The astonishing events in Twickenham on Saturday left Ireland supporters pinching themselves, convinced they had been induced into a dreamlike state as the England of 12 wins out of 13 fell to pieces in front of an Ireland side that had found its best form of old, and then some.
Picking Henry Pollock at No 8, and failing to explain to him that his key job was closing down the opposing scrum half – not playing on the wing – was perhaps a major selection error, but it would have been reasonable to expect 4 Lions like Itoje, Chessum, Curry and Earl to give England’s pack a hard core who could control the up front battle.
All credit therefore to the Ireland pack, who at time looked like they were playing against a pub team. A couple of scrum penalties apart they completely dominated. Behind the scrum England were given no space or opportunity, and Gibson Park was at his rampant best.
Where Borthwick goes now is anyone’s guess, but suddenly a trip to Rome in the spring doesn’t look so attractive. Not to mention Paris.
Wales so nearly, let’s hope its an upward trajectory for them, the 6 Nations needs the land of Barry John and Gareth Edwards.
Italy took their punishment, France getting the rub of the referee once more.
Leaderboard
Irish euphoria still abounds, but consistency has been the key for Catherine Curran, who has scored positive points in every match of the competition to date.
Asked by the F6NF about her forecasting style, the enigmatic Curran from her penthouse in Monte Carlo replied “You have to take each match as it comes” she said .
“If you are going to bet against the house you have to have to have paid off your mortgage. Black cats don’t always cross your path”. So we are none the wiser.
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Now ahead by 33 points it is difficult to see her being caught. Daniel Smith is a distant 2nd, with Ciaran Twomey, Eoin Kelly, Lochlainn Joyce, Peter Kane, Joe Ennis and Tom Dillon in the 50s.
“Its not over yet” said a defiant Dillon from his pedalo off the Wexford coast. “But its going to take some big swings. I’m more hopeful of the team’s competition to be honest”
Team Entry
The Tavira Two, captained by the aforementioned Dillon, went top of the Teams this weekend and have established a 5 point lead over With fans . . . and Grubber Knickers. All to play for here for the €500 prizemoney.
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Week 3 Prizes
The Designer Group Smart Operator Award goes to Catherine O’Keefe for the highest score this weekend of 48 points. “I’m backing Ireland” said O’Keefe, who had them as winners by 15 points, the bravest bet by far. “Sometimes you just have to go with the heart” she recommended from her desk at Tinder.
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| 1 | Catherine OKeefe | 48 |
| 2 | Remi Chalon | 42 |
| 3 | Anne | 41 |
| 4 | Dylan Jones | 41 |
| 5 | Joe Ennis | 41 |
| 6 | Keith Hazley | 41 |
The Jones Engineering Welder of the Week Award goes to Remi Chalon who came a close second this week.
“I wouldn’t be an expert on rugby” said Chalon from deep inside a data centre “but it doesn’t seem that hard to predict, does it?”
Next Week
A weekend off next week, followed by a Friday night in Dublin where Wales are welcomed, a trip to Edinburgh for France where just maybe Scotland can pull off another surprise and open up the Championship, and an evening in Rome for England where a bad result could see Steve Borthwick being thrown to the lions. The ones with teeth, not the ones with red shirts.
The F6NF predict Ireland by 17, France by -9 and England by -16.
You just never know though, do you?
