In the exciting battle for the wooden spoon between Ireland, Wales, Italy and England, coaches have not learninged much from their previous selection errors. To be fair to Italy, they don’t have a huge range of players from which to select, and they have played brilliantly; they could and possibly should have beaten Ireland, so we’ll let Quesada off.
As for Ireland, it seems that Farrell has at least learninged that the Prendergast experiment has woefully failed after watching him splash around in the shallow part of the pitch in the first match, and create his own wadi in the second. While Crowley, like his other possible replacements, is dubious with the kicking tee (and by the way, kicking points is only HALF YOUR FUCKING JOB as a fly-half), he’s clearly much more effective on the pitch.
The inclusion of more Ulster players made a clear difference in the second match with Player of the Match being narrowed down to a choice between McCloskey, Baloucoune, Fischetti and Zuliani: two Ulstermen, and two Italians. So of course Farrell drops Izuchukwu, who also performed well, and Timoney remains on the bench.
As for England, the inclusion of Stewart continues to please ABE supporters, and Genge is always on a hair trigger for a card. Maro is looking less saint-like these days. Boris Johnson’s illegitimate son, the Pillock, provides a figure one loves to hate, sadly also because, like most super-villains, he’s pretty effective.
On to Wales. Well. Their set-pieces are functioning well, and I reckon they can beat Ireland. Also first-week Scotland, but not brilliant second-week Scotland. Probably not Italy either, especially if they keep kicking possession away, although possession is often coughed up anyway.
France obviously don’t need any learnings*.
*Have I mentioned how much I hate this horrendous evisceration of the English language?
Ovally Balls 
Nice evasive run from Adams, and then he falls over his own feet.
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BPT!!!
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It’s amazing what can happen when Adams doesn’t immediately run into contact.
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And a cheeky drop goal?
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Boo! Carré going off.
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Uh-oh. Italian try & Wales yellow. The comeback is on?
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And Italy score immediately with Wales getting a card. This is not the plan.
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I think I felt that tackle by Lynagh in S.Yorkshire.
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I thought after the first Scottish try was that it could be a “long day” – Scotland had made metres on every carry and we’d not managed to stop it.
But thereafter – we generally did. We also able to hit back after each score which kept the scoreboard pressure.
Pretty good performances all over the field – notably McCloskey, Beirne, Osborne (who I still think is slow for a fullback but picks good lines in attack and is generally a good player). Excellent try from Baloucoune – get it to the fast lad in space … Can be as simple as that.
Not sure what we learned from Aki playing last 10-15.
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We’re making a few mistakes now, bit worried if they score here.
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Trisk – Aki did have some impact, I thought. Having McCloskey and Aki in the centres is a very Gatland thing to do: lots of bosh.
I’d just like to point out that it was McCloskey’s long pass to Baloucoune that sent him in!
Timoney also did well when he came on, and was singled out for praise by Farrell in the post-match interview.
As for full-backs, Lowry had a very good game last night; how he evades what looks like certain death time after time is a mystery.
Yes, I’ve got my Ulster glasses on.
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I remain innocent of this Virgin coverage
Slightly better recently as they don’t have Matt Williams but too many recent ex-Leinster players who can’t criticise ex-colleagues, so have to criticise non-Leinster.
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So close for Italy! Leg JUST in touch before crossing the line.
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I think Mee is unlucky not to be the MotM shortlist.
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For me, it’s between Mee and CarrĂ©.
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Didn’t see the shortlist: who’s on it?
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That was unlucky. Thought the ball touched the line. Doesn’t really matter, Italy have only started playing once it was too late.
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Thaum – Wainwright, Edwards (with a weirdly tiny photo), Menoncello and someone else.
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Lake was the other one.
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Cheers, both!
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Thaum, jamais deux sans trois can also be about good things. Let’s say for the sake of the argument that France win tonight, that would be two 6N in a row. We would then expect to win the following year. Hehehe.
Good to see Wales back at the table. Some good players in that team. Italy woke up too late, I wished they had gotten the BP.
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Flair – yes, in English we only see troubles, I think!
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I’ll be gobsmacked if France don’t win tonight, btw. Although it would be lovely for us if they don’t!
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Mee, Carter and Carre would all have been worthy of the shortlist. Wainwright was there till the end though and of course got the two tries.
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Not surprised that when a win came it was by a fair bit. Often the way for teams that don’t win for ages, that or pinching it in the last minute when there isn’t time to throw it away.
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Also not surprised Italy were conservative for a lot of the game as they have been in earlier games too.
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Kind of feels like a championship win for Wales. What an amazing change the coaching team has brought about. At this rate of progress, Wales will be hot for the world cup :)
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@SBT – It’s possible there might be a ceiling….
They’ve done a great job of turning things around through the course of the tournament though.
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Not sure I agree with this…
“France have underperformed. The talent at the disposal of Fabien Galthie buckled when Scotland applied the first real test, and it became very apparent that they are not coached well enough.”
They seemed to be well enough coached when they thumped Ireland and Wales. They just hit us on one of our ‘very’ good days.
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McCloskey’s long pass to Baloucoune that sent him in
Also set up O’Brien’s second score with neat basketball offload.
Timoney also did well when he came on
We’ve tried out a few new players but he’s one with significant minutes now – looks like there’s an alternative to van der Flier
Overall, a bit of an odd championship – two good wins, two patchy ones, and a complete doing over. Before, I thought we’d lose both away games and might drop 1 home one.
Today was the first good home performance in a while
Lowry had a very good game last night
Suspect his size will keep him outside Farrell’s plans as a fullback. I suppose the pecking order there is Keenan, Hansen, Osborne – although we’ve not seen Keenan play in a while – with Frawley as the emergency option
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What the hell is going on in Paris? There are horses on the pitch.
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Re Lowry, I have to watch from behind the sofa when he gets tackled, because he is so small, and he has been injured a couple of times.
But he’s bloody good!
He also made a fantastic tackle on a prop last night.
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Refit – wut? Haven’t switched over yet. Horses will surely ruin the pitch!
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They have a covering down to protect the pitch. I think they only trotted on for a bit, gave a ball to somebody, then trotted off again. Not sure why they were dressed in knight’s outfits though. Apparently it’s to celebrate 150 years of Le Crunch. Again, still not sure about the knights.
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“not sure about the knights”
Unfortunately for England all the archers will have been in Cardiff.
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“Happy and glorious”
Hmmm.
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They should have piaffed on. That would be true French flair.
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Piafffft.
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Still trying to work out how that was a knock-on, off a back.
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I think the referee should blow for a scrum when he finds himself being used to make a tackle.
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Le Bip Bip!
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That seemed a little easy.
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Odds on Bielle-Biarrey getting a hat-trick before he gets a pass?
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Le Bip Bip x2!
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Imagine what would happen if England didn’t pass to people standing still all the time.
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Feels like there is a lot of pace and energy in this game. It’s partly the camera angles I think (which also have their disadvantages) though it has been a very good start.
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It’s a much more entertaining match than I expected.
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Ref’s been in the way three times now.
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Why do we keep picking wingers who can’t tackle or catch?
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The kit clash is absolutely ridiculous.
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