And now, the end is near….
That sounds good. I should put it in a song.
That can wait, though. The real reason you’re reading this gibberish is to find out what the results are going to be on Saturday.
First up, Wales against Italy. Wales have scored 5 tries to Italy’s 4. That makes you think it might be close! Until you realise that Wales have conceded 7 to Italy’s 24. Which is a bit of a problem for Italy. (Nae shit, Sherlock). Italy played better against Scotland than they had in the other games, so is this the time they can back it up with another good performance? Probably not.
Wales have struggled a bit this year. Thumped by Ireland, scraped past Scotland, somehow losing to England despite scoring all the tries and never really looking like they would beat France. So, can Italy pull off a huge shock and get past Wales in Wales?
Let’s ask Predict-A-Bear!
Answer: Nah. Might be closer than expected, but probably Wales by 15.
Next up is Ireland against Scotland. (Sob). This was going to be The Year! The year to end (Way too many to count) Years Of Hurt! A brilliant start! And then everything turned Scottish. A disappointing – to say the least – defeat in Wales, thumped by France, then showing what we can do against Italy, before deciding that things were far too easy and that we should turn Scottish again.
Never mind, it’s only Ireland. The team that has been reinvigorated under Farrell The Elder. The team that beat the All Blacks. The team that thumped Wales, gave France their closest game so far and who managed to be disappointed in only scoring 57 points against 15, 14, 13, 12 man Italy. They have scored 20 tries to our 10, conceded 3 to our 11, Sexton’s on his Neverending Farewell Tour and have the might of Ulster (cheering them on from the sidelines).
So. Any hope for Scotland? Well … Ireland’s scrum looked strangely out of sorts against England. They also seemed a bit too rushed at times. And Finn bloody owes us one! So of course, Toonie sticks him on the bench. But probably none.
But let’s find out from Predict-A-Bear!
Answer: Nah. Much as I would love to be wrong, Ireland will win this fairly comfortably, by about 15 (at least). Can’t see us even getting any sort of bonus point. (Sobs again.)
Finally, the main event! France against England! France at home and going for a Grand Slam against a (fairly) average England team. (I mean, come on, WE beat them!) Eddie’s playing mind games again, although the only people he seems to confuse with these are his players. They have looked fairly toothless in attack (7 tries scored – and they’ve played Italy!), wonder boy Smith hasn’t quite lived up to the hype (but he will), the midfield has a Manu-sized hole (but then it frequently does) and Jack Nowell will probably end up hooking in the front row. And please (don’t) let Joe Marler take more throw ins. On the good side, Maro’s been a right annoying bastard on the pitch.
But France! They have everything: they can play tight; they can be expansive as (cliché alert) only France can. They have the best player in the world, and a few others who would probably be in a world XV, strength in depth and Shaun Edwards as defence coach. They haven’t perhaps scored quite as many tries as their play would suggest and had to tough it out against Wales.
So who will win?
Predict-A-Bear to the rescue!
Answer: A France win and Grand Slam!
Predict-A-Bear whispered sweet nothings into BorderBoy‘s ear.
Onna telly this week
Friday 18th March
| Bulls v Scarlets | 17:10 | BBC2 Wales / Premier Sports 2 |
| Glasgow v Edinburgh | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Newcastle v Leicester | 19:45 | BT Sport 2 |
Saturday 19th March
| Lions v Munster | 12:00 | RTÉ2 / Premier Sports 2 |
| Wales v Italy | 14:15 | BBC1 / iPlayer |
| Sharks v Zebre | 16:30 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Ireland v Scotland | 16:45 | ITV |
| France v England | 20:00 | ITV |
Sunday 20th March
| Stormers v Cardiff | 12:00 | S4C / Premier Sports 1 | ||
| Wales v Italy (U20s) | 14:00 | BBC1 Wales / iPlayer / Website | ||
| Ireland v Scotland (U20s) | 17:00 | BBC1 iPlayer / Website | ||
| France v England (U20s) | 20:00 | BBC1 iPlayer / Website |
Ovally Balls 
And anothrr. 12/7.
But a great 50/22 by Biggar .
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My mistake . Italy line out
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Almost a try by Italy. Lack of suport and excellent last ditch defence by Wales.
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Got away with that somehow.
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Might be a try here though.
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Still not convinced it wasn’t one.
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Well, its a surprise. Italy lead at HT 12/7 with a real opportunity to score at the last minute. Reflects rather well the first half.
I’d expect a hair drier incident in the Welsh locker room.
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Worryingly the last 15 were when Italy really did have the upper hand.
Tactically I think Italy’s gameplan is mainly based on the notion that Johnny McNichol is rubbish.
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Looks like Watkin managed to ground the non-try so the outcome was correct though perhaps for the wrong reason.
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Think we’ll win by 2 points leaving Italy wondering why they didn’t kick the penalty at the end of the first half.
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Cmw, I think the ref was correctly unhappy with the prior challenge in the air.
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Cmw, you’ll win this easily.
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Arghhh. The winger did so well, except for not passing.
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Yep, Ioane butchered a try.
And now Wales score a short range try!
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Well. I went for a walk when Italy were 6-0 up. Did not expect to come back to this.
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That was quite an impressive kick in-field, by the Italian 7.
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Fantastic counter attack by Italy!
What a support by the prop!
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Italy back in the lead, 14-15.
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Whatever Happens now I hope this ends all the chat about Italy being relegated
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Good by Adams for the score.
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Good try by Josh Adams. Italy ran out of gas about 10 minutes ago. Quite entertaining.
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I thought there was a forward pass, in the build up to the Wales try. Well done by Adams to score.
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Ulsterman on. Wales are bound to win now.
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OH MY GOD! Fab from Italy…!
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Oh. My. God!
That was an amazing run.
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It was incredibly smart to pass inside, to the winger, to get the better conversion kick.
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I cant spake!
So happy for Italy!
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Well deserved win. Forza Italia!
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Wow
Just wow
Well Done Italy
Forza
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Middle One laughing their socks off right now
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You are fucking kidding me. What a live wire
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Wow! FORZA ITALIA!
And err.. thank you 😊
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That little boy, Ange Cappuzzo, plays in ProD2 with Grenoble. Was recruited by Toulouse a couple of months ago. Some laughed, considering his size. I supposed the Toulouse guy had some experience with smallish wingers. The last one was Cheslin Kolbe.
What a finish!
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Take that, Predictor Bear. Whoopee fucking doo, that is a finish. Well deserved, too, I thought.
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Love Kayser as a commentator. The French public are chuffed about the team….
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Josh Adams gave his player of the match medal to Capuozzo
pure class
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Kind of ironic, Jiffy announces Adams as MoM, who immediately gives away a penalty, then 10yds for back chat, and rubs salt into Jiffys wounds by getting skinned by the young fella on the way to the try line.
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Predict-A-Bear very happy to have been wrong.
Hopes he’s going to be proved wrong in the next game.
Unlikely though.
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Class from Adams to give Cappuozo his MOTM medal.
Thaum, Keyser was commenting the Wales/Italy game for France 2. He was excellent as usual … and quite happy for Italy.
In very sad news, an ex player for Biarritz and Argentina, Federico Aramburu was shot dead last night after a brawl in front of a night club in the Latin Quarter. What a waste…
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BB – pfft.
Flair – I saw the news that he had died, but not how. How awful.
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Just seen that, Ticht, really nice touch.
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Middle One too nice for her own good and hasn’t taken full advantage. Or perhaps she just thinks there’ll be plenty more opportunities in the near future.
In the meantime I say SACK THE BEAR!
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‘Mon boys!
We can still finish third!
But more likely to finish fourth.
Let’s at least see if we can score a try or two (and hopefully Hoggy will hold onto the ball this time).
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Allez l’Ecosse.
Sorry, Thaum…
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That was the shortest Flowers of Scotland I ever heard
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Ach, those Scottish flowers get shorter every year.
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Oopsie-dropsies all over the park!
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(ps Flair, in the singular, ‘flower’ means the cream of the crop, the best.)
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This could be fun.
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