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 
Ringrose is a magician.
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Thaum, I’m happy enough with Huw Jones back in form, but Ringrose is very classy
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Mind you, it’s annoying that JGP is going to think he’s a genius because he scored the try that Ringrose handed him.
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Ticht – Huge Owens is also very, very good.
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That was hands on the floor, but it’s the same as before
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penalty try all day
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went for a beer, missed that try
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The Skerries lad has made a couple of errors since coming on
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I’ve always thought Byrne the younger is the better player, that was sweet
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Ticht – agree.
I predicted 50, got over 50. :-)
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Just the seven tries then
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Well, Leicester are not mugs but they were outplayed in every aspect of the game.
Impressive.
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Only the south African sides could possibly stop Leinster now.
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You need a huge pack do stop Leinster, same for Ireland.
It will need a French or South African side to stop Leinster or Ireland
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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
Yes, fair comment – which drives Leinster supporters insane as they point to Pro12/Pro14/URC – which they didn’t win last season either.
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You need a huge pack to stop Leinster
Yes – or someone reffing scrums (and rucks) – they were consistently in from the side last night – but means they get quick ball….
Now Leicester defended badly – too close and then biting on the ball carrier ….Leinster are too good to give them 3 maybe 4 easy tries….
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annoying that JGP is going to think he’s a genius because he scored the try that Ringrose handed him
Scoring tries gets headlines but you want the basics done – that said, Gibson Park was fine last night – no obvious poor decisions or bad passes. Might be different when pressure is on ( c.f. vs Aus Nov 2022)
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Trisk – I can remember one particularly idiotic box kick.
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… although, to be fair, one idiotic box kick in a whole game is not much.
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Some England scrum halves would have loved to have only made one idiotic box kick per game.
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Toulouse Sharks is shaping up nicely
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Yellow card coming up
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Ticht – we are, of course, watching Treviso Cardiff. Keep us posted!
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:-)
Someone has been duly mummified by the medical staff.
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Treviso have just scored, and are 13-3 up.
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What a try, 95m
The pace from Williams is scary
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I’m posting on a phone Thaum
Brevity will be necessary
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Massive scrum from Toulouse brings the penalty
Converted by Ramos
6-10
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Toulouse score a lovely wide try almost on half time
The scorer Mallia was off for an HIA and yellow card earlier after a hefty collision where he looked in a bad way
11-10 to Toulouse
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But there is enough time for Toulouse to win another penalty pot at goal with which Ramos does the honours
14-10 at HT
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Excellent game in Toulouse. This could go either way as the Sharks have often out-Touloused Toulouse, certainly not playing the traditional South African style. Their try was splendid.
That said, Toulouse have been unusually profligate and Lebel, fast as he is, butchered two certain tries.
As a foot note, I found it funny that Malia knocked himself out and still got a YC. Glad it didn’t have a big impact on the rest of the game.
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Beautiful hallmark Toulouse try, Dupont with a good inside support line passes on to Ramos
21-10
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Thanks, both! Yours sounds like a much better match.
Cardiff have just managed to take the lead at 13-20.
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Sharks gave real pace available to them
Chamberlain just sprints through the Toulouse midfield
21-17
This is a good game
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But Treviso have equalised.
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Malia in for his second, but it sparks a push and shove
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Bosch could be in trouble
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They decided it was a legitimate tackle
26-17
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Another try, this tome Sharks
Mpimpi dances through and passes to Williams but there was a very forward pass
Ah he’s reviewing it now
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Cardiff slot a penalty, and Treviso get another try. But Cardiff on the attack.
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A little bit of Dupont magic may have sealed this
33-20 Toulouse, 10 minuties to go
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Cardiff win a penalty, go for the corner, and win another in front of the posts. Then bungle it.
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Meant to say, they went for the corner again and bungled that. But now they’ve got another line-out in the 22 with 3 mins to go and 27-23.
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oooh, this game has had some lovely scores, this latest is no different
38- 20 with the conversion to come from in front of the posts
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Cardiff can’t do it despite several chances! Treviso through to the semi-finals.
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Now they are just showing off, another nice try from Toulouse to finally put it to bed.
The air miles might well be catching up with Sharks in this last quarter
47-20
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Wow, Ntamack just spilt them open like a pro playing down the leagues.
He brings up the fifty
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54-20 is a little unfair reflection of the Sharks’ performance, but Toulouse looked good.
Good enough to beat Leinster?
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Lovely game in Toulouse (my local team don’tyaknow)
Two Sharks players badly injured I think so hope they are ok.
Ramos having a dream season.
Willis looking completely at home and valued
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Ticht
It’s hard to say – at times Toulouse look ‘soft’ and Leinster will jump on that.
Mind you, they were missing Atonio, Jelonch and one or two others.
It’ll be a home win – is it in Dublin or Toulouse?
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