France’s pack are set to make pieces of Guinness stew out of the Irish gristle, to be mopped up and washed down with aplomb by their wonderful cork-popping backs, Dupont or no. End of an era for Irish rugby, back to the drawing board.
Italy to spring the surprise of the tournament in week one, with an ambush of a rusty and luddite English side, apparently more concerned with shoehorning more music into the match and walking further from the bus to the ground than um, playing winning rugby. Just kidding. England will prevail, offering neither joy nor stardust. Danny Care gets MOTM.
Wales will Gatball their way to a 12th successive win over Scotland at home to shut Kitson and Co up who can’t be bothered to actually look at Scotland’s side so just come up with the usual ‘dark horses’ tag for a side of haggis and boerewors munchers. Crap match, but at least the Scots won’t be killed by The Hope for more than 80 minutes this year.
These are the rather more spontaneous than usual words of Deebee7.
Onna telly this weekend
Showing matches that are televised in the UK and Ireland or on popular subscription services. Bold indicates free-to-view. Times are in the UK zone, so adjust as necessary.
Friday 2nd February
| Wales v Scotland U20s | 18:45 | S4C / iPlayer |
| Italy v England U20s | 19:15 | iPlayer |
| France v Ireland | 20:00 | ITV1 |
Saturday 3rd February
| Perpignan v Racing 92 | 14:00 | Viaplay Sports 2 |
| Italy v England | 14:15 | ITV1 |
| Pau v Castres | 16:00 | Viaplay Sports 2 |
| Wales v Scotland | 16:45 | BBC1 / S4C / RTÉ2 / iPlayer |
| Munster v Crusaders | 17:00 | TG4 |
| Toulouse v Bayonne | 20:00 | Viaplay |
| France v Ireland U20s | 20:10 | iPlayer |
Sunday 4th February
| Toulon v Bordeaux | 20:00 | Viaplay Sports 2 |
I am not even slightly excited about Six Nations this year. Think we will get stuffed tonight.
Also think Deebee might have been on to something in the second paragraph, had Capuozzo not been withdrawn.
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Went for France by 12, a draw in Rome and Scotland by 15 or more.
Cappuozzo’s big loss for Italy. I think too many people take England third place at the RWC at face value. FWIW, I think they’re are still where they were when spanked by France in Twickenham or during most of the WC. I see no improvement and the new pair of halfbacks doesn’t really scare me. Nor the aging pack.
Thaum and Refit, forgot what that post of mine was about. That’s the privilege of getting old.
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Flair – it was just a thank you for the invitation. I don’t think you meant to create an ATL with it. ;-)
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Watching the U20s. They’re very quick, but not so hot on passing, but that’s partly because there aren’t receivers in the right place!
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Hang on, Hendo’s kitted up and coming out for the team, presumably on the bench. Must be a late change.
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Didn’t know Tuilagi was on the bench (Tao’s late injury). The boy is a great prospect but my, he’s raw! Hope he doesn’t have to play too early.
BTW, he’s about 1.93m and… 150kg! And only 21yo.
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Thaum, thats just World Cup hangover affecting you. Once the ball gets rolling, all the old excitement will surge back.
Good luck everyone, have fun.
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SBT – you could be right. We’ll see very shortly!
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love the crowd noise.
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does Dayglo deserve the dreadful adverts he is fronting ?
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Yes.
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imo, Dayglo deserves various things, but none of them are things he’d enjoy.
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Ireland do not look like they’re playing with a lot of confidence to me.
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At least we won’t get nilled.
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It does mean that Dayglo is still on our screens. However, we aren’t ‘gifted’ his analytical insights, so I’ll take it.
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Mini-Nige on TMO.
Naughty by Willemse.
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Oh, they’re doing the bunker review thing.
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Ha, bit of French volleyball-style skillz there.
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Lucky Lowe!
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That was a hell of a kick by Lowe.
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TRY Leprechaun!
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Willemse lucky, stays a yellow.
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Thaum – I think you are being harsh. The Irish look far more committed and together than the French
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Our Stu would’ve caught that. :-)
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SLMC: Confess I am feeling better about things now!
Seemed to me we were feeling our way into the game, but we seem to have more or less got there now.
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France are still on the bus on the way to the stadium, Ireland have started really well
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Shoulda gone for the fucking corner! Johnny would have. He also wouldn’t have missed the kick.
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Ireland really bullying France so far!
Thought yellow was fair for the head shot, bearing in mind the heights involved.
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Good lord, what a pen kick.
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TRY Beirne!
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That was really too easy for Ireland.
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Shaun Edwards will be raging at half time, that was very poor from Danty
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Not to take anything from Ireland, though, they’ve been good
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France have really not turned up for this
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I still don’t like seeing subs in the goal area when someone is in the act of scoring a try, mind.
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Willemse has earnt a second yellow, eg a red. Idiot.
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Oh. Oh dear. Well that’s killed the game dead.
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Ok, I think that one’s harsh on Willemse. He was fully upright and the Ireland player fell over into him.
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That bit of stupidity is the game decider, Ireland are too professional to lose this now, it’s now about the BP or not
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Although, I think the first one should probably have been a red. But then I’ve lost all sympathy for players making head contact recently.
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Carling didn’t seem to realise the implication of the second yellow at first – presumably he got something in his ear – and now I reckon he thinks he’s fucked up and will ref Ireland more strictly.
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looks like France will have to revert to the G.Ford drop goal strategy
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Super tackle by Keenan!
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Carling? Carley, I think. And I don’t even drink beer as a rule.
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Oof, that tackle on Penaud.
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Thaum – I wondered when old bum-chin started running the lines.
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Well-deserved try by Penaud!
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have they really woken up ? Game on
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Well, I’m a lot more optimistic than I was before the match, but France could easily still win this. As SLMC says, they seem to have woken up, and as you see so often, perhaps the red card has done it.
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Fucking hell, Dayglo in just a towel. Argggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
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