It's Crunch time!!

So what do the last round of matches hold in store? Well France are playing for pride against Italy in Rome at 1.15pm, having capitulated in the first half against a resurgent England last week they need to give a big response today to banish their demons, but Italy will sniff their chances of a first point in the Championship since 2005, as they know the French are wounded. I think we will see the mercurial best from the French today, as they have no pressure on them, although I don't expect it to be an easy ride, I can see them winning by 20.

Next up at 3.30 is England vs. Scotland at Twickenham, yes it's time to take on the old enemy, and you can't help but feel that this game has come at the right for Martin Johnson's men. They have finally found that self belief they were lacking, to go with the commitment and aggression levels they have shown, and they would have taken any team in the world apart in the first 40 last week, so if it clicks again, expect fireworks. Scotland though will not lie down for the slaughter, they have shown a true grit and determination through this tournament, and they have some pace and skill in their backline now with Danielli and the Evans brothers. I just think that with the home support behind them, the boys wearing the red rose will want to send out a message, and hopefully give their manager Johnson a performance to end the championship on a high. If they build on their excellent work at the break down and contact areas last week and also keep the pace and clinical finishing in the backs, it could open up turning into one hell of a game. I've got my patriotic hat on for this one, England by 15.

So that brings us on to 5.30, the Millennium stadium, and the big one, the showdown, Wales vs. Ireland. Ireland are looking to win their first Grand Slam for 61 years, after showing us how good they are at bottling it over the last few seasons! This game should be a classic, the two best teams in the tournament going at it hammer and tong, and I hope they go out to play that way, and not try to cancel each other out like the Irish did against England. Wales have the ability to win this game, and 3 weeks ago I would have said no contest, but all is not well within the Welsh ranks after that loss to France, a terrible performance that almost saw them lose against Italy last week is not the form you want to take into such a big game. I have no doubt though that we will see a different Welsh side today, and I reckon this one could get messy, but I am going to go with my gut instinct, Wales to win but by less than the 13 they need to take the Six Nations, leaving Ireland winners, but once more missing out on the Grand Slam.

It's also a huge weekend in footy with Villa needing to bounce back from their recent poor run of form against............oh.............Liverpool.......d'oh! You can read a full preview of the game in the Villa section online in the morning or in my column in the Mercury tomorrow, but needless to say I think MON will want a huge performance but Liverpool look irresistible at the moment!

The Baggies play Bolton at the Hawthorns and I think they may come unstuck, which is not good news. Bolton simply play good aggressive, physical football, and while West Brom have the ability to unlock teams with their free flowing football, I think they will struggle at the back.

My beloved Arsenal travel to St James to take on Newcastle, in what could be one of the pick of the games from the weekend especially if Wenger plays his younger stars such as Vela, Eduardo and Diaby along with Arshavin, who looks world class now his fitness is coming back. I just feel that the reserve players are performing better than some of the more senior folk, and they go out and play without fear, something that is great to see, but knowing us we will end up dominating 90% of possession, playing like Brazil, have 8 goals disallowed and end up losing to a 95th minute goal from Owen, such are the joys of an Arsenal fan!

The Blues and Wolves have automatic promotion in the own hands today, with the former taking on Norwich at St. Andrews and the latter Forrest at the City Ground today. Both teams are feeling the pressure, but have been able to turn their slumps around as of late, although both their oppositions can really play on their day. The Championship is just looking like a great league right now, and it's definitely going to be a nail biting run in!

My rugby team the Birmingham & Solihull Bee's play Southend today in National Two, knowing if they win they send Southend down, so I reckon it could be quite a tasty game, with some of the oppo players having nothing to lose. Hopefully they will continue their awesome form from their 80-5 win against Mounts Bay last weekend, and they will continue their march into National One last year.

I only managed to train with the guys on Wednesday this week, after DJ'ing the busiest night ever at Gatecrasher straight afterwards, 2 hours sleep and a tired body was not conducive to rugby training again at 6am the next day! I asked the coach Russell Earnshaw for a preview of today's game and a quote, and with his typical level of professionalism, and using his rugby insight garnered over many, many, many years of playing, this is what he said:

"Having Luke come down has made training much more fun... we now have a 'good Clayts' and a 'bad Clayts' similar to good Spiderman and naughty Spiderman."
Rugby boys.........we are all about the banter....................here is the big man in action:

Join me from 1pm today (Sat) on Offside for all your sporting action on Kerrang plus a whole load of rock, and the usual footy live Blogs from around the grounds is kicking off at 2.30 on this very website, plus I have finally got my Motorcycle Diaries up and running in our sister paper the Mail, have a read here if you like two wheeled beasties!