SCOTLAND: Ivanhalfback (nae, not really)
2019 was a sub-optimal year for the national team, comprising a pretty crappy Six Nations, followed by an abject failure to get out of the group at the World Cup (which had been a fear of this correspondent for a while). This on the back of a promising couple of years of third place in the 6N and some notable scalpings of Australia, and so nearly the ABs. So, a distinct downturn in fortunes.
Coaching Team
Toonie is still in place having been given the benefit of the doubt after Japan, albeit with a slightly re-vamped supporting team, including Steve Tandy to shore up a distinctly porous defence. Forwards coach Danny Wilson will stay in place till the summer until he takes over at Glasgow. He came with a decent rep but forward play has gone backwards since the Norn Gibbons thieved McFarland.
What ‘they’ are saying
Lunatic Fringe: Toonie oot! Catastrophe! Dodson! Money! Vern woulda won the world cup! Wurr Doommmed!! *froth* *froth*
Average Fan: Townsend really needs to turn things around, another bad 6N and his coat will be on a distinctly shoogly peg.
There has been a fair bit of angst about letting Big Vern go too early, but that ship has well and truly sailed. The fact remains that, after a couple of promising years, there was a complete failure on the biggest stage with a supposedly strong squad. The team looked predictable in attack with a leaky defence, and the much-vaunted fitness looked distinctly absent. Much of this has to land at the coaching team’s door; the question is, can they learn and turn it around? They seemed worryingly short of ideas and explanations last year.
Squad
LH Prop: Bhatti, Dell, Sutherland
Well, they are all fit & play pro rugby. Dell has been the first choice, and is probably the front runner. Not the strongest in the scrum but handy in the loose, although he has not been seeing significant game time for L’Irish. Bhatti has shown flashes of quality in recent years, but is not a regular club starter. Sutherland looked very good a few years ago before suffering bad injury, but could be the best of the lot if he gets his previous form back.
Hookers: Brown, McInally, Turner
Probably in that order. Handy enough options; McInally could do with rediscovering some form, though. Turner has some question marks over his tight work and darts.
Tichtheid: Berghan, Fagerson, Nel
Z-Fags probably the front runner here; has been on fine form for Glasgow in the loose. His scrummaging may not be his strongest point, and hopefully he’ll keep his discipline and not get distracted by some zand-bags. Nel can scrum still, but seems to be fading a bit in the loose. Berghan probably in third place as a kind of inverse-Nel.
Second row: Craig, Cummings, Gilchrist, Gray, Toolis
Still no real idea about Craig. The other options are serviceable internationals without being stellar, although Cummings still has development to do. Tackling Machine Gray & Cummings to start for me, with Gilchrist on the bench, or Toolis if we want to improve the lineout. The injured larger Gray and Skinner could feature at some point.
Back Row: Bradbury, Crosbie, DuPreez, Gordon, Haining, Ritchie, Watson
With injuries / form this is probably the best and most in-form possible line up. Notable absentees include the legend Barclay who has retired from internationals, Wilson (a first for a Townsend squad) and the injured Thomson & Fagerson the younger. First choices likely to be Bradbury, Ritchie and Watson. Other spots are more up for grabs. CDP has staged a revival after a horrific throat injury, although his last international appearance did not go well. Haining has appeared from nearly nowhere to have some storming performances for Edinburgh; one of these could fulfil the hard-running 8 role we need. Crosbie has also been in fine form of late, but is likely to play a more minor role behind the others. Gordon along for the experience.
Scrum half: Horne, Price, Pyrgos
Not many other choices. Maybe it’s time for Horne to show his stuff as a starter, but other choices way behind the first two until some youngsters come through. Nae depth.
Outside Half: Hastings, Russell
Dancin’ Finn first, then Hastings. Any injuries and it’ll be Weir or Horne getting the call. Nae depth (again).
Centres: Harris, Hutchinson, Johnson, Jones, Scott
Well, this is a conundrum and no mistake. We had nearly no un-injured centres last year now we’ve got too many. Typical. The fit & firing Bennett, Taylor and Horne all miss out which would have almost unthinkable not too long back. At IC Hutchinson has been on fine form for the Saints, Johnson has a lot of goodwill in the bank for his form in the last couple of years and Scott has staged a big comeback season at Edinburgh, cutting some fantastic lines and looking fit and fast. I’d probably go in the order Scott, Hutch, Johnson. Harsh, but someone on form is going to miss out. As for OC, Jones has finally returned to form for Glasgow and I’d have him start. Harris is a more solid option, but I’m not completely sold although he seems to be going OK at Glaws. He could have the bench spot nailed down, though.
Wings: Graham, Maitland, McGuigan, Steyn, Tagive
Graham & Maitland nailed on IMO with the others trailing. Graham offers something none of the others do, and Treacle Toes is a classy and competent player. McGuigan next off the rank in case of injury.
Hogg, Kinghorn
Well Hogg is el capitano, so he’ll be starting. Kinghorn could be bench fodder depending on how the subs shape up, or even start on the wing if we have back 3 injuries.
Fixtures & Predictions. Optimism Status: Low
Ireland away first up. Scotland’s record at the start of tournaments, especially away is, well, pish. It seems every time we rock up with some confidence and seem bemused when the opposition turn up and it all goes to pot. Unfortunately, I expect this game to be no different.
Next up is England at Murrayfield. We got the Calcutta Cup in this fixture two years ago, and retained it in that crazy game at Twickenham last year. Doubt England will be taking this one for granted, and despite Scotland recovering from a classic first game meltdown we’ll probably lose.
Italy Away. Haven’t lost to Italy for a while. Don’t think we will this time but you never know.
France! At Murrayfield! We tend to win against France at home these days. Might even do it this time, depending if the French Kidz get it together or not. Wales. Away. Well, we don’t tend to win there, do we.
Preview courtesy of Chimpie
FRANCE: A Sleeping Giant or a Fully-awake Midget?
Between 2000 and 2010, France won the Six Nations five times (four Grand Slams), finished second twice, third thrice and fifth just once.
Between 2011 and 2019, France finished second once (and that was in 2011), third once, fourth five times, fifth once and sixth once.
Even Bernard Laporte could see a pattern there. Ten years of rot and decadence and it could get worse, as fewer kids embraced the game, deterred by the lack of heroes and the increasing risks.
In the meantime, the French clubs were doing rather well in the big European Cup as they provided six winners and twelve runners-up (England 8 and 4, Ireland 6 and 4). In the Top 14, the stadia are packed even for the worst dirge served by – here insert your least favourite club, be it Castres, Lyon or Brive.
So basically, the players are there, albeit still propped by too many excellent foreigners, the public is there, so what’s wrong? A bit like the England centres conundrum or a conversation about the weather: everybody knows, but it functions as a social lubricant.
To make a very long story a bit shorter, the FFR has forced the hand of the clubs: they must have an ever-increasing number of French qualified players in their squad, or else they face points deductions and financial penalties (but not quite Saracenesque). It is starting to pay dividends, hence the huge number of uncapped players in the squad. The FFR then appointed a new set of coaches (Galthié, Labit, Edwards etc) who for once seem to have the basic understanding of the game and with a contract that runs until the next RWC. The clubs have now released 42 players (it used to be only 32) for the national squad and for a longer period. So what’s not to like?
The 14 players not kept in the squad by Galthié will go and play with their clubs since as usual the Top 14 will carry on during the 6N.
It goes like this:
| 6N dates for France | Top 14 main feature |
|---|---|
| Jan 25: Toulouse/Bordeaux | |
| Feb 1: England (home) | |
| Feb 8: Italy (home) | |
| Feb 15: Racing / Toulouse, Bordeaux / Lyon | |
| Feb 22: Wales (away) | Feb 22: Clermont/Bordeaux, Lyon/Racing, Toulouse/Montpellier |
| Feb 29: Racing/La Rochelle | |
| March 8: Scotland (away) | |
| March 14: Ireland (home) |
So expect injuries and more moaning from the clubs. Plus, it is difficult for Galthié to select two hookers from the same club, should they be the best in the country. For instance, one of Mauvaka and Marchand (or Dupont and Bézy) will not play for France during the 6N, whereas they probably would in a RWC.
Here is the first list of the 42. I left it in French, for your own good.
Premières lignes : Dorian Aldegheri (Stade Toulousain, 26 ans, 4 sélections), Cyril Baille (Stade Toulousain, 26 ans, 17 sélections), Demba Bamba (Lyon, 21 ans, 7 sélections), Camille Chat (Racing 92, 24 ans, 26 sélections), Anthony Etrillard (Toulon, 26 ans, 0 sélection), Jean-Baptiste Gros (Toulon, 20 ans, 0 sélection), Mohamed Haouas (Montpellier, 25 ans, 0 sélection), Julien Marchand (Stade Toulousain, 24 ans, 2 sélections), Jefferson Poirot (Bordeaux-Bègles, 27 ans, 33 sélections)
Deuxièmes lignes : Cyril Cazeaux (Bordeaux-Bègles, 24 ans, 0 sélection), Killian Geraci (Lyon, 20 ans, 0 sélection), Bernard Le Roux (Racing 92, 30 ans, 37 sélections), Boris Palu (Racing 92, 23 ans, 0 sélection), Romain Taofifenua (Toulon, 29 ans, 14 sélections), Paul Willemse (Montpellier, 27 ans, 3 sélections)
Troisièmes lignes : Grégory Alldritt (La Rochelle, 22 ans, 11 sélections), Dylan Cretin (Lyon, 22 ans, 0 sélection), François Cros (Stade Toulousain, 25 ans, 2 sélections), Alexandre Fischer (Clermont, 21 ans, 0 sélection), Sekou Macalou (Stade Français, 24 ans, 1 sélection), Charles Ollivon (cap, Toulon, 26 ans, 11 sélections), Selevasio Tolofua (Stade Toulousain, 22 ans, 0 sélection), Cameron Woki (Bordeaux-Bègles, 21 ans, 0 sélection)
Demis de mêlée : Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain, 23 ans, 20 sélections), Maxime Lucu (Bordeaux-Bègles, 26 ans, 0 sélection), Baptiste Serin (Toulon, 25 ans, 33 sélections)
Demis d’ouverture : Louis Carbonel (Toulon, 20 ans, 0 sélection), Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux-Bègles, 21 ans, 1 sélection), Romain Ntamack (Stade Toulousain, 20 ans, 12 sélections)
Centres : Gaël Fickou (Stade Français, 25 ans, 51 sélections), Julien Hériteau (Toulon, 25 ans, 0 sélection), Virimi Vakatawa (Racing 92, 27 ans, 21 sélections), Arthur Vincent (Montpellier, 20 ans, 0 sélection)
Ailiers : Gervais Cordin (Toulon, 21 ans, 0 sélection), Lester Etien (Stade Français, 24 ans, 0 sélection), Gabriel Ngandebe (Montpellier, 22 ans, 0 sélection), Damian Penaud (Clermont, 23 ans, 16 sélections), Vincent Rattez (La Rochelle, 27 ans, 3 sélections), Teddy Thomas (Racing 92, 26 ans, 16 sélections)
Arrières : Anthony Bouthier (Montpellier, 27 ans, 0 sélection), Kylan Hamdaoui (Stade Français, 25 ans, 0 sélection), Thomas Ramos (Stade Toulousain, 24 ans, 9 sélections)
Peato Mauvaka (Stade Toulousain, 23 ans, 1 sélection) replaces Etrillard, injured.
19 uncapped players, but most of them won’t play. Interesting to note that – probably looking for established familiarity – Galthié has selected pairs of SH/FH: Dupont / Ntamack from Toulouse, Serin / Carbonnel from Toulon, Lucu /Jalibert from Bordeaux. I wonder if he’ll associate them.
Some striking omissions: Slimani, Lauret, Iturria, Raka, Bézy, Iribaren, Vahaa, Médard, Huget. Some of these may join the squad later in case of injuries.
Who will start vs England? Probably these guys:
Poirot, Chat, Bamba
Le Roux, Taofifenua
Ollivon, Alldritt, Cros
Dupont, Ntamack
Fikou, Vakatawa
Penaud, Ramos, Thomas
Bench: Aldegheri, Baille, Marchand, Willemse, Macalou, Serin, Jalibert, Hamdaoui.
What to expect?
Galthié is quite pragmatic, but he will prioritise style and substance over results, as he knows he’ll have a bit of a honeymoon period with the public. He’s chosen fast and mobile forwards instead of the big lumps that Laporte and his cronies favoured — incidentally, this is why I think he’ll pick Willemse and Taofifenua to bring in some weight to his scrum, but in the long term I’m pretty sure he’ll go for Palu, Geraci,Cazeaux and the likes. France will try to play a fast running game. The emphasis put on the high tackles favour off loads and it suits the national rugby psyche.
Strengths: more time with the players, better players, better coaches, no baggage. Half the team was already there at the RWC. The backs are a real threat.
Weaknesses: The reserves are green, green, green. Ollivon is a great captain but how about other leaders? Pack’s a bit lightweight. Ramos is a good kicker, but not in the same class as Farrell or Sexton. Finally, the Feb/March weather won’t help running rugby.
In terms of results, I expect France to finish around third.
England will have too much for France, even in Paris. Then Italy should be a formality. Wales, without Vahaa, is intriguing and could go either way but I’d bet on a win for France. As in the WC, their backs have the edge. Scotland and France tend to play the same type of rugby but I think France will have too much power for Scotland (also it’s towards the end of the 6N, so injuries have a bigger impact on smaller squads). Ireland in Paris? Ireland are easy to read but hard to stop. If there is still someone standing, possibly a draw.
May I remind you all that Heidelberg, the temporary capital of rugby, will host a blog meet on March the 14th. In a place called the Dubliner Pub.
Coincidence? Methinks not.
Preview courtesy of Flair99
Further Reading
TomPirracas on hallucinations about Super Rugby.
On the telly this week
Friday 17th January
| Dragons 47 – 5 Enisei-STM | 20:00 | S4C / epcrugby.com |
| Worcester 27 – 33 Castres | 20:00 | epcrugby.com |
Saturday 18th January
| Lyon 24 – 36 Northampton | 13:00 | BT Sport 2 |
| Treviso 0 – 18 Leinster | 13:00 | BT Sport 3 |
| Cardiff 62 – 3 Calvisano | 13:00 | epcrugby.com |
| Pau 24 – 17 Leicester | 13:00 | epcrugby.com / BT Sport ESPN |
| Zebre v Bristol | 14:00 | epcrugby.com |
| Brive v Stade Français | 15:00 | epcrugby.com |
| Edinburgh v Agen | 15:00 | epcrugby.com |
| Wasps v Bordeaux | 15:00 | epcrugby.com |
| Ulster v Bath | 15:15 | BT Sport 2 |
| Harlequins v Clermont | 15:15 | Channel 4 / BT Sport 3 |
| Sale v Glasgow | 17:30 | BT Sport 3 |
| Exeter v La Rochelle | 17:30 | BT Sport 2 |
| London Irish v Scarlets | 20:00 | S4C / epcrugby.com |
| Toulon v Bayonne | 20:00 | epcrugby.com |
Sunday 19th January
| Spain v Scotland (women) | 11:00 | BBC Alba |
| Munster v Ospreys | 13:00 | BT Sport 3 |
| Saracens v Racing | 13:00 | BT Sport 2 |
| Toulouse v Gloucester | 15:15 | BT Sport 2 |
| Montpellier v Connacht | 15:15 | BT Sport 3 |
Ovally Balls 
TomP, you’re right about France being pinned in their 22 for most of the game in Dublin last year. Weak pack and poor kicks have more to do with it than Basta and Huget, indeed.
I’d pick Carbonel over Ntamack at FH, but as Ntamack was in Japan (I did not check but I think Carbonel was with the U20s), Galthié will probably associate him with Dupont.
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Chris Dean back after a torn pectoral (ouch!) – he’s been out for months. McKenzie too, back from injury, I think it was his back
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Weegies v Sale (check out no. 6)
1. Aki Seiuli (7)
2. Fraser Brown (98)
3. Zander Fagerson (90)
4. Scott Cummings (67)
5. Jonny Gray (109)
6. Leone Nakarawa (69)
7. Tom Gordon (14)
8. Ryan Wilson (C) (164)
9. Ali Price (85)
10. Adam Hastings (41)
11. DTH van der Merwe (121)
12. Sam Johnson (61)
13. Huw Jones (32)
14. Kyle Steyn (23)
15. Glenn Bryce (26)
Replacements
16. George Turner (44)
17. Oli Kebble (44)
18. Adam Nicol (16)
19. Rob Harley (226)
20. Chris Fusaro (175)
21. George Horne (52)
22. Pete Horne (164)
23. Niko Matawalu (124)
Not available due to injury: Andrew Davidson (foot), Matt Fagerson (rib), Bruce Flockhart (back), Siua Halanukonuka (calf), Sean Kennedy (shoulder), Johnny Matthews (ankle), Kiran McDonald (hip), Robbie Nairn (knee), D’arcy Rae (hand), Brandon Thomson (calf), Tommy Seymour (head), George Thornton (ankle) and Ratu Tagive (shoulder)
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@utna
I wasn’t being entirely serious. It’ll be nice to see a different style and some new players integrated into the setup.
I don’t think it’s fair to say that it all just fell into place at Llanelli. He built that team up, he identified players who came in and fitted his style and made a difference. The last 12 months there is definitely reason enough to have doubts, but he’s earned the chance and needs a fair crack.
What I will say is that Gatland’s ghost will loom large in the way that Alex Ferguson’s does over Man Utd. Some early silverware or a stonking win over a good team would go a long way to getting rid of that.
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flair, Carbonel was at the Under 20s. Kicked all of his kicks (or most of and enough to win the trophy) and was very good.
Woki was a fine age group player. Am really really looking forward to Jordan Joseph making it grown-up internationals. An ourstanding talent.
What’s Artur Vincent, the under 20 captain last year, up to now? He was classy.
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Shame Carbonel can only ever be the 3rd best player called Louis to make his international debut in the 2020s.
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I’m really looking forward to Louis Ludik playing for Ireland.
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4th best at best.
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TomP, Arthur Vincent unfortunately plays for the Montpellier Saffer franchise where it’s hard to shine. Nevertheless, he’s in the 42 list. Might play vs Italy.
Jordan Joseph is only 19, sometimes plays off the bench for Racing.
I think he’ll end up playing for France senior squad as well as two young props from the same club: Colombe and Kolingar. They look like locks and they run like flankers.
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I find it enfuriating that one of Scottish rugby’s best young prospects, Charlie Shiel, just isn’t getting game time
From analyses of Scotland’s squad that have been done in the last week, key weaknesses appear to be props, 9 & 10. Looking at that Edinburgh team sheet:
10. Jaco van der Walt (51)
9. Nic Groom (9) CAPTAIN
1. Pierre Schoeman (36)
3. WP Nel (137)
Cough. Cough.
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Oh, I missed Vincent’s name. Too many unknowns to me before I got tp the centres so had probably lost interest.
Aye, Joseph is in the Under 20 squad again.
One of those props scored against the Ospreys I think. He’s a gigantic size.
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Gloucester Rugby to face the might of Toulouse:
15.Jason Woodward; 14. Louis Rees-Zammit, 13. Billy Twelvetrees, 12. Mark Atkinson, 11. Ollie Thorley; 10. Lloyd Evans, 9. Willi Heinz (capt); 1. Val Rapava-Ruskin, 2. Todd Gleave, 3. Ciaran Knight; 4. Alex Craig, 5. Franco Mostert; 6. Jake Polledri, 7. Lewis Ludlow, 8. Ruan Ackermann
Replacements:
16.Henry Walker, 17. Alex Seville, 18. Josh Hohneck, 19. Gerbrandt Grobler, 20. Freddie Clarke, 21. Joe Simpson, 22. Owen Williams, 23. Tom Marshall
Hoping that the birthday celebrations extend to a situation where there’s something that we are part of that helps Saracens not qualify for the QFs. In reality grasping at the hope of a losing bonus point.
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Hickey on the bench as well, Deebeers.
It must be infuriating for you as a proud South African and a fan of Jozi’s finest that an ex-Bull like Schoeman didn’t follow the normal career path and wash up at the Temple of Lost Finals, Ellis Park.
All your three-quarter line for Sunday’s warm up are ex-Bulls. Sadly one is Duncan Matthews, one of my favourites.
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Deebee, Jaco will get a cap, every fucker gets a cap in Scotland, but he will be more of a Phil Burleigh one hit wonder rather than a WP Nel rock legend for us. Nel got us out of a large Euan Murray-shaped hole, we now have a couple of local young tightheads in the mix, Zander Fagerson being the leader of the errr, pack.
We are struggling for looseheads just now, Rory Sutherland was going to be great, but he had a couple of very serious injuries which threatened his ability to walk, let alone play rugby, it’s great to see him back and if he gets a clear run he will become our first choice loosehead, at least until Schoeman becomes available, and perhaps even then.
I can’t say I’m much impressed by Groom, Charlie Shiel is miles faster and more accurate in everything he does, but Richard Cockerill likes a Steady Eddie at scrum half
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Beadle, I feel a bit sorry for Thorley. He’s a good prospect as well but has been a little bit forgotten in the LRZ* hype machine.
* LRZ is obviously the greatest rugby player ever ever ever.
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The skipper, Jac Morgan, looks like another very good backrower in the making and Ioan Lloyd is the Lions outside half on the tours to South Africa in 2021, Australia in 2025, New Zealand in 2029 and Mars in 2033. Bevacqua highly rated, so too Carter, the Dragons lock.
Gethin is defence coach to whip them into shape.
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Even chimpie?
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Where’s Mason Grady, yos?
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Yos, what happened to the monster backrower, relative of the Vunipolae and Faletau? His old man play League, I think.
He’s not in the U18s is he? That would be carnage
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Carwyn? He’s still at school, ticht.
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Carwyn, yeah. He’s already played U20s though, hasn’t he?
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But then Dan John, Paul’s boy, is still a schoolboy.
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Look away, Martha
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Not yet. Did he play in that Under 19 v Scotland a few weeks ago?
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Ticht, his dad played for Neath (and other clubs I can’t remember). Union man.
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His name isn’t on the teamsheet.
We always get outgunned in the age groups, we had a good cohort a couple of years ago with Adam Hastings, Blair Kinghorn, Charlie Shiel, Jamie Ritchie, Magnus Bradbury, Luke Crosbie, the Fagersons all coming through at around the same time, but is really not the norm.
The new academies and Super 6 are supposed to address that.
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My mistake then, I thought he came from League
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@tomp
He’s not named for the 3rdz this weekend so he might have inherited his brother’s injury curse. I’ve noticed that there are a few others not named, like Teddy Williams who played last season and was U19 captain v Scotland before Christmas. Sometimes players skip the U20 6Ns if they’re playing big boy rugby. They both have another year at this age group mind.
Or it could be that there is just SO MUCH YOUNG WELSH TALENT that they can’t make the cut.
@ticht
Tuipulotu? I think he has another year at this age group, too. I’ve only seen him play once and I was pretty underwhelmed, truth be told. Still, he is the kind of lump that we don’t get too often and he might be a lot better than just the one match I’ve seen.
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@tomp works out quite well though. He’s quietly getting on with still being a grand prospect without getting overhyped himself. For example at the weekend just gone he reinvented the catch from the kick off by utilising a rope-a-dope technique, letting it bounce first then running it back for 85 metres.
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For Pratchett fans:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2020/jan/17/discworld-fans-are-right-to-be-nervous-about-the-bbcs-punk-rock-the-watch
sounds pretty horrific.
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ticht, I’m confidently predicting your Under 20s are going to win some silverware this year.
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“Saracens: Players could represent England if club relegated from Premiership”
Phew. Good news for the integrity of the International game.
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For those who want to know a bit more about Iribaren’s pass, read the BTL comment in the Pkanet Rugby article, by a guy called Felix Felix. And no, it’s not me.
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Good comedy.
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@TomP – “CMW, I’m not sure it’s ever happened in the 6 Nations.”
I didn’t think for a minute that it had, was just angling for you to do my dirty work on BB’s theory.
“You’d have to lose to Italy and beat England in the same season. ”
To be fair to BB’s theory Scotland have done this in 2000 when England were definitely the best team, but like Wales in 2007 Scotland didn’t beat anyone else.
Your Wales examples were the ones that came to mind for me as well. I would argue for 2007 given that England went on to make the World Cup final, but I get what you mean about it. 1993 and maybe 1989 would maybe come into consideration as well on the Wales front for the one win against the best side category.
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France were quite good in 1993. Also what happened to England in Dublin that year sticks long in the memory. That’s maybe the reverse. Beat the best two, lost to the worst two.
France just beat us and the Irish every year for about 20 years so it’d’ve been tough.
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Words Chimpie.
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Words Flair.
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If we don’t we should probably throw in the towel and take up shinty and curling as the national sports.
I don’t think the Cocks’ Cup is even on tv/ webcams, is it?
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I’ve just checked. Between 1976 and 1999 Ireland played France 25 times, won 1, drew 2.
Wales slightly better, but France still won 12 in a row against us.
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Actually, the U20s Trophy this year is to be held in Villajoyosa in September, from Wiki – “Villajoyosa, or La Vila Joiosa, is a coastal town and municipality in the Province of Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea. The town is known to the locals simply as La Vila.”
That would make for a really nice end of summer holiday.
Hrmm, I might count my pennies in ma wee purse.
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Ticht, it was a tough tournament for Scotland last year. Outjizzed by the jizzy sides – Fiji were brilliant in that last game – and outmuscled by muscular sides. Your hooker was just about the top try scorer I think,
This year’s event looks quite pleasant. Two weeks near Alicante in September. Would be a good holiday + guaranteed Scottish victories.
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Ah, while I was away you had the same thoughts.
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Ewan Ashman is the hooker, he’s been on loan at Edinburgh from Leicester, not sure if he has gone back yet or not.
I think he was born in Canada.
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Never won at Parc des Princes. But 54-70 only had 3 wins and a draw….
Had a mini run 71-75 W4, D1, L1 (won at old Stade Colombes in 1972, won in 1975 – WJMcB’s last game (scored a try as I recall), we played France in 72 again in lieu of Wales and Scotland scratching).
However, only lost once in the last 9 , so just possible we’ve broken that expectation that we’re going to lose. May still lose – but at least we don’t play as if we will anymore
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Don’t know Villajoyosa but Denia – up the coast on other side of Benidorm is nice.
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https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jan/17/saracens-salary-cap-premiership-relegation
Latest (Kitson @ 15h42) – seems like Saracens get a second 35pt deduction as they can’t get under the cap
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Trisk, the rumour going around is that they are £2M over, if so there is no chance of them getting under this season
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They’ve selected a full-strength squad for Sunday. I think they’ll win and qualify.
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It’s hard to imagine that this wasn’t already apparent when they got their original penalty and it seems odd to get punished twice, but so it goes.
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