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 
Some people are never pleased.
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Don’t OT, I still miss Sag.
And CJ.
Most of all Crash though.
What’s this late 2000s all about? I’ve been around since about 2003. (Under a different name inititially ,wonder how many are left from then? Sag, pro and DCC would have been for sure.
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Well, personally, I thought it would have been better if Jonny had had his legs together and sort of pointed his toes a bit, I guess he loses a couple of marks for technique, but it’s something to work on for the Wales game.
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OT, killer never misses.
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Simon Jenkins thinks Wales is going to go for independence. There we are then.
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He’s on top form with it too. This is a tremendous paragraph:
“Among many other things, it was harsh and insensitive government that helped to drive Ireland out of the United Kingdom in 1922. Similar governmental dynamics subsequently applied to Scotland, as with Margaret Thatcher’s poll tax and John Major’s denial of devolution. Wales has no great claim of maltreatment as, since Henry VIII, it has been administered as one “England and Wales” and showered with subsidies.”
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Crikey. Two spawney wins against depleted ranks and they want a say in their own fucking destiny? What next? Scotland claiming the Calcutta Cup ad a divine right?
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I often complain that the English know fuck all about Northern Ireland but some of them know fuck all about Wales as well.
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do we need to?
we’ve already had the Tudors……………….
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Suspect there’s a fair number of English folk that know fuck all about England too…
Most of them seem to be in the Conservative government.
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Showered with subsidies.
Right.
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@BRB – Mostly during the reign of Henry IX I think.
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There’s more … click the link to read.
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some of them know fuck all about Wales as well.
Actually it’s “Whales”.
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My favourite hotel is in Whales. And I don’t like hotels as a rule. But this one has fishing and Mrs Craig’s used to take me there for my birthday.
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Busy day – calls…calls…calls….so I didn’t get a chance to say
Hi Utna – glad to have you back….
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@Dov – there were some reminiscing last week about “absent friends” and I didn’t get around to mention Crash (and – among others – Gedmen, KJH (and of course MrsKJH))
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Larry too.
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MrsKJH is one of the great characters of our age.
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Would an independent Wales want to rejoin the EU ?
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Would an independent Wales want to rejoin the EU ?
I heard most Welshmen were already attached to a ewe? Pure speculation, of course.
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It would be good if a few of the old team would start posting again, there has been a long enough break that any rancour has gone, but these things have a shelf life, I guess.
I recall MrIks saying that there was a good number sign up for the Blogmeet in Heidelberg last year, before the world went to pot, so that is encouraging at least.
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Ticht, there is a good Long Read in the G. about arguments on the internet. Helps understand some of the flounces on the old AoD. though it was the best place to civily argue I ever encounter.
Come back boys, we need you.
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And girls.
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As an old prop I have to say; what the actual fuck?
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Good wheels for a prop
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yes, would be good to have all the boys and girls back, but that ship has sailed sadly. Amazing that AOD carried on as long as it did in generally good spirit.
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did spot ROS BTL on the graun fairly recently demanding his rights back at the end of the pandemic.
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Western Province (Stormers) apparently looking to sign All Black Lima Sopoaga from Wasps (with the minor detail that a French side with probably loads more dosh also wants him).
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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/16/israel-blocked-covid-vaccines-from-entering-gaza-say-palestinians
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See that CJ’s finished at least one job. He just has to finish the tram lines now.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56085078
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I wonder if this is accurate as the graun’s last piece on Israel and covid, with a snarky headline about Israel not vaccinating the Palestinians, when (a) the Palestinians have their own health service and (b) when the Israelis offered to source the vaccine for the Palestinians, the PA declined the offer.
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It’s what Haaretz is reporting as well. And the Palestinian Health Authority is in Ramallah, from where they want to transport the vaccine to Gaza.
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Not jealous of parents in Scotland. Not at all.
Bastards.
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I’m jealous of people with kidz in P1-3. Bastards
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also jealous of people who don’t have to work for a living, seeing as we’re doing a list.
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This is terribly sad. Such a talented young man.
https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/former-sa-schools-captain-passes-away/
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I’m jealous of people who aren’t having to isolate. And of people who aren’t just about to run out of beer, tobacco and milk.
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Damn right. Ban the Guardian, its being anti-semitic according to the new guidelines adopted by the Labour party.
Step up, Keir. Pesky Palestinians wanting access to a covid vaccine. In Palestine. Bastards.
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That’s so sad TomP. Horrible.
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Fabien Galthié tested +ve for Covid
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So did one of the childmindees.
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What I took from it was that Italy are better than I thought and slightly spoiled my ‘predictions’ (I think that’s what it says they were ATL) as a result.
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Zander gets four weeks. Biscuits must not have been good enough.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/56092322
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re absent friends, I still cherish some Crash’s street-food recipes but the most bizzare loss was Yos and Daff in a double flounce based on the relative coaching merits of Ospreys v Scarlets. It could only have been more of a Welsh cliche if they lived in neighbouring villages. Yos knew about/started every rumour in Welsh rugby and I loved Daff’s stories about diesel engines in Siberia. You’re probably reading this you scamps, in which case came back and put me straight.
The Miracle of Murrayfield – too soon? Wayne Pivac is a lucky boy but then didn’t Napoleon say “give me lucky coaches”?
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POM gets 3 weeks, Zander gets 4.
Fagerson is said to have protested that his actions merited a yellow card rather than a red.
Fagerson was reminded of his right to appeal.
No he wasn’t, he has been shown in no uncertain terms that you stand there in silence and take what is given, any effort to defend yourself will result in a more severe punishment, it’s a sham.
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‘The Miracle of Murrayfield – too soon?’
Definitely too soon.
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*cries*
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