Gazing at life through a haze of opiates, I’m intensely relaxed about not getting a proper blog post up, and just giving you the matches.
But I will add an emphatic TSK!* that the Cardiff and Ulster matches have yet again been scheduled at the same time.
*This is more vehement than a PFFT!
6N Blog Meet Update
The Heidelberg Tourist Information Bureau has posted this:
Falcon tries to decide whether to deliver a TSK! or a PFFT!
And this.
And as a reminder, here’s the info.
On the telly this week
Friday 3rd January
| Cardiff 14 – 16 Scarlets | 19:35 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Ulster 38 – 17 Munster | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Sales 48 – 10 Harlequins | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
Saturday 4th January
| Treviso 19 – 38 Glasgow | 13:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Gloucester 29 – 15 Bath | 15:00 | BT Sport 2 |
| Dragons 25 – 18 Ospreys | 15:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Zebre 41 – 13 Cheetahs | 15:00 | Freesports |
| Leinster 54 – 7 Connacht | 17:30 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Edinburgh 61 – 13 Southern Kings | 19:45 | Premier Sports 1 |
Sunday 5th January
| Wasps 31 – 35 Northampton | 15:00 | BT Sport 2 |
Ovally Balls 
Dylan CRETIN? My head is swirling.
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Yoof-tastic, that squad
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Hopefully *all the other nations will follow suit and pick young, local talent.
*apart from Ireland who need to keep picking Ron & co through to 2023.
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Scotland will lose a few of the older generation such as Barcs, Greig & Seymour. Imagine we’ll still see the likes of Treacle Toes, batman, Dunc & McNel (possibly Scott) to keep the aged quotient up.
Otherwise yoof-tastic.
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‘*apart from Ireland who need to keep picking Ron & co through to 2023.’
Bring back The Ferg!
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Carberry ruled out of the 6N which should mean a recall for Eric Elwood.
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Chimpie mocking the unemployed again… Bet he burns £50 notes in front of the homeless.
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Can’t burn these newfangled plastic notes. they just go a bit melty.
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On the plus side the 2 fivers i put through the wash in a jeans pocket last week came out in tip-top condition.
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What did you spend them on instead of a haircut?
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Can’t burn these newfangled plastic notes. they just go a bit melty.
The £50 is made from paper. Anyway, it doesn’t matter to you when you laugh behind the man you hired to burn the note.
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With Sexton unlikely to play before 1st 6N game – probably looking at either Byrne or Carty at #10. Cooney would be the popular choice at #9 right now.
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‘What did you spend them on instead of a haircut?’
The kidz snaffled them. Probably spent on PS games by now.
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Pfft. I appear not to be the £50 note expert round here.
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I guess there’s a possibility that Farrell will go full on”Gatland 2000″ and make wholesale changes… Kelleher, Doris, McCloskey
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Now that would be a thing, having enough cash to pay someone to mock poor people on my behalf.
Think I’d probably find a more useful way to spend it though.
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If Cooney isn’t in the mix questions need to be asked.
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‘Think I’d probably find a more useful way to spend it though.’
bit of capital for craigs’ pharmaceutical distribution enterprise. Added bonus of a healthy return when he becomes Big Pharma.
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A highly pleasing list from Fabien Galthié. No more dead wood and damage limitation engaged plucky losers.
Injuries permitting, the starting XV will be: Baille, Chat, Bamba, Leroux, Taofifenua, Makalou, Alldritt, Ollivon, Dupont, Jalibert, Fickou, Vakatawa, Penaud, Ramos.
Bench: Aldhegeri, Marchand, Gros, Palu, Tolofua, Serin, Carbonel (or Ntamack).
Can’t wait.
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A confident call only going with one wing, Flair
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So the answer to “Which France will turn up?” would appear to be “The one with babysitters”.
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Ach…
15 players it is.
Forgot Teddy Thomas.
And probably Jefferson Poirot ( if only for his name) rather than Gros (although he’s got the perfect name for a prop).
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Chimp, France is so used to play with only 14 players!
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The babies that play day in day out with Toulouse, Clermont, Racing or Toulon don’t worry me. It’s the old farts that play with mid table mediocre teams I’d worry about.
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Really don’t have the time to come and chat but had to drop in when I saw the French squad. Le Woof. Not dying wondering, anyway. Fair play to GalthiĂ©. Handsome bastard too.
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OK, so I’ve started a read back. Bad idea. Must be quick.
Talking points – agree with yos that AWJ wasn’t having a shit on the current Ospreys players (a handful aren’t good enough but you can improve a squad massively by chopping the five shittest players and getting in some top or even top, top options instead).
Also agree with yos on this:
Yes.
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‘Chimp, France is so used to play with only 14 players!’
Ha!
Vahaamahina’s gone so you may retain 15 for a bit longer.
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Chimp, if there is one area of weakness in the French squad, it’s at second row. Hence the presence of ex Saffers Leroux and Willemse. Gabrillagues and Flanquart are a bit light, Iturria decided ( wrongly) to become a flanker, Palu and Gerassi are still green. Taofifenua is just a big lump. So I bet Vahaa, who’s a much better rugby player than most people think, will return sooner than later.
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Vaha’s sacked it off, hasn’t he?
Is Big Lambey, the Ginger lad, injured?
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Oh, and I suppose I should do Enzo’s Six Nations squad. I’ll make tough choices and keep it to a lean-ish 36/37. However, I will do honourable mentions. The players will be in order from best to rest, where applicable. I’ll explain otherwise.
LHP: Healy, Kilcoyne, McGrath – JMcG has found a bit of form although the first two are miles ahead. Nods to Buckley and Eric O’Sullivan.
HK: Kelleher, Herring, Scannell – fuck it, chuck the kid in, he looks fantastic. Failing that it has to be Herring over Scannell.
THP: Furlong, Porter, O’Toole – first two miles ahead, pick themselves. O’Toole is not the third best THP in Ireland, John Ryan and Marty Moore are both better and, if it comes to starting a big game, they should leapfrog TO’T. But he has huge potential and should be in the group.
SR: Ryan, Henderson, Beirne, Kleyn – first two a good bit ahead. Beirne’s form has dipped a bit. Big Dev and Dillane and Roux are all fine but none have form that’s compelling enough to get rid of Kleyn, who has been good and put in one awesome performance against Sarries, which is hard to ignore. Still shouldn’t necessarily play, however.
BR: van der Flier, Doris, Stander, Ruddock, Connors, Deegan, O’Donoghue – no POM, he’s been shit for a year, everyone talks about his leadership so it’s time to have a word with himself and find some form. No room for sentiment. He’s not even next man in, Sean Reidy is the unluckiest guy to not make Enzo’s definitive group. First three would be my starters. Doris has to play.
SH: Cooney, Murray, Blade – self explanatory.
OH: Sexton, Ross Byrne, Burns – JS is still our best ten by miles, until Harry Byrne takes the shirt off him. Carbery would be ahead of Burns (definitely) and Byrne (probably? maybe? maybe not, actually) if fit. I’m as surprised as anyone to be pencilling in Billy Burns and, if Carty wasn’t playing like shit and Hanrahan was a bit more fit, I’d probably not have him.
CT: Ringrose, McCloskey, Henshaw, Aki – Chris Farrell and Luke Marshall are the unluckiest, maybe Tom Farrell too (injuries took away any chance he had). Ringrose is our best centre and my issue with him is that someone needs to tell him the expectation is that he’ll be the best in the world, or thereabouts, for the next few years so time to start playing like it. Given his form since the WC, maybe that conversation took place. McCloskey has been awesome for Ulster and, given we lack a massive carrier in the pick, I think should take the shirt. Henshaw however has been playing well. Aki is Aki, nearly always fit (an underrated quality) and solid.
B3: Stockdale, Larmour, Conway, Lowe, Addison – no Earls is the big news but he’s 32 and even if he wasn’t I’d not have him ahead of these guys. They all play wing and at least four play full back but, IMO, it’s Larmour at 15 with Addison behind him, while Stockdale and Conway are on the wings, although Lowe has to get some time there too.
So, there it is, Enzo’s Ireland:
Healy, Kelleher, Furlong
Henderson, Ryan
Stander, Doris, JvdF
Cooney
Sexton
Stockdale, McCloskey, Ringrose, Conway
Larmour
R: Herring, Kilcoyne, Porter, Beirne, Ruddock, Murray, Ross Byrne, Henshaw/Lowe (probably Henshaw)
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Yeah Vahaa’s pretty effective. His ‘moment’ at the WC sticks in the mind though. And his passing in open field leaves something to be desired.
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Googled the answer. Yes, he has been injured. Coming back soon maybe.
“une commotion cĂ©rĂ©brale”‘ll excite a couple of non-French speakers.
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Tomp, after his blunder vs Wales Vahaa said he wouldn’t play for France anymore. It’ll change.
Haven’t seen Lambey in ages, even during Lyon’s european “campaign”. Possibly injured.
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‘B3: Stockdale, Larmour, Conway, Lowe, Addison’
No The Ferg? Outrageous
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Damn, I’m slow!
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Just read Enzo’s essay. Thank god he did not have time to come and chat! We are bad influence.
Bonne année, Enzo!
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flair, why’s Carbonel in ahead of Belleau? Little Lio looked amazingly assured at the JWC but he’s behind Belleau at Toulon I think and Belleau’s still young.
Toulon are in Turkland at the weekend. Should (could) be a really good game.
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Louis … Louis … Louis. I’m still dreaming of Lio Beauxis.
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The round 2 fixture down in Toulon was a rare gem in the pile of shit that is the Piss Cup pools.
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Carbonnel and Belleau play 10/12 with Toulon, sometimes in reverse order, with Belleau kicking penalties.
Carbonnel offers more threat than Belleau, he’s faster and reads the game better. For my money he’s quite ahead of Belleau.
I think the FH pecking order is Jalibert, Carbonnel, Ntamack and Belleau.
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@Enzo
Not sure on his progress but Tadhg Beirne broke an ankle vs Saracens pre-Christmas ..so doubt he’ll take part this 6N
Lowe isn’t available till Nov 20 (AFAIK)
Otherwise, you’re fairly close to what I’d expect to see …. O’Mahony will struggle I think – Stander back to 6 (with Ruddock or Henderson as alternative)
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Oh well since we’re doing some squad speculation and I’m bored. chimpie’s Scotland
LH: Dell? Bhatti? Sutherland? Our options here are un-good, none of whom are really first picks anywhere. would include Reid but he’s languishing in super-6 land. Need Kebble to qualify pronto.
Hooker: Brown, McInally, Turner. In that order currently although Rambo & Brown are pretty much interchangeable.
TH: Z-Fags, Nel, Bergs. zander has been on good form of late. Wullie can still scrum but otherwise looks a little off the pace.
Lock: Gray (smaller), Cummins, Gilchrist & Toolis. Skinner may be back up to speed soon in which case I’d have him in, no real idea what larger Gray is up to. if on form I’d include him.
Back row: Bradbury, Ritchie, Watson, M-Fags, Thomson. I’m sure toonie will add Wilson. I’d have Crosbie in there too.
SH: Price, Horne, errr….. Pyrgos? Not much else in the cupboard really. SHC is odd-jobbing in France. Shiel looks good but hasn’t had may pro starts. glasgow appear to have unearthed a fetus of potentially great talent but bit early to tell.
FH: Finn, Hastings. Behind that the cupboard is somewhat bare. I’d give Weir a chance, but others seem to think Horne is a 10. Yes he can do a brief job there but he’s not an international 10.
Centre. Jones, Scott, Hutchinson, Taylor, Johnson, Bennett, Harris all in the mix, could be a contentious area. They’re all regular starters, difficult to know who to leave out. would personally cut to Jones, Scott, Hutch & Taylor but who knows. Horne will probably make it.
Back 3: Hogg, Graham, Maitland, Kinghorn, McGuigan
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I find it takes less time to write more rather than less.
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It that a linear scale based on nos of words? So if that post took you 10 minutes we can look forward to an equivalent of War & Peace in approximately 0.01 seconds
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Speaking of time, my brain’s away.
Thought TB would be back by then but maybe I’m wrong?
Anyway, think you’re right about Lowe. For some reason I thought he qualified at the end of last year. Ignore me.
Not picking POM in the squad would cause a massive ruckus but 1) he’s not worth a place because of long-term being rubbish and 2) maybe the thing to jolt him back into form (if that’s possible) is a bit of honesty in selection.
Especially as Doris looks the business, while Connors and Deegan have also been excellent, albeit mostly crushing weaklings flailing in the face of their monstrous blue devils. However, O’Donoghue is an interesting one. I’d come to think he would be one of those U20 superstars who never quite adapts his game when he ceases to be a total dominator without the need for effort. This year he’s really stepped up, though.
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@Chimpie – yes.
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Last post took ages.
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Right, I really do have to go work. Will drop in later. Working till 9pm at least, today. Balls.
Oh, Ulster are good. I’m a firm Belfast realist and am happy to ride this wave while it lasts. We’re good. Don’t think we’re winning-in-the-Marcel-Michelin good but looking forward to the weekend anyway. Think we can make them work for it. Ulster are good. Savoury.
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Right if Lazza gets to do it, so do I:
LH: Wyn Jones, CarrĂ©, Evans – Smith sucks so doesn’t make the cut, CarrĂ© can’t get a game, Evans is miles off last year’s form and Wyn Jones is serviceable. Overall rating: weak
Hooker: Ken, Dee, Elias – fine. Overall rating: tidy
TH: Dillz, Brown, WillGriff John – Guess work here as WG John is getting talked up and I only remember him as a powder puff scrummager that was Scott Andrews-lite. Dillz has played once since the RWC, Fatty Francis is too fat to play (injured, truthfully) and Brown is an awful technician in the tight. Overall rating: piss weak
Locks: President Jones, Beard, Ball, BAILLCH (British and Irish Lions Legend Cory Hill) – fine, same bunch as last year. Overall rating: half-tidy
Back row: Taulupe, Wainwright, Tipuric, Navidi, Shingler, Moriarty, Griffiths – Pivac is picking Shingler whether Iksy likes it or not. The starters should be Taulupe, Wainwright + 1. If they’re going to pick an 8th ‘rower, then pick Basham who’s a proper hard twonk. Griffiths makes Warburton look durable but Pivac was talking him up so… overall rating: better than 10 Superbowls. Better than 19 Superbowls if Ellis comes back okay next season
SH: Tomos, Davies, G & whoever. Don’t care. Pick Tomos and sit back. overall rating: tidy
The Tenz: Everyone loves Dan Biggar, Jarrod, Sam Davies – not great. Can’t really play Turkball with Biggar, can’t trust Jarrod. overall rating: worrying
Centrez: Parkesy and whoever else is standing. Probably Scott Williams, Watkin will make some of the 6N. Too early for Benny T. Tyler Morgan looks done, wouldn’t surprise me to see Adams play 13 v Italy. overall rating: let’s not talk about it
Wingz: Adams, North, Lane Train, McTurkle, Amos Exprezz – overall rating: choo choo
FB: Halfpenny, Liam might be fit? – overall rating: good to tidy
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Clermont are pretty loose even at home. Trouble is they can score a lot very quickly. Your attack’s better than either Bath or Harlequins so you stand a chance. On the other hand, they’re attack is serieux.
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