to hit it on a Thursday night, weve done it for the last couple of years, so for me its become old hat. I like where its at, and thats good.Being on national TV never hurts, even a team in a Power Five conference with its own network. The competition on Thursday night will be stiffer with 29 other games being played, though adding the Southeastern Conference opener certainly helps.The Commodores havent beaten South Carolina since 2008, and this gives them a big chance to kick off the season in style. But the Commodores have lost three of their past four season openers by a combined 10 points. Last years loss may have been the most painful, losing 14-12 to Western Kentucky when Vandys 2-point conversion failed at the end to force overtime.The only game that wasnt close came in 2014 in a 37-7 rout at the hands of Temple in Masons coaching debut, a game that didnt finish until the wee hours of the next day because of a lightning delay.ddddddddddddVanderbilt is coming off a 4-8 season, and Mason has written an open letter to fans asking for their support Thursday night to fill up the stadium. Hes also asked students to turn out as well. The coach said the Commodores need momentum along with the opportunity to do something they havent done his first two seasons.This team knows how important it is just based on our recent history, Mason said. Theres an opportunity to win the first home opener in I dont know six years or whatever it is, to beat south Carolina for the first time in a long time. So theres some important factors for us that really dont ride necessarily on just it being the first game.Linebacker Oren Burks said the Commodores see opening on Thursday night as an opportunity to showcase themselves on a national stage.Its Thursday night, all eyes are on you, Burks said. Theres not a lot of games ... Im excited for this season.Vanderbilt has 15 starters back, including seven from a defense that ranked 28th nationally in total defense last season and 22nd allowing 21 points per game. Kyle Shurmur started five games last season at quarterback, a job he has a firm hold on this season.Weve all been chomping at the bit to get ready for this game, Shurmur said. Were all ready to go and were real excited. Anytime you can get it two days earlier a game, its great.--Online:AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org---Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker ' ' '