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 
Good half. PoM getting away twice with his head and shoulder (?) barges. Didn’t know it was legal.
I think the way Dupont was cleared out of this ruck, with the Irish player falling on his knee deserved a replay. Not surprised the local TV deemed it unnecessary to show it all the way through.
Glad I’m on the couch and not on the pitch, this is ferocious.
The 7/1 bench might prove very costly now.
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TRY Sheehan! Prendergast’ll never convert it.
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Oh, but he does!
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Well played Thaum.
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This might take a while.
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Ooh, another yellow for Ireland.
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Try France! Nash may be in trouble too?
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Just watched the Dupont incident on French TV. The Irish lock , #5, deliberatly ( as in extending himself to hit his target) falls shoulder first into Dupont’s knee. Red card.
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Didn’t get that second decision: POM was clearly tackled off the ball. But as he’s not above that sort of thing himself, I’m not going to argue too much!
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Flair, can you post a clip of that, I thought it looked iffy live.
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Lucu almost fucked that.
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That is fantastic!
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Dodgy try, followed by a stonking try! Wow! B-B is some player! Sorry, BB, not you (this time).
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Go, go Gadget-arms!
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Told you we’d lose.
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Bonus point try! Out of sight now?
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Bonus point try! This time through some grunt up front!
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Shit, we’ve got them next week in Paris.
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If the Boks don’t win the next World Cup (i don’t think we will) I hope France win playing like this. Fantastic exhibition of blood, guts, glory and grandeur.
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Bit cruel to put Murray on at this point for his last match.
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That’s a proper kick inna nuts.
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Church on his last outing!
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Cian Healy furra line on his last match!
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France with the rare actual and moral victory (following the Ringrose shenanigans).
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Well. That was a proper drubbing, despite the late scores.
How on earth did France manage to lose to England?
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What’d Ringrose do?
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Well deserved by France
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Thaum – it was Easterby fucking around with “Ringrose would have been picked for Leinster, so that uses up his red card suspension”, so he’d be eligible for this match.
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Ahh yes, I’d forgotten about that.
Personally, I think McCloskey would have been a better choice today! But you knew that already.
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Flair, incident is 28 mins in, doesnt look pretty, but I dont think it was intentional.
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There’s a lot of strange things happening in the world at the moment, but Wales picking an unchanged side must be up there.
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Phew, exhausted after watching that, Scotland and Wales need to put on a show to avoid a massive anti-climax. Well played France, Ireland pack did well, but the only back that really looked class was Keenan.
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SBT, I don’t know how to insert a video here. I watched it several times, and for my money it’s dirty play. Then I may be wrong as I’m sure the TMO would’ve reviewed it. But let’s remember it is the duty of each player to make sure others are safe. That’s not what the Irish #5 did. Dupont will probably be out for the rest of the season.
Good win for France. Still smarting from that defeat in Twickenham.
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‘Mon Scotland!!!!
Win, or its over for Toonie (‘cos we won’t beat France in Paris).
Although that would be very Scottish – lose to Wales at home, beat France in Paris.
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Also wonder if any of those guys from the hotel in Dundee have made it to the game…
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Good start…
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Kinghorn in!!
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SBT, just heard Galthié who expressed his surprise that the Dupont incident wasn’t even reviewed. In his own measured words, he considered the action “reprehensible”.
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Second try in for Tom Jordan!
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Thomas in trouble here? His hand did go to Duhan’s face, but I thought he was trying a hand off. Not deliberate I think.
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Good reffing right there.
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Looked less accidental on the replay, but he’s got away with it.
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Bugger.
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Lovely try.
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Darcy in again!
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Oh… that’s a terrible try to give away
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I think Wales have just learned, they’re not France. Sometimes you just need to get the ball off the park.
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Not sure how much of that try was Welsh mistakes and Scotland pressure. Bonus point before half time.
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On Ireland/France – this has been coming. Few scores at the end when France were already thinking about the trip home.
Performances in Autumn were janky – scraped past Argentina and Australia
Good last quarter vs England covered up the poor first 60. Good enough against Scotland, but again not very good vs Wales.
Even in the first 20 when Ireland had field position – they got no go forward in their carries.
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Trisk – it feels managerialist. There’s no creativity.
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