Saturday 28th November 2020
Argentina vs New Zealand
Newcastle, NSW
Kick off 08:45
New Zealand shake up the pack, bringing in prop Nepo Laulala, lock Scott Barrett, and backrow Akira Ioane. Argentina make 10 changes with only Nicolas Sanchez, captain Pablo Matera, Guido Petti, Marcos Kremer and hooker Julian Montoya keeping their places. Question: can Argentina raise it again, or will a New Zealand side facing a third successive loss for the first time since 1998 save face?
A New Zealand loss and the pressure on coach Ian Foster would keep building; can Argentina bring the sustained ferocity of two weeks ago again, or is lifting themselves for a third match in a row too much? Does the passing of Diego Maradona give them something to focus on, or does it unsettle them (or have no effect whatsoever)? One leans towards an All Black win – if only because they just don’t do consecutive losses very much.
New Zealand – Beauden Barrett; Jordie Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue, Caleb Clarke; Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (capt), Akira Ioane; Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett; Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Joe Moody.
Replacements: Codie Taylor, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Tyrel Lomax, Patrick Tuipulotu, Hoskins Sotutu, TJ Perenara, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan
Argentina – Emiliano Boffelli; Ramiro Moyano, Juan Cruz Mallia, Jerónimo de la Fuente, Santiago Cordero; Nicolas Sanchez, Felipe Ezcurra; Facundo Isa, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera (capt); Lucas Paulos, Guido Petti; Santiago Medrano, Julian Montoya, Mayco Vivas
Replacements: Santiago Socino, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Lucio Sordoni, Matias Alemanno, Santiago Grondona, Gonzalo Bertranou, Santiago Carreras, Lucas Mensa
Scotland v Fiji
BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Match Cancelled
The “Mystic Meg” in me predicts the record books will show a 28-0 win for Scotland. It’s a pity that Fiji haven’t had the chance to show what they could do this autumn. Scotland will also regret missing a chance to wrap up with an expected win, and maybe play some more open rugby after what seems to have been something of an arm-wrestle/penalty-fest against France.
Wales v England
Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Kick-off: 16:00
Having broken – as expected – a nasty losing streak against Georgia, Wales now face into an England team that pretty much did to Ireland what Ireland had done to Wales in the first round of matches. That said, in the last Six Nations game in an almost identical scenario, it was much closer than anyone might have expected (33-30), albeit Wales scored two converted tries when England were down to 14 following Tuliagi’s red card.
The expectation must be that England will wrap up the group games with a win in their first appearance in Llanelli since 1887 – which was a nil-nil draw – but England continue to stir resistance in Welsh international teams, so Ireland will watch with interest (at least for a bit).
Wales – Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias, Samson Lee, Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones, Shane Lewis-Hughes, James Botham, Taulupe Faletau, Lloyd Williams, Dan Biggar, Josh Adams, Johnny Williams, Nick Tompkins, Louis Rees-Zammit, Leigh Halfpenny
Replacements – Elliot Dee, Rhys Carre, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Aaron Wainwright, Rhys Webb, Callum Sheedy, Owen Watkin
England – Elliot Daly, Jonathan Joseph, Henry Slade, Owen Farrell, Jonny May, George Ford, Ben Youngs, Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, Joe Launchbury, Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola
Replacements – Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Jonny Hill, Ben Earl, Jack Willis, Dan Robson, Anthony Watson;
France v Italy
Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 20:10
France scored five tries to beat Italy 35-22 in Paris during this year’s Six Nations. Italy have shown enough in the two games vs England (to wrap up the 6N) and Scotland that they might give a what looks like a France ‘B’ or a France XV a hard time for an extended period.
France – R. Neti, P. Mauvaka, D. Aldegheri, K. Geraci, B. Pesenti, C. Woki, A. Jelonch, S. Macalou, B. Serin, M. Jalibert, G. Villiere, J. Danty, J. Barraque, T. Thomas, B. Dulin, T. Thomas, B.Dulin
Remplacements – T. Baubigny, H. Kolingar, U. Atonio, F. Cazeaux, S. Rebbadj, B. Couilloud, L. Carbonel, Y. Moefana
Sunday 29th November 2020
Ireland v Georgia
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 14:00
With only Ulster prop Eric O’Sullivan joining the squad, Farrell has resisted calls to throw caution to the wind and call up Casey, Byrne, and various members of the last couple of cohorts of U20s. The suspicion is that what’s required is a confidence-boosting win vs Georgia – something along the lines of England’s or Scotland’s 40+ point wins. What’s least required at this point in time is something akin to Wales’s competent but unexciting victory.
Georgia’s famed strength in the scrum and maul seems to be – right now – a thing of the past, so Ireland might feel able to play with some abandon without fear that every forward pass or knock forward results in a lengthy struggle at scrum-time. Equally, it might go the other way and we play a tight forward-dominated game knowing that we can overpower Georgia physically: basically, doubling down on what didn’t work vs England. As expected, Burns will start at 10 with Murray, but in general this is a fairly full strength team, with subs and starters swapping.
Ireland – Jacob Stockdale, Hugo Keenan, Chris Farrell, Stuart McCloskey, Keith Earls, Billy Burns, Conor Murray, Finlay Bealham, Rob Herring, Andrew Porter, Iain Henderson, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Will Connors, CJ Stander
Replacements – Dave Heffernan, Cian Healy, John Ryan, Quinn Roux, Peter O’Mahony, Kieran Marmion, Ross Byrne, Shane Daly
PRO 14
Saturday 28 November
Connacht vs Ospreys – Connacht are unpredictable. They’ve beaten both Glasgow and Edinburgh then lost to Cardiff and Scarlets. Ospreys on the up following a come-from-behind win vs Benetton. Prediction: Connacht.
Sunday 29 November
Treviso vs Dragons – Dragons are improving, but haven’t played since the Munster game on 1st Nov. Treviso failed to see out a win vs Ospreys. Prediction: Treviso.
Scarlets vs Leinster – Scarlets gave Ulster a fright last week, but Leinster seem unlikely to lose.
Cardiff vs Glasgow – Despite the 40-5 scoreline, Cardiff gave Leinster a hard enough game last week. Equally, Munster didn’t win as comfortably vs Glasgow as 27-13 sounds. Cardiff look well drilled, and Glasgow are abrasive. Your guess is as good as mine.
Monday 30 November
Munster vs Zebre – Zebre were easily beaten by Connacht last time out. Munster haven’t lost in the Pro-14.
Edinburgh vs Ulster – Edinburgh’s last game was a thorough beating by Leinster. Ulster aren’t yet beaten and seem to be dogging out wins. Lean toward Ulster.
Mystic Meg machinations by TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA
Onna telly this week
Friday 27th November
| Sharks v Pumas | 17:00 | Sky Sports Mix |
| Newcastle v Sale | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
Saturday 28th November
| Argentina v New Zealand | 08:45 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Northampton v Harlequins | 14:00 | BT Sport Extra |
| Griquas v Golden Lions | 14:30 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Bristol v Worcester | 15:00 | BT Sport Extra |
| Gloucester v Wasps | 15:00 | BT Sport Extra |
| Wales v England | 16:00 | S4C / Amazon Prime |
| Western Province v Blue Bulls | 17:00 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Exeter v Bath | 17:30 | BT Sport Extra |
| Connacht v Ospreys | 19:35 | FreeSports |
| France v Italy | 20:00 | Amazon Prime |
Sunday 29th November
| Ireland v Georgia | 14:00 | Channel 4 |
| Treviso v Dragons | 16:00 | FreeSports |
| London Irish v Leicester | 16:1 | BT Sport 2 |
| Scarlets v Leinster | 17:15 | S4C / Premier Sports 2 |
| Cardiff v Glasgow | 19:35 | Premier Sports 2 |
Monday 23rd November
| Edinburgh v Ulster | 20:15 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Munster v Zebre | 20:15 | Premier Sports 2 |
Ovally Balls 
Think you must be. A red O’Herring or something.
LikeLike
Shit, I haven’t guilted anyone into writing an ATL for this week. It may be very, very thin as I have to work tomorrow afternoon/evening, unless there’s a last-minute volunteer?
LikeLike
Chimpie, Josh van der Flier isn’t South African.
Dutch grandparents but a son of Leinster. Went to the same school that my great-grandfather did.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anyone who credits the unions with sense deserves to be taken less seriously than me.
That’s why they take me seriously.
LikeLike
This is cool. And pretty colours!
https://www.grasshoppergeography.com/River-Maps/i-WK5nXGc/A
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like this one too….
https://www.grasshoppergeography.com/Elevation-Maps-with-white-background/i-H6FcCKk/buy
LikeLike
LikeLike
Now we know where hecwent
https://www.news24.com/news24/africa/news/adolf-hitler-wins-vote-in-namibia-20201203
LikeLike
Your French team to face England on Sunday:
KOlingar Bourgarit Aldegheri
Geraci Pesenti
Woki Tolofua Jelonch
Couilloud (c) Jalibert
Villière Danty Moefana Raka
Dulin
Bench:
Neti, Mauvaka, Atonio
Dugat, Macalou
Carbonnel
LikeLike
Oops, forgot Bézy and Barassi on the bench.
Probably fewer than 20 caps altogether, most of them on the bench.
Excellent baptism of fire for that young bunch.
England by 15.
LikeLike
“your” Exeter team to face Tigers:
15 Facundo Cordero, 14 Ian Whitten, 13 Tom Hendrickson, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Tom O’Flaherty
10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Stu Townsend
1 Ben Moon, 2 Jack Yeandle (capt), 3 Harry Williams, 4 Will Witty, 5 Don Armand, 6 Dave Ewers, 7 Jannes Kirsten
8 Sam Simmonds
16 Jack Innard, 17 James Kenny, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Tom Price, 20 Richard Capstick, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Jack Walsh, 23 Josh Hodge
No Scots alas, so 8 first choice son international duty. Nowell, Hepburn, Vermeulen and Woodburn on injury list.
So squad depth being tested ‘though all know the system.
It may well be close…………….
LikeLike
If you missed Tom O’Flaherty’s try against Bath last week and want to see it – watch this:
………….move starts at 1:50 approx.
Makes May look scruffy……………………….
LikeLike
Close? it’s the tiggers.
pack strength of a wet paper bag
LikeLike
………….but, but….What wetness! What paper!
LikeLike
I just love this story:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/04/japan-hayabusa2-asteroid-dust-ryugu
……..and (hopefully) off it goes again afterwards – brilliant!
LikeLiked by 1 person
England: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Owen Farrell (c), 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Tom Curry, 5 Joe Launchbury, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Jonny Hill, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Max Malins, 23 Joe Marchant
LikeLike
12x as many caps as France. France by 45.
LikeLike
Craigs
Looks like the ‘A’ squad………………
LikeLike
Slade – I’m sanguine. Even after Squidges quip about Youngs’ pass to touch being intercepted by Faz.
LikeLike
Fun fact:
‘Sexton has played 34 times against Scotland, Edinburgh and Glasgow and has lost on just 6 occasions. It’s been more than a decade since the stand off tasted defeat against a Scottish side in a competitive game and he’s on a 16-game winning streak against those teams.’
Ireland by 99
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s a seventh time for everything……
This is available for my schools – strangely enough I haven’t bought it…..
LikeLike
Three Red Kings (TRK) a Munster fan / analyst on Twitter uses this all the time to rise Leinster fans… the more they protest, the more egregious the claims… it’s quite funny to see how many swallow the bait time after time…
LikeLike
LikeLiked by 2 people
Where’s Nanny when you need her?
Don’t think I will manage to get a new post up tonight … hopefully tomorrow morning.
LikeLike
Watching Brizzle against Saints. Bristol just scored a lovely try (missed the two Saints ones). But Bristol’s kit is ALMOST as bad as Ireland’s was last week (blue background with red paint splashed over it) and Saints are wearing stripes! Stripes! Onna rugby team! Just disnae look right.
LikeLike
Uren had a poor first half but Bristol backs have some nice moves
LikeLike
Bristol win with the last kick of the game.
LikeLike
I think Hooper might be getting a red? Shoulder to the head, clearing out a ruck.
LikeLike
Yellow only. Apparently Sanchez has shoulders extending to his ears.
The commentators are terrible (Kearns et al), tying themselves in knots to excuse it, after applauding a similar decision against a Puma player earlier.
LikeLike
New post shortly.
LikeLike