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It seems to be a given that Farrell will be back. We'll see. I'd like to see a repeat of yesterday's fiasco.

There was also decent weather for the first 6N weekend. Every weekend since has seen conditions varying from poor to dire. It doesn't excuse some shocking performances - hullo France - but it's a factor.

Yes, the set piece will be key. The England front row is mighty suspect. And the Welsh forwards have to turn up and hit hard. It was a bizarre England performance yesterday. Care was rubbish and it was as though Flood's teammates had never seen him play before. His shtick is to dive into gaps...

Early forecast here for Rome is steady rain during the week but fining up on Saturday. Fingers crossed. I'm going down to Rome for the game.

It's a popular theory in France. A French mate of mine hypothesised it after the first week of the 6N. The FFR and LNR renegotiate their deal in, from memory, July, and the issues go beyond the number of foreign players. Currently the LNR own the players, hence control their availability. The...

Orquera was very good. It helped that he had a platform in the second half when the Italian forwards were on top. Crossfield kick to set up McLean's try, always sniping, keeping the shoddy England defence guessing. Missed a couple of kicks, unfortunately. He can be a defensive liability - but...

Joubert, in form, is the best of them, I think, but he's not in form. I'd take Walsh in front of him at the moment.

England had their chance in the first half. Plenty of possession but with their forwards mainly AWOL, Flood overplaying his hand, the ball going mainly sideways and a very strong Italian defence, it amounted to not much. Manu was getting the ball shovelled sideways with Masi and others sitting...

Dusautoir still isn't back up to speed after his injury. Or, alternatively, maybe the injury has crocked him. I hope not. Picamoles has been outstanding. He must want to tear PSA to pieces for the idiotic selections around him.

Shocking use of the bench by PSA too. Tin-Duck didn't even get to take his track suit off while Michelak faffed around, fumbled, kicked the ball away when he shouldn't have, et al. Not one of Parra's finest passing games either. He's usually pretty good. A lot of his passes were behind the man.

Yet another pre-programmed Deccie sub and it cost Ireland the game. He was having one of the best games I've seen him play, bossing things, driving the team. Official MOTM, in fact. Michelak? Why? PSA has a death wish. France played 15 minutes of rugby and nearly won. It would have been...

Up against Parra at 9, Freddie at 10, T-D on the bench. Just for a change of combination.

Nor can I, unfortunately. Just hope that Brunel has the courage to start Orquera. A missed tackle or ten waiting to happen, but he plays around the gain line and can create opportunities. Start Kris Burton and you might as well not have a 10.

Sergio Parisse's suspension reduced on appeal. He can start against England. Not, I fear, that it will make a lot of difference to the result. Bizarrely, the LNR appeal panel changed the charge - from abusing the ref to (paraphrasing) not fulfilling the duties of a captain - before reducing the...

Deccie names A.N. Other at 10 and also on the bench. Sexton is definitely out, Jackson is highly likely to be fit. R Kearney; F McFadden, B O'Driscoll, L Marshall, K Earls, AN Other, C Murray; C Healy, R Best, M Ross; M McCarthy, D Ryan; P O'Mahony, S O'Brien, J Heaslip Replacements: S Cronin...

The problem with all these Top-14 transfers is that there's a window within which they can be officially confirmed. The window opens in April. Players can confirm, clubs can't. That's why RM have never officially confirmed Sexton. Nor have they officially confirmed Steyn. Nor, from what I can...

No, you're right. RM have signed him. Racing Metro loved having Frans Steyn in their ranks. Now they will have the other Steyn, fellow Bok Morne. Racing have confirmed the signatures of Steyn following the completion of Super Rugby this season as well as Bulls lock Juandre Kruger

Really? Thought he was supposed to be going to Stade.

Shades of Andy Robinson and Dan Parks last season.

It is. ROG couldn't see - or ignored - the writing on the wall. Kidney culpable, though. That's what coaches are for.