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 
News in that Murray Walker just died – aged 97(!)
—-forever memories of James hunt and Nigel Mansell
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Wow! For 50 minutes that was outstanding from both sides. A stone cold classic. The last 30 got wild and scrappy but it was never less than great fun.
Well done England for sticking with it and pulling out the result. I though Ford really came to the fore in managing them. But Curry was MOM for me.
The French side are great and will get better.
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Barely been out of our 22
Only 7 down
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14-5 at oranges
Connacht well on top really, bar a couple of flashes from embra
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Chamberlain needs to play more
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Not watching it, but keeping an eye on the scores. Gwan Ulster!
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Connacht 7 does shoulder to heid and gets red. Be amazed if we capitalise though
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Bugger me. Young chamberlain wins it at the death. Give the lad a medal.
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Looks like Ulster hung on at the death.
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This is how to do it Monsieur Gauzerre:
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Here’s a question about a discussion on here recently about knock ons. So yesterday Dupont scored a try where he deliberately knocked the ball forward so Watson couldn’t grab it, and then picked it up before it hit the ground. I’ve seen that given as a knock on before (can’t remember if scrum or penalty was awarded).
Does anyone know what the laws say?
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Thou Shall Not Let An Englishman Score A Try?
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@bb
Funny you should say that. My next question was going to be “was Fickou offside for the 2nd try?”
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@OT
…….of course!
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OT, discussion of it here: https://www.rugbyrefs.com/showthread.php?22080-England-v-France&p=373494#post373494
That long throw over the line-out is frequently very dodgy. Wales also scored a try yesterday in which they were less than 5 metres back at a scrum.
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I don’t know why I read the BtL on the Grauniad – it’s full of bile as people armed with megaphones mouth off pre-conceived prejudicies without any factual references to the game played.
Yuk!
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The new thing I’ve noticed is people passing off squidge analysis as their own.
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@OT
11.3 A player must not intentionally knock the ball forward with hand or arm.
Sanction: Penalty.
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I suppose “intentionally” is in the ref’s “gift”.
11.4 It is not an intentional knock-on if, in the act of trying to catch the ball, the player knocks on provided that there was a reasonable expectation that the player could gain possession.
Again “reasonable expectation” covers a lot
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The English are total incompetents when it comes to ref blaming. The time for it is when you’ve lost a close game, not when you’ve won or been thrashed.
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It’s a slippery slope, the next thing you know you’ll be complaining about your own players not getting sent off.
Anyway COME ON SCOTLAND!
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Yeah Dupont’s try looked illegal to me, but then, most tries against England do!
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OT raising Zammit’s Paradox, I see.
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Karl
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I’m not really sure what to expect from our lot today. I hope we fix our defensive out wide issues – as surely that’s where Scotland want to attack Ireland.
Not sure an arm wrestle makes sense for Scotland – though there is a saying “hammer the hammer” – go after your opposition strengths…. we certainly don’t want to p*ss about with slow rucks/breakdowns with the likes of Watson around.
Scotland probably have more pizzazz with Russell and Hogg… Ireland’s last outing vs Italy was quite enterprising but it was only Italy (granted last trip to Rome had been hard work in 2019) and we had failed to spark vs Georgia in the autumn.
Anyway, good news was the return on Friday of Carbery. Now, it was effectively only Llanelli 2nds (and a horrible night into thr bargain) but we’ve not really seen that kind of broken field running that set up the 2nd Munster try from any other Irish 10 recently.
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Have to say England showed glimpses yesterday. It pains me to say it, but Farrell has a lovely pass when he allows himself to, not Finnesque, but still really nice technique and timing. With Faz playing like that, Slade got the chance to do his Will Greenwood style ghost thru gaps thing. Thought everyone stood up, still think its time for Mako and Billy to take a back seat tho.
France continue to look potentially awesome, was a great game to watch, well done both sides.
A Scotland win would set up a nice last round.
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I just hope rugby is the winner
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‘Mon Scotland!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111
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OT, I don’t think that ” Dupont DELIBERATLY knocked the ball forward SO THAT Watson couldn’t grab it” , he basically juggled with it once, while losing his balance. You are putting a lot of intention in what was essentially a player trying not to lose control of the ball.
Allez l’Ecosse!
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YEEEEESSSSS!
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This is going to be a long afternoon…
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Rugby not winning
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Rugby is winning so much it’s beside itself.
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Pfft
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At least we won’t get nilled
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Rugby wins when you replay slo-mo a prop gasping for air in an open field position ‘not quite catching’ a nippy FH
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Set piece gone to knobs already
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Fucking leprechaun.
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That looked an awful penalty to me. Scottish tackler lay right on the ball carrier. Poite loved blowing up for it as well – really long, dramatic blast.
I don’t like Poite.
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Hoggy showing Farrell how to talk to the referee.
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Nice stepping by furlong
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Lovely feet from Furl;ong!
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Too good to be true that
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Fantastic try but I think there’s a knock on there.
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Scotland stealing Welsh jam!!
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Clever by Hogg, controlling the ball with his mush.
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Hit his chin so it’s a try!
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Spawny but I’ll have it
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Jammy Welsh jam.
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Have to get Turner off, he’s having a nightmare at the lineout. We have a lineout now Ireland have a shot at goal.
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