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 
Listened to 1st half on radio, then saw 50mins onwards on TV.
As Ticht notes Scotland just fell off in the 2nd half. I was expecting trouble with a superannuated prop at hooker, an openside throwing in and 3 main ball carriers off. (First 2 bits are reminiscent of age grade rugby when you get a couple of injuries) but somehow we got away with only losing 2 line outs in the 2nd half.
Somehow, we reorganised and worked around things. Scotland by comparison didn’t seem to react. I’d have kicked everything to touch and attacked the line-outs.
Probably a more impressive win than the France game
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That feels like the best victory of the tournament so far. We were pushed to the limit in the first half, and then starting the second half with all the injuries (and no hooker!)….
Mind you, I still don’t know how we beat France after watching them yesterday.
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MUCH more importantly………………………………RIP Bill Tidy
https://magazine.punch.co.uk/image?&_bqG=31&_bqH=eJxNjs0OgjAQhN.GC5di9ELSQykVV6DV_sRwalCJQIgY9cLb2xKiHnb3m012ZtFjKMesaqP8BNDXu.M0rotyQk02xptVHCHky3WwqaI46YYh1N11CoN5YQlP8dsxBV1hN5UmmnmgwnAtKwtKeAnKSlYwoli6yMO_FhIYd6cg.OwipMaS8NyxUUxaSLHxb_T7vtvI832AW2BpYsHZuPwFzRfl9oelR0I1fjX189IG1Lt9AMIxSiM-&GI_ID=
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gah!
https://magazine.punch.co.uk/image?&_bqG=31&_bqH=eJxNjs0OgjAQhN.GC5di9ELSQykVV6DV_sRwalCJQIgY9cLb2xKiHnb3m012ZtFjKMesaqP8BNDXu.M0rotyQk02xptVHCHky3WwqaI46YYh1N11CoN5YQlP8dsxBV1hN5UmmnmgwnAtKwtKeAnKSlYwoli6yMO_FhIYd6cg.OwipMaS8NyxUUxaSLHxb_T7vtvI832AW2BpYsHZuPwFzRfl9oelR0I1fjX189IG1Lt9AMIxSiM-&GI_ID=
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Sorry – I give up! Anyway, a hero of mine
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Ireland were class today. Dealing with not having a hooker to throw in and still managing to win a lot of their own lineout ball in the second half showed how much character they have. Their defence was superb and they are so dangerous when any space appears. Scotland’s problems in the second half stemmed from a couple of poor moments from Finn – he had a game to forget. Once the second Irish try was scored, against the run of play at that time, it was all over. Scotland don’t look like they believe they are the real deal.
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Our problems stemmed from Duhan not taking a high ball, Duhan not passing when he had two men free outside him, missing tackles which led to two Irish tries, knocking on and so on. Finn wasn’t the problem today. Plus I suspect he was carrying a bit of an injury – he went off limping and his leg was heavily bandaged. Also, Jamie Ritchie maybe needs to rethink his captaincy style. That’s 3 times in 2 games he’s been taken back 10 for arguing with refs. Plus Toonie changed our front row, which immediately went backwards, and it took too long to challenge Ireland at the lineouts when VdF was throwing in.
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Saw the game today. Tbh i can’t see past Ireland for the RWC. They are pure bastardary and great to watch.
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Also, went for a job at that Silicon Valley Bank last year. They didn’t want me. Oh well.
*smugly sips Welsh whisky*
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@craigs
Think you’ll find it’s spelt “whusku” or summat
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Thanks OT – classic cartoon………………..
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BB, I think with Scotland it’s more deep rooted or systemic than individual errors, in my humble onion the next step up for Scotland is the most difficult one, the playing at the highest levels of intensity for the full 80 minutes, even when the score board is going against you.
That fantastic series of New Zealand sides had that, the Boks had it at the last world cup, Wilko and Jonno’s England had it, Ireland have it now, France aren’t quite there yet but they are close, yes France put in the best performance I’ve seen from any side for years, but Ireland are currently producing the goods week after week.
One of our problems is that we don’t have the depth to replace like for like quality from the pine. We desperately missed Gilchrist and Big Richie going off after five minutes was a blow. The scrum showed after the changes that 73 year old WP Nel is still our best back up, but a month of international rugby is perhaps asking too much of him.
I’m told that the lineout guru that Cockers brought into Edinburgh coach all the Scotland hookers snd Cherry has the best darts by a mile, it’s not even close, so why we persist with Barndoor Brown is anyone’s guess.
Wee Darcy was again conspicuous by his absence, to stand any chance against the Boks, NZ, Ireland, France etc, we need all or best players fit and firing
I think/hope that we can make the next step, even though I doubt we will make it out of the Group of Death, I hope to run the two giants in green very close and let them know they’ve been in a test match
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Our problems stemmed from Duhan not taking a high ball, Duhan not passing when he had two men free outside him, missing tackles which led to two Irish tries, knocking on and so on
On not passing, well I guess he’s gotten this far by backing himself to bludgeon through tackles but I’d agree it’s a killer – it’s really the sort of thing that ought to be coached out of a professional player. I watch a lot of age grade (I’ve a lad in U14, U16, U18 grades) and you see certain tries lost through white line fever all the time.
On the high ball, he has the advantage of coming onto the ball but there’s a reason Hansen was parachuted into this Irish team after about 5 games for Connacht. He’s good at this sort of thing (no idea if there’s Aussie Rules influence there).
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@Ticht
I thought Scotland had a great first half and an average 2nd: isn’t that a coaching issue rather than the players themselves?
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Good game in Edinburgh.
Too bad VDM butchered an easy try as it would’ve changed the momentum of the game (He’s great vs average opposition but didn’t shine vs Ireland nor France. Give me Hansen anytime!).
But then, Scotland couldn’t keep up with Irish stamina around the 60th minute (very much like France actually). Kudos Ireland, they certainly deserve their GS, playing so well with no hooker left and so many injuries.
The British press constantly bangs about big fat forwards, when actually the biggest and heaviest ones are from England, and see the result.
I think the 6N is done and dusted now. Very little at stake next week. It was a great edition.
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So you know when you move into (or back to) a house and you find stuff you’d forgotten about years ago?
Found my kimchi.
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“Too bad VDM butchered an easy try as it would’ve changed the momentum of the game (He’s great vs average opposition but didn’t shine vs Ireland nor France. Give me Hansen anytime!).”
Harsh, he has a very specific skillset, it’s mainly breaking through tackles and drawing numerous defenders. Yesterday he broke through six tackles, the most of any player in the game. Hansen broke one tackle and Lowe three.
He made 100m from his ten carries (Lowe made 150m from 10)
My memory of the missed try was more about Keenan’s superb defence rather than a failing on vdM’s part. It was a terrific tackle and it had to be.
The Irish back three were better than ours, I just think the criticism of vdM is a bit strong
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I think/hope that we can make the next step, even though I doubt we will make it out of the Group of Death, I hope to run the two giants in green very close and let them know they’ve been in a test match
Think the draw is pretty decent for Scotland – you can catch the Boks cold and still limbering up like Japan did in 2015, then the two ‘bankers’ against Romania and Tonga, getting you in fine fettle for another tilt at Ireland. The Boks have Scotland, then Romania and then Ireland – meaning that the last match in the pools – Ireland v Scotland could be decisive. Ireland will need to field full strength sides for both those matches, unless the Boks lose to both 6N sides, in which case they’ll have the luxury of not needing the win to guarantee progress.
I suppose much of that depends on whether you fancy facing France or Italy in the QF?
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At the risk of labouring the point, van der Merwe leads the broken tackles stats in the at 27 so far in the 6N, Penaud is second on 23, and Capuozzo is on a remarkable 20 from just three games.
The latter two have a rather more poetic way of achieving their success than van der Merwe right enough.
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I made a pig’s ear of editing that post
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I’m assuming “Broken tackles” is what they are calling “Defenders beaten” now
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Today is market day in our local town – a chance to meet French friends, have a coffee and a chat.
Today everyone has been full of sympathy (plus a big smile) and very proud of their team.
Humility in victory – they remember the lean years! Lovely, really.
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Serous question: at least two teams are right at the top of their game – super fit and co-ordinated.
Is it possible to maintain those levels for the next 9 months? Especially as the top players will be playing domestic league, Heini and national fixtures in the interim – or do they get compulsory time off.
The French players are already well into their season and have less time off, as do the Scots, Welsh and Italian, yet look totally unjaded. Irish and English players are more protected – with differing results so far.
I am not bigging up England (there’s not much to big) but a sensible fitness regime will not see them at peak now with the W Cup in mind.
Any views?
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………….. and NZ are far too quiet!
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@Slade – England managed it in 2003 without the advantages Ireland have through their central contracting. So I’d back Ireland to do it.
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@Dab
Having spent the previous 2-3 years better than everyone else they spent most of 2003 in decline with try counts plummeting as everyone else copied their defensive tactics and stifling them. Ended up winning the RWC with a last minute of extra time drop goal having scored one try in 100 mins. If they’d played that a year earlier they would have battered the Aussies.
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Slade, there were 17 Leinster players in the Ireland 23 yesterday and it was pretty much their World Cup Final side.
Leinster are 12 points clear at the top of the table with three games to play. They have a PD of 269, that’s 130 or so clear of their nearest rivals.
They are nailed on for a home play off in the league.
Sexton and a good few others won’t be playing until the knock out games in the league and in Europe start, unless guys like Furlong are thought to benefit from game time after a long lay off.
Scottish internationals who play I Scotland can only play five games in a row before mandatory rests kick in.
I don’t know about the other countries.
It’s very early days, but the standard in Super Rugby isn’t as high this year as I’ve seen before, not that that translates directly to the ABs and Wallabies, but still.
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‘scuse me, 16 Leinster players, not 17
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Bloody Nora, it was 17 all along
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@OT – they bossed the 6N, including a stunning win in Dublin, beat NZ away then Aus away in tour matches, then closed the deal in the RWC in the face of some ‘idiosyncratic’ refereeing. In the years leading up to 2003 they’d been unplayable in patches but repeatedly bottled crucial games. For me, 2003 was their peak year.
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@dab
Don’t forget the matches against Wales and Samoa in the RWC. Both them games were squeaky bum territory.
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@OT indeed – 2002 England would probably have lost one of those games!!
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Given an injury illness crisis Exeter appear to have recruited a beast:
https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/chiefs-sign-georgian-prop-abuladze
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Ticht, your memory of the missed try fails you. VDM had two players outside him and instead of drawing his man and simply passing the ball, he boshed his way into his opponent. It may even count as a broken tackle, for what I know , but a try it was not . Poor choice however you look at it. Penaud may have broken fewer tackles but he scored twice.
Hansen had a much better game than VDM.
Meters made don’t mean much either, especially if you’re one of the back three, as half of them are made without oposition. Different story than forwards meters ( remember Robshaw?).
To be clear, I am not blaming VDM for Scotland loss. But he could’ve made it a bit harder for Ireland, splendid as they were.
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Flair I’ll watch it again, but one of the things he lacks is a passing game, for sure, Huw Jones is the same, he’s the top try scorer in the tournament, though.
https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/statistics/
More importantly, Hoggy and Finn are both out for next week.
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Ticht, I hope it’s not serious for Finn and Hogg. Too many injuries, particularly for Ireland. Frightening. The coming RWC might be decided, specially in tough groups like Scotland’s, by the number of injuries.
But even without them, Scotland will be fine vs Italy, who I think have lost their mojo since the early games of the 6N.
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Flair, in some ways I’m happy we have to play an important game without them, it could well be that we are in that boat in the World Cup, although missing Darge, Gilchrist, the older Gray (who popped a rib after ten minutes on Sunday) and Darcy Graham as well as Hogg and Russell means our depth is being tested.
I expect Ben Healy will make his debut, wether off the bench or starting
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Poor Healy! Didn’t know he was a wether!
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I’m feeling a bit sheepish about that typo, BB
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Was very disappointed for Scotland yesterday, they were magnificent in the first half, and a try would have made it harder for Ireland. They did go off the boil in the second half, was that just a fitness issue, or did they try and change the way they played a little? Still can’t help feeling that there should be room on the pitch for Kinghorn a little earlier. When Duhan fires, like against England, he is fantastic to watch. My impression is that that only happens around one or two tests a year tho, and his defensive blips are fairly frequent. Centres look sorted, Tuipolatu +one, why does Hoggy leave so early/ I would have Kinghorn on for Steyn or Duhan, in fact I think I would start with Kinghorn And Graham if fit. Crazy that Redpath, Bennett, Hutchinson and Harris are all surplus to requirements.
Also, I might mention, it is plain bollocks that Scotland end up in a group with Ireland and the boks the way they have been playing, and England, who generally can’t fight their way out of a paper bag for the last three years, are seeded into an easy group. ( having said that, I have just checked the world rankings and have decided they are bollocks, England are currently one place behind Scotland in six, Argentina are 8th. Italy are 14th, two places ahead of Portugal. Hmmmm.)
Here the latest rankings :- https://www.world.rugby/tournaments/rankings/mru
Fascinated that Eswatini are 102nd.
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Well, now i know where Eswatini is.
http://www.swazilandrugby.com/
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they bossed the 6N, including a stunning win in Dublin
I’m leaning to OT’s view – but that was the high point*. The decline – if not immediate – set in thereafter (as I heard someone say about bankruptcy – it comes slowly then all of the sudden)
* what was it 45-6? I was in a pub in Malahide (suburban Dublin)… final whistle went and there was a momentary silence and then everyone started clapping.
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16 Leinster players, not 17
The non-Leinster view on this is that Farrell has – generally – decided to go all in on “cohesion” and playing Leinster en bloc gets him this. When in doubt, he’ll select a Leinster player who csn fit into the systems over someone who has to learn the ropes.
Now, the performance on Sunday where they managed the loss of 2 hookers, No8 and THL was impressive and one can only say this is what cohesion can get you.
Also – 10/10 to the smart lad who after the Ireland vs Italy farrago decided that Healy should be officially flagged as a sub hooker on the teamsheet (apparently Italy last year did have someone who’d played there but didn’t note it so saying “I can play hooker” to the ref/4th official didn’t wash)
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SBT, Swaziland changed to Eswatini at the behest of Africa’s last absolute monarch a couple of years ago.
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Fosbury flops. RIP
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Trisk, to be fair I can see why Farrell would go all in on Leinster’s cohesion, they are unbeaten for the season and appear to be well in front of everyone else in Europe. They look a better side than last year and Leinster’s first choice selection will be ridiculously strong in the knock outs and finals for the league and Heineken Cup, given they are probably about to win a 6N Grand Slam.
Are there many/any genuinely controversial selections?
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@ticht
Are there many/any genuinely controversial selections?
Thaum might back me here – obviously, she’ll havbe her Ulster goggles on as I’ll have Munster ones.
Issues are mainly in 16-23 plus backups
Keenan – no obvious replacement – maybe Jimmy O’Brien who is a “Swiss army -knife” type. Played ok at 13 vs SA, but less comfortable vs Fiji and Australia. Lowry? Haley? Shane Daly who can play 15 or wing.
Lowe/Hansen – who are the backups? Baloucoune is injured and doesn’t fit that template. O’Brien again?
Sexton – before NZ last year Ross Byrne wasn’t ahead of his own brother or a part-time 10 in Frawley, never mind Carbery. 1 successful pen vs Australia and he’s the right man to replace Sexton because he knows the Leinster system
FR – Sheehan has played endless minutes for Ireland and Leinster as Kelleher was injured and noone else trusted – beginning to break under that. Bealham – seems to have gotten away with his scrummaging and seems to be selected more for his Furlong-type handling than scrum presence. O’Toole has looked a better TH. Porter has played 60-70 mins in most games – Kilcoyne played vs France/Wales (Healy selected vs Scotland indicates they knew there were problems with Sheehan and Kelleher)
Second row – McCarthy (injured now) but parachuted in as THL despite getting a whole 5 mins vs La Rochelle. Kleyn – a genuine THL completely ignored.
Back row – Conan played well on Sunday but before that had been average enough. Coombes doesn’t get a look in despite being Munster leading try scorer. Different style of 8 – you wouldn’t have found Coombes out wide like Conan on Sunday – he’d probably have taken one of the earlier carries (and gotten over ;-D) In wider panel, choices like Penny – who’d never played Heineken Cup rugby until he came on as a sub in last match vs Racing.
Maybe you can see it as a good system that so many options exists – trouble is that in getting to No1 we’ve played same 15 with a few alternates all the way through. A lot of the names I’ve mentioned haven’t had time to show if they can meet the grade – but the feeling is that a 2nd choice Leinster player will go ahead of a starter elsewhere
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Trisk – yep. If we’d had Rob Herring on the bench maybe we wouldn’t have had to play without a hooker. Tom Stewart has been called up to the squad in any case.
Baloucoune’s not only injured but has not played well in an Ireland shirt as yet. Aaron Sexton (no relation, I don’t think – he’s from Bangor – and an all-Ireland champion sprinter) looks very promising as FB/wing, but he’s only had a couple of starts so far.
Hendo’s broken his arm badly enough to need surgery on it – ow!
13’s actually a position that worries me a bit without Ringrose. Aki at 13 was a disaster. Hume is not yet back to form, although getting there.
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Aki at 12 and Henshaw at 13 is probably the best pairing we have.
Ringrose is an odd case – defensive pretty sound but guilty of lots of missed tackles where he doesn’t steady himself enough. Offensively, he makes break but generally prefers contact to passing.
Osborne is probably next man up – with Ringrose out (I’d expect) but Frisch ought to be tried at some stage… Hume too – although he’s not reached levels of last season aibde since the injury.
@thaum – Baloucoune did nothing wrong vs US that time but I suspect he doesn’t fit the schemes – Hansen and Lowe tend to act as secondary centres – Baloucoune seems to prefer the wide open spaces. He was accused of “not getting involved” but that seems to be shorthand for getting in the middle of rucks.
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