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 
A short Real Rugby Update,
Arnold Clark East Region Division 2
Dunbar 81 – 17 Trinity Accies
One of the centres scored six tries.
This leaves Dunbar needing 3 points from their two remaining games to secure promotion. The next fixture is away to Hawick Quins, the nearest rivals, who still have five games to play due to frozen pitches over the winter.
Quins need five point from all five games to catch Dunbar.
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Dragons gave The Weedge a fright, going 10-0 up. That just annoyed us.
Final score Dragons 20 Warriors 45.
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I’m thinking BB might mean Bloody Bullies. Shame on you BB.
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I think at this stage we could safely congratulate Dunbar on their promotion. There are things I’m more certain of (Wales getting humped by Ireland next weekend, the importance of not being caught by the US authorities in possession of unpasteurised cheese), but I feel it’s pretty well nailed on.
Pleased to see that the reality on Scotland’s roads has finally been acknowledged and the country has been divided up along the lines of Arnold Clark regions and divisions.
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A post script to the RRU, whilst no chickens are being counted, there is a quiet determination around the players and coaching staff.
One of the prices of the relative success this season is that the two or three truly outstanding young players have had advances from other clubs who play much higher up the ladder.
Clubs are strictly forbidden from paying players but there are other things that can be done, the players’ kit is all paid for by individual sponsors, that can go up several notches at the higher levels.
The one thing in our favour is that the current group have largely grown up together from mini rugby at six or seven years old to now in their early 20s. The dad of one of the players has coached them all the way up. They all enjoy each other’s company, even the one guy in his mid thirties who brings up the average age a notch stays with them for a pint or two.
It would be a shame to lose the best players although one could never deny them their ambition of playing at the highest level they can.
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Clubs are strictly forbidden from paying players
It’s called Regulation 6 here – only the 4 provincial teams and associated entities -academies etc can offer payments. But it’s widely known to be broken amongst AIL clubs and the odd ambitious junior club too
Not just getting free kit – that would be par for the course, but offers of help with job seeking and obviously cash in hand (I’ve heard €500-700 quoted)
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Trisk, I’m sure there are underhand payments going on here too, though I have no evidence of it. The job seeking is a big one and it’s more important than rugby, though it’s a real shame that it’s the same teams harvesting the best from the lower leagues.
We’ve got one guy in Edinburgh’s pro academy and good luck to him. Another is playing in a premiership team (our top level below pro), a good few who are scattered around National 1, the level below the Premiership.
There are others who are in the pro academy system who also play in the Premiership.
The good news is that the U18s have some real stars in their midst, we are hoping to get a second XV out next season – we used to run three teams every weekend plus a Colts at U19.
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Revenue (as they’re called here) put the wind up the GAA recently by invesitgating where monies were going
Now GAA are (a) bigger, and (b) make a big production of “amateur” status. But there are obvious issues where big names are managing county teams miles from where they live – they’re not doing it for the 50c/km mileage
GAA are politically well-covered but I can see a few high profile cases “pour encourager les autres”. But could expect rugby to get ‘looked at’ at some point
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the same teams harvesting the best from the lower leagues
This has been a real issue in women’s rugby – couple of teams hoovering up virtually every good player emerging from youth teams plus adults too
End result – some horrific scores. Railway Union have won 14 out of 14 and have a points difference of 797 – ie they win by an average of 50+ points
https://www.finalwhistle.ie/rugby/ail-womens-division/
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Caelan Doris out for the Walkabout in Wales. Won’t make any difference to the result, unfortunately for the Welsh.
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Caelan Doris out
Kelleher out too, but that just means Conan and Sheehan come in (I presume) – Herring or Gus McCarthy to the bench as hooker.
Not sure about 8 – Coombes was added to the squad but it would be a surprise to see him catapulted into the 23 after being cast into the “utttermost darkness” since the A game vs NZ in 2022
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Matthieu Jalibert out for the Italy match, as he’s ‘ill’. Looks like Damian Penaud is out too, having not trained with the side so far this week. The Scarlets hooker, Marnus van der Merwe invited to the first Bok alignment camp of the season (albeit a virtual one), with his form so far this season putting him on the Bok radar. I’ll keep the good news coming, I’m here all week.
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invited to the first Bok alignment camp of the season
Saw Kleyn on the list too. Even though he’s not played all season
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Doris out – so new Ireland captain Dan Sheehan….
slightly odd in that O’Mahony is starting (albeit he won’t finish) and Beirne is current Munster captain.
McCarthy back and Ryan to the bench – Hansen back and Nash fired into the sun.
Clarkson to start at TH, Bealham to the bench, Keenan replaced by Osborne
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Trisk, quite a few injured players on the list. The assumption is I suppose that they’ll be fit at some stage.
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Finn fit.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/crmjwy0k19xo
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Lot of changes to the Wales team, no idea what to make of it though there’s no reason to expect much from it in the circumstances. Bit surprised at some the omissions and one or two who are keeping their places, but have to believe the man in charge has got some sort of a plan!
Can only get better. Unless we get worse or stay the same.
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Will invoke Welsh granny and hope for a real up and at em attitude. Looking for Ben Thomas and Max Llewellyn to make a point. Tomas Williams and Anscombe have been having fun at Gloucester this year, would be a great game for everything to click.
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Oh, and welcome to the US of A, Thaum. Hope visit goes well.
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I’ve gone for France, England and Ireland on ‘Bru. Apologies in advance if they all get struck down by the curse of Suz-bee.
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quite a few injured players on the list
Probably fewer than usual and they have “brought in cover from the provinces” as the tv ad here goes…..I’ll try to find a link
Furlong was in the panel but never expected to play – there’s a kind of code here – “progress being monitored” that reads as “do you think a trip to Lourdes might help?”
They won’t rule lads out until team is announced – plus trying not to let opposition plan.
Clarkson at TH is slightly surprising – he might struggle against Nicky Smith
Osborne for Keenan – no real shock as he played well there against SA in the summer
Hansen straight back – even though he’s shown little enough this season.
O’Mahony is the comfort blanket we can’t do without it seems….
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“Clarkson at TH is slightly surprising – he might struggle against Nicky Smith”
I was looking through some optojohnny stats the other day and the Welsh scrum has been the most successful so far in the championship.
I also thought their scrum went well during the November tests.
I doubt it will be enough to keep the green hoard at bay, but it’s something that Wales can build on in the future.
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Thanks, SBT! Plane didn’t crash, although on the short flight, I thought it was going to fall apart on take-off and landing. Atlanta is a really shit airport.
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Wales kids 7-0 up against Ireland early on. Penalty try after some great forward pressure. Ireland had a try chalked off just after for a knock on over the line.
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Wales under huge pressure, but so far scrambling enough. Ireland battering away – they just look bigger and stronger – but the cameras deny them!
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Ireland fumble it just outside the Wales 10m line, a hack ahead and Wales score again! 14-0! Great stuff! Still don’t think Wales will win, but they’re tenacious so far.
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Wales are causing problems for Ireland at the breakdown and winning penalties, but then sloppily overthrow it and concede one themselves.
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Welsh defence is causing mayhem and after knocking Ireland back, they get the turnover from a pressured fumble at the base
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Ireland come again, but Wales hold firm. But concede a penalty and now have to defend the 5m lineout. Pretty much everyone in the maul and eventually Ireland have the try!
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14-5 with the conversion missed. Wales will want to play some rugby in Ireland’s half. Pissing around in their own half and then hoofing it out on the full. Ireland back in the danger zone.
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‘The referee brings play to a halt before Wales can get themselves into any more trouble’
Welsh commentators are rightly being quite critical of some of the decision making from our boys – great to see that they’re doing well though the scoreline doesn’t reflect the balance of play so it may well not last.
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Another Irish knock on under pressure, and Wales try to break but called back for the scrum. Welsh scrum on their 5m and hack it out on the 22. Good clearance under pressure! Ireland cock up the lineout and Wales can clear from the scrum.
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Keep the faith, CMW! Welsh defence has been pretty good so far!
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Very Welsh weather which is of course nice for nostalgia purposes.
@Deebee – commentators are a bit concerned our lot are going to be knackered from making so many tackles and having turned on at 14-0 I have to say they’ve got a point.
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Can Wales see out the last 2 minutes of the 1st half? Would be a great result!
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CMW, for sure – Ireland look too powerful and organized, and fucking score, but Wales have played with some heart so far.
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No. But still obviously a good effort so far. Was hoping for one OKish half from Wales this weekend so I guess everything from now on is a bonus.
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14-12 at the break. Wales need to find something to keep that lead!
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Feels like both teams have decided it’s too wet to play properly. Doesn’t seem to be raining like it was earlier though!
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17-12 at the hour mark. Wales still doing all the defending, but it’s between the 22 and halfway this half instead of on the goalline.
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Bit of an odd game in that it’s been played almost exclusively on one side of the pitch as well as in one half.
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Lineout on Wales’ right now – must be the first one out of the last dozen or so.
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‘These are the nights they don’t experience too often here in Newport!’
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Final tackle count was something like 230 to 60.
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Baby Scots pummelled.
Hope that’s not an omen.
I did ask Predict-a-Bear for his thoughts on the weekend’s rugby.
“Ach, can’t be arsed” was his considered opinion.
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The menagerie weren’t very cooperative this week either.
Drag said he sees no reason to leave his pile of gold to watch Wales play at the moment.
Bluenose Bear says he only cares about ‘the fitba’ and asked me if I saw that Celtic got knocked out in the last minute.
Berlin Bear reminded me that he doesn’t give a shit about rugby and that Berlin is not in France or Italy.
Two obvious winners and one that’s anyone’s guess so I can see where they’re coming from.
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Predictions from US.
Plucky outclassed underdogs Ireland to shock red orcs on steroids Wales, squeezing out a last minute win.
Minions England to close out a win against perennial imperialist oppressors Scotland.
Callow and inexperienced bottom of the table dwellers France to click against titans Italy, despite having the world worst scrum half, Dupont, he’s done nothing, ever.
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The England U20s Orc pack probably weighs as much as their senior side and the one crumb of comfort from last night from our point of view is that our muckle great 18 year old tighthead more than stood his ground until the second row subs came on. Our scrum creaked around the 60 minute mark, but watch out for Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, heir apparent to Zander Fagerson.
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Didn’t take long
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Nicky Smith not looking to chuffed about his mouth-guard.
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