This weekend sees the continuation of the Six Nations on Saturday, while we have both Premier League and FA Cup football with some stand-out ties to look forward to.
After a busy few days of midweek action, the live sport and football on TV continues this weekend, and you can keep up-to-date with all the broadcasts and live events using our Live Sport on TV guide.
READ MORE: What the new £6.7bn TV deal means for Premier League on Sky, TNT
Saturday
Rugby Union – Six Nations
This weekend sees the culmination of a fascinating 6 Nations with the title still up for grabs. A consecutive Grand Slam has eluded Ireland after their defeat at Twickenham and, though England still have a chance, it should be all over by the time they play France as Ireland are favourites to beat Scotland in Dublin.
Wales vs Italy – 14:15 – Live on BBC One, BBCi
Italy have had a wonderful tournament, beating Scotland convincingly and drawing with France in a game they should have won with the last kick of the match. So they go to Cardiff with no fear to play a side low on confidence without a win so far. The recruitment of Louis Lynagh by Italy (why was he never selected by England for whom he was also qualified) has strengthened a back division that has the outstanding centre in Tommaso Menoncello. Can Warren Gatland’s Wales give George North a fitting send-off in his last game? I think it will be touch and go and though Wales do have two of the best backrow forwards in Tommy Reffel and Aaron Wainwright, the rest of the team lacks experience. A close game with home advantage favouring Wales, so avoiding the dreaded wooden spoon.
Ireland vs Scotland – 16:45 – Live on ITV1, ITVX
Ireland’s triumphant progress to a second consecutive Grand Slam came to an abrupt halt last weekend and although they lost to the last kick of the game. In truth England were the better team for much of the match and deserved the win. Ireland started the tournament with a fantastic win in Marseille against France when they destroyed the home side followed by two easy wins against Italy and Wales. Expect a closer game than their relative standings suggest. Scotland saw how England took the game to Ireland and didn’t allow them their normal quick platform. Ireland still have the best team in the 6 Nations and Scotland the best fly-half in Finn Russell. Team wins over the individual so Ireland by one score.
France vs England – 20:00 – Live on ITV1, ITVX
England still have a chance to win the 6 Nations, but that may well be totally academic before they even start their game in Lyon. France walloped England at Twickenham last year in an embarrassing performance by the home side. France themselves have been extremely disappointing themselves, only just winning luckily against Scotland when the Scots were denied a last minute try and drawing against Italy who again should have won. They did eventually win easily against Wales, pulling away in the last quarter, when their enormous forwards finally got the better of the Welsh pack. The French looked better with Nolann Le Garrec at scrum-half, but Tomas Ramos, brilliant off the kicking tee, is a major defensive weakness at fly-half. This is certainly something England will look to exploit, particularly England’s player of the tournament, Ben Earl. England also have a large pack with basically three second rows in the pack and should be able to contain the massive French pack. With full-back George Furbamk running from deep and Marcus Smith coming off the bench, England to exact revenge for last year’s Twickenham mauling.
Football
Man City vs Newcastle – FA Cup – 17:30 – Live on BBC One, BBCi
It’s an all-Premier League tie at the Etihad on Saturday evening as Manchester City host Newcastle Utd looking to advance to the next round and take another step closer to regaining the FA Cup.
Pep Guardiola’s side have been in impressive form as they continue to compete on multiple fronts once again this season, but they will find it tough against the Magpies, who have already sent them crashing out of a domestic cup competition this year.
Nevertheless, with their squad depth and their experience of producing in big games at this time of the year, back the hosts to make it through and remain on course for more silverware this season.
Fulham vs Tottenham – Premier League – 17:30 – Live on Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Main Event
After thumping Aston Villa last weekend and subsequently closing the gap on them in the race for fourth sport in the Premier League table, Tottenham could leapfrog the Villans temporarily with a win on Saturday.
Spurs have won three of their last four league outings, and although they’ll go into this clash at Craven Cottage as the favourites, they will need to be on their guard against a dangerous Fulham side who have won two of their last three and continue to try and push up the standings.
That said, with the quality at Ange Postecoglu’s disposal and the confidence that they would have taken from last weekend’s result, it’s hard to see them being stopped this time round. Back the visitors to secure all three points and rattle in 2+ goals en route to another win.
Sunday
Football
FA Cup
Man Utd vs Liverpool – FA Cup – 15:30 – Live on ITV1, ITVX
The pick of the FA Cup ties this weekend comes from Old Trafford, as Man Utd host old rivals Liverpool in what should be an enthralling encounter.
9000 Liverpool fans are expected to be inside the Theatre of Dreams on Sunday, and although these old foes face each other again in the Premier League before the end of the season, there will no doubt be plenty of chatter around Jurgen Klopp as he looks to stay on track to lift more silverware in his final year with the Merseyside giants.
Erik ten Hag has his own concerns to deal with though as he looks to salvage something from this campaign, whether that’s silverware or a Champions League qualification spot, and getting a win over Liverpool will always help lift the mood at the club as they look to put some indifferent form behind them.
Despite that, it’s hard to look past a Liverpool win in this one given the quality available to them, depending on how strong Klopp goes with his XI, and having got the better of Man Utd on so many occasions in recent years, this should be no different. Expect a cagey start as they search for a breakthrough, but when they do, it should be comfortable.
