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 
Stone cold second red, but no legislation will prevent that
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Did look like he takes a step, Sladey.
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@SBT
May well be – I may have missed that, but………………………………..
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– what were the reds for in the L’ster/Wasps game?
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A bit harsh, but quite funny, if you are not an Exeter supporter. Would need to look at his general technique from past kicks to pass much of an opinion, he stops, waits, then takes a small step forward and then sideways, then stops again as tho to compose himself. Whole Saints team set off, Joe stops again expecting ref to send them back, and a Saints player just kicks the ball off the tee into touch. Game over.
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One clearout to the head, dead set Red, one shoulder brushing head in the tackle, harsh but correct interpretation of Laws, and one for upending player jumping for a high ball, who landed on his head. Again, straightforward decision. The second one, Kieran Brookes, was difficult to spot, he was fractionally the second tackler into the mix, and took a sharp eyed video ref to spot it, but they have obviously been told to look for this. I have a fiver says that Faz gets one against Wales next week.
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A CMW-pleasing surprise beaver
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(SFW)
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They’re taking the mickey out of me.
I said Edinburgh are going to get battered tonight by Munster and eldest daughter and wife responded,
“I’ve been worried about it all week”
“Me too, but there’s always next season”
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‘Bamboozled’ sounds funny in a Welsh accent.
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Ospreys get the first 3 points of the game after the clock has gone red for HT.
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I just checked law 8.14 and a recent clarification:
basically, the kicker begins his approach to the ball no matter what direction his first movement.
e.g. Gopperth – backwards; Joe Simmonds(today) – sideways +sideways (anxious because of the howling gale affecting a win/lose kick from out wide, I expect .
So, no complaint from me provided the Saints players started in response to the first movement, from behind the goal line.
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Still 3-0 in Wales. Ospreys have just had a man sent off. This is truly a match for the purist.
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Ospreys have scored a try. Mostly because everyone had fallen asleep.
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Got spagbol and a bottle of Wolf Blass cab sav
This is the highlight of this evening, but I’ll take my medicine by watching the game anyway.
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10-0 and the pain is over.
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The mister was making dark noises earlier about not wanting to watch Cardiff, so we may be watching Embra Munster.
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Apparently I missed the sarcasm.
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A Claw-pleasing 20-10 at scurvy-prevention time.
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This is going well
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Pack getting battered
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Silly errors
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What’s the score, Chimpie?
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“Pack getting battered”
Shite tighthead, it all starts from there
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Pfft. Checked. Only 7 points behind.
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Battered & deep-fried?
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12 points now
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Tovey gone off injured, or for HIA, and his replacement, Fish, is a dead ringer for Putin.
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Willemse on. Penalty time
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Cardiff try.
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Is that a no scoredraw between sale and wuss i spy?
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Ffs embra!
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Connacht try. There is some ref-moaning going on in my right ear.
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Endless scrum resets. Book
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Boak not book
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There does seem to be some justification for the ref-moaning. Even the Irish commentators are saying things like ‘bizarre call’.
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BP try for Connacht.
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Or wait … there is a question of the ref impeding the Blues’ defence.
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He decides he didn’t.
Cardiff may or may not have won this game with a different referee, but it’s entirely possible.
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So 32-17. Obviously, I was wanting Connacht to win, but two of Connacht’s tries were thanks to dodgy refereeing.
Andrew Brace, for the record.
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So we didn’t get hammered at home.
Woop
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Chimpie, Worcester-Newcastle 0-0 because Newcastle have got some Covid cases.
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SAle. Bah.
Would have been more distressing (Mike Brown clearly off his feet a metre from their try line and the only defender in the same post code, but of course it’s a penalty *against* SAle instead of the penalty try and sinbin which simple justice demanded) but was also playing Super Mario Kart Deluxe online vs grandkids at the time and had to concentrate on failing to avoid the toadstools and bananas one of the little joys kept lobbing at me when I was in front.
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Cracking start by Bristol – tip tackle by the Bristol 12 on his opposite number. Lucky to get away with a yellow.
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Having a numerical advantage isn’t really working out for LIR – first they throw an intercept to Charlie P, who’s chased down but manages to give the ball to Uren, who then passes to Piers O’Connor. Then Naulago intercepts as LIR get near the Bristol line. He goes the full length.
3-14
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This is bullying
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No it’s not, that has bad connotations, Brizzle are very good
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Bristol playing at Fiji 7s; Irish playing at rubbish
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Ade MAfi is getting on a bit in age now, but he is still a very good player and takes some stopping whilst he still has his puff
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Eadie is in trouble, stupid
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