What a first round that was: grit, determination, superb skills and complete brainfarts. Think the competition is wide open, and unsure where to make your Superbru picks? Don’t worry, our OvallyBalls experts on crack are here to progrocknIksate what will happen this weekend.
Deebee7 was quick off the mark with his predictions:
England, chastised and sobered by the realisation that they couldn’t simply kick ‘n bosh their way past feisty Scotland pick the biggest side in rugby history so they can KICK ‘N BOSH their way over, through and not around Italy, who, having realised that their first-up tackling was well below par and know what’s coming their way, pick 15 Saffas to BOSH BACK against England. Problem is, they’re playing for Italy because they can’t make it into better sides. England by 47 despite themselves.
Scotland, fresh from the Trashing of Twickers™ are primed, ready, purring and full of confidence for the visit of an abject Welsh side that had to rely on red mist and a brain fart to see off Ireland. The mercenary English Army and Tartan Boks who were apparently the only reason Edward’s Army tripped at Twickers have a solid tight five, fury in the loose forwards, flying outside backs and the Best 10 in the World™ ready to unleash hell on the journeymen from the Valleys. Thing is, it’s not their Game of the Season™ and with all their raison d’etre exhausted last week, Wales will give them the fright of their lives! But not enough to actually win it. Scotland by a couple in a low-scoring affair.
Ireland, stunned by stupidity and seething with intent, await the thoroughbreds of France, fresh from their opening training run against Italy. Expect a titanic struggle up front with neither pack giving an inch (easy on the Karl button, Iks). Ireland should be without Sexton which gives France a HUGE advantage behind the pie-munchers, and with the greyhounds and whippets willing to give it a lash, it could be a long afternoon at the Palindrome. But if the Irish are one thing, it’s bloody minded, determined and fucking difficult to boss around on their home patch (thank dog no World Cups hosted there yet). Too close to call!
Chimpie is more or less in agreement:
Scotland > Wales by 4
This goes against my deep-seated pessimism but got to back form at some point. General cohesion will keep Wales pinned back but usual inability to get points on the board will keep the boyos in it. Wales have some quality players in there and they’ll get over the line a couple of times.
England > Italy by 30
Hope Italy put up more of fight than last week. They’ve got a few bright sparks – like the look of Garbisi – but this is a very young and inexperienced team, too early for them to start pulling out results. England will grind and kick Italy down and run up a respectable score with the Best Fly-Half in the World playing. Eddie will then drop Ford for the next game.
Ireland > France by 2
Yes, I’m going out on a limb here for Ireland without human missile POM to put a shock one over on France. Would it be that much of a shock though? France ran up 35 points against Ireland last time out but there was only an 8 point difference at full time. Ireland at home hurting after last week’s effort vs. Wales, I’m going with a home victory here.
ClydeMillarWynant is ever the misfit:
Wales > Scotland by 1
Entire game takes place in Wales half giving Scotland an impressive 6-0 lead only for LRZ to go the length of the field at the death. Biggar converts from the touchline and bounces around on his space-hoppers to general disgust.
France > Ireland by 6
Ireland are just the sort of miserable bastards to spoil everything by grinding down France and stopping the beautiful game at source. But there’s been positive beaver news today.
England > Italy by 40
Italy are crap.
BorderBoy couldn’t resist bringing Prog into it:
Nazareth > Budgie (by 10)
Genesis > PFM (by 25)
U2 < Lazuli (by 12)
SladeIs#42 is sucking up to the mister:
Wales> Scotland by 4 – winners have enough ‘dog’ to resist Scots missing last week’s adrenalin rush
Ireland > France by 3 – game of the week-end – Ireland a team full of grit and experience
England > Italy by 25 – in reality, score could be anything dependant on tactics adopted: an inaccurate kicking game could make it closer, as could a good performance by Italy up to the 60 minute mark causing confusion in England’s headless ranks. If Italy collapse England could get 70. Whatever, it’s unlikely to be a credit to the Competition. As stated above, Ford will be back to the bench afterwards and George restored.
Craigsman is getting all political on our arses:
Sturgeon > Drakeford by 5LePen Macron > Adams by 10
Bojo > Berlusconi by 15
I was just going to include far right politicians / arseholes. I managed a few arseholes but couldn’t be bothered to Welsh political arseholery.
Sunbeamtim goes for the philosophical approach:
Looks like Big Faz realises that France are going to hammer Ireland whichever way, so has thrown in a 9 and 10 as sacrificial lambs to protect young payers. End of JGP and BB’s International careers ?
Very enthusiastic about all the talk of how disgraceful Italy are, and how they should be thrown out of the comp, and how its a non game for a proper side. I see Italy as being fitter and more coherent than they have ever been, and one step off defensively is all it takes to be hammered by a Tier one side. Setting someone up for a big fall somewhere this season.
Scotland and Wales both hammered by injuries, too close to call, game of the weekend.
Flair99‘s been watching my nightmares:
England by 29
Scotland by 7
France by 11.
Don’t harrumph me, I was wrong twice last week.
Not sure the omission of Sexton and Murray is a good thing for France but it is certainly a good thing for them. Enough of these concussed players blaming the doctors. I hope they recover soon.
Onna telly this week
Friday 12th February
| Gloucester v Bristol | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
| Sale v Bath | 20:00 | BT Sport Extra |
Saturday 13th February
| England v Italy | 14:15 | ITV |
| Harlequins v Leicester | 16:00 | BT Sport Extra |
| Exeter v London Irish | 16:15 | BT Sport Extra |
| Scotland v Wales | 16:45 | BBC1 / S4C |
Sunday 14th February
| Worcester v Wasps | 13:00 | BT Sport 1 |
| Ireland v France | 15:00 | ITV |
Ovally Balls 
As ever, thanks Thaum.
O’Farrell is in a lucky position over his half backs; events have taken decisions for him and the second-rankers get their chance against serious opposition. Honour saved all round.
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‘Your’ Exeter side to face London Irish:
15 Josh Hodge, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Tom Hendrickson, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Tom O’Flaherty
10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Jack Maunder
1 Alec Hepburn, 2 Jack Yeandle (capt), 3 Harry Williams
4 Will Witty, 5 Sam Skinner
6 Dave Ewers, 7 Richard Capstick, 8 Sam Simmonds
16 Jack Innard, 17 James Kenny, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Don Armand, 20 Sean Lonsdale, 21 Stu Townsend, 22 Harvey Skinner, 23 Ian Whitten
I remain unconvinced by Hodge so I hope he shows he’s learning fast.
Good bench.
Will Sam Simmonds break Waldrom’s record of tries scored?
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Thanks, Thaum!
Slider
In case you missed it on the previous blog, here’s a quick guide to the formatting WordPress accepts in these comments.
……
Slider: just swap angled-brackets for the square brackets in the following:
[blockquote]This is a blockquote [/blockquote]
Italics:
[em] Italics [/em]
OR
[i] Italics [/i]
Careful with the latter, because autocorrect changes it to capital i, which doesn’t work….
Bold
[strong] Bold [/strong]
Strike through[strike] Strike through [/strike]
Are there any others you want to use?
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Thanks Brookter and Thaum for the formatting guide!
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Words Thaum. Especially that quote from Craigsman, he sounds like an expert on these things.
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Hmm. I wouldn’t trust anyone who gets thumped at Battleships by a four year old.
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@slider
I saw this and thought of you
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I’ve added a page with a link back to the remaining wee bits of AoD, which includes helpful things like html help.
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Looks a little bit parky up there OT!
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It’s actually pretty fecking Baltic up here too. -4 tonight allegedly.
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I’m in no way sanguine about tomorrow.
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Two intercept tries to Glaws now, both scored by Carreras. 12-5
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The only side in any way sanguine about tomorrow must be England.
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Bristol chucking the game at Gloucester. 2 intercept tries to Santiago Carreras after a good start by Bristol.
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@Slider – pfft. It’s meant to be -5 in Barnsley tonight.
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England fans can’t be sanguine, though, thaum.
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TomP – is that because they’ve already exsanguinated?
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Bristol forwards deciding to play like the backs, Heenan slicing through the last couple of defenders. 12-12
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Magic try by Bristol. Gorgeous play from Ioan twice.
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thaum, Wooden Spoon game, innit? Last week they lost a 38-year home record v Scotland. As a lightningologist, I can tell you that lightning can strike twice.
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@slider
I always considered Rochdale to be sub-tropical and a bit soft down in that valley. I’ve told before about my Dad driving 10 mins to his teaching job and the Rochdalian kids pointing in amazement at the snow on the car.
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TomP – dearly as I would love that (sorry, England fans), I can’t see it happening.
Although, are England the only team not to lose to Italy yet? It’s got to happen some day. This young Italian side have something about them, and may befuddle the already-partly-fuddled.
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My understanding is that the writer the English hold in highest regard painted Italians as being variously violent teen gangsters or anti-semites or sex-obsessives or closeted gay men. Nasty piece of work that Shakespeare.
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That Shakespeare was from around these parts. Explains a lot about some of the locals.
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Shakespeare would have done excellent rugby commentary, mind you.
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Ugo Monye is very much the modern Shakespeare.
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Ben Youngs’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour and 10 minutes upon the stage
And then is heard no more
Until Eddie picks him yet again
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TomP – you have given me the gist of an idea for an ATL, there.
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Oh Glaws. Still, nice to see the best 8 in England back on the pitch after a year.
Thanks for ATL yet again, Thaum.
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Sale were dreadful — error after error after error. Bath weren’t as bad. Bah.
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Temps were minus 4 yesterday daytime, down to minus 16 or colder overnight! Brrr
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Thanks for the ATL Thauma, dreadful predictions all round. It plummeted to 19 Celsius last night here. Going to around 31 this afternoon, when I’ll be lunching at the highest wine farm in Africa in Clarens. Wine isn’t great, but the food is pretty good. And the farm is pretty. Which is good.
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Morning!
There is an old hamlet (hameau) near here at the foot of the Pyrenees called Clarens…………………..2 or 3 farms of an unusual and I would say medieval layout. Very nearly bought one but it was in a bit of a frost pocket…………..
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Clarens here is named after the town in Switzerland of the same name that Paul Kruger was exiled to. Winters can get cold too – we’ve been here with lows of 10 below zero.
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Morning everyone, the fear is starting to set in, but really looking forward to seeing the Scotland v Wales match later. Hoping Billy Burns can bounce back for the France game and not break a nations heart on Valentine’s Day
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Romeo and Juliet were Italian, weren’t they?
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Sex obsessives and their mates were ultra-violent gangsters.
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Un – deux – trois:
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Isn’t everyone sex obsessed in Shakespeare ? And what’s wrong with that anyway?
As for the ultra violent gangsters, aren’t they the direct ascendants of those still worshipped in some parts as the aristocrats?
That Shakespeare boy knew his stuff. England by 100.
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Juliette, Juliette, Juliette. You’re not a star-cross’d lover, you’re a 14 year old girl who last week wanted to be a nun because you look cool in black. Next week you’ll have forgotten all about Romeo Sodding Child-Molester Montague because you want a pony. So put that sleeping draught down and come off the balcony.
My two least favourite Shakespeare plays: R+J and A Midsummer Night’s Tedium.
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As Scotland are *clearly* by far the Best Team in the World at the moment (for how else could they have beaten Eddie’s ‘Eroes?), obviously they’re going to win today, and I wish them well.
Though victories for Wales and Ireland would make the tournament a bit more interesting for the next few weeks, so that would be good too.
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C’mon Wales!
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Can a team win without a breakdown game though, and no jacklers?
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Feel sick.
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Good day’s play in the cricket even if England are deep in the doodoo. Great batting from Rohit Sharma and a couple of bizarre incidents. Last hour or so with the ball doing loads was a really interesting watch.
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Ha! That photo made me laugh, Thaum great stuff
I have the hope-fear, badly
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Brookter, you’re right but those were different times. What else was there to do at Bankside except enjoy some bear baiting or cock fighting? Hence, Shakespeare had to extend those plays out to 2 or 3 hours or more. Also, most of the money the theatres made were from concessions. People spend more on a marked up rabbit stew and a flagon of ale when there’re breaks between each Act.
Compare Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, hour upon hour of bears exeunting stage left and shoddy geography, with the masterpiece of romantic yearning, concision and acciurate geography below. No contest.
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“I wouldn’t trust anyone who gets thumped at Battleships by a four year old.”
I can’t help wondering how long that game must have taken.
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Prose worthy of Shakespeare:
In many ways England would prefer to be playing Ireland or Wales this week, the kind of fixture that demands a performance and an emotional buy-in that can be hard to manufacture.
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Shouldn’t have drunk so much last night then, Slider.
Its a balmy -10 C here this morning, might get the bicycle out and pop down the store for some more smokes.
A couple of years back, England were scoring tries at will off lineouts, with wings taking the ball at pace thru the centres. What happened to all that stuff?
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