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 
So this is where you all ended up
Don Chuffo
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Get Robson on now.
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Blimey, Curry didn’t even fight to get to the ground there.
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Hey Don Chuffo, how the heck you doing?
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Daly’s been excellent this half . Full back for the next few years.
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Doing well, thanks. Have the fear for later, not enjoying this match much tbh
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Thank goodness for Quins. This England team just love giving away stupid penalties. Rather glad there are lots of travel restrictions at the moment. Now operating without a10. That might answer some of the Farrell haters as to his true value!
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Join the club, but for very different reasons.
Don’t worry about later – the Jam Slam is on.
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Wha?
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Right decision.
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England do a thing! Thought we’d blown it with the stationary maul, but good break by George and finish by Youngs.
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Fortunately for Ireland, England are far too incompeteant to go anywhere even 1 man up.
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Good try.
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That lad can’t be 19.
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Jones OOT!
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Maybe losing to Ireland with an (almost) last minute penalty after being 24-10 down wasn’t such a bad result after all.
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Robbie’s had a good match but Beirne would be my MotM every game for Ireland this year.
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Two tries each. Let’s shake on a draw then.
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Very well played Ireland . Poor display from England.
Allez les bleus
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Well, an almost faultless display by Ireland, well played.
Jonny May takes his first pass in the 78th minute. Nice pass it was too. England really just look naive and clueless.
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Very entertaining.
Great performance by Ireland . Beirne, wow!
England? Where to start…
France probably made England look good last week.
Wales by 87.
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Well done Ireland (and Thaum). That would make your dinner taste sweeter?
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Took your time, Chuffo. welcome back.
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Flair, start somewhere is the best way to go. Do tell.
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BB – absolutely!
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England seem to be unable or unwilling to hang on to the ball, whether its kicking early and badly, holding in to long at mauls ( repeatedly ), or just being done at the breakdown.
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Both Vunipolas are done, for me.
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Great performance from Ireland today. I’m struggling to think of a worse performance from England… Maybe the game that never happened in 2013? They just looked listless and cross with each other. It really is time to get rid of Eddie Jones and get someone who can get them playing with a smile on their faces.
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So, Wales just need a single bonus point to win the Championship ?
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It really is time to get rid of Eddie Jones and get someone who can get them playing with a smile on their faces.
You are Expro and I claim my £5.
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Get on the zoom call people, it’s fun.
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Congratulations, Ireland.
Clear after the first 30 minutes where the game was going — whatever the reasons/excuses, it’s not working for England at the moment. Ireland always looked more in control and no complaints about the result.
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Anyway, good luck Wales and France — and I hope it’s a better game to watch.
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Think no matter what we finish above England this year?
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I think that’s a fair comment about that game, DCI.
I think the championship as a whole is better now Scotland aren’t whipping boys, it would be great if Italy can get there too, they are having a tough time. Other see promise in the young sides at Benetton and Zebre, I hope they are right
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Get on the zoom call people, it’s fun.
Taking a food break at the moment, but back for the next Jam Slam match!
I hope it’s a better game to watch
Not possible!
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What a tackle. Even if it’s at try.
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Basketball but better.
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Bit of a try-fest here.
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Jesus Christ, that’s fucking brilliant.
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By Dupont, possibly.
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Utter chaos…
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Have we had a match yet where both teams have finished with 15 players?
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Jam Jar empty ?
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Fantastic game. Well played, France. Well played, Wales.
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Unbelievable!
Wales paid for their cynicism in that last 10 minutes.
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That was mental!
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Just when I thought France we’re trying to write the definitive work on how not to get the ball down over the line…
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Hard luck Wales, great game. Well played both teams.
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