Freeman, freedom and free-flowing rugby
Post categories: 91Èȱ¬ Sport,ÌýRugby
| 09:52 UK time, Friday, 5 February 2010
One hundred years ago, the old cabbage patch in Twickenham staged its first rugby international as England beat Wales by 11-5.
Ten years this week, Italy joined the and celebrated with a victory over Scotland.
And, perhaps slightly more importantly, 20 years ago this week after 27 years in captivity.
Three facts. And here's a fourth. All these events will form a part of 91Èȱ¬ TV's opening to the RBS 6 Nations, which gets under way this Saturday on 91Èȱ¬1 at 1340 GMT.
The connection with Mandela is the UK release of 'Invictus'. , directed by Clint Eastwood, tells the story of Mandela's attempt to use South Africa's World Cup campaign in 1995 as a major step in the reconciliation of black and white South Africans.
And to our delight, , has read the poem 'Invictus', which inspires the film's title, exclusively for the 91Èȱ¬ and sent a good luck message to all the Six Nations teams.
But you don't have to wait until Saturday to see this. Check it out below, it's an epic moment.
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Also in Saturday's programme, Matt Dawson meets Matt Damon and the man he plays in the film, former Springboks captain Francois Pienaar, to compare the relative size of the two and hear what happened when Hollywood went a ruckin' and a maulin'.
So to the championship itself which promises to be as open and unpredictable as ever. Yes, I know, I've said the same thing for the past few years, but it's another fact. Well, actually it's not, technically, but you know what I mean.
Ireland open with a home match at Croke Park against Italy, who haven't beaten the Irish since joining the annual jamboree in 2000. Before that game, we'll hear from Brian O'Driscoll, who has scored more Six Nations tries than any other player, and of course led his country to their .
Then it's on to the centenary celebrations at Twickenham before Martin Johnson's . Two years ago, Warren Gatland's side ended 20 years of hurt by winning at Twickers, using the impetus of that great start to go all the way to a Grand Slam of their own. That's how important a first week win can be.
This year, for the first time, all 15 matches are available in High Definition - and all will be live on 91Èȱ¬'s HD Channel, which will also carry our popular red button forums that follow many of our programmes to bring you extra interviews, analysis and debate. The first of these runs until 1930 GMT on Saturday.
It is worth hitting that red button at any time to catch up with highlights of all matches and to find a few more goodies. This weekend, there is a chance to see a special documentary made by our colleagues at RTE about Ireland's Grand Slam season. is back by popular demand, too.
Radio 5 and 5 live sports extra has live commentaries, while Matt Dawson will preview every weekend of the championship on the Thursday evening prior to the action.
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After Saturday's match at Twickenham, John Inverdale, Jonathan Davies, Andy Nicol and several of our production team hit the long road to Murrayfield to be there in time - just - for Scotland v France (Sunday, 91Èȱ¬1 1430 GMT).
Mind you, at least we've got a car for the trip. Over the next four weeks, we'll be featuring as he travels to and from all the Six Nations grounds - on a bike. Yes, the big fella is getting the lycra on and hoping to raise upwards of a million quid for Sport Relief and his own charitable foundation.
If you want to find out more - or give to a great cause - head for the Sport Relief website. We'll be tracking his progress and saddle sores on 91Èȱ¬ TV and online over the next month. Good luck, Lol!
Finally, and most importantly of all, on Saturday, 91Èȱ¬ TV Sport will pay its own tribute to the "Voice of Rugby" . This goes out at 1300 GMT on Saturday on 91Èȱ¬1.
Bill was not only one of the great sports commentators but also one of the most delightful, dedicated and lovely of men. John Inverdale visited Bill's home town of Hawick for his funeral and from there introduces a programme he made back in 2002 with producer Jo McCusker. Entitled "Flower of Scotland", it beautifully captures the essence of a great but humble Scotsman.
On Sunday, Murrayfield and the Scottish Rugby Union will join in the tributes to Bill, with his family in attendance, not least his grandson Rory Lawson, who is part of the Scotland team. The singing of Flower of Scotland is sure to be even more emotional and stirring than usual for the crowd and TV audience alike.
As Bill would have said, "Aye, it's a grand old tournament." Enjoy the next seven weeks.
Comment number 1.
At 5th Feb 2010, neyster wrote:Carl, a very good blog, and I'm getting very excited now.
Great to hear that the Bill McLaren programme will go out, I would hope that this too could also feature on the red button coverage; if not, the iPlayer will be good enough.
I think the blogs and general coverage has been very good in the build-up to the tournament this year, though if I were allowed to raise a small gripe, it is that there is not enough coverage of the French and Italian perspectives.
Lastly, he may not be everyone's cup of tea, but everybody should get behind Dallaglio's cause, even if he is the figure many love to hate on a rugby pitch.
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Comment number 2.
At 5th Feb 2010, SwannyWilkinson wrote:Freeman's reading of "Invictus" is fantastic. The whole movie with the Welsh Dragon and the English Knight sent patriotic shivers down my spine. Further more made me think about what makes a great player, never to complain, always to try your hardest, to be the master of your fate, the captain of your soul.
What is not quite as good is the 91Èȱ¬ advert. Heart shaped balloons? That music? What were they thinking? Did the person/team who designed that ad ever see a rugby match in their entire life? Rugby is about passion, aggression, big hits and slick tries. Not a bunch of idiots dancing around in an lift. Its not just bad its embarrassing.
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Comment number 3.
At 7th Feb 2010, FoxesofNuneaton wrote:Something has to be sorted about the Camera angles...they were terrible for the England v Wales game.
What was that crazy camera angle from the Sky about?
The camera nicknamed 'SkyCam' was terrible to use and also why did the 91Èȱ¬ insist on having it so low down when they were kickers when it could have used other cameras?
Plus, the HD Picture was terrible, sometimes it looked like it was upsaced SD!
What was that all about?
The 'SkyCam' was alright for John Inverdale's intro but shouldnt be used at any ground for the rest of the Tournament.
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Comment number 4.
At 23rd Feb 2010, David Shield wrote:I'm very dissapointed that the 91Èȱ¬ have again decided to not show the build-up to the Friday night fixture on normal telly. Its all very well saying all the matches are on 91Èȱ¬1 but I'd rather they not bother if this is how they treat them.
I hope it is on Freeview but with the Winter Olympics I fear it will not be.
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Comment number 5.
At 27th Feb 2010, John Hammond wrote:Sorry to be a bore - but it is 1:00am Sat 27th Feb and I've just got home after work. I would like to watch the rugby I missed earlier which started at 7:50. 91Èȱ¬ i-player is the tool. Will it allow me. No chance. 'coming soon' it says. we're talking 7 to 8 hours later. exactly what i-players are designed for. Yet once again good old Auntie can't provide. Disappointed - sure thing. Surprised - shouldn't be I 'spose. Service is rubbish.
NB: I spend a proportion of my life in Jamaica. I sell rum. Try and watch a 91Èȱ¬ broadcast of rugby from somewhere like Ja on the laptop... oh no, can't do that... after all you could be sitting in west London and pretending to be in Jamaica, or the other way round - Auntie can't allow that, so stop any access. signal from the 91Èȱ¬ website says 'you are not in the UK, so forget it'. But I cannot be in two places at once ?? so why not let me see what I have paid for ???
Crap service as is now the norm. Well done 91Èȱ¬.
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Comment number 6.
At 27th Feb 2010, Brekkie wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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At 28th Feb 2010, Brekkie wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 8.
At 1st Mar 2010, The best full back ever wrote:How much longer are we going to have to put up with inane questions posed by post match interviewers who clearly have little or no understanding of the game. After both Friday and Saturday's games Gatland and Johnson had the right to be indignant at the banal, headline seeking questions posed by the interviewers. It is clear that they are not respected and as such we receive such responses from those questioned. Given that an indepth knowledge of rugby does not seem to be a pre-requisite for the job, why does'nt the 91Èȱ¬ address this. Who on earth gives them the questions tro ask. Interestingly the quality of debate on 606 is generally of a far higher order than that trotted out by these so called professional interviewers. I'm happy to volunteer to improve the quality immeasurably!
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At 2nd Mar 2010, adamsjacson wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 10.
At 27th Nov 2010, whatabouttherugbylazygitsipayu wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 11.
At 4th Dec 2010, Kevin wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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