I’ll try to keep this as short as possible.
Three games this week-end; that is, if France once again do not shrug their way out of the most porous bubble (called a sieve here, see below) ever seen since John Boyd Dunlop invented the flat tire.
The teams:
England: At the moment they look like a good example of someone’s definition of madness: do the same thing over and over and expect a different result.
Wales: Don’t call them fortunate; they hate it. Napoléon would have a word with Pivac though. A disastrous autumn followed by a welcome revival. Tedious at times, lethal sometimes. Will finish first unless France get a GS.
France: Will achieve a GS (see Wales).
Ireland: Stale but still mid-table. Reaching their tipping point on the declankidney-o-meter. That green jersey looks more and more like a corset, including to the meanies usually in blue.
Scotland: The perennial underachiever. Couldn’t even beat covided France by forfeit. Lovely to watch though. Definitely the colour of a dark horse.
Italy: they prove that the old adage “it’s easier to organise defence than attack” is plain rubbish. They produced lovely moves but they could not catch a slug on a Zimmer frame.
The games:
Italy vs Wales: makes me sad that a 6 Nations game is a foregone conclusion. Italy have unearthed some exciting new players but they lost what was their main strength, a solid if unimaginative pack. Their scrum is so wobbly they could hire Australians to improve them, the line-out is a mess and their defensive line look from above like a child’s drawing of a bolt of lightning. The only uncertainty is whether Wales will get the bonus point before or after the oranges. As for Wales, it’s a bit strange not to experiment a bit more, most of the team being a known quantity. Pivac probably wants battle hardened warriors for next week’s game, but it looks like a missed opportunity to blood new players. I’ll watch it, if only for AWJ and of course for Liam Williams: he may look like a horse rider but he’s a superb full back.
England vs France: both teams pick themselves but for different reasons. Eddie is so conservative he’d make Maggie look like a socialist. Apart from the obvious, he seems quite reluctant to change a formula that has shown its limitations. Scotland, who play a similar game to France, cruelly exposed them. And so did Wales in a different style. In both games England seemed incapable of changing gear and controlling their discipline. Of course, they’ll be more fit and the inclusion of Malins will bring more threat but Daly is still on the bench. Funny how a vibrant club game does not translate into a more fluid national squad.
France easily beat England in Paris last year and came close to winning the AI cup with a B team. It certainly helps in terms of confidence, but this is different. They might be as rusty as England, after the covid bubble burst. They also have the same problem as England in terms of discipline and the team that will remain on Andrew Brace’s side will take a big step ahead. But France have been rebuilding seriously for the past two years, they have a young but settled team, they know what to do and they’ll trust their ability to do it. A curiosity: France’s bench will be 6/2 whereas England’s will be 5/3.
I can see only one outcome. If the packs cancel one another, which I expect, then France have more threat in the backs. France by one score. With a bonus point, like Wales? Nah. A win would be good enough.
Scotland/Ireland: this should be a cracking game and it’s a hard one to call. Both teams lost to Wales, with one man down, but in different fashion. Both could’ve won (fine margins etc.) but I thought Scotland were the most enterprising of the three.
Ireland play a well-rehearsed game, easy to read, hard to stop. Sexton is a fading force but the way they play, he can still do the job for a couple of years. What’s that I hear? Deep sighs from the notablog showrunner? And where is Cooney, anyway?
I expect a lot of box-kicking, some good chases, some not so good and then beware Hogg and friends.
Just like France, Scotland might be a bit rusty for missing a game but I heard they played within their clubs. They should play a looser game than Ireland, with more unpredictability. Finn had a mediocre game last week with Racing. Was he keeping his powder dry? It does not really matter because Scotland have proven last year they can play without Finn, and well.
My money would be on a Scotland win but not by much.
I hope you all enjoy the week-end of rugby and I hope the refs will not be at centre stage like two weeks ago.
Oh, and before I go, a little recipe. No need for a sieve, but keep one handy, just in case you need to escape from Marcatraz (that’s what the French players nicknamed their rugby camp in Marcoussis, south of Paris).
The most famous omelette in France is served by La Mère Poulard restaurant (overrated and overpriced) in the Mont Saint Michel. It may not be the best omelette but it’s quite striking.
You’ll need 10 eggs.
2 table spoons of crème fraîche
40 g of butter
Salt, pepper
It will serve 4 people or a prop.
Save two eggs for the end.
Separate the yolks from the white. Whip the yolks lightly, but the whites ferociously with the salt. If by hand, at least several minutes, so they become almost solid.
Melt butter in a hot pan, add the yolks. When they begin to stick to the pan, add crème fraîche and the whipped whites. Do not stir. Make sure it does not stick too hard on the bottom. When ready, fold the omelet in two, so it looks like this:
Spray freshly ground pepper on top and serve immediately. Some in an upside down universe recommend Latour ‘82 with it, but it’s bollocks. I have yet to find a wine that goes well with eggs. Cider will be fine.
While you enjoy your first fluffed omelette, take the remaining eggs and throw them at my face when – if, he says tentatively? – my predictions, as usual, do not come true. As I said, I tried to keep this as short as possible.
As foretold by Flair99
Onna telly this week
Friday 12th March
| Zebre v Leinster | 17:45 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Bristol v Wasps | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
| Munster v Scarlets | 20:00 | S4C / Premier Sports 2 |
| Glasgow v Ospreys | 20:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
Saturday 13th March
| Newcastle v Bath | 12:30 | BT Sport Extra |
| Exeter v Harlequins | 12:30 | BT Sport Extra |
| Italy v Wales | 14:15 | ITV / S4C |
| Northampton v Sale | 14:45 | BT Sport Extra |
| Gloucester v Leicester | 15:00 | BT Sport Extra |
| England v France | 16:45 | ITV |
| Dragons v Ulster | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Connacht v Edinburgh | 19:35 | Premier Sports 2 |
Sunday 14th March
| Treviso v Cardiff Not-Blues | 13:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
| London Irish v Worcester | 13:00 | BT Sport 1 |
| Scotland v Ireland | 15:00 | BBC1 |
Ovally Balls 
Lovely words Flair! But ye dogs, that picture of Jeremy Thatcher will take a fair bit of scouring from my brain…
LikeLiked by 3 people
Beaux mots, mon pote.
Passer un super weekend!
LikeLike
Neat work, flair.
LikeLike
Chimpie, not connected yet to World Rugby but they’re quite close, on the other side of the canal from where we live, about 900 metres.
Looking for a mini rugby set-up for the boy to join in. We’re not far from Bective Rangers, Old Belvedere, Wanderers and Lansdowne and have walked past all of them in the last few days. Wanderers and Lansdowne clubs are right next to the Aviva, Bective play at Donnybrook, Old Belvedere at Ollie Campbell Park sort of half way between the Aviva and Donnybrook. Also saw the IRFU offices.
LikeLike
Words Flair and lovely addition at the end. I’ll be sure to include a recipe in my next atl.
Cider will be fine
Every word true.
LikeLike
Tomp – you found FD yet?
LikeLike
He’s fine. Sent me a code book by courier so I can decipher his messages. He wears a disguise and moves from safe house to safe house. I told him CJ wasn’t allowed to travel from the UK to Ireland at the moment without quarantining but he said, ‘Better safe than sorry, Cobber’.
LikeLike
“He wears a disguise”
That’ll be the Sleeveless Behemoth T-shirt he left Amsterdam in.
LikeLike
I’ve still not managed to find any songs by Sleeveless Behemoth on Youtube.
LikeLike
@Flair – Thanks for the ATL. We don’t mind being lucky by the way.
LikeLike
You would think from Kitson’s latest that Jalibert is first choice for France (and soon to displace George Ford as best outside half in the world). Is this really the case? I thought he had his place because of Ntamack’s injury and while doing a good job of it wouldn’t necessarily keep his place once Ntamack is fully fit.
LikeLike
Zebre have scored 31 points against Leinster. Unfortunately the Blue Meanies scored 48.
LikeLike
Proper Munster weather going on. I do miss Tcod’s pics of Thomond Park.
LikeLike
This match has no commentators at all. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing – you can hear the ref & pitch noises.
LikeLike
Do the players make noises or just the ref and the pitch?
LikeLike
Oh – someone has turned up!
LikeLike
CMW – they’re not swearing yet, as it’s early in the match. Neither are the players.
LikeLike
Nice to see Carbery back in action, and with a lovely kick too.
LikeLike
Good start….
… for Ospreys.
LikeLike
oooh like the sound of that. Will Thaum start swearing in a minute?
LikeLike
Or are they playing someone else?
LikeLike
That was bizarre decision
LikeLike
I would also term it a bollix one
LikeLike
CMW – Jeesus christ, us Irish don’t fucking swear. We just braythe, and swear-words come out.
LikeLike
(Ospreys are playing Glasgow, btw. Munster have Scarlets.)
LikeLike
If you get the ball wanged at you going for a tackle its a yellow card and penalty try
LikeLike
Apparently
LikeLike
‘One had to come, you felt, eventually’ – dirty commentator.
Munster have scored.
LikeLike
Lovely stuff flair. A great read
LikeLiked by 1 person
Think someone needs to tell Glasgow its not the penalty count they’re trying to win
LikeLike
Ohhh, fabulous Munster try!
LikeLike
If Billy Burns is watching this, he’s probably also polishing his CV. Sexton might also be worried.
LikeLike
He ran from his own half, but nobody tried to tackle him until he gave the pass round about the 22.
LikeLike
Thanks for the nice words, boys.
Credit where credit is due, Thaum did a very good job cleaning my English, and she found all the photos, bar the omelet. So, Thaum, thanks again for all the work and for keeping this place alive.
CMW, my first choice would be Jalibert but Galthié’s seems to be Ntamack. As Ntamack is just back from injury (2 months lay off with broken jaw) it seems logical to carry on with Jalibert.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess the O’s Glasow game is the one that still sort of has something riding on it. Shame I can only watch the other one. Then again I suppose Scarlets could probably still do with the points if they were going to get any which they’re not.
LikeLike
@Flair – Ntamack being Galthie’s first choice with everything else being equal was my understanding of the situation. Kitson is carrying on as though Jalibert is the first choice and who we should be expecting to see in the shirt for the foreseeable. Is your preference for Jalibert widely shared over there or is Ntamack mainly seen as the one to go with?
LikeLike
Flair – your English is better than most native speakers’.
It’s always a delight to get a great ATL in my inbox.
LikeLike
LikeLiked by 1 person
Also I wonder if there’s any possibility of them playing both? Maybe not now Fickou is at 12 and seems to be the main man in the defensive system?
LikeLike
(Please don’t Karl that.)
LikeLike
Shingler’s been yellowed.
LikeLike
Munster get try no. 3 as the clock goes red for HT.
LikeLike
Finally got our telly up. Sat down to enjoy some Scarlets with Irish commentary and they’re getting mashed by Munster. 21-3 at the half.
LikeLike
Thaum – Karl.
LikeLike
And Carbery makes a tricky touchline conversion for 21-3.
LikeLike
Craigs – FOAD.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ref seemed very keen for Munster to get a nice maul set. Game was over before that anyway really.
LikeLike
Thaum – sad face. Sent you an email BTW.
LikeLike
My preference for Jalibert is not widely shared , Ntamack being perceived as the most natural talent, specially running with the ball, something the French public always love . But I think Jalibert is a more reliable kicker, better at managing the game, (which may not be necessary as Dupont does his share of it) and almost as good with his running. We are lucky to have them both, and Carbonel, the third in line, is quite capable as well.
LikeLike
Thaum, I won’t Karl you but you did make me blush.
Thanks.
LikeLike