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 
First match of the season, our two warm-ups were cancelled.
LikeLike
Apparently not just my school rugby that’s been tossed. So,
England centres, eh?LikeLike
Well, Manu’s fit (for today at least).
LikeLike
Faz is back playing soon, so who goes, Slade or Marchant ? Or will Smith get dropped for ruining Englands 6 Nations campaign, while Eddie reverts to Ford and Faz at 10 and 12, or will Faz go back to 10, and if so, which centre pairing works best ? Manu and Joseph were quite a good pairing, if Joseph is no longer in the picture, is Marchant a like for like replacement, assuming that Manu will be fit again before too long, or can Sladey work with Manu? Is Daly done?
Good game, this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When is the squad for the Australia tour announced ?
LikeLike
https://vimeo.com/220532731
Password: exi123FR
Thaum, I hope this is OK.
A good friend of mine, Juan Francisco Urrusti, a Mexican filmmaker, made this film about his 4 grand parents, who had to emigrate from Spain to Mexico in 1936, as they were fighting against the fascists, the franquists, if you prefer. It’s in Spanish, with French subtitles. There is some stunning archive material, lots of resonance with Ukraine obviously. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
You’re free to delete it, or send the link to whoever you want, as Juan couldn’t get a distributor in Europe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LikeLike
Terrible story: https://www.the42.ie/police-arrest-suspected-killers-of-argentine-rugby-star-aramburu-5719468-Mar2022/
LikeLike
flair, thanks for the link. I’ll watch that when I have some time. There’s an ok book by Henry Kamen about the Spanish diaspora that covers the story and more than 3,000 Basque children went to the UK in 1937, some of their stories are heart-rending. But it’s important that all of these stories are told.
LikeLike
Cheers, Tomp.
Galthié revealed he and Ibanez have been offered to coach the British Baabaas (not after the 6N but right after the win over the ABs) vs England on June 19th. They’ve been asked to select Kruis, Danny Care, Finn, Laumape, Cheslin Kolbe, Radradra,
the rest will come from France.
LikeLike
Japan qualify for the World Cup! Beating Australia in Sydney! I wonder if this portends anything for the actual, you know, rugby world cup?
LikeLike
DeeBee
Aidon Davis joining Exeter from Cheetahs – any good?
p.s. Jack Nowell out for rest of season with broken bone in arm
LikeLike
Tel Aviv Heat update:
They’ve taken a lot of players to Pretoria to play some club teams and lost all games played so far. Loads and loads of South African lads turning out for Israel’s finest, including Scottish-qualified Marc Morrison. My favourite named player is Vitali Primark. The Pretorian club sides have a fair few familiar names as well if you followed Vodacom Cup action and Pretoria schools rugby 4 or 5 years ago,
LikeLiked by 1 person
Known as Penney in Ireland (and pronounced “pinny”)
LikeLike
Slade, was promising as a junior, but has never really made an impact at senior level. Dependable without being a blockbuster signing.
LikeLike
Not sure winding up the Russians by calling all their Vitalis Penny is the best idea, I’ve noticed that they can be prone to overreacting.
LikeLike
Deebs – sounds like a classic Exeter improvement job in the making.
Be interesting to see how he fits in with Kirsten and Vermeulen, both of whom he knows from SA U20s days.
LikeLike
Exeter losing Hill, Skinner and Lonsdale from the engine room. They have some very good but young 2nd rows who will benefit from some additional grunt/mongrel in the back row. Plus, Don Armand gets no younger!
LikeLike
Slade, Kirsten and Vermeulen are a notch above, but they can probably drag him up a level. And let’s face it, it’s not like he’s facing the harsh demands of the URC.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Slade, was promising as a junior, but has never really made an impact at senior level.”
Well I enjoy his posts. And some of the things he’s said on here suggest he might be getting on a bit.
LikeLiked by 4 people
watch it, you Pongo………………………
LikeLiked by 1 person
Everyone knows football’s a better sport. What a player that Bale is.
Bet the Italian cricket team are doing shite at the moment as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Inconsistency in refereeing is not helping rugby. In the Canes-Maona match, the Canes 10 went low into a tackle, but let the player go, flying over him and landing on his neck/head area – no effort made to complete the tackle safely, and only a penalty? 7-7 early in the second half, by the way.
LikeLike
Match ended 24-19 to Moana. Great result for Moana Pasifika. That’s a bit of a shock, but hopefully it means that these new sides are starting to gel.
LikeLike
“watch it, you Pongo”
Needed a dictionary to discover that this was a marvellous piece of apeist abuse from a member of the senior service. I was impressed.
LikeLike
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it could also be a canyon or gorge in South America especially cutting through a ridge or mountain range.
LikeLike
Pongo is one of the 101 Dalmations, isn’t he?
Onna nuther note, Embra seem to be enjoying themselves in South Africa, Mike Blair playing rope-a-dope in the shuttle runs
LikeLike
Fascinating, if true:
France only trailed their opponents for a total of 13 minutes throughout the entire tournament. That happened in the opening game of their campaign, against Italy, and once they hit the front against the Azzurri in the 34th minute they never trailed again.
LikeLike
LikeLike
Sharks – 15 Anthony Volmink, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Gerbrandt Grobler, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Khuta Mchunu, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 James Venter, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Boeta Chamberlain.
LikeLike
Also true is that if you were ahead at half time you won the game in this year’s 6 Nations.
LikeLike
6-2 split on the bench from the Sharks, ticht. Buthelezi’s a very decent player.
8 Boks in the XXIII and Grant Williams has been an uncapped squad member.
LikeLike
“6-2 split on the bench from the Sharks, ticht. Buthelezi’s a very decent player.
8 Boks in the XXIII and Grant Williams has been an uncapped squad member.”
Great, we can expect a shellacking, then. Our form away from home has been rubbish, we’ve beaten Dragons and Zebre away in the leagues, and (this is oh so Edinburgh) Saracens away in the Cup.
Ourbackline is a Darcy Graham short of first choice. It’s very quick, Kinghorn is the quickest in the Scotland squad and Owsley makes him look almost pedestrian. Lang is the only non-flier.
The pack on the other hand is missing the starting front row, the starting second row and two of the starting back row.
Luckily I won’t be able to watch it live, I’ll record it and watch it if it isn’t a ridiculous scoring against us.
LikeLike
Another back row star in the making, courtesy of the Cheetahs. I’ve watched him at both Varsity Cup level and for the Cheetahs, and he’s great fun!
https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/curriecup/cheetahs-rave-over-currie-cup-sensation-mihlali-mosi-on-par-with-evan-roos-and-the-likes-20220325
LikeLike
Right, that’s me for the day at the office. Off to drink some win, stick a slab of meat on the fire and roar as the Lions dine on delicate Welsh birdlife.*
*I’ve just jinxed them, haven’t I? Or is it a reverse jinx based on the Lions being jinxed because I support them in the first place?
LikeLike
ticht, if your lads are getting a beating, just enjoy the pronounciation of Reniel Hugo’s surname.
LikeLike
Lions 45-15 in the end. 14-3 at the break, but one-way traffic in the last 15 minutes or so. Some great hands and interplay by the Lions, hope we can keep this side together for a couple of seasons.
LikeLike
When I say that, I’d like the Lions to develop this squad for a couple of years. Lots of potential, needs a bit of stardust, but we’ve got some really good talent coming through.
LikeLike
Friends
This is a top concert of covers:
https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/106845-000-A/dave-gahan-soulsavers/
LikeLike
Under 20s is where it’s at, Deebee. Check out the score from Emirates Park today.
LikeLike
Taylor Hawkins deid.
LikeLike
So long and thanks for the easy listening:
LikeLike
Hmm. These Stormers appear to be a pain in the arse.
LikeLike
Fucking hell. Getting hammered.
LikeLike
TRY Ulster at last (after some sustained pressure)!
Stormers were 14-0 at 7 minutes. Scary stuff.
14-7 now at 23 mins.
LikeLike
Stormers just got away with the squintest line-out throw I’ve ever seen.
LikeLike
Few penalties traded. 20-13 at HT.
LikeLike
Ridiculous. Stormers’ 14 clatters Lowry around the head in the tackle, and it’s only a scrum restart because Lowry was allegedly ‘ducking’.
LikeLike
Your starting point should be a red because of a swinging arm to the head. You might mitigate it to yellow under the circs. But not even a penalty? Fuck off.
LikeLike
McCLOSKEYYYYYY!!!
LikeLike