How on earth did 35 year old Federer do it? IMO it has been to his and Rafa's benefit to have been out of the game for quite a long time. They have come back refreshed and as both are classy players there was alwasy the outside chance they would go a long way. Compare that with Djoko and Murray who have had very little rest in comparison. Djoko might have a very disappointing 2017 as he gradually builds up his mental as well as his physical stamina. It might benefit him to "take time out." Meanwhile for Fed and Rafa being the number one ranked player is no longer important. They have been there and done it. What they do in the slams is what counts.
It is that time of year again with the Six Nations starting at the weekend. Who can possibly stop Italy from winning ...............the "Wooden Spoon" again? I would love that honour to go to France as they continue to play dull rugby. Who will come top in the second tier of International Rugby? I really cannot see anyone toppling England although I always enjoy Ireland and Wales toppling the "Sweet Chariot." It's the Celt blood in me.
In other news, England came from behind to win 19-16 against France, who dominated them up front for most of the match. That is England's 15th win in a row, a new record for them.
Only one try each!! That is not very good!!! Very second division and second rate compared with New Zealand!!!
England should be capable/are more than capable of scoring at least 3 tries in each game against all the six nations teams if they put their minds to it.
It was 8-man rugby for the first half, with England lucky to be 9-9 at HT. You can only score tries if you get the ball in the opposition 22, and England were unable to do that often enough. Both defences were outstanding, but too many handling errors cost England. Haskell coming on for Launchbury, with Itoje moving up to the 2nd row, made the difference, as well as Jamie George replacing Hartley at hooker. The changes gave England the energy to get over the line in the end. A good wake up call for the team, and Eddie Jones will be brandishing hair dryers in the dressing room.
Who was responsible for that? The French? Have they learnt nothing from the stuffing New Zealand gave them in the World Cup? If a team keeps to that style of rugby then they deserve to get beaten? France, Australia and South Africa more than match NZ in a tight front 8 but as soon as the All Blacks rip the ball away from you, then they are explosive - or they were last summer and autumn. Teams should not be afraid of playing expansive rugby. I am sure England will be more expansive as the season progresses. As for France, I very much doubt.
Eddie Jones knows all that, England have won 15 in a row, after all, including beating Australia 3 times! As I said, it was the handling errors that stopped us beating the French more emphatically, and that will improve. As for the French, they seem to just be huge, with little flair at all. Good at holding up the English scrum, but not much else.
That is some achievement as England are not exactly minnows. I don't know if you saw South Africa getting demolished by NZ on their own patch last summer but South Africa have a giant pack so what did NZ do? Just move them all over the place so once possession was won, the ball moved at electrifying speed through all NZ hands, backs and forwards alike resulting in that record defeat for South Africa. I hope the other home nations take note and decide likewise against the French. On a different matter it will be interesting to what England would do when faced with a wet windy day. NZ came up with the perfect answer for this years ago when playing Scotland. They kicked nothing, preferring to keep the ball in hand, when facing the strong wind and it paid dividends.
Important Davis Cup match today (after 5 pm)....GB v Canada in Ottowa. 1-1 after singles, then Jamie Murray/Inglot won a tough doubles match (3-1). Closer than sounds because 3 sets were decided by tie breaks. Dan Evans could settle it in first match today.
We don't seem to be doing well of late in the Davis cup..........or is that the norm for us. Must admit not a tremendous follower of this competition.
Young Canadian hit the ball in anger into the face of the Umpire. He is holding a bag of ice to his face...must have hurt.
Game defaulted, but had to be....the Umpire has a cut and will probably have a black eye. It could have hit a member of the audience.
Edmund was 2 sets up and would have won anyway, but a strange way to finish the match. Sucked the atmosphere out of the arena.
I don't know what the rules are had the ball missed the umpire by a few feet. Still DQed for dangerous play? Or only DQed because it actually hit him?
If it had missed him, it would have got someone else, so probably still disqualified. Tim Henman was DQ'd for hitting a ball girl....one of those trivia questions as no one suspects him of violent conduct.
I remember a Queens final ending like that once, when someone kicked an advertising board which in turn hit a line judge and cut his leg.
