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 
What’s wrong with a dinner part? A party. With dinner involved. Who wouldn’t like that?
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Dinner party. Chimpie’s house. What’s for starter? Some of your renowned cheese on toast? Erm, no thanks, Think I’ll pass. Any beer? No?
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You cut me, BB, cut me deep.
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My best figures? 7-52. Got called “a teenage leg-spin sensation” in the report in the Dorset Echo. It was less sensation than their batters picking out fielders on the boundary who could catch.
Most proud of my strike rate of a wicket every 6 balls in the Southern Hemisphere.
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OT, where would the mediocre British sitcom be without the burning the food / forgetting to put the oven “… and the boss / vicar will be here in 10 minutes” dinner party?
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@Tomp – but Dorset’s not in Wales!
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@Slade,
Kings Macc were indeed buggers, as you say, also posh compared to Wilmslow. That match happened at the end of the First Year (or Year Whatever as they call it these days) and when we played them at rugby early the next term I innocently asked in the first line out whether any of them had played in the cricket. “Shit to cricket,” was the reply, which, for a three word answer, disappointingly managed to get the middle word wrong.
I’m glad to see that you all thoroughly enjoyed school cricket. Happy days.
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Dab’ll be as right as rain when the Welsh lucky bubble bursts and we start to ship more points than a team could ever be expected to claw back.
England atta canter.
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I particularly liked cricket at school. ESPECIALLY as I never played any.
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BB – so you dislike cricket after school because you started playing it?
Weird.
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EPCR news on Rugby Cups:
2020/21 KNOCKOUT STAGE QUALIFIERS
Heineken Champions Cup – Racing 92, Leinster Rugby, Wasps, Bordeaux-Bègles, Munster Rugby, Lyon, Toulouse, La Rochelle, Scarlets, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Bristol Bears, Exeter Chiefs, Edinburgh Rugby, Gloucester Rugby, RC Toulon, Sale Sharks
NB Racing 92, Leinster, Wasps, Bordeaux-Bègles and Munster are guaranteed home matches in the Round of 16
Challenge Cup – London Irish, Ospreys, Leicester Tigers, Cardiff Blues, Zebre Rugby Club, Agen, Benetton Rugby, Newcastle Falcons, Ulster Rugby, Connacht Rugby, Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, Montpellier, Dragons, Harlequins, Glasgow Warriors
NB London Irish, Ospreys and Leicester Tigers are guaranteed home matches in the Round of 16
EPCR KEY DATES
Knockout Stage Draws: Tuesday 9 March
Rounds of 16: 2/3/4 April
Quarter-finals: 9/10/11 April
Semi-finals: 30 April – 1/2 May
Challenge Cup final: Marseille – Friday, 21 May
Heineken Champions Cup final: Marseille – Saturday, 22 May
Full report on Exetr’s website:
https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/epcr-statement-february-24
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BB – my 4 year old also wiped the floor with me playing Minecraft Uno. That’s despite him laying all his cards out flat on the table.
This can partially be attributed to the tactics of Mrs Craig’s. Only partially though.
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Daughter 2 was vicious at playing Uno. Usually aimed at her big sister. Or me. Never her mother. Sook. I, on the other hand was even handed in my Uno viciousness.
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@tomp
Exactly. But when I was a kid I have no idea who was having dinner parties or anyone who had ever been to one. It might be that all dinner parties took place in the outer London boroughs and nowhere else.
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Also a staple of broadsheet columnists back in the day as a place where serious* people would have serious** conversations.
* self-important
** self-important
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So having some friends round to eat and get pissed some kind of exercise in snobbery? Interesting view.
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The plot of Abigail’s Party could not be reduced to “having some friends round to eat and get pissed “.
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We’re not saying that, Chimpie.
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Hehehe. According to l’Equipe, the guy who breached the sanitary bubble is none other than Galthié himself.
Players are said to be furious because G imposes a strict discipline that of course does not apply to himself. Galthié doing a Cummings does not go well with the French government either, at a moment a third lockdown seems to be on the cards.
That Galthié would weaken his own team by frolicking around does not sit well with rugby fans ( most people won’t hear about it). Plus ça change…
I just hope no other player test positive, otherwise the game would be postponed and that would not be fair to Scotland.
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So not only France will miss 11 players ( 3 on the bench) but they havent been able to train properly until Wednesday.
Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!
The entire first choice front row, the 9, the captain, a wing, a centre and the FB.
The bench will probably have about 10 caps altogether, and no familiarity. Scotland by 28, on the pitch.
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That type of underdogging won’t wash here, Flair. France always at their most explosively unpredictable when their backs are to the wall. Scotland will be desperate to prove they have moved up to the top table, will overjizz, and be cut to ribbons by a team prepared solely by Monsieur Edwards, without any nambie pampy softy southerner Galthie types to interfere with his masterplan.
France by 18.
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Quite SBT, the cards are set for a massive French victory
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We have weaknesses at tighthead and inside centre with fagerson banned and redpath injured. Plus several back row injuries. All key areas. France have ludicrous depth although losing some top notch players
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SBT, what I fear is not so much a lack of quality among the new players, albeit many of them won’t be familiar with the plans, but the infighting within the camp. Serge Simon, Laporte ‘s deputy, usually in charge of his dirty work, blamed a physio for being patient zero where all players know it was Galthié. It didn’t go well and they talked to the press. This kind of atmosphere does not bode well for Sunday’s game.
Anyway, I thought Scotland would be France’s sterner test, and it’s not a good idea to miss 9 of your starters (plus 3 major players injured, Vaka, Chat and Ntamack).
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All this might soon be moot. New case of covid within the French squad this morning. Training suspended.
My feeling is the game will be postponed or forfeited. Too risky.
Ach…
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I’ve just read that on the FFR twitter account, Flair.
The game cannot go ahead. There is enough time to get the French squad clear by the 13th of March for their trip to London, but that leaves a problem with what to do about Sunday.
I know how this is gong to look, but for me the best option is to award the match points to Scotland and move on.
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I’m sorry Ticht, but you can’t just award the points to Scotland – my Bru predictions will be decimated by that.
‘Predictions’ before anyone else gets in.
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Well Deebee, if you will make such wild predictions you have to face the consequences.
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BTW, Zander Fagerson’s appeal was heard on Tuesday afternoon, a decision was expected around 5pm.
Still no news.
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Delaying the game by a week would mean we’re down at least 11 players who wouldn’t be released. would be a bit shit for us considering it sounds like it was Galthie who cocked up.
Also doubt this would be the last case, so would need a good 2 weeks to clear it?
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Covid sucks.
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sucks big dugs baws, Chimpie.
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@Iks – Someone sent me a highlights reel of England tries vs Wales this morning. Included the Elliott Daly in the corner 2017 one, which happened right below me in the Millennium. Made me feel a bit more normal. But then I picture Eddie Jones and the queasiness sets in again…
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@ticht
That’s a hell of a lot of biscuits.
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Maybe he brought flowers instead and it’s caused confusion and chaos.
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Perhaps it’s a bit like this
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Was wondering when gwinnie would dip her nose into the covide debate
‘she suggested long Covid could be treated with “intuitive fasting”, herbal cocktails and regular visits to an “infrared sauna”.’
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has she tried an ultra-violet sauna though?
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I wouldn’t mind if Scotland were awarded the BP win as it’s obviously some cockup from France .
I certainly would prefer the game to be postponed next week if, and only if, Scotland could have all their players available through some help from their clubs. But then, why should the clubs be penalised?
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Moving down the wavelength and up the frequency an x-ray or gamma ray sauna would certainly sort out any long term problems
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“infrared sauna” sounds suspiciously like being out in the sun, but without the immune system-boosting Vitamin D-making UV.
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Flair, it’s not the Scottish clubs that are the issue here, the SRU only releases fringe players during the 6N. The problem is with guys who play in England, the clubs there have no agreement with the SRU, and I don’t think this falls within WR regs regarding test windows.
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“La rencontre entre le XV de France et l’Écosse, prévue ce dimanche au Stade de France, devrait, selon nos informations, être reportée”
This is from Eurosport.
So, postponed then.
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@flair
Sure, if the PRL & the French clubs were reasonable [1] and allowed release without a large financial penalty [2] then that would be better. Although that would seriously reduce the rest time before the next two rounds of matches.
[1] Laughs
[2] laughs again
[3] I’m sure the clubs would say they were quite within their rights to stick with the agreements RE player release.
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Maybe France could pay off the clubs?
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Chimpie – me and you are well posh cos our parents cooked for their guests (beyond sandwiches growing up). Pretty sure that’s exactly what’s being said here.
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intuitive fasting
This would make me fat beyond fat.
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Crikey. Despite Root’s heroics, looks like an innings victory could be on the cards for India!! Bairstow is even less likeable with a pair!
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‘intuitive fasting
This would make me fat beyond fat.’
an hour or two in the gamma ray sauna would sort that out.
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Or turn you into the hulk. The science obviously needs some work.
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