SIX NATIONS WEEK 4: SCORE PREDICTIONS

Okay here we go!

Ireland by 7 (Ireland by 43 !!!)
Wales by 5 (England by 4)
Scotland by 5 (Scotland by 11)

PREPARE FOR TRENCH WARFARE

I hope to say I was at the England Wales game tomorrow where regardless of the result rugby was the winner but I fear the worst.  Someone will win and ugly.

The head to heads are everywhere - Jones v Gatland or Kruis v Wynne Jones or Biggar v Ford or Vunipola v Falateau or Haskell v Lydiate, unfortunately most them forward battles. Despite forecast for a dry day crying out for running rugby. I am not sure the scrum halves call for quick ball will be heeded as the egos of the fat boys up front takes hold - bosh bash head down stumble fall whack etc

As my ticket is costing an eye watering 90 quid if each scrum takes 5 mins to reset I will ask for a refund. Nobody wants to watch, what is simply meant to be a way of resetting play, dominate the game. Kids certainly don't love the resetting of scrums or the eternal rolling maul. NZ have dominated world rugby by playing a 15 man game not 8 or occasionally 9 (who then under pressure gives it back to the fat boys).

Wait up and smell the coffee boys - the crowd want you to entertain not just win (ugly). And spend less time in the gym and more time playing touch!

DUNBAR AND STRAUSS RETURN FOR SCOTLAND

Josh Strauss replaces Ryan Wilson at 8 for Scotland this Sunday against France. David Denton misses out altogether having been first pick a few weeks ago.  He is not the first whose form has suffered playing in a poor Bath team. Jonathan Joseph should not be picked for England ahead of Daly on current form as he has also suffered from PBD (Post Burgess Disease).

Alex Dunbar also returns at 12 pushing Mark Bennett out of the squad altogether with Taylor moving to 13. Funny thing form - Bennett had an awesome RWC but has been lukewarm in Six Nations, which is more of a forward slugfest in the mud meaning slow ball out wide.

ENGLAND UNCHANGED FOR WALES GAME

England select the same starting XV for Wales game on Saturday that started against Ireland a fortnight ago. On the bench, Jamie George (the best hooker in the country) is injured, so is replaced by Luke Cowan-Dickie of Exeter, Kieran Brookes is fit again, so gets nod over Paul Hill, Joe Launchbury replaces the injured Courtney Lawes, and Manu "Bosh" Tuilagi makes his first appearance since June 2014.

Luke Cowan-Dickie, and yes that is a mullet...

Wales will apply Warrenball as normal, try to disrupt the lineout, use back row and Roberts to target Ford at 10, and try and use the height advantage of their two giant wingers. They will also, bearing in mind England's high penalty count, target those with short fuses like Brown, Hartley and Haskell, who have to play with their heads as much as their hearts. The battle of the no.8's, close friends (not related as widely publicised), Faleatu and Billy Vunipola, will be compelling.

England team: Mike Brown; Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Owen Farrell, Jack Nowell; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley (capt), Dan Cole; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Chris Robshaw, James Haskell, Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mako Vunipola, Kieran Brookes, Joe Launchbury, Jack Clifford, Danny Care, Manu Tuilagi, Elliot Daly.

BEALE TO WASPS NEXT SEASON

The Rugby Paper reports that Wasps are lining up a deal for Kurtley Beale, the Waratahs flyer to move to the Ricoh next season. The reputed £750k salary would make Kurtley the highest paid player in the Premiership, and third highest ever behind Matt Giteau and Dan Carter - even "Slammin" Sam Burgess was only paid £500k by Bath (although he did not receive all of it, or did he?). It is a statement by Wasps, along with re-signing Danny Cipriani, that they mean business, and will hit that increased Premiership salary cap ceiling in no time.

Kurtley cannot believe that salary either...

Assuming Charles Piutau moves on to Ulster, Beale could play either inside centre or full back, meaning a potential backline of Simpson, Robson, Gopperth, Cipriani, Beale, Daly, Leuia, Wade, Tagicakibau, Halai, Miller, Jackson, Masi - wow, some talent! With only Daly in the current England squad, they should dominate their opposition during Autumn and Six Nations fixtures, although Jackson will probably move on to ensure he gets regular rugby at fly half, his preferred position. And once Simpson is fit again, he should be in the England squad - are Care or Youngs really the best two scrum halves in England. If a Lions tour was picked tomorrow they wouldn't even make my top five.

JOUBERT RETURNS FROM THE WILDERNESS

Craig Joubert returns to Twickenham this weekend, to ref the England v Wales game, the first time he has been seen back on UK shores since awarding Oz a dubious 79th minute penalty against Scotland which saw them progress to the RWC 2016 semi finals.

He has been reffing elsewhere in the world, not without further controversy, as he recently officiated the Pool A game between Australia and New Zealand at the Sydney Sevens, when the Kiwis scored a match-levelling try while having eight players on the field. The game ended in a draw, which prevented the hosts from topping the pool. NZ went onto win the tournament (whoops). Scots may call that justice but I am bigger and better than that :)

He is due to run the line in the Scotland Ireland game on the last weekend of the Six Nations and will be praying that neither team scores a controversial last try in his corner.

Craig Joubert out shopping in Glasgow

WALES NAME UNCHANGED TEAM FOR TWICKENHAM CLASH

Wales have announced an unchanged starting XV for Saturday's Six Nations decider against Engand. The only changes are on the bench, where Rhys Webb, Luke Charteris and Paul James all return to the squad having recovered from injury. The back five in the scrum and the backline are full of experience, as is the bench, with Webb, Charteris, James, Tipuric, Priestland and Owens all capable of turning a game. Both teams are unbeaten going into Saturday's match, with England boasting a 100% record under new coach Eddie Jones in pursuit of their first Grand Slam since 2003.

Webb back for Wales after six month injury lay off

Wales Team: Liam Williams; Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Scott Baldwin, Samson Lee, Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (capt), Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Ken Owens, Paul James, Tomas Francis, Luke Charteris, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb, Rhys Priestland, Gareth Anscombe.