Six Nations 2009 [1] Quiz | Six Nations

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The first match - England v Italy at Twickenham. For the first time since the Underwoods in the 1990s, a pair of brothers started for England. What was their surname?

Answer: Armitage

Delon and Steffon Armitage were born in Trinidad, but qualified for England under the three year residency rule. Their stepfather John introduced the soccer-mad youngsters to Rugby. Of the wrong answers, Harold and Arthur Wheatley played for England in 1937, the Hastings brothers (Gavin and Scott) played for Scotland and Armitage Shanks make bathroom furniture. Both brothers played for London Irish in 2009, and their older brother Bevon played at Doncaster.

There are another two Armitage boys playing rugby.

2. Both teams, England and Italy, had a set of brothers on the field. The Italians had the Bergamasco brothers. Who for his 70th cap was playing at scrum-half?

Answer: Mauro

Mauro, normally a flanker, despite playing occasionally at scrum-half for Stade Francais, had never played in this position for Italy, and I'm afraid it showed. At one point the BBC commentator said that his back row must have felt like the number 20 on a dart board! As an experiment by Nick Mallett (Italian coach) it failed dismally and Mauro was replaced at half time by Giulio Toniolatti. Of the wrong answers, Mirco is Mauro's brother and Raimundo and Pietro D'Inzeo were Italian brothers who were show-jumpers, not rugby players.

3. Who was the only Italian player in the England v Italy match to score a try?

Answer: Mirco Bergamasco

A mixed weekend for the Bergamsco brothers. Mirco, playing on the left wing, redeemed honour for the family with a fine try. Of the wrong answers, Fabio Ongaro was Italy's hooker, and Nick Cueto played for England.

4. Which team in the England v Italy match had a player or players sin-binned and how many?

Answer: England - 2

England had James Haskell sin-binned on 34 minutes for a trip on Gonzalo Canale off the ball, and Shane Geraghty on 63 minutes for a mid-air tackle on Luke McLean. The Italians did not have anybody sin-binned.

5. Had Italy started the game against England with a different scrum-half, it may have been very different, but who won the first Six Nations match of 2009, and what was the score?

Answer: England 36-11

England scored five tries to Italy's one, and England's Harry Ellis was Man of the Match. However, even England's coach, the iconic World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson, admitted that England needed to improve, and Harry Ellis admitted the scoreline flattered England. England's next match was to be against the reigning Six Nations' champion Wales in Cardiff.

6. The second match of the Six Nations was Ireland against France at Croke Park. Who opened the scoring on three minutes, and with what?

Answer: Ronan O'Gara - penalty

Although all these scores happened in the match, it was Ronon O'Gara who thrilled the home crowd with three points, after French prop Lionel Faure was penalised for not rolling away after a tackle.

7. What was the score at halftime in the Ireland v France match?

Answer: Ireland 13 France 10

Two penalties and a conversion from O'Gara. A try from Jamie Heaslip against a try from Harinordoquy. A conversion and drop-goal from Lionel Beauxis, sent the Irish team into the dressing room in the lead.

8. On 50 minutes, France were back in the game against Ireland with a try scored by Maxime Medard. What was M. Medard's distinguishing feature?

Answer: Sideburns

Maxime Medard looked like a throwback to the '70s (think JPR Williams) with long sideburns. Beauxis had sent a kick to the wing that was collected by Medard who ran in for the try. Of the wrong answers, there are plenty of players with shaved heads or blond mullets, and the French player Sebastian Chabal has a massive head of long dark hair.

9. Who was not substituted for either team in the Ireland v France match?

Answer: Peter Stringer

Although scrum-half Peter Stringer was on the bench, Tomas O'Leary started and finished the game. Of the wrong answers, the prop Nicolas Mas replaced Benoit Lecouls for France, Rory Best replaced Jerry Flannery as hooker for Ireland, and Romain Millo-Chluski was sent on for Sebastian Chabal for France.

10. Ireland won their Six Nations match against France by 30 points to 21. Ireland had won how many Six Nations Championships prior to this?

Answer: 0

Although an incredibly talented side, Ireland had never won the Six Nations. In nine championships to that point, it had been won four times by France, three by England, and twice by Wales.

11. The final match of the first Six Nations weekend was Scotland v Wales. The first half was mostly remarkable for Scottish players trying to maim themselves. Which player came off worse when attempting to tackle Martyn Williams (nicknamed 'Nugget')?

Answer: Simon Webster

After 12 minutes, Simon Webster hurt himself tackling Martyn Williams (who ironically was fine). Nearly a quarter of an hour later, Jeff Cross did an unsafe (and illegal) tackle on Lee Byrne in the air and was wheeled off on a stretcher. Simon Webster, having taken the opportunity to be comprehensively sick, was obviously more hurt than it had looked at first and was also taken off. To add insult to injury, Cross was yellow-carded as well as stretchered off. Scotland appeared to be doing their best to beat themselves.

12. Stephen Jones put the first points on the board for Wales against Scotland with a penalty, but who scored the first try and for whom?

Answer: Tom Shanklin - Wales

After half an hour, Mike Phillips passed to Lee Byrne, who passed to Shanklin to go over for the first try of the match. Stephen Jones failed to convert, giving Wales an 8-0 lead.

13. Wales went in at halftime 16 points to three against Scotland. Within a minute of the second half resuming which player, with a name that relates to currency, who scored a try?

Answer: Leigh Halfpenny

Leigh Halfpenny, the Welsh winger, only 20 years old, scored a great try after only 47 seconds of the second half starting. It was looking ominous for Scotland.

14. A try on 67 minutes brought the score to Scotland 13, Wales 26. Who scored the try and for whom?

Answer: Max Evans - Scotland

Although Evans is the eighth most popular surname in the UK, it is commonly perceived as a Welsh surname, coming from Ieuan (John). Max Evans used to work as a golf professional in Portugal after injuring his back. His brother Thom has also played for Scotland.

15. At the final whistle, Wales had beaten Scotland by 26 points to 13. At the end of the first Six Nations weekend, which team was top of the table?

Answer: England

England led thanks to their superior points difference (36-11). Wales was second after their victory over Scotland and Ireland was third having beaten France. Scotland was fifth, having managed to lose by two points less than Italy, who were bringing up the rear and were in 'wooden spoon' position.

Source: Author Quiz_Beagle

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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Six Nations 2009 [1] Trivia Quiz

On 7 February 2009, the Six Nations Championship started. Who triumphed? Enjoy!

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