With a Welsh strike narrowly averted, minds can concentrate
In golf, the 3rd round is known as the Moving Day (or some such), when those in contention put down a marker, thunder up the leader board and peer imperiously down at the chasing pack before the Sunday finale. This Could Be That Weekend in the Glorious Six Nations! Northern Hemisphere rugby is in rude health at the moment, with Ireland France at the top of the global pile, Scotland playing their best rugby in years, Italy threatening to make the 6N a real thing and England and Wales rebuilding (apparently). It is a fabulous feast fit for a Fürst (yeah, stretching it, I know)!
Guinness Pie over Ossobuco alla Milanese by 18.
FD always blathered on about a return to the mean in rugby. Well, Ireland have made six changes to their side, but remain mean, rather than returning to it. Perhaps a little light in the front row, although that didn’t stop them from bashing France with barely a glimmer of a smile (unless they were laughing uncontrollably, just to tick all the Expro boxes, sans the jumps). Casting an eye over the side, there’s no real weaknesses at all and you’d expect that a settled squad with sprinklings of stardust and oozing all-round quality will have too much for an Italy side exposed by England last week. Italy have the capacity to play wonderful flowing rugby, but if they’re dragged into a dogfight, their bark is a whimper and their bite wouldn’t dent overcooked pasta.
Yorkshire Pudding over Leek Soup by 4.
Frankie Goes to Hollywood gave us the searing inshite that when two sides go to war, one of them will shoot and score. This match may well disprove that as stodge splashes into gloop. An England that managed to bully Italy off the park won’t have it all their own way against a Wales side looking to poke the blazers in the eye. Wales’ travails may soon be mirrored across the Afon Gwy with the looming threat of mass exodus (and not in a wonderful Bob Marley style) as cash-strapped English sides lose their stars. It won’t impact this weekend, although Tipuric and Faletau may do that in an effort to strangle any English ambition in the backs. Wales have 2 caps in the midfield (where’s Manu when you need him? Oh.) which could spell danger and have brought back a heap of blokes we all thought were out to pasture. No new coach bounce for them, or even a dead cat bounce. Just the sorrowful sound of soup splattering the sidewalk.
Coq au Vin over Neeps and Tatties by 8.
A rich and satisfying French dish to prevail over a Scottish offering still missing a bit of Haggis to round it all off. France were out-muscled and out-thought in Dublin a fortnight ago, but aren’t the first and won’t be the last to suffer that fate at the Palindrome against a mighty Irish side. It should be the match of the round, with both sides capable of scoring end to end tries; both with strike runners and support play that makes them dangerous from anywhere on the field. Scotland know that a Famous Win in Paris will put them tantalisingly close to a first Championship this century and even the possibility of the holy grail of a Grand Slam, albeit with Ireland still to come. Crunch time for them – can they keep their heads whilst all around them are losing theirs, or will the guillotine cut them down to size? France too know that a loss puts them out of realistic contention of retaining their crown and keeping the momentum towards the World Cup later this year: time for a splash of champagne, a slug of cognac and some (legal) magic potion to see off the pesky Picts.
The Gospel according to St. Deebee7
Onna telly this week
Friday 24th February
| Italy v Ireland (U20s) | 19:00 | BBC iPlayer / RTÉ2 |
| Wales v England (U20s) | 19:15 | BBC iPlayer / S4C |
| Bath v Bristol | 19:45 | BT Sport 2 |
| France v Scotland (U20s) | 20:00 | BBC iPlayer |
Saturday 25th February
| Sharks v Ulster | 12:00 | Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Lions v Glasgow | 14:10 | Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Italy v Ireland | 14:15 | ITV1 / RTÉ2 |
| Wales v England | 16:45 | BBC1 / S4C |
Sunday 26th February
| Exeter v Sale | 13:00 | BT Sport 1 |
| France v Scotland | 15:00 | ITV1 / RTÉ2 |
Ovally Balls 
Great stuff Deebs and Thaum – thanks
If the weather is good I think all your predictions are too conservative – but what do I know??
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Apparently neeps might be all we have to eat, according to a certain idiot, sorry, government minister.
Would love us to win, sadly I don’t think we will.
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BB, I backed France out of cowardice and history, but if the bones fall in Scotland’s favour, they’ve got enough to get over the line. Just depends on not being rash and forcing the game, probably absorbing a shit load of pressure and making sure you take your chances. No pressure.
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And so to the baby leeks vs the miniature Yorkshire puds. All to the backdrop of Sisters of Mercy and red wine.
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BB – Crace has done a good number on said idiot this week.
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Deebs – you are describing our own evening, except substitute Sisters of Mercy for spicy lamb stir-fry.
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Sisters delivering. Rugby not so much. Slightly scrappy start before Wales almost get over! They’ve a scrum 5m out. Christ the Welsh front row look half the size of England’s, but have coped so far. Even got a slight nudge on there before the ref decided neither side at fault for the break up. Joy Division providing the backdrop to Wales futile attempt to rumble over. They walked away in silence in the end
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England TH over but held up – very well done in the tackle . A couple of phases later and it looks like England have scored in the corner. Ref and assistant first have to sort out the scuffle, then my dodgy feed drops. It’s good!
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0-7 as The Cult try to sell Sanctuary to Wales. Not sure the lead singer had ever seen the sun! Oh England! A great move off the base of the scrum out wide but the final pass is way behind the receiver, who was probably away otherwise. Another breakdown penalty to England. Kick to the corner, some risible tackling and Joseph Woo-* the 12 is over!
* rest of his name obscured by the invitation to contact the semi-naked lady a mile away. The price one pays for entertainment, eh?
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Thauma, we had a braai under breathless skies and now Miley has somehow infiltrated the thread with her version of Jolene. Wales score at the same time with an outrageous back of the hand pass all the way to the wing. 7-12. England respond almost immediately with a lovely move through the hands. 7-17 as the conversion drifts wide like smoke on a good fire.
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And another. England too powerful and precise for Wales. Springsteen saying he’s tougher than the rest now. Don’t think he’s faced this England pack! 7-22 with three conversions missed.
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Bowie enters the fray with a live version of Heroes. Wales could do with a couple right now.
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Watching FEOF* against Brizzle. Lots of endeavour, lots of attacking threat, lots and lots of mistakes.
*Future Employers Of Finn.
As I type, Refit’s Men score!
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Deebs, Always Crashing in the Same Car might be more appropriate. For both sides. English player earns his third yellow in four matches, and Wales get a penalty try.
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Spicy lamb sounding like a great idea for a late night post red wine snack. Wales kick to the corner. Skipped Black Betty whilst the ref looks at a possible deliberate knock on from a cross kick. Tricky one this. Well! Penalty try Wales and yellow card England on half time! 14-22 and Guns ‘n Roses will provide the half time entertainment with an extended version of November Rain.
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Ha! Yes it would be. Wales seem a bit timid, keeping it close without much reward.
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Alana Myles sneaks in with Black Velvet at half time. She’s no Rihanna, but it’s a great pool playing, beer swilling, dingy pub song!
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it’s a great song, in the way you describe. I’m not really familiar with that Rihanna.
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Great Welsh tackle to save what looked like a certain try!
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I’m just happy to see Bristol on the TV for a change.
Barf pull one back. 7-all after 33 mins.
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Wales almost over after the restart, but England turn it over deep in their 22, give it air and itsall over as the English wing scorches down the touchline – but a fantastic covering tackle dislodged the ball as he was going over! A ouple of phases later and Wales are in attacking mode. But the hooker baulks at the lineout and scrum England! 4 Non-Blondes demand to know what’s going on.
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Ooh, and Bristol almost score straight from the restart – Francis is charged down by Naulago, who regathers, but is adjudged to have knocked on trying to pass it to Thacker (who dotted down under the posts).
We wuz robbed! The winger tipped it forwards, but then knocked it back before it hit the ground. The moral victory is ours!
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I (mostly) like your playlist, Deebs.
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10-7 to Bath at half time.
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YouTube is giving me Cuts You Up by one Peter Murphy now. It’s what Wales aren’t doing. Cough up a penalty from a speculative bomb 30m out and front. Easy 3 points. Easy peas. 14-25. Eagles make an appearance. Love letting YouTube meander.
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Refit, I’d like Brizzle to win even though Bath as a town has a special place in my heart. Great place!
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Thauma, Playlist is a largely just letting it meander, with the odd skip. Might force a bit of Floyd into it though.
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This is quite a decent match! Wales really fighting back in the second half. Still need 12 points to get ahead, mind.
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Deebs – hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way.
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BREAKING McCLOSKEY NEWS!
Aki had been put in to start against Italy with McCloskey on the bench, but Ringrose is not fit to start, so we are having our Stu at 12 and Aki at 13.
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Wales have been much better so far this half, but crucially miss a penalty to touch. Get the scrum in midfield on England’s 22 though. Ah, hell that’s a great score! Dominant scrum, the hero 9 takes it off the back, splits the defence and offloads to the glory boy winger! 21-25 with 20 to go and Wales are right back in this!
New Order lurch into view as England score in the corner. Blue Friday, not Monday, for Wales after having worked so hard to get back into the match.
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ireland U20s have let the Italians get 22 points to their 34.
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There was a certain cadre of 80s band that I classified as ‘suffering idiots’. FGTH and indeed REM were very much in that cohort until, in the latter case, they brought out Losing My Religion, which I liked a lot. The opposite of I only liked their early stuff. That probably makes me uncool.
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Nah Thaum, I wasn’t a huge fan of REM’s early stuff. Bought the album Losing My Religion’s on, on the day Daughter 1 was born. She’ll be 32 this year.
Gulp!
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WTAF? Refs again talk themselves out of not just a red card, but any card at all.
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BB – 32?!! Fuck off. ;-)
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I KNOW I’m uncool! But then I’m a Prog fan, so…
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Back to the Cult. Singer keeps licking the mike. Gross. Back to Sisters! Wales still just about hanging in there. TMO looking at a head shot by England. Shouldercto head with no blame on the tackler, surely. Yip. World Rugby takes my view and it’s scrum to England
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Well, I like some Prog. It can go overboard.
The mister claims to hate Prog, but he’s a big Floyd fan (and also likes ELO, Queen, …) so it’s a case of slippery definitions.
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I had thought The The were suffering idiots until I (reluctantly) saw them live; they were brilliant.
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England power over in the corner again, but there’s a bit of afters which the ref seems to be ignoring.
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We’ve had this conversation before Thaum. Ask him how The Wall ISN’T Prog?
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Although Sarah McLachlan does an excellent cover of Dear God:
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BB – well, yes. It falls on deaf ears.
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Only have one The The album (Mind Bomb) which I ended up with accidentally when a mate of mine moved cities. Didn’t know the band, but love the album. Might go there now.
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BB, it’s Floyd, it’s beyond definition and pigeonholing. It’s just Pink Floyd.
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Italy 27 – 44 Ireland at FT.
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I’d argue that the Floyd’s earlier albums were their proggiest.
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Mrs Deebee is a huge Sarah McLachlan fan. Just Googled her (Sarah, not Mrs Deebee) and she’s exactly one day older than me! Exalted company indeed!
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I only own SM’s Fumbling Toward Ecstasy, but it’s a great album. What a voice! Possession and Good Enough are particularly outstanding.
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