Rugby weekend tv

My rugby weekend fest began on Friday night with Harleqiins v Northsmpton Saints (24-40) in the Premiership Cup.  Both sides had necessarily to field weakened teams because of the Six Nations. Northampton ‘s absentees were the more telling ( Coles, Poloick, Freeman, Fraser , Mitchell , Smith ) but Quins could not call upon Marcus Smith , Caden Mureey and Finn Baxter    Quins have a fine academy and I was particularly interested to see The Cambridge University fly half Jamie Benson. Marcus Smith has not  ’trained on    My theory is that for all his individual skills -some have called him the best running fly half since Phil Bennett-  he is reliant on the shield of Danny Care , Andre-  Esterhuizen and Alex Dombrandt but only the latter wears  the famous chequered multi coloured jersey.  After running up a 19 point lead quinsx were overrun in the second half.

My plan was to take my after lunch mal on Saturday to be fresh for the Calcutta cup.  However the reports of Italy’s 18-15 win ober Scotland in a rain soaked Rome were so convincing of the Italian Renaissance and my dislike of Ireland  entitled supporters so intense that i watched and hoped for an Italian victory in Dublin. Italy played really well without Capuozzo with centre Menoncello particularly impressive  only  Ireland won narrowly. I take Italy to finish above Wales

England never really got going in the passionate cauldron of Murrayfield  Thec loss of Harry Arundel who scored à hat rick of tries against Wales proved crucial and I  thought Maru Itoje was poor  Scotland played with passion and thoroughly deserved their victory with Finn Russell outstanding   However had George Ford converted not had his attempt charged down with the excellent Huw Jones scoring it might have been another story

I don’t subscribe to the view that Ireland are having a dip  Their best players have seen better days and the younger ones below par   they are in decline and I predict à defeat next week at Headquarters