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 
Turning the proper telly on now. Not sure I’ve got enough ‘bock’ to watch that same old Wales team go through the motions. Still, gotta let the man-love spill for Foxy on his umpteenth comeback…
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Deebs. yes, J-H. I confused his initials with Andre-Hugo Venter’s. He’s also good. Quite a few of those kids have come – Wolhuter, Smith the Grey outside half.
South Africa’s always producing top players. Bodes well for Scotland’s future.
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Will Scotland be able to afford them after Brexit?
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After we become independent, yes.
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Scotland will soon have freeeedoooommm!
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Delighted for Exeter! What a result!!
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Good start by France…oh…oops.
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Welsh try after a minute!
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Mrs KJH in rapture.
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Nice, nice, nice.
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I’d really rather that Wales didn’t light any fires under France. Would be nice if they rolled over like soft little kittens.
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(Thaum, this is a bit hush hush but France aren’t that good. Just much better than they have been for a long time)
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Ooh, Biggar looks like he’s done an ankle or something.
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(TomP – we need a BP win. In Paris.)
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(I’m not sure you’re good enough to do that. I’m not even sure you’ll win.)
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Damn. Fine try. Some good attacking play by France.
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(Me neither.)
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Comedy penalty from Aldritt.
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France’s kicking game is so much better than it was pre RWC 2019.
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French TV director’s at much the same standard as always.
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Oh dear, Georgie North.
France are being brutal at taking players out at the breakdown. They need to be cos we’re killing them there.
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It’s getting a bit scrappy.
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Biggar’s hurt his arm and his leg. Not coming off.
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*Getting more worried by the second*
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Another good score for France. Ntamack picked Ball out beautifully.
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Great try. Wales haven’t had much possession at all for some time so perhaps that was coming.
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Jesus. That’s sweet from Vakatawa.
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Oh shit.
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Lovely try from France.
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France starting to click now
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Now they’re playing some good stuff.
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Dupont made that by very very slowly moving back to his side of the ball. Good heads-up play by the centres and fine support.
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French full-back down. Maybe Wales can injure them all.
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Biggar is a man short at the moment, he’s not moving well at all
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Do I switch over to the new Danish crime drama, or watch the full horror of France’s impending 6N win unfold? (The mister’s fallen asleep, so his voice does not count.)
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Biggar should have come off some time ago.
Not the best from Wales after a great start, lots of little errors just as during the Six Nations stopping them from getting anything going. France are very patchy, but their best stuff is wonderful. Not very optimistic for the second half.
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What a peculiar yet somehow familiar spectacle.
Biggar sprains his shinbone. We are playing Wandering Angus as hooker. Lee leaves the field again before the tea and oranges.
In general it looks like a bunch of strangers beamed down from planet WTF, and the only thing they have in common is the kit.
Nice strolling down the promenade from France though.
Maurice Chevalier >>> Max sodding Boyce
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Hooky and Alfie on pundit duty
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WTF has Alfie done to his hands? Probably it was years ago, and I’ve never noticed before.
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Gone for the thriller. In Denmark.
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Hmm. Do I torture myself watching a disjointed and lacklustre Liverpool huff and puff against Sheffield Bloody Utd, or say fuck it and watch Wales win?
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Thaum – everything will happen in the dark. It always seems to be dark in Danish thrillers.
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I don’t know who Max Boyce is, but sod Maurice Chevalier, that ever smiling collaborator.
Dreadful start by France, I guess they just met. Took them half an hour to realize they were at SdF.
Wales aren’t much better. Kick and chase and repeat.
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I really don’t like seeing massive French lads running hard on to the ball like this.
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Wales need to sort these kick-offs out. France are miles in front of the kicker from them mind.
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Both sides are doing but Dickson is just not seeing the hands on the ground before going for the ball
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Very un-prop like dummy from Dillon Lewis. Very very old-school prop pass from Dillon Lewis.
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Have got the sound off. What was the penalty against Adams(?) for?
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Think it was for a very obviously accidental offside when the subsequent knock-on hit him.
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bit of a roost-tastic game
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