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 
I think it was this one. Quite a lot of this stuff goes on in our house.
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Had a closer look at the Wales game. Why?
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Brexit!
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ManYoo held to a 1-1 draw by Iksy’s mighty Wullufs. Utd could maybe do with more attacking threat, perhaps someone like Lee Sharpe who was somewhat surprisingly to be found playing Real Cricket against us yesterday. Not much else of note to report from what was a bit of a sorry affair, they were too good as I suspected and it got a bit soul destroying as five of their top six reached the retirement mark of 35. I certainly didn’t need to be opening the bowling against them, but then again neither did anyone else on our team. We didn’t disgrace ourselves with the bat, but still finished a hundred short. I thumped a couple of decent fours off balls that I couldn’t see as it went dark and started pouring with rain. Was then bowled going for another one that I also couldn’t see as the low sun burst through the clouds right behind the bowler’s arm. Think that ground could do with moving round ninety degrees or so, but then it has hosted a Test Match so what do I know.
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@Iks – don’t know. Struggled like mad to get it to work on Channel 4 player on Saturday night only for it to turn out to be shit.
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Everything was so familiar the match looked recited by rote, like morning assembly or bedtime prayers.
Both teams were playing properly but holding back, if that makes sense. It was physical enough, but you could tell there was nothing significant hanging on the result. When England were well on top in the second half, they didn’t really have the mind to go for broke and win the game. It looked like a run-out.
Bigger Dan Biggar got man of the match, and that was just silly. He had a very ordinary game, and only brought some less-than-inept kicking to the 10 position. He did nothing creative, but I assume that is our third priority behind defence and the kicking game. I’m glad he’s ours though, just in case we reach the knockout phases.
Our scrum was under the cosh legally and illegally for the whole match, and Moriarty is no Toby when it comes to dealing with a scrum going backwards.
Pastries would go to the lineout, which I predicted to be a disaster but it was the opposite – although it looked like a training exercise to get the lovely Wainwright up to speed with the calls sometimes. Also to HalfP for doing ok and making it through, North for looking like he likes being out there again, and the general forward effort led by AWJ in defence.
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Wolves held to a 1-1 draw by ManU. Do keep up, CMW.
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Both put in the shade this round by the dazzling Canaries my dear Iks.
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After the try I think Wales kicked away every other bit of possession they had while England were down to 14.
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Thought AWJ or Ken should have got MoM. Navidi was good too as was Wainwright till he went off.
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Testing, testing
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Not sure what is going on here, but every time I post, I need to log in again. Anyone having the same issues?
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Cordero fails to make the Argentina World Cup squad:
Forwards: Nahuel Tetaz Chapparo, Mayco Vivas, Agustin Creevy, Julian Montoya, Santiago Socino, Juan Figallo, Santiago Medrano, Enrique Pieretto, Guido Petti, Tomas Lavanini, Matias Alemanno, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lezana, Javier Ortega Desio, Marcos Kremer, Rodrigo Bruni, Juan Manuel Leguizamon.
Backs: Tomas Cubelli, Felipe Ezcurra, Nicolas Sanchez, Benjamin Urdapilleta, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Matias Orlando, Matias Moroni, Lucas Mensa, Juan Cruz Mallia, Ramiro Moyano, Bautista Delguy, Emiliano Boffelli, Joaquin Tuculet.
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No. It’s a just a way of culling Kiwi contributors.
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@TomP – that’s the Italy of southern hemisphere rugby. Some good players, capable of making things awkward on their day, but not going very far.
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#postingwithoutproblems!
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TomP, Facundo Isa is a stranger omission than Cordero. Particularly considering his replacement is aging Leguizamon.
A few weeks ago Argentina seemed a terrifying prospect in the so called “group of death” but now they appear a complete shambles.
Can someone explain why the Jaguares look so good and the Pumas so poor? Super Rugby and international friendlies are not that far apart, are they?
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‘Can someone explain why the Jaguares look so good and the Pumas so poor?’
They are tired. As a SA rugby fans we’ve seen for years how the constant travel over timezones (remember, SA teams use to travel more miles than Oz/NZ and longer tours as well [4 weeks as opposed to say NZ do 2 week tour at start to SA, then 2 week to Oz at end]) affect players. Jaguars travel even more, and this year they made the final – thus more flights & travel etc. They are out on their feet.
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Flair, They really do seem to have taken a step back since Super Rugby. That said, they lost by only one score to both the All Blacks and Australia and could – should? – have won at least one of those, maybe both. The match against the Boks in Salta was actually not as one-sided as the score suggests, but was still a terrible result for them. The loss in Pretoria was again very close and but for the TMO’s terrible ‘obstruction’ call, they would have won that game. So, they could very well have been 2/4 or 3/4 with a bit of luck this season.
I’m also puzzled by Isa’s omission, but their real issue in the forwards is a terrible scrum. They’re giving away lots of penalties there and struggling as a result.
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Good point Gecko, that’s also true. Poor France, once they’re fresh and firing again in that first match.
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@Avs – I had the same problem at the beginning until I clicked on the ‘W’ for WordPress symbol just above the log-in. It took me to my old WordPress AOD account and everything was fine after that. Actually Thauma explained this better than me earlier on on the new blog – I’ll see if I can find it.
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Testing for a friend
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@MrIks
Decent summary of the game – Wales lineout and lineout maul defence was good…. England probably showed more invention with “ball in hand” but equally seemed a bit disinterested in multiple phases in attack.
Difficult to say what impact announcing the squad had – you’d imagine no-one had any incentive to do extra to grab the last few slots. Fairly dull game overall… although having said that IRE vs ITA was dull too – but I enjoyed it…
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The Top 14 finally starts this weekend. It’s been a long fortnight since last season finished.
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Testing for a new friend
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Aha! Logged in on my phone now too. Look at me! All 21st century like!
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If the Pumas come out and say they are tired due to scheduling then I’ll take them at their word, but I’m not convinced by that argument otherwise – this year they had their first three games at home, then two in South Africa followed with a Bye. Then a home game before two in South Africa followed by another Bye, then two more home games. They then flew to New Zealand for two games, on to Aus for two home games before returning to Argentina for the semi-final, and then of course the final in New Zealand.
I’ll accept it is a factor, but not the major one for the difference in performance from the Jaguares against provincial teams as opposed to full blown international sides.
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‘on to Aus for two home games before returning to Argentina for the semi-final, and then of course the final in New Zealand’ Just there. Two weeks, two major timezone flights. It kills.
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Morning!
………………………..Cordero had a terrific season with Exeter………………is he carrying an injury? Otherwise, thoes selected ahead of him must be bloody good!
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Geko, I’m sure it’s a factor, but not as big as the difference between playing the Bulls, Reds and Highlanders compared to The Springboks, Wallabies and All Blacks
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Ticht, you’re right, but it’s a lot of cumulative travel and as I said above, they lost narrowly until the blowout in Salta, so I’m not convinced that they’re in complete disarray. One heavy defeat in four is what it is, with one defeat due to an overzealous TMO and two others due to a combination of bad luck, bounce of the ball etc. Also, given that the Pumas are basically the same as the Jags, with a couple of additions, you’d expect the Boks, Wobblies and Kiwis to step up more than they can, by bringing together the best of four of five franchises. And overseas players in our case.
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Well that killed that off. I also think part of the problem for Argentina is that, like the French 16-month annual season, the toll is taken annually, all year round with little time for recovery before another round of travel. Must be taxing mentally and physically.
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So, how about that England midfield, eh?
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Former Embra legend Piers Francis to rule the world
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That article Beadle linked to yesterday was quite a read. Sobering stuff.
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I would have thought there would be a dip in performance standards after doing so well in Supe Rugby only to lose in the final. It must be difficult to switch it up a gear for international games after a disappointment like that. Also some mental tiredness exacerbated by another dose of the travel treadmill.
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France for the weekend :
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That French team looks fairly Flair – pleasing. France by 20
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Maybe we’ll turn up this weekend and make a game of it. That would be nice.
Really no idea how this will turn out
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Poirot should change his first name to Hercules. This would please me.
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Talking of performance youse lot need to up your game.
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Thanks Iks – a gentleman as always, unlike some others I could mention.
*glares at DeeBee*
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Its Iks’ fault is all I can say.
Hope all well with all.
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Pinch me!
is it possible that the French are getting their act together……………………..?
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Aah. Proper name
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Really hope not Slade, cos it kinda looked that way to me too, and as Deebs points out, the Poomas are only a hairsbreadth away from beating good sides.
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just been looking at the Vuelta stages and profiles – golly, it’s tough!
ITT is at Pau/Jurancon – think I might pop along and get some stocks in for the cellar!
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French lock Paul Gabrillagues gets six weeks (reduced from ten) for the head shot on John Barclay
https://www.world.rugby/news/444109
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El Rayo………………it’ll be great for Rugby if they are on song for the WC – they do have some great players…….
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