Getting to the business end now, so things are hotting up or cooling down, depending on your perspective. Three teams still in it, and away fixtures for the two favourites, so could be a good round of games. Could be.
As the times demand a number of contradictory but yet plausible expert views, the blog’s favourite possibly evil nine-year-old is on board this week to provide the comfort of a second equally valid set of predictions. She also gives her assessment of each team’s most important player. And that would be the one who scores all the points. Won’t win if you don’t score points.
Wales v France
While Friday night Six Nations games shouldn’t be condoned, it does provide a good opportunity for the TV-watching audience to enjoy a match without ruining dinner/missing dinner/having to make alternative arrangements to get children to ballet classes. Some might think Wales will have gained confidence from their showing in the second half at Twickenham, but only being able to score tries when playing desperate catch-up has been a bit of a thing at times under Wayne Pivac, and the first-half wet fart, along with the Dublin débâcle, don’t give much cause for hope. On the flip side, Wales have been dogged as anything in recent home games against the Boks and the Scots, so could just about conceivably grind something out. On the selection front, Pivac has gone full Gats, chucking in Navidi when he’s probably not fully fit, presumably on the basis that it worked with Faletau the other week. Wales also field three out of four players who suffered head injuries at Twickenham. Whilst I’m sure they have all passed the various tests, it does make you wonder if Wales deserve anything this time out at all.
France were absolutely ruthless when it came to taking their chances at Murrayfield, and anything like that will surely mean a big win for them. Dupont has been passed fit, Penaud misses out due to Covid with Villiere returning, and otherwise they’re as you were bar one further bench change. Hopefully Geraint Pillock’s cousin Dylan Cretin will make it on to the field at some point. If we do see them in full flow with the glorious short passing and brute force of the forwards and some sparkling back play, then there will be nothing to begrudge. So can Wales drag them down? France have had off spells in some of their recent games and come roaring back, but could they be due a real off day? Clutching at straws maybe, but anyway:
CMW’s prediction: Can’t be going for three away wins and don’t know which one of the two big games to go for as the upset.
Wales 26-23 France
Middle One’s prediction: Dan Biggar doesn’t always make good decisions – shouldn’t have gone for that drop goal when they could have scored a try against Scotland. He’s always shouting at people so might not be a very nice man. Don’t know who kicks the goals for France, but it’s probably some really super person who never misses.
Wales 21-28 France
Italy v Scotland
The phrase ‘nothing to see here’ could perhaps be used for a lot of Italy’s Six Nations games, but their last outing may well have trumped all previous efforts on that front. Will being on the wrong end of an unfair and pretty arcane part of an unfair and pretty arcane rule that is only necessary because rugby is full of cheating bastards inspire them to great heights? Or will their challenge fade to nothing at the first sign of Scotland being anywhere near on their game? I know which I expect. The Scots will be missing Duhan van der Merwe after a slightly unfortunate sending off playing for Worcester, but with plenty of other exciting runners and their pack likely to dominate this should be a comfortable win.
CMW’s prediction: Italy 13 Scotland 37
Middle One’s prediction: Finn Russell needs to take things more seriously if Scotland are going to win anything, he’s always smiling and laughing even when he’s done something bad. I don’t smile when I’m playing netball and he shouldn’t either. Who kicks goals for Italy? Who knows and who cares?
Italy 17 Scotland 43
England v Ireland
England took advantage of some sloppy Welsh forward play to get their lead last time out with soft penalties and an even softer try, and then didn’t do a lot after that. That said, they had looked good in parts up to the point of not scoring tries during the first fifty minutes or so, and at Murrayfield they also had a lot of the game without capitalising on it. Is there something fundamentally wrong or is it just all waiting to click and if so could this be the day? Considered opinion on Ovally Balls has been that playing two proper flankers wouldn’t go amiss. I had been hoping to see Lewis Ludlow, previously unknown to me though reading around the subject I see that this was probably because he was known as Dinham for a very long time. Sadly Eddie has cast him aside, leaving Curry as the only flanker left in the squad. He’s an injury doubt so we may yet see two number eights and a second row starting in the back row. I had heard that George Ford would be missing out with the apparently not very good George Furbank as the outside half cover on the bench, but see that that was just some training squad shenanigans and Ford is back in, though it wouldn’t be a big surprise to see Smith play the whole game anyway.
Passing over the Italian hooker-based non-event, Ireland’s last game was the defeat in Paris. I felt they might have got a proper hiding if it hadn’t been for Hansen’s skilful but freakish try. However, the comeback in the second half was impressive to the point that they could have gone on to win, so it’s hard to know what to make of that performance. It’s good to see significant Ulster presence in the wider squad; I’m sure they’ll all be there on match day. [Ed: harrumph!] There’s a lot more pace in Ireland’s passing this season, some of the play between the forwards is great to watch, and they look a really good team when they get going. England, though, always have a chance to win at home no matter whom they’re playing.
CMW’s prediction: Can’t be going for three away wins etc.
England 26-19 Ireland
Middle One’s prediction: Marcus Smith is the annoying-looking one who’s always really pleased with himself and has weird hair. Don’t like him though he does score a lot of points sometimes. A boy in my class wants to be Johnny Sexton and seems to support him even though he should be supporting England. Like Johnny Sexton, he plays rugby when he isn’t injured though he broke his collar-bone scoring a try the first time they were allowed to tackle each other properly, so can only play on his own at the moment.
England 27-35 Ireland
Bowwow Woofwoof Grrrr as David Bowie would say.
Plausible Expert Views by ClydeMillarWynant and The Middle One.
Onna telly this week
Friday 11th March
| Sharks v Scarlets | 17:10 | TG4 / BBC2 Wales / Premier Sports 1 |
| Italy v Scotland (U20s) | 19:00 | BBC iPlayer / website |
| Wales v France | 20:00 | BBC1 / S4C |
Saturday 12th March
| Bulls v Munster | 14:05 | TG4 / Premier Sports 1 |
| Italy v Scotland | 14:15 | ITV |
| England v Ireland | 17:15 | ITV |
| England v Ireland (U20s) | 19:15 | BBC iPlayer / website |
| Ulster v Leinster | 19:35 | TG4 / Premier Sports 1 |
| Montpellier v Toulon | 20:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
Sunday 13th March
| Lions v Cardiff | 14:00 | S4C / Premier Sports 2 | ||
| Northampton v Wasps | 15:00 | ITV / BT Sport 1 | ||
| Stormers v Zebre | 16:05 | FreeSports | ||
| Clermont v Bordeaux | 20:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
Ovally Balls 
I thought he played well…..
(Runs and hides from Thaum)
LikeLike
Well…………..normal service in the end, but a great effort by both teams:
– England for their heart
_ Ireland for re-gathering themselves and sorting it.
LikeLike
And 3 out of 3 for the Middle One! Maybe she should do predictions more frequently!
LikeLike
A brave effort by England. Kicked well most of the time (and they kicked a lot). Ireland – some good tries but the scrum was a disaster. Keenan was exceptional again.
One thing: England have managed two tries in the games against Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the first was a one pass move off a driving maul, the second was from a missed Welsh line-out. It’s really poor that they’re not getting much out of the outside backs as the ball they’re getting is often good and those guys are good.
Today’s game was a bit different because of the sending off but they didn’t really look like scoring a try apart from at the 5-metre lineout and they blew that. Ireland, on the other hand, much more comfortable with the ball and with a little more patience might have pulled away even earlier.
LikeLike
MOTM obviously Genge. He kept England afloat, wheeling or not. Brilliant pack+Nowell.
I expect Eddie to use the same tactics vs France, as Keenan who was excellent, ain’t French.
LikeLike
Brilliant effort from England. Ireland deserved winners but already looking like a team in decline.
LikeLike
I would’ve given Itoje MotM.
LikeLike
Well, not bad performance by England, pack particularly, altho Ewels should be fired into the sun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t see an advantage to being a man down to be honest. I think England just battled really hard and aren’t a terrible team .
We did capitulate in thr end so it was as comfortable as it should have been, Ireland just needed to be patient but its a BP victory and a bit of a battering on the scoreboard.
It’s a battle now as to who avoids 5th. France and Ireland are top 2, France a deserved GS likely…
LikeLike
…tell you what, Lawes is a very good captain: cool, polite and hard in example
LikeLike
BB (ignoring your silly comment) – yes, 3 out of 3 for the Middle One! More from her please!
LikeLike
– pity he is injured, ‘cos that was a Jonny Hill type of game
LikeLike
flair, extra catching practice for Jaminet and Ntamack this week. They’ve shelled a few this tournament. I’d put the big lump Steward on little Villiere as well if I were Eddie.
LikeLike
Without my green glasses on, I do not think England will win in Paris, and France will have their well-deserved slam. I would love it if England could at least pull off a draw, and we win our match.
Does anyone fancy doing a prediction for next week? I’m on a mini-holiday Weds-Fri and won’t have much time….
LikeLike
Well, it was a tight belter for 70 minutes
I really enjoyed that, great heart from England, George and Genge were really fired up all match.
I agree with Flair that Genge should have been player of the match
LikeLike
Ireland deserved winners but already looking like a team in decline.
Excellent trolling.
LikeLike
Well, here we go: Ulster v Leinster.
LikeLike
Sorry, Thaum, I’m full on with study at the moment
France by 10
Scotland by 3
Wales by hunners.
I’m guessing you’re after more than that
LikeLike
Unfortunately they won’t have declined enough by next week for us to beat them.
Looking at the table, there isn’t really much between us and England (and Wales). Reckon if Italy play in Wales the way they did today there might be an outside glimmer of the possibility of a slight chance of them getting something from the game. We’ll get beaten by Ireland and I reckon France will get the GS.
Hoping that all the games next week are as close as this week’s were.
LikeLike
Looks like they’ve got that extremely wet kind of rain in Belfast that soaks you to the skin while hardly trying.
LikeLike
Is that you volunteering to flesh that out for a proper ATL, BB?
LikeLike
Anyone seen a familiar sounding poster on the Graun complaining about forward passes and Irish eyes not smiling?
LikeLike
Tomp – squidge mentioned that England are trying something new in attack but yeah, it’s not great.
LikeLike
Doak selected to start over the fit-again Cooney. Cooney’s had a horrible run of luck with not getting selected for Ireland for whatever bizarre reason and injury lately, but Doak is very good, and will only get better. Hopefully he will get selected for Ireland.
LikeLike
“Looks like they’ve got that extremely wet kind of rain in Belfast that soaks you to the skin while hardly trying.”
Ah, makes me all misty-eyed for the Western Highlands
LikeLiked by 1 person
O’Connor over nearly under the posts after a line-out in Leinster’s 22!
LikeLike
Oops, no, Sam Carter apparently.
LikeLike
I think the main thing to take from the rugby so far is that everything I wanted to happen, didn’t happen. And that should weigh heavily on everyone.
LikeLike
Conversion is good, so it’s 7-0, and then Leinster go on the attack and McCloskey takes a wallop to the face somehow. Think he’s okay to play on though. Trimble: Losing McCloskey would be a disaster for Ulster.
Leinster have a pen and slot it. 7-3.
LikeLike
Congratulations, Ireland!
Red card was fair enough and Ireland deserved the win in the end, but England can take a lot of credit from the way they managed to hang on (and more: Ireland were under real pressure at times) for so long. Even more so with the loss of Curry and Sinkler by half time.
If only we’d played like that for the entire tournament… we probably won’t next week, so a thoroughly well deserved Grand Chelem for France! They’ve been the best team this year and it’s good to see.
LikeLike
Ulster repel a series of attacks, but then the inevitable happens. Probably just as well, because there might have been a card otherwise.
LikeLike
Ulster get a pen and it’s 10 all.
LikeLike
Has anyone ever seen refit and John Barclay in the same room?
LikeLike
Yes! Baloucoune and Lowry combine for a lovely try.
LikeLike
@craigs – great minds.
LikeLike
‘Nother penalty for our heroes as the clock goes red, and it’s 18-10.
LikeLike
Refit – I did think this also so you aren’t 100% there. Like Tomp said, we need to sharpen our attack.
I think Courtney is a great captain though.
LikeLike
Missed the very beginning of the second half, but Leinster get a pen.
LikeLike
Tomp, agree about Jaminet and Ntamack needing pratice under garryowens.
But disagree about Villière/ Steward. Villière is a, backrow who pretends to be a wing, he has many turnovers to his credit.
LikeLike
Cooney on!
LikeLike
Seemed significant to me that when Murray came on Ireland played more calmly and against a tiring/tired England team we found the gaps.
Scrum w/o Porter is an issue – general feeling over here is that Healy isn’t up to the required standard now. Got to see if any up and coming LHs can step up before RWC – Eric O’Sullivan/Tom O’Toole from Ulster have been in the squad and then discarded. Not sure where Jack McGrath is these days … endless injuries… Munster’s great white hope is Josh Wycherley.
That said – appeared to me there was an element of not driving straight at the scrums…. but I’m wearing green tinted glasses.
Can’t imagine Ryan playing next week or soon – another failed HIA. Still at least he wasn’t allowed to stay on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the ref’s shirt in U20s….
LikeLike
Thaum, won’t help with an ATL, as I’m for a few days in the Alps, trying to remember how to ski. Not that I was ever any good. LadyFlair who’s a far better skier than me, can usually spot me from a distance. My shoulders are often lower than my feet. RC everyday.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Ireland U20s win 42-27…. GS at stake next week vs Scotland.
Irish captain Reuben Crothers could pass for a U16…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Conditions turned to absolute shite in the second half, but Ulster grind out the win – hooray!
LikeLike
trisk, he’s a smart payer is Crothers. That Ireland team is really good. Good news for thaum is a lot of Ulster forwards.
It’s worth checking out the highlights especially for Aitzol King’s second try. An absolute cracker.
LikeLike
RL type finish here …..
LikeLike
flair, Stewards absolutely enormous and Villiere’s pretty titchy so I was thinking that way. Villiere’s been brilliant in the games he’s played so far.
LikeLike
Here’s the King try:
LikeLike
His first one was good and all:
https://twitter.com/SixNationsU20/status/1502748831414317056
LikeLike