h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I agree with your sentiment Abi - I think for the horsey events, the rider should have to carry the horse if they want the medal...

Sprout

Being a jock I'm loathe to say it but England played a blinder in the second half. The first half was one of the most brutal periods of 40 minutes I've ever seen - absolutely incredible rugby. I can't help but feel that Ireland would have done a better if they'd held the ball up a little in the line-outs and if they'd had a stronger scrum half than Stringer ... I don't see him as much of a play maker. What's more, the Ireland line were passing the ball from a standstill - one of Scotlands majaor failings when they played the Irish and got soundly trounced by them.

The fact that England were so dominant in the second half, and that with the likes of Lewsey and Cohen having relatively quiet games gives me some hope that a Northern Hemisphere team could win the world cup (ok, it means I'd have to support England but on a comparative loathing scale they rate about equal with the Wallabies but again, because I usually support the underdog and the Wallabies will have the home advantage should such a clash occur, I'd have to support England). Wilkinson it has to be said could do with getting out more but to be honest that's just jealousy speaking - he is the most awesome player ... his kicking was practically pitch perfect throughout - drop goals off both feet, his tackling was unreal and his speed of vision is something else - the flicked pass to Jason Leonard that lead to Greenwoods second try was amazing. I like to think that the ref disallowed his third drop goal as he felt he was showing off.

Anyway, enough rot ... I do think England can win the world cup but they'll have to play damn well to do so and everyone will have to do their stuff.

Irelands failing was the lack of quick ball from the rucks and mauls which was all down to Stringer; as a result their back division were never given the chance to show their stuff.

Having said that the English tight and loose forwards were truly awesome and particularly in the second half dominated and controlled the game.

Hats off to England for their victory, painfull as it is for a Scotsman to say that.

As far as the World Cup goes it is too early to say - they need to get the summer tours under their belts which will give a much better indication of form going into the world cup - having said that England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa should be the semi finalists.

D.D. I suppose that these bhoys will stand shoulder to shoulder.

It was too quick ball from the lineout and not quick enough from rucks and mauls as well as all sorts of shenanigans at the scrums. If they'd had a play making scrum half and hadn't done quite so many long passes I reckon they could've had numbers advantage.

Reading a pre-match surmise it said that if england could neutralise O'Driscoll by playing those either side of him out of the game then it'd make life easier for them. The fact that the Irish played them out of the game without any help from the English meant that he never really got a look in.

Jordan Murphy on the other hand had a stormer.

He did indeed...