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 
Think we can safely say that Roebuck has had a ‘special’ day.
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I do wonder if I may be have been mistaken in my opinions of Steve Borthwick as a coach.
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Small margins SBT. Finn puts over that last kick, France hold onto the ball and score tries, then you might not be changing your opinion.
What IS happening though, is that there seems to be a group of younger players coming through and if he continues to loosen the ropes a bit then you have the basis of a strong squad that could be challenging for world cups soon (which pains me to type…)
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Ahh. ‘Andy Warhol’ is Gabriel Clarke.
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@cmw
Anyone know what happened to Larmour, he clearly had some talent?
Awful under high ball – great broken field runner. Tendency to run sideways. Beats 6 men by running across the pitch.
Was in 6N panel last year but doesn’t start for Leinster in big games really.
Probably one of a cohort of Leinster players who’d be better off finding a contract in England or France rather than sitting in the stands on the big days ….
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@Trisk – That makes sense. Thought he must have left Leinster though I don’t see them play often.
My guess on what I’ve seen is that Blair Murray might be a close fit though he probably does run in the direction of the tryline more often the flaws might be the same.
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Ireland were piss-poor. I don’t enjoy watching this Ireland side, and found myself cheering on Italy there
@thaum
You and me both. Been poor all tournament except for last 20 Vs England (coincided with Crowley, Aki, and Sheehan arriving)
Scotland imploded after losing Russell and Graham
Wales could have beaten them, as could Italy. And France pulverised us.
Autumn Internationals weren’t great (as everyone is no doubt fed up with me saying)
They look tired – maybe 3rd place is a good thing if a bunch of them miss out on the Lions and get a rest and we take the 2nd tier to Portugal and Georgia
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Dreadful bagpiper.
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Trisk – feels to me like the management is tired. The ‘pick mostly Leinster and rely on them to win’ isn’t working any more.
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Stirring anthems!! And now for some adverts and Lolinnatowel (purely for Thaum…)
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BB – gah! It’s shuddersome.
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I dislike this Scotland kit quite strongly. France of course are looking a lot better on that front than they did for a long time.
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Well, this has started at 1000mph.
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I’ve got Fickou, loup-garou on a loop in my head.
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Have you heard? Blair Kinghorn plays in France. Comms have only mentioned it 10 or 20 times, you might have missed it.
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@thaum
Basically, the coaches have copied Leinster – the main benefit is cohesiveness at the start of the tournament.
It’s notable that performances drop off towards the end of the tournament….as opposition start to increase their cohesion …
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Happy to have Ireleinster play every week! Scotland’s 50-50 passes putting them under pressure. I get they don’t want to get into an arm-wrestle with France, but cute passes that see you going backwards don’t help
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Ritchie off for 10.
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@CMW
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Trisk – yep, and Leinster ain’t what they were a few seasons ago either. Other teams are figuring it out.
It’s a lazy choice.
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Scotland have done well to survive those lineouts. Need to kill some time now with Ritchie off though.
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This needs a VERY large whisky to get me through/drown my sorrows.
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That’s the first one.
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I was about to say that it felt insane there were still only 3 points scored, but then Fickou happened.
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Good to see Antonio getting his ‘soft hands for a big lad’ moment in, just now.
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LOUP-GAROU! LOUP-GAROU!
(It means ‘werewolf’, for those who don’t speak French.)
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Were any of the French players back 10 for the quick tap?
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Straight red, surely?
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Not these days Deebee.
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Hmm, got to be a better angle at that, may be red.
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Cop out.
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Won’t be nilled at least.
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Not really a drop off in quality with the 16, is there!
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Scotland immediately look to take advantage of the extra man…
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Lucu may be the world’s second-best scrum-half. Or it might be Le Garrec. Both unlucky to be playing while Dupont is!
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That’s a bollocks decision.
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Seriously? Yellow stays a yellow?
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Darcy!!
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That’s a fantastic try! Darcy Graham!
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It does look like Zac de la Rocha (of Rage Against the Machine) is playing 2nd row for France.
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Lovely try for Scotland.
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BB – it was a badly executed headbutt. His lack of precision apparently is mitigation. Serious BS.
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Yes if it’s a headbutt then it’s a sending off and if it wasn’t really then not a yellow card. Should have been dealt with properly in the first place.
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It feels like the Ire/Italy game was played at a glacial pace, compared to this and Wales/Eng earlier.
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Nice to see someone carded for giving away penalties when there’s already an advantage against them.
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Another French player off for 10 and we’re level!
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But not for long. This has been a real ding dong first half. My main worry is that we still have the “Third Quarter Blues” to come.
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YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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What a run by Kinghorn! And Scotland actually take advantage to score.
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FAB Scottish try!
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