Wednesday, March 6, 2013

I'm hovering between optimism and morbid fascination for the Ireland France match

Out of form and favour - still a legend (picture http://bit.ly/YZeluy)

Sometimes you sit down to write the weekend review thinking you may come up with something to rival Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. This week I feel like a pathologist with a fresh stiff slapped down before me on the slab… The road that started so well for Ireland 4 weeks ago with a win against Wales, took a wrong turn against England and then doubled back on itself against Scotland. We’re missing Sexton, Bowe, Ferris,  Zebo, and POC. It’s a fairly momentous occasion unfortunately for Ronan O’Gara, fit available to play and not selected at all. It’s probably the right move though.  And we’re coming up against the most talented, well resourced, and underperforming teams in the world. Now I’ve really lifted your spirits –it’s not all bad news.  The team has a good balance, with Healy and Mccarthy back, McFadden in, Madigan on the bench. It’s a team with a good few elements of the future in it – let’s give a lash, the season is down the tube already. In  terms of results – France always break our hearts, and I’m going with a French victory by 8-10 points

Scotland welcome Wales on the back of a workmanlike victory over Ireland. If Wales show any of their potential, they’ll win this and set up an awesome final match against England. Scotland are likely to be wonderfully erratic again, but as they played their get out of free card against Ireland, I think they’ll lose this weekend.

Finally England are going to make pretty short work of Italy, as they roll on to what is probably going to be a slam for them this year.

RBS Six Nations
Saturday , March 9
Scotland vs Wales 14:30
Ireland vs France 17:00
Sunday , March 10
England vs Italy 15:00

No comments:

Post a Comment