Six Nations 2022: Round Two

Could anything be more exciting than last week’s matches?

Read on to find out.

Wales vs Scotland

Scotland, all day, easy peasy, we lost to the eventual winners innit. 

Ahem.  Ok, victory for Scotland for the first time in Cardiff for a while (but they did win in Llanelli) against a team who has had their number for a while now.  Wales have too many injuries and lost 90% of their caps in Alun Wyn-Jones.  They also don’t have Josh Navidi, Taulupe Faletau or Justin Tipuric so I can’t see them win the battle up front.  Scotland on the other hand have only lost Jamie Ritchie (big loss, mind) and will feel confident after their recent win against … err … can’t remember.  In fact, looking at the line-ups, it’s only n° 6 where Wales have a significantly better player.

Wales won by a single point last year and have regressed since.  Their defence has become pretty bollocks after Shaun left and they lack the experience at international level (this does not mean they are like England.  Repeat, they are NOT like England).  Further, they didn’t really set the world alight in the autumn (win against Australia aside).  Whereas Scotland have won 6 of their last (arbitrary point in time warning) 7 matches and will be confident going in.

30 – 20 to Scotland.

France vs Ireland

Some people might point out that Ireland don’t have Cateyes and therefore are not going to be as competitive as they could be against France.  I, on the other hand, think that this is more than counterbalanced by the number of Ulster players in the team which shows strategic and forward thinking on Faz’s part.

This is probably the game of the weekend.  Both sides are in great form having won their opening games and recently beaten the All Blacks (but who hasn’t nowadays? Scotland and Wales actually, but we’ve already discussed that) in convincing style.  Ireland play a brand of ‘Pro-pleasing precision rugby and now have a pack which won’t get munched by the opposition whereas France have actually made a team worth the sum of its parts.  Both teams are very strong in defence whereas France are a bit better in open play and will score some tries against the run of play.  I think Ireland will win the breakdown so these are evenly-matched foes.

I think the key battle will be the set piece with these two teams.  If either one can get an edge in the scrum and/or lineout then I expect them to win; probably Ireland.  It won’t be by much but it will be down to the old heads such O’Mahoney at the end to see Ireland through.

28 – 22 to Ireland

Italy vs England

England v Italy is always a tough one to preview.  Either it induces 50 Shades of meh as England eventually beat them or there’s a surprise around the ruck laws or there is a comedy rage moment where Brian Moore reveals how many toys his ma bought him for his birthday.  Recently, England rarely seem to come out of these encounters with glowing match day reports.  Either they won well, but didn’t lay down a marker, or they won and it was a poor performance.  Or it wasn’t rugby maate.

Apparently Eddie is going with the same team as last week.  I think it’s good to have a settled team to build confidence but I’d prefer it if we had some more bosh and experience.  Courtney buggering his beautiful noggin is a big loss for us and after last weekend England need Faz’s direction.  So I’m thinking that next Monday we’ll have a column from Matt Dawson saying how he would have done something different in hindsight.  That’s because he is well clever and if you look at his articles, he doesn’t write many paragraphs, just widely spaced single sentences listing the random thoughts he is having at that moment.

Eddie normally talks about how England will ‘smash’ Italy, but he’s been quiet on that front so far.  Which is actually quite nice.  I’m expecting a disjointed first half, and then a comfortable gap to open up in the last 20 minutes.  I am hoping that we show a bit more attacking shape than last week, and that Marcus Smith finds his feet (watch Squidge’s video about the Calcutta Cup for what I mean by that).

I think Italy will score a couple of nice tries but also shoot themselves in the foot more often than not.  They have a young and exciting fly half and Benetton won that cup thing which I think was good, but not sure how seriously the other teams were taking it.  Like that development cup in the Prem. 

25 – 17 to England.

UPDATE!!!!

Randall starts!!!!  And Marchant is in the centre and we have proper wingers and, and, and FFS Eddie, why can’t you do this when we play Scotland?!!!

Hand-wringing by Craigsman

Onna telly this week

Friday 11th February

Leinster v Edinburgh	18:00	RTÉ2 / Premier Sports 1
Italy U20 v England U20	19:00	BBC iPlayer
Leicester v Northampton	19:45	BT Sport 1
Wales U20 v Scotland U20	20:00	BBC iPlayer / S4C
Toulouse v Stade Français	20:00	Premier Sports 1
Glasgow v Munster	20:15	TG4 / Premier Sports 1

Saturday 12th February

Lions v Stormers	13:00	Premier Sports 2
Wales v Scotland	14:15	BBC1 / S4C
Bulls v Sharks	15:05	Premier Sports 2
France v Ireland	16:45	ITV

Sunday 13th February

Saracens v Harlequins	13:00	BT Sport 1
Italy v England	15:00	ITV