Back to bad old days for the Springboks, being excluded from a tournament when we all know they’d have cakewalked it without raising a sweat. A bit like the World Cup and Lions tour. So easy was it that our Director of Rugby took to making videos to help the refs and carrying water onto the pitch for the boys to have a wee sip whilst the opposition lay scattered to the four corners. Anyway, not much we can do about this latest iniquity, so let’s have a look at the dross on display and see if we can squeeze a modicum of excitement out of the Six Nations: Greatest Show on Earth™.
France to Prance! Two silver medals (and nobody ripping them off their necks, I note) in the last two editions suggests that the combination of Galthié, Edwards and the growing presence of Dupont and Ntamack behind a typically rugged French pack should see them press for the whole thing this time around. France showed in taking a virtually third-string side to Australia in 2021 and then stuffing the All Blacks up their holes that they’re both good enough and have the depth to cope with the inevitable injuries and – dog forbid – Covid disruptions plaguing modern sport. France ease into the tournament with Italy at home, dusting off the cobwebs before playing possibly the defining match of the tournament a week later, at home to Ireland. Win those two and the French are fair set for another second-place finish behind the Boks.
Ireland are Firing! Probably the most consistent side of the last couple of years and with quality in most key positions, the Irish are many pundits’ favourites for the whole thing. Like France, they stuffed the Kiwis in the Autumn Internationals, to throw down a gauntlet to the rugby world this year. Ireland have quality across the park, with the one question being the increasingly age-old questions of whether the half back pair of Connor Murray and Johnny Sexton are up for another season. There’s plenty of depth behind those two, and with some scintillating outside backs emerging from the bogs, allied to one of the toughest, best loose trios out there, Ireland really could rip up a few trees this time out. Home to Wales first up, and a likely win (it’s been almost a decade since one of these sides won away), it’s then off to Paris for a potential Championship decider – should be a cracker. With a convenient breather after those two against Italy, it’s then away to an England who could be in disarray or eyeing a Grand Slam, before a potential last week banana skin against the ever-improving, continually disappointing Scots. Ireland to contest fiercely for that coveted second place behind the Boks.
Brave Scots or Bon Mots? Difficult to tell, really. With Finn Russell as skipper of the good ship Scotland you’re as likely to roar through the Strait of Messina giving two fingers to each of Scylla and Charybdis as you are wrecking yourself on the Thames tide. Scotland’s pack is now steady enough in the set piece (mostly) and has some fine, tearaway loose forwards in the best traditions of Scottish sides of yesteryear, to complement their back division. Get some decent front foot ball and this side can do serious damage. Eight B&I Lions last year, and only Ireland more consistent in the 6N in terms of wins in the last few years should see this Scots side bristling with confidence – and yet, is the self-belief there? They’ll not be lacking in motivation for the visit of England in round one, and a visit to Cardiff to face a potentially battered and bruised Wales could set them up for a glorious tilt at the whole shebang. They host favourites France after the break with the loser of that match surely consigned to the also-rans bin and can empty the tank on that one, with a break before travelling to Italy to come and then the other favourites, Ireland on the last weekend. If Scotland can navigate a way past the Scylla of France and Charybdis of Ireland, glory awaits! But it’s a long tournament and disruptions won’t be papered over easily with a callow pool to pick from. Out of the medals, with France and Ireland scrapping for the minor placings behind the mighty Boks.
Mojo or Bojo? Let’s face it, with Eddie ‘Rasputin was an amateur’ Jones calling the shots, you’re never really sure whether the chariot will swing, low, sweetly or at all. Plans have been disrupted by the loss of captain and talisman Owen Farrell, his replacement Courtney Lawes along with both first-choice wings and Manu ‘part-timer’ Tuilagi for the initial stages at least, means a disrupted backline held together by, er, Ben Youngs. On paper that looks horrible. Actually it looks horrible all round, but England beat both Australia and the Boks (how, nobody knows) in November so will have some cause for optimism. Young Marcus at 10 and Freddie Steward at 15 give England some fabulous attacking options though, behind a pack that whilst disrupted, seldom takes a backward step – and surely won’t do against Scotland first up. That said, it’s been lean pickings against the Scots in recent times, who have some class of their own. Away to Scotland is perilous against this backdrop of disruption, especially with a full Murrayfield and England will do well to host Italy with their personnel and faculties intact. Hosting Wales and Ireland before travelling to France is a bridge too far for this side. Perhaps Bojo the Slippery will come to the rescue by declaring war on France for not declaring war on Russia for not invading Ukraine? Either way, tussling with Scotland and Wales for the rights to look down on Italy.
Wales, beached or bubbling? Reigning Champions after a remarkable 2021 campaign, helped along nicely by the inability of opponents to keep all fifteen on the field for much of it, should see the Welsh with a decent shout this year. But the loss of AWJ, George North, Leigh Halfpenny, Ken Owens, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau is huge in terms of experience and ability. Dan Biggar gets his chance to wave his arms at the ref as actual skipper this year and has some great runners outside of him in LRZ, Josh Adams and Liam Williams and Lions nine Gareth Davies to steady things behind the scrum. The forwards will be well served by Lions loosehead Wyn Jones and tighthead Tomas Francis, but may be light between them, whilst the second row looks ‘orrible without AWJ – but Beard and Co will just about cope. Backs to the wall, the trip to Dublin could be a feisty affair, probably a loss, with Scotland then arriving in Cardiff to further torment Wales. A trip to London before hosting France may well see Wales looking at the Italy clash as their only win.
Italy: Ethiopia thrashed them twice: It may have been 90-odd years ago, but it seems about that long since the debate around their participation in the 6 Nations started. Lots of hype around how their junior sides are doing, how Benetton deservedly won whatever trophy it was during lockdown, how they’re producing a few decent players and are on an upward trajectory, but let’s face it, there’s more likelihood of the wolf actually suckling Romulus and Remus than this lot winning a match this season. And unlike the Colosseum, there’s little glorious or inspiring about the wreck that is Italian rugby. It’s a good thing you stir boiling water with a wooden spoon, because at least this squad will have plenty to choose from to make a plate of pasta. They’ll be competitive for bits and bobs in some matches, but really, Georgia would be a better bet, as we all know.
Springboks to Cruise it! Obviously leaving the best for last, so you can all savour that stunning last morsel, sated at the end by the power, subtlety, grace and deftness of the cornucopia of delights put on offer by the Boks, and washed down with crystal pure water served by the humble Waterboy himself. Can’t go into too much detail though because curiously the squad and fixtures don’t seem to be up anywhere. Doesn’t matter: five away matches, five wins, five bonus points and rightfully scratching New Zealand and Australia off Bill in 87 and 91 as an added bonus. Easy peasy. Siya Kolisi named player of the tournament, player of the year, new United Nations Secretary General and Commander of Space for Humanity.
You’ll be astounded to learn that this was the work of Deebee7.
Further Reading
Don’t miss BK’s fabulous graph of xenophobes v poachers.
Anyone who fancies a good old discussion about who should wear the 12 shirt for England can go here.
Onna telly this week
Friday 4th February
| Gloucester v London Irish | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
| France U20 v Italy U20 | 20:00 | BBC iPlayer |
| Ireland U20 v Wales U20 | 20:00 | BBC iPlayer / S4C / RTÉ2 |
| Scotland U20 v England U20 | 20:00 | BBC iPlayer |
| Ulster v Connacht | 20:15 | BBC2 NI / TG4 / Premier Sports 1 |
Saturday 5th February
| Bulls v Lions | 13:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Ireland v Wales | 14:15 | S4C / ITV / RTÉ2 |
| Stormers v Sharks | 15:05 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Scotland v England | 16:45 | BBC1 |
| Toulon v Castres | 20:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
Sunday 6th February
| Harlequins v Sale | 13:00 | BT Sport 1 | ||
| France v Italy | 15:00 | ITV / RTÉ2 | ||
| Biarritz v La Rochelle | 17:30 | Premier Sports 1 | ||
| Clermont v Bordeaux | 20:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
Ovally Balls 
Played Scotland. Gs is still on!
LikeLike
Scotland lucky at the end but there were two causes, the brain fart in the first half leading to the first try and Ben Youngs getting slower by the minute. Congrats Scotland for some good attacking moves but…
LikeLike
Well played Scotland. Think that was thoroughly deserved. England really look clueless. Smith spent most of the game with Slade at first receiver, and when he got a chance to start taking control, Jones took him off. Most go forward from England forwards for an age, Simmonds, Curry, Cowan-Dickie amongst others all making good ground, but we did nothing with it.
Scotland defence was excellent, and they frequently looked dangerous the few times they had the ball, far more so than England.
LikeLike
When does toonie finish?
LikeLike
Well done Scotland.
Very poor bench and perhaps field management by England:
– why was LC-D the last line of defense in the corner – if tired, why was he on the field.
-England’s senior players were the poorer on the field e.g. Itoje and then George – all Sarries players save Iziekwe were below par
– Why sub Nowell on when in overtime?
Very frustrating cos I thought the younger/newer players did really well.
p.s. please play Slade at 13 – he made a good fist of #12 but it is a waste of talent
pps an Exeter player fest!
LikeLiked by 2 people
…….. for the first time I doubt EJ as a flexible thinker in the heat of battle
LikeLike
Hard to know what to make of that from an English perspective tbh. Thought the forwards were good but we switched off a few times.
LikeLike
Love Hoggy’s technique with Sonja: Sorry, mate, couldn’t hear what you said.
LikeLike
on today’s performance:
pluses for England: Genge, LC-D, Sinckler, Ludlum, Curry, Simmonds, Smith, Slade, Steward
minuses – Itoje, Youngs, Daly , Bench Management, George, Marler
LikeLike
Quite an exciting finish after the penalty try.
Before that, I thought England would quietly win by some margin. Don’t see what Ford brings that Smith doesn’t. Strange decision to sub a 10 full of confidence who just scored his first try in the 6N. Even stranger that England can’t find a decent young 9, (pun intended).
Hogg has the nerves of a cold blooded killer.
So Scotland for the GS now?
LikeLike
…memo to self: in a team game someone or more is going to be below par – that’s why bench management is so important
LikeLike
…….apart from that, not too down really. The LC-D incident was the thing and I don’t blame the player – he had been terrific all game but was tiring
LikeLike
Maybe next time the BBC could get a whip round for a indoor studio at Murrayfield?
LikeLike
Well done Scotland! Rode out the storm. Marvellous try by White (mainly Graham).
I thought in 1st half England kicked too much (so do most posters here it seems) when putting the ball through hands might have pressurised Scotland more.
Penalty try seemed fair enough – Cowan Dickie has a career as a full forward in gaelic football judging from that slap down (football allows you to slap a moving ball into the net for a goal)
LikeLike
Jackie Weaver’s on Mastermind!
LikeLike
Seeing how well Simmonds and Dombrandt played really exposes how poor Eddie’s selection has been. Ford for Smith was utterly bizarre. Marchant offered very little on the wing – I can’t believe he’s really the best option there. Youngs is probably a handy sub with all his experience but is not good enough to be the starting 9.
LikeLike
On the other game – well, I was slightly nervous at half time only 10-0 up when it should have been twice that.
3rd quarter was pretty effective. Probably should have scored in last quarter, but some poor decisions cost.
Experiment of Adams at 13 didn’t work for Wales… then again I think 13 is a very hard position to play – test rugby is no place to learn it….
LikeLike
Congratulations, Scotland!
Good close Test match for both sides. The yellow card (fair enough) and penalty try turned it around – Scotland had been starting to look a little less comfortable in their defence, which had been very good up till then, and I thought there was a chance England could have moved on from there. In the end, Scotland took their chances, and their defence limited the damage. Not a disaster for England, but a little more composure could have shaded the game the other way.
Good start to the 6N.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think Daly is done for the short-term. tbh. He made a mistake staying at sarries. Itoje was quiet too.
I’d have played marchant in the centre and radwan on the wing. But, Scotland are a settled side. They should do well this year.
LikeLike
LikeLiked by 4 people
‘When does toonie finish?’
Bit of a personal question, said Karl.
LikeLiked by 2 people
So I hope this comes across in the spirit it’s intended….
I obviously don’t like England losing. It’s a bummer. But I always expected us to beat Scotland. When they beat us it always used to be because we had a crap game or they ‘dragged us down to their level’ or whatever. Now, when you beat us, I don’t feel that way. The scalps they’ve taken over the years and the quality in that side means that it’s no shame to lose to them. They’ve earned the respect of this little corner of rugby fandom. It’s annoying, and I wish we won every game, but I can’t begrudge it. It’s not because we played badly, we were just beaten by a better side today.
Sorry if this is weird (am a little bit tipsy) but it’s a full tip of the hat to my second team from me.
LikeLiked by 2 people
OT – this is better
LikeLike
@Craigs – Scotland have had plenty of false dawns, but this bunch can really play.
LikeLike
It’ll still be a false dawn if we don’t beat Wales on Saturday. Wales were rubbish today, but they’ll be at home with a full stadium. Beat them, and I might (MIGHT!) just believe we won’t get the Wooden Spoon this year….
LikeLike
Definitely weird. I apologise to everyone involved.
LikeLike
My point being that Scotland have gone from being underdogs to equal dogs to even over dogs and it’s fairy nuff on a long term basis. I don’t expect to beat you now. And I’m not absolutely gutted in defeat because there is no shame in losing to you.
And I don’t like it because I’m an arrogant English man but it’s also fine because I like this Scotland team.
Definitely drunk now. If we paid toonie a million million dollars could he be our attack coach please.
LikeLike
BB – Nah, you will be top 3 at least.
LikeLike
I am a complex mix of emotions.
LikeLike
Craigs – you remind me of Whitman.
Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Craigs, I understand your point and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to have built an assumption that England will beat Scotland (see also Wales, Ireland, France in the 6N).
There is a reason that Italy target Scotland as their big game, it’s because it’s the game they have a genuine chance to win.
It’s not pleasant as a Scotland fan, but it is what it is.
Having suffered so, I am a long way from thinking of us as “equal dogs” we still have only two pro teams, only one of which qualifies for the big cup in Europe on a regular basis.
I’m enjoying this evening without thinking it means anything in the bigger picture
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ticht – I’m trying to describe a perspective shift in the best terms. And also admitting to some built in perspective flaws. I hope it makes sense. I think that you’ll be equal dogs or more for a little longer.
LikeLike
Also, I can’t speak to the other rivalries, except to say that they will be here next year whatever happens
LikeLike
Thaum – I am large
LikeLike
Good heavens
LikeLiked by 1 person
On England
Smith is the future, you have to build a team around him that play to his strengths. Pick a number 8 that plays with him regularly, don’t pick Youngs, pick a centre partnership that don’t waste all that possession
England’s weakest link is the coaching team
LikeLike
Ticht – hoping to see that vs Italy
LikeLike
Still a little surprised we won that.
Could have gone either way. Plenty of talent in that England team
LikeLike
We’ll probably still beat Italy I suppose.
Played Scotland. Deserved it in the end even if I’m still a but annoyed about the scrum reffing at the very end.
LikeLike
Morning all! Was out yesterday so didn’t follow on here until I’d a chance to watch the matches on repeat. Ireland must be nailed on favourites now, the way they dispatched of Wales. Can anyone live with that Irish pack? Not sure. Good, gutsy win by Scotland, with Finn maturing nicely at 10 and the side looking well-drilled all round. Don’t think that the pack will stand up to Ireland’s and the Irish backs won’t be as generous.
England? Well, there’s plenty there but an uninspiring 9 will always make it difficult to get the best out of a back division that’s already a bit of a mix and match. I don’t like to say I told you so, but, um, I actually did.* On the whole, not enough wrong to throw the baby out with the bathwater (and with Youngs it’s unlikely it’ll still be an infant by the time he dispatches of it), but a new 9 is becoming a desperate need. Only about a dozen matches until the World Cup? Is that enough?
We’ll reserve e judgment on France until next week.
* #smugprick
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dov – we should have taken the points
LikeLike
@Deebee: wasn’t your prediction that England would lose because their pack was underpowered, rather than because their back line was awful?
LikeLike
@Thaum – “I wonder if he has tonight’s lottery numbers?”
I certainly hope not as that poster is clearly a complete and utter pillock. And the chap he’s baiting about it subsequently is one of the best and most reasonable posters on there.
FWIW I thought it was a pretty unlucky incident as both players were beaten by the bounce of the ball. Fair enough he turned his shoulder when it became clear they would collide and Sexton therefore came off worse and it’s a yellow, but that just looked instinctive and it’s not as if he went looking to smash him.
LikeLike
Miserable performance from Wales. The Irish that I watched it with didn’t even enjoy it that much as it was so bloodless. Two teams heading in different directions by the look of things!
LikeLike
a disrupted backline held together by, er, Ben Youngs. On paper that looks horrible. Actually it looks horrible all round
And
England some fabulous attacking options though, behind a pack that whilst disrupted, seldom takes a backward step – and surely won’t do against Scotland first up.
LikeLike
OK Deebs so you pretty much got Scotland-England right. You’ve still got us a notch too high in 6th place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
CMW – didn’t see the whole thread, just that comment. Been posting on rugby stuff because I’m on the naughty step for my comment on Freedland’s piece that I posted here a few days ago.
LikeLike
@Deebee: “ That lightweight English pack is going to come unstuck in the mud this weekend. Mark my words.”
Words marked!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And they did! Lacked a stong carrier. Can I have it both ways? Yes.
LikeLike
Actually I forgot what I’d said about the lightweight English pack. Just covering all the bases.
LikeLike