Can you feel it? That frisson in the air? No, it’s not fucking Phil Collins! (Don’t be an idiot.) Kick off your high-heeled stud boots; it’s party time. SIX NATIONS OPENING WEEKEND! WOOHOO!
The delectable anticipation, the raw hunger, the beautiful dream as yet undisturbed by some snot-nosed kids bringing your blissful reverie to a sudden and brutal end.
First up on the menu is a tasty treat in the form of a re-Gatted Wales against a McCloskey-powered Ireland. Roof is to be closed in Cardiff, apparently. Ominous.
Next up is England v Scotland. Can Scotland be Karl-like and pull it off again at Twickenham?
Finally, on Sunday, we have Italy v France. It would be surprising if Italy won, but could home advantage and perhaps a ref decision or two produce some drama?
So sit back and enjoy the anticipation! By the end of the weekend, half of us will be asking ¿Qué bandolera que eres tú?
Onna telly this week
Friday 3rd February
| Wales v Ireland (U20s) | 19:00 | BBC iPlayer / S4C |
| England v Scotland (U20s) | 19:00 | BBC iPlayer / RTÉ Player |
| Italy v France (U20s) | 20:00 | BBC iPlayer |
Saturday 4th February
| Sharks v Stormers | 12:00 | Viaplay Sports 2 / TG4 |
| Toulouse v Bayonne | 14:00 | Viaplay Sports 2 |
| Wales v Ireland | 14:15 | BBC1 / S4C |
| La Rochelle v Lyon | 16:00 | Viaplay Sports 2 |
| England v Scotland | 16:45 | ITV1 / RTÉ2 |
| Montpellier v Toulon | 20:00 | Viaplay Sports 2 |
Sunday 5th February
| Italy v France | 15:00 | ITV1 |
| Stade Français v Bordeaux | 20:00 | Viaplay Sports 2 |
Got to say that England look a lot more relaxed during the anthems than they did with Eddie in charge. Hope not too relaxed.
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I’m a fan of Faletau’s but he really did have a shit day at the office. Tipuric was poor too.
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Tipuric was poor too.
Yep.
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Dayglo on comms? *holds head in hands*
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@Thaum – Morgan seemed to be absent from the bit of the game that counted as well though he at least did come into it more later on.
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TRY Scotland!
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YESSSS!
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Well, that was a horrible, huge hole that Hugh Jones just cantered into.
And now he’s on the end of a nicely weighted grubber, for Scotland to open the scoring.
Git.
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Nice try. Big hole there.
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Refit – please call him by his proper name. Huge Owens.
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Was just thinking it’ll be a close game if everyone just keeps kicking it back and forth to each other when Scotland go and spoil it. Nice move from the lineout.
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Ref needs to start looking at the treatment Finn’s getting, after he kicks the ball way.
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Dayglo said he’s gone off?
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No, he’s still there. Good.
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Thought that Smith had over-cooked that kick for a second. Excellent take by Malins.
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Ok, on the slow-mo replay, that was a little bonkers of a score.
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Looked like a knock-on to us.
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Yeah, but you’re biased 😉
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Refit – might be. :-)
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WHAT A TRY!!!!
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McDuhan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Ok, how did Duhan do that?
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Jesus Christ!
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England defence is a little bit work-in-progress
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OT – genuine LOL at that.
I think The Middle One will be disappointed with Finn’s miss and subsequent grin.
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Something something bloody Saffa mercenaries something something. Quick for a big bloke, isn’t he ? Was thinking before the game that he hasn’t done much for a few games, and maybe Kinghorn should be in instead. Shows me.
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I’m not sure if they’re trying to use Ludlum as a screen, for kick returns, but he’s got in the way of his own players a few times now.
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On the England kit – I think the cut of the neckline might be the thing that really puts me off it.
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I think the kit’s okay. I’ve seen much worse.
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Bugger.
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I thought Ludlum was going to get greedy for a second there. Turned out to be a really good draw-and-pass instead.
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Was that forward ??
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Good game this.
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Dombrandt looking better for laying off the pies and pints.
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England seem to have invented this thing called “quick ball”. I wonder why nobody has ever tried it before
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Really some quite good attacking play going on here from both sides.
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That seemed like a very quick half.
Dayglo really does bring out the ABE in me. Apologies to all decent England fans.
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OT, there was a ten minute period there in the middle where VPF looked like he was transmorphing into Ben Youngs, and I was about to say that we might as well have Youngs, cos his kicking is better, then he woke up again. Nice, isn’t it ? Then Lolly pointed out that they were forcing one offload too many, and they stopped doing that as well. Chessum showing up nicely, Dombrandt going well, backs looking lively. Wow.
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I have all the time in the world for Jonny Wilkinson, though.
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Thaum – Dayglo sometimes brings out the same for me too.
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Good game this.
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@sbt
I think the rucks in general have been quicker. One of the Scottish tries came from a penalty from Itoje who wasn’t supporting his bodyweight. It was for a fraction of a second but there is no way that would have been penalised last year. Hope it continues.
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Think Dayglo’s bad? Dawson on the Beeb.
“Tremendous start to the Six Nations for England. Even when they went seven points down and maintained the style of play they wanted to. All credit to them.”
They’ve been good, don’t know about tremendous.
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Double bugger.
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Guys, the second half HAS started, you know.
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Oh dog, it’s gonna be horrible when Youngs comes on. Hope he’s been taking notes.
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Cheeky wee scrum-half!
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YESSS!!! Again!
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My heart was in my mouth there. Oh my poor heartses.
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Refit – are you a Time Lord?
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