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 
That’s not me, OT. I think it might be sag.
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the melbury is primarily for working, although the kidz seem to think it’s a glorified tent for camping out in. And has no TV. Yet.
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Last time I shared the Middle One with someone I got lunched.
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Oh FFS! Punched! That’ll learn me for posting on my mobile without my glasses on.
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Chimpie – it’s a damn shame you have to work this weekend between 2pm and 10pm specifically.
Damn shame.
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@Craigs – Those will be his core hours I’d imagine.
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Not working ya choob. Family stuff. I’m expected to do family stuff at the weekend apparently.
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Sunday’s a good day for family stuff.
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Apart from in the cricket season.
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Chimpie – CMW is joining with The Middle One so that’s family stuff.
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Maybe threaten to cook and you’ll have all the time off you want.
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Family hunt for a shop that sells beer?
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15. Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 7 caps)
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 50 caps)
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 51 caps)
12. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 92 caps) (C)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 65 caps)
10. George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 76 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 108 caps)
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 66 caps)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 30 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 43 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 47 caps)
5. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 20 caps)
6. Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons, 22 caps)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 32 caps)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 60 caps)
FINISHERS
16. Jamie George (Saracens, 58 caps)
17. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 27 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
19. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 8 caps)
20. Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 12 caps)
21. Dan Robson (Wasps, 11 caps)
22. Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors, 5 caps)
23. Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 4 caps)
Can’t keep Elliot Daly out of the starting line up.
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Daly just over halfway to being world class if I’m understanding Ugo correctly. Ben Youngs – world class. The pack? Nobody more than 2/3 world class on the Ugometer.
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Imagine not living up to Ugo Monye’s standards of what constitutes world class.
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OT – just look in the mirror. That’s what I do. No imagination necessary.
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I haven’t had enough time (nor bock) to even read Flair’s meringue recipe this week, let alone try to cook it, so I’m miles behind.
Thauma, if you still need a Welshie ATL I can probably cobble it together by Friday lunchtime – is that too late?
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“This is our most important game of the tournament and we want to finish well,” said Jones.
Eddie always seems to be full of ideas about which games are the most important ones for the different teams. Haven’t known him to be right yet though.
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Wales team for Wales’ most important game:
Liam Williams; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Jonathan Davies, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.
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Replacements: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Leon Brown, Cory Hill, James Botham, Tomos Williams, Callum Sheedy, Willis Halaholo.
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France team (unchanged starting line-up) for their most important game until the next one if they win this one with a BP or deny Wales one:
France: Brice Dulin; Teddy Thomas, Virimi Vakatawa, Gael Fickou, Damian Penaud; Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Dupont; Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, Mohamed Haouas, Romain Taofifenua, Paul Willemse, Dylan Cretin, Charles Ollivon (capt), Gregory Alldritt.
Replacements: Camille Chat, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Uini Antonio, Swan Rebbadj, Anthony Jelonch, Baptiste Serin, Romain Ntamack, Arthur Vincent.
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So Beard back in as predicted (and indeed prediksted). Good to see Tomos Williams back on the bench, shame he’s missed so much of the season.
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Thankfully I don’t have the figures available for numbers of caps for Wales. Only AWJ and George North are in Keith Class though as I understand it. Big Dan Biggar could join them if for some reason Keith is left out of the Ireland team for the earlier game. JD2 would make it if we counted Lions caps, but as we’re not counting them for Keith…
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I wonder what a worst World XV with 100 caps each would look like? What I’m getting at, is for others to come up with players who’ve reached 100 caps despite not being very good as I’m too lazy to bother. Tier 1 only, just in case ‘Pro is lurking.
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AWJ is 1 3/5 of a Keith which at least gives us a chance against what looks at first glance like a Keithless France.
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@Deebee – Strangely enough they’re mostly pretty good. Anyway 92 is the magic number at least until Saturday.
You do get to pick your favourite (B&I) Lions player though.
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Iks – yes please! Friday lunchtime is perfect, as I won’t have time to get to it before then anyway.
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I’m glad Malins has kept his place and I’m pretty sanguine about Daly at 13 – he’s always looked better at centre.
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Craigs – I don’t see any new emails from you today.
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Wales most capped team (with some guesswork and a little research)
1 Gethin
2 Ken Owens*
3 Adam
4 AWJ
5 Gareth Llewellyn**
6 Charvo
7 Martyn Williams
8 Taulupe*
9 Big Mike
10 Stephen Jones
11 North
12 Roberts
13 JD2*
14 Gareth Thomas
15 Halfpenny
* = Sub-Keith
** = 100% Keith (until Saturday)
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Earls of course has been a really good player for Ireland and deserves his caps. And if he gets three or four more that Wales team will be in disarray.
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Thaum – just cleaned my inbox. Should be on it’s way now.
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The front five of that most capped Wales team probably are the best that have played in their positions for wales in the time I’ve been watching. Don’t think there would be any debate about three of them at least. After that it gets quite a bit more complicated, most of the rest would be in some danger of missing out.
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No one could accuse Toonie of being predictable
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Do I see an outside half on the bench despite there not being one in the team?
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Eeek.
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Two fullbacks on the pitch, but not one at fullback?
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Chimpie – exactly, it could go either way, but if it clicks it could be magnificent, if not it could be whatever the year of the three interceptions was all over again.
Sam Johnson will have to do a lot of the distribution on Saturday, I reckon.
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I wonder what position Scott Steele will move to when Price comes on.
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He’s done back row and wing so far. Prop this time I reckon
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I guess the pack is a fairly sensible selection and should have enough to make it a comfortable win.
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@ticht
There’s some serious attacking skillz & pace in that backline (bar Johnson who’s not the quickest) if they get some front foot ball & the pack can get on top.
Second row has weakened now but that’s a strong front row & back row. Here’s hoping
Gulp.
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Maitland is a good fullback so no worries there
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Could be a lot of points from both sides. Shouldn’t lack for a bit of entertainment.
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@Chimpie – I can see that he probably would be, but does he ever really get the chance to do it (other than on Saturday)?
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@CMW
He’s played full back a few times for Scotland. Not sure of the exact count. He was at full back when we put 50 points on Australia.
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You might get 100 against Italy with that line-up. And they might get 50.
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For those joining tomorrow, if you’ve never emailed in before, please could you email me at craigsman@outlook.com so I can send the details.
Fanx
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Scotland to get at least 60.
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Cormac Izuchukwu is making his starting debut this weekend for Ulster. His story’s pretty good: https://www.the42.ie/cormac-izuchukwu-ulster-5373686-Mar2021/
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