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 
Just seen the Haouas red card – in what universe is that not red these days? In the 70s you could get away with that, but not now.
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@cmw
Hornchurch CC are representing England in the latest version of the European Cricket League currently going on in Gibralter. I know some of them including the wicket keeper. Take a look at this – he thought the ball was dead. What do you think? I don’t think it was. I’ll ask his opinion next time I see him
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almost 21 hours and counting………………..
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About that long since I had my last drink too! 🍻
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Smith sent back to Quins and Ford retained for England training squad. Huh. Glad selection is above my pay grade, because I just don’t understand!
Is Smith the new Barnes/Cipriani?
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Dab, if this was the Boks, Smith would be shifted to fullback or wing and used as a utility back. At least they’re not doing that with him. Is Ford ruling along with more than two cylinders now?
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*running
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Although Sale lost to Exeter, Ford looked in good fettle and looks physically stronger.
He’s was kicking from hand ok but not from the tee (which apparently places greater strain on the ankles / achilles
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Imho, both Barnes and Cipriani were loons and should not be evaluated simply as the opposites of the roundheads that were their contemporaries. Neither came to the all-round level of Russell.
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@Slade – to be fair, neither were given the chance to – Shirley you have to play at international level regularly to develop as an international. If Finn were English he would probably be talked about the exact same way as they are. Not that I ever believed Cipriani was the underappreciated saviour of English rugby, but I do believe there were missed opportunities to develop his talent.
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Slade, the Like was for the Ford update, not celebrating his lousy kicking off the tee.
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Finn is an exceptionnal player and only a stubbornly stupid coach wouldn’t select him. He was at the heart of everything good Scotland did last Sunday, whether running, kicking from hand or from the tee. Finally a player who remembers that rugby is not just a competition but first of all a game. He enjoys it and that’s why he’s good at it. Like a kid.
Maybe England wouldn’t have selected him as they are quite risk averse but coaches are not stupid. I doubt Cipriani or Smith are truly in his class.
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Late to the party, but that was quite an enjoyable week-end of rugby, wasn’t it? Except unfortunately Wales vs England. Tight, intense, skillfull, well reffed.
Can’t wait to watch Scotland vs Ireland. Was wondering if 14 vs 14, à la France vs Scotland, made such difference in terms of opening a bit more space?
Kudos to the doc who stopped the game to get Jelonch’s HIA. Feel sorry for Jelonch (who did his ACL a bit later – bye bye RWC), not so much for Haouas ( good riddance). And was surprised, once again, that the wee Scottish 9 was not asked to follow an HIA himself. Great game overall.
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Absolute scenes. Muzza hits the winning runs for Hornchurch CC to put them in the finals at the end of the month. If they’re back home today he might take his lad to the indoor nets tonight – I’ll have a chat with him if he does
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Good news for Exeter fans:
– long-time out injured prop Marcus Street and centre Ollie Devoto both shone in runouts against the Royal Navy yesterday……………………
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Quiet on here!
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It’ll be a cold day in hell before I relive one second of that match.
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How did England outmach Wales?
Seriously?
By being slightly less crap than them.
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Ireland centre news: both Ringrose and Henshaw supposed to be fit for next weekend. Ringrose is nailed on, but what about 12? Reckon Farrell will put either McCloskey or Aki to start with Henshaw on the bench as he’s just returning to fitness.
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Next weekend I can see Italy beating Wales, but maybe not; England getting duffed at HQ by France – but maybe not; and Ireland marching on the Grand Slam at Murrayfield, but maybe not.
Wales have enough to turn over an inconsistent Italy, England at Twickers against France could see a home win and Scotland, if they’re at the top of their game, could pip Ireland, if they’re off their best (although they seldom are).
Big moment of this weekend for me is whether RG Snyman gets a run and if so, stays fit for the season. Would be fantastic for (Munster and) the Boks.
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On the bench! A nice 20 minute stretch of the legs to get him back into shape would be good!
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Scarlets getting Munstered. Two tries already.
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Think my ‘Bru prediction for Munster v Scarlets may be well off! Think I had Munster by around 17, but it could be double that at this rate.
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Yes, Deebee, you’re fucked.
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Bristol are currently taking Saints apart. Thacker scored to become the current Prem try leader. And Randall has just scored his second, after the most wonderful pirouette, break and grubber by Piutau.
22-3
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27-3 at half time, Piutau creating another try – Lloyd this time.
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My cue to point out that Piutau is a former Ulsterman.
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Deebee,
Next week I can see Italy having enough to turn over a consistently poor Wales. Ditto France vs England in Twickenham.
And Scotland vs Ireland? Game of the round. Harder to call. Probably Ireland, as they’re so well drilled but Scotland can certainly rattle them.
I have stupendously (and quite unusually) called the 9 previous games right on the Superbru thingy and I’d love to carry on but it gets trickier now.
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Flair – if I were a betting woman, which I’m not, I’d go for Italy, France and Ireland. But as you say, any one could go differently.
Who wants the ATL???? :-)
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Lloyd in for his second, 3 mins into the second half. 34-3.
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See Glasgow decided that giving Zebre a try start was enough to piss them off. 31-8 now.
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Scarlets mounting a comeback in the second half. 42-28.
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Oops, but Munster score their 7th.
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Chris Vui scores a cheeky 6th for Bristol. Just outside the Saints 22, he realises the opposition aren’t competing at the ruck. He walks up to the side of the tackled player, picks up the ball and canters through the 3m gap between the defenders.
41-3 50mins.
Saints then don’t get the ball 10m from the restart 🤦♂️
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Thaum, when do you need the ATL?
Next week a combination of poor weather ( i.e little or no golf) and some major strikes and transport disruption (most French disagree with the government’s reform about retirement) mean I’ll most probably have more time on my hands than I really need.
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And Scarlets score again! 49-35. Deebs not so far out after all. Yet.
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Flair – any time up to Friday late afternoon would be great – thank you!
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Scarlets again!
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Saints get their first try in the 50th minute. Some big holes in the Bristol defence, and some nice wide passing, create the opportunity. Hint of a forward pass, for the last one, but the ref gives it
Then on 60 mins, Bristol score again. A wonky lineout is retained, then some nice angles make space for Kloska to score.
48-8
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Deebs is fucked in a different way. 49-42.
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England will beat France ‘cos Farrell will be 100% off the tee
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Brave, brave wordz, Slade. He certainly wasn’t last week.
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Bonkers match. That is the final score (49-42).
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Bedlow breaks the line, into the Saints 22 and give the ball to Harding to score Bristol’s 8th. 55-8
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Thacker’s back on for Vui, who’s taken a knock to the head.
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9 for Bristol. Saints down to 14 for repeat infringements. Bristol take a tap, Heenan cuts a nice line and scores.
62-8
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I just realised Bristol ended the match with two 9s and two hookers on the pitch.
Final score 62-8
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A Jason Donnervan and a cider on the way home, Refit?
That is some result
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