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 
First half I thought “playing quite well, but need to cut out the silly errors”. Second half was mostly silly errors and really quite flat: the life seemed to go out of the game after the long injury to the Italian player (I didn’t catch his name – hope he’s okay…), but whatever the reason, it wasn’t good to watch.
Definitely a step down when Youngs came on. He’s been a good (if not world-class) stalwart of the team, and I don’t like particularly like the over-the-top mocking of him, but it’s time to stand aside, I think. Randall and Quirke and Mitchell look a much better bet.
Won’t beat Wales, never mind Ireland or France playing like this.
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Fair play to Italy, they stuck at it and didn’t fade as they have done in the past, but they didn’t really look particularly dangerous at any point.
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Fair assessment as usual Brookter. I’d disagree about one point though. I think England are good enough to turn over Wales. And one of Ireland or France, both at Twickenham, non ?
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One of those where you win handily and still think it was a bit crap. It’s a better scoreline than France managed but meh.
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Ireland at Twickenham, France in Paris on the last day.
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BRookter
I agree with you except I don’t think Randall was all that great really. I’ve always thought Quirke a better bet.
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Brookter, I thought England stopped after the 4th try. Italy were willing but they’re really not good once they got passed the 22. Bank it for England. Bit more experience for them and no one’s going care about it a week from now.
It was Negri who went off injured.
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past/passed
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Flair, I suppose it depends which England turns up 😀
If they stop dropping so many passes, then they look sharp enough to trouble anyone, but will they? They really have been very generous…
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Slade
I thought Randall did well for his debut: things were definitely sharper while he was on. Obviously, I’d be very pleased if Raffi Quirke were to come back into the team: he was superb for Sale against Quins last week, so much so that Faff’s substitution late on didn’t make any difference to the quality. Not sure why he wasn’t retained in the squad by Eddie.
Tomp,
Thanks for the name of Negri – hope he’s ok.
They did seem to go off the boil after the fifth try (early in the second half) — Italy had a lot more of the ball, but that was mostly because we kept giving it to them… It was comprehensive enough, but really should have been more: contrast the Scotland game where it mostly superb defence which stopped the scoring in the first half. Today, it looked more self-inflicted.
Positives are there, of course: I suspect Smith will be given an extended run as starter, and the partnership with Dombrandt looked useful, with Simmons as a replacement.
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@Brookter – The try early in the second half was the fourth try which made it 26-0. The flip side of “Italy had a lot more of the ball, but that was mostly because we kept giving it to them” is that in the first half Italy kept putting themselves under pressure by giving up needless penalties in England’s half or round about halfway. I thought there were some really nice touches from England, but yes, too many dropped balls.
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Scotland’s defence better, of course, but Italy just gifted so much ball to England in the first half in such good conditions.
When we beat them in Italy last year, we had the try bonus point after half an hour. Rest of the game was very relaxing for me viewing.
That’s what you need to do against them I think. Don’t overplay, which England were guilty of, box kick as much as you like – for the 5th try the Italian full-back shelled a dolly – and hope you don’t get any injuries.
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Argh, am doing two things at once – such good positions, not conditions.
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Job done for England. That never look that great away to Italy but got the bonus point and a handy points margin. England-Wales in two weeks will be a right old ding-dong (as always). I expect England to edge it somehow, but won’t be surprised if it goes the other way.
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CMW, was it the 4th? Fair enough.
Definitely some very nice touches! If the two halves had been swapped round, it would have felt more encouraging, but as it was, a little deflating after such a good start. Still, as someone said, we’ve probably almost certainly nearly secured fifth again, if we’re lucky. Perhaps. So, onwards and upwards and it may be that just failing to come 4th is within our grasp?
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@Brookter – On the results so far Wales are still favourites for fifth. Everyone else has a BP from their away defeat (except France who haven’t had theirs yet).
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CMW,
All to play for at Twickers in a fortnight – everybody aspires to be fifth, but only one team can make it…
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One thing I did notice is Eddie is still trolling us with the positions. George Ford as back fly half? His experience to see us out and make sure Marcus doesn’t have a last minute injury?
Nah mate. Fuckin two fly halves you pommie bastards!!!!
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@Brookter – It’s our turn though so you lot planning a home defeat is a bit off really. We can match that of course, but then you’ve still got to win in Paris to get ahead of us. And Scotland could well be back in the running too. Such a tough championship the Fifth Nation.
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I read that the England medics and the ref made a mess of yet another HIA requirement (for Nowell)
If so, not good enough.
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@Slade – The ref wanted the medic to make a decision quickly about whether or not an HIA was required while they wanted more time. I don’t see anything wrong with that from the ref – if the medic is in any doubt then it seems reasonable to take that as it being required and they should have got him off straight away.
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This is a thread about the u20 incident the other night. The England doctor should be removed from all international rugby – his attitude was a disgrace
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This is the incident with sound
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@OT – All seemed totally unnecessary from the England doctor.
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First it’s the physio who is chirping on trying to get the Italian lad sent off. None of his business, he shouldn’t even be talking to the ref and trying to influence the decision. Then the doctor comes in and claims it his HIS decision when it quite clearly is the job of the independent doctor. And to top it all off he tells the ref to “f**k off”.
He would not have spoken like that to Nigel Owens, put it that way.
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It gets worse each time you watch or listen to it.
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Is there not a case for putting Marcus Smith in charge of the England medical team?
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Thanks for that. That doctor should be banned from future matches (and the physio too).
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This is sort of related but in that squidge video from the Scotland-England game he highlighted the role played by the Scottish physio in the build-up to the first Scottish try. Plus, you have Renee Naylor the Boks’ physio on the field of play shouting encouragement and instruction, Nienaber coaching from the touchline in the World Cup when he was water carrier.
I realise these members of the back-up team want their team to win but it’s just too much.
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They’ve got to stamp out the chatter from the physios, medics, waterboys etc soon. It’s not good for the game, Rassie was rightly banned for his video and the ones above are also a disgrace. All personnel should be restricted to the dugout area (or equivalent), except when needed. Reserves banned from celebrating with the side when they score where the reserves are training. It’s getting out of hand.
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The ref’s main priorities in order were:
1. Making sure the injured player was dealt with correctly and removed from the pitch
2. Making sure the injured player was replaced by an eligible player
3. Restarting the game correctly.
Instead she had to put up with spoiled entitled blokes thinking they could tell her what to do and what the rules were when in fact they were completely in the wrong. She kept her cool and didn’t let them influence her but she shouldn’t have to do that. She would have been quite within her rights to look that doctor in the eye, jab her finger in his general direction and tell him he was in no circumstances allowed to come back on the pitch.
I really, really do not like bullies. This one met his match this time, thankfully.
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He would not have spoken like that to Nigel Owens, put it that way.
I wonder how much of that is sexism. Probably most of it tbh.
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@craigs
There’s a lot of sexism in this incident. When the doc says “it’s my decision” he knows it’s wrong but thinks his ego and loud voice can override whatever the ref is saying. I cannot imagine him even trying to say that to a ref such as Nigel Owens. And then when she doesn’t budge he aggressively swears at her like a spoiled brat. He wouldn’t do that to Nigel Owens either.
If I can see it then plenty of others can. Female referees should be entitled to the same respect male ones are.
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Wow that really made my blood boil. That kind of behaviour from team officials is exactly what you don’t want influencing an age group side. Props to the referee for how she handled it, (although she missed a knock-on).
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Bit disappointing that the commentary team didn’t really see fit to comment on it. She had also corrected the call on the scrum put-in almost immediately which they didn’t notice (perhaps understandably enough, but they did go on about that a bit).
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@CMW – oops, yes she corrected herself. Talk about grace under fire!
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Big shout out to the fabulously named Italy Under 20 centre Dewi Passarella.
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@tomp
That must be an Argentinian name. That combination of Welsh and World Cup winning captain gives it away.
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I think he also thinks he can boss her about because she is relatively young as well. Saying fuck off should get him a ban. The rfu should also do something.
All the stuff about respecting the ref, not being football etc etc seems to be slipping away each year.
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Argentinian means a 50% chance it’s of Italian origin.
Been looking at the players in the various Italian Rugby Union academies. Andrea Terribile is a name worthy of consideration.
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Y’know what… When you look at that picture at the top of this page, it looks like the Scottish guy isn’t going to get his hands to it at all. Like he’d mistimed/misjudged his jump. I mean, if LCD weren’t there, it looks like the ball would have gone past his shoulder and into touch. Probable try? Really?
Jus’ sayin’…
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@Dab – I’m certain it would have hit him in the face.
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If it hasn’t already.
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Everyday sexism in rugby, whodathunk?
Dab, the law is that when a penalty offence has been committed you take that player out of the picture altogether and then consider what would probably have happened if that player had not been there at all.
The view from behind the pitch is the best one to see whether or not Graham would have caught the ball
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CMW, whilst not the outcome I’d want, that would have been funny
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Well, I’m all for stamping out gouging but the thought does occur to me the ref should have just compressed those 2 actions….
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Expectation he’s from Patagonia – Trelew, Puerto Madryn…somewhere connected to Y Wladfa
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Hmm. I expect his family have a cafe in Ystrad Mynach.
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He’s a very handsome lad. A modelling career beckons if the rugby falls through.
(This is an actual joke that requires actual knowledge of actual Italian)
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“This is an actual joke that requires actual knowledge of actual Italian”
Well that’s not much use then.
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