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 
Seems like Ireland hanging on a wee bit here.
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Lovely by Penaud and Dulin.
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OK, maybe not so much now….
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Oh no, James Lowe.
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Maybe Wales could try that tactic – lose the lineout but then score off it.
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That was like McInally’s try last season, against France too iirc
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Good lord, an Irish try.
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Game on!
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Great finish by Kelleher. A bit like McInally last year.
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Our line out was almost immaculate yesterday and scoring tries isn’t our problem.
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Ringrose looking a little off the pace, bring Lamour on.
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Is it desperate to hope France start blowing in the final 10?
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Ireland will win this if France don’t get the ball……………………
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Ireland are doing brilliantly at the breakdown but Gibson Park’s defending so far away that he can’t get to the next ruck when they get the turnover.
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TomP – he’s never where he bloody ought to be, when he is at the back of the ruck he’s slow, and his passing is awful.
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Dupont had no right to get as far into the 22 as he did just then.
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Like Luke Pierce as a ref. He’s better than Carley anyway (and I don’t like Carley whenever he refs).
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I’m not knocking him for it, thaum. Just it’s been a shame on a couple occasions when they’ve done it.
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Well, I am.
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Cretinous push in the back.
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That was a hell of a match.
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Entertaining game.
Still can’t see past a french grand slam this year.
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I thought France were going to Scotland it at the end there.
Well done Les Bleus, I think they did enough to deserve the win
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Shaun Edwards defence wins the game .
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Good defence by France won that. Ireland huffed and puffed but couldn’t do it.
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We never looked like winning that, but at least it wasn’t the drubbing I expected.
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Thaum, I just don’t get why Cooney isn’t being selected, he’d make a heck of a difference
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Ah, well done France. If we had half of their backs penetration we’d be a different side.
Gibson-park brings nothing.
I thought it was a brilliant forwards performance. Beirne is a monster.
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Luke Pierce is an excellent ref.
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Ticht – you, me and most of Ireland.
Piper – the forwards were immense.
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At least Hendo and Healy didn’t suffer concussions
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Yes, hard to believe!
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That’s 2 Ireland-Liverpool losing doubles on the bounce for me. Struggling for lockdown positives – though ski-cross in Eurosport yesterday was a revelation😀
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France have developed a nice formula that they all seem to believe in: solid defence and ruthless in open play, all backed up by a very good #15
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France have looked the best team so far: far more composed and dangerous than England, at least. France fort, tournoi fort.
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All set for us to spoil the French GS again
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Think I’ll give myself an auto-pffft for that
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Just finish watching the game. Damn you, Irish, you made my heart pound until the last second. Never easy to win in Dublin. A scrappy win for France but they’ll go far. Ireland better without the old guard but rarely threatened besides Lowe’s opportunity. That said, most French who don’t know a word of English know what “fighting spirit” means, thanks to the Irish. Bravo, les Irlandais.
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Anyone know anything about Jack Dempsey? Apparently he’s another new Glasgow signing for next season. He’s been capped 14 times for the Wallabies – so why Glasgow? Only 26 – do they have so many back rowers they can afford to get rid of the ones they don’t want?
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BB:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Dempsey_(rugby_union)
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BB:
and…….https://www.rugby.com.au/players/jack-dempsey#Super-Rugby
looks like he is trying to re kickstart his promising career after injuries
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Does say that he is of Scottish descent, so maybe there’s some family link with Glasgow. At least the fact that he’s been capped for Australia means we won’t have the tiresome ‘residency’ crap.
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Bad luck Ireland, a good effort just falling short. Well done France, winning when not firing on all cylinders. The 6N is a much better place now France are at the races again.
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For our Welsh contingent, a trip down Memory Lane, via Exeter:
Equally, Wales and British Lions flyer Cuthbert has been in try-scoring form since his return to action from a long-standing calf problem.
Hepher has made no secret of the fact he wants to see more of the 30-year-old winger in action – and he’s been thrilled with the way he has returned to the first-team fold.
“It’s never in doubt what Cuthy can do,” added Hepher. “You see it every time he plays. He’s big, he’s competitive and he knows how to finish – he’s everything you want in a winger!”
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I didn’t get to see much of the rugby this weekend, we were away with family. Sounds like I missed out on some great matches – will try and catch up on highlights packages as time allows. So, two bloody weeks until the next one? That’s irritating!
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It takes something special to have the lions share of territory, possession, defenders beaten, meters run with the ball etc etc.
To turn around 17- 8 in front at ht and have 72% possession and 74% territory over the next forty minutes and still contrive to lose the game is terrible game-management. It wasn’t the card that decided the game, although it does have an effect, Fagerson made contact with the chin, however glancing, and it was a red all day long.
Stupid stupid Scotland… we even conceded fewer penalties, although ours were “just at the right time and in the right places” so to speak.
If you read through these stats you’d think the score at the top was a mistake.
The only stat that is remembered is that top one.
https://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/matchstats?gameId=593098&league=180659
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This was us last week….
..and on this week – well, not a bad performance but not a great one either. Could have snuck a win – half-backs were ok (sad not to see Casey get a go – in those last few moments, if anyone could have wriggled up the side of a ruck, got us 10-15 metres and into drop goal range he might….)
Defensively, we’re all at sea as soon as it goes wide – and this goes back a few seasons now. In attack, we’re just too structured – after every carry we’re going to ground to recycle by comparison – France had supporting runners on the shoulder of the ball carrier – I’m not seeing us do that.
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Ticht, as I said after the game, the RC wasn’t so influential. The numerous small infringements made more difference, giving too easily points and territory to Wales. And sure, a man was missing out wide when Wales scored, but weren’t they already on top, after Scotland failed to convert their domination into points? It was a bit of the same problem vs England: Scotland should’ve won by more than a score.
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Trisk, until bloody Laporte’s disastrous coaching period in the 2000s, France’s approach to rugby was the same as Toulouse’s: “Jouer debout!” . Don’t go to ground, recycle as quickly as possible, pass the ball, don’t run into the opponent but rather go around him. And pass, pass, pass. These passes look risky but there are not. Because the ball carrier expects and gets support. Thank dog for Galthié, and before him Novès, for never forgetting it.
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