By Graeme McNicol

Well what a busy and exciting week I’ve had. It’s Tuesday afternoon, it’s 15.36hrs and I am still in agony (we’ll get to that story soon).

We’ve spent last week at Lanark Rugby, training hard for our top-of-the-table clash with Arran. Numbers at training were high as everyone wanted to be in with a chance of being named in the 22 man squad for the all important game on Saturday. Initially we thought we were in for some tough decision making on Friday night; who was in and who was out. However, a couple of late call-offs due to illness and a family emergency meant that we were struggling to fill all 22 jerseys!

For the third year running there is a star–studded line up of legendary players for the popular England v Ireland Rugby Legends game on Friday March 16th at The Stoop, Twickenham. Kick Off is at 7.45pm.

The match is the start of a fantastic weekend of England/Irish rugby and you can get in an early toast into St Patrick as the next day is St Patrick’s Day!

The England Legend’s team, captained by Martin Corry, will include Jason Robinson, Jason Leonard, Austin Healey, Mark Regan, Richard Cockerill and Andy Gomarsall.

Speaking to Stuart Cameron of Talking Rugby following Scotland's narrow loss to France at Murrayfield, try-scorer Stuart Hogg admitted that his side could have done more.

By David van der Merwe - Super Rugby Writer

The first weekend of Super Rugby has come and gone and what a weekend it was. We could not have asked for more excitement, controversy or closer games, but then there also were those games that a surgeon could use to put a man down before open heart surgery and then struggle to wake him up afterwards.

I would love to know how your predictions went and your thoughts on the games so let me know. Here is how I did and a brief take from me on the games...

By David van der Merwe - Super Rugby Writer

After weeks of warm up games and watching the Heineken Cup, Six Nations and whatever rugby was available, the long awaited Super Rugby Series is about to kick-off. All Southern Hemisphere fans must feel like a cat on a hot tin roof waiting for it. No more icy fields and postponed games for us. Here is a brief look at the weekend’s fixtures with my prediction for each.

Russell Hargreaves from Talking Rugby caught up with returning England stars Courtney Lawes and Manu Tuilagi as well as England new-boy Ben Morgan ahead of England vs Wales in the Six Nations this weekend.

By James Pritchard

Darren Fox scores for Bedford against Moseley

First of all I would like to say a big hello to all the Scrum Five readers out there and hope that you enjoy reading my weekly blog from now on in. In the coming weeks I will be sharing my views of the upcoming Championship Playoffs as well as the 6 Nations and Super Rugby season which is kicking off this weekend.

Firstly lets have a look at how things are going in the English Championship. With one game to play this weekend things are starting to get tasty with teams starting to time their run into the playoffs and gather momentum. With a good win away to Moseley on the weekend and a maximum of 5 points gained, my Bedford side has now moved on up to second in the table by points difference, but with the pirates beating favourites Bristol at the weekend that much sort after second spot will come down to who can bring home the goods this weekend.

Scotland take on France in the last match of this weekend’s Six Nations fixtures. This can become the game of the weekend if the England vs Wales fixture doesn't live up to expectations. 

By David van der Merwe

England will be hosting Wales at Twickenham, the home of rugby, for their all-important Six Nations clash on Saturday. This game will decide which of the two teams still have a Grand Slam and Triple Crown chance. Whoever loses will probably hope that France beats the other team to have a chance at the Six Nations title. Both teams have won their first two games although the going weren't always easy. This will be a real test of character and after the game we will know the strength each side has.

England will still be rattled after the Italy game and the mistakes they made. They gave away two easy tries both coming from their mistakes. If they do this against Wales it will be a long afternoon for them. They have a lot to work on defensively. They can't afford to miss the amount of tackles they have over the last two weekends. On attack they are good but will have to work hard to break the Welsh line.

By Graeme McNicol

Well another week and another call off! Playing rugby at our level can be frustrating; Friday night and I had a full squad of guys all itching to play a competitive game of rugby in the RBS West Division 4 League. However, I received a call at 7.30pm and the team we’re due to play, cry off!

So all this starting and stopping becomes rather frustrating! Somehow thanks to the hard work of our fixture secretary, we did manage to get a game against a local club’s 3rd team. This has allowed us to get some game time in before an all-important top of the table clash this weekend – Lanark v Arran.

Leicester captain Geordan Murphy won the game for his side with a last gasp drop goal that provided the crucial lead. Russell Hargreaves was at Vicarage Road and caught up with the man of the moment Murphy as well as Richard Cockerill, Schalk Brits and Mark McCall.

London Wasps lost yet another Aviva Premiership match earlier today and Russell Hargreaves chatted to Exeter coach Rob Baxter and Wasps' Marco Wentzel following the encounter at Adams Park.

By David van der Merwe - Super Rugby Writer

The Waratahs or 'Tahs as their supporters call them are one of Australia's more successful teams in Super Rugby. They have a rich history dating back to 1882 when they played their first game against Queensland. In 1927/28 they toured the United Kingdom, North America and France, winning 24 of their 31 games. They continued playing winning rugby during the 1930's culminating in beating the Springboks in 1937 at the SCG.

When the Super Rugby competition started back in 1996 many believed that the Waratahs would be one of the teams challenging for the title. However, they struggled in the first couple of years, finishing in the middle or bottom half of the log. It took them until 2002 to reach the finals and from there on in it has been a real roller-coaster ride for them going from the top of the log to the bottom at regular intervals.

By David van der Merwe - Super Rugby Writer

The Chiefs are one of the NZRU teams that competes annually in the Super Rugby competition. Although they have sported some All Black players they have never really lived up to expectations. It took them till 2004 to reach a semi-final and 2009 to reach a final. They lost both of these encounters. At most they are a middle of the log team that can show some brilliance at times but not nearly enough to compete on a consistent level with the big names.

They have finished consistently between 6th and 8th place on the log. The best they have done is losing in the 2009 Final to the Bulls by 61-17. This was a season where they were the team to beat. Given that there were one or two decisions that went against them in that game, but in the end they were outplayed. they seem to have what it takes, but never live up to their potential.

By Matt Price

Wales have won two games, and the word on every optimistic Welshman's lips is: Grandslam.

Two games in and Wales are looking good. A 23-21 win in Dublin and a 27-13 win against Scotland. Dublin, Aviva Stadium, a game soaked in controversy after Bradley Davies sent the Irish replacement second row Donnacha Ryan off his feet and onto his shoulders, which could have been his neck or head and could have been a more serious injury.

Credit: Guinness/Russell Hargreaves

By David van der Merwe - Super Rugby Writer

By Graeme McNicol

By David van der Merwe

The week leading up to the second weekend of Six Nations Rugby was filled with some interesting talking points. First there was the Scottish try that was but wasn't given. In the eyes of the Scots a clear try however not given. In my eyes at most a 50/50 decision.

Discipline issues grazed the headlines and in the end all were happy with the 7 week ban handed out. But the big talking point was the pitch in France. Tents erected with blowers and heaters put on, because the field was frozen. And a wait till game day to decide if play would continue or not. But let us get to the action of what transpired over the last few days of Six Nations rugby.

Wales fought their way back into this one after a disappointing first half. Scotland's discipline slipped and at one point the visitors only had 13 men on the field but were hard done by when referee Roman Poite ruled out a try for a knock on that was proved wrong by video replays. In the end, Wales won the match 27-13 and Hamish Stuart caught up with the players and coaches after the game.

By David van der Merwe

After an exciting first weekend of Six Nations rugby, that saw some controversial decisions by the referees and TMO's and some unexpected results, it is time to gear up for round two. Here are my predictions and a short reasoning for each.

Nick Heath from Rugby Media chats to Owen Farrell about his rapid rise to starting for Italy vs England at the Stadio Olimpico this weekend. To watch the interview, click play on the video below.

Jonny May has been on fire for Gloucester recently and as a reward has been given the title of Aviva Premiership Player of the Month for January 2012.



Credit: Talking Rugby/Duncan Wood

London rivals, Harlequins and London Irish, will come to blows at the Twickenham Stoop this weekend. At the game, Aviva will be scientifically finding out which of the two sets of opposing fans is the most passionate, testing their noise levels, heart rate and more.

And ahead of the match, they invited Exiles stars Tommy Homer, Topsy Ojo and Dan Bowden, as well as Quins' Nick Easter and Luke Wallace - and passionate supporters of both sides - to a pub quiz at the famous Sun Inn in Richmond. Russell Hargreaves spoke to both sets of players and to rival fans themselves...

At a disciplinary hearing in London today, the citing made against Stephen Ferris was considered but not upheld.

The independent Six Nations Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Antony Davies (England) together with Douglas Hunter (Scotland) and John Doubleday (England) met to consider a citing complaint under Law 10.4(j) by Achille Reali (Italy) the independent Citing Commissioner appointed for the RBS 6 Nations match between Ireland and Wales in Dublin at the weekend.

The Committee, after careful analysis of the video evidence and consideration of the player’s and his representative’s explanation of the tackle, did not uphold the citing.

Credit: Russell Hargreaves/RFU.com

By David van der Merwe

The first round of the 2012 Six Nations has come and gone. Many match reports have been written and many more debates have been going over a pint of lager or over a "braaivleis" fire. (Barbecue for the non Afrikaans). Here is a quick round up of my predictions before the weekend and the actual out come.

By David van der Merwe

Scotland hosted England, current Six Nations champions and holders of the Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield on Saturday in their opening 2012 Six Nations match. If you had asked English fans before the game, they would have told you that England had as much chance to win as you had staying warm in only a t-shirt in the -10 degree weather. But England walked away 13-6 victors on the day.

England started with 3 uncapped players and 4 on the bench. The first half was dull and boring with Owen Farrell and Dan Parks exchanging penalties. Farrell put England ahead only to see Parks erase the lead and swing it 6-3 into Scotland's favour at half time.

France crossed the Italian try line four times to dismiss Jacques Brunel's Azzurri. Nine minutes from time, debutant and future star, Wesley Fofana, scored. This made the youngster the top Twitter trend worldwide for a brief period. Simon Ward was at the Stade De France and caught up with Luke McLean and Dimitri Yachvili.

After the opening day of Six Nations action, it's time to take a look at what the players and coaches had to say. Russell Hargreaves was at Murrayfield for the Calcutta Cup. England hadn't won for eight years but Stuart Lancaster's new England team changed the history books and won the match 6-13.

By David van der Merwe

It is at last Six Nations kick-off weekend. After the wait for teams to be announced, coaches and captains to be sorted out and the talk of who will do how well, we can now see what will happen.

The players have prepared, the coaches have had their "my daddy is bigger than your daddy" moments in the media and the battle lines are drawn. All that is left is for the anthems to be sung and then the first game will kick-off. So what is my view Round One of the Six Nations? Well here it comes.

By David van der Merwe

Scotland's rugby history dates back to 1871. On 27 March 1871 at Raeburn Place, Scotland played against England in the first ever International rugby match to take place. Scotland won the game 1-0. They have competed in every Five Nations tournament since the start in 1883. Scotland have been the outright champions 14 times and shared the spoils a further 8 times.

Scotland won the last 5 Nations championship in 1999 before Italy joined the competition to make it the 6 Nations in 2000. In the last 12 years scotland couldn't win the tournament and have struggled to get into the top 4. They have beaten all other teams in the 5/6 Nations in one season on 3 occasions giving them the grand slam. This was in 1925, 1984 and 1990. They have also managed to beat all 3 other Home Nations to give them the Triple Crown on 10 occasions.

Credit: Nick Heath/Rugby Media

England have announced their squad for the Calcutta Cup match on Saturday evening in the opening round of the 2012 RBS Six Nations.

Owen Farrell of Saracens and son of new England interim coach, Andy Farrell, will start in the centre for his first England cap alongside fellow team mate and debutant, Brad Barritt. Northampton's Phil Dowson will also make his debut in the side and Saracens' Mouritz Botha will earn his second cap in the forwards pack.

David Strettle, whose England caps have been frustratingly limited due to injury, will start alongside Chris Ashton and Ben Foden in the backs. England have a set of new players on the bench with Jordan Turner-Hall, Mike Brown, Lee Dickson, Geoff Parling and Rob Webber all hoping to get on the pitch at Murrayfield.