This week Rugby from Beyond the Rafters is truly coming to you from beyond the rafters. Our flight returning to the United States landed on Monday evening, and like the majority of US viewers, we’ll be cracking open beer for breakfast in time for the six-thirty am kickoff between Scotland and Italy.
There can’t be too many surprises in store for fans this weekend unless the top of the table decides their final spots are a forgone conclusion and blow what should be as close as it comes to for-sure wins. That’s why they play the games.
Scotland hosts Italy
A meme on Twitter showed a Scottish wish list, “Grand Slam, Six Nations Championship, Finish ahead of England.” The last item on their list will likely come true as Italy, a team Rafters had such high hopes for this year, limps into Murray Field.
Italy’s only hope of a win this season was thwarted by Wales last Week in Rome, and from the looks of things, the Azzurri will once again be eating with the wooden spoon this year. Scotland wins with the bonus point.
France hosts Wales
Last week in Rome, Wales was better at being the “goldfish.” They had two weeks to forget about the loss to England, a match they might have won if not for the off-field hubbub.
We’re not sure what happened to the Azzurri team that played France so well and gave Ireland a run for their money, but they certainly were not the “goldfish” when it came to their dreadful performance at Twickenham in England’s only glory days of the 2023 Six Nations.
For Wales, one victory does not a return to okayness make. This week they need to be the elephant and take the momentum from their win in Rome into Paris where the French have suddenly become England fans.
The French will be hoping to run up the points differential against Wales and hope for the best at Landsdown Road. The only real danger for the French is looking past the Welsh in their eagerness to get home to cheer for England. Not likely.
Expects a one-sided match with the French securing a much needed bonus point.
Ireland hosts England
As a witness to the calamity last week in South West London, it’s very difficult to carry any optimism into the Six Nations finale for England. What can we say other than, “ugh” and cover our eyes for eighty minutes.
Rafters can only hope that Steve Borthwick’s return to the World-Cup well might conjur up some magic. Owen Farrell returns as captain, replacing Marcus Smith at fly half. Manu Tuilagi remains at inside centre, and Henry Slade starts at outside center. This rotating combination has been of particular interest as Borthwick only has a few matches remaining be fore the World Cup to figure out the right formula.
Ireland isn’t playing for anything other than a Grand Slam, at home, against England, On St Patrick’s Day (more or less). Expect a hard hitting game, and though England is still smarting from last weeks humiliation, don’t expect Ireland to cut them any slack.
There’s blood in the water, and the Irish are circling. Irish take this with a bonus point to win the Grand Slam one point short of perfection.
That’s one fans view of Rugby from Beyond the Rafters.
Afters
If you are interested in watching the Six Nations and Premiership Rugby in the United States (live or replays), you can stream all the matches on Peacock. Xfinity includes Peacock with some cable subscriptions.
Flo Rugby offers replays of the Autumn Internationals, USA Rugby, the Rugby Championships, and Super Rugby.
The Rugby Network broadcasts the MLR for no charge,
Fine Print
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