Ovally Balls

We laughed at his five locks, his centre on the wing, and May at full-back. We laughed long and loud, and now are laughing out the other side of our faces, as our grannies told us we would. Then we cried as we watched Ireland. Sexton and Murray played with the all élite international skills … Continue reading Jones the Genius Selectionmeister

What does this beauty spot have in common with the England 23 selected to play Ireland on Sunday? The only other exciting news to report is that Ticht found an old version of AoD still extant. On the telly this week Friday 21st February Crusaders 33 – 13 Highlanders 06:05 Sky Sports Action Wales U20 … Continue reading Cwic Cwiz

With two rounds down in the Six Nations, the shocking truth is that OvallyBalls underdoggers have been proven right – or perhaps have so disheartened their national sides that the players lost the will to play. Here is the state of the nations: Team Played Won Lost Drawn For Against Pts Diff Bonus Points Les … Continue reading Self-fulfilling Prophesies

2020 dawns with the Springboks as World Champions, Rugby Championship Champions and Ranked Number One in the World! Why do I mention this you ask? Does it have any bearing on the likely fortunes of the teams? No. Not at all. But I’m gonna keep my bragging rights as long as I can, until, as … Continue reading Super Saffer Rugby Predictions for 2020

IRELAND: No Backspace A brief, incomprehensive preview of Ireland’s Six Nations 2020, written fast Having muffed the entire last calendar year, Irish rugby returns to Europe feeling sorry for itself. The normal provincial success continues, but means nothing come the bitter dawn of the first weekend of February. It’s Six Nations time. Daddy Faz is … Continue reading Six Nations Preview: Ireland and Wales

ITALY: Azzurri in Space Italy squad for the 2020 Guinness Six Nations PropsPietro CECCARELLI (Edinburgh Rugby, 9 caps)Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Rugby Club, uncapped)Andrea LOVOTTI (Zebre Rugby Club, 40 caps)Marco RICCIONI (Benetton Rugby, 7 caps)Giosuè ZILOCCHI (Zebre Rugby Club, 2 caps) HookersLuca BIGI (Zebre Rugby Club, 24 caps)Oliviero FABIANI (Zebre Rugby Club, 10 caps)Federico ZANI (Benetton Rugby 13 caps) Second rowDean BUDD (Benetton Rugby, 26 caps)Niccolò CANNONE (Argos Petrarca Rugby/Benetton … Continue reading Six Nations Preview: Italy and England

SCOTLAND: Ivanhalfback (nae, not really) 2019 was a sub-optimal year for the national team, comprising a pretty crappy Six Nations, followed by an abject failure to get out of the group at the World Cup (which had been a fear of this correspondent for a while). This on the back of a promising couple of … Continue reading Six Nations Preview: Scotland and France

With Six Nations on the horizon, OvallyBalls operatives have been sharpening their pencils (and their rapier-like wits). Enzo’s Ireland squad I’ll make tough choices and keep it to a lean-ish 36/37. However, I will do honourable mentions. The players will be in order from best to rest, where applicable. I’ll explain otherwise. LHP: Healy, Kilcoyne, … Continue reading Leaked: Six Nations squads

Gazing at life through a haze of opiates, I’m intensely relaxed about not getting a proper blog post up, and just giving you the matches. But I will add an emphatic TSK!* that the Cardiff and Ulster matches have yet again been scheduled at the same time. *This is more vehement than a PFFT! 6N … Continue reading Just the facts

Preamble A pleasing sell-out crowd and a Big (Chief) Red Cloud-sponsored Nige reffing augured well for a festive atmosphere and a good local derby contest. Even the weather was fair at the start, favouring the Blues in the first half before turning Newport Docks evil in the second, when the unfortunate Dragons had to play … Continue reading Blues vs Dragons – a One-Eyed Reflection on the Boxing Day Derby