Yet another scrum reset required
First thing first
Rome
Saturday afternoon. Dry and warm. 19°C.
Weather should favour the Italians, who like to run the ball more and more incisively than Wales.
A solid scrum will get parity and may even create problems for Wales.
The Cannone brothers, Lamaro, Polledri are fast and mobile, all excellent poachers. But the Italian line-out might be a weakness. Garbisi is back and despite his young age will provide experience and vista. He’s surrounded by seriously good backs, Morisi at center and Bruno and Padovani.
Their big loss, though, is Capuozzo who would’ve kept the welsh defence on their toes. Allan is not in the same league.
As long as they do not attack crazily from their own 22 (it was suicide vs France) and show patience, they could create what wouldn’t be a surprise anymore vs a team deflated both on and off the pitch. Wales’ problems are well-documented. New coach but old horses, lack of confidence that leads to unusual mistakes, lack of a clear style or game plan….
Will the fear of a new defeat at the hands of Italy and the real prospect of a wooden spoon inspire a fight back or paralyse them?
I can’t tell. On one hand I wish Italy could win this so as to put an end to the boring discussions about their so-called unwarranted place in the 6N. On the other it’s sad to see Wales so down and out. True, Wales were boring for years but at least they won. Is Gatland really the answer? I doubt he can reinvent Warrenball, at least not until the emergence of a new generation of players. The U20 results – three losses out of three – do not bode well. Prediction: a very narrow win for Italy.
London
Saturday afternoon. Cold and wet. Very wet around 6pm.
I read the English press. It seems England, after years of playing ten-man rugby, have discovered a new version of the game: the one-man squad. It’s all about Smith and /or Farrell. Slade will tell you all you need to know.
My prediction? France by a score.
Edinburgh
Sunday afternoon. Cold, windy and wet. Quelle surprise.
For me the game of the week-end.
Both teams at their peak and full of confidence. Never seen a Scottish team so consistently good, and of course Ireland have been camping on the Everest of rugby for yonks now. For too long?
Not many weaknesses in any of them. A bit more structure with Ireland, wonderfully effective, regardless of who is on the pitch (not enough Northern Irishmen, I know), maybe to the point of having a hard time changing to plan B, if plan A does not work? But what won’t work? They do the basics better than anybody else, so a meltdown is quite unlikely.
Scotland seem a bit more flexible. They also do the basics well, except maybe at the line-out. They also showed their mettle as they reacted well to the early French onslaught. I poked fun at the English press for turning all their attention to the FH debate, but it’s hard in a post about Scotland not to mention Finn. I love the way he plays with a smile on his face and I’m convinced it helps him play better as he seems to feel no pressure. But it is a double-edged sword, isn’t it? He was dreadful with Racing last Sunday and literally cost them a must-win game, by missing several easy conversions and a kick into touch two minutes before the end when Racing was trailing by 4 points. Is it a question of concentration? He cannot afford these sorts of lapses vs Ireland.
My prediction: Ireland by a score. Or not.
Match predictions by Flair99
Firewood and the Art of Rugby Commentary
Last week I took delivery of our second annual (New Year) delivery of firewood; everyone in our countryside burns oak/hornbeam/cherry from local woodlands for heating and cooking. Nearly every commune contains a farmer who also cuts and delivers wood to local inhabitants. We use up to 15 cu. metres (or steyres) per annum.
The obliging and cheerful tractor driver, a chap in his mid-twenties, is a keen ‘rugbyman’ and plays 10 or 15 for the local club, Marciac.
This SW area of France is completely rugby mad and, whilst famous club names like Dax, Tarbes, Auch have faded in recent years, every large village / small town upwards has its rugby club. Typically, the pitch, premises and facilities belong to the local council, are usually multi-functional and therefore relatively grand for their surroundings. Marciac’s stadium is the base for our annual Jazz Festival and the rugby club benefits from the pitch being re-surfaced every August.
Marciac play in Regionale 3, Pool 5 and were lying second prior to last weekend’s fixture against local rivals Bassouse, lying first. Our team won 16 – 13 and are now top dog!
The French club structure is: Top 14 (who have now completed 20 rounds of fixtures this season); Pro D2; Nationale 1; Nationale 2 (2 pools); Federal 1 (4 pools); Federal 2 (8 pools); Federal 2b (8 pools); Federal 3 (20 pools); Federal 3b (20 pools); Regionales (lots of pools!). It’s no wonder the national team is pretty good!
So, anyway, we talked rugby whilst stacking wood. He knows Antoine Dupont and Claud Jelonche from neighbouring villages and these friendships reflect the pyramidal structure of the clubs.
Our local top teams are Toulouse, Bayonne, Bordeaux and Pau. My wood-man’s views on England is that they are always tough to beat at Twickenham, the toughest fixture in the two-year cycle. Farrell and Marler are the most highly rated English players: dour, unforgiving opponents with the necessary skills and combative spirit. Ntamack is considered to be similar to Farrell but Jalibert rated more highly skilful. Olivon now getting too old. Jelonch (now injured), Dupont and Alldritt are the grannies’ favourites – and they know what they are talking about!
France have won 11 times at Twickenham since 1911 and the prospect weighs heavily. It’s 18 years since the last victory, when the little devil Dimitri Yachvili was at the helm.
Since taking control, Fabien Galthié has not won there and Yachvili holds the strong belief that for England, France c’est l’équipe à battre absolument.
Imanol Harinordoquy (remember him?) believes that England are never stronger than when facing France at home.
But Yachvili sees reason for optimism: since seeing 10 minutes of interesting attack play by England facing the All Blacks in the 2019 semi-final, he has seen nothing notable, the team not having evolved since then.
So, just to win one over the irritating (as a player) Yachvili, I go for an England win. They are usually successful when they score early and hard and put on the squeeze. If it opens up, then France will win.
Interesting match-ups are: the front rows, the 9s/10s and the back threes: Thomos Ramos is a much better all-round player than Steward and the French wings are a real handful. However, key may be the back-row forwards – an English weakness so far.
Any red cards and all bets are off. I think there will be at least one as the intensity will be immense.
The view from the southwest of France by sladeis#42
Onna telly this week
Friday 10th March
| Italy v Wales (U20s) | 19:15 | BBC iPlayer / S4C |
| Scotland v Ireland (U20s) | 19:15 | BBC iPlayer / RTÉ2 |
| Northampton v Bath | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
| England v France (U20s) | 20:00 | BBC iPlayer |
Saturday 11th March
| Italy v Wales | 14:15 | ITV1 / S4C |
| England v France | 16:45 | ITV1 |
Sunday 12th March
| Gloucester v Leicester | 13:00 | BT Sport 1 |
| Scotland v Ireland | 15:00 | BBC1 / RTÉ2 |
Ovally Balls 
Good words Flair & Slade.
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Match of the Day could be interesting tomorrow
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SOLIDARITY! Good on them.
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Also Alex Scott
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Ha, this was quite funny as a reply to the Alex Scott (who she?) one:
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Alex Scott used to play for Arsenal and England Women (140 caps for England).
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Ah, thanks. I’ve never heard of Ian Wright either. Think I’ve heard of Shearer.
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I used to dislike Lineker on the basis that he’s the spit of a boss I didn’t get on with very well, but the more I find out about him, the more I like him.
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Interesting interview with Hoggy here….
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/64879804
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Lineker was a dick about Corbyn, back inna day. But generally he’s okay.
Hmmm…
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Ireland two tries up in 7 minutes. It’s gonna be a LOOOONNNNGGGG night for the Baby Scots.
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The mister’s got the baby leeks and crostinitti on. Italians have just scored in the tenth min.
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Umm…
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Is Dorries a dedicated public servant or a self-promoter more interested in television appearances?
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Is that a trick question?
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I thought it was an easy one.
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Great reaction by the football pundits! Well played! Nadine Dorries? Ag, shame.
Irish juniors are battering Scotland; its not a contest at all at 0-35 after 32 minutes.
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40 and counting. Wish that was my age, Scots lads wish they were elsewhere!
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42. A couple of converted tries and Ireland are finally one beyond me. Just got there a wee bit quicker!
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Good reviews.
If Ireland starts as fast as vs Wales and France and Scotland as slow as vs France – then it could be well beyond saving quite quickly. But I’m sure Scotland know this.
I’m too old and spent too long in 70s, 80s, 90s, watching Irish teams get hammered to get over confident. Thoughts of how we’d reserve the most inept performance of the season for games vs Scotland still lurk in the back of the mind.
Last game was OK- Farrell is reverting to his tried and trusted … basically the guys who know the Leinster system come in irrespective of fitness. Furlong’s not played since Dec, Henshaw (on bench) not since July, Gibson Park (also bench) hardly at all either . Ringrose and Sexton missed Italy.
I guess it’ll work – until it doesn’t….
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Hooray for the baby soda farls!
Trisk … yep!
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I think I’d have expected the France of 2022 to win at Twickenham – maybe the current version less so. Not that England are tearing up any trees… but equally they’re rarely a push over. Still lean to France – they’ve not shown much this season and suspicion lurks that the championship is not uppermost in their minds.
(By comparison – Ireland really need the championship and GS to seal their current status as No.1 team)
Wales and Italy – who can tell…. Italy ought to be favourites playing at home…. Wales have been fairly grim but surely they want to avoid back to back defeats to Italy?
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I’m with the general consensus: Italy, France and Ireland (just).
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When I say ‘general consensus’, Slade does not agree, of course!
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Re Crace and his allumette du jour….
♫ Allumette, gentille allumette … ♫
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Italy/Wales is 29-25 with 5 mins to go. Lead has switched several times.
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Ireland make it more than a point a minute and get over 80. At least we didn’t get nilled. Small mercies and all that…
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Sorry, BB.
Re tomorrow’s rugby, it strikes me that Genge isn’t the best choice of captain. Second most likely after Farrell to get a red card.
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Years ago – in days of 4pt tries – I played in match where we lost 68-6 …. grim. 13 vs 15 and the 50+ year old coach filled in at SH.
So, I do feel for the Scottish lads – it’s a horrible experience. You’re just willing the ref to blow asap
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Allumette du jour, given “Linekergate” is a great pun.
Am in the dark, as power’s gone for an hour now. Strike? Major incident?
Thank dog, a friend is texting me live about the game between England and France U20s. Seems France is bashing England. 30/7 with 15 minutes to go. Too bad France lost in Ireland.
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France U20 beat England 42/7.
After John Crace franglais lesson, look for the word “fessée”.
I didn’t see the game as we are still in the dark here in Paris, (after a power cut that began about 90 minutes ago, where are the nuclear plants when you need them?) but it must have been entertaining. Hope for a repeat tomorrow.
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Ha, Flair, I remembered the old woman with only one fesse in Candide, but had to look up the verb.
Sod the nuclear plants. :-)
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Franglais….
When I was living in the US, I had a French friend who had also been living there for some time.
She had a chat with her grandmother, who asked her what she thought about the US. She said, thinking of food, as all right-thinking persons would: On utilise beaucoup de préservatifs.
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Romantics say Italy to win
Fantasists say Scotland to win
Pragmatists say England to win
……… only Fantasists ever get it wrong
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Well done the U20 winners. I didn’t see this evenings games but I was not impressed by England’s previous efforts.
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Thaum, good story about your friend in the US.
I used to be quite opposed to the nuclear plants ( mostly because of the origin of the raw materials and what to do with the waste) but I changed my mind. I believe it is for now the safest and cleanest way to produce energy on a vast and reliable scale (at least in Europe where it is seriously checked).
Good and lively ATL, Slade.
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Flair – well, the concerns you had have not gone away. I think Germany had the right idea after Fukushima. Renewables are the way to go.
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You’re right, those concerns have not gone away. But as long as renewables can’t provide a regular input, unless we start using much less energy – which is also desirable- I see nuclear as the lesser of many evils.
Germany relied for too long on cheap Russian gas. Now on what? Back to coal or… or…? Fossil fuels again but from elsewhere. Less tainted politically but still a nightmare.
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Excellent ATLs, many thanks Flair and Slade! My views on power are renewables must have an increasingly larger share of power; we need to be consuming less (in total, not just power) and quite quickly find out what to do with solar panels and wind towers once they reach of life – many are more than halfway there already, with little in the way of a sustainable way of disposing of or recycling them.
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*end of life, obviously.
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Renewables not much whack here this morning. Demand is high, renewable supply is low.
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Italy by a whisker, France by 5-10, Scotland by a whisker.
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I predict at least one team that would normally wear blue will win this weekend.
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BB – we need more of this kind of insight
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@OT
I wonder if there’s an Irish equivalent of that Twitter feed?
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@trisk
Can’t find it!
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Trisk – found this, but it’s not daily.
https://www.seai.ie/data-and-insights/seai-statistics/key-statistics/energy-use-overview/
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Forza Azzuri!
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Forza Freddie, Brian and the boys! Doesn’t really have the frisson of excitement.
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Poor start by Italy . Excellent defence by Wales.
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