I considered writing a proper Six Nations preview for this weekend’s match, but as it’s Ireland v Italy, decided not to bother. This means that I have probably jinxed Ireland. Italy by 5.
You can have the teams for the internationals, though.
Scotland v Georgia
Scotland: 15. Blair Kinghorn, 14. Darcy Graham, 13. Chris Harris, 12. James Lang, 11. Duhan van der Merwe, 10. Adam Hastings, 9. Ali Price, 1. Rory Sutherland, 2. Fraser Brown (capt), 3. Zander Fagerson, 4. Ben Toolis, 5. Scott Cummings, 6. Jamie Ritchie, 7. Hamish Watson, 8. Matt Fagerson.
Replacements: 16. Stuart McInally, 17. Oli Kebble, 18. Simon Berghan, 19. Rob Harley, 20. Nick Haining, 21. Cornell du Preez, 22. George Horne, 23. Finn Russell.
Georgia: 15. Soso Matiashvili, 14. Akaki Tabutsadze, 13. Deme Tapladze, 12. Merab Sharikadze (capt), 11. Sandro Todua, 10. Tedo Abzhandadze, 9. Vasil Lobzhanidze, 1. Mikheil Nariashvili, 2. Jaba Bregvadze, 3. Lexo Kaulashvili, 4. Nodar Cheishvili, 5. Grigol Kerdikoshvili, 6. Otar Giorgadze, 7. Beka Saghinadze, 8. Beka Gorgadze.
Replacements: 16. Shalva Mamukashvili, 17. Guram Gogichashvili, 18. Giorgi Melikidze, 19. Giorgi Javakhia, 20. Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, 21. Gela APrasidze, 22. Giorgi Kveseladze, 23. Tamaz Mchedlidze.
That’s a very Giorgi-heavy bench.
Ireland v Italy
Ireland: 15. Jacob Stockdale, 14. Andrew Conway, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. Hugo Keenan, 10. Jonathan Sexton (C), 9. Conor Murray; 1. Cian Healy, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Andrew Porter, 4. Tadhg Beirne, 5. James Ryan, 6. Caelan Doris, 7. Will Connors, 8. CJ Stander
Replacements: 16. Dave Heffernan, 17. Ed Byrne, 18. Finlay Bealham, 19. Ultan Dillane, 20. Peter O’Mahony, 21. Jamison Gibson-Park, 22. Ross Byrne, 23. Robbie Henshaw
Italy: 15. Jayden Hayward, 14. Edoardo Padovani, 13. Luca Morisi, 12. Carlo Canna, 11. Mattia Bellini, 10. Paolo Garbisi, 9. Marcello Violi; 1. Danilo Fischetti, 2. Luca Bigi (C), 3. Giosuè Zilocchi, 4. Marco Lazzaroni, 5. Niccolò Cannone, 6. Sebastian Negri, 7. Braam Steyn, 8. Jake Polledri
Replacements: 16. Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17. Simone Ferrari, 18. Pietro Ceccarelli, 19. David Sisi, 20. Johan Meyer, 21. Maxime Mbanda, 22. Callum Braley, 23. Federico Mori
France v Wales
France: Anthony Bouthier; Teddy Thomas, Vrimi Vakatawa, Gael Fickou, Vincent Rattez; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont; Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, Mohamed Haouas; Bernard Le Roux, Damien Willemse; François Cros, Charles Ollivon (capt), Gregory Aldritt.
Reps: Camille Chat, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Demba Bamba, Romain Taofifenua, Dylan Cretin, Baptiste Serin, Arthur Vincent, Thomas Ramos.
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Jonathan Davies, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Rhys Carre, Ryan Elias, Samson Lee, Cory Hill, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.
Reps: Sam Parry, Nicky Smith, Dillon Lewis, Seb Davies, James Davies, Gareth Davies, Rhys Patchell, Louis Rees-Zammit.
On the telly
Friday 23rd October
| Pumas v Stormers | 17:55 | Sky Sports Mix |
| Scotland v Georgia | 19:30 | ITV4 |
| Leinster v Zebre | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Treviso v Scarlets | 20:15 | S4C / Premier Sports 2 |
Saturday 24th October
| Lions v Cheetahs | 15:25 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Ireland v Italy | 15:30 | ITV / STV |
| Ospreys v Glasgow | 17:30 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Bulls v Sharks | 17:55 | Sky Sport Arena |
| Exeter v Wasps | 18:00 | BT Sport 1 |
| Ireland v Italy (women) | 18:30 | iPlayer |
| France v Wales | 20:00 | S4C / ITV4 |
Sunday 25th October
| Scotland v France (women) | 14:20 | BBC Sport website / BBC Alba |
| Ulster v Dragons | 15:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Edinburgh v Connacht | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
Monday 26th October
| Munster v Cardiff | 20:15 | Premier Sports 1 |
Ovally Balls 
Definitely playing with a bar of soap at HQ.
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Curwin Bosch strokes another penalty over from about halfway. I know it’s the highveld, but for a smallish bloke he’s got a helkuva boot. Reckon he’s good from 60 metres out. Stedman Gans shows some 7s twinkle toes and rips open the Sharks defence to put the Bulls 10-6 up (with the conversion).
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Ref looking a bit finger in the wind regarding scrum penalties, down in darkest England.
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Nice score from Wasps. Back in the lead.
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Cracking break through the line by Umanga 7-10;
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Is Hoggy on the field?
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Was about to say Robson will need to show Eddie something classy, and there you go. Nice.
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Simple pen in pouring rain 10-10
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Yes Hogg is on makes 10 yards then an unhelpful pass is dropped
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Who would try to play rugby in this weather Chiefs get a final pen to be 13-10 ahead at oranges.
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Trisk – Stockdale has not been his previous brilliant self for at least a year, in any position. Would say he’s improved slightly over the past couple of matches, but he wouldn’t be my first choice.
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Think it has something to do with shaving his head.
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Could BT Sport not find a space in the stands under cover to have their half time chat?
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Thaum – a big mistake.
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Bulls score from a driving maul. Not quite Scottish quality, but Marco van Staden goes over. 24-9 and comfortable.
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Ospreys now in front, 23 -15. 71 mins.
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Deebs, good to have one team from Gauteng doing ok.
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Dylan Richardson over for a score. Sharks back in the game.
Notshe is a lovely runner.
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I take it Notshe is a he?
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Stedman Gans in again. After a pass from Kurt-Lee Arendtse. 7z magic.
I saw Gans play when he was a schoolboy. Looked a decent player, the Bulls signed big big centres when he matriculated and I thought he’d be lost to 7z. Good to see him.
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Ospreys win.
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Gans in again, the Bulls are better than the Sharks in pretty much every department. But the backs have been scintillating.
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His team-mate Ox Nche will know, thaum.
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Weather was lovely here today. Hopefully in Paris too.
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Notshe is not a she. He’s tantalisingly close to being back up to Duane Vermeulen albeit a very different style.
TomP, the Bulls have raided the 7s circuit superbly. Great to watch. Gauteng’s other match would have been called off anyway for lightning with a massive storm over Joburg right now.
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Sopoanga makes a fabulous kick return that results in a pen for Wasps 13-13
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Yeah….the Samson-effect….
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@Refit
Well that would make sense…. missed that ….probably too busy getting outraged by the “high” tackle allegation….
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Exeter look a bit tired and ragged mentally. Need to get they have to win this game, not just go through the usually successful motions.
Putting the Welsh dynamo Tom Francis on is a good idea.
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Those storms are loud. They couldn’t play in hail I don’t think.
Sharks have got Werner Kok. He played for Province a few years ago. I saw him play in a Currie Cup game at Loftus. He was ridiculously rapid for a guy of his size and shape.
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Chiefs back ahead kicking their third penalty. 16-13. Probably the most penalties they’ve kicked all season.
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Trisk – yes, exactly what I meant!
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Wasps have brought on a real dumpertruck of a prop who has started creating havoc.
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Deebs, The replacement hooker for the Bulls, Joe van Zyl, is a very nice player. He was in the Under 21s squad earlier in the month alongside A-H Wessels, who’s gold.
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Werner Kok is a machine. Done a couple of decent things tonight, but in a losing cause. Both sides now struggling in the rain. Think the lightning had (as it usually does) moved east rather than north. Pissing down though!
Didn’t realise how short Ox Nche is. 1.73m apparently! And 114kg. He’s a bit shorter than me but weighs 35kg more than me. And I’m carrying a few pounds. Cough.
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Embrose! Papier!
Those laajties from the Western Cape have been sharp tonight.
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Deebs – that’s shorter than me (just)! He weighs a fair bit more, mind.
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Like, more than twice as much.
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TomP, J-H Wessels is a helluva prospect. Worries me that he went to France from school and only came back because of Covid, but if he’s managed properly by Jake White, he’ll be pushing for a Bok spot in a couple of seasons. Great kid! Scary too!
There is so much talent in SA at the moment, it would be disastrous if Covid saw it dissipated.
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Maths fault after wine. A bit less than twice as much.
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Jonny’s been brilliant since he came on and they get a penalty in front of the posts. That’ll be it.
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Thauma, we’re probably about the same height, but alas my extra kilos are hardly the stuff of silver screen swooning!
Duane Vermeulen gets MoTM
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Really want him to be fresh and firing when the Lions arrive next year.
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Phew! – made it!
(new slimline) Sam Skinner MoM for me………………………………….
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Final minute and chief’s rolling maul giving a 19-13 final victory for Chiefs. Great effort by both teams in atrocious conditions. Real slog with a particular fine defensive effort by Wasps. Hardly a great match of rugby but congrats to Chiefs on their double victory this season
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Thought Launch was excellent. Luckily Exeter had Tom Francis to fall back on.
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Exeter win the Double! Well done Slade (and Slade). Not a game for attackers – more a night for Jonny and Skinner rather than Hoggy running from deep.
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Shame they could not sneak Steeno on to take the final kick but some fairy tales are not to be
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Deebs – suspect I wouldn’t survive a decent tackle.
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Or even an indecent one.
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