The French are coming, you say? Jesus, Mary Joseph and the wee donkey.
Ireland vs France tomorrow is – in the view of many people – the match to decide the destination of the 6 Nations championship and put the winners on course for a Grand Slam. These are not so common in Irish rugby history to be sniffed at, so while other nations experiment with an eye on the autumn’s RWC, Ireland keep with the tried-and-tested and changes are very much enforced. Sheehan’s hard autumn and winter has finally caught up with him, so Herring gets a chance with the returning Kelleher looking over his shoulder. Bealham continues in place of Furlong.
Ireland had a nice tune up last week – as they say in GAA circles “to blow out the dirty petrol” in preparation for sucking diesel. The game vs Wales was won to all intents and purposes after 30 mins. Wales fought back after half time but Ireland – if not completely at ease – rode out the storm and closed the game out with a BP try. In many ways, reminiscent of Ireland’s trip to Paris in 2022: in command at half-time, France rode out Ireland’s 2nd half comeback and won comfortably enough.
France had a nasty scare last week and any complacency is probably now long dispelled – so we can assume no chance for Ireland to catch France cold. It could also be said that given the big changes in the Welsh panel that maybe the win last week wasn’t as impressive – did Gatland really decide to let this one go and give AWJ and Tipuric a farewell at home before making changes for the remainder of the tournament? Who knows? Maybe we overthink these things.
The big doubt about Ireland, expressed in many places, is that their “kryptonite” is a big pack. Leinster have come unstuck repeatedly against big packs (La Rochelle x 2 and Bulls) and the signing of Jason Jenkins was intended to give them a heavier presence. Ireland won out vs South Africa in the autumn, but they lucked out with SA’s choice of experimental halfbacks and no reliable kicker. So the jury remains out. Beirne and Ryan are not a traditional type of second-row pairing, and in many ways Beirne is something of a hybrid. Many would put him at 6, and have Henderson, who is more of a traditional second row – to bring heavyweight ballast. Of course, back row is where Ireland are pretty well stocked, so the question then becomes how to fit in a player with Beirne’s gifts into the team and not disturb a settled and effective backrow.
On the other games, Scotland followed last year’s win over England with a fairly dreadful performance against a Wales team that had been soundly defeated by Ireland – and here we are again. Lightning doesn’t strike twice, does it? Scottish fans will hope not and that they can build on the promise of last week. Huw Jones looks to back to the form of 2017/2018. Wales will be looking to start a bit quicker and maybe still be competitive at half-time. The regions had shown an upswing in the matches in the weeks running up to the 6N, notably the Ospreys in the Heino.
England vs Italy – England have tended to make hard work of this in recent years but they were forewarned by the Italy / France game. One would expect a backlash from last week’s defeat from England.
From the crystal ball of Mystic Triskaidekaphobia
Onna telly this week
Friday 10th February
| England v Italy (U20s) | 19:00 | BBC iPlayer |
| Scotland v Wales (U20s) | 19:15 | BBC iPlayer / S4C |
| London Irish v Northampton | 19:45 | BT Sport 3 |
| Ireland v France (U20s) | 20:00 | BBC iPlayer / RTÉ2 |
Saturday 11th February
| Ireland v France | 14:15 | ITV1 / RTÉ2 |
| Scotland v Wales | 16:45 | BBC1 / S4C |
Sunday 12th February
| Exeter v Sale | 13:00 | BT Sport 3 |
| England v Italy | 15:00 | ITV1 / RTÉ2 |
Ovally Balls 
oh, one thing that is true, though.
Javan Sebastian to Embra from Scarlets next season – at least we got something from them.
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Why would ‘they’ replace Toonie just when he’s got the side playing great rugby, challenging all and sundry at the top table? Besides, we know that the SRU wouldn’t pay for a bloke like Leon MacDonald – it’s Scott Johnson for you and be bloody grateful!
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Beating, rather than challenging so far this year. Hope they thump the Wallabies in the WC final!
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Hope they thump the Wallabies in the WC final
Last minute 50 metre pen from Ben Healy ….
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TBF Deebs, we haven’t played against the good sides yet. That starts to change on Sunday. Win that one and I might just about begin to possibly believe that we might have a good 6N.
Only to then get stuffed by Ireland and lose to Italy……
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In defence of the Ashton Youngs and Brown video clip earlier, whilst it is truly terrible, and the song has been far better covered by other bands/artists, it is also filmed around 1972, so it may not quite hold up in comparison to more polished performances by more modern day artists.
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Also, odd that Manu has to go to tackle school as well, seeing as he was the tacklee, not the tackler. Wonder if he will have to practice stiff arming a bunch of head high tackle merchants who are also on the naughty step.
Another point of interest as mentioned by Flats on highlights show last weekend, Matt Banahan is now a citing commissioner.
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TBF Deebs, we haven’t played against the good sides yet.
Ouch! Glorious win at HQ followed by a shellacking of Wales? No more underdogging.
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I half hope Scotland win in Paris on Sunday, giving them a real shot at 6N glory and boosting their confidence before the WC. France are knackered (they won’t be though, come the WC) and it’d be great if the pool of death could live to its reputation. Scotland kicking SA out of the WC would be fun, sorry Deebee, its other people’s turn
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“Another point of interest as mentioned by Flats on highlights show last weekend, Matt Banahan is now a citing commissioner.”
Poacher turned Gamekeeper.
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Flair, sounds like you might have the basis for a good weekend preview article there? ;-)
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Flair, it’s going to be a huge step up for the Scottish pack, even without the immovable object in the scrum that is Atonio – he never seems destructive but he also never goes back – I’m not sure we have the firepower up front to get on a level footing and make it a contest about who has the best strategy in attack and the best way of executing that strategy.
We are still without Darcy Graham, and as well as Steyn has played, Scotland’s pool is not nearly as deep as the other countries, when we lose a player of Graham’s ability it does harm us.
Our selection at 7 is going to be interesting, as it will be for the World Cup, Watson is back playing but Edinburgh were hammered at the weekend and he didn’t turn things around at the breakdown, from the accounts I’ve read anyway.
The fact that Sam Skinner was retained by Scotland last weekend suggests we might go for a 6:2 split on the bench – Chris Harris has only played the last five minutes of the two tests so far, Blair Kinghorn would cover 10, 11, 14 & 15. Steyn would cover the centres from the wing and Horne would cover 9.
That would mean us being able to refresh 6 of the 8 up front and bring on a big abrasive carrier on the blindside of the scrum.
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Thrown down the gauntlet there Flair! For me, the Boks could go all the way as easily as they could blow out in the groups or QF, I think it’s that tight. Assuming we have a full strength squad (as much as you can), I think we’ve got a very strong side this year, one that started clicking and ticking boxes last year, without actually making too many people sit up and take notice. Gonna be a cracker.
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Wales v England definitely on…
For now at least
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Glad to see that (crossed fingers). It’s one of the great fix on the calendar.
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Thaum, thanks for the offer but it will have to be another time. Am in the Basque country for a few days, visiting friends and family. That means no spare time, I might even miss one or two of the 6N games. Hopefully not on Sunday.
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Poacher turned Gamekeeper.
Exactly that, TIcht. Especially where Manu is concerned, as Big Matt pretty much trademarked the extending forearm smash fend, and was particularly good at keeping the arm flat against the body until the last split second. Where young Tuilagi got it wrong was he already had his arm well away from the body as he extended, so it looked a lot worse. Seem to remember Banahan flooring maybe Kelly Brown like that ?
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Yep.
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Flair – trust a Frenchman to have a life!
Anyone else fancy an ATL?
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I am loving this new cryptobro version of Brian Moore.
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Also, is anyone seeing what I’m seeing when they look at this?
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No, it’s just you Craigs.
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Deebs – glad you know what I’m seeing but not see what I’m seeing. Important skill that.
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Craigs, I’m colour blind. All I can see is a bland background picture. What am I missing?
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Deebs – weirdly you would fail a Rorschach test.
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Craigs and Deebee, I assume you haven’t seen the Paris Olympic games 3D mascot then? It’s called the Phryges, in case you’d like to google it. It is SFW, but just.
Awaiting your comments with mucho gusto.
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Flair – that’s some of the weirdest marketing I’ve ever seen. Surely a mascot should reflect something about the event. These look like walking Sorting Hats.
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Cheating Paddies (per Expro, not me) > heroic Italians (again, Expro’s words, not mine) by 30 to 50
Gentry > valley paupers (OK those are my words) by 10 but it could go the other way.
Macron’s meanies > Sturgeon’s scamps by 5. Game of the weekend. Could also go the other way. Scotland could be on for a slam come Monday.
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Craigs……….. you need to get a hold of yourself
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Thinking of a better day:
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Slade – Karl.
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weirdly you would fail a Rorschach test
Nothing weird about that! I’ve failed plenty harder tests than a piddly Rorschach.
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Thauma, mail.
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Chiefs just walloped the Crusaders on their own patch 31-10. Scott who?
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And in other powder-puff stuff, the Tahs and Brumbies are 10 each after 25 minutes and 30 collapsed scrums. May have made that last bit up, only saw one, but only watched for 1 minute.
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Brumbies run out 31-25 winners in the end.
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What counts as a blog steal these days? Or has everyone moved somewhere else? Feeling a bit paranoid about this. Maybe need to do a Rorschach test to reassure myself.
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calm yourself – Uk and Eire citizens are under great stress.
Anyway, rugby soon!
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My mate has just spotted Tom Curry in Altrincham walking a dachschund.
No further details at this point.
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How d’you know it wasn’t the dachsund’s twin?
New post in the offing.
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New post is here.
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