We laughed at his five locks, his centre on the wing, and May at full-back. We laughed long and loud, and now are laughing out the other side of our faces, as our grannies told us we would.
Then we cried as we watched Ireland.
Sexton and Murray played with the all élite international skills and passion of reluctant replacements in a U14s game on a wet and cold Sunday afternoon at the end of a losing match in a losing season in Moneyrea when not even their dads could be arsed to turn up.
Meanwhile, Jones’s locks, particularly Itoje the Octopus and One-Brain-Cell (MotM), were rampantly joyful, or perhaps joyfully rampant – never been too up on these heraldic terms. Joseph was fine on the wing, and May didn’t even drop any balls (or so we’ve heard).
The one tiny crumb of comfort is that Ireland improved dramatically when John Cooney replaced Murray, and even managed a consolation try.
The warm-up matches to the Great Event were, of course, Italy v Scotland and Wales v France. The former had a few flashes of brilliance – Bellini, Hogg – but was otherwise a tedious affair.
Wales v France was one of those bonkers matches that looks more like pinball than rugby. Disappointingly (to Welsh fans), France forgot to throw the match away in the last quarter.
The rest of the Six Nations is up in the air due to Coronavirus; Ireland v Italy has been ‘postponed’, and we are certainly hoping for a rematch date and not the dreaded two-pointer.
Similarly, the Pro14 Ulster and Ospreys matches in Italy scheduled for this weekend have been put off, with the threat of a 0-0 draw being recorded for Treviso v Ulster if an alternative date cannot be found.
Further Reading
FalteringFullback’s thoughts on last weekend
On the telly this week
Friday 28th February
| Highlanders 22 – 28 Rebels | 06:05 | Sky Sports Action |
| Waratahs 29 – 17 Lions | 08:15 | Sky Sports Action |
| Edinburgh 14 – 6 Cardiff | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Leinster 55 – 19 Glasgow | 19:35 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Gloucester 17 – 23 Sale | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
Saturday 29th February
| Hurricanes v Sunwolves | 03:45 | Sky Sports Action |
| Reds v Sharks | 08:15 | Sky Sports Action |
| Stormers v Blues | 13:05 | Sky Sports Action |
| Harlequins v Exeter | 15:00 | BT Sport 2 |
| Bulls v Los Jaguares | 15:15 | Sky Sports Action |
| Munster v Scarlets | 17:00 | TG4 / Free Sports |
| Dragons v Cheetahs | 17:15 | S4C / Premier Sports 2 |
Sunday 1st March
| Bath v Bristol | 15:00 | BT Sport 1 |
Ovally Balls 
Shingler 4 Walez.
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Italy England postponed.
It will be a struggle to find a space in a crowded calendar after a very long world cup year
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That was meant to embed this Mars panorama:
https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/24801/curiositys-18-billion-pixel-panorama/
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Interesting call to leave out Underhill. Or is he injured?
Think he has been outstanding this 6N
Very strong front 5 and 3/4 line. Good bench too.
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Underhill injured apparently. Interested as to why Wilson is the obvious replacement and not the other Curry, for example.
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6/2 benches are boring.
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WALES TEAM TO PLAY ENGLAND (Saturday March 7 16.45 ITV & S4C)
15. Leigh Halfpenny (88 Caps)
14. George North (94 Caps)
13. Nick Tompkins (3 Caps)
12. Hadleigh Parkes (28 Caps)
11. Liam Williams (62 Caps)
10. Dan Biggar (82 Caps)
9. Tomos Williams (19 Caps)
1. Rob Evans (38 Caps)
2. Ken Owens (65 Caps)
3. Dillon Lewis (25 Caps)
4. Jake Ball (45 Caps)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (C) (137 Caps)
6. Ross Moriarty (44 Caps)
7. Justin Tipuric (75 Caps)
8. Josh Navidi (23 Caps)
Replacements:
16. Ryan Elias (12 Caps)
17. Rhys Carre (7 Caps)
18. Leon Brown (9 Caps)
19. Aaron Shingler (26 Caps)
20. Taulupe Faletau (75 Caps)
21. Rhys Webb (32 Caps)
22. Jarrod Evans (6 Caps)
23. Johnny McNicholl (3 Caps)
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The Shingler as lock cover – when the squad has Beard, Rowlands and Davies fit – has actually made me laugh.
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As experienced as they are, I can’t see Wales winning in Twickenham. In fact, the large number of caps probably reflects the paucity of alternatives. Four players on the bench with fewer than 10 caps is a good thing but implies the changing of the guard will be done en masse.
A bit surprised to see North playing so soon after an umpteen concussion.
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Not looking good. Hope Liam, Navidi and BDB are fully fit.
Shudder to think of those props scrumming against Marler and Sinck.
Less said about Tompkins and North defending Tuilagi and May the better.
England by 30 and I’m not even joking
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France update:
T.Thomas released to his club with 13 others. Hardly a surprise.
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I don’t think it’ll be that much – don’t forget that England will be mentally in the showers after 60 minutes and wang-it-everywhere-ball is usually good for consolation score or two. England by 10-12.
That is a genuinely terrible selection, though. Some players who are horrendously out of form (including the recalled Rob Evans), some who desperately need a rest, couple of players brought back after a month out, the willy-nilly bench selection (5 different locks in 5 matches). The tournament is a write-off and they’ve pickied a team for a World Cup final.
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Yos, Utna, what would be your Wales squad today?
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Another weird England back row. Nice to see Watson back, hope he’s up to speed.
Shame about the postponed matches as it might end up meaning we have along wait to crown a champion.
Of course France could have it all sewn up in which case there wouldn’t seem much point squeezing the two italy games in at all.
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It can’t be too often that a match-fit Faletau* was picked on the bench
I assume he is match-fit, you don’t muck around with players at this level, Shirely?
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I’ve no argument against Navidi, he’d be in my team no problem, but I like the look of a Navidi, Tips and Faletau backrow.
I don’t recall Moriarty being particularly good v France, but I did watch it in the pub, so you miss things
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Dunno Ticht. He has not been looking his best recently, suspect he is not fully match fit.
Eddie is decidedly odd, why Wilson on the flank when Curry is at 8? Kiwi ref, so could be a field day for Navidi, Moriarty and Tipuric.
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I’m sure the selectors know a heck of a lot more than I do, ERDS – I’m basing my opinion from a busy pub through the filter of a gallon of Guinness.
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14, 10, 1, 4 & 8 all highly debatable, particularly North and Rob Evans who have had a lot of injuries and shown no form for a long time. I understand recalling Liam and Navidi after long periods out because they’re good players and fit with what Pivac i trying to do, even if I don’t think that it’s a good idea to rush players back, but then I’m not 1 from 3 and desperate for a win.
And obviously Shingler as lock cover – through choice rather than circumstance – is one of the worst selections in the history of rugby and up there with Nick Mallet thinking that a feisty backrower could play the most technical of positions in a test match.
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I’d also pick fewer Turks.
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I’m assuming with Pivac in charge – it’s a given that Scarlets/Llanelli players get the nod ahead of other regions/clubs?
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Am not overly happy with the Welsh selection. With our best all fit we’d give their best a good game. Not all our best are there or fully fit and neither are theirs but their replacements are probably better.
Hope North and Biggar make it through ok.
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yos,
Let’s not be hyperbolic about the Shingler pick. I’d have it alongside Lee Mears starting for the Lions v the Boks in Durban in 2009. It’s not Bergamasco level.
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Not necessarily, e.g. he’s picking Tomos Williams ahead of Gareth Davies. I’d say it’s more he has a type of player he likes and will pick them regardless, which is no different to his predecessor.
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@tomp
It was a proud Lions tradition for McGeechan to shit the bed with 1st test selection.
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Traumatic catch-up.
Lazza, the most gentlest of hugs for Mrs. Lazza. I hope all is and stays well.
Piperboy, sad news. I have no idea how to un-plump a welcome mattress, but I hope there will be other times.
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Craigs, I always loved the honey-sticky voice given to Pooh when he says to Rabbit ‘I must be going now’ just before getting stuck in the burrow entrance.
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Need more time to digest a less honeyfied Welsh team.
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Lee Mears.
Those were the days.
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The Mary Hopkin of Bath
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Tam, what can you tell me about Jordan Venter?
https://www.edinburghrugby.org/the-clubhouse/edinburgh-sign-centre-venter-for-2020-21
Signing a SA lad straight from school is a new move for Edinburgh
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Not much. He’s probably good if he plays at Paul Roos. I know there are a few other centres in SA schools rugby this year that are rated and he wasn’t at the Elite PlayerDevelopment Camp, where the most highly thought of go to. That meant he got in that SA Schools 7z squad as EPD players weren’t involved.
So, to sum up, bit of a punt by Edinburgh.
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Why isn’t the new Welsh wonder (LRZ) in the team, instead of North?
Isn’t it a good time to blood him?
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Why isn’t the new Welsh wonder ( LRZ) in the team instead of North?
Isn’t it a good time to blood him?
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Worth repeating apparently.
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Fair dos, thanks Tam.
I guess he will start with the academy and club rugby, then Super 6 if he looks a likely player. My guess is that he has a link with Duhan vdMerwe or one of the other Savos at Edinburgh.
He looks like he’s familiar with the gym.
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One thing about the pic in the link. I’m not sure the lad in the maroon Paul Roos shirt is him. First, he looks too big. And second am not sure he played in the game v Paarl Boys last year. But I could be wrong.
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‘He looks like he’s familiar with the roids.’
Fixed
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‘Yos, Utna, what would be your Wales squad today?’
Brutal from the French again.
*Opens support group for the forgotten Welsh Ovally Ballers’
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See the Graun has an article on Oasis’s Greatest Songs! That’ll be a short list then….
(And any songs on it that AREN’T on the first two albums won’t be worth it).
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I suspect Pivac needs to play catch-up on what winning a 6N match against England actually means.
I see a very sloppy selection, like an unnecessary mezzanine floor between the current and the future.
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Wales biggest challenge is to compete physically in the forward encounters. Picking Shingler to shore things up after a physical battering looks almost ignorant to me.
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Still, he might leap and bound like Skippy so who knows.
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So what about LRZ?
Someone has to stop Johnny May.
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It’s a good one for LRZ to miss.
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Pivac should’ve selected him two weeks ago. T.Thomas was the perfect opponent.
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I can confirm that panic buying of bog roll has broken out in embra
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Facing Grandslam champions-elect France is a scary proposition.
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