Ireland v South Africa
With Bundee Aki in detention for being a bad boy and Robbie Henshaw pulling a hamstring in training, Stuart McCloskey is at last getting a start in a big game. Fellow Ulsterman Flying Robert Baloucoune also starts on the wing, with Rob Herring and Kieran Treadwell on the bench. Springboks better be careful! Ireland by 5 (McCloskey try).
Italy v Samoa
Hard to predict as I’ve no idea what Samoa’s form is like, but they may benefit from some poached players returning. Draw.
Scotland v Fiji
Fiji are never a side to be discounted, but a strong Scotland will do the business, even without Finn’s flair. Scotland by 15.
Wales v New Zealand
With half the first-choice starters injured (and Halfpenny currently an injury doubt too), this can only go one way. NZ by 38. (It would have been 48, but talisman AWJ is on the bench.)
France v Australia
France have rediscovered Gallic flair and are currently a truly frightening side to face. They are also hosting the World Cup next year, and will want to put on a good display. Wobblies are wobbly. France by 15.
England v Argentina
Eddie Jones has named a tired side, albeit with Marcus Smith at fly-half and a new bloke. As astutely pointed out by the notablog denizens, Billy Vunipola is unlikely to last more than 20 minutes. Argentina by 2.
Onna telly this week
Friday 4th November
| Northampton v Exeter | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
Saturday 5th November
| England v Canada (women) | 03:30 | ITV |
| France v New Zealand (women) | 06:30 | ITV |
| Scotland v Fiji | 13:00 | Amazon Prime |
| Sale v Gloucester | 13:00 | BT Sport 2 |
| Italy v Samoa | 13:00 | Amazon Prime |
| Wales v New Zealand | 15:15 | Amazon Prime |
| Ireland v South Africa | 17:30 | Amazon Prime |
| France v Australia | 20:00 | Amazon Prime |
Sunday 6th November
| Pau v Bordeaux | 14:10 | Viaplay (formerly Premier Sports) |
| England v Argentina | 14:15 | Amazon Prime |
Ovally Balls 
Slade here, being Slade
I have little objection to the selected individuals in the England backline but playing all together it looks a bit clunky.
Ribbans is a good player for me but is a penalty machine.
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ps thanks for posting all the info AtL – I hope McCloskey has a good one, he’s a top player.
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I’ve started using Brave (which is great) mainly as a result of my Google crashing. However, the change caused havoc in certain instances re=registering buggering up my WordPress account – now sorted.
More wisdom to follow after Exeter get humped by Saints!
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Cheers, Slade – I hope he has a good one too, and that I haven’t jinxed him.
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Exeter getting humped by Saints? I doubt it!
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I hope he has a good one too, and that I haven’t jinxed him.
Hope you have jinxed him. And Ireland. Hope my hoping doesn’t reverse-jinx it.
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Ha! That’s just what you’ve done! :-)
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Or have you?
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‘Argentina by 2’ for the lolz.
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Manu gets busted by sprinting apparently. Luckily he can score tries against anyone at a gentle pace as the footage below shows (best enjoyed with the sound off):
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I like that Irish centre pairing, Thaum, it’s potentially devastating, I think your lad McCloskey and Ringrose will complement each other very well, and I don’t just mean exchanging pleasantries.
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Slade, I’m told, ahem, that Brave is very good with a website that rhymes with vip sox sports streaming, the pop ups are kept at bay
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Craigs – well, yes. But the fuckers knocked out us out the world cup.
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Ire A v NZ A http://cricfree.live/live/sky-sport-nz-1
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ABs, or BBs are looking very strong, 7 points up after 19 mins but it’s one way traffic and you’d think once the defence tires the floodgates will open
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If you get a chance to see the ABs third try, do so, it’s the absolute definition of the counter attack from a mistake.
Ruthless.
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NZ’s fourth is ruled out because of a in-at-the-side ruck, for which the NZ player is binned for ten mins, seems. bit harsh to be fair, the contact was on the guy’s side
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Ireland get one back via Frawley, good try
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I switched over to Saint v Exeter but it’s not got the same pizzaz as the Ire ABs game so I think I’ll got back.
I wanted to see how Hutchinson was going and how the Scotland prospects Dingwall and Smith were playing
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Toonie has had talks with Fin Smith, or so they say, he is looking really quite assured as a young 10.
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Argentina team (15-1) to play England at Twickenham on Sunday (kick-off 1415 GMT):
Juan Cruz Mallia; Mateo Carreras, Matias Moroni, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Emiliano Boffelli; Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Bertranou; Pablo Matera, Marcos Kremer, Juan Martin Gonzalez; Tomas Lavanini, Matias Alemanno, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Julian Montoya (capt), Thomas Gallo
Replacements: Ignacio Ruiz, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Eduardo Bello, Lucas Paulos, Facunda Isa, Eliseo Morales, Tomas Albornoz, Matias Orlando
Coach: Michael Cheika (AUS)
Ooof. Argentina by 15
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Nah, don’t worry, SBT; Lavanini will see red.
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Watch the France-NZ women’s semi-final without knowing the outcome if you can.
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I’ve only just heard the story about Chris Farrell being sacked from Munster. He is being charged in France on a “non-prevention of crime” incident which involved a woman being raped.
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@Ticht
Fin Smith had a very good, calm game. Slotted all his kicks too.
Went off with cramp or a strain…..
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CMW, Both women’s semis were very good matches, the France-Kiwi one outstanding.
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So, Scotland v Fiji up first! I wonder which Fiji will pitch up? Hopefully the one that clicks from the word go and flings the ball about, busting tackles at will and scoring glorious end to end tries! That should keep the score respectable.
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‘Mon Scotland!
To save continual posting throughout the match, and in no particluar order…
FFS Scotland!
Yes!
Bugger!
Christ, these Fijians are bloody quick
FFS Scotland!
Not more bloody penalties.
Zander – keep the heid!
Bugger.
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And bugger off Amazon with your adverts just before kick off.
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Card inside a minute. Oh dear Fiji
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Yay!
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Please see numbers 3 and 4 from the list….
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Please see numbers 1 and 6 from the list.
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Fiji with ball in hand are spectacular! Love watching them in full flight!
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Number 1!
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Well, they made hard work of that.
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That’s better.
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Hastings just got the full Plisson treatment.
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McDuhan in!
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See what happens when we don’t give away stupid penalties?
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Fiji’s discipline is what stands between them being exciting and being a great side. Not just in terms of tackling, but basic disciplines such as scrums, lineouts and kicking.
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Well, my prediction was only one point off. Let’s hope the rest are also correct. (I’m not counting Italy v Samoa as I said I’d no idea.)
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I’ll take that second half performance. Play like that and we’ll be closer to the ABs. Play like the first half and we’ll get hammered.
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Ooof, Italy have totally creamed Samoa. 49-17
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Underwhelming from us, but I had high hopes for Murphy Walker and he was terrific in the scrums
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@Deebee – that France-NZ game was the most I’ve enjoyed a rugby match in ages.
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That’s about to change of course…
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Ok, I’ve only just noticed how Amazon are showing the team line-ups and it’s very confusing, They flip the forwards and back formations, so the numbering goes:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
15
11
14
13
12
10
9
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Cotter, Warburton & Shanks. Not a bad commentary team.
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Refit – Yanks. Always have to do things differently.
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