Italy vs Argentina
Two sides struggling to make an impact in recent times. Well, for Italy, pretty much forever despite one win over the Boks at our lowest ebb, for the pedants and pot stirrers who like to keep dredging that up. Argentina seemed to be on the up when they pasted the All Blacks last year (funny how competitive they were not having been beasted by the Boks beforehand), but have reverted to the mean (in a marshmallowy sort of way) this year. Can Italy use home ground advantage to eke out a win, or will the superior talent available to Argentina tell in the end? Tricky one this, but I’ll go for a Pumas win by about 9 as the Azzurri Fade to Grey.
Scotland vs South Africa
A fabulous match in store in this Currie Cup Clash, as Ticht called it. Much spoken about the four Saffas in the Scotland side, but in all honesty there’s plenty more for the Boks to worry about than a couple of down the pecking order forwards and backs who sought lucre over homeland. Scotland showed just how dangerous they can be ball in hand against the Aussies last weekend (one just past, keep up at the back), but couldn’t quite put it together as a complete package. The Scots forwards were excellent and showed some real grunt, which they’ll need on Saturday if they’re to get decent ball to Finn and Co. The Boks will surely try to batter them like a lonely Mars Bar on a Saturday night though and with a more settled back division, will probably squeak it in the end. The bench to do the job again, Boks by a score or thereabouts as they say it in Broken English.
Ireland vs New Zealand
The respective unsmiling sides of the two hemispheres go toe to toe, both having eased into the contest with little in the way of stern opposition: usually the Kiwis use this as an excuse for World Cup exits (along with Suzi, norovirus, referees, time zones, grass type and anything else rather than decent oppo), but both sides have had lopsided wins in the last week, with Ireland’s dismantling of Japan possibly slightly better than the Kiwis mangling of Italy with a reserve-ish side. Ireland will have a real go at the Kiwi pack at set pieces, where they were vulnerable against the Boks in both 4N matches this year and have been for a while now. The Kiwis will look to decimate Ireland out wide and in broken play and it should be a huge match. Kiwis are pretty confident at the moment, so I’m picking them (against the heart) to win by 4. Either way, it’ll be a Crowded House in Dublin, weather permitting.
Portugal vs Japan
Can Japan be as bad as they were against Ireland? I’ve no idea and writing this on the hoof not having seen the line-up for either side (not that that would make much difference, let’s be honest), it remains to be seen if they can bounce back. They’ve still got good players and should have too much nous for Portugal, despite the Iberians’ recent decent form at Tier Two level. Japan by 15. The House of the Rising Sun will once again shine. Tenuous link if ever!
England vs Australia
Keep feeling tempted to just write ‘looks weak’ and leave it at that. England have stormed out of the blocks with a hammering of hapless Tonga, which probably means little in reality, whilst the Wobblies duly wobbled after a five-match winning streak against stubborn Scotland last weekend. However, the result would probably have been very different but for the discipline issues they suffered from, that potentially cost them 14 points. They’re still a decent side, even without the J-League party-poopers and love nothing more than a crack at the Poms. But they’ll possibly be without Allan Alaalatoa and Taniela Tupou, leaving their improving front row in tatters. Dave Rennie will need to crack the discipline whip harder than a dominatrix at a Tory dinner party to keep them in the game. England, with a very good pack, Owen ‘Venus de Milo’ Farrell cleared of Covid and some good gas out wide should have too much for this now more disjointed Wallaby side. It’ll be tight and feisty, as always, but in the end, it’s England by 12. And as the man who sold the world, Eddie Jones will be smiling.
France vs Georgia
Doesn’t matter which France pitches up, Georgia are no match for them or as replacements for Italy in the 6N. That’s the Boks’ next target, ahem. A brutal mismatch that will put Georgia firmly back in their box. France may be distracted by the looming challenge of the All Blacks the following weekend, but even that shouldn’t see this being anything other than a training ground run for Les Bleus. Georgia’s last outing was a 40-9 thumping by a very rusty Bok side in July, although they’d be doing okay in the Tier 2 stuff before that. France by 35. You know I’m gonna say it, it’ll be a rainy night for Georgia, Randy Crawford to the fore.
Wales vs Fiji
Another mismatch in store, with Wales looking to bounce back from their narrow defeat against the Boks last weekend. Fiji, as everyone knows, have some superb individuals in their side, but haven’t been able to put it all together into a coherent package for a long while. Wales have had to re-jig their side a bit, with the Horse back on the wing and Adams moving into midfield, but you sense that won’t make much difference in the end. It’s Wales’ match to win by pretty much whatever score they’d like to, especially after Fiji struggled to subdue Spain last weekend. Fitness, structure, technique and a stronger bench will see Wales home comfortably in the end. Wales by 28. And as every Manic Street Preacher in Cardiff’ll tell you – if you tolerate this, your children will be next. You’ve been warned, Fiji.
Preview by the incomparable Deebee7
Onna telly this week
Friday 12th November
| Gloucester v Bath | 19:45 | BT Sport 2 |
Saturday 13th November
| Wales v South Africa (women) | 12:15 | BBC2 Wales |
| Italy v Argentina | 13:00 | Prime |
| Scotland v South Africa | 13:00 | Prime |
| Ireland v New Zealand | 15:15 | Channel 4 / RTÉ2 |
| England v Australia | 17:30 | Prime |
Sunday 14th November
| England v Canada (women) | 14:30 | BBC2 / iPlayer | ||
| Wales v Fiji | 15:15 | Prime | ||
| Scotland v Japan (women) | 16:10 | BBC Alba / iPlayer |
Ovally Balls 
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Thaum, I’ll do the atl this afternoon, I’ve got an hour
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Harsh Thaum. He’s wearing a thick coat. Underneath it’s all English oak.
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If Jonny is the kind of man we think he is then he’s likely to weigh himself 3 times a day and get all mithered when his weight goes up a single pound.
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“What do you mean they hide you on the wing in defence? When I were a lad I to smash people in my own fecking channel!”
“You want to audition for the West End version of Karate Kid? And no, I can’t catch a fucking fly with chopsticks!”
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Does Johnny stand on the scales with the same agonising constipated stance as his kicking days?
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For NZ, Galthié has decided to put an end to the unconvincing experiment of having both Ntamack and Jalibert on the pitch, so Jalibert’s on the bench. No real surprise, except maybe Woki to start as a 2nd row.
France’s been disappointing thus far, with neither fluidity nor intensity. Considering how Ireland marmalised the ABs and yet were not that far from losing the game, I doubt France will win next Saturday.
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Joe Marchant in for Farrell and given the 14 shirt. I assume this means Marchant and Tuilagi in the centres, Slade at fullback, and Steward on the wing again
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No idea what to make of that side, to be honest. You’d expect the Bok front row to marmalise those newbies, but maybe the element of surprise is with England? If not, is Marcus Smith capable under pressure getting lousy ball? Will it matter if we just kick it heavenward all day? Can’t wait for Ticht to answer all these questions!
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@deebee
Slade took a lot of ball at first receiver last week so I expect that will happen again.
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What about in the match, Karl?
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“Harsh Thaum. He’s wearing a thick coat.”
It’s a Big Coat. It’s to make his head appear small and his body big as rugby is something you feel first through your body.
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Thaum , you have mail
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Deebs – yeah the scrum worries me. Otherwise I think we’ve got good enough players in most positions. Would like Radwan to get another crack but maybe he’s not big enough?
Either way I’d like to see some development from last weekend with a win being a mahoosive bonus.
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Craigs, I really rate the Savo backline, even without Kolbe, they had two chances last week from our errors in defence and they converted both of them, all it was was one guy biting in for the first try and one guy stepping forward out the line for the second. They are bloody lethal and don’t get the credit they deserve imo, all the plaudits go to that monstrous pack and the pressure they put you under at the set piece and the breakdown, they are a very good side, even shorn of four or five world class players
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Ticht, I’ve been saying this for years – there is such a focus on the Bok forwards that the backs get little credit. Even when they do, it’s almost a grudging “well the forwards did the hard yards”, which may be true sometimes (as with all sides) but the backs really do click when they see it’s on. My one wish is that the coaches trusted them a bit more and varied the style a bit more. Bringing the likes of Kolbe, Mapimpi, Nkosi, Am, Willemse into the game more would elevate this side considerably. Lots of other lethal operators not mentioned above.
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Deebee, I say “errors in our defence”, but those errors came from the pressure we were under, South Africa are a great rugby team right now, your defence is suffocating, the set piece is the benchmark for all other teams and the attack is like a cobra waiting to strike.
If I’ve put the mockers on for an England win now I apologise, but I was very impressed last weekend.
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Also, for a couple of days after the game I was arguing online with folk because I’d said how good South Africa were, that didn’t sit well with the “nah, we were rubbish, they didn’t have to try too hard” brigade which was completely unsporting to begin with and totally wrong to go on with.
I can admire a good rugby side, I did it for years with the Ruchie and Dan All Blacks, I’ll do it with this South Africa side if they keep up with performances like the Lions tour and this Autumn series
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Ticht
Deebee, I say “errors in our defence”, but those errors came from the pressure we were under
This has reminded me of last week’s glorious defeat of the ABs, where I like to think that our pressure caused them to make almost unprecedented mistakes.
Probably they were just having an off day and Argentina will stuff us this week (again).
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It’s a bit disappointing that no one asked Rod Stewart about his favourite biscuit, but it’s a fun read, when these thing usually really aren’t
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/nov/18/rod-stewart-i-got-elton-a-fridge-for-christmas-he-got-me-a-rembrandt
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Don’t think Rod always takes himself too seriously – unless he’s talking about his model railway.
And as for some people saying he’s never recorded a good song…..
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Or this one….
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BB, the Python Lee Jackson thing is mentioned in the article, Rod got paid for his vocals with a couple of car seat covers
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In fact carpets for the car, not even car seat covers
I remember the big fluffy orange car seat covers of the 70s, carpets were probably a better return
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If he’d done a B side he might have got a couple of cushions for the rear window as well
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This one
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I love early Rod and The Faces. He was good and had a great team of collaborators, plus he knew how to pick a song to cover.
His autobiography is really something. There’s one moment when he goes to the French Riviera on a superyacht with Joanna Lumley when I thought, “Is there anyone he didn’t sleep with?”
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Yeah, me. :-)
I think he’s a prick. (Do like the early work though.)
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Seen himin concert once (this century) in Canada.
Voice gone but brilliant entertainment – first half all old Rod Favorites; second half all covers.
3 hours of top value.
Loved the Faces when I was younger
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@Slade
Sounds good.
Rod’s stuff has grown on me over the years – as Thaum says early stuff stands up well.
And anyone who can get the line ” I suppose you’re thinking … I bet he’s drinking” into a song is ok with me
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New post shortly.
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Go here
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