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 
The cruelty of the bounce of the rugby ball.
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Schoolboy error by Italian wing. Wales lead 10-0
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Same again Flair, their defence is awful
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And another. Papier mâché defence again. Here goes my prediction. Ach…
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Oh, do you have papier mâché in France too?
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Wales are also playing much, much better than they have for quite a while.
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That was rough on Italy.
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Unlucky Italy there. Immediately followed by a stupid penalty.
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Yep, harsh especially considering on field decision was try. No separation, and downward pressure.
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Naw, he dropped it, but Liam Williams had tackled a player off the ball earlier.
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With 2 players tackled without the ball who could have been receiving the ball. Quite harsh.
Then were back to dreadful Italy. Penalty try beckons.
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Oh dear, now a yellow.
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Ooh, they could lose another player here.
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Nope, but I think they should have done.
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No word on whether tomorrow’s match will have any commentators!
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How can a penalty advantage for a third cynical offense close to the line be reversed for a later mild foul play in the air?
Expro must be fuming. TBH, I dont think Italy are reffed like Wales.
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Nice from Italy!
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Well, that is the first time I’ve ever seen a ball-carrier carded. You’ll know I’ve been arguing for it for some time, but I tend to agree that Italy don’t get reffed like other sides.
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YC? RC?
Another YC. Italy making life really difficult for them.
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“I dont think Italy are reffed like Wales”
I agree
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Nice from Wales – lovely break.
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Even better from Italy!
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Have Wales won this, or have Italy blown it? Italy have had umpteen chances to score and blown all but two.
Wales might have played better, but they still don’t look particularly good.
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If Italy sorted their discipline, they’d do a lot better.
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Italy should get a prize for the most entertaining side in the championship. One day soon everything will stick, and someone big will get hammered, not just on off key Wales or struggling Australia. Rhys Webb probably saved the match for Wales. Well deserved MoM.
Lots of errors, but fun game.
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No doubt the best team won, based on a serious defence. Webb was excellent. Gatland is probably more relieved than happy, as Italy made it a bit too easy for them. But a BP win in Rome is not to be sniffed at.
Damn, already one prediction wrong out of one.
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CW doesn’t look a well man. He also looks nervous.
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France laying down the marker!
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Oh, that was a really lovely try from France.
Bastards.
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Great play from Flament
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Not sure how much of this game I’m home to watch tbh.
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Kayser: Take this challenge by the horns – it sounds dirty when he puts it like that.
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The England passing doesn’t seem quite as accurate this week.
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… or the catching.
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Lots of England players taking the ball standing still or at a walk, which isn’t helping.
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The big players are really stepping up – Dupont, Aldritt, Danty, Fickou
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Wow, great from Flament again
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♫ Blue, blue, electric blue ♫
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England getting an absolute schooling here. Men against boys.
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Yup, Dab, 1-15 better so far. England pack looking totally outclassed in just about every aspect .
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I would change 9’s at half time.
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SBT – nah, Dupont’s doing all right.
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It’s all so static from England. After that charge-down, they just stood still and passed it down the line.
*fuming*
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Aldritt is having an absolute stormer
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Looked like a French defender dived on Smith’s head just then. Would like you see that up on the big screen!
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At least we’re not being beaten by a team playing shit rugby.
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Oooh. Messy.
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The French pack have been superb
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Dewi Morris in danger of going full Brian Moore here on the commentary.
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Brian Moore has come out in support of Lineker in the Telegraph, of all places.
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