With the warm-up internationals for the World Cup getting into swing, the BTL underdoggers are out in force. Flair reckons that Scotland will beat France by 40 points; BorderBoy doesn’t seem very sure about getting out of the group in the Cup at all, whereas Deebee thinks South Africa shouldn’t even bother getting on the plane. And everyone is underdogging New Zealand. SBT just hopes there’ll be a chance to travel and party, and lots of turnstiles.
Me, I’m confident that Ireland will beat Italy this weekend as we have FIVE starting Ulstermen, including an Ulster captain, and another Ulsterman on the bench. But I am also not entirely sure we’ll make it out of the group, and very doubtful we’ll get any further than the QFs (again). There’ll be a serious and detrimental lack of Ulstermen on the WC sides, just you wait and see.
As for Wales, I’ve just asked the mister if he thinks they’ll beat England this weekend. Long pause. Scratching. “Yeeaaah … but I don’t think it’s gonna be a good game.” What an optimist!
Onna telly this weekend
Saturday 5th August
| New Zealand v Australia | 03:35 | Sky Sports Action |
| Scotland v France | 15:15 | Prime Video |
| Wales v England | 17:30 | Prime Video |
| Ireland v Italy | 20:00 | RTÉ2 / Prime Video |
| Argentina v South Africa | 20:10 | Sky Sports Action |
Ovally Balls 
Tttt ttt Thaum !
Am not underdogging, not my style. Just saying the aggregate score will be Scotland by 40. But these are warm upgames. I fully expect France to go all the way when the serious stuff begins.
Lovely illustration ATL ! Those pills seem to contain every active ingredient known to mankind, what a weird mix!
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Poetic licence for ATL, Flair!.
Yes, I’d think you’d be feeling too strange to worry about period pains with that concoction.
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NZ/ Aus result was closer than I expected. Haven’t watched the match yet.
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I watched it. Oz much improved but lack of fitness showed. ABs B team quite unconvincing. Quite a dip in quality from the big guns.
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French scrum isn’t going great. They’ve been pinged for early, pooping up and now Bamba’s lost his feet.
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Pooping up? That’s disgusting.
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French babies score a lovely try!
Bastards!
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Oh lord, France have found some more nippy backs.
Lovely try by France there.
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A nice try indeed!
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Reckon Flair had the wrong side winning by 40.
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Hmm. These French neophytes are not to be trifled with.
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That’s the second time a tackle around the neck has been ‘only a penalty’.
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It’s a little scary that France get over the gainline with almost every carry.
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Thaum – to be fair, the one on DvdM started on the chest and slid up.
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Yes, and on the first one, the player was falling to the floor and the tackler stopped as soon as possible, and apologised.
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It’s almost like the draconian measures – that the commentariat collectively shit their pants about – have had the desired effect on behaviour.
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Hmm, France 2’s looking handy.
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3rd try for France, right at the end of the half. Woki stretching over the line. Big hill for Scotland to climb in the second half.
3-21
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Well that was bloody awful from my point of view and bloody brilliant from Flair’s point of view.
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It’s the taking part that counts
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Not sure we’re even doing that, Ticht.
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Wee Darcy’s taking part though!
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That’ll be the start to the 2nd half Scotland wanted.
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Scottish comeback is on!
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Wee Darcy’s doing well!
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That was a hell of a kick to touch, by Finn.
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That’s Zander off then. Head contact, at least a yellow, possibly a red.
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Oh, that doesn’t look good by Zander.
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Yellow for Zander, with review going on in the background.
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That’s all the momentum we’ve built up so far this half, completely gone.
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I do wonder sometimes if Zander isn’t very bright. Think thats a red.
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Oh dear. Looks like Z-Fags will be leaving permanently.
Like this idea of giving a yellow and letting play go on while it’s reviewed.
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Lovely little dummy by Schoemann, to make a bit of space to score Scotland’s 2nd try.
17-21 54mins.
Zander’s card has been upgraded to a red.
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Well.
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Bloody hell Scotland. Kinghorn with a short gallop down the wing to score under the posts.Scrapped for a Graham knockon. Back for a pen.LikeLike
Yes! This time! Hopefully! Exclamation mark!
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Scotland get the try. Cherry off the back of a maul, right in the corner.
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Bloody hell, Serin’s back.
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France on a yellow warning and Scotland extend their lead.
25-21
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Kinghorn? I thought it could only be Darcy.
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SQUEAKED IT! Well done, Scotland!!!
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Rugby! Bloody hell!
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What a nail-biting finish. 2 scrums and a lineout and Scotland turn the ball over mid-field for a penalty and the win.
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Well, it will go down as a win for Scotland, but we can’t give teams a three try start and then attempt to play with 14.
We didn’t start playing until the second half.
Some of the young French players look great
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Thats quite the half time team talk. Very impressive, and not a massive drop off from the French first team, I would have thought. Back three looking really sharp, both in attack and defence, Kinghorn deserved his MoM award.
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As I said, Scotland by 40.
Enjoyable game. No injury andd hopefully Z’s réd wont harm his chances to play at the RWC.
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Flair, it’s Z’s second red card for exactly the same thing
He’ll get six weeks at least, if he is very lucky he’ll be available for our first game at the RWC against South Africa
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That’s too bad Ticht.
I also hope the 9’s ( his name escapes me now, sorry) injury wont be serious.
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Just noticed that the Amazon team graphic shows the forward top-down and backs bottom-up, for the numbers. It’s very confusing, at first glance.
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Refit – Yanks. What do they know?
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