And on the 9th day they rested - the 6 Nations takes a break, Magners and Aviva Premiership continue and - Super Rugby is here!

Picture from http://bit.ly/geoy2N

After 9 days of the 6 Nations, the 6 Nations gods rested – you might argue that they had already worked 2 days longer than the Almighty – you might also argue that the 6 Nations, though wondrous in its splendour, is perhaps not a great a feat as creating the earth, the moon, the stars, and man from a bit of clay. We apologise for this break in transmission – normal service will resume in a week. Anyone know why they have a break in the middle of the thing? Two actually, with another one due in March. Get on with it lads! Do you think they did it as a mark of respect for the start of Super Rugby? Thanks to the 6 Nations, Aviva Premiership lite this weekend, and every week until the tournament is over.Allt he weekend fixtures are at the bottom


Magners League

Connacht take on Glasgow at home and I fancy them at home even if Glasgow have some of their internationals back. Scarlets host Ulster, and with their recent form you would imagine that at pretty well full strength Scarlets will be too much for Ulster. Munster welcome Edinburgh and are unlikely to be generous hosts against the Scots – though having said that they did treat Treviso last weekend. Should win this week though, as much as a reaction to last week as anything else. Finally for the Irish Provinces, LEINSTER travel to Cardiff. Having watched them struggle against Aironi – Aironi! last week, my expectations are not massive for them this week. Think they could be overcome by the Blues in their weakened state. Finally, one mister Tommy Bowe may possibly be running out for the Ospreys against Treviso, let’s hope he doesn’t get injured and is back in the 6 Nations soon.

Aviva Premiership

The Exiles take on Gloucester this week at Kingsholme. The team certainly has a junior look about it, with a few promising England U 20 stars getting to strut their stuff. It looks the cherry and whites have an almost full strength squad – which means bad news, and a loss I think for Exiles

Super Rugby

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, another little tournament is about to kick off, something called Super Rugby – must have bust a gut struggling to come up with that name. Yes, the Super 10,which became the Super 12 (the best model IMO), which became the Super 14, has become Super Rugby. At last some innovation in naming anyway as there are 15 sides now, five each from Aus, NZ and SA. A young man called Danny Cipriani will warm the bench for their inaugural match, against the waratahs, who should comprehensively wipe the floor with the new boys.

Shark Bite

That’s the team – John Smit is Captain from prop this week. Looking forward to seeing Lambie Alberts and the rest of the boys do their thing. That’s a strong team, with a couple of Springboks on the bench, and at home they will sort the Cheetahs to my satisfaction I’m sure.

Sharks team: Louis Ludik, Odwa Ndungane, Stefan Terblanche, Meyer Bosman, Lwazi Mvovo, Patrick Lambie, Charl McLeod, Ryan Kankowski, Wille, Alberts, Jacques Botes, Alistair Hargreaves, Steven Sykes, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, John Smit (captain).

Replacements: Tendai Mtawarira, Eugene van Staden, Anton Bresler, Keegan Daniel, Conrad Hoffmann, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Adrian Jacobs.



Magners League

Fri - 18th Feb 11

19:00 Connacht vs Glasgow

19:05 Scarlets vs Ulster

19:50 Munster vs Edinburgh

Sat - 19th Feb 11

17:30 Benetton Treviso vs Ospreys

18:30 Cardiff Blues vs Leinster

Sun - 20th Feb 11

17:30 Aironi Rugby vs Newport-Gwent D'gons

Aviva Premiership


Friday , February 18

Gloucester vs London Irish

Newcastle vs Exeter

Saturday , February 19

Harlequins vs Sale 15:00

Bath vs Northampton 15:00

Leicester vs Wasps 17:30

Sunday , February 20

Saracens vs Leeds Carnegie 15:00

Super Rugby


Friday , February 18

Hurricanes vs Highlanders 19:35

Melbourne Rebels vs Waratahs 19:40

Saturday , February 19

Blues vs Crusaders 19:35

Brumbies vs Chiefs 19:40

Sharks vs Cheetahs 17:05

Lions vs Bulls 19:10

Sunday , February 20


Reds vs Western Force 16:40