It’s the second weekend of the Six Nations, and this is where things get (even more) interesting!
Following on from his (unexpected, even by him) success last week, Predict-A-Bear is back! This time in full Technicolor! And with lots of exclamation marks!!!!
First up is Italy vs Wales. Italy looked decent in places last week despite losing. They’ll be hoping that being back home will give them a boost. Although they haven’t beaten Wales in Rome since 2007, but that was a very different Wales. Wales have Faletau back (again) and yet another centre partnership facing up to one of the best partnerships in the tournament in Brexoncello (sorry, not sorry). Predict-A-Bear is going for:
‘Second game on Saturday is England vs France. The Big One! Le Crunch! Even though it isn’t. Not this weekend. Anyway, England have an abundance of Smiths, plus a Willis (but perhaps not the correct one) and a large number of Saints in the backline. France have added a Jalibert and some guy called Penaud on the wing. England will have a good first half and not so good second half. France will have a good first half and a better second half.
Predict-A-Bear is going for:
And that’s it for this weekend!
What do you mean there’s a game on Sunday!? You mean I’ve got to preview it too?
Bugger.
Here goes then (and this is being AI’d before the teams come out). Scotland HAVE to beat Ireland. We haven’t since 2017. Ireland were (slightly) sub-par in Autumn. They have rather annoyingly got better since then (but they did only play England last week). Scotland have lost our captain (and all-round genius) Sione, plus the very underestimated Scott Cummings for the whole tournament. Toonie’s Tombola came up with Dave Cherry last week, and he actually played well! So expect him to be out of the 23 or something weird. Injuries permitting, the only change I would make is Jordan in for McDowall. Sadly, I think the James Lowe Smirk will be in evidence a lot come Sunday evening. Can’t even do the “heart says one thing, head says the other” result – mainly because P-A-B doesn’t have a heart….
Still, Predict-A-Bear is going for:
Predict-A-Bear’s prognostications transcribed by BorderBoy.
Onna telly this weekend
Showing matches that are televised in the UK and Ireland or on popular subscription services. Bold indicates that it’s on a free to view channel. Times are in the UK zone, so adjust as necessary.
Friday 7th February
| Italy v Wales (U20s) | 19:15 | S4C, iPlayer |
| England v France (U20s) | 20:00 | iPlayer |
Saturday 8th February
| Stormers v Bulls | 12:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Italy v Wales | 14:15 | ITV1, S4C, STV |
| England v France | 16:45 | STV, ITV1 |
| Scotland v Ireland (U20s) | 19:45 | iPlayer, RTÉ2 |
Sunday 9th February
| Scotland v Ireland | 15:00 | BBC1, iPlayer, RTÉ2 |
Ovally Balls 
“they haven’t beaten Wales in Rome since 2007,”
Tip for the boys: If you’ve got a penalty in the last minute that you can kick to get a draw then we want the draw. And don’t trust the ref anyway if he says there’s time for a lineout.
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Got no time for Predict-a-bear’s predictions.
I’m so confident that my lot will finally get a win that I’ve had a bet with The Little One’s toy toucan that we can do it. Toucan gets to rub his bum in my face if we lose, but that won’t be happening as things are bound to just go our way eventually no matter how crap we are and eventually is now.
Giant Naked Peppa Pig says that England will have been battle-hardened from last week while France will be rusty with it being their first game. I don’t argue with Giant Naked Peppa.
Hamish McMagic who is in no way biased tells me that Scotland are due against Ireland and this is their moment. I want to agree with him so much that I’ve decided I will. If he’s wrong I shall be reminding him that he was a gift to Mrs CMW from some half-witted American on an internet first date many years ago and that there was a reason there was no second date.
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Hope your predictions are right. They’re close to mine: same winners, smaller margins + 6, +11, + 6.
For those interested, all games on free to air France TV 2. Add one hour, I think.
Plus tonight on L’Equipe TV, England U20 vs France at 9pm, local time.
Enjoy the week-end.
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Can’t even remember my own predictions! Went like you for Italy by 8.
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Well Flair appears not to have consulted any stuffed animals at all. And to that I say Pfft.
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Really not expecting an England win – although I’m glad that Borthwick has at last selected an inclusive 10. This will lead to an improvement in the back play but poor old Henry S. gets a lot of stick – still, the Saints combine may well be a step in the right direction. The French forwards will win the game and Ramos will be offensive, as usual.
France by 15 ‘though a lot depends upon which Jalibert turns up.
Heart says Scotland, but Ireland to win by 6.
Italy to win by 11.
Have a great w/end everybody – I’m heading for the settee to watch England/France U20s live on the telly.
ps to Bath – don’t forget to sell some players as well as hoovering up all and sundry.
Prediction no.1: By end of next season, Exeter’s Wyatt will become England reserve 15 after Furbank.
Prediction no.2: Borthwick will continue to fail through selecting players to play outside of their regular positions (provided he is still in the job next season).
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Crikey – who was that (Slade – showing signs of age!)
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The bear has spoken. Cannot fault the predictions. BB on the other hand, has probably cocked them all up. Poor sap.
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@Deebee – Having to predict all the games is too much pressure on one bear, it’s no wonder he ends up talking nonsense. BB should be done for animal cruelty.
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Looks like they have an under-20 ref in Italy v Wales as well.
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It’s a bit testy this match, ever since the Wales 14 (with the terrible lid) slid into the Italian try scorer.
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Testy testes Test match?
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The Italian TH is huge.
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Testes-Head?
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It’s quite a fun match to half-watch.
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Welsh babies get fabulous BP try! There are looking better than their seniors at the moment.
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Oh wait, they’re going back for an earlier collision. Penalty to Italy, so no gorgeous try.
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Commentator has just described a Welsh player as fe-fi-fo-fumming his way up the pitch. Nice one, but he should have saved it for the England match.
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Thrown this away maybe
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NOT!!!
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Well that worked, but I’m not proud of myself. Feel sorry for the kicker.
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I gather Italy dominated the first 20 minutes which I didn’t see, but from when I switched on Wales were much the better side though obviously could/should have lost it at the end.
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Today sees the 73rd iteration of the Dunbar v Skerries fixture. Skerries is, much like Dunbar, a little fishing town on the east coast, not too far from the capital city.
They come to us when the international is in Edinburgh and vice versa.
I’m about to leave for the game – see you on the other side of a humongous session, Tuesdayish.
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‘Sa bit moist in Rome.
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That’ll probably suit Wales better!
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Looking at the aerial shot of the Stadio Wotsito, if they’d made all those tiles solar panels, they could probably power the stadium….
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Points.
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Oh, that was a lovely move off the back of the scrum.
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Great try and lovely conversion!
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Our kicking is not the best, but the chase isn’t always great either.
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Bit unfortunate with that one, he didn’t have hold of the player when he hit the ground. Highly unlikely we’ll come back from this.
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Tommaso Allen’s kicking has really improved.
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That was far too complicated.
Could really have done with Adams gathering the chance just before.
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Bit better from Wales towards the end there. Quite a bad game though even given the weather.
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An outside half!
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Well, that was daft by Adams.
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Oh dear, bye-bye Adams. You haven’t had a great match anyway.
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Oh well, we won’t get to see whether we’re slightly better with an outside half after all.
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Remain a yellow? They are taking the piss?
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I wouldn’t have given that either (real time or not)
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A sort of double double movement. Could have got away with one, but not both.
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Yay! A score!
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Done a try. Why didn’t they just do that with the lineout in the first half?
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Bit of a harsh penalty there as he pulled out in the end, but so it goes.
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Italy really should be jumping at these lineouts, because none of them have been straight.
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Two classic tries we’ve scored here.
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This ref really loves blowing his whistle! Like, he really loves the drama of a hearty blast.
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Some strange notions from the commentary team. LBP important? We won’t be getting any more points and I’d be very surprised if they do.
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Stoked for Italy, dismayed for Wales. Would love both of them to be winning more 6N matches.
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NO HE DOESN’T TRANSCEND HIS SPORT WHAT SORT OF BOLLOCKS IS THAT???
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