Preamble
Following the lead of the esteemed French rugby philosopher and Chef de Cuisine Flair99, I will try to keep this short, at least by my standards.
In keeping with the odd times we live in, the 6N Super Saturday ingredients are not all there for a grand finale, and we’ll have to pop France vs Scotland back in the popty-ping microwave at some point to truly finish the feast.
Scotland vs Italy
Move over France, because it is time to ask the question ‘which Scotland will turn up?’ Having got off to the best possible start to the tournament, the Scots have coughed and spluttered their way through the following games and were unfortunate to find their progress further stymied when the French overdid the ‘Liberté’ bit and burst out of their corona-bubble to do some coughing and spluttering of their own.
With Finn finally HIA-d after playing in a slightly detached dream-state for most of the tournament, we are going to be treated to Hoggy at 10. Could go well, but it might not as he has enough on his shoulders captaining a pretty unfamiliar lineup while playing out of position. Then as I ignorantly ponder on, are the two new second rows going to ease themselves into the set piece, especially in a line-out which had a torrid time against Ireland?
Hark! The voices of doubt grow louder. An exciting backline, but are the omens pointing towards chaos and a replay of that infamous match against Italy when Scotland opted to only pass to Italians for the first quarter of the match?
This Italian team must have one good rather than just brave performance in them. Brex and Mori at centre are likely to do better at defending and crossing the gainline. Garbisi is a dangerous playmaker at 10, and Stephen Varney just might orchestrate things as well as his uncle Manto did. Throw in a decent backrow led by the all-action Negri and what are we left with?
Italy by a score.
Ireland vs England
England played well against France last week, but it is worth remembering that France entered the game looking like they expected to give England a thrashing – similar in fact to how England started their RWC Final – and went a bit run-it-from-anywhere bananas especially after scoring such an early try. England maintained their structure, but also looked sharp when attacking through Slade and Watson particularly.
Ireland are entering the match in good form, playing to their strengths of playing controlled, driving rugby, going through the phases, loads of bosh up the middle and at the breakdown, and Murray re-joining Sexton for some box-kicking and pill-roosting to bring joy to the purists, and to remind Malins that he is not playing away to Worcester any more. Ireland will miss Ryan though, and I fear that Beirne’s influence will diminish at lock, and the lineout will suffer accordingly.
I see a close game, but the England camp sniffs off to me. Even after good performance and what should have been a cathartic win, it still sounds like it’s all a bit of an ordeal for Eddie and his boys. Choosing a solution which involves having your captain – who sounds like an over-tired 7-year-old at bedtime – stop talking to the referee altogether might well backfire. I’m not sure how this will work if Ireland’s phase play starts drawing a string of penalties out of England at the breakdown, and Faz’s frustration builds up in front of his dad.
Ireland by about 9, and a shoulder-to-the-head tackle by Farrell on Henderson, followed by the patented Faz-flop n’ roll on the grass. Yes, the game might depend on the rat-poisoned mindset of the English players, and a French referee.
France vs Wales
Is the Jam-Slam on? Possibly, he said with authority.
Wales have annoyed and frustrated France over many games in recent years, up to and including the last RWC, when Vahaamahina elbowed his way to the front of the early retirement queue. But lately the pendulum has swung back in France’s favour – a relatively easy win last 6N, and a thrashing dished out last October. Ominously, France have sensed they can score tries at will against Wales if they quickly move the ball into the outside channels, and the marvellous try they scored direct from a lineout against England last week doesn’t bode well for the Welsh defence.
An injury-free Gaël Fickou has been a delight to watch, seeming to almost effortlessly create time and space for himself and others. Both sets of forwards have a settled look about them, but unlike the rest of Wales I do have concerns about Navidi’s defending against a team adept at offloading and running into space rather than contact. Botham offers much the same off the pine, so I think the omission of Wainwright could prove to be a selection mistake.
On the other hand, I expect JD2 to have his best game of the series so far (a low bar) and hopefully his Foxy wiles will compensate for the injury problems he still seems to carry in his legs. I even dreamt he scored the winning try last night, in identical fashion to the one Hendo flopped on for Ireland in Scotland’s in-goal area last week.
France by 13, I just feel they will score more tries. Our best chance is an over-confident France being put on the back foot by a Welsh team determined to win, and one that keeps the scoreboard ticking over much to French annoyance.
As dreamt by MisterIks
Super Saturday Zoom Piss-up
We can’t let a Super Saturday go by without having a blog piss-up. This year’s will be via Zoom. Let us know BTL if you’d like to join, and I will email you at the address you sign in with to give you the details, or if that address doesn’t work, email Craigs at craigsman@outlook.com.
Expect the details on Saturday morning.
Onna telly this week
Friday 19th March
| Munster v Treviso | 18:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Newcastle v Wasps | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
| Ulster v Zebre | 20:15 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Leinster v Ospreys | 20:15 | Premier Sports 2 |
Saturday 20th March
| Harlequins v Gloucester | 14:00 | BT Sport Extra |
| Bath v Worcester | 14:00 | BT Sport Extra |
| Scotland v Italy | 14:15 | BBC1 |
| Exeter v Leicester | 14:30 | BT Sport Extra |
| Ireland v England | 16:45 | ITV |
| France v Wales | 20:00 | BBC1 |
Sunday 21st March
| Sale v London Irish | 15:00 | BT Sport Extra |
| Northampton v Bristol | 15:00 | BT Sport 1 |
| Dragons v Glasgow | 15:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
Monday 22nd March
| Scarlets v Connacht | 20:00 | S4C / Premier Sports 2 |
| Cardiff v Edinburgh | 20:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
Ovally Balls 
YC for Italy. Inches away from red.
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So BP for Scotland after 20 minutes.
Not much to add.
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Oof, what a tackle by Ioane.
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Great tackle. I’d be dead!
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Great little pass by Hogg for the 4th try.
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Seventh heaven in Twickenham. Mighty Quins have their bonus point in 27 mins. Absolutely ridiculous game now enjoying the interval where all angles about 6 of them for every try is shown and reshown on the BT extra channel.
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Now for the inevitable Glos revival 24-7
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3 mins, 3 penalties given away. Glos do not need this help.
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Actually given the way they are playing perhaps Glos do!
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Excellent words MisterIks.
As for your predictions , Italy by a score, Ireland by 9 and France by 13, I wonder what sort of grass grows in your garden.
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1 try back for Glos 24-15
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No 24-17
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Oh no. Went to the loo and it’s 24-24. Why do I support Quins at times
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Care in for his second. 31-24
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Absolutely fabulous Quins try there. Now I remember why it is fun to support Quins. Tyrone Green in for 38-24
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Banahan picks up an unfortunate RC following a nasty collision just off his own line and managing to concuss himself at the same time. Quins immediately score so 45-24
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North ore now in for 52-24
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YC for Negri – looked a bit harsh ….less so the one for Ioane
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Looks like a red looming now. Italy self destructing.
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He’s a lucky fella. Looked red to me.
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82mins and a final try. Second for Dombrandt 59-24. Expect a similar all singing and dancing performance for the other Twickenham based team ( some chance of that but you can live in hope)
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Feel sorry for Italy. Their games are so one sided. I wonder if they really learn anything from those hidings.
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I’ll take that. Was worried up until the 70th minute…..
So much for NostradamIks.
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@Flair – you have let your imagination run wild sometimes! I just wanted some comfort for Italy, but they do seem at their lowest ebb in as far as I can remember, even though they seem to have enough players who can compete than at some times in the past.
Missing tackles is a giveaway regarding preparation and commitment, so I assume the Italian coach revolving door is required again. It would make a good first head coach gig for Shaun Edwards, but I think he can see that RWC winners medal a-glistening on the horizon.
Ideally it would be good to see some ex-players coming through to coach Italy in the future.
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NostradamIks doth not sully his visions with mirth and playful wordplay, young Borderboy.
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Michele said at one point, while he was watching a replay, ‘Then the backs are … what are they doing there?
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Well that was a pumping. Felt vaguely guilty for some reason but professionally done by the ladz
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Why do premiership rugby have to be such tossers?
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Shouldn’t the FFR be paying some of the money to the Prem clubs? It was their team and their coach, breaking the bubble, that caused the problem.
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Bugger, missed the Malins news. Dammit Daly!
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Quite and we’re paying the price
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Keith earls
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You beauty!
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Nice line by Earls, the bastard.
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Great try Keith Earls!
England have been playing some pretty rugby behind the gainline but to very little effect.
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How was that not offside?
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This isn’t going very well.
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Hey Dab. Ireland have speeded up their phase play with Murray back. Has given us much better penetration.
Not a bad half.
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Dab – we must be watching different matches. It’s going unexpectedly well.
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Yeah, I’m with Dab. England full of stupid errors, Ireland playing really well.
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Old man sexton still has it
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See Pro’s up to his usual tricks on the Graun report of the Scotland game. Stuff he could have posted at any time in the last 5 years.
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Pro’s been all over the Guardian recently. Valiant defender of the EU against Perfidious Albion.
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Started slow but very entertaining in Dublin.
England exsude class in places ( Maro, Curry, wow!) but halfbacks suck. So they make very few inroads.
Two great tries by Ireland. Chapeau!
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Who needs a defender like Pro?
Give me a perfidious Englishman anytime.
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May’s kick receipt there is the first time I’ve seen either England winger with it.
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Jesus England are playing like shite. This must be luxury for Ireland fans. A real armchair ride.
Bah. Another for Earls!
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Ah, what a pity.
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Still 31 minutes of terrified pessimism available to me Dab😄
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