With two rounds down in the Six Nations, the shocking truth is that OvallyBalls underdoggers have been proven right – or perhaps have so disheartened their national sides that the players lost the will to play.
Here is the state of the nations:
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | For | Against | Pts Diff | Bonus | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Les Bleus du mal | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 39 | 20 | 1 | 9 |
| Smiling Green Machine | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 26 | 17 | 1 | 9 |
| Leeks | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 56 | 24 | 32 | 1 | 5 |
| Saracens | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Kiltie-wearers | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 32 | -14 | 2 | 2 |
| Pasta-scoffers | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 77 | -55 | 0 | 0 |
From this, we can observe several things. One is that the rankings should be based secondarily on the fewest points conceded, as it indicates a better defence. Any fool can score tries against a weaker defence. In the case of England, we can see that their attack and defence are equally great / rubbish [delete as appropriate]. And Scotland are the only side to have achieved two bonus points, although perhaps for the wrong reasons.
However, it’s still wide open for at least four teams. The remaining fixtures are as follows:
| 22/02 | Italy v Scotland | 14:15 |
| Wales v France | 16:45 | |
| 23/02 | England v Ireland | 15:00 |
| 07/03 | Ireland v Italy | 14:15 |
| England v Wales | 16:45 | |
| 08/03 | Scotland v France | 15:00 |
| 14/03 | Wales v Scotland | 14:15 |
| Italy v England | 16:45 | |
| France v Ireland | 20:00 |
The Super Saturday fixtures are, of course, being played in Heidelberg, so all true rugby fans should get their arses there.
My prediction is a narrow win for each of the home sides next weekend, which will bolster the excitement of the following rounds, except for Scottish fans, who will be gurning into their whiskey and cursing SuperSergio, homer refs and the professional era in general.
Meanwhile, this weekend we have Pro14 / English Premiership matches, if Dennis doesn’t menace all of them; Dragons v Treviso has already been cancelled.
Further Reading
TomPirracas has a better idea of how the Italy v Scotland match will go.
Chimpie is looking forward to this weekend’s ProWoo.
On the telly this week
Friday 14th February
| Blues 8 – 25 Crusaders | 06:05 | Sky Sports Action |
| Rebels 24 – 10 Waratahs | 08:15 | Sky Sports Action |
| Glasgow 56 – 24 Zebre | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Munster 68 – 3 Kings | 19:35 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Gloucester 15 – 26 Exeter | 19:45 | BT Sport 2 |
Saturday 15th February
| Sunwolves 17 – 43 Chiefs | 03:45 | Sky Sports Mix |
| Hurricanes 38 – 22 Sharks | 06:05 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Brumbies 22 – 23 Highlanders | 08:15 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Lions 30 – 33 Stormers | 13:05 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Leinster 35 – 12 Cheetahs | 14:30 | Free Sports |
| Leicester 18 – 9 Wasps | 15:00 | BT Sport 1 |
| Scarlets 9 – 14 Edinburgh | 15:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Ospreys 26 – 24 Ulster | 17:15 | S4C / Premier Sports 2 |
| Connacht 29 – 0 Cardiff | 19:35 | TG4 / Premier Sports 1 |
| Los Jaguares 43 – 27 Reds | 23:00 | Sky Sports Action |
Sunday 16th February
| Northampton v Bristol | 15:00 | BT Sport 1 |
Ovally Balls 
Had a stinking cold the last few days. This has allowed me to become acquainted with jedi fallen order to great degree rather than doing the paid variety of work.
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@thauma
But when it comes to digesting the food, he’s on his own.
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OT – true, it’s hard work digesting all that ‘food’ after a business lunch.
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What’s this ‘work’ you guys keep talking about?
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In South African English “work” means “eating lunch that someone else’s coughing up for”
https://public.oed.com/blog/south-african-english/
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I realised that when I start will be a full 3 months after I left my last place. I can’t remember having so much time off since I went to university.
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And you still haven’t bloodborne? For shame
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I had 3 months off work when we moved to SA and then worked (illegally, sort of) part-time 08.30 to 13.30 for 3 and a bit years before 10 more weeks off work. I liked it.
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If someone could organise that million in my bank account I could cut down on this work nonsense considerably
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Big few days for the Legends U18s. A win over Scotland the other day and now a win over the greatest rugby nation in the galaxy, the Turks.
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That makes them Champs, no? Or is there a play-off?
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I’ll finish Bloodborne. I also replayed Half Life 2 and Episode 1 and 2 after it. And I played Elite Dangerous quite a bit.
I like bloodborne but it can be draining.
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I have watched a lot of YouTube as well. Like this:
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And this:
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I’ve really spent my time well. Like Friday 2 weeks ago when I went fishing / got stoned by a river in the morning and then slept gloriously all afternoon.
And I didn’t even feel bad that I’d wasted an entire day. Which is how I remember uni.
It’s not been all bad.
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Just wish I had ÂŁ1m in the bank.
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@tomp
No play off, just a mini league.
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Paaaaaace
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@Craigs – if you enjoy ContraPoints, I would recommend Philosophy Tube and Mia Mulder.
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Refit – already subscribed to Philosophy Tube. I like them, even if I don’t agree 100%, it’s interesting to see their perspective.
Also, the current shitstorm surrounding Contrapoints is quite frankly hilarious.
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What’s a contrapoint?
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A couple of good reads if you’re interested in a good story with a philosophical bent – Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig – I read this donkey’s years ago but I really enjoyed it, at first it might not sound like a lot of fun, a guy on a motorcycle trip with others coming to terms with his own pervious mental health problems through philosophy and in particular a Dionysian versus Apollonian dichotomy.
The other is Sophie’s World, by Jostein Gaarder. I can’t give too much away about it but it’s a fun read and covers a lot of Western philosophy in the form of a novel about a teenage girl learning about philosophy – it’s much better than I’ve made it sound.
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Hmmm. Tried Sophie’s World many moons ago. Couldn’t get past the first couple of chapters it irritated me so much. Not sure why, maybe I should try it again.
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Chimpie – she’s a transgender youtuber. Currently hated by large sections of trans twitter for reasons. Did a very funny video on JBP.
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rumours that Jones’ll be oot and Harris in. Hutch on the bench. That would be a bizarre choice. Also sounds like Crosbie and Haining will be released to Embra for Friday. Haining’s done nothing wrong to be dropped from the squad IMO.
also Hornking doing interviews like he’ll be playing so doesn’t look like Graham will be back.
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I got my philosophy knowledge from The Good Place.
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Ooh a trans social media in-fight.
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Is the tem being announced today, Chimpie.
I heard that the guys on the Thistle podcast, who are normally accurate, said that Jones was out and Harris was coming in. They didn’t say if it was injury-related.
I guess we’ve moved on a fair bit in that we can have a genuine debate over the centre combo when everyone is fit, but Hutchinson and Scott should be further up the pecking order imo.
Treacle is very dependable, he makes very few errors so he will start for now, but when Big Duhan the Destroyer becomes available that might change. King Blairhorn got a hat trick last time against Italy, we could do with him repeating that effort.
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Think it’s announced tomorrow. Will be disappointed if Jones is out & it’s not injury related. This is a game he might actually get some ball in space and there are few better in that situation.
Harris is solid enough but I think we’ve got better options.
Back row is an odd one. would start with the same trio but if Haining is being sent back to Embra (which will be good for Embra) who will ride the pine? Younger Fagerson and CDP are the only others I haven’t heard about being released. or even Skinner.
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Duhan is a bit freakish given some space to move. He was the reason we won at the Scarlets as he ran through half their team. Not sure he’ll get quite the same space at international level but he’s improved other parts of his game of late so I’ll be interested to find out.
It’ll be a nice to have the back 3 conundrum of trying to fit him, Graham, Hogg, HornKing & treacle toes in.
be even nicer if we had a back that can supply quick ball & a midfield that can break the line & give them ball in space.
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‘Wales prop Wyn Jones expects France’s pack to “cheat” in their bid to gain scrum supremacy’
Haha. ‘sfunny.
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This is the best/worst.
Yeah he’s great ref, great lad, we rate him highly. That atmosphere, mind? Intimidating, mun. I wouldn’t want to be him. He’s a great lad though and will do fine. But scary. 75,000 people shouting at you. It’s enough to make anyone think twice.
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French props expect Welsh props not to cheat in order to not get scrum supremacy.
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Any teams announced today?
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I could probably come up with something.
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*Whiskey payment update*
Whiskey acquired by payer but was left at their house by mistake.
*Whiskey payment update ends*
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Rookie error there, Craigs. The guy will think you passed it up and he’ll pig it down like a pint.
There is no such thing as cheating in the front row.
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This is some of the most inept ‘buying someone a bottle of whiskey’ I’ve ever heard of.
Its like that time chimpie couldn’t work out how to buy some beer for the match.
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Dov – I’m begining to think that Chimpie is working as some kind of booze purchasing consultant behind the scenes.
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Ticht – luckily it’s his wfe who is dealing with this. I believe her. For now.
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I don’t think it’ll happen but if Duhan’s brother Akker got called up to the Bok squad to add to his handful of caps, you’d have brothers on opposing sides in a Test.
I think Alaalatoa brothers did it recently. Maybe the Bachops back in the day? But rare enough.
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I feel that memories of this supposed ‘incident’ have been distorted somewhat
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down to my last beer bottle now. Will have to go and get some more. or survive on gin and port [1].
[1] not mixed together before anyone starts
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Port and cheesy hot bread
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Sounds like a recipe for gout
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Gaelic Duolingo update
This might be the only language course where a translation of stealing a cow is seen as being as normal as going down the shops for a newspaper
/update
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@TOM – the Umagas face each other in ’99, as did the Bachops.
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@TOM – as of course did the Ma’afu brothers in 2010. Propping against each other, both on ‘deaybuuuu’.
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On previous form it’s impressive you’ve got one.
Pro tip: don’t get beer bottles. They’re usually empty. Buy bottles of beer instead.
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Now what has Cheesy the Llama done?
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