Six/five Nations time, what are your favourite memories ?

by LordDowlais Tue Mar 05, 2019 2:57 am

Just for a little nostalgia on here, and a time for some fond memories, what would you consider your favourite Six/Five nations tournaments ? For me, in the Six Nations era, it has to be 2005, totally out of the blue, we blew teams away. Gav the Chavs kick at Cardiff, his golden boots. The emergence of players like Tom Shanklin, Kevin Morgan, Dwayne Peel.

But my favourite one of them all, was my first proper adult one 1994, I was just turned 18, we lost to England on the final weekend at Twickenham. I will never forget Nigel Walker burning up the turf in the old Arms Park against France, Neil Jenkins winning out in Ireland all on his own, Mike Rayers sliding try with his victory fingers up to the camera as he slid through the mud and rain, I was just turning eighteen then and the world was my oyster, I went to Dublin, and was at the France and Scotland game, I watched the England game in the Orange Tree in Richmond, it was my first proper grown up five nations where I went with my mates and a lot of older men who knew what rugby trips were about, and back then there was still a possibility that you would bump into a couple of the players in the city centre afterwards, god I feel old now. Crying or Very sad

Anyone else got any fond memories ?

by **LondonTiger** Tue Mar 05, 2019 3:20 am

Favourite Memory is from TV:

15th March 1980, probably around 16:30. Bill McClaren's voice - "And it's Carelton, John Carelton for the hat trick and the grand slam"

Second Favourite Memory:

11th April 1999, from about 17:45 into the deep dark hours - We had left Wembley before the conversion went over, and met some Welsh fans who had left the stadium early convinced they were going to lose and wanted a night out in London. We convinced them that the loud roar they had hear was for Englands victory as the train came in and we headed into London before any other fans arrived. We agreed to show them some sights (they wanted the dark salubrious kind) and were drinking in some dodgy places for hours - all paid by our new friends to celebrate England winning the last 5 nations with a Grand Slam. Addresses were exchanged and some time later we received an "invoice" for our beers due to gross misrepresentation of the facts. We declined to pay, but have met up on a handful of occasions since in Wales and London, always with the visitors paying.

by Guest Tue Mar 05, 2019 3:41 am

All-dayer in 2013. Started with getting the freshest of fresh haircuts, before settling in around 11am with the group at a local Wetherspoon's.

I don't really remember the England game itself that well. Vaguely remember 'counting' points and being more concerned about the fact Wales were only 1, then 8 points etc. ahead of England in the table, eventhough the scoreline of the game was so one-sided.

The pub session became, inevitably, a club session...and after some fun there, ended up staying up and having a cooldown hangout with a friend until about 5:30 in the morning.

The rugby was a great facillitator for a great day but, ultimately, took something of a back seat as it went on. It's only in hindsight, and watching the game back on YouTube, that I've actually come to appreciate the game itself and how well Wales/Steve Walsh played...

by robbo277 Tue Mar 05, 2019 5:25 am

In 2011 I had the most disastrous trip of a lifetime.

The plan was for four of us to fly to Dublin on St Patrick's Day (Thursday), stay out with a friend's family Thursday and Friday, watch Ireland vs England on the Saturday, stay out in the pub until 2am before a cab to the airport for the 6am flight home. What could go wrong?

My Irish friend was on tickets and accommodation. His cousin lives out there and his aunt "knows someone at the IRFU". Perfect.

Couple of months before, we don't have tickets. Unsure what happened to the friend at the IRFU. Still, should be a good weekend, we can watch the game in the pub.

A week before the trip one of our friends unfortunately has to pull out because his nan's funeral is going to be that weekend. Four becomes three, our condolences to our friend who can't make it.

Morning of the trip, I get a phone call from my Irish friend. He can't make the trip. He's got a meeting at university that day to explain his poor attendance at lectures. He decides given the nature of the meeting it would be risky to miss it. Don't worry though, because his cousin will be at the airport to pick us up.

So me and another friend catch a Ryanair flight to Dublin. No sign of this guy's cousin. We don't have his number. Let's just get a bus into town and call our mate on the bus. No answer. Maybe he's still in the meeting.

Get into town, we find a pub and resolve not to leave until we've got something sorted. Hostels are out. It's St Patricks Day and England are in town for the rugby. We don't even waste our time trying. All our hopes are pinned on getting through to our friend. We're ringing this guy for about 4 hours with no answer. I can't remember whether it was me or my friend who finally twigged we were in a different country and needed to tack a +44 onto the start of his phone number. Eventually got through to him. He didn't realise what had happened to his cousin, but he set us up with his nan. She lives a bit outside of town so we finish our drinks and head over there so we don't arrive too late for her. Lovely women, never met us before, cooked us some food and let us stay in her spare room.

Friday is better. Nan gets us in contact with our friend's aunt, who tells us that our friend hadn't passed them any information, but we are fine to stay with Nan on Friday as well. Our friend's cousin, was playing golf on the other side of the country, but he was coming back on Friday to take us out into town. Nan is off babysitting some of her younger grandchildren and gives us her key. Friday night was stress free.

Saturday we buy our friend's Nan a small gift and leave her a thank you note for bailing us out of a tough spot and head off into Dublin for the first game. We find a nice looking pub that we can park in for the next 12 hours. It's awful. England get hammered. We quickly turn French to watch them stop Wales stealing our first Championship for 8 years. The French come through and with the Championship in the bag, we cheer up. The rest of the night gets a bit hazy.

The two of us get a cab to Dublin airport. Manage to check in, clear security, get to the gate. All going well.

I get woken up. "Are you going to Frankfurt?" I'm naturally confused. Sitting at the gate, the 10:25 to Frankfurt is boarding. My friend asleep next to me. Our flight left four hours ago. 100 Euros to change to a flight at 1pm. We sit in near silence, nearly broken.

Our flight landed in Stansted. I don't remember how we got home. I think we got a lift, maybe from my friend's dad. I don't remember what time we got home, but I slept for a long time after that.

Absolute disaster of a trip. Still, one of my favourite ever weekends away.

by majesticimperialman Tue Mar 05, 2019 7:02 am

One of the most best game for me was England playing France 5ns i think it was.

I do believe Rob Andrew was fly half. England kicked the ball to ward France goal line Serge Blanco pick's the ball up under is own goal post run's the ball out passes it to Didi a camberbero ( spelling ) he runs down the right wing, chips the ball over England' left wing catches the ball then kicks it toward the England goal and i think it was Philip Sellar who ran it in for a great try.

by 123456789. Tue Mar 05, 2019 7:48 am

Think mine was last year, being at Murrayfield for the Scotland England game. It was unlike any win we'd had over England in my memory. We'd had the stodgy wins of 2008, 2006 and 2000 but for most of my time watching rugby the idea that we might blow England away was pie in the sky. The atmosphere in the stadium was immense. Went out for a curry with my mates in Edinburgh, drank an unhealthy amount of alcohol. Got the train out with a couple of friends and a random group of football fans who we ended up befriending. Incidentally the group picked up on my middle class English accent, and, after the initial confusion as to why I was supporting Scotland, insisted on calling me Tarquin. Anyhow a few big bottles of cheap cider later and we decided we were friends for life. I can't remember their names but I'm assuming the number saved under 'Big man' on my phone might be one of theirs.

by **LondonTiger** Tue Mar 05, 2019 8:08 am

majesticimperialman wrote:One of the most best game for me was England playing France 5ns i think it was.

I do believe Rob Andrew was fly half. England kicked the ball to ward France goal line Serge Blanco pick's the ball up under is own goal post run's the ball out passes it to Didi a camberbero ( spelling ) he runs down the right wing, chips the ball over England' left wing catches the ball then kicks it toward the England goal and i think it was Philip Sellar who ran it in for a great try.

I suspect you mean this one scored by PSA

by majesticimperialman Tue Mar 05, 2019 8:28 am

LondonTiger wrote:
majesticimperialman wrote:One of the most best game for me was England playing France 5ns i think it was.

I do believe Rob Andrew was fly half. England kicked the ball to ward France goal line Serge Blanco pick's the ball up under is own goal post run's the ball out passes it to Didi a camberbero ( spelling ) he runs down the right wing, chips the ball over England' left wing catches the ball then kicks it toward the England goal and i think it was Philip Sellar who ran it in for a great try.
I suspect you mean this one scored by PSA

Yes that's the one. That is when France had some real flair about them.

by **LondonTiger** Tue Mar 05, 2019 8:00 pm

They still lost that game however.

by SecretFly Tue Mar 05, 2019 9:58 pm

Two memories that keep coming back to me. One is 2009 and particularly Brian O'Driscoll. Whatever mood he was in that year (maybe he felt it was possibly his last.... he'd already been through his media led 'he's finished, he's all washed up' phase); but he was a man possessed. And that's my memory - not really that games as such, the details of the games....more so just remembering how he looked - his eyes when he stood for the anthems. Back then, I kept thinking to myself 'he's not going to lose this' - those eyes were hot with determination that year. I was blown away by his season long intensity that year... blowing up the self regard of his critics who had said his career was shot.
The other 6N big memory for me was a fun one. I laughed during the game, and have giggled plenty after it whenever I remember the brazen ball boy and his mates, who perfected a try from nothing with the precision of a navy seals team.... the smirks on the faces when everybody realised they'd gotten away with it, the 'nothing to see here folks' ref as the Irish players scrambled around him in disbelief. What could you do. Ireland lost the game but you could only laugh at a special moment in 6N history. All hail the ballboy.

by **RiscaGame** Tue Mar 05, 2019 10:49 pm

Wales v Ireland in 2005 was special for me, as it was the first Grand Slam I had experienced. I was based in Germany at the time and in a city where I didn't know had rugby interest, but I ended up having a great day celebrating with another Welshman who then got me involved with a team who were playing in the German top flight (at the time).

Wales v France in 2012 was great, to actually experience one in the stadium too.

by Collapse2005 Wed Mar 06, 2019 12:43 am

majesticimperialman wrote:
LondonTiger wrote:
majesticimperialman wrote:One of the most best game for me was England playing France 5ns i think it was.

I do believe Rob Andrew was fly half. England kicked the ball to ward France goal line Serge Blanco pick's the ball up under is own goal post run's the ball out passes it to Didi a camberbero ( spelling ) he runs down the right wing, chips the ball over England' left wing catches the ball then kicks it toward the England goal and i think it was Philip Sellar who ran it in for a great try.
I suspect you mean this one scored by PSA

Yes that's the one. That is when France had some real flair about them.

England France games in the 90s were special. I loved watching them, it was next level stuff.

by westisbest Wed Mar 06, 2019 8:32 am

Simon Geoghan’s try at Twickenham in 94. Great try. Great memory.

Although we lost, (game where Phillips scored try with wrong ball from the lineout), had a great weekend in Cardiff.
Hopefully have another great weekend next weekend in Cardiff, hopefully an Irish win this time.

I remember think it was 2000, we got hammerd by England at Twickenham, then the next game back in Dublin, we ran out 44-22 winners over Scotland. Watched the game at home, then went out that night and got very drunk to say the least.

Complete turn around from the England game. Think it might have been debuts for ROG Stringer, Horgan.

by Scarpia Wed Mar 06, 2019 8:55 am

1999 and Gibbs' try followed by Jenkins' conversion. Just amazing.
2005 - the Ruddock Grand Slam playing unbelievable rugby. I had begun to think I would never see a Welsh GS again.
A funny one to finish. February 1978. At Twickers for Gareth Edwards' 50th cap. As we left the stadium an ambulance was threading its way through the crowd. Leaning on the back of the ambulance as if they were pushing it along, were about a dozen men, obviously members of a male voice choir and they were singing "Speed Your Journey" (The chorus of the Hebrew slaves from Nabucco)

by Mr Bounce Wed Mar 06, 2019 9:08 am

The 1992 Grand Slam by England was a great time with some great players. Mickey Skinner scoring in what was his last match against Wales at HQ and big Wade Dooley also getting a try on his 50th cap in the same game.

In the pro era it had to be England tearing Ireland to bits at Lansdowne Road in 2003. They were SO focussed and effective - perhaps this was when they peaked. I knew we had a special squad for the RWC then.

by westisbest Wed Mar 06, 2019 9:19 am

I was on a stag do early 03 and bet most of the guys £10 that Ireland would win that game. Lost £150.

by lostinwales Wed Mar 06, 2019 10:27 am

1985 England France. Think I only played one game (for the school) that day but might have played a colt's game too.

Wasn't much of a game in itself (9-9 draw) but the first introduction of a new generation - the likes of Andrew and Underwood, that would eventually turn our fortunes around after a few very lean years. I think it was Andrew who managed to knock the ball out of the hands of a French player in our in goal area.

by yappysnap Wed Mar 06, 2019 12:30 pm

2008 Italy v Eng, me and some friends had planned a weekend away to Rome to watch the game, due to dodge pricing on flights it became a week away. We got in on Wed and drank pretty much non stop up until the morning of the game where we resolved to swear off alcohol for life.

The game is a blur to this day but it was not a classic in any way. We were dehydrated and hung over, it was about 20c in the stands and none of us could muster the energy to go find fluids. But watching Wilko play one of his last games and score a try was special. As was the week with friends. Still I remember very little of match other then that score and one other thing, as we walked up the steps in the stadium there was a whole dead chicken on the floor, still feathered, and that puzzled me for a long time after.

by LordDowlais Thu Mar 21, 2019 7:25 pm

Oh well, the 6N is over, a very memorable one for me, Warren Gatlands last one and a GS to boot.

So, what's your favourite memories of this one ?

Will always be Scotlands second half comeback against England for me.

by Scottrf Thu Mar 21, 2019 7:45 pm

LordDowlais wrote:Oh well, the 6N is over, a very memorable one for me, Warren Gatlands last one and a GS to boot.

So, what's your favourite memories of this one ?

Will always be Scotlands second half comeback against England for me.

Do you own an anyone but England T-Shirt?

I'd have thought something Wales did might be up there.

by Scarpia Thu Mar 21, 2019 7:52 pm

Scottrf wrote:
LordDowlais wrote:Oh well, the 6N is over, a very memorable one for me, Warren Gatlands last one and a GS to boot.

So, what's your favourite memories of this one ?

Will always be Scotlands second half comeback against England for me.

Do you own an anyone but England T-Shirt?

I'd have thought something Wales did might be up there.

"Memorable" and favourite are different.

Mine is Josh Adams' try against England. That was the moment when I really began to think we could win the championship or even a Grand Slam.

by LordDowlais Thu Mar 21, 2019 7:53 pm

Scottrf wrote:Do you own an anyone but England T-Shirt?

Seriously ?

You have problems. Rolling Eyes

by LordDowlais Thu Mar 21, 2019 7:55 pm

Scarpia wrote:
Scottrf wrote:
LordDowlais wrote:Oh well, the 6N is over, a very memorable one for me, Warren Gatlands last one and a GS to boot.

So, what's your favourite memories of this one ?

Will always be Scotlands second half comeback against England for me.

Do you own an anyone but England T-Shirt?

I'd have thought something Wales did might be up there.

"Memorable" and favourite are different.

Mine is Josh Adams' try against England. That was the moment when I really began to think we could win the championship or even a Grand Slam.

The Ireland game was pretty memorable as well, everything we were doing was turning to gold, it's almost as if God wanted us to win that game, when we thought a kick was going out on the full, it would land just inside the touch line, when Anscombe hit that kick infront of the post slightly wide, it's almost as if the whole stadium leaned to the side to make it go over, it was as though it was our destiny to win that game.

by No 7&1/2 Thu Mar 21, 2019 8:12 pm

Would have to be France's self destruct against Wales, summed up by Vahaamahina. They do look to have some.good youngsters coming through though so I a couple of years maybe they'll be back.

by SecretFly Thu Mar 21, 2019 8:21 pm

Are you telling us God reffed that Wales v Ireland game, Lord? Might have guessed. The game was fixed. I knew it. Gats put a swollen envelope in the Poor Box and our fate was sealed.

by LordDowlais Thu Mar 21, 2019 8:24 pm

SecretFly wrote:Are you telling us God reffed that Wales v Ireland game, Lord? Might have guessed. The game was fixed. I knew it. Gats put a swollen envelope in the Poor Box and our fate was sealed.

It did seem that way. Even Schmidt demanding the roof be kept open suited us. Whistle

by tigertattie Fri Mar 22, 2019 2:51 am

1990 GS for Scotland. Every day and twice on a sunday. The kick and chase for Stanger's try and then the crowd invading the pitch (where not a soul was harmed or distressed) and Sole wandering through the crowd with a tartan bunnet on his head!

next is the win over England in 2006. Walked into a local "football pub", they had some English div 2 match on the tele and wouldnt put the rugby on the big screen. We sat in a corner and watched it on a tele ourselves but before the Div 2 game was finsihed we'd got the whole pub watching the rugby and got the 2nd half on the big screen. Folk without a clue were shouting at the tele just because we were. Place was bouncing by the end of the game!

by Heuer27 Fri Mar 22, 2019 5:50 am

1986 my first ever international game . There were 6 of us all fifteen got the train through to Edinburgh. Scotland turned England over 33-6. We thought it would always be thus. Ah the innocence of youth.
Was there in 1990 and 2000 too but even though a couple of mates were playing in 2000 it just didn’t have the same lasting effect.
My wife might disagree though as that game was our first date too.

by **LondonTiger** Fri Mar 22, 2019 6:32 am

Heuer27 wrote:1986 my first ever international game . There were 6 of us all fifteen got the train through to Edinburgh. Scotland turned England over 33-6. We thought it would always be thus. Ah the innocence of youth.
Was there in 1990 and 2000 too but even though a couple of mates were playing in 2000 it just didn’t have the same lasting effect.
My wife might disagree though as that game was our first date too.

Glad the evening could end with a bang. Run

by Heuer27 Fri Mar 22, 2019 6:35 am

LondonTiger wrote:
Heuer27 wrote:1986 my first ever international game . There were 6 of us all fifteen got the train through to Edinburgh. Scotland turned England over 33-6. We thought it would always be thus. Ah the innocence of youth.
Was there in 1990 and 2000 too but even though a couple of mates were playing in 2000 it just didn’t have the same lasting effect.
My wife might disagree though as that game was our first date too.
Glad the evening could end with a bang.

If only

by Scarpia Fri Mar 22, 2019 6:58 pm

tigertattie wrote: ......... the win over England in 2006. Walked into a local "football pub", they had some English div 2 match on the tele and wouldnt put the rugby on the big screen. We sat in a corner and watched it on a tele ourselves but before the Div 2 game was finsihed we'd got the whole pub watching the rugby and got the 2nd half on the big screen. Folk without a clue were shouting at the tele just because we were. Place was bouncing by the end of the game!

I think that counts as missionary work.

by tigertattie Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:27 pm

Wasnt sure if you were talking about me or Heuer Run

by **LondonTiger** Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:59 pm

Does a knee trembler round the back of Murrayfield count as missionary work? angel

by Scarpia Sat Mar 23, 2019 5:38 pm

LondonTiger wrote:Does a knee trembler round the back of Murrayfield count as missionary work?

It would if it were the missionary position

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