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 
Missed that, Ticht. I keep the sound low. Keyse ( ex ASM.hooker) is great but the woman is unsufferable.
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France score from a close range scrum. England lead 24/19 with 12 minutes to go.
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Two YC for props. Ref getting tired of resetting scrums.
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Ouch, that has only improved the French scrum, they are some unit
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What a try!
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Crazy stuff here
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France score. 24/24 before conversion.
Best game of the say.
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Great atmosphere
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Great try by England at the last second. Great game! Wonderful spirit!
So much better than most pro games!
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Insane last 20 minutes
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Boo!
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Forget the score, Ticht. Two great teams, an excellent ref, some wonderful moves. I just hope tomorrow’s game will be just half as good.
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Flair, what is the equivalent of “Hear Hear” in French?
Whatever it is, I agree with your post
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Tough one.
A bit casual but:
D’accord, d’accord?
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Is that something that is used often, though?
“Hear Hear” is a bit posh, they use it in the House of Commons or when a speaker at a formal occasion says something you really agree with
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No real equivalent of the aye, aye or hear hear.
As you know, the French don’t do agreement easily.
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Closest would be ” bien dit”, I think.
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Yeah, it would probably be “Bravo!”
On another matter, I’ve just seen a gif of the Ach mein arsch thing that was so much a part of the early AOD.
I can’t find a way to post the gif, but if anyone has seen the new one, please do share it
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I remember that guy almost breaking his ass and still laughing. Stuff of legend!
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or even, now I think of it, in an informal setting you’d say “voila”, for “yeah, I agree with you”, but you stretch out the vowel sound in the middle
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I’m going to get on Duolingo to bring my French up to scratch, I’ve lost so much of it
The next world cup is a good target, I’d love to spend the whole period in France, and I’ve be fully retired by then, so nothing to stop me
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You mean this?
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Except Mrs Ticht?
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That is the one BB, and it remains one fo the funniest things I’ve seen on youtube.
The new one I saw is a digitally remastered thing of him shattering into a hundred pieces when he hits the ice
Mrs Ticht is up for the month in France BB, and whilst she has no interest in going to the games she will love going around the towns and villages.
Her French is rubbish, though
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My Scottish is rubbish, but I’d happily go to the games with you.
MrIks, I noticed your post. I thought I might make it to the blog meet, but it’s quite uncertain at the moment. I’ll let you know ASAP.
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Yup, even though I’ve seen it quite a few times now, I still laugh like a drain* when I see it. I think its the guy filming it collapsing that gets me too.
*Although I have to say I’ve never really heard a drain laugh.
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That would be so good, Flair, I’d love that.
A late note in from Twitter – Finn left the Scotland camp after Hoggy offered to carry his beer
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I like Hogg as a player but as a captain? Why not Ritchie or Hamish?
Mind you, I’d ‘ve never made Sexton captain either. Playacting and sulky? Check. Not the best way to get into the refs good graces. POM, Henderson or CJ would be my choice.
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Flair, Ritchie is my choice as captain, but at 23 he might be two years too early for it – I was told he was a future Scotland captain when he was 17, he stil has time on his side.
“Mind you, I’d ‘ve never made Sexton captain either. Playacting and sulky? Check. Not the best way to get into the refs good graces.”
Sexton rolling around holding his jaw was something – Rayanal should have suggested he went off for an HIA, let’s see how long that head hurt then.
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Ticht – did you know that Nina Simone had done a cover of ‘Who Knows Where The Time Goes’? I only heard that tonight when I saw a bit of the documentary on the Fairports (which I’ve seen before so don’t know how I missed that bit). Its a lovely version (although the song doesn’t start until about 2 minutes in).
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That’s so good BB, Nina is alway good.
It doesn’t have that particular English melancholy that is so beautifully portrayed by the likes of Sandy Denny (and Nick Drake and, yeah, Genesis), but it’s lovely
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Yeah, Genesis certainly had that with Gabriel (apart from ‘Lamb’) and the two after he left with Hackett still in the band.
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This is one of their best post-Gabriel, pre-Hackett leaving tracks. Just lovely lyrics (and cracking tune too).
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Still can’t believe Hogg’s butterfingers! And the stupid penalty near the end! Oh, Scotland! Scotland!
Please can Scotland gift England 8 points next week? It’s only fair.
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We’re not going to give the Bestest Rugby Team In The World Ever, Honest! any free points next week. After all, Eddie hasn’t beaten Toonie yet as England coach.
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Morning
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Just watched Hogg again. One of the Scottish replacements sees it immediately and then moves to Hogg not to congratulate but to commiserate.. Hogg knows what he’s done and then decides to give a half-hearted roar to convince that he scored.
Sexton’s try was really really good play.
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Just looked at some figures. Since 2011 England have had only 2 home matches to start the 6 Nations while this is France’s 8th home beginning.
(Other sides – Wales 6, Ireland and Italy 5 each, Scotland 4).
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Tomp, isn’t that because at some point there were games scheduled on Friday nights, a guaranteed big TV audience in France? I can’t remember. Does not seem to have helped France much, does it?
Speaking of advantage, I just read in Midol that this week Shaun Edwards has asked Nigel Owens to learn a dozen sentences in French, so as not to disadvantage France. Funny how crossing the Channel gives a different perspective.
The only Shaun before Edwards the French knew was the wonderful Aardman sheep character. I wonder if one of the mischievious Toulouse players has already given him the nickname. Probably le bélier rather than le mouton.
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Ou est la gare, s’il vous plait?
le singe est sur le bateau.
J’ai onze ans.
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Deebee’s Lions got an absolute spanking in Buenos AIres last night.
Of more interest are the fire-breathing goal posts. Pointlessly brilliant:
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flair, only three Friday night openers – France-Wales last year and Wales-England in 2011 and 2015. All games won by the away team.
And you’re right it hasn’t helped France much but they’ve had 5 wins and 2 defeats in those home games – beating Italy and Scotland twice, England once and losing to Wales and Ireland.
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The English defence backed off of a ruck, as it looked like the French scrum-half was about to pass, when the French captain poached the ball from her scrum-half and darted through the gap. She was able to pass from the tackle to the #9 who scored easily.
The French needed that.
7-12 for the ladies in white.
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French scrum has been beasting their English counterparts.
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France with the successful kick.
10-12
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France’s inside centre has gone off a second time, this time it appears to be an ankle injury. Her replacement comes back on in her third test.
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Thomas Castaignede doesn’t want to lose any media gigs in England:
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Had forgotten the ladies game. Amazing how popular it’s become in just a few years. A packed stadium in Pau ( close to 18K when full) and shown on the main public TV channel (F2). Wow!
10/12 at HT. Nice weather too.
That’s my afternoon sorted then.
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The French, after what seemed like 25 phases, cough the ball up on metres from the try line. England are able to clear.
10-12
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