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 
Thanks, Deebee!
Not really – the Brecon Beacons are in South Wales, and Snowdonia is in the NW.
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Ha! And now I’ve just seen the article that prompted that question.
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Deebee, Glasgow are almost certain to stay in fourth place, which would most likely see a home semi final against Munster.
Munster can’t overtake Glasgow, no matter what the results are at the weekend.
Neinaber is coming in as a replacement for Lancaster, with Leo Cullen remaining in overall charge.
Trisk, after saying what I did about Healy, Kinghorn had a very good game at 10 for Edinburgh, he really lights up our attack. He’s even bigger than Heally, 1.93m and 107 kg, in fact his first two tries against Italy this year were like he was a ball carrying backrower, rather than a fly half, then his third was like a flying winger, he remains the quickest player in the Scotland squad.
On Saturday he had several Finn-esque offloads to get players in for either a score or for them to make lots of ground.
His kicking is pants, though. James Lang now takes the kicks to the corner and Boffelli takes the pots at goal.
It will be interesting to see what happens next season, it could well end up with Kinghorn being Scotland’s first choice fullback and Edinburgh’s first choice fly half, he is only two and half years older than Healy but he has 43 Scotland caps and is closing in on 140 appearances for Edinburgh, that’s a lot of experience.
I hope Healy really pushes him, Kinghorn’s problem has always been focus, he’s one of those ridiculously gifted athletes who never really had to try too hard.
The pair of them seem to have hit if off, Kinghorn spoke about how Healy came into the Scotland camp and was a really positive addition in terms of his attitude and general personality, if they can push each other into playing better then that will be a good thing for Edinburgh and Scotland.
Embra have let 13 players go, some of them are baffling and can only be because of the money spent elsewhere, such as Duhan coming back after Wuss went for a Burtons, Boffelli re-signing, Ewan Ashman and Scott Steel coming in.
Our back three pool remains good, Darcy Graham, Boffelli, Duhan, Wes Goosen and Kinghorn, being the main players, but injuries and International duties and SRU-mandated rotation mean we have a great starting lineup but not a lot of depth at that standard.
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oops, the next matches after this weekend are obviously quarter finals, not semi finals.
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*looks forward to updating Thaum on Ulster getting ‘hammered’ when she is away despite what the actual result is.*
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Ha, Craigs, Ulster are playing Edinburgh in Belfast and as much as I’d like Edinburgh to hammer any team, the chances are slim.
Slim as in as much chance as me winning gazillions in the Euro lottery.
I don’t buy tickets for the lottery.
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Thing is, can Ulster handle the pressure? 2nd on the log, with a glorious shot at a home semi and a beating at Leinster’s hands in the Final – will they fold before that?
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Hmph! Don’t count your Blue Meanie chickens before they’re hatched!
(10, 20, 30, 40….)
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If you can get to see a replay of Toulouse vs Lyon last night, it was the T14 game of the year. Amazing quality, endless end to end stuff, the speed of thought and execution was stunning.
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@ticht
(meant to post yesterday)
Interesting background stuff.
Healy’s move was almost certainly triggered by the 2 tours (firstly vs NZ then the EI tour in Oct to SA)
Harry Byrne and Frawley went to NZ (with Sexton and Carbery) – Byrne was injured early – rumours float around that he won’t play unless 100%, and Frawley played vs Maori.
Then with the EI – Crowley was chosen with Frawley – Frawley got injured and Flannery was selected …possibly because sending Healy left Munster light at 10 (also Healy’s early season form wasn’t great). Then at AIs, Byrne was parachuted in vs Aus, kicked a pen and became the new successor to Sexton. Flannery has barely played for Ulster this season.
Healy – at that point – will have seen himself as #3 at Munster and behind an ever-lengthening line of Leinster 10s (and the occasional 12s) with the latest golden boy Prendergast (part of the U20s GS team) .
Scottish regions had been hovering around a year or two back – so he’s backed himself – with Hogg going, looks like you’ll put Kinghorn back to 15, and makes Healy #2 at 10 after RWC.
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“with Hogg going, looks like you’ll put Kinghorn back to 15, and makes Healy #2 at 10 after RWC.”
I’m not sure about that just yet, I think Adam Hastings is probably still number 2, he is due back in a week or two, I believe he is in the World team to play the Barbarians, or the other way round, even if he doesn’t make the last couple of games for Glaws.
Glasgow also have Ross Thompson on the way back from injury, he is less of a flair player, but he has a very good kicking game.
Kinghorn covers 10, both wings and fullback, so even if he isn’t starting at ten, it frees up the bench options and a six-two split becomes less of a gamble, the backs can be a back three or a centre and a scrum half if Kinghorn starts at 15.
I’ve nothing against Healy, he is one of ours at Edinburgh now so I’m rooting for him to be the best he can be, I just don’t think he is a shoe-in for either the Scotland bench or the starting jersey at Edinburgh, he’ll have to earn it, I’m sure he is aware of that.
Kinghorn had to play wing a lot this season due to the injury dogs hamstringing us, so even with Darcy Graham, Boffelli, Duhan, Damien Hoyland and Wes Goosen we were still caught short when all of them were crocked. We brought in a couple of academy kids and they got injured too.
Kinghorn wasn’t fit when he played wing, but he was the least injured of the available options, he spent much of the Edinburgh v Glasgow game honking his guts up on the touchline.
There was a lot of “See, told you he wasn’t a fly half” bollocks going on when he was selected on the wing, but it wasn’t the case that “The Blair Switch Project” had been abandoned, it was just the best use of resources, with young Charlie Savala taking up the reins at fly half – he’s probably a little miffed, he’d pushed in front of Jaco van der Walt in the selection line now he’s back to number three. I hope it spurs him on to improve.
I guess a lot will depend on what approach the new head coach takes, but rugby is headed in the way that favours the running players.
Over the course of the season you need two players at least in every position who are as good as each other, I’m hoping this is a good move for all concerned
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Oh, I forgot that Henry Immelman was injured too. After a slow start he became a very good player for us at fullback.
He’s also leaving, headed back to South Africa and the Bulls.
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He’s also leaving, headed back to South Africa and the Bulls.
One down, 299 to go…
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Deebee, Jaco van der Walt was one of the players Edinburgh let go, there is speculation that he could end up at the Bulls too.
Morne Steyn will be 39 in July.
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Cool! 298 to go…
Morne Steyn will probably be playing rugby at 50 – he’s a remarkable athlete and his ability to rile FD is the cherry on the top.
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Pfft! Looks like the Justice 4 FD brigade is boycotting my comment.
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I have a nickname for all players with the surname Steyn. It’s 4 letters and it starts with a W.
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Just got an email from Rishi Sunak to participate in a webinar on Monday!
Hi there – is there anything you’ve ever wanted to ask me? Well, now’s your chance.
On Monday 24 April I’ll be answering questions from the business community live on LinkedIn.
Anybody want me to ask him anything?
Anything that won’t have MI5 on my tail?
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Thauma, is it Wayn? Win-a!
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Anything that won’t have MI5 on my tail?
No.
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I was thinking of asking if he viewed Boris or Peppa as a better strategic thinker, but that’s a bit simple. Was going to ask what his favourite biscuit is as well, but that would probably expensive and offshore.
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Edinburgh’s Stuart McInally is to retire from rugby after the RWC. He has made 176 appearances for Edinburgh, 5 for Bristol Bears during his loan spell when he was converting from the flank to hooker and he has 47 Scotland caps so far.
He has his flying ticket and is going to pursue his childhood dream of becoming a commercial airline pilot.
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Nowell could miss his last game at Sandy Park
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New post up here.
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