Brace yourselves for maudlin renditions of Kumbaya all day Saturday.
International rugby on the telly this weekend
Saturday 17th August
- New Zealand v Australia 08:35 Sky Sports Action
- Wales v England 14:15 Sky Sports Action & Channel 4
- South Africa v Argentina 16:05 Sky Sports Action & Sky Sports Arena
- France v Scotland 20:00 Premier Sports 1
Ovally Balls 
If I were Scottish, I wouldn’t be too depressed. This was their reserve team and probably the best French team for ages, better prepared, without the usual dead wood ( Picamoles, Machenaud, Basta, Lauret, even Guirado) and a real coach for once. Won’t last.
But Scotland without Laidlaw, Finn, the Grays etc… show a worrying lack of depth.
LikeLike
Hardly a reserve team with McInally, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Barclay, Price, Hastings, Taylor (even though he’s just back from injury), Jones, Graham and Hogg in it. Most, if not all of those will be in Japan, injuries permitting. I’m increasingly thinking that its the coaching that’s the problem. Toonie wants to play fast rugby. Fine, but you need to have the bloody ball first and then hang on to it when you’ve got it. I think he maybe came to international rugby too early in his coaching career.
Still, he needs to win his next 3 games (and they won’t be easy, especially Georgia in Georgia) to set us up for the fourth game, which is all important.
LikeLike
This is a good video on how Scotland play and what Toonie might be thinking in his coaching:
LikeLike
LikeLike
Morning all!
Couldn’t comment over the weekend because i can’t find my log in for Word Press on my phone. Crap excuse, but htere you go. So what to make of this weekend’s friendlies? Eish….
The Wobblies got murdered up front, even when the Darkness were a man down in the scrum. Lealifano had a shocker from the tee and not much else went right for him outside of that. I think I only heard Hooper’s name about half way through the 2nd half (may not be strictly true, but more symptomatic of how Aus got munched),
whilst Genia coming on late gave Cheika a pleasant headache at 9.
Sevu Reece is a beast and George Bridge not far behind – Ben Smith may well be a reserve utility back come Japan, which would be a remarkable fall from grace in a short period. The AB forwards (especially the much maligned front row) really turned the tables this week, although I’m also glad Coles finally got pinged for his wrong side of the line play.
The Bok match was as disappointing and disjointed as I thought it would be and did no fringe players any favours. From memory (red wine being the deciding factor) there were close to 30 penalties and lineouts in the first quarter alone, which says something. S’bu Nkosi was absolutely brilliant and probably deserves the 14 jersey, but what to do with Kolbe then? Rassie seems to have Mapimpi nailed on in the 11 jersey, despite his defensive positioning being consistently abysmal, so perhaps a switch to 15, where neither Le Roux nor Gelant has really impressed. But would a Bok coach really trust a small player with the last line in defence? Maybe Rassie will. Jantjies was a little better than he’s been recently and a couple of lovely intelligent passes in the mix, but we’re still praying that Pollard stays fit for the whole tournament!
Argentina were frankly robbed by the obstruction call (not that I’m complaining, cough), but still ahven’t shown any real signs of being at the top table this World Cup. Some very capable players, but not a great tight five and prone to brain farts at key times.
Only saw France-Scotland of the NH matches and it was a bit of a mismatch at times. I can remember at school we had a small pack and our very enterprising Irish coach deliberately put two mobile props in the front row along with the hooker and opted for 3-man scrums (of course not allowed these days) to get the ball in and out before the opposition pack could push, giving our very capable backs and mobile back five forwards plenty to work with. Was OK against middling sides, but when you came up against the big boys and you had to have all 8 in the defensive scrums, we got murdered. This is what i felt for Scotland – trying to move the ball and use a mobile pack, but you can’t always dictate the play. Scoreline maybe exaggerated things a bit, but there you go.
Good win for Wales, but are they going to field a decent side if the injury tally mounts much more? No idea how serious this week’s knocks are, but Gats is in danger of nobbling his side before they get on the plane.
Italy really put a marker down with their demolition of Russia and must fancy their chances against the Boks and a QF spotHow crap are Russia?LikeLike
How that clearout wasn’t a red I don’t know. Just a headbutt, really.
LikeLike
Argentina got proper fucked over by that obstruction. Happens 30 times in every game. If that call went the Boks I’d be lived. In general that ref (Luke Pearce) was piss-poor. Just like the game was.
LikeLike
@Gecko – agreed on all fronts. Difficult game to ref in some respects, with players not familiar with each other, trying to impress the coaches etc, but not much quality in it. Still, Lions tour to SA next and we’re always World Champs when they arrive. #coolasacucumber
LikeLike
‘If I were Scottish, I wouldn’t be too depressed’
Pffft.
LikeLike
Our supposedly solid pack got absolutely munched
Given away a try within two minutes after fluffing a defensive lineout. Total inability to get near the oppposition try line. Horrorshow.
We’ll be lucky to beat Russia I tells ya.
LikeLike
I did keep an eye out for Vahaamahina though given all the grief he gets. He was actually pretty effective. Menace in defensive mauls and got at least one turnover I noticed.
LikeLike
Even if that clearout was give red we’d have still lost.
LikeLike
Boks have certainly got some nice wing options.
LikeLike
Ticht, Kwagga’s in the 36-man squad announced by Rassie for some more camp time ahead of the official squad announcement next week. I’m afraid he might not be coming to Edinburgh.
Forwards (21): Schalk Brits, Lood de Jager, Thomas du Toit, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Rynhardt Elstadt, Eben Etzebeth, Lizo Gqoboka, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Francois Louw, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Tendai Mtawarira, Franco Mostert, Trevor Nyakane, Marvin Orie, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Duane Vermeulen.
Backs (15): Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk, Andre Esterhuizen, Warrick Gelant, Elton Jantjies, Herschel Jantjies, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Makazole Mapimpi, Sbu Nkosi, Willie le Roux, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Frans Steyn.
LikeLike
Still not sure about Kwagga. He had an unexpected 65min on Sat and did f..all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kwagga”s helped by having that grand nickname. Plain Bert Smith wouldn’t get so much love.
LikeLike
That’s a nickname? I thought it was his actual name.
LikeLike
A Kwagga is a now-extint sub-specie of zebra. Another rugby player with the same nickname is the clearly Scottish sounding Kwagga van Niekerk who went straight from Lions u19 in Jo’burg to Scotland u20 in the 6 Nations and JWC this year. Van Niekerk is the cousin of the obvious non-Scottish sounding Nathan MacBeth who took the SA Schools, then Scotland u20 (for 2018 6 Nations) then back to SA u20 (for 2018 JWC) route.
LikeLike
It’s all so confusing
LikeLike
Apparently Greg Aldritt who enjoyed bowling our pack about like skittles on Saturday has a Scottish father. Just the kind of player we could do with. Ach well.
LikeLike
Wales are World Cup favourites according to Eddie J. What a scamp he is.
LikeLike
*tumbleweed*
LikeLike
Boks have certainly got some nice wing options.
Not often you read that. Mind you, with our Vogon poetry midfield, it’s not often you get to see our wings operating as anything other than tackle bags.
LikeLike
Does not look good for Gabrillagues. I missed that in real time, busy shouting abuse at Nige and urging the French to play quicker.
Aldriitt’s half Scottish, yes. After Fiji, France poaching players everywhere. More seriously, I really liked that back row, Ollivon, Cros and Aldritt. Unfortunately Picamoles, Lauret and Camara will start next week
Vahaamina is much better than most AoDers think. 18 successful tackles out of 19, maul disrupter in chief,, powerful in the scrum. And concrete hands, yes.
LikeLiked by 2 people
A bit more on Kwaggas. The nickname of the Outeniqua High School team from George is the Quaggas. Warrick Gelant and the van der Merwe brothers Akker and Duhan went there. So Edinburgh’s Duhan vd Merwe is a Kwagga. George has got a decent little railway museum and a terrific second-hand bookshop if anyone’s planning a visit.
And Kwagga Smith is really Albertus Stephanus Smith. ASS.
LikeLiked by 2 people
And the numberplate (car registration plate for some overseas folk) for George starts with CAW which is apt as it’s always Cold and Wet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
@flair
There was a lad called Ethan Randle in the France Under 18 team last week. Born in England to British parents. His brother’s played 7z for France already.
LikeLike
Since 2010 Argentina have played England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales 29 times and won only 3 matches.
LikeLike
On current form I’ve got Argentina going out at the group stages.
LikeLike
While Argentina have tended to show up well for world cups of late they seem to be lacking a bit up front. They can throw the ball about and score nice tries but also have a fairly high error rate. Bit like Scotland in some respects.
I’m usually wrong on these things though.
LikeLike
I’ve got France lifting the cup after gubbing us at the weekend. This is likely to be incorrect.
LikeLike
‘I really liked that back row, Ollivon, Cros and Aldritt.’
They did look pretty handy
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hello, hello!
Glad I found you all, how is everybody?
LikeLiked by 6 people
Hello Bedfordbluesfan! Hello Bedfordbluesfan! Everybody’s fine! Everybody’s fine!
LikeLike
Glad to hear it Deebee. Is this place as busy as the last?
LikeLike
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/aug/19/kearnan-myall-england-players-mental-health-training-camp
Heavy duty stuff.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Poor old Marcell Coetzee misses out on the World Cup. Having ankle surgery and will be laid up for 3 months so affects Ulster and all.
LikeLike
@BedfordBluesFan We’re slowly getting up to speed.
LikeLike
Hey Refitman, saw you posting on the Graun the other week. I was too slow to say hi.
LikeLike
@TomP – aaarrrggghhhhh!
LikeLike
Where’s Cat? He’s usually good for a couple of hundred posts a day when he’s about. There’s a new Tarantino film out as well, so you could probably add another 50 at least to that figure….
LikeLike
Problem for Cat is that Cat’s not here for him to argue with. It’s Cat’s 22.
LikeLiked by 2 people
“The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP was appointed Secretary of State for Education on 24 July 2019.”
probably left Catman even more apoplectic than usual.
LikeLike
Good appointment that one.
LikeLike
I’d’ve gone with a brave appointment.
LikeLike
Anyway, am going to watch Once Upon a Time in Hollywood tomorrow. Tarantino’s very popular in the Czech Republic and our lad’s staying with his Babicka this week so we’re to the flicks. Am not the greatest Tarantino fan but can cut him some slack and the cast is, as usual, very good.
3nd time this year. Saw the very so-so Mid 90s when he was away last month. Good soundtrack, mind. Also took him for his first cinema trip the other week to see Toy Story 4, OKish.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cat must have an opinion on the Catch 22 miniseries. And I do need to be told that wasn’t a good example of a Catch 22 for some reason. Along with Gav’s appointment I’m not sure what more we can do in terms of Catnip short of Larry turning up with a Murakami review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Though I have started playing Bloodborne and am unsure whether to fist Gazza or not…
LikeLike
In other news it seems I am unable to do the Cosmic Kids Yoga Treasure Island routine after keeping wicket yesterday.
LikeLike
I’m intrigued (but almost scared to ask) what the Cosmic Kids Yoga Treasure Island routine is. Something to do with beavers?
LikeLike