Wales Heard Me and Scotland are out to prove something

And evidence shows that someone must have printed a copy of my last blog and passed it around the Welsh dressing room this past weekend, as they sent Argentina packing with a very comfortable win. Granted, the Argentines are weak at the moment due to injuries and retirements, but it is still Argentina. Not only Wales but Shane Williams proved me wrong. He came through with two tries! James Hook still deserves a bigger part for Wales, but it is good to see the country on the upswing.

In other news SCOTLAND! Scotland has pulled the biggest upset this century by defeating Australia. Scotland was not on a long string of victories. There are no players of the quality one might call "game breaking" such as Bryan Habana or Dan Carter. In fact, the player everyone raves about, Chris Paterson, was sitting the bench and only got on the board thanks to a huge drop goal. I was amazed to see the man wearing the #21 jersey, but he has yet to nail down a specialized position. He is a great winger, but not as speedy as Sean Lamont or Danielli. He is solid under the high ball with a great punt, but without the counter attacking skill of Hugo Southwell. He is a reliable fly half, but does not start every week like Godman. Alas, I digress, but Chris Paterson deserves to get into the game more often, especially with his incredibly reliable boot and his overall skills. Scotland face Argentina next weekend and have the potential to win all their autumn tests.

Ireland showed class and Jonny Sexton was MoM, perhaps giving a glimpse of what is to come for Ireland. Ireland has been in some trouble recently, most specifically in the fly half position. While they enjoyed David Humphreys and Ronan O'Gara for well over a decade, O'Gara will probably be gone within five years and no one was putting their hand up as a solid replacement until Sexton came through for Leinster. He is bound to falter soon, albeit for only a game or so, because he has been on such a long string of good luck. Here's to a long career.

An England loss to the All Blacks and a French victory over Samoa are two other small points to consider, neither of which were ever in doubt.

This week's games

Italy v. Samoa

These two teams are ranked as 12 and 13, with Italy taking the lower rank. However, Italy is still the better team. Unfortunately for them, they consistently lose due to their aggressive schedule in the Six Nations. None of the Six Nations games are guaranteed wins for the Italians, and rarely are wins ever extracted except against Scotland. Samoa is a good team, but Italy should win.

Ireland v. South Africa

Normally, even my Irish pride would keep me from predicting a victory against the Springboks, especially a World and Tri-Nations Champion side. BUT, South Africa have lost everything that has come their way this series, except against the lowly Italians. I think Ireland can come through with a victory given their recent form and South Africa's bad games.

Scotland v. Argentina

Argentina is on a bad luck streak while Scotland is on a very big high after the upset over Australia. Argentina can always upset teams, but not now. They are missing their stars and Rodriguez cannot be held accountable for all of his team's points. Scotland victory. Now, lets see Chris Paterson start!

Wales v. Australia

Australia will be fighting hard to reclaim some dignity after losing to Scotland for the first time in 27 years, but Wales will also be trying to prove their strength and keep going after the big win over Argentina. Yet, Australia's need for a win is greater. The Wallabies always produce a good game against the Welsh, with some very close scores in recent years. Count on Giteau to make his kicks this weekend.

France v. New Zealand

France and Australia are the two teams that have the key to the All Black defense. They always seem to be able to beat them, France especially in the World Cup. The All Blacks have been strong lately. Good enough when it counted, but never overpowering. I am betting on a French victory this weekend, especially being at home. They split the series with the All Blacks in New Zealand this past June and French flair in the running game is unmatched.

~Tyler

Four out of Six

One for two in the first week and four for six in the second week. Not a bad tally, especially since one of my mistakes ended in a tie last weekend.

The Welsh team is awful right now. Sure, Stephen Jones can kick his goals, but the team is choking without James Hook being played in a position where he can show his playmaking prowess. Instead, he's stuck back at fullback and has to rely on counter attacks to show any skill. Shane Williams was fantastic last season and during the Grand Slam of 2008, but is bad right now. I think he is a liability for Wales. He tends to be streaky in his scoring anyway, but he is going on a long streak without many tries for both club and country. To add to it, the Samoan team played poorly overall and should have won the game if not for their terrible place kicking. Wales were simply bad. They are lucky to face another poorly performing team this weekend in Argentina.

England is also playing badly. They are struggling to find any points except through Jonny Wilkinson, who has had to kick multiple drop goals just to pad the English scoreline. And with the All Blacks as their next opponent, they look ready to lose.

Ireland played below their form of the Six Nations, but not terribly. O'Gara managed to regain some of his kicking abilities that faulted him during the opening Heineken Cup rounds, and a late O'Driscoll try salvaged some dignity in a draw against the Aussies who got the short end of the stick this past Tri-Nations season. They are a great team and just were outshone by the better All Blacks and Springboks.

The Sringboks, however, are on a bad run. They lost to Leicester, they lost to France, they lost to Saracens. This is not the South Africa that we have seen since the RWC. They may be able to reclaim some winning form against Italy this weekend.

The Games

Ireland v. Fiji

Ireland should be able to defeat Fiji, especially at home. The Fijians tend to play with more flair and wing play than the other island nations, which is where Ireland are slightly weaker. With Fitzgerald gone, they may struggle more. But the big news is that Jonny Sexton will be making his Ireland debut against Fiji, with full and complete support from Brian O'Driscoll. Sexton is a fantastic fly half and has proven a worthy replacement for Contepomi at Leinster. I expect an Irish win.

Italy v. South Africa

South Africa should be able to regain their winning ways against Italy despite the Italian passion that shown against the All Blacks. South African win.

England v. New Zealand

This is the big test for Jonny Wilkinson. He can kick his goals, no question. But will he be able to finally open up the defense of the All Blacks? Wales played well against New Zealand, and England have the ability to upset the All Blacks, but not on their current form. They have to score tries to beat New Zealand, and right now only Jonny Wilkinson's boot is scoring points. All Black victory.

Wales v. Argentina

I would like to pick Argentina to win, and given recent Welsh form, I could be right. However, Argentina has also been stripped of their biggest players in Hernandez, Contepomi and Leguizamon. The Welsh should be able to win given the current form of the Argentinians, however Argentina can always upset big teams.

France v. Samoa

France should win. Samoa can really only hope for upsets against Wales and Scotland. France just defeated the World Champion Springboks and will still be on a high.

Scotland v. Australia

A while back, I may have been wiling to give Scotland an upset here, but Australia has proven strong against England and Ireland. With Scotland often relying on Chris Paterson, Australia should have little to worry about.

~Tyler

Dan Carter Cited?

One for two. I have not watched the England v. Australia game, but from the sound of it England did not get off the ground. I had slated them for victory, especially since Jonny Wilkinson is on the top of his game right now. But, alas, one man does not make a team. New Zealand, on the other hand, kept Wales at bay. However, the story of the weekend is how the mighty Springboks fell to Leicester and their new player, Lote Tiqiri. No one would have predicted this, Tiqiri or no Tiqiri.

Lote Tiqiri is a fantastic player and one of the best wingers in the game. But, I have one question for Leicester: Why? Why do you need to become the New York Yankees of rugby? They consistently hire the best players and it does not put them leagues above the rest as it should and does on paper. They currently sit in fourth place, two wins and a bonus point out of first. By the way, first place is in the hands of Saracens. They are the same team that dumped players and payroll last year during transition of management. Go figure.

This coming weekend will have an interesting assortment of games, with few of them looking to provide upsets.

Wales v. Samoa

Don't expect another 1991 RWC repeat here. Samoa has not performed well at all against bigger nations. Wins against USA and Japan don't count for much here. However, Wales will need to be ready for the stereotype "Samoan tackles" this weekend. A Welsh win is nearly inevitable.

France v. South Africa

Here is a good game. South Africa is coming off of a bad weekend against Leicester, albeit with a less-than-best squad. France had a big win against New Zealand in New Zealand in June, but not much after that. Their domestic league is going well, but South Africa is the best team in the world right now. South Africa will win this game so long as they can keep France to less than three tries.

Italy v. New Zealand

Dan Carter might miss this game against Italy due to being cited for a high tackle against the Welsh, but he was not likely to start anyway. There are multiple fly halves waiting for selection for the All Blacks. I'm guessing Stephan Donald will get the nod, with McAlister going to inside center again. Italy usually has better luck against Australia, and the All Blacks should win this one.

England v. Argentina

The last time we saw this match-up, it proved to be a historic victory for Argentina. However, Agustin Pichot and Ignacio Corleto have retired. Juan Martin Hernandez and Felipe Contepomi have retired. I am a big believer in Argentina, and have been since before their "sudden" arrival on the international scene in the 2007 RWC, but even I can't hope for a win here. Well, I can hope. But Argentina should lose this one to Wilkinson and the rest of England.

Scotland v. Fiji

Fiji has a short list of test matches since their glory of the 2007 RWC, with most of those games against lesser opponents. Fiji has the ability to defeat the Scottish, but the Scots play very well at home. Scotland has only lost once to Fiji, back in 1998 in Fiji. Scotland should win this game, but I do not quite understand this seemingly reluctant choice of putting Chris Paterson into the lineup. He is their best player.

Ireland v. Australia

Ireland is starting to lose the high from last season, although three of the top five teams in the Magners League are Irish. Australia does well against England, but has not done very well against Ireland in the Northern Hemisphere recently. I'd love to pick Ireland outright to win this game, but I am having difficulty doing so. Ronan O'Gara has been less than effective lately, especially with his kicking. Jonny Sexton wouldn't be able to defeat Australia if he were to be tossed in instead of O'Gara. Nonetheless, I think Ireland can win.

~Tyler

Autumn Internationals week 1

England v. Australia

Jonny Wilkinson is back and at the top of his game in the south of France, which can only mean good news for England. I am disappointed in not seeing Mathew Tait's name on the England list, but I have gotten used to that since the World Cup. He has been seeing less and less playing time. Regarding the match, England is looking to end Australia's hope for a Grand Slam before it can take off. Australia got beaten up during the Tri-Nations this summer, and did not do so well last weekend in Tokyo. I doubt that Australia will be able to conjure up some magic in order to win a Grand Slam, but a win against England would actually be an upset. England should win, especially with Wilkinson playing so well.

Wales v. New Zealand

Dan Carter is still a fitness doubt, but with New Zealand being New Zealand, there is always more than enough cover. Wales has been the site of controversy in recent games against the All Blacks. First, they refused to let the Haka take place on the field. Then, the following year, they stood and refused to move after the Haka was performed. I think refusing to let it be performed is poor sportsmanship, but standing up to it is fantastic. The All Blacks have a one-sided opinion when it comes to the Haka. They see it as a perfectly fair way to offer up a challenge to the opposition and demand respect for it. Yet, they refuse to allow any "response" to the Haka. A response would be like what the Welsh did last year when they stood up to the Haka. The All Blacks need to realize that just because they're the most successful team does not mean they deserve special treatment. Don't forget, they consistently fail to win the World Cup. In fact, they haven't even been able to reach the Final since 1987. Yet, the Welsh are in no shape to pull an upset, especially with this juggling nonsense that James Hook is being forced into.

~Tyler