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 
Watched the highlights of the Edinburgh game. Commentary team said the ref was the same as this year’s Calcutta Cup game. He was rubbish in that game too. Surprised he didn’t wait for Itoje to tell him where the conversions could be taken from.
Yes, I’m still bitter….
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Great start in Northhampton. Nice weather, great running and passing by N., very good defence by Castres.
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Oh dear, not a promising reffing start to Saints, a swinging arm by a Castre player being ignored.
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Great try by N.
Castres lost a line out, blistering counterattack.
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Refit – I don’t think the swinging arm hit anyone, though?
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Refit, the ref is the same as last week in LaR, where he made very few friends.
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Thaum – it hit the Saints player being tackled. While it didn’t cause or directly lead to the injury, it’s dangerous play and should be penalised.
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Well, I agree, but I thought he missed!
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That will be a card of some colour and a penalty try, I would think
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Great handling by N.
Try might be chalked off but head contact means probably a RC for Castres player.
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Well, I am in full agreement on this one – WTAF!
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Strange decision.
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These guys, refs, must be getting told to not card people
The inconsistency is baffling – compare that to the penalty try Munster were awarded
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Piardi is usually good as a ref
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Flair, I though Lucu was excellent today
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I thought the penalty try was excessive as three UBB players were still able to stop the Munster player but in this instance, the head contact even accidental should be penalised by a YC at least .
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Dammit, forgot about the W6N today.
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Ticht, Lucu is a stunning SH, barred by Dupont of course, but I reckon he’d start for most international teams. Fantastic in defence, great kicker both from hand and from the tee, great pass and great rugby brain.
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Piardi is OK, but he tends to hide too much behind the TMO.
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20/13 at HT.
Some contentious decisions going against Castres at the breakdown, but the head contact was a simple penalty when it could’ve been a red. Refs have such a hard job to interpret the rules.
Northampton certainly deserve their lead.
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20/13 at HT.
Some contentious decisions going against Castres at the breakdown, but the head contact was a simple penalty when it could’ve been a red. Refs have such a hard job to interpret the rules.
Northampton certainly deserve their lead.
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How is that not clear head on head?
They really don’t care about player safety at all.
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No way! Piardi has found his cards.
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Totally unfair that he’s carded the Northampton player as well, as he was probably trying to rescue his player who looked like he could be in trouble. And I think a second Castres player should have gone too.
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The talk of Pollock for the Lions is just stupid. He is going to be a star, but ffs, I can think of three or four Welsh backrows I’d pick in front of him right now, let alone the others
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Quick start by Connacht. I imagine Claw is bouncing at that.
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That is Connacht’s season in 10 minutes – two good tries, soft try conceded – Big Bundee is looking good
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Can someone please offer Mark Robson a very well paid job in something else?
He makes my ears hurt as a rugby commentator, he just can’t stop talking and let the game unfold
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Almost a carbon copy of the Saints match head contact, but a red card this time.
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Well, that’s better reffing.
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And a penalty try.
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Flair – Le Garrec ain’t bad either!
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I was concentrating on something else – is it a 20 minute red card ?
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I don’t think they’re doing 20-min red cards in this tournament.
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Faz copying the Castre 11.
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Excellent win for Racing, considering they (rightly) played with a man down for most of the game. Faz being Faz didn’t help at the end either. Jordan Joseph (and Bemba) finally overcoming injuries and playing to their potential. Wouldn’t be surprised to see them tour NZ in July, as Racing won’t be involved in the play offs.
And yes, Thaum, Le Garrec isn’t bad either. Were I coach, I’d send my young 9s for a couple of seasons in France. Hope I don’t jinx him, but Serin will probably emulate Lucu and Le Garrec tomorrow.
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Overall UBB the better team, but lineout problems killed Munster. Got going far too late.
Amashukeli gave a couple of weird decisions – the maul try when he signalled held up and then told TMO on field decision try.
Penalty try – it’s 55-45 but apparently it’s “balance of probabilities” … Got the benefit this time after the one against with Piardi last week.
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Munster must have the best travelling support in club rugby
They were travelling all sorts of ways….
Flying to Barcelona via UK and getting the train …
Putting out messages on social media looking for ppl to share an Uber from Bergerac ….
Training it from Nantes ….
There’s a hidden source of logistical expertise there that is being overlooked – these folks could organise almost anything if you told them Munster are playing in France.
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Hope I don’t jinx him, but Serin will probably emulate Lucu and Le Garrec tomorrow
When I saw him at U20, I thought Serin would be France’s 9 for as long as he wanted …
Lucu was brilliant yesterday – of course, when the lineout went to pieces, kicking to touch was a no brainer, but his kicking was superb.
Crowley’s line kicking was good as well but lineout negated the benefit – so you’d probably not come away with that impression.
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Is Thaum here? If so what was the pain relief combo your dentist(?) told you you could get over the counter without prescription?
I have a back spasm and it’s torture.
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Hi Ticht, you can take Solpadeine Max (which has paracetamol and codeine) and Nurofen Plus (which has ibuprofen and codeine) at the same time. Make sure to eat with the Nurofen, though. Probably best if you sort of stagger them.
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Thanks Thaum.
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You probably won’t be able to buy both at the same time, so you’ll have to go to two chemists, though!
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Had to go shopping during the first half. Doesn’t sound like I missed anything.
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Brutal game in Toulon. Rainy and windy and yet Jaminet effortlessly kicks a penalty from 60m. Toulon lead 12/6 at HT, Toulouse a bit sloppy.
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Not the best game in Toulon.
Serin was yellow carded for a head contact.
Score 15/18.
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Carley invents a knock on that never was. From the subsequent scrum, Toulon get a penalty, and 3 points!
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At the last second, Ramos finally finds his kicking boots. Toulouse win 21/18.
Intense game but technically poor. Toulouse look strangely rusty.
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Bit of try-fest in Bath: 7 so far, 4 to Bath and 3 to Gloucester. Still about 4 mins left in the first half!
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