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 |
Ovally Balls 
great stuff – thanks!
France by 5
Wales by 2
England by 30
ok?
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AGHHHH – not okay! (But probably right.)
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@Ticht
thanks for the notes about young Leatherbarrow.
Exeter seem to have a number of extremely promising young forwards who have the chance to mature over the next 2 or 3 years.
For now Exeter have been caught out by their own success – too many of the 1st XV on international duty.
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Leinster don’t seem to be having too many problems at the mo.
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Excellent Craigs, your shameless underdogging of England’s sacking of Rome apart (and no geese to turn back the invaders). I’m going Scotland and France by 3 apiece and England by whatever they want.
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Deebs – it’s Ireland or Scotland’s gs to lose. They are peaking at just the right time to go out in the quarter finals next year.
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Played Thaum.
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Craigs
You didn’t think I’d let that go without comment, did you?
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The pic and caption, along with the chirp about Ulster representation (‘representation ‘) were superb.
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Ireland by 2.
England by 20
*sigh*
Scotland by 5
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I’ve just doomed us.
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Thaum – I actually double checked the players I wasn’t 100% sure about.
It’s a bit like when I would try to get swear words into my essays at school.
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Although, too much ‘I think’ now that I’m reading it back.
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I have hope/FEAR for tomorrow. Doubt we can win without Sexton, and it would have been a 50/50 at best anyway. Obviously a Lowry (for example) would even up the chances, but no….
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This almost like Roger Moore
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Was it Esther McVey who took on a challenge to say ‘cock’ 50 times (or summat) in Parliament?
Err, no, it was Penny Mordaunt. DO NOT google ‘esther mcvey cock’.
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Grounding for Leinster 4th try looked dodgy…. not a double movement inasmuch as Deegan doesn’t move his body – but he lifts the ball, half juggles it, and then places it on the line….
If I seen it in a game I was reffing – I’d be calling double movement….
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Christ – the bloke in the middle of that photo (presumably Mr Jones) looks like my ex!
Trisk – the mister thought the same.
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Amusing interlude in France vs Ireland U20s…..commentator says “…and now for a word from Darren Clarke…” (I’m thinking golfer??) and a voice comes onto to say “it’s Darren Cave….”
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@craigs
Bet that bloke worked at the Sony music publishing place on Chiswick High Road.
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Italy Under 20s leading England 6-0 after an hour. On top at the scrums in a big way.
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TomP – oh, there you are. Do you know, I read that whole Harry Potter fanfic thingy in a very short period of time, and actually it’s very good. The author (who I suspect is not a ‘Ms’ at all), is not completely au fait with punctuation and grammar, but s/he is excellent at character development and so on.
It felt a bit dirty, but good-dirty.
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I have also delved into the comments and confess I am not at one with the snowflake generation. There is a lot of squealing, CAPS LOCK, incomprehensible abbreviations (*harrumph!*) and, well, general obtuseness. Although I’m sure the last is not exclusive to snowflakes.
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… And criminal abuse of the word ‘literally’.
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“Err, no, it was Penny Mordaunt. DO NOT google ‘esther mcvey cock’.”
Does ‘mordant cock’ get better results?
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CMW – *quakes* – I haven’t tried that. I think it was ‘parliament cock’ that got the desired result.
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LITERALLY A COCK might be worth a go.
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That would just turn up scary pics of the current PM.
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Italy win 6-0. Fine performance by them.
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thaum, I only knew about it because I like the song.
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TomP – and it’s a good song. The author appears to have introduced a whole new generation to Bowie / T Rex / etc.
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Smart words, craigs.
Ugo Monye, your direct rival, knew he had to up his game to compete with you. He cracked and went back to a DNA line.
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Cheers tomp.
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Hell of a Tigers day-boo for Chris Ashton. Try saving tackle in the first half, yellow card in the second.
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Ginsters gonna ginster
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Ireland just about to beat France in the Under 20s. Depends on the conversion.
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Charlie Tector absolutely smashes the ball through the posts. 17-16.
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the Wales v Scotland U20s is close, though error-strewn, but the commentry is making it unwatchable, at least with the sound on.
Bring back Stevie Ferris
It’s that bad
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Wales wining now, Scotland have only themselves to blame, they should have been out of sight half an hour ago
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That’s when I turned it on. Sorry about that.
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Didn’t think the Welsh commentators were particularly biased on decisions etc – they seemed to think a yellow was coming for Wales (it should have arrived but didn’t), expected the first Welsh try to be reviewed for a possible forward pass (it was just about OK), didn’t question any of the numerous breakdown penalties either way (and most were rightly one way for a long time) etc. What they definitely were is only interested in the game from a Wales perspective which I can see is off-putting, but I thought could have been worse if they’d also been one-eyed about the various calls etc. They did also give some credit to some of the Scotland players so again not all bad on that front. I’m guessing the main coverage was in Welsh as there was no top and tail or half-time to the show? Don’t really know though.
Wales scored some decent tries in the second half and their back row put in a good performance as the game went on. Scotland were wasteful in the first half and may well feel they let a game slip that they should have won. They maybe would have if Wales had been punished more for all the penalties in the first 50 minutes or so and I thought their goal kicker might have won it for them anyway until near the end. Didn’t feel that Wales ending up with a BP and Scotland not was a fair reflection, but the Welsh lads will have felt they earned it by the end. Looked a cold and windy night, plenty of mistakes but quite an enjoyable game.
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CMW, I see you as probably the most fair poster on here ( discount myself, I have no delusions that I’m fair or unbiased)
but tonight’s commentary was all about what Wales have to do to get back in the game or how Wales have to react to what was happening or how Wales have been a bit this that or the next thing.
There was the occasional mention of the other side, it is impossible not to mention the other side at all.
The odd mention of a good bit of play from a Scottish player was then talked about in terms of how Wales should have prevented it and what Wales have to do now to get back on top.
It was very hard to watch from the opposition point of view, this went on for 80 minutes, it was broadcast across the BBC supposedly for fans of both countries and more to enjoy.
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To be honest, I get too emotionally involved in games as a fan. I’ve realised recently that when I played in ye olden dayes I came off the park and that was it.
Same with watching Scotland at that time, the ref’s whistle was the “end of”
So, to important things
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For anyone not doing anything else tomorrow – Leeds v Warrington on Channel 4 at 12.30pm.
Nice bit of RL for a Sunday afternoon. Just like old days.
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@Ticht – I absolutely agree about that side of it. Just think that in terms of parochial commentary it was at the odd but nice end of it – two blokes who have gone to the game only knowing about their own team and only really interested in their own team, but at least respectful of the refereeing and at least able to praise the opposition on occasion. Obviously it should be different though I do think that at least on the respect for the officials front it was better than the commentary we get from the ‘neutrals’ for the big games and refreshing for it.
I actually enjoy the Northern Ireland lot as it’s so beyond it’s comical, but they take it further, questioning almost everything in favour of their own team. On the radio they’ve even gone as far as hoping opposition players get injured because they’ve been aggrieved at reffing decisions going against them and this certainly wasn’t that kind of thing.
Alba used to irritate me as the only English spoken was with a current player from whichever of Edinburgh or Glasgow were playing and they were either totally bland (understandably) or again often moaning about the ref. Still found it an enjoyably weird way to watch rugby though!
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My feelings about this sort of thing are very much influenced by having grown up as something of a stranger in a strange land. More on that later as got to get one kid to violin, go round the shops with another while she’s there then off to ballet classes!
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6 – 0 ???????????????????
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Fantastic result for the young Azzuri.
Forza!
I hope it inspires the bigger boys on Sunday and stop the endless whining about Georgia in the 6N.
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La vie de Gargantua et de Pantagruel > Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib
Pedair Cainc y Mabinogi > Lament for the Makaris
Amarosa visione > Tryless and Catastrophe
Gli Ragazzi were good value for their win yesterday. They put the English under a lot of pressure, which forced them into too many mistakes. A disallowed try for crossing didn’t help and as the referee didn’t go to the TMO it was difficult to see what happened, but there were other opportunities which the team didn’t take. No question at all though that the Italians deserved their win: their physicality and drive was impressive and some of them are clearly going to make the national team soonish.
The referee was the same French woman who refereed the game against Scotland – she’s really good, I think. Decisive and takes no nonsense. I didn’t catch her name, unfortunately, but she was impressive.
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