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 
Frigging line-out
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Jeez stop it with the dumb penalties
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Stupid Scotland.
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Two observations, and we had plenty of time to make them:
First, what is it with French refs and them awarding fortunate tries after impossible to judge at full speed knock-ons?
And two, you’d think aviation was invented in Ireland such is their domination of the airs.
Rarely do you see a tier one nation losing most of its line-outs and the opposition box kicks.
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I say this from the confort of my couch and with eggs dripping from my hair, as per the conclusion of the ATL.
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Think we won one of our line outs and even that wasn’t clean. Need to sort that out or we’ve no chance
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Oh goody more dumb penalties
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Aargh
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Poop
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That is atrocious refereeing, twice.
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Hope cherry and gilchrist between them can win s line-out
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Not that it’ll matter
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Ffs finn.
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Good try by Jones there.
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Huzzah. Jones
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Scrum half in the pack. Eek
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Ha ha. ‘Johnny don’t be scared ‘
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McFuckface strikes again.
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Well this is exciting
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Thaum, I was just about to type that very thing!
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Fffffsss
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That is great kick
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Ah crap too little too late
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What a match! I think a draw would have been a fair result, but I’ll take the win.
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Dammit.
Well done Ireland.
You can’t win a game of rugby without a lineout.
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Well played Ireland. Scotland threw that one. Should have won.
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SBT, I thought Ireland were streets ahead in the most important area of the game, the breakdown.
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Ah well, another promising start goes up in flames.
There is a huge difference in the mental side of things between the likes of Wales, Ireland, usually England and us. We are just too used to losing.
We have decent players, but nothing in the noggin, stupid penalties kill us
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Ticht, I don’t think it’s mental. Your boys were dominated at the breakdown and your line out was atrocious. Plus Finn had an off day (to be polite). It was already a great effort to draw five minutes before full time when Ireland were so dominant. Not a mental thing, rather a lack of precision and concentration at crucial times ( for instance the last penalty).
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Flair & Ticht – I think you’re both right. Yes, Ireland dominated to a great extent especially at the lineout and breakdown and would expect to win that game on that basis. But the things that happened right at the end of each half were the type of things that happen to teams that are used to losing (and for teams that are used to winning).
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We managed to close out the game at Twickenham, plus the one against Wales in the Autumn and they were both close. I actually think we miss Wee Greig’s influence a lot in terms of controlling a game.
Also, I think the forwards should do nothing this week except practising bloody lineouts!
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Well, that was exciting — another cracking match. Well done Ireland and commiserations to Scotland. Gutting to lose that at the death.
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“Not a mental thing, rather a lack of precision and concentration at crucial times ( for instance the last penalty).”
That is pretty much the very definition of the mental aspect I’m talking about – Clive Woodward’s TCUP, thinking clearly under pressure.
It’s a mental weakness that we blew a big lead against Wales and then couldn’t execute simple stuff today.
It’s what makes decent sides good and good sides great.
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This’ll cheer you up Ticht. Richard Thompson has a book out next month – a biography of his early years in Fairport and part of his life with Linda.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/mar/14/richard-thompson-beeswing-fairport-folk-rock-interview
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Well, we made hard work of that…. I know that every try ultimately comes from some kind of defensive lapse but so far we’re running at 4 or 5 now where simple things weren’t done.
Scotland were entertaining to watch – but without a functioning lineout it’s hard to win. At one point I thought the passing amongst the loose 5 was better than from our backs…. they seem not to be on the same wavelength at all – I know 6N is several steps up from Pro-14 but for lads mainly from the same province it’s strange.
Highlight of the game will always be Furlong’s side step….
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ESPN has Scotland rucks won as 85/91 for 93% Ireland 95/100 for 95%.
The Scottish players complained right throughout the game that they weren’t getting a chance to compete at the breakdown due to Ireland sealing off, even after the long chat Hogg had with Poite about it.
I’m not going to go into all my gripes with Poite today, but we do seem to have a problem with him, Townsend after the game wondered why the Ireland try under the posts wasn’t referred to the TMO, Watson’s was so it does seem inconsistent.
The replay suggested the ball was held up.
However we still were in with a chance of winning that game and Price getting charged down and then being isolated and coughing up a penalty was all on us
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I read that earlier BB, it might be a good read.
I really like the early Fairport stuff as well as RT’s solo work
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“Highlight of the game will always be Furlong’s side step…”
I have to say, I cheered that as loudly as I did Scotland’s points.
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Well, we got Paul O’Connell in to sort out ours – it was rubbish in the autumn series ….and seems to have worked.. maybe a call to Nathan Hines, Jim Hamilton??? (They were probably neither the lineout captain…but they’re the first two names that came to mind)
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Trisk, we certainly need some specialist work there.
Pieter de Villiers came in as the scrum coach and he has done a good job, we were giving away 30kg in the pack and had the nudge, imo.
It was still steady when scrum half Scott Steele was brought in on the flank
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@Trisk – Scott Murray would probably have been in charge of the lineout alongside Hines at least to start with. I always thought he was a very good player. Similar sort of age though he retired (or didn’t get picked any more) quite a bit before.
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That made me google Scott Murray, he is coaching San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby.
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I’m going to say here that I’d be surprised if Lowe was involved vs England – between one thing and another he’s probably “contributed” to 5 of the 8 tries we’ve conceded – poor decision making vs Wales x2 and then poor technique for 2nd French try and again today. I could see Stockdale back….
Ringrose isn’t really playing well either – decision making is poor and so is his tactical kicking… ball -in-hand he’s fine. Scotland’s first try was crazy… Ireland win a turnover and Ringrose tries a grubber…. surely the option was to run or kick long (if you must).
By contrast, Henshaw was great and has been for last few games….but we’re not getting the 2nd 5/8 role out of Ringrose.
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@trisk – I really thought Lowe would bring something in attack, but that hasn’t been there either. Had no previous opinion about his defending as Leinster hardly do any against the teams I support. I still can’t believe how much kicking he did against France.
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Trisk – my main issue with Lowe is that he’s very poor defensively.
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“I really thought Lowe would bring something in attack, but that hasn’t been there either. Had no previous opinion about his defending as Leinster hardly do any against the teams I support.”
Ha! Me too.
That step up to international rugby doesn’t always work, I thought Rob Harley was going to be Peter O’Mahony mk2, but it didn’t work out that way
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Just about got over my sulk now
*it’s only a game*
*it’s only a game*
difficult to do anything when you can’t win your own line out. It was absurd, must have only won about 20%
Ireland played an effective game for the most part, up front biff, kick, pressure & keep the ball. We showed flashes but too inconsistent, and, as ticht said it’s the keeping the heid & making right decisions under pressure. Ireland still better there.
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Ticht, Poite always favours the team in possession, therefore he’s a blessing for teams like Wales or Ireland who go through endless one pass and crash phases. But he did not lose you the game, your lineout did.
As for the try he awarded, what about we trusted he refs, as we did for so long, without questionning them? After all Poite, for all his shortcomings, before awarding that try, put his head where few players would’ve put their feet. He was inches away from the action and had a better view than any camera.
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Enjoyable but messy match. Ireland were more the complete unit, whereas Scotland sort of went backwards to being entertaining but lacking an anchor, mainly because of their lineout woes,
Scotland also had a poor day dealing with up’n unders. The Irish 9’s kicks were mainly hopeless, but Sexton was happy to punt it up high into the Scottish half because their back three really struggled to compete for and catch any contested kick cleanly, so there is no platform to clear up or run with the ball.
I can’t recall how well Scotland dealt with kick-offs and restarts in general, but I’m left with the feeling that Scotland gifted Ireland a certain dominance by being too flappy under the high ball.
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‘I can’t recall how well Scotland dealt with kick-offs and restarts’
Ha ha
Like we never realised it was part of the game
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