IRELAND: No Backspace
A brief, incomprehensive preview of Ireland’s Six Nations 2020, written fast
Having muffed the entire last calendar year, Irish rugby returns to Europe feeling sorry for itself. The normal provincial success continues, but means nothing come the bitter dawn of the first weekend of February. It’s Six Nations time.
Daddy Faz is our new leader and he’s talked a lot of fan-service shite about how we’ll be a pure-running Irish team, ferocious and feral and flames for eyes. His actual vision for the side will get its first public airing this weekend. Many of the personnel are the same as the World Cup – too many, in a particular rather than strategic sense – but this still represents a period of major change.
Yet change is not to be feared. The history of Ireland at Rugby World Cups shows that a constant state of flux is, paradoxically, needed to maintain standards as well as develop them. 2019 was as clear an example as 2007 of the desiccated horror of trying to take a successful side that has just hit a peak and shield it from the passage of time. The only ways to stop a tiger changing daily are death and taxidermy.
And, so, we come to another paradox. Minimal changes of personnel at this time are not necessarily expressions of fear of that which is new. We could have bucked out everyone over the age of 30 – but we’re not picking the 2023 World Cup team in January 2020. We must be prepared to keep evolving in perpetuity. No need for do-something panic now.
This weekend’s team:
Spuds: Healy, Herring, Furlong, Henderson, Ryan, Stander, van der Flier, Doris
Gravy: Murray, Sexton, Stockdale, Aki, Ringrose, Conway, Larmour
Seconds: Kelleher, Kilcoyne, Porter, Toner, O’Mahony, Cooney, Ross Byrne, Henshaw
Johnny Sexton is the captain, and this is OK. He remains our best ten by a way and is one of a handful of nailed-on starters. If there is an issue with his captaincy, it’s not his age or his ability – it’s his captaincy. The key part of the job is dealing with the ref and, while he seems a charming and self-effacing man when in his civvies, game-day Johnny Sexton is an insufferable wanker. He makes enemies of the whistlers and, while recently he has tried smiling and coercion (and looked unnatural doing so), he’s only one perceived affront away from calling Romain Poîte a brainless snaildick. Contrast with your memories of perfect-son-in-law Sam Warburton and the issue is clear.
Conor Murray’s selection is a poor call. Conor of the past 12 months or so is not the champion player of the years prior. He’s not been bad, per se, and his imperiousness may still return. The issue is alternatives. John Cooney has been the most influential player in Europe this year.
Peter O’Mahony has been unshovellable shite for a year and the fact he made the Six Nations squad at all should have been questioned. Overall, his previous body of work makes that the right call – but picking him in a match-day 23 is frankly the wrong choice. The starting back row looks well-balanced, and chucking 21-year-old Doris straight in barely feels like a risk. However, Max Deegan or Jack O’Donoghue should be on the bench – with the choice of which made on a tactical and stylistic basis rather than trying to decide which of the two great athletes in great form best deserve the number 20 shirt.
Anyway, it’s just one weekend. The variable calls:
- which of four centres gets to play beside Ringrose?
- Larmour or Addison, or maybe both?
- the selected front rows look like our best six, but each of the calls could go either way – do we have a best front row, and do we even need a clear starting trio?
And so we will have room to breathe over the course of the tournament. A tournament we can win (we won’t, England will).
Now is the time for experimentation, to a point. But Andy Farrell does not get a free hit. Anything less than three wins is failure and, ultimately, we’re in it to win it.
Scotland by 50.
ENDS
Preview courtesy of EnzoM
WALES: The Dog That Didn’t Know Whether to be Under or Over
With apologies to Edmund Spenser:
One day they wrote his name upon the sheet,
But at night I came and washed it all away.
Again they wrote it in media and tweet
But in I crept, and made the twittering my prey.
Vain man! cried they, to wipe his name away
A frightening act, a cruel spine-tingler
To ensure Wayne Pivac forgets Aaron Shingler
Link to Squad for the 2020 Guinness Six Nations
Team to play Italy in Cardiff:
Leigh Halfpenny; Johnny McNicholl, George North, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Tomos Williams; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Dillon Lewis, Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Rob Evans, Leon Brown, Cory Hill, Ross Moriarty, Rhys Webb, Jarrod Evans, Nick Tompkins.
Endings & Beginnings
As Wales sings Po Atarau / Now is the Hour to bid a fond farewell to Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards, and a jauntier ‘I’ll Bet you a Kangaroo’ to help Howley hop off, the mood in the Heimat is unexpectedly optimistic.
Wayne Pivac seems to have seamlessly sewn himself into Warren’s catsuit, sorry tracksuit, and the players have gone through the four stages of post-RWC grief faster than a Greased-Zammit down a slippurly slurp℠.
Rather than the sour reek of sweaty anxiety, there’s the fresh morning air of new dawns and bright horizons. Players appear well-rested and happy to be in the new coaching set-up, and the injuries are not casting long shadows over the squad, even though some top players and Handsome Legends are missing.
But…
It’s in times like these that Wales can turn in some honking performances, especially in their opening 6N encounters at home, when all the optimism and expectation dissolves into blunt, turgid attack and weak, chaotic defence. Home cheers fade into murmurings about the bloody roof being open. Or closed.
But fair’s fair, a good old underdogging seems inappropriate, so like a Frankfurter in a bap I will settle for some in-between dogging followed by complete fantasy with my forecasts.
Saturday’s Match vs Italy
Wales have opted for a solid start, fielding an experienced line-up and just one new cap. We’ve flirted with North at 13 before and not much happened, good or bad. These days George is a more seasoned and moderate player, no longer the impetuous young buck throwing homophobes over his shoulder for fun. George has never been great positionally, but I hope his experience and maturity nails the position down for the duration of the Championship.
McNicholl is the only first-capper and Halfpenny’s selection at 15 is a wise move, so we should see some exciting counterattacking running from our Welsh Johnny. Let’s hope it doesn’t lead to a lot of turnovers because his teammates can’t keep up.
Wales are likely to creak in the scrum, but lineouts should be efficient enough with Tipuric and Wainwright doing a lot of the leaping at the tail. As great as it is to see Faletau back, I’m not getting carried away as it is still a long way back to his 2015 Lions Tour form and fitness.
Ball will no doubt go about his ball-carrying like a pig snouts truffle, but he makes some hard yards and plenty of tackles. AWJ will hopefully be his niggly, majestic self and lead from the front.
Prediction: a stuttering 23-11 Wales victory.
Round 2. Away to Ireland
Our first away match is against Ireland, and the Irish look like tournament favourites with both a strong team littered with in-form players, and the desire to lay to rest their World Cup ghosts and memories.
Unfortunately, Scotland seem determined to undermine their own chances in the opener against Ireland, so Wales will be up against a green wave of Grand Slam expectation.
Prediction: a brave effort but a narrow 29-23 Welsh defeat.
Fantasy Rugby 1. Home to France
I think France are really fed-up of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory against Wales, and this will be a big match for them. Time to unburden some true Welsh pessimism and imagine the worst.
After a bruising encounter in Dublin, Faletau leaves for an early Bath with another broken arm-bone. North and Halfpenny haven’t recovered from their HIAs and Greased-Zammit starts on the wing with Welsh Johnny switching to full back. Pivac has his full ‘Welsh Way’ moment and picks Willowy Shingler at 6, drafts Owen Williams into inside centre to replace a stolid Mr. Glue, with Bury my Heart at Watkin’s Knee selected at OC.
Big Dan Biggar spends the entire match kicking grubbers into the French in-goal area for Zammit to chase like a spaniel. France score five breakaway tries and Owen Williams reveals his wonky temperament by being red carded for scramming Fickou in the face during a touchline tussle.
Prediction: Wales lose 13-49 and Barry John calls for Pivac to be replaced by Rob Howley
Fantasy Rugby 2. The Miracle in Twickenham
After the madness in Cardiff, normal service is resumed and Wales return to full strength, except for Faletau. Halfpenny and North are recalled, and Liam starts on the wing. Wainwright replaces Shingles, and a fired-up Moriarty comes in at 8.
England are marching towards a Slam after victories over France, Scotland, and the BIG ONE against Ireland. Eddie is basking in a contract extension until 2027, making him the best paid coach in RU history.
After 60 minutes England are winning comfortably without stretching away. Pivac plays his joker and turns to his Dragons on the bench. Dee for Owens, Brown for Lewis, Hill for Ball, and squad replacement Tyler Morgan for wee Georgie North.
My-oh-my, what a comeback. A brace from Brown and a classic outside break from Morgan brings the score back to within one point. Greased-Zammit enters the fray while England are camped on the Welsh 5-metre line with 5 minutes to go.
A re-set scrum and Dee strikes against the head! Tomos feeds Biggar who feigns a touch-kick but slips a pass to Morgan. A step sends Billy V into Row C, creating space to free Zammit! Zammit scorches the length of the field to score like a Welsh Andy Hancock – in half the time.
Prediction: England 21-25 Wales
Fantasy Rugby 3. Highland Flings in Cardiff
After their surprise win against France, new Scottish Player-Coach Finn Russell selects the same team while captaining the side for the second time. Wales are also unchanged.
Both sides are committed to playing high-risk running rugby under a closed roof. Madness ensues, and the game ends 49-all, while breaking all records for the highest number of knock-ons ever recorded in an international rugby match. Finn invites both sides for a celebratory night out in Newport, where more pints are spilled than consumed. News comes in from Scotland that Toony and Hoggy have eloped. Jim Telfer’s neck explodes.
Preview courtesy of MisterIks
On the telly this week (SIX NATIONS!!!)
Friday 31st January
| Blues v Chiefs | 06:05 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Brumbies v Reds | 08:15 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Sharks v Bulls | 17:10 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Ireland U20 v Scotland U20 | 19:15 | YouTube / RTÉ TWO |
| Wales U20 v Italy U20 | 19:35 | S4C |
Saturday 1st February
| Sunwolves v Melbourne Rebels | 03:45 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Crusaders v Waratahs | 06:05 | Sky Sports Mix |
| Stormers v Hurricanes | 13:05 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Wales v Italy | 14:15 | BBC One / S4C |
| Cheetahs v Southern Kings | 15:00 | Freesports |
| Ireland v Scotland | 16:45 | ITV |
| France U20 v England U20 | 20:00 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Los Jaguares v Lions | 23:00 | Sky Sports Mix |
Sunday 2nd February
| France v England (women) | 12:30 | Sky Sports Mix |
| Exeter v Harlequins | 13:00 | BT Sport 2 |
| Wales v Italy (women) | 13:00 | BBC Two Wales |
| Ireland v Scotland (women) | 13:00 | BBC Alba / red button |
| France v England | 15:00 | BBC One |
Ovally Balls 
‘Mr. Craigsman, we would like to begin the interview with you sitting in the chair, not on the ceiling.’
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We’ve got a dangerous bakery/cafe up the road from us, Craigs. They do wicked pastries and bread… and coffee.
The place used to be a knocking shop
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I wonder if we’ll see a change in England’s tactics this week? Mako will be handy for the odd charge, but generally we’ve got a powerful front five, mobile back row, three kicking half backs and then some quick lads. Might we be going down the SA/Schmidt’s Ireland kick chase kick chase kick chase route? Think we can expect England to play a lot less with ball in hand this weekend. Could backfire spectacularly if the Scottish backs see holes opening up in front of them, or if the weather disrupts England’s play.
Either way, I’m calling Scotland by 10.
Jones oot.
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its going to be tricky to kick well with the kind of wins forecast. Could be an old fashioned set piece battle.
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Exeter finally purged from the 23.
Perhaps LC-D has said something naughty?
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Would have preferred a dry, non-windy day TBH
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Bollix Johnson has a nice ring to it.
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Slade, which channel was showing France’s training? If you missed most of it, you may be able to catch it on replay?
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Ah! – talking bollix
LC-D wife in labour and Devoto on the bench
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Bollix seems to be the word du jour.
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Flair
I think it must have been Tout le Sport on Channel 3
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Starting with Heinz is England biggest change. The rest is basically the team that closed the game in Paris.
Bad weather, it will be kicks and chase, lots of scrums without a specialist 8? And with a FB who lacks confidence…
There’ll be huge pressure on the losing side. Mmmm… tasty.
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Slade, am not sure but F3’s TLS could be on replay, from today on.
Comment va le genou?
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Last week the midfield maul, this week the 6-2 bench split.
‘Rassie, I just can’t get you out my head………’
p.s. Another great @squiderugby video up this morning of Le Crunch last week.
And while you’re at it, always worth rewatching:
https://squidgeproductions.com/so-how-did-south-africa-win-the-rugby-world-cup-final-the-squidge-report/
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We could do a lot worse than just employing the ‘chuck it to Jonny’ strategy.
Mix it up with a bit of ‘kick it for Jonny’, just to keep the on their toes.
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WALES TEAM TO PLAY IRELAND (Saturday February 8 KO 14.15 ITV & S4C)
15. Leigh Halfpenny (86 Caps)
14. George North (92 Caps)
13. Nick Tompkins (1 Cap)
12. Hadleigh Parkes (26 Caps)
11. Josh Adams (22 Caps)
10. Dan Biggar (80 Caps)
9. Tomos Williams (17 Caps)
1. Wyn Jones (23 Caps)
2. Ken Owens (74 Caps)
3. Dillon Lewis (23 Caps)
4. Jake Ball (43 Caps)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (C) (135 Caps)
6. Aaron Wainwright (19 Caps)
7. Justin Tipuric (73 Caps)
8. Taulupe Faletau (73 Caps)
Replacements:
16. Ryan Elias (10 Caps)
17. Rhys Carre (6 Caps)
18. Leon Brown (7 Caps)
19. Adam Beard (20 Caps)
20. Ross Moriarty (42 Caps)
21. Dai from Pentyrch (Uncapped)
22. Owen Williams (3 Caps)
23. Johnny McNicholl (1 Cap)
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Who is Dai from Pentyrch?
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Good: Tompkins, obviously.
Bad: 1 & 4. This was the obvious game to pick Beard with Hill benching.
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Sorry, that should be Gareth Davies. I was hoping it was Dai but he’s missed out again
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Fuck I’m feeling wired. Hopefully the come down will be in at least an hour.
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Dunno. I like Jake Ball and he is a good foil for AWJ.
Pretty must the best XV available imho, except would have put Carre in for Jones.
Dont like the bench. Dont see what Beard adds as a bench player and dont rate MacNicholl as anything other than “solid”. Would far rather see Evans than O Williams.
If Ireland want to be cynical, knacker Biggar and Wales are done.
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They’d never do that.
I see little in Ball as an international player. Yes he works hard and carries a lot but he’s pretty average at everything, including his carrying. The other locks are better players.
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strong team. Biggest game of the weekend
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‘pretty average at everything’
Will say this to gloss over my strengths and weaknesses.
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I’d take that description as high praise.
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Daly and Furbank are going to be getting a lot of high balls on the weekend. England should drop Ludlam back to cover rather than Curry.
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Sutherland, Brown, Fagerson, Gray, Cummings, Ritchie, Watson, Bradbury
Price, Hastings, Kinghorn, Johnson, Jones, Maitland, Hogg
McInally, Dell, Berghan, Toolis, Haining, Horne, Hutchinson, Harris
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I’m gutted for Matt Scott, he is playing really well.
Otherwise, this is probably Plan A and would have been the side last weekend if the lurgy hadn’t struck.
Luke Crosbie will be in that side soon
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Surprised Scott doesnt get in, quality player and now seems back to his best after all the injuries. Johnsons and Jones are good players, but would have Scott over either one (or indeed over Harris)
Price over Horne is an interesting one too. Dont know much of Sutherland.
Also dont know what the options are on the wing with Graham injured and vd Merwe not qualified, but dont really think Kinghorn is a great wing. FB or nothing
Hastings looks the part, and that is an abrasive back row
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Utna, Kinghorn is the quickest player in the squad, according to Townsend. He hasn’t had a lot of experience at wing, but he is growing into it.
There was some fuss made over his defence of the high ball last weekend, I’m pretty sure that under different circumstances Larmour and Conway would both have received yellow cards for taking him out whilst he was in the air – if you get a chance/have the inclination have a look at 66mins in that game, Larmour clatters into Kinghorn when he is off the ground and Larmour doesn’t even pretend to raise his arms – the ref was only a few metres away and looking straight at it
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@ticht
Fair enough. I just felt watching him that he always looks to cut inside, rather than the outside arc of thr natural wing. Talented player though.
I didnt watch the games all that closely last weekend (non rugby related boring reasons), hence lack of comment here. Looking forward to this weekend’s action
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I can see the point of the Harris/Hutchinson combo on the bench, the first covers wing and centre, possibly full back but we already have three players to do that. Hutchinson covers 10-13, Scott only really gives you cover for both centres.
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“Fair enough. I just felt watching him that he always looks to cut inside, rather than the outside arc of thr natural wing. ”
This is fair comment and I don’t think he’ll ever be that “natural wing”, he was one of the guys who is the best player in the team so played 10 at school and for the Scotland age groups, the switch to full back accommodated his best mate Adam Hastings.
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@Flair
The knee’s surprisingly good, thanks.
Can bend it ti 80 degrees already and also lay the back of it flat on a bench (not done that for a few years).
Still pretty achy/painful so taking lots of paracetamol/tramadol daily.
However, really chuffed and lots of free kine on the French system.
Physio says don’t go too fast.
Stitches out next week.
Still wearing full length white pressure stocking for that complete Louis XIV look!
All the focus on the knee has completely distracted attention from my hip, which is now woking great fter lots of rest.
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Good stuff Slade, speedy recovery.
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WALES TEAM TO PLAY IRELAND
Glad Tompkins is in
would have liked to see
DaiGareth Davies start so he could renew his special relationship with SextonSurprised to see Evans dropped but I suppose they get to see Owen Williams
Think Cory Hill has a bad leg
Webb is not ready (yet)
Bit worried about North under the high ball and thought McTurk could have been better
Overall, as good as we could expect.
Ireland by 47
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OK no surprises for Scotland. As expected.
England by 67
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dogged
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I hadn’t realised that Jaco Kriel had joined Deebee’s Lions from Gloucester already. Not playing yet because he is, of course, injured,
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I wonder if Gloucester let Kriel go due to salary cap stuff or Lions was just daft enough to sign him and pay for the operation he is having.
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He’s a good player. I actually saw him play live twice. First in 2014 and then in his comeback game in 2016.
(Not true. But I think he ended up on the wing for the Boks against Aussie in the 2016 match).
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Good for you Slade, and enjoy the kiné sessions!
Am also on Tramadol after half breaking a rib. That and tooth implants in the same week. Oh, thanks for the modern medical supplies! And for the 6N that keep me entertained at this time of the year.
Watched the squidge video recommended by Gecko. Funny and sharp.
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Flair – did you watch the Squide video posted this morning on Sunday’s Fr-Eng game or the RWC final one? In fact, both are funny. For the rest, just look for Squide Rugby on youtube.
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@Flair
rather you than me! sounds a nasty combination!
good luck and speedy recovery
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Gecko, I watched both and enjoyed them both. A bit fast for me ( had to “rewind” several times) but excellent analysis – which means… I learnt something. Actually I also watched his analysis of France before the tournament, it’s very good too.
Slade, am fine if a bit slowed down by the pills. Perfect excuse to be pampered at home for a few days.
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I tend to watch Squidge with my finger hovered over the pause button.
Speaking of which…
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So my second interview today went well. So much so that I am going to the next stage on Monday. Trying not to jinx everything though.
This afternoon I’ve been sat on the sofa with Mrs Craig’s drinking beer and generally enjoying life and then, to cap off a very fine day for me personally, my son came home and said he’d scored 2 tries and got Maro of the match in his touch rugby. He’s a fe 13 apparently.
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Bit quiet, so perfect time for space news…
Another great initiative from the ladz over at XSpace. I don’t need a full rocket just yet, but I could squeeze a little bit of cargo on their next trip.
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Must be the tie.
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Vakatawa out for the game vs Italy. Triceps injury.
It’s “only” Italy but he’ll be missed as France’s trying to improve their attack.
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