Being short of time as I’m travelling tomorrow, I have shamelessly stolen Deebee7‘s prognostications.
But first, I’m sure we can all rejoice that Stuart McCloskey has kept his starting place on the Ireland team with Aki relegated to the bench.
Your results for the weekend:
Tonga v Uruguay: Tonga by 14 – Tonga are enjoying playing against Spanish speaking sides, and will dish the pain once again!
Italy v South Africa: South Africa by 4 – Boks have had two narrow losses and will look to get their tour on the board, with four straight losses for the two sides so far. Bench to haul them over the line.
Wales v Georgia: Wales by 19 – good win for Wales last week and they’ll look to build on that (and cement their place in the 6N at Georgia’s expense).
Romania v Samoa: Samoa by 6 – just because I don’t have a clue, but Samoa seem to better at the moment.
Scotland v Argentina: Argentina by 3 – Did Scotland blow a gasket against the Kiwis last week? Argentina have some good scalps this year and will look to take a Scottish one on their own turf.
England v New Zealand: New Zealand by 9 – don’t think it’ll be a shellacking, but the Kiwis are cruising this November tour after a dodgy start against Japan.
Ireland v Australia: Ireland by 8 Aussies are one from three, but all their matches have been single point affairs so far. Ireland will put a bit of distance on the scoreboard, but not that much.
France v Japan: France by 24 Japan won’t be as bad as they were against England, but they also don’t have the ability to step up and close the gap that much either. France for win 13 on the trot and getting within touching distance of some serious records.
Onna telly this week
Friday 18th November
| Sale v Harlequins | 19:30 | BT Sport 1 |
Saturday 19th November
| Italy v South Africa | 13:00 | Amazon Prime |
| Wales v Georgia | 13:00 | Amazon Prime |
| Scotland v Argentina | 15:15 | Amazon Prime |
| England v New Zealand | 17:30 | Amazon Prime |
| Ireland v Australia | 20:00 | Amazon Prime |
Sunday 20th November
| France v Japan | 13:00 | Amazon Prime |
Ovally Balls 
What’re the odds that Eddie gets Aus to do the new fangled attacking system identified by Squidge in time for the RWC.
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Oh, this is amazing
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@refit
That makes my blood boil. I think I’m allergic to bullies and that is a prime example. Someone in the comments suggested Andy Powell should challenge Healey to a charity boxing match and see what happens. I agree.
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OT – lots of mentions, in the replies, of when Austin tried this with BOD, on a Lions tour.
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EJ to Australia…………………………..te-he!
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Just when you thought Healy couldn’t be more of a clown.
It’s a shame BT had paired him with Andrew Cotter because Cotter is good and worth listening to.
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Squidge should be allowed to nominate a champion like in GOT.
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That’s really shit tbh. He’ll have watched one of Squidge’s videos before saying that. This is as pathetic as Uwe Boll beating up film critics.
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England squad announced:
Forwards
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 95 caps)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks,1 cap)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 9 caps)
Ben Earl (Saracens, 13 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 43 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 72 caps)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks, 19 caps)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 8 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 62 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 96 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 14 caps)
George McGuigan (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 18 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 56 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 74 caps)
Jack Walker (Harlequins, uncapped)
Jack Willis (Toulouse, 6 caps)
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Backs
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 57 caps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 101 caps)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, uncapped)
Dan Kelly (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)
Max Malins (Saracens, 14 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 13 caps)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
Cadan Murley (Harlequins, uncapped)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 52 caps)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 17 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 50 caps)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 121 caps)
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Eddie back to Wobblyland! Will he be the Wizard of Aus, or the wizened old toz?
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England squad a mix of experience and fresh blood. I do think though that there’s 101 caps too many in the backs.
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Deebs – 222 Shirley?
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Would have had Rapava-Ruskin and one of Randall or Quirke in the squad. Maybe Marler and that Fin from Quins too.
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And Ribbans!!! FFS.
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I’m disappointed not to see Ollie Lawrence in the mix.
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Craigs – I think Ribbans is good too, but he plays for a losing team. Having said that Mitchell gets in who varies between excellent and crap during every game.
Apparently, Borthwick’s hands are tied as to who he can / cannot select – I don’t understand the criteria.
Sadly, Billy V and Joe Mare finished as internationals except probably for emergency one-offs.
Billy V because he is too predictable and Joe M because of his ‘difficulties’.
There is great potential in those backs (Steward almost a ‘senior pro’).
I’m glad McGuigan is in – a natural replacement for LC-D – and at least one Willis.
Fair play to Dan Cole but the props remain a worry.
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…….. and agree re R-V but perhaps he is not fit enough?
Randall? – er, no.
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Craigs, no I’m pretty happy that the other 121 caps are there, clogging up a spot quite nicely with only 8 or so matches to go to the WC!
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Jack O’Donoghue goes from hero to zero
enbded up getting to the game late – bad weather and worse driving, so spent a very long time looking for parking…
Arrived just in time to see O’Donoghue score the 2nd try and almost immediately get a red. At first – seeing it live – our thought was that Crowley’s tackle had Ribbans falling into O’Donoghue but the replay was bad…..
Kind of lost the way after half-time – similar to the away game – ended up playing with a lightweight lock (Beirne) and 3 back rows (Coombes, Hodnett, Kendellen) against a team with a 3 lock pack plus Ludlam.
Good game to tough out….
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Disappointed for May, he has hardly seen the ball for Glaws this year, and under Eddie was used almost exclusively as a kick chaser. His cover defence is excellent. Would be starting with him and Watson if fit, but hey ho. Hassell-Collins and Murley both deserve a shot. Mako really shouldn’t be in there , and Lawrence is unlucky, Manu lucky. Mcguigan and Blamire both need to improve their darts. Big Val is the form loosehead in the premiership, Marler the best scrummager.
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SBT – I think there is some kind of restriction on the changes that can be made. Just talk on the Graun but it would explain a few things.
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Craigs, I read elsewhere there is an agreement with the clubs regarding squad selection. Essentially Borthwick has to go with the squad already picked by Jones for the AIs, but he is allowed five changes.
However, he can swap players from the same club without the five being affected, so the example given elsewhere was that Daly can come in for Billy V without it counting as one of the five allowable changes.
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Trick, I thought Jack O’Donoghue was the potm in the previous round, he gets through so much work.
He was doing so again before the high shot saw him binned.
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auto correct
trick is of course Trisk
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Ticht – makes sense. I think he’s picked a relatively solid squad from what’s available.
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This is mental…
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I didn’t even know those were a thing.
What the actual fuck? I know most England supporters on here didn’t like Jones towards the end, but where is the logic in letting him go so close to the RWC and failing to prevent him (when they could easily have done so) going to one of our biggest rivals with all the information he needs to create a plan to stuff us. What the actual fucking fuck?
They’ll probably hold an investigation into everyone but themfuckingselves.
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WALES SQUAD etc FOR 2023 Guiness Six Nations
Forwards (20)
Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby 17 caps)
Wyn Jones (Scarlets – 45 caps)
Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 17 caps)
Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 8 caps)
Ken Owens (Scarlets – 86 caps), Captain
Bradley Roberts (Dragons – 3 caps)
Leon Brown (Dragons – 22 caps)
Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 67 caps)
Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 45 caps)
Adam Beard (Ospreys – 41 caps)
Rhys Davies (Ospreys – uncapped)
Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 1 cap)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys – 155 caps)
Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped)
Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 95 caps)
Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 6 caps)
Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 4 caps)
Justin Tipuric (Ospreys – 89 caps)
Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 3 caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 36 caps)
Backs (17)
Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 16 caps)
Rhys Webb (Ospreys – 36 caps)
Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 40 caps)
Dan Biggar (Toulon – 103 caps)
Rhys Patchell (Scarlets – 21 caps)
Owen Williams (Ospreys – 3 caps)
Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped)
Joe Hawkins (Ospreys – 1 cap)
George North (Ospreys – 109 caps)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 25 caps)
Keiran Williams (Ospreys – uncapped)
Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 44 caps)
Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys – 55 caps)
Rio Dyer (Dragons – 3 caps)
Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets – 97 caps)
Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 22)
Liam Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 81)
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Looks weak.
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Scotchland
Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Sale Sharks), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Simon Berghan (Glasgow Warriors), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Andy Christie (Saracens), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs), Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Cameron Henderson (Leicester Tigers), WP Nel, Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Javan Sebastian (Scarlets), Sam Skinner (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Ulster), George Turner (Glasgow Warriors), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh)
Backs: Chris Harris (Gloucester), Ben Healy (Munster), Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Huw Jones (Glasgow), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath) Stafford McDowell (Glasgow Warriors), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors), Cameron Redpath (Bath), Finn Russell (Racing 92), Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ben White (London Irish)
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Looks weak too. How is Coochie uncapped you cheeky feckers!!?!
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Well, that clarified that then, thanks Ticht. makes sense, in a sort of muddy RFU type way.
I also note that Faz is the captain, so England look forward to having all the refs set against us because of his insolent whining, as well as Eddie knowing all our best plays. Hmm.
Might have to take up supporting los Pumas.
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Good Grief!!!!
Dave Ewers to Ulster – you got a good one there, Thaum! Thanks very much!
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Slade – Exeter absolutely haemorrhaging players. What’s going on?
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Tight budgeting, I think. Plus, I have read elsewhere that Baxter is dreaming of repeating the previous success cycle. There are lots of potentially very good young players at the club. The feeling is more ‘look at us in 5 years time and praise/criticise then’. Baxter seems to be at the club for the long haul.
LC-D is very injury prone and replaceable
Nowell is past his sell-by date, sadly
Ewers is 32.
All three are club ‘characters’.
Leavers such as the above are all looking for a last ‘hurrah!’ before they have to give up – and who can blame them.
Hogg may be a financial burden difficult to shed.
Jonny Gray is a keeper, ditto Vermeulen, hopefully!
I don’t know about Slade but the recent movements may have made some restless.
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Slade – silly, what they need to do is run at a loss or get a rich superdaddy to come in and offer under the table business arrangements.
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Craigs, McConnochie is called up under the three years out rule – he has a full cap plus sevens caps for England.
I can’t see him getting a game, he would have done a few years ago when he was in very good form.
Darcy Graham is still injured since the Munster game, grrr, and Kyle Row has been out since his debut against Argentina last summer – acl in his case.
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I’d liked to have seen Hutchinson in the squad, alongside his team mate Dingwall.
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Craigs – what do you expect from west country yokel racists?
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……..I don’t believe I wrote that!
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Despite the toll of injuries, Galthié’s named a strong squad of 42 players for the 6N.
Mauvaka, Gros, Woki, Lucu, Couilloud, Danty, Vincent, Villiere, who would be starting or in any case in the 23 are all missing through injuries. So its the usual suspects plus a few new faces. I’ll post the squad as soon as I learn how to copy and paste.
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Let’s see if I can copy and pawte from the Midol website.
All in French, you lucky polyglots.
Le groupe des Bleus
Les piliers : Cyril BAILLE (Toulouse), Dany PRISO (Toulon), Reda WARDI (La Rochelle) ; Uini ATONIO (La Rochelle), Sipili FALATEA (Bordeaux-Bègles), Mohamed HAOUAS (Montpellier).
Les talonneurs : Gaëtan BARLOT (Castres), Teddy Baubigny (Toulon), Julien MARCHAND (Toulouse).
Les deuxième ligne : Bastien CHALUREAU (Montpellier), Thibaud FLAMENT (Toulouse), Romain TAOFIFENUA (Lyon), Thomas LAVAULT (La Rochelle), Paul WILLEMSE (Montpellier), Thomas JOLMES (Bordeaux-Bègles).
Les troisième ligne : Grégory ALLDRITT (La Rochelle), Alexandre BÉCOGNÉE (Montpellier), Dylan CRETIN (Lyon), François CROS (Toulouse), Anthony JELONCH (Toulouse), Sekou MACALOU (Stade français), Charles OLLIVON (Toulon), Yacouba CAMARA (Montpellier), Paul BOUDEHENT (La Rochelle)
Les demis de mêlée : Antoine DUPONT (Toulouse), Nolann Le Garrec (Racing 92), Léo COLY (Montpellier)
Les demis d’ouverture : Antoine HASTOY (La Rochelle), Matthieu JALIBERT (Bordeaux-Bègles), Romain NTAMACK (Toulouse).
Les centres : Julien DELBOUIS (Stade français), Gaël FICKOU (Racing 92), Emilien GAILLETON (Pau), Yoram MOEFANA (Bordeaux-Bègles), Pierre-Louis BARASSI (Toulouse).
Les arrières/ailiers : Romain BUROS (Bordeaux-Bègles), Melvyn JAMINET (Toulouse), Matthis LEBEL (Toulouse), Damian PENAUD (Clermont), Thomas RAMOS (Toulouse), Ethan DUMORTIER (Lyon), Louis BIELLE-BIARREY (Bordeaux-Bègles).
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Don’t know what happens. Copied and pasted the Midol website three times, doesn’t appear here.
You’ll see it soon enough, I guess..
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Also forgot Bourgarit, Demba Bamba and Verhaeghe among the injured. France will be missing 7 or 8 players who won the GS last year. A good opportunity for Galthié to bring in youngsters. And a couple of old horses.
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Sounds intimidating Flair! France definitely in a good space at the moment.
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Flair – your posts had gone to spam. I’ve approved one of them – scroll up for the French squad!
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Cheers Thaum.
Am glad France begin vs Italy. They always start slowly so it could be a banana skin but this group, although it has to include too many new faces at once for my liking, should have enough for the Italians.
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:-)
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