Photographs from Ulster Vs Cardiff Blues

HAPPY DAYS AS I WENT TO SEE ULSTER IN KINGSPAN

First we had to go down to Belfast and meet at the shopping centre where Kieran and I were to meet. I got out of the car and  we got a snack when we were there and Kieron took a few pictures. After that we went down to the place and met with the guy we were meant to take our ticket to. I found it strange that people were on the terrace when some seats were empty.  

 

Here I am outside the ground looking at another angle than the Kingspan as I get to see the other sites that are here before the match. There is a big amount of space for selling and an indoor house which there is not much in.  

LUDIC SCORES 2 AS ULSTER CONTROL FAIT

Winger Gilroy's try had come in the third minute as Ulster dominated the early possession.

The Pro12's leading try scorer this season collected Paddy Jackson's pass out on the right wing and went through for his ninth touchdown of the current campaign.

Scrum-half Ruan Pienaar landed the conversion, but the Irish province's early joy was soured by the injury to Olding.

Ulster's Ruan Pienaar, who had converted Gilroy's try, landed a penalty to make it 10-0.

The lead was soon 15 as full-back Ludik got his try in the 18th minute.

He picked a superb line to collect Jackson's pass and the South African's strength - and a helpful back-up shove by team-mate Rory Scholes - secured the score.

Pienaar missed the conversion, but added a penalty for 18-0..

Blues pushed for a score before half-time, but their policy of going for the corner instead of kicking the points failed to pay off.

Pienaar got the first points of the second half with a penalty to make it 21-0, with Gareth Anscombe replying for the visitors.

At this stage I felt that Ulster could not loose and should aim for the bonus point

Replacement Isaacs got the Blues back in contention with a fine try scored.

Wing Lucas González Amorosino set it up with a darting run to the left, and Anscombe delivered the final pass for Isaacs to go over.

Anscombe, son of the coach Mark Anscombe sacked by Ulster in June 2014, slotted over the conversion and the Blues were really in business.

But the momentum was with the Welsh region and they got their second try through wing Cuthbert on the left wing.

Anscombe converted again and Ulster's lead was reduced to four points.

At this stage I became nervous

Pienaar kicked his fourth penalty to relieve the pressure which had clearly been mounting on the Irish province.

Ulster finished on a high with Ludik getting his second try of the night after collecting a pinpoint cross-field kick by replacement fly-half Ian Humphreys.

Marshall, on for Pienaar, secured the bonus point try, picking up from Iain Henderson's lay-off.

I was happy to see Ulster win and happy also to get home as my legs felt a bit numb.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32048795

In the first half there was a lot of space as Ulster were playing to the opposite side then in the second half there was no room and you had to move back to see anything. There were times when I felt sore are there was little room to stand. You had to go a whole 180 degrees around the stadium to get good food and you could see that some seats were not filled

30-3-15 pro 12 rugby

PRO 12 RESULTS

FRIDAY

LEINSTER 34-34 GLASGOW

BOSS DOUBLE GIVES LEINSTER 3 POINTS

The Warriors were on top in the first half, establishing a 27-7 lead as Peter Horne converted tries from Stuart Hogg, Richie Vernon and Mark Bennett.

Returning to the scene of last May's Pro12 final defeat, the Scots made early inroads and deservedly took a 7-0 lead after as many minutes.

Vernon's midfield offload gave Hogg the opportunity to fend off Eoin Reddan's tackle and place the ball at the left-hand post with Horne converting.

Horne punished a line-out infringement for three more points as Leinster struggled for possession.

A strong carry from Tom Denton sparked a prolonged spell of Leinster pressure inside the Glasgow 22.

The visitors' defence held firm until Shane Jennings and Jimmy Gopperth combined to release McFadden to go over in the right corner. Madigan converted with aplomb for 10-7.

However, the Leinster defensive line gave way soon after as Tommy Seymour made ground on the right and centre Vernon used his size to take contact and stretch over to score just to the right of the posts. Horne's conversion restored the 10-point buffer.

A third converted try followed for the Warriors six minutes before the break.

Centre Bennett burst on to Niko Matawalu's flat pass and evaded McFadden's clutches before crashing over by the posts. Bennett added a long-range penalty in injury-time, widening the gap to 20 points.

The second half was just 25 seconds old when Bryce, who replaced the injured Hogg, had his clearance kick blocked by Boss and the Leinster replacement scrum-half won the race to touch down the loose ball.

Madigan swept the conversion over and he quickly tagged on a penalty, with front-rowers Cian Healy and Sean Cronin making an impact off the bench.

But the game took on a completely different complexion after Fijian Matawalu was sin-binned for elbowing Healy off the ball.

Leinster responded with two tries in three minutes, flanker Murphy avoiding three tackles on a terrific run in from the 10-metre line before Boss completed his brace off the back of a ruck.

Madigan converted both for a sudden 31-27 lead.

There were yet more twists and turns and Leinster, who have a fight on their hands to reach the play-offs, may yet rue their failure to see this result out.

The Glasgow forwards took up the baton from a couple of penalties and close-in mauls before Pyrgos and Horne passed wide to the left where Bryce went over unopposed. Horne held his nerve to ensure a share of the spoils for his side.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32068546

I AM GOING TO LOOK AT ULSTER BLUES TOMORROW AS I WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO DETAIL ON A FEW INCIDENTS AS I WAS THERE

SATURDAY

SCARLETS 15-26 EDINBURGH

BURLEIGH AND DENTON TRIES GIVE EDINBURGH WIN

Replacement scrum-half Gareth Davies was sent off for a headbutt soon after coming on in the 57th minute.

Full-back Jack Cuthbert's offload set up the counter-attack that led to the opening try for Burleigh.

The Edinburgh centre went over after a well-timed one-two with wing Visser.

Hidalgo-Clyne added the conversion only for Shingler to kick four more penalties by the 25th minute.

And the visitors took the lead at the break after number eight Denton went over and Hidalgo-Clyne converted.

Alan Solomons' side remained in the lead and exerted increasing control as the game wore on.

Scarlets boss Wayne Pivac sent on Davies in a bid to regain the initiative.

But when the twice-capped scrum-half's tussle included a head-butt on centre Andries Strauss, Irish referee John Lacey had no hesitation in banishing the Scarlet.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32082921

MUNSTER 42-20 CONNACHT

HOLLAND TRY AND OTHERS GIVE MUNSTER VICTORY

The hosts scored five of their six tries in the final 25 minutes at a wet and windy Thomond Park to take a step closer to securing a play-off spot.

An error-strewn first half ended 7-3 in the home side's favour but Munster were the dominant force in the second half.

A second Carty penalty made it a one-point game before Munster went up through the gears on the hour mark, setting up tries for Duncan Casey, Simon Zebo and Andrew Smith, with captain Denis Hurley and Keith Earls also touching down in the dying minutes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32088674

OSPREYS 53-20 ZEBRE

BAKER DOUBLE ALLOWS THE OSPREYS TO BE IN THEIR OWN PLANET

The Ospreys made a flying start as Davies made up for missing a penalty by carving open the visitors' defence for Baker to gallop over, Davies adding the conversion.

Then from a scrum five, Baker's pickup saw Josh Matavesi crash over on an inside angle and the Ospreys had a 14 point lead in just eight minutes as Davies slotted over the kick.

The Ospreys' third try came after 35 minutes when Tyler Ardron burst through and timed his pass perfectly for Baldwin to cross in the corner, Davies converting from the touchline.

But the Italians hit back with the last move of the first half as wing Dion Berryman squeezed over in the corner from a scrum-five, making it 27-8 at the interval.

Baker charged over for the fourth after 51 minutes as he burst 25 metres and ran through the last defender.

Wales scrum-half Webb, on as a replacement, rubbed salt in the wounds by forcing his way over for a close-range score-his 10th Ospreys score of the season, and creating a penalty try when he was obstructed, then Dirksen squeezed in at the corner for the seventh.

Davies landed a total of five conversions while Dan Biggar added the extras to the penalty try.

But Zebre still had some resistance left as Toniolatti's interception breakaway and a last-minute try from Chillon added some respectability to the scoreline, with Mirco Bergamasco converting both.

A dead leg for Josh Matavesi was the only minor injury reported by the Ospreys, who next travel to Treviso after a weekend off

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32082927

TREVISO 17-32 DRAGONS

PRYDIE DOUBLE GIVES DRAGONS BONUS POINT

Tom Prydie scored two late tries to help Newport Gwent Dragons see off a fightback and record a first Pro12 win in Treviso.

The wing also kicked three conversions and two penalties in a man-of-the-match display.

Lyn Jones' side built a 17-0 lead by the break, inspired by the Evans snipe that broke Treviso's early resistance.

Jonathan Evans broke the early deadlock and Hallam Amos also raced away.

Enrico Bacchin's try, Jayden Hayward's kicking and a penalty try brought Treviso back, but Dragons held their nerve and Prydie did the rest.

The Welsh region had previously won at Stadio Monigo in the European Cup in 2007.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32084637

27-3-15 pro 12 predictions and teams

Its back now to the regular season and with 5 games to go and  with only 4 points between 5th and second anything can still happen in this league I just hope for Ulster to have a home semi final as it should help them if they go into the final.

FRIDAY

ULSTER V CARDIFF BLUES 19.45

Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding will make their Ulster comebacks in Friday night's Pro12 clash against the Cardiff Blues in Belfast.

Fly-half Jackson and centre Olding had been out since sustaining elbow injuries in January's defeat by Toulon in the European Champions Cup.

Hooker Matthew Rees returns as captain in one of three changes to the Blues side which beat Connacht.

Harlequins-bound prop Adam Jones, also returns to the front row.

Lucas Amorosino starts on the wing in place of Argentine international team-mate Joaquin Tuculet, who is out with a hand injury.

Manoa Vosawai returns among the replacements as does Wales prop Scott Andrews.

Ulster: L Ludik; C Gilroy, D Cave (capt), S Olding, M Allen; P Jackson, R Pienaar; C Black, R Herring, W Herbst, D Tuohy, F Van der Merwe, I Henderson, C Ross, N Williams.

Replacements: J Andrew, A Warwick, B Ross, R Diack, P Marshall, I Humphreys, R Scholes.

Cardiff Blues: R Patchell, A Cuthbert, C Allen, G Evans, L Amorosino, G Anscombe, L Williams; S Hobbs, M Rees (captain), A Jones, J Hoeata, L Reed, J Turnbull, E Jenkins, J Navidi

Replacements: K Dacey, T Filise, S Andrews, M Cook, M Vosawai, T Knoyle, G Davies, T Isaacs

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32048795

MY PREDICTION

I am hoping to be at that game. I wish to see Ulster win but think that this game will be close. A good win here could set Ulster up for the play offs.

LEINSTER V GLASGOW 19.35

Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, Mark Bennett, Finn Russell, Fraser Brown, Tim Swinson and Rob Harley all begin the game for Gregor Townsend's side.

Fellow internationals Jonny Gray and Adam Ashe are on the bench in Dublin.

Hogg returns at full-back for the Warriors, while Seymour comes in on the right wing and Canada international DTH van der Merwe continues on the opposite side.

Peter Horne and Bennett form the centre partnership, while Russell comes in at stand-off and Niko Matawalu keeps his place at scrum-half.

The Leinster side shows seven changes with a string of internationals returning to the fold after the Six Nations.

Ian Madigan, Eoin Reddan, Marty Moore and Jordi Murphy all start, while Sean Cronin, Cian Healy and Luke Fitzgerald are named among the replacements just six days on from playing winning roles in Ireland's title-clinching 40-10 triumph over Scotland.

Glasgow: Hogg, Seymour, Bennett, Horne, van der Merwe, Russell, Matawalu; Allan, Brown, Fagerson, Swinson, Kellock (capt), Harley, Fusaro, Strauss.

Replacements: MacArthur, Yanuyanutawa, Cusack, Gray, Ashe, Pyrgos, Braid, Vernon.

Leinster: Kirchner, McFadden, Te'o, Madigan, Kearney, Gopperth, Reddan; Bent, Strauss, Moore, Denton, McCarthy, Murphy, Jennings (capt), Conan.

Replacements: Cronin, Healy, Furlong, Marshall, Ryan, Boss, D'Arcy, Fitzgerald.

MY PREDICTION

I would have to give this match to Leinster because of their European Cup match next week being in that mind-set will make them a better team and if they are not in that mind-set I cannot see anything except failure next week

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32068546

SATURDAY

LLANELLI SCARLETS V EDINBURGH 14.40

MY PREDICTION

I feel that this will be a close battle that could go either way. Both teams are very close in the table and it feels like a match where one decision will make the difference in this match. I feel that The Scarlet’s will win this but not my more than a score  

MUNSTER V CONNACHT 17.15

MY PREDICTION

This is an All-Ireland match and with the improvement of Connacht this season you cannot be certain on who will win but I will give it to Munster by less than 7    

OSPREYS V ZEBRE 19.15

MY PREDICTION

If Ospreys’ are going to reach the play offs this is a match that they must get 5 points from and I cannot see a individual reason why they cannot as this season the Ospreys are very good and being at home if they don’t get 5 points they should consider it a failure

BENETTON TREVISO V NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS 19.30

MY PREDICTION

This could be an interesting match and a match where Treviso should be able to see a win and for this reason I feel that it will be close. I think that this might be a surprise Italian win as the heat will not help the Dragons

23-3-15 Ireland champions after amazing match

ITALY 20-61 WALES

NORTH GIVES WALES  PERFECT SECCOND HALF  WITH HAT TRICK TO PUT UP BIG NUMBER

Orquera score an early penalty on 1 minute

Leigh Halfpenny equalises on 7 minutes with a penalty

Orquera score a pen on 10 minutes

Halfpenny equalises for Wales on 12 minutes

Halfpenny receives the ball from a scrum and kicks to Jamie Roberts who scores a simple Try Halfpenny misses the conversion

Vandetti scores scores from some poor Welsh defending and finding some open space to run into Orquera scores con

Dan Bigger scores a penalty on 40 minutes

Half time Italy 13-14 Wales

Wales get a penalty and Rhys Webb who takes it quickly and passes to Williams who scores the Try

George North yakes a pass from Williams who hits in a reliable kick off the Italians Bigger scores con

George North scores a try as the ball is taken from one side to the other to score a good team try for the Welsh and putting it in the corner

Dan bigger scores the conversion

George North gets the ball from a good welsh move beating 3 defenders to score Bigger converts

Wales get ball from a rooling maul and Rhys Webb finds the gap to score Bigger misses con

Jistin Tiperick gets a ball and runs half the pitch from a couple of quality passes moving forward Bigger cons

Wales score their final try as they take the ball inside their own 10 metre line and Williams runs the entire pitch for try

Sato runs half the pitch for an Italy try at the death Orquera scores con

SCOTLAND 10-40 IRELAND

O BRIAN PUTS IRELAND IN STRONG POSITION

 

Paul O Connell scores a try from Patient build up Sexton converts

Sexton scores a penalty on 9 minutes

Laidlaw scores pen on 17 minutes

Sean O Brian gets the ball at the back of the line and just finds the space to score the try Sexton converts 25 minutes

Scotland score a try from a good move put into a good position for an error from Rob Carney which put the ball in for a simple Laidlaw try Russel converts

Scotland then score a penalty

Scotland were denied a try on 37 minutes for a forward pass

Half time Scotland 10-20 Ireland

Sexton scores pen on 45 minutes

Jared Payne scores from very patient build up with a rooling maul getting the ball to Payne who found the gap to score Sexton Converts

Sexton Converts on 61

Sean O Brian scores a try from a penalty line out and O Brian has the strength to get the ball and put it over the line

Sexton gets pen

Steven Henry puts the ball in the corner for a great set piece

ENGLAND 55-35 FRANCE

NOWELL AND BEN YOUNGS GIVE INGLAND INPORTANT WIN

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

For France score 5 tries and lose a game. Score 35 points and lose a game. For England score 55 points and don’t be champions incredible.  If you ever want to sell rugby to foreigners this would be the one to watch.

A good team move finished by George Ford in the corner but Ben Young’s try was a tight squeeze

Plessen scores a penalty for France

France score a try from an England set piece and Tillous-Borde runs half the pitch to score the try Plessen misses con

Mermoz got the ball on the line and found the gap for the French  

Ford scores a pen on 26 minutes

England score a try on 30 minutes a good run from Youngs gave England a lot of metres and scored by Watson

Ben Youngs scores a try under the posts Ford converts

Half time England 22-14 France

France score an early try in the second half off a good pass from a scrum Detaby scores the try

England then get a try from Novell

France score a penalty on 51

England make a great try by pushing the ball wide from a set piece and Novell runs it in to make the conversion easier

Ball from a scrum and Venewpola put it over for the try

Frances Kayser scores a try from a roofing maul just before the end

WEIRD FACTS

 

Wales scored more points against Italy 61 than Ireland conceded in the entire tournament 56

England were one point 55 off how much Ireland conceded in the entire tournament 56  

Wales scored one less point against Italy 61 than Italy had scored in the entire tournament 62  

The match between England and France 90 had more points in it than Scotland 73 had scored and three less than Wales had conceded in the entire tournament 93

What a week

IRELAND ARE SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONS

 

England was one try away from the six nations but Ireland has won it with their defensive strength. Ireland were the best team and thanks to Sean O Brian and Paul O  Connell they are 6 nations champions and you were able to watch their excitement as they came out in their suits and ties to a relatively full crowd to see them go mad as they won the title. This is the first time that Ireland have defended their title since the 1940s

SHOUT OUT TO THE WOMEN

 

I would like to give a shout out to the Ireland women who beat the Scotland women to win the women’s six nations and it seemed like when I watched it that Ireland were in a different class to Scotland.

 

  

 

 

6 nations 20-3-15

WALES V ITALY

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has made two enforced changes for Saturday's Six Nations match in Italy.

Aaron Jarvis comes in at at tight-head and Rob Evans makes his first start at loose-head in place of the injured Samson Lee and Gethin Jenkins.

There are four changes on the bench, with Rhys Gill, Ken Owens and Scott Andrews coming in as front row cover with hooker Richard Hibbard ruled out.

Scarlets scrum-half Gareth Davies comes in for Mike Phillips.

Sergio Parise is out for Italy The No.8, who at times has resembled a one-man team for the Azzurri, suffered the damage during the 29-0 home defeat to France last weekend.

New Zealand-born Haimona had pulled out of the meeting with Les Bleus 24 hours before kick-off but has been declared fit for Italy’s attempt to win two matches in a Six Nations campaign for only the third time since joining the European showpiece 15 years ago.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/six-nations-2015-italy-team-8876033

taly: L McLean; L Sarto, L Morisi, A Masi, G Venditti; K Haimona, E Gori; M Rizzo, L Ghiraldini (capt), M Castrogiovanni, G Biagi, J Furno, F Minto, S Vunisa, M Bergamasco. Replacements: A Manici, A De Marchi, D Chistolini, Q Geldenhuys, G Palazzani, R Barbieri, L Orquera, E Bacchin.

Wales team to face Italy

Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon); George North (Northampton Saints), Jonathan Davies (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Liam Williams (Scarlets); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Rhys Gill (Saracens), Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31919260

MY PREDICTION

Wales need a big score to stay in the competition and I am not that sure whether they can I feel that to stand any chance of winning they need to win the match by 30 points and I think that Italy are too strong to allow that to happen.  

SCOTLAND V IRELAND

Tight-head Euan Murray will overtake Allan Jacobsen's record as the most-capped Scotland prop with a 66th appearance.

Forwards Blair Cowan, Ross Ford and Richie Gray, plus centre Mark Bennett, full-back Stuart Hogg and scrum-half Greig Laidlaw, the team captain, become ever-presents in the starting line-up during the Six Nations.

Scotland forward Ryan Grant

Glasgow Warriors forward Ryan Grant returns to the Scotland starting line-up

Wing Tim Visser is on the replacements' bench instead of number eight Johnnie Beattie.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31963788

Jamie Heaslip returns from injury to start in the back row for Ireland in their Six Nations clash with Wales at the Millennium Stadium this Saturday

The No 8 missed Ireland’s victory over England, having suffered three cracked vertebrae in the win over France in round two. Heaslip’s return to the side is the only change to the starting XV.

Jordi Murphy drops out of the XV and assumes the role of back row replacement on the bench.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/six-nations/2015/0312/686457-ireland-team-to-play-wales-six-nations/

Scotland

15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Tommy Seymour, 10 Finn Russell9 Greig Laidlaw, 1 Ryan Grant, 2 Ross Ford, 3 Euan Murray,  4 Jim Hamilton, 5 Jonny Gray, 6 Adam Ashe, 7 Blair Cowan, 8 David Denton

16 Fraser Brown, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Rob Harley, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Greig Tonks, 23 Tim Visser

Ireland

15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Luke Fitzgerald 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 1 Cian Healy 2 Rory Best, 3 Mike Ross, 4 Devin Toner5 Paul O’Connell, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 7 Sean O'Brien 8 Jamie Heaslip

16 Sean Cronin, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Marty Moore, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Jordi Murphy 21 Eoin Reddan 22 Ian Madigan23Felix Jones

Read more at http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/ireland/28207.php#ysEoDdfxPp7gKecH.99

MY PREDICTION

I am not too sure how this game will go I want to say a 20 point win for Ireland but my head is saying it could be a lot closer maybe by about 8

ENGLAND V FRANCE

England head coach Stuart Lancaster has brought in lock Geoff Parling for Dave Attwood for their Six Nations finale against France at Twickenham.

British and Irish Lion Parling is the only change to the side which beat Scotland 25-13 in their last outing.

Attwood is dropped from the squad altogether with Nick Easter taking his place among the replacements.

England go into the final round of matches top of the table but level on points with Ireland and Wales.

France have made two changes from the side which beat Italy 29-0 in Rome on Sunday, both enforced through injury.

Jules Plisson replaces Camille Lopez at fly-half while Vincent Debaty starts at loose-head prop in place of Eddy Ben Arous.

Teams

England: M Brown (Harlequins); A Watson (Bath), J Joseph (Bath), L Burrell (Northampton), J Nowell (Exeter); G Ford (Bath), B Youngs (Leicester); J Marler (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), G Parling (Leicester), C Lawes (Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), B Vunipola (Saracens).

Replacements: T Youngs (Leicester), M Vunipola (Saracens), K Brookes (Newcastle), N Easter (Harlequins), T Wood (Northampton), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), D Cipriani (Sale), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester).

France: S Spedding, Y Huget, G Fickou, M Mermoz, N Nakaitaci, J Plisson, S Tillous-Borde; V Debaty, G Guirado, N Mas, A Flanquart, Y Maestri, T Dusautoir (capt), B Le Roux, L Goujon.

Replacements: B Kayser, R Slimani, U Atonio, R Taofifenua, D Chouly, R Kockott, R Tales, M Bastareaud.

MY PREDICTION

I think that England will win this match by about 10 points.

MY CHAMPION

I think that England look the strongest of the teams but Ireland can get a big enough win to make them nervous 

6 nations 16-3-14

WALES 23-16  IRELAND

PHILLIPS TRY AND WILLIAMS BOOT GIVE WALES WIN

Rhys Williams scores 4 early penalties on 2 minutes, 7 minutes 11 minutes and on 13 minutes

Johnny sexton hits penalties on 17 minutes and 29 minutes the one on 29 was a long range shot

Bigger then scores a drop goal

Sexton scores a penalty on 36 minutes

Half time Wales 15-9 Ireland

Wales defend the line to avoid an Ireland try on 56 minutes

A quality team try from a scrum scored by Phillips Halfpenny missed the conversion

Ireland score a penalty try on 69 from a maul of a Penalty on 69 minutes sexton cons

Halfpenny scores a pen before the end

Ireland had got some good chances ion the wales line but they did not have the man that knew how to move the ball they should not rely too much on Sexton and where was O Connell for this job as he is our leader and captain

ENGLAND 25-13 SCOTLAND

JOSEPH AND BENETT DO JOB FOR ENGLAND

Jonathan Joseph got the first try as the ball came out from the scrum and passed across a couple of men before Joseph scored Ford converts

Benett scores for Scotland from a long throw from a line out and a pass back to a third man who was able to get it wide for Benetts try Laidlaw converts

Ford scores a pen on 25

Laidlaw scores a pen on 30 and again on 38.

Half time England 10 Scotland 13

Good England passing move to George Ford gives England a try

Ford scores pen on 50

Mike Brown was denied a try on 61 because of a forward pass

Agert try for England a long run from a bad Scotland pass and they are able to pass wide for the try missed con

England goes top of the group on point’s difference

ITALY V FRANCE

BASTERO GIVES FRANCE A CHANCE

Frances Lopz scores penalties on 28 minutes and 34

Speddick scores a try as he was much too close for France

Bad weather led to a low scoring game at 0-9 to France  

Plissen hits a penalty on 41 for France

Magestr scores a try on 45 a good set up from an individual run and being able to pass the ball across the field for the try in the corner

Plisson scores a penalty on 57

Bastero makes a try from a tap penalty on and a good pass

Plesson scores the conversion

13-3-14 6 nations

WALES V IRELAND

Ireland number eight Jamie Heaslip is back from injury to face Wales in the only change for the Six Nations game in Cardiff on Saturday.

The Leinster back-row returns after fracturing three vertebrae in his back in the 18-11 win over France. He replaces Jordi Murphy.

Johnny Sexton has recovered from a hamstring injury while Jared Payne and Sean O'Brien are fit after concussion.

Wales have decided to keep the Millennium Stadium roof open for their Six Nations match against Ireland on Saturday.

Ireland have yet to express their preference but rules state that if one team wants the roof open the decision is final.

I think that this will be a hard battle for the Irish against the Welsh and I think that Ireland will win it by less than 10. I feel that the boot of Sexton will do the job.

ENGLAND V SCOTLAND

Scotland has made five changes to the starting line-up for Saturday's Six Nations match against England.

Edinburgh back row David Denton, who replaces Johnnie Beattie, is the only player among the quintet not to have featured in the tournament so far.

Winger Dougie Fife and centre Matt Scott comes in for Sean Lamont and Alex Dunbar, who have knee injuries.

Finn Russell replaces Peter Horne at fly-half and Jim Hamilton comes in at lock for Tim Swinson.

Scotland: Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors); Dougie Fife (Edinburgh), Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh), Tommy Seymour, Finn Russell (both Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (captn) (Gloucester); Alasdair Dickinson (Gloucester), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Euan Murray (Glasgow Warriors), Jim Hamilton (Saracens), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Robert Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Cowan (London Irish) David Denton (Edinburgh).

Replacements: Fraser Brown, Ryan Grant (both Glasgow Warriors), Geoff Cross (London Irish), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier), Adam Ashe (Glasgow Warriors), Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Greig Tonks (both Edinburgh)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31848215

England side to face Scotland:

15. Mike Brown (Harlequins, 35 caps)14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 7 caps)13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 9 caps)12. Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)11. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 6 caps)10. George Ford (Bath Rugby, 9 caps)9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 45 caps)1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 29 caps)2. Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints, 64 caps)3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 48 caps)4. Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby, 19 caps)5. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 36 caps)6. James Haskell (Wasps, 56 caps)7. Chris Robshaw (captain, Harlequins, 35 caps)8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 15 caps)

Replacements

16. Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 20 caps)17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 18 caps)18. Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons, 8 caps)19. Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps)20. Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 34 caps)21. Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens, 19 caps)22. Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks, 10 caps)23. Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby, 19 caps)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/sixnations/11465842/England-v-Scotland-Six-Nations-2015-Stuart-Lancasters-team-awoken-by-no-holds-barred-training-session.html

This will show us where Scotland are and whether they are improving for the world cup but this will definitely be a battle for the English but I do see the English winning but not by more than 5

FRANCE V ITALY

There is a lot to learn about the French from this tie and it is not about the win here it is about how they win but the Italians could make this a bit of a battle. I think that this match depends on which French team turns up but the French would hope for a 20 point win