The image editor posts hopefully
Scotland vs Italy
Previously the wooden spoon fixture, these teams have made some recent progress but the Italians are definite underdogs here. Italy have made 4 changes and given a dayboo to Simone Gesi on the wing. However, they lack Capowuoouuzzzo at full back so, whilst they look fairly settled, they don’t have much in the way of X factor.
Scotland have made 5 changes including leaving out Finn and Hoggy so, while I predict a win, the margin will be smaller without them. Also, given they have lost their last 2 games, they will be motivated to end in style (same could be said for Italy tbh).
Scotland have a better pack and cooler heads. Against Wales, Italy played like headless chickens for much of the game and gave Wales some points either by coughing up the ball in their half or failing to execute the basics. Scotland will be patient and gradually rack up a decent win.
Head-to-head Planet Rugby says that Scotland have won the last 8 fixtures but this only goes back to 2017 and I haven’t dug further. It would take a miracle or a card for Italy to win and it won’t happen this weekend as Scotland get their 9th (or more) win in a row.
30 – 10 to Scotland.
France vs Wales
France, France, France. Until last weekend many people said they had been underwhelming despite only losing in Dublin. That all changed when they swaggered into Twickenham and put 50 on some boys Borthwick had found. They said they could play rugby, double promise, cross their hearts – but they couldn’t.
To be fair, that was the best performance I’ve seen from a team against the English since the dastardly Saffas won the 2019 RWC. Maybe even better. Every time Dupont kicked the ball into space it opened up the back line and a French player waltzed over the line about 10 seconds later. Their defence was aggressive, their ruck speed brutal and every carry seemed to gain at least 3 Robshaws. But most impressive was how clinical they were. I can’t remember a scoring chance being wasted.
Wales on the other hand were solid last weekend but otherwise haven’t set this tournament on fire. They still drag around the reanimated corpse of AWJ but have some new talent including a footballer on the wing. How there isn’t a better 13 in Wales than George North I’ll never know.
There is a ‘last hurrah’ feel to this team but rather a white orc filled Dad’s army willing its way to victory, this feels like a Clive Woodward selected Lions team. If Clive Woodward had coached Wa…. You know what I mean! France to make it 5 in a row against the men in red.
50 – 12 to France
Ireland vs England
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
60 – 8 to Ireland (*starts crying*)
Laughing and crying by Craigsman
Onna telly this week
Friday 17th March
| Bulls v Western Province | 17:00 | Sky Sports Arena |
Saturday 18th March
| Scotland v Italy | 12:30 | BBC1 / RTÉ2 |
| France v Wales | 14:45 | ITV1 / S4C |
| Ireland v England | 17:00 | ITV1 |
Sunday 19th March
| Scotland v Italy (U20s) | 14:00 | BBC iPlayer |
| London Irish v Exeter | 14:00 | BT Sport 1 |
| Ireland v England (U20s) | 17:00 | BBC iPlayer |
| France v Wales (U20s) | 20:00 | BBC iPlayer / S4C |
Ovally Balls 
Yes, CMW. North of the river, mate. Northern. Mind , so are Chelsea.
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They’re all Southerners to me.
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I’m not a great believer that people having got better at something necessarily makes it better to watch
I’d be fairly sure few Irish would take this view. Maybe clubmen from the old school “senior” clubs like Cork Con or Wanderers etc when these clubs ruled the roost.
But for the rest of us, national team, provincial teams are playing at a standard unthought of back in the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
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I need an HIA. The mister got up off the sofa, tripped over his laptop flex and scared the dog, who shot off in the other direction, colliding with my head in the process. Blood and an egg and a bruise on my head.
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I’m not a great believer that people having got better at something necessarily makes it better to watch
That said – I’d venture that Gaelic football is worse. Game is dominated by middle distance runners who can endlessly up and down a 150m pitch.
Lack of a proper tackle means it’s almost impossible to dispossess a guy without giving away a free – yet fewer and fewer can accurately kick the ball – players are dependent on handpassses (a slow underarm openhand strike) to move the ball from one to another…. I suppose if you like watching basketball you might like this….
Its also got an unknown concussion problem….
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I was gonna put a new post up, but now I feel a bit woozy…!
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Follow the protocols!
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I asked myself who was PM and then nearly started crying.
Apart from that, I don’t know what the protocols are.
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Sounds like you are ok if that was your response to knowing the answer!
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:-) Yes, I certainly wouldn’t think about trying to play any rugby at the mo, though!
Am thinking the cut may leave a slight scar (it’s above my eye), but there’s no way I’m going to A&E on a Friday night.
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The mister said, Have you posted that I’ve beaten you up again?
We were in Chile visiting my sibling, and on the last night a mosquito bit me on the eyelid, and I woke up with a proper shiner. When we walked up to security at the airport, I was wearing sunglasses (because it was bright), and when the security guard asked me to remove them, he gave him the dirtiest look….
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Despite what the comms are trying to build up before the match, I can’t see there being less than a dozen points between these two sides at the end.
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Which match are you watching, Ticht? L v L?
Not watching the pre-match crap.
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Thaum, yeah, L v L
I think Leinster will hammer Leicester, but you never know, Tigers might keep it to under 20
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Leinster to put 50 points on. :-)
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Well, that didn’t take long. Leinster a try up inside 2 mins.
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Ringrose furra line at approx 01:17….
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It’s just the accuracy.
Unless you can get them on the back foot they will destroy you like that, just too easy
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Number of players leaving Embra. Looks like Steele is replacing Pyrgos.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65215024
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BB – aye, but Cooney has re-signed with Ulster!
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BB, the one that pisses me off is Rudi Brown, he was Scotland’s best player in the recent U20s by a mile.
We’ve made a few high ticket signings and re-signings, so maybe that is the bottom line, but that young man has a huge future ahead of him.
Some club is going to get a diamond there
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Funny how Leinster always seem favourites for this competition yet they’ve only won it once in the past 10 years. Wouldn’t be surprised if they won it this year as they seem even stronger (but would laugh lots if they didn’t, which would be completely unsporting of me…)
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There is also talk about Ben White joining Edinburgh as well as Scott Steele
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BB – maybe so (and we are both in the unusual position of supporting Leinster in this match), but I don’t want Leicester to be the ones to knock them out.
Also, I’m surprised that it’s only once in 10 years. Thought there were at least two in that period! (Time flies….)
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I think this Leinster side is better than they have been for a few years.
There were the “Faded Glory” years, but that didn’t last long and Saracens, Exeter, La Roche, Toulon, Toulouse etc came into the equation.
The current Ireland team is the best I’ve ever seen from them, by a distance, and they are pretty much playing in Blue tonight
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Too bad they don’t have a decent 12. ;-)
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Ringrose furra double.
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That was textbook.
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Won it once since it became the Champions Cup, but runners-up twice during that time. If I’d gone back slightly further it would have shown 3 Leinster wins in 4 years (2009, 2011, 2012) and then again in 2018.
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Pollard looked to have lead in his boots there
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…Or a decent hooker – what kind of line-out was that?
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Baird going off injured. He was the consummate pain in the arse last week against Ulster.
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the ref hasn’t a clue at the breakdown, to I don’t, but it’s not being reffed as per the laws
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That was a dodgy penalty.
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I was under the impression Cameron Henderson was with Edinburgh’s academy at one point, but no, he was with Glasgow
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Surprised Leics didn’t kick that penalty.
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Good finish by Watson.
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Good finish from Watson.
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Oh well, it seems to have worked for them.
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The old knee
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Leinster will probably score again before HT.
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No, wrong, the whistle’s gone!
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Wonderful accuracy from Leinster in attack.
James Ryan, the human torpedo at the breakdown, Is that legal? It certainly looks dangerous and out of control …………………………………
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Slade – I didn’t actually see that bit. Just saw him getting treatment.
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Scarlets in the lead against Clermont. Clermont have had Simone sent off, for head contact against 1/2P.
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Saw that in the HT review, Refit! Wouldn’t have expected Scarlets to be leading.
Ha’penny has had far, far too many knocks to the head.
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Leinster’s line-out is really shit. There’s a reason that Ulster hookers are preferred for Ireland.
Mind you, I’d take Ringrose and Keenan in any side. Sexton too, of course, except for his permanent injuries.
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Wouldn’t take JGP over either Cooney or Doak.
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That yellow card is another one of those that might seem rough but it’s absolutely a price that players and coaches have to pay until the learn to lower the fucking height they tackle at
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Ticht – yep.
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