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 
Exeter march on, congrats to them.
Stormers will be back, they won’t be this bad again.
LikeLike
It’s not Slade who’s #42; it’s Exeter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘Mon ra Weedge!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank dog we have Cotter on comms.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bloody hell, the Lions tichtheid is the size of a small mountain.
LikeLike
Lions player runs into Matt Fagerson and knocks himself out. Looked a nasty one.
LikeLike
Wee Dod is trying a wee bit too hard, keep the heid
LikeLike
Yes! Try Dempsey! Nicely worked lineout.
LikeLike
I would say that’s George’s main fault. He’s great when he plays at a quick tempo, but sometimes he does need to slow things down a touch. It was the same in the last game against the Dragons. He was trying to play behind our lines when he didn’t have to.
LikeLike
Another lovely try from Glasgow!
LikeLike
Nice play, go through the phases, look after possession, deliver quick ball and it’s simple game really
LikeLike
Wiki says that Ntlabakanye tips the scales at 158kg
LikeLike
158…. That’s ridiculous.
LikeLike
I’m orf for Scandi crime.
LikeLike
Why wouldn’t you just put the ball out for half time?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glasgow lucky there, although it could have been a penalty against them for a high tackle on the 9.
LikeLike
We got away with that. We have a penalty. That dog we touched it before kicking it out this time.
LikeLike
Bugger. Think we’re still in the changing room.
LikeLike
Zander gets in for a rare try
LikeLike
Yes! Good reply from Glasgow. Zander over.
LikeLike
poor pass from Steyn, otherwise I think they were in
LikeLike
Darge has been brilliant, again
You’re welcome, Glasgow
LikeLike
The big lad has played well, to go for 66 minutes as well.
LikeLike
31-14, five minutes left, I think that should be that
LikeLike
The Glasgow stats guy has come up with this quite astonishing little gem
The penalty kicked by George Horne against the Lions was the first one scored by Glasgow in 2023.
There was a gap of 797 minutes of game time since the last pen scored by Glasgow (also by George Horne – on 30/12/22 v Edinburgh).
LikeLike
I haven’t watched any Super Rugby this year yet, I don’t have the time, but I’ve just become aware of a change in how they are dealing with foul play.
• The referee will put a stopwatch shot clock on kickers who will have 90 seconds to kick a conversion from the time a try is awarded, and 60 seconds for penalties, from the time the referee signals a shot at goal.
• Match officials will expect lineouts and scrums to be formed within 30 seconds of the respective marks being set, and the ball to be used within 5 seconds of a ruck being formed.
• TMOs only ‘interrupt’ play to investigate serious, clear and obvious incidents of dangerous play missed by the Match Official team.
• Referees can utilise the TMO to make a Yellow Card decision, but any extended TMO video reviews will take place once the player has left the field, not before the Yellow Card is issued.
• The TMO will have 8 minutes to either uphold a 10-minute Yellow Card decision or upgrade it to a 20-minute Red Card, in which case the player will not return to the field, but can still be replaced.
• Referees will now also have the power to issue a full Red Card for deliberate foul play, in which case the player will not return to the field and cannot be replaced.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ticht – there was some consternation on Twitter, over the yellow -> red process yesterday. Watching the highlights of the match, it seemed fairly simple and logical.
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘Mon ROG’s boys!
LikeLike
The LAR strategy seems to involve playing pretty much the entire match in their own 22, then turning it over and winning penalties. 9-3 at 28 mins.
LikeLike
Lovely LAR try!
LikeLike
16-3 at HT.
LikeLike
hmmm …. Saracens struggling both with LA and injuries
LikeLike
It’s currently looking like your Exeter will be the only English side in the SFs.
LikeLike
Most appropriately, this is the wine we are about to drink with dinner. It’s French, but….
LikeLike
Another lovely LAR try, despite the wine choice!
LikeLike
Dulin should be sent off for diving.
LikeLike
Saracens try.
LikeLike
Dulin’s off now.
LikeLike
One seatbelt tackle with pretty much little danger, rightfully a yellow
I don’t see how that is the same as that smack to the face from the Sarries hooker
LikeLike
Game over, man
LikeLike
I don’t see that LAR side beating Leinster. Exeter, maybe, but possibly not if both teams perform as they did this weekend.
LikeLike
2005? – good year for south-west reds!
LikeLike
LaR play a bit like Sarries of old. Strong pack, excellent defence, score by multiple of 3 until the opponent is stuffed.
They could very well beat Leinster but my feeling is that Toulouse might do it before.
Nice St-Emilion Thaum. 2005 was a good year, hope it’s not too old.
LikeLike
Nope, it’s delicious!
LikeLike
(It was a xmas pressie. Thanks, Dad!)
LikeLike
Good on you. I have a few bottles in my “cave”, not exactly in perfect order. I sometimes open a bottle that I forgot I had. When it’s great, it’s great but nothing worse than opening a bottle too old. Not necessarily vinegar, but one that passed its best time. Nowadays if I have to take chances, I’d rather drink a wine too young than too old.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I bought the mister a 50-year-old bottle of Châteauneuf-du-pape for his 50th. It wasn’t vinegar, but it wasn’t exactly wine either. I quite enjoyed it, probably more than he did, although he liked the thought!
LikeLike
For my 40th, my family clubbed together and got me a bottle of rum, laid down the same year I was born. I’m not a huge rum drinker, but I’ve been savouring and it.
LikeLike
Dictador! I assume that means ‘dictator’, or perhaps ‘someone who talks a lot’. :-)
LikeLike
It’s a particularly overconfident bullfighter who eschews the normal weaponry. They have short careers.
LikeLike