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 
WAG WAG WAG
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How are the Dragons doing?
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Oops, I’ve just checked Not well. This is not our big hope, then.
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WHY take Cooney off? FFS.
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Red for Bath now – another high tackle – shoulder to the head. Lol got that one right.
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Amazing capacity for handing the ball over in the oppo 22 that Glasgow have
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@BB – There you are then, Scotland losing to Wales was a small price to pay for a message getting through to him.
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Wow, Glasgow have been totally outplayed for 60 minutes, some of the decisions have been on the shite side of poor, but Ulster are a different class to the Weedge tonight
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Cooney goes off, Albieson comes on, fucks up a kick and now gets yellow-carded.
Marvellous, as Iks would say.
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And a Glasgow try.
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Would be rubbery if Glasgow sneaked this at the end
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Not gonna happen though
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Ach bollocks. Well done Thaum (and dug). This season is a write-off for us. Hopefully with the new signings, next season will be significantly better.
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I wish we’d gone for the BP try instead of kicking it out – but wiser heads prevailed.
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BB – Glasgow are a good side, disappointing this season, but scary enough even so.
I’m just focused on the unlikely goal of beating Leinster.
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Glad to see Lowry getting MotM – thought he was good at first, then not so good in the second quarter, and brill in the second half. He’s just said he felt a bit rusty.
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“Glasgow are a good side, disappointing this season, but scary enough even so.”
They could easily finish above the O’s next time round.
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Drags made a game of it, which is a step up.
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CMW – hell, Treviso could finish above the Os next time round. (Sorry.)
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Compared to recent seasons Glasgow have been rank this year, utter pish.
They’ve lost international level players, but a few of the young guys look very promising, I like Jamie Dobie and Ross Thompson as a halfback pairing, they look very good and they are both very young.
A couple of the signings look good, so fingers crossed for the future.
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It wasn’t that long ago that we had the ’12 Ospreys and 3 random blokes’ shirt or similar; think it was for the Lions? Maybe the Wales team. Had quick search but couldn’t find it.
What happened?
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@Thaum – that might just have been my point.
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Ospreylia would have been maybe 2008?
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Most of the people I’ve spoken to in the last week weren’t even alive.
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Most of the people I’ve spoken to in the last week wouldn’t be alive if I could’ve got my hands around their necks.
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2008? Surely not that long ago!
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Seems like … well, the day before yesterday.
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It would be something like:
Both Hairbears if Gethin wasn’t available, if not just Adam
Bennett?
AWJ
Jonathan Thomas?
Ryan Jones
Big Mike might have been at Ospreys
Ook
Henson
Shane
Probably another second row and maybe a centre?
That sort of stuff anyway.
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Better go to bed.
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Yes, maximum Joneses.
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Wales v England 2008. Starting line-up was 13 Ospreys. Nugget and Someone Else made up the XV.
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That’s a pretty good effort, CMW. Goughy and Sonny Parker and the Golden Boy himself Lee Byrne and that’s your team.
They lost to London Irish – I think – or maybe Saracens in the Heineken quarters that year. Hook tried some fancy catch behind his back.
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Forgot all about Lee Byrne. Shameful. Was it ‘Cash for Gold’ that Yos used to call him?
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@TomP – They’ll have found a way to finish second in a group they should have won just to get themselves an away QF.
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So the other non-Osprey must have been a winger. I’m guessing it was Mark Jones with his straight-line speed.
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Byrne did an ad for them. Also admitted voting Tory.
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Best forgotten then.
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If I’d known it was the 2008 England game then my memory of ‘Bennett’s Arm’ would have saved me a question mark.
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Can’t find the Byrne ad.
This, however, probably won some awards:
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(Ruled to be) under the ball at the end of the first half it was, saving (what would have been) a certain try that , Balshaw notwithstanding, would have finished us off.
That game nearly finished me off, thought I was having a heart attack at the end. People were still shouting ‘Drop Goal!’ at my friend Dai for weeks afterwards after he spent the last ten minutes or so screaming it at the screen in the pub.
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Woof!
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Refit, that was a terrific bit of handling and nice pace at the end, but serious questions have to be asked of Glasgow’s defence, it was turnstile at first and non-existent at the last, it was a pretty clear run in after the (tbh lucky) intercept.
Ulster weren’t on top in terms of the game, it looked about even, but they were lethal in taking the chances that came their way, they were more than worth their win.
Glasgow were poor.
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OK rub it in, why don’t you…
Mind you, you’re not wrong.
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BB, I support Glasgow in every single game they are not playing Edinburgh, I take no pleasure in “rubbing it in”.
I would never do Glasgow down as a team any more than I would do Edinburgh when they’ve been bad.
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“maximum Joneses”
Most I can find with a quick search is six in 2004. Well done to anyone who can name them without looking it up as one of them is fairly obscure.
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I’ve got 4 so far, but I’m still on my first cuppa.
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I’m going with Jones, Jones, jones, Jones, Jones and Jones
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Alun Wyn, Adam, Duncan, Stephen, Mark, Huw (?)
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Cuthbert, Dibble, Grub
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Alun Wyn’s not that old, thaum.
Ryan is one I’d guess and that Llanelli flanker Daf played a lot of games so maybe him + Stephen, Adam and Duncan. Number 6 is ???
And I should know it as there’s a Frank Keating piece about Joneses playing for Wales that I’ve read lots of times and will mention it. But the thing I remember most from the article is that the world record for most people with the same surname together is (was?) held by Joneses as well and they beat some Scandinavians’ record.
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