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 |
@OT – yeah they are very similar moments. Personally I think the hands in both are suss, but I’d rather have the excitement of tries being scored than not, I suppose.
LikeLike
I feel we need to explain this to Expro again.
LikeLiked by 2 people
For me, Dombrandt’s miss on McDuhan for the best try ever represented the failings of England at the weekend. He ran some great lines etc, but should have stopped him by going lower. I hope they focus on the defence because there were times when we opened up like a pub team. Taking nothing away from Scotland but some of the tries were softly conceded. We needed to be way more aggressive in defence.
Oh, and Freddie is brilliant in attack in most games.
LikeLike
Ticht, Carlu Sadie is a huge man, decent scrummager, but not too much outside of that.
LikeLike
Our fourth try on Saturday reminded of the one in 2018 (the one with THAT pass). Going from one side to the other, long passes away from the rucks, a break up one wing, quick rucks, scoring over on the other wing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel we’ve all lost sight of one of the most important things about the weekend: McCloskey’s brilliance.
LikeLiked by 2 people
***Carlu Sadie update!***
Ticht, He apparently turned down a ‘lucrative’ overseas offer last year to focus on breaking into the Bok side in time for the World Cup, reasoning that he would get more exposure to the coaches playing locally. That ship seems to have sailed (for now), but at 25 he’s still young for a TH, so if he plays his cards right, 2027 could be his time? Frans Malherbe is 31 and Vincent Koch 32, so both will be on the overdone side by then. Others ahead of him in the pecking order at the moment are Big Trevor Nyakane (33) and Thomas du Toit, who at 27 is arguably approaching his prime. Neethling Fouche, who has been impressive for the Stormers is 30 already so may be out of contention as well, but Mornay Smith (24) is being touted as the next big thing at the Bulls.
***Update Ends!***
LikeLike
When I say ‘He’ it’s a typo, should be ‘he’. Haven’t quizzed a ‘He’ on eligibility or preferences as yet. Hope not to have the opportunity for a while yet too! Assuming it’s a ‘He’ at all. Or exists in a form in a conventional doctrinaire sense at all. This rabbit hole may not be one I can extricate myself from.
LikeLike
Henry’s Arundell and Slade back in camp for England; Jamieson Gibson-Park out for Ireland.
LikeLike
Saw Van der Merwe play for Edinburgh in Cork back in 2018 (we met Schmidt and Dougie that evening)
In a game where Edinburgh were well beaten, vdM scored too great individual tries from positions where you think …”ok, no worries… they’ll bundle him into touch…” – got to get his legs – he’s too strong in the upper body – once he got open, I wasn’t surprised he pushed off Dombrandt (now no-one did anything like a good job of getting his legs either)
LikeLiked by 1 person
On Ireland vs Wales – really difficult to know if Ireland eased off or Wales came roaring back. Certainly, the wonky throw from the line out after the penalty restart took a lot of momentum away.
No argument with the penalty restart – seen that late challenge on the try scorer too often – now as long as it’s consistently applied I’ll be happy (bit like Raynal penalising Foley). That said Porter did manage an amazing stop on Morgan, so maybe it was just the timing that was out.
Porter was a bit lucky with that tackle from the ground – maybe the attempted jump was taken as mitigation.
Murray did fine in place of Gibson Park – after his meltdown vs Aus in the autumn, seems like Murray and Casey are perfectly adequate replacements.
Overall, pretty solid performance – on what was a potential banana skin.
LikeLike
Trisk – should have gone for the legs innit.
LikeLike
Does anyone fancy writing an ATL before this weekend’s matches?
LikeLike
I could, but it would be devoid of facts, insight, analysis or pithy put downs. I know that qualifies me as a Graun rugby writer but I think you all have slightly higher expectations than that.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Watching the Delicate Sound of Thunder live concert. Not live, obviously, but dammit, it is to my mind the best Floyd concert of the lot. Poetry to music.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Mighty Choob has taken me to a concert at Royal Albert Hall fronted by Dave Gilmour and Richard Wright, with David Crosby and Graham Nash in support. Long live AI and creepy algorithms.
LikeLike
Royal Albert Fucking Hall according to Adele. Loved that too. Very different to Pink Floyd, obviously, but she’s got guts and character and personality in spades, in addition to a kick arse voice.
LikeLike
Well, Deebs, I don’t see anyone else rushing to volunteer. Flair or Trisk on Ireland v France, or an Englishperson on their chances against an Italian side that so nearly beat France, or a Scot on whether they can beat an AWJ-less Wales, or indeed a Welshman or Middle Daughter on the other perspective, would all be good, but I am positive that any composition of thine own would actually fulfil the criteria you mention. Especially the pithy put-downs.
I saw the Floyd live three times. Two of them were the same tour, with Waters and the brought-out-of-storage giant floating animals, and one without Waters. Waters is a bit of an arse but he’s definitely the brains of the outfit. Gilmour is an excellent foil to him.
LikeLike
Does anyone fancy writing an ATL before this weekend’s matches?
Going to Dublin tomorrow – so will try to use the time on the train to put a few words together….
LikeLike
Cheers, Trisk!
I feel that I abuse Deebee’s talents.
LikeLike
Thanks fuck Trisk! You’re a good man.
Signed, An Abused Anonymous Worker.
Aluta Continua!
LikeLike
Am hiding Thaum. Absolutely terrified.
LikeLike
But this is funny, Shirely it can’t happen.
LikeLike
You’re hiding Thaum? Is this an abduction?
And no, Thauma, you don’t abuse my, ahem, talents, cough, they’re happily contributed.
LikeLiked by 2 people
@Craigs – Steward brilliant in attack… Really? He’s not a playmaker, isn’t very quick and doesn’t have a step or swerve. OK he’s strong so handy from a few yards out, but what am I missing?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Deebs – Yes I am! Yes it is!
LikeLike
Don’t worry. I’ve escaped Craigs’ evil clutches.
LikeLike
Craigs abduction has imploded faster than a Dan Cole scrum!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought Cole went pretty well last weekend actually.
LikeLike
Dab – no step?
LikeLike
And yeah, he’s strong
LikeLike
Really strong
LikeLike
30 points for England in 17 games. I saw a stat somewhere about his try assists but can’t find it. Does anyone know a good site for this?
LikeLike
Fuck, posted the same bloody try twice. Allow me:
LikeLike
Ah cheers Craigs. Maybe I was talking bollocks then? Huh. Not like me!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pro pleasing moment in this analysis at about 9mins 30 secs in when Squidge says that Ireland are the best in the world at cheating but getting away with it:
LikeLike
Dab – he’s been one of our best players recently so I was a little surprised.
LikeLike
@Craigs – I just thought of him as excellent in defence, hadn’t clocked quite how effective he has been in attack (and was miffed when his tackling was rubbish on Saturday).
LikeLike
Should be amusing
LikeLike
Thaum, I’m having all sorts of troubles posting here, loging in or not, from my phone or my computer. Most posts simply don’t appear, others much later. Sent you an email about it a few days ago.
Hope this one shows up but I won’t take the risk of writing a lenghty ATL , probably inaccurate anyway, for fear of losing it.
FWIW, I think Ireland will win with the BP, Scotland and England just by a score, France being the only team without a BP.
LikeLike
I’ve responded to your email, Flair. Sorry about your troubles! Let me know if it works.
LikeLike
Test
LikeLike
Let’s see: Ireland by 12
Scotland by 6
England by 4
LikeLike
Again:
Ireland by12
Scotland by 6
England by 4
LikeLike
Argh!
LikeLiked by 1 person
OT – how about no?
LikeLike
Dab – the defence was crap across the team tbh.
LikeLike
Flair – well, nothing is going into spam now, at any rate!
LikeLike
Thanks Thaum. I did the whole thing again, changed password etc… It’s still a bit slow, as if my posts went to moderation but it works. Too bad I have little to add to our experts, Deebee and Squidge in particular.
LikeLike
Good to hear! I’m sure everyone who wants one (and some who don’t) will have a chance at an ATL.
LikeLike