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 
Three very good tries there — first one got a nice bounce, but was controlled very well. Not sure what the defences could have done about any of them. France look very dangerous, and England are playing better than they have doe for some time, and it’s good to watch.
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I’ve lost sight o& the ball in this game more than any I can remember, it’s being pinged all over the place
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Feels like England are doing a lot of huffing and puffing in attack but to little effect. France much more incisive.
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Quite agree @Dab , I would not be over anxious as a French supporter with the English attach whereas th3 French waves of running have me clenching all the time
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England are doing well ,Dab. But then making little errors. Gotta be accurate.
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Dreadful by Ben Youngs.
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Ugh. Get Youngs off!
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Gone off the boil a bit
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I demand entertainment
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Daly!
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Eddie is trolling us.
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This game’s gone so scrappy now. Bit of nerve wins it.
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Got it!
Kick game is linked to Daly’s presence
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Flatman talks through his arse sometimes, he really does
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Ticht – d’you mean the thing about it not mattering that Genge’s knee was on the floor?
Generally I like Flats though. Better than the other English commentators, for sure.
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That was so brainless from Daly.
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Yes, that and that he didn’t even mention Genge’s angle. There was a scrum earlier too that he called it exactly wrong
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Daly did a thing, that was good!?!
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Ford blew it there.
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Take the points.
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Try,
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This would be amazing defence.
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They have to give that
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Great work by Itoje. Needs to carry the ball more, see.
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Earls was off his feet
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Right decision eventually by Cardiff- born Andy Brace.
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Nightmare by Dupont.
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Well done England
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It’s safe to say that Dupont has not played his best match today.
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France bottled that.
Well done to the English side and fans. Kept plugging away and did enough.
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Pleasantly surprised at that result! Terrific game.
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Dupont human at last. seems cruel to him a fabulous player
Well done England – great game to watch
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YYEEEEEEEEEAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!
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Two good games today. Shame about the score v Chiefs. Not sue England deserved the victory over the first three quarters but had a little bit more in the last 20 mins. Much better by England today exemplified by their lower penalty count. Well played France to give such a watchable gam3that could have gone your way
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Commiserations Flair. Fuck me, that was a good game.
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Both Exeter and England have made me happy in their different ways…………..
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No coomplain from this side of the pond. Best team.won, France did very little in tve second half and were dominated physically. Bien joué les Anglais.
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Mrs Craig’s currently gushing over Anthony Watson.
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Well that was exciting…
Could have gone either way and turned on the finest of margins at the end. Both teams brilliant at times, France a bit more accurate when it mattered, but England seemed to make more initial breaks, only to be denied by giving away a penalty / not catching the ball, which anyway bounced funny / Andrew Brace only remembering in the 79th minute that you’re not allowed to put your hands on the floor when jackalling etc etc.
Both teams deserved to win — one of the best games involving England for a couple of years — but got to feel sorry for France.
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I think the full 80 minutes proved my statement about the two best teams in the comp were involved was absolutely correct Well played both teams
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Itoje is such a pain in the arse, he was a nightmare for Dupont. Wonderful players, both of them.
Bench made a big difference (no, not Daly!) , Galthié seemed to make his changes a bit late.
Apart from the final result, I enjoyed almost everything. Great game.
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Well, well
Dinner distracted me from the end of that. Well done England. Faded in the second half
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France faded that is
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Wales the only team left that can get the slam
Was hoping we were going to spoil France’s party on the last match but hey ho
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Nearly time for the big match of day
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Mr Iks, I recommend the Dragons beanie hat. I’m a fan of said hats and the Dragons one as modelled by the coach is a fine example of the genre.
I have last year’s Edinburgh one, it’s okay.
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Chimpie, I think we will get battered tonight.
But watch it I shall
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Dunno why I went all Yoda there
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Mm, lose we probably will
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Arrogant England – only motivated, post-Brexit, when confronting beastly EU member countries (Italy don’t really count).
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