Round Three Redux? Round Five-and-three-quarters? In any case, Welsh fans will be biting their nails, or any other available substance, and wondering if France can win with a bonus point and 21 points to deprive them of the title.
Scotland will no doubt have plenty to say about this, as a win with a six-point points advantage will put them second on the table (giving them their best finish in the Six Nations), supposing France don’t score a LBP.
Sadly, both teams can finish above Ireland. Maybe we should just cancel this match.
And maybe we should support France to wind up the OH.
Onna telly this week
Friday 26th March
| Gloucester v Exeter | 17:30 | BT Sport 3 |
| France v Scotland | 20:00 | BBC1 |
Saturday 27th March
| Glasgow v Treviso | 13:45 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Bristol v Harlequins | 14:00 | BT Sport 1 |
| London Irish v Bath | 15:00 | BT Sport Extra |
| Worcester v Northampton | 15:00 | BT Sport Extra |
| Wasps v Sale | 16:30 | BT Sport1 |
| Leinster v Munster | 17:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
Sunday 28th March
| Dragons v Edinburgh | 14:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Leicester v Newcastle | 15:00 | BT Sport 1 |
Ovally Balls 
4 halves and no try.
Toulouse go through.
Meh.
LikeLike
So the draw of the SF:
Toulouse vs Bordeaux
La Rochelle vs Leinster.
If it was fixed, it wouldn’t be better.
ST vs Leinster for a 5th star.
LikeLike
Tandy set to be Lions defence coach.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/apr/11/scotlands-steve-tandy-set-to-join-gatlands-lions-coaching-staff
LikeLike
That lad with the baby’s chest up there must be a Welsh footie supporter.
LikeLike
“Tandy set to be Lions defence coach.”
He does have the most experience of coaching lion defence, but then it wasn’t entirely successful so I see this as a little controversial.
LikeLike
Leinster for a 5th star.
Not sure NMA had the Bullying Blue Meanies in mind when they snarled about the 51st State of America, but their manifest destiny makes it obvious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
CMW,
We went for a walk along the River Dodder on Saturday. Saw a place you might live were you to move to Dublin:
https://www.wyse.ie/property/4487196-Anglers-Rest-Beaver-Row-Donnybrook-Dublin-4/
LikeLike
@TomP – I think you’ll have to find me something cheaper in Rats’ Alley.
LikeLike
LikeLike
Japan bringing on the youth:
https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/gates-van-den-heever-called-up-to-japan-squad/
LikeLike
1650 Eur looks cheap for that part of Dublin (if it’s a monthly rent) – what’s the catch here ?
LikeLike
The catch lies in the distorted photos e.g. kitchen and bathroom which, in reality, will be tiny
LikeLike
Yeah – there does seem to be some distortion – if you’re on Twitter there’s an account – something like “Realty Photos” that has some crazy photos…
LikeLike
Dunno Deebee, maybe this one more appropriate, certainly for the back row.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I knew NMA would be SBT bait.
LikeLike
He said abbreviatedly
LikeLike
There are no flowers in this field, he said lackadaisically.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Quiet times. So more than 48hrs later I shall confess that my favourite cover version of ‘Don’t Think Twice…’ is, ahem, by Melanie, from her cracking album ‘As I see it Now’. Apologies if I’m repeating myself in yearly cycles on here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Iks sticks the nix on our tricks!
LikeLike
Gats confirms Townsend, Tandy, McBryde & Jenkins as his coaching team.
LikeLike
If it happens
LikeLike
LikeLiked by 3 people
Judging by that photo Neil Jenkins will at least have already had his second Covid jab.
LikeLiked by 2 people
CMW, I genuinely asked myself who the old bloke on the right of the photo is?
Phil Mitchell has let himself go
LikeLike
According to Mark Keohane, the Lions should rather stick to playing Japan:
https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/springboks/why-the-british-and-irish-lions-dont-stand-a-chance-against-siya-kolisis-springboks-bb58154f-4adc-4589-9f52-78d1d8923784
Although as those that follow SA rugby media know, he’s, um, a touch brash at the best of times. The swivel-eyed mobs on his web page represent some of the worst of SA rugby supporters, although I haven’t been on it in years.
LikeLike
I guess NJ has always looked older than he is, for people like that there’s normally a long period of not really changing while other people catch up, but he’s just carried on.
LikeLike
Ticht, it looks like a police line-up for ageing bank robbers! With Rassie in our ranks, we definitely win the suave and handsome coaching competition.* I’m still very nervous that we’ll be rusty as hell in the Test series, especially the first test, obviously. Also, we seem to have a developing crisis in the 2nd row, with de Jager now unlikely to play. No idea how Marx is doing (in Japan, I think?) but we should have a decent front row and loose trio. If Pollard isn’t fit, the talk down here is that Morne Steyn will be back in the mix. Yip, 36 year old Morne. We should be ok for pace and nous from 11 to 15, assuming all fit and firing.
* It’s a real thing, I’m assured by those in the know.
LikeLike
I think Robin MacBryde comes out of it better than the others.
LikeLike
Only from a starting point perspective, CMW.
LikeLike
He’d make it into a Western, the rest are not making the cut.
LikeLike
It’s a real shame the Rainbow Cup is off, Deebee, I was looking forward to seeing some of the guys who will be involved for the Boks.
I think as things stand there is no way of knowing how the tour will go, in a non-Covid parallel world where South Africa had played a full itinerary of games they would probably be head and shoulders in front in terms of being favourites, as things stand, who knows?
LikeLike
“No idea how Marx is doing (in Japan, I think?) ”
Top try in the Top League – 8 tries so far.
LikeLiked by 1 person
top try-scorer
LikeLike
Well, it seems to be all systems go here – the 4 provinces will play each other 24 Apr, 1 May, 8 May ….
LikeLike
Yeah, we’ve got games as well, but I was more meaning seeing how the South African sides compare with the Pro14.
I thought all but Leinster, Munster and perhaps Ulster would struggle, but I’d liked to have seen the games before the tour.
They might still go ahead, but if the South African teams have been told to halt visa applications, it’s difficult to see it coming off now
LikeLike
ticht, the cup’s not off yet. They’re seeking ways around it. Still a month and a bit before the Saffers are due in Europe.
https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/sa-rugby-rainbow-cup-not-cancelled-1/
LikeLike
I didn’t follow too closely – but if I understand it correctly- there was some issue with SA provinces using Bristol as a base and then some chat about Ireland instead – we’ve just set up MHQ (mandatory hotel quarantine) and the rushed nature means that there’s a constant run of loopholes and fixes being added …one of which is that “elite” athletes can have an alternative if Sport Ireland and HSE sign off on it.
(so France women can come to play this weekend – and btw great win for Irish women vs Wales on first game in 6 months).
I didn’t get to see Leinster as I don’t have the pay channel and wasn’t prepared to stop up late Sunday night to watch the highlights… did see La Rochelle beat Sale – they were impressive… I’d probably just side with Leinster (and BTW2 I wasn’t surprised to see Leinster beat Exeter – I was more surprised that the general opinion was that Exeter were favourites – although after 10 mins that looked a banker)
LikeLike
Really would be great if we could get some serious rugby in before the Lions series. We can but hope. I’d imagine of our sides, the Bulls and Sharks will be up there with the top Irish sides, the Stormers anywhere between top and lower middle, and the Lions lower end of the table. FDs reversion to the mean has been as swift and brutal as its been predictable.
LikeLike
Would it help if we gave you back Jean Kleyn and Quinn Roux ? Seem to be stockpiling SA locks up here (with Jason Jenkins to arrive for next season)
LikeLike
Too many scots in the lions already.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can ship back Anton Bresler too.
LikeLike
Trisk, Klein, Roux, Willemse and le Roux would add some nice depth to our stocks. Trisk especially, on readback.
LikeLike
To SA that is.
LikeLike
You can keep Bresler, Chimpie. Our gift to the UK. Not to be sneezed at. We’re a small developing country after all.
LikeLike
RG Snyman, Lood de Jager and now Etzebeth all in a race against time to be fit for the Lions. Looks like one of Bakkies, Matfield or myself will have to come out of retirement.
LikeLike
I’m probably not as effective in the lineout, scrum, maul, loose or open play as the other two, but I have a helluva chippy disposition in the handbags stakes. Especially if there’s a 300 pound brute shielding me. Think I’m in with a shout.
LikeLike
“probably”
LikeLike
I’ve spent a lot of today reading about the decline in car alarms.
Am not a driver so it hadn’t been of much interest to me but did wonder why you don’t hear so many nowadays and my question was answered.
LikeLike
It’s been an alarming decline.
LikeLike
Patent for the first car alarm (1918!):
LikeLike