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 
So…
Italian win on Saturday then.
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Yeah, sounds about right.
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Fleck stopped coaching them in 2019, Deebs. John Dobson now
I know that, but it doesn’t sound the same using Dobson. And it gave me a chance to have a dig at Fleck.
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I’d completely forgotten that you’d held them scoreless in 2020, BB. Now you’ve made me remember that game. You’re pure evil for a librarian.
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Although I ain’t young, and I sure as hell ain’t hot…
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Afternoon…
Hope you’re all well after the weekend’s fun.
I see the Mothership is attempting to bring the Cat out of his seclusion:
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/mar/16/nest-of-vampires-review-bloodless-horror
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Also, the jackpot round on Pointless today is ‘Prog Rock’, just for BB. The questions:
1. Members of Yes
2. Songs on Pink Floyd’s Echoes
3. Bands in the Rolling Stones 100 Best Prog Albums.
4. How long before MrIks appears to say that “All Prog is Pointless”…
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Answers:
1. 170
2. All good (apart from one)
3. None
4. 5 minutes
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Oliver Wakeman (some relation) was pointless, as was Bill Bruford, who was also in King Crimson (1pt), while a whole 9 people knew that Set the Control for the Hearts of the Sun was on Echoes, but no-one that When the Tigers Broke Free was.
My choice was Arnold Layne, but Richard didn’t let on how many points that scored, if any.
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I’d forgotten that Echoes was a compilation album, it’s not one I have.
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Wonder how many points Peter Banks would have got?
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Me neither, BB. I thought it was one of the early compilations but it’s after 2000, so it has some of the Not Real Floyd on as well.
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I don’t mind The Division Bell, A Momentary Lapse of Reason has ‘On The Turning Away’ on it, which is really good, and the Endless River should have stopped when it was a stream.
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The When We Were Young Ones are definitely the best, oddly enough.
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1. I would only be able to answer Anderson, Bruford and Squire
2. This got me really puzzling, until I realised that Echoes isn’t an album I’ve heard of, I know Meddle but that’s where my confusion comes from.
3. No idea, I only know the really famous ones.
4. Not soon enough
(just kidding BB)
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Something like 18 members of Yes through the years.
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Thanks for that Refit. I’m off to cry in a corner….
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Sorry (not sorry).
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I missed that match. I had to go in to the workshop to do some wood working stuff.
My Welsh mate who I exchange texts with during games kept sending me “WTF!” messages until I phoned to see what was wrong, I thought something really bad had happened.
It had right enough.
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Seeing as it’s referenced and we can afford to be generous at least until the end of the week:
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But of course you can’t have the first minute without the last.
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Scott Gibbs scored a tremendous try against Scotland as well and Wales were winning with about ten minutes to go. Paid the price for an interception try and that there kickoff in the end though. The first half of the Scotland-France game from that year is amazing.
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@TomP – The Pro’s right, Italy should have been allowed to join the 6N earlier. We could have lost to them as well as Scotland and Ireland while beating France and England in 99. Still haven’t managed that, I blame Gats.
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I don’t mind The Division Bell, A Momentary Lapse of Reason has ‘On The Turning Away’ on it, which is really good, and the Endless River should have stopped when it was a stream.
I saw Roger Waters playing out here years ago and he was excellent – but I really wanted him to play Learning to Fly and On the Turning Away, which obviously he didn’t, cos he was still in a strop with the rest of the band.
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I blame Gats.
May this be a common, loud and angry refrain before, during and after the Lions Series.
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Mobus Dicus article in the Guardian!
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/17/sperm-whales-in-19th-century-shared-ship-attack-information
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CMW,
Let’s not say things we might regret in the morning.
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That Gibbs try, though. Can watch it again and again. Happiest sporting moment I’ve ever witnessed live.
Here’s the analysis:
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Happy March 17th
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Quite enjoyed that how not to start a rugby match vid.
Remember watching the game and just laughing by the third try. Ludicrous tactics.
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Anyway it should really be tries against France this week. Perhaps the game will be something like this one. Third try is the best one, tremendous attitude taken to the French scores under cover of the word ‘highlights’:
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On this season’s evidence we’re more likely to see something like this though:
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Or this:
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Chimpie – Inspired a Danny Care pass against the Saffas that did.
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Refit – that’s a great video. Reminded me of the Bled game where the Kiwis were 30 nil up after 2 mins or something stupid
only for the Aussies to nearly win.LikeLike
That ’99 win in Paris is a scarcely believable result even now.
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This one where the Ball sacks were 24 nil up after 10 minutes and only won by 4 points and a last minute try at the end.
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I was at the Wales game prior to that Italy horrorshow. Game was terrible, but I’d wangled corporate hospitality through a friend and got free food and booze which helped dull the pain (but lead to a surfeit of pain the next morning)
Half the people on the corporate gig didn’t even watch the game. What a waste.
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North’s collection of tries from terrible French mistakes really is quite something. There’s the two more from 2019 as well. His best try against them is the one featuring his dad of course.
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Pfft! The All Blacks were 31-0 up against the Boks at HT in 2017. We rallied in the 2nd half and restricted them to 26 unanswered points.
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Was looking for a cover of one of the older editions of Lord of the Rings and I came across this site with some truly awful (and therefore probably Cat-pleasing) covers.
https://nerdalicious.com.au/books/ten-of-the-weirdest-book-covers-for-the-hobbit/
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Thaum – you have mail.
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Jeez BB, my kidz could have done better than some of them at the age of 5. Even the ones with some actual artistic technique are horribly conceived. Astoundingly bad
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A lot of them seem to be from the 60s and 70s. I suspect that there may have been some ‘alternative substances’ involved in the creation of some of those. Tolkien was pretty dismissive of a few of them.
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I quite like the Tove Jannson one
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Rugby was better in the old days.
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15Andries Coetzee, 14Raymond Rhule, 13Jesse Kriel, 12Jan Serfontein, 11Courtnall Skosan, 10Elton Jantjies, 9Francois Hougaard, 1Tendai Mtawarira, 2Malcolm Marx, 3Ruan Dreyer, 4Eben Etzebeth, 5Franco Mostert, 6Siya Kolisi, 7Jean-Luc du Preez, 8Uzair Cassiem,
Too many Lions.
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@BBoy
I like the German one – very much of it’s time artistically……
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Too many Lions
Nah, it was that gaping hole in midfield that was the real issue. We effectively played two down from the start with Serfontein and Kriel doing the (Headless) Chicken Dance.
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