The East Terrace Predicts Round Four of the Six Nations
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Action from Jonah Lomu on the Playstation |
We tell you exactly how the Six Nations will pan out
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Jonah Lomu Rugby
Format: Sony Playstation
Publisher: Codemasters
It’s the one you have all been waiting for: Jonah Lomu Rugby on the Playstation. The rugby video game equivalent of Citizen Kane. Sure, it may be a bit ropey and rough around the edges, but it takes you places no other rugby game has managed to date.
We’ve been inundated with requests for this one and, we like to think, it may be a bit more accurate than some of the other titles we’ve used in recent weeks. Our predictions have been slightly dodgy to say the least. Nonetheless, we are at the moment, according to an Italian website, beating Planet Rugby at this prediction thing: click here for the prediction league. We are at 79th, nine places above Planet Rugby.
Potential flaws with the program
The main flaw this round is that we weren’t able to let the computer play the games for us (as we have done in all previous rounds). This meant we had to get two human players in to simulate the matches. The East Terrace called in a short-sighted Oz rugby league fan - it was all we could find at the last minute - to help out. Team choices for the players were decided by a flip of the coin and, for the record, the Oz guy managed a win. So it was an evenly balanced competition.
We also kept laughing at the classic Bill McLaren quotes about demented moles and Bill Beaumont’s joke about maternity wards. It just doesn’t get old.
Wales v Italy
Our first game of round four starts with controversy. The Italians begin very well and look like getting a score. Playing advantage after offside in the Welsh midfield, the Italians place a lovely kick into the heart of the Welsh 22. It bounces perfectly for Italy and as a blue shirt claims the ball and heads unopposed for the sticks, the referee calls him back for an Italian penalty thirty metres away. It is to be the first of a series of dubious advantage calls in Jonah Lomu Rugby. Sadly, Dominguez misses the strike at goal and Wales are let off. Instead of being 7-0 up, the Italians are then placed on the back foot for the rest of the half.
Wales then produce some thrilling backplay and a superb switch move deep in the Italian 22 sees centre Leigh Davies going over near the sticks. Neil Jenkins adds the extra points and Wales take a 7-0 lead. Before Italy can regain their composure, Wayne Proctor torments them from fullback and beats several players after a mazy run to go in near the left-hand corner. Jenkins misses the extra points this time. Italy hang on for the rest of the half and are relieved when Jenkins miss hits a penalty.
12-0 down at the break, the referee again causes Italy problems as Wales score straight after the restart through Neil Jenkins. A huge forward pass by Wales in the Italian 22 before the try goes unnoticed and Italy are suddenly staring at a nineteen-point deficit.
The Italians, however, rally. A superb kick off puts Wales under all sorts of pressure and Wales cynically halt the play with a series of offside infringements. Dominguez puts Italy on the board with a well-taken penalty.
The score seems to invigorate the digital Italians and the rest of the game is all Italy. Pinning Wales back with long kicks, Italy gain a permanent foothold in the Welsh half. Finally, after a series of well-worked passes, a huge tackle by the Welsh cover defence backfires and sees the ball spill backwards into the grateful arms of Italy’s Bordon and the centre crashes over in the corner. Although the kick is missed, Italy continue to dominate the latter stages of the game.
Wales hang on to victory, though. Much like the actual Six Nations so far, Italy suffer at the shrill of the whistle and, if digitally animated men were capable of emotions, the Italian men would be fuming at decisions that cost them at least fourteen points.
Wales: Proctor, Evans, L Davies, N Davies, Thomas, Jenkins, Howley, Loader, Humphreys, J Davies, Llewellyn, D Jones, Taylor, G Jones, Williams
Scorers: Try: L Davies, Proctor, Jenkins. Conv: Jenkins (2)
Italy: Trolani, Vaccari, Francescalo, Bordon, Gerosa, Dominguez, Troncon, Cuttitta, Orlandi, Properzi Curti, Pedroni, Giacheri, Arancio, Sgorlon, Gardner
Scorers: Try: Burdon. Pen: Dominguez
Final score: Wales 19 Italy 8
Ireland v Scotland
Our digital Scotland entered this game completely unlike their real counterparts: without a win to their name. However, the Irish team on Jonah Lomu’s Rugby are nothing to fear and Scotland looked likely to break their duck in this game. Sure enough, Ireland are completely blitzed in this match and are 15-0 down before they know it. Firstly, outside-half Craig Chalmers pops up on the right wing and runs in from eighty metres to score a thrilling try, converted by Gavin Hastings. Not long after, Ireland fail to clear their lines and Joiner pops over from the right wing to add a second try. Again Hastings converts the kick.
Constant Scottish pressure is rewarded before the end of the half when Ireland late tackle the dominant Gavin Hastings. The Scottish fullback easily adds the points and Ireland suck on their halftime digital oranges 15-0 to the worse.
Any hopes the digital Irish had of a comeback are dashed immediately as the first attack of the second-half sees Scotland coming away with a well-earned penalty from Hastings.
Faced with an eighteen point deficit and time running out, Ireland begin running it from everywhere and anywhere. It only makes matters worse: Scotland pick up three quick tries as a direct result turnover ball or poor clearances.
Ireland finish with a big fat zero and Scotland with just under forty.
Ireland: O’Shea, O’Mahoney, Mullin, Bell, Geoghegan, Elwood, Hogan, Popplewell, Kingston, Halpin, Fulcher, Francis, Corkery, McBride, Johns
Scotland: G Hastings, Joiner, S Hastings, Shiel, Chalmers, Redpath, Hilton, Milne, Wright, Cronin, Weir, Wainwright, Morrison, Peters
Scorers: Try: Chalmers, Joiner, Peters, S Hastings, Wright. Conv: G Hastings (4) Pen: Hastings (2)
Final score: Ireland 0 Scotland 39
France v England
France entered this match as our only unbeaten digital team. In Jonah Lomu Rugby they posses backs that some rugby purists still weep over: Ntamack, Sella, Saint-Andre and Galthie. The English backs, with Guscott and Carling in the centre, actually contain a current member of the English squad: Matt Dawson. A younger and nippier version it must be said.
England start this game like a dream. A superb kick-off sees the English pack regain the ball and march deep into French territory. The French defence lunges offside and Paul Grayson kicks a three pointer as the heavens open and the thunder rumbles.
It isn’t long before Lacroix, top-scorer at the 1995 World Cup, brings France back in the game with a penalty of his own. However, just as France look to be getting back in the game, something happens that only could have occurred in a rugby video game. England flanker Tim Rodber, just inside the French 22, threads a perfect grubber kick through the midfield defence. Dean Richards, showing pace he never showed in his illustrious real career, bursts onto the ball like a man possessed and touches down unopposed under the posts. It is, if truth be told, glorious. The conversion obviously follows and for the rest of the half France, bar a penalty from Lacroix, are simply blown away.
Grayson and Guscott ruthlessly tease the French at every chance. Guscott seems to rip the French defence to shreds at will; most notably during his thirty metre solo try as the half draws to a close. Grayson’s kicking is world class and he adds a drop goal to his match CV before the half ends. With a try also coming from Martin Johnson, the English have a huge 27-6 lead at the halfway point of the fixture.
England start the second period as strongly as they finished the first. But after constant pressure they can only add a sweetly taken drop goal from the left-hand touchline by Grayson. France finally start stringing together some phases and are rewarded through a try from Lacroix after a solid driving maul. He misses the conversion, as well as a penalty the following minute, and France still seem to have too much to do.
The closing stages of the match see England grab a couple more tries. Man of the match Grayson running in from halfway to claim a full house of scores (try, penalty, conversion and drop goal). France get a consolation try in injury time as Galthie falls on a loose ball.
France’s digital grand slam dream is in tatters and England march to the top of the table on points difference.
France: Sadourney, Ntamack, Sella, Lacroix, Saint-Andre, Deylaud, Galthie, Armary, Gonzalez, Califano, Merle, Roumat, Benazzi, Cabannes, Cecillon
Scorers: Try: Lacroix, Galthie. Conv: Lacroix. Pen: Lacroix (2)
England: Catt, Sleightholme, Carling, Guscott, Underwood, Grayson, Dawson, Leonard, Moore, Ubogu, Johnson, Bayfield, Rodber, Clarke, Richards
Scorers: Try:Richards, Johnson, Guscott, Grayson, Underwood. Conv: Grayson (5) Pen: Grayson (1) DG: Grayson (2)
Final score: France 18 England 44
Round Four Results
Wales 19 Italy 8
Ireland 0 Scotland 39
France 18 England 44
Potential problems with our computer system
Well as we said at the start, we had human players this week as we couldn’t arrange for the computer to face off against itself. Compared to some of the other games we have used, this game is a pretty good rugby simulation. The advantage law is pretty rough though, particularly in our Wales v Italy game. It may have actually changed the game’s outcome.
So what should you bet on for the Round Four of the Six Nations?
The Welsh match seems to have the most realistic looking margin of victory, just eleven points. With Wales struggling at present at Italy playing some good rugby, this could be worth a flutter. A bet should also be placed on whoever lines up at inside centre to get the first Welsh try. However, with Italy having a clear seven pointer turned down and Wales getting a seven pointer of their own from a forward pass, perhaps it may be wise to bet on Italy to win by three points?
From the Ireland v Scotland game we can’t see Ireland losing 39-0. We are, however, going to bet on another Scottish win. Like last round we will go for Scotland by 6-9 points. For the first try we will go for the Scottish flyhalf, as in our simulation.
Finally, the English victory seems too large on our simulation at 44-18. Instead, we are going to bet on the English flyhalf getting a full house of scores and the first try coming from the English number eight, whoever that turns out to be.
How does our prediction table look?
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pt | |
| England | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 97 | 28 | 6 |
| France | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 42 | 56 | 6 |
| Wales/West Germany | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 36 | 58 | 6 |
| Scotland | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 53 | 23 | 2 |
| Italy/Russia | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 47 | 2 |
| Ireland | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 53 | 2 |
There is plenty of movement after round four of our digital Six Nations. France’s grand slam quest has ended and England have overtaken them thanks to their huge points difference. England seem almost unmatchable in this regard, so France need to beat Wales/West Germany and hope bottom of the table Ireland can win at HQ in round five. Scotland’s first victory sees them leapfrog from the bottom to mid-table. Italy and Scotland will battle it out for a higher finishing position next week. Wales are still in the championship hunt as well.
Check back next week to see how The East Terrace fared with betting on some of the predictions we forecast.
If you have any experience with Jonah Lomu Rugby, or want to comment on our predictions, please email us at webmaster@theeastterrace.com