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 
Ach, to be expected I suppose. The number 7 team in the world losing to the World Champions and number 2 (just) team. Makes a change from the days where we’d lose these games by 50 points or more. Rufus McLean finding that the big South African guys are more difficult to get round than the big Tongan guys. Lineout’s a problem, but then the lineout’s been a problem for a while.
Well done South Africa (and DeeBee).
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Interviewer to Farrell: You had more off-loads last week than in your entire 6N campaign. Wow.
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Frustrating draw England and Australia!
I think we can all agree that it would be aesthetically pleasing if all teams with green in their kit won today.
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BB, you beat the then 2nd ranked team in February. They weren’t World Champions, mind.
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Little Scottish purple patch got the hopes up, Hoggy got the woad face paint out, but the boring Bokke turned the screw, Etzebeth majestic. Oh dear.
Not a lot of Scottish in the soon to be gone vinyl, but a great guitarist and an appropriate song, commiserations Scotland fans.Its the hope that kills ya.
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TomP – that was only England though.
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I missed the game bar the last five minutes, by that we were chasing the game, shovelling poor ball on to become very poor ball under the scorching heat of the Bokker defence
The SA subs melted the scrum at the end, which I was afraid of all week
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Brian Robertson, in case you were wondering, ex of Thin Lizzy, widely credited with creating the Lizzy dual guitars in harmony sound with Scott Gorham. One album with Motorhead, saw them a couple of times with him, a memorable festival at Hackney Speedway, when Robbo and Lemmy could barely stand up, Robbo looking like he got on the wrong tour bus, his flowing locks cut short, and the headband and silky running shorts were quite the intro as replacement for Fast Eddie
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Christ, the Haka seems to get longer every game.
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Crowd tries to drown out the Haka with Fields of Athenry.
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Robbo replaced Gary Moore though, SBT so there were already two guitarists. Did see Robbo later in the 80s with his mate Frankie Miller (and Simon Kirk on drums).
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Didn’t braythe for about 3 or 4 mins there.
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The SA subs melted the scrum at the end, which I was afraid of all week
Ticht, the Scotland scrum was hammered most of the afternoon. Tall Scottish props were unable to cope with Ox and Trev getting under them. Very much like Tom Smith did to our props for Lions in 97. The great man presented the match ball today.
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Hi everyone. Hope you’re all well.
Fierce start here.
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Hello Piper! We’re a man up now!!
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FUCKIN YES!!!!
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Great stuff Ireland! They’re really getting stuck into the Kiwis!
Afternoon Piper!
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I’m so impressed with how much Andrew Porter has developed. Such a good player now.
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Bit dumb and obvious there.
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Ref: You can’t go north, south, east or west…. NNE, maybe?
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Conway is also getting better and better.
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Ha! Dane Coles accusing someone of being mouthy.
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Breathless stuff!
Sexton crocked by the look of things.
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Nope, he’s staying on!
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Hell this is fearsome stuff from both sides! You feel Ireland need to get more points from their possession though. Not sure they can do this for 80 minutes.
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YOU BEAUTIES!!!!
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Get in ya beauty!
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Ah, I did wonder about a double movement
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Bugger
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Furlong furra line!
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Oh bastard.
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Ah, bollocks.
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Fucking hell.
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I feckin knew that’s what came next…
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Fuck. That is a lunch to the guys for Ireland.
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Punch to the guts. Piss off autocorrect.
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Your algorithm clearly prefers ‘lunch’ for some reason.
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Unbelievable defence.
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Frightening intensity.
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All me muscles are twitchin’ wid de movement of the boys.
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Yes, that might be a Karl.
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Well, HT. 5 points behind. Nearly all the territory and possession – think they said the Ballsacks have spent 23 seconds in the Irish 22 – 23 seconds in which they scored.
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146 tackles in a half must take a toll, even on the ABs.
Can Ireland keep that intensity. A lot of emotional energy (and energy energy) expended to see yourself down by 5.
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Piper – by the looks of them, I think they can. Some determined mugs on display.
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Good to see Ireland playing with so much ambition. They have’nt been rewarded yet for all their domination but what we used to call here ” la furia irlandaise” is back and it’s wonderful news, regardless of the result.
Some cheap shots on Sexton, almost invariably and professionnally marginally late, should see a YC from time to time, just to put a stop to it. That should not stop us from admiring NZ wonderful defence but it should be punished.
Don’t know how the players can maintain such intensity for so long.
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Flair – agree. Half-backs are constantly targeted, and there should be something done about it.
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YYYYEEEEEESSSSSSS!!!!!!!
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Reluctant to say after last time but Get in!!!!
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Irish methodically destroying ABs. Just brilliant.
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Ohhh, can’t believe Sexton missed that one.
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