Heartbroken by Ireland’s tragic crash-out last week, I forgot about putting up a new post yesterday. So this is a rushed affair.
Further reading
Don’t miss Deebee’s analysis of the quarter-finals, or Utnapistm’s predictions for this weekend.
On the telly this week
Friday 25th October
| Ulster v Cardiff | 19:35 | S4C / Premier Sports 1 |
| Munster v Ospreys | 19:35 | TG4 / Premier Sports 2 |
| Bath v Exeter | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
Saturday 26th October
| England v New Zealand | 09:00 | ITV |
| Dragons v Glasgow | 14:45 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Gloucester v Wasps | 15:00 | BT Sport 1 |
| Treviso v Kings | 15:00 | FreeSports |
| Connacht v Cheetahs | 17:15 | TG4 / Premier Sports 1 |
| Zebre v Leinster | 17:15 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Edinburgh v Scarlets | 19:30 | Premier Sports 2 |
Sunday 27th October
| Wales v S Africa | 09:00 | ITV |
| Leicester v Saracens | 15:00 | BT Sport 1 |
Ovally Balls 
Commentators got confused between George Clooney and John Cooney. Give me Cooney any day; probably George is rubbish as a scrum-half.
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@Ticht,
Tory politicians hypocritical wankers????
Shome mishtake, shurely.
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Aye, I guess you’re right, ElSuavo, but these people are utterly contemptible
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Refit thanks!
My Norton defences don’t seem to like it!
Never mind
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It is a knock-on when a player, in tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent, makes contact with the ball and the ball goes forward. Sanction: Scrum (if the ball goes into touch, the non-offending team may opt instead for a quick-throw or lineout).
Adamson making it up as he goes along.
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Blues in again
Gibbon bums a squeakin’
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Genius politician Rory Stewart calling a Dublin hip-hop group he met in East London “minor gangsters” is pretty good, though.
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@Yos -I think he gave it as not deliberate so only a knock-on advantage which was then ‘over’ when they kicked it.
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@Cmw
You’re much more generous than I am.
Probably evens up the call we got away with for the first try but Adamson is still doubling down on proving that he’s ready to do Pentyrch 2nds tomorrow.
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Blues are like a different side in this second half.
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“Once scored a hat trick! “
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.
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“11 years ago”
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Priest going well.
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I don’t think the advantage was over, but some of them seem to give that even when the kick is clearly speculative and no advantage is gained.
That said my understanding of the refereeing of this game is not being helped by the sound being ahead of the picture on S4C Clic some of the time which means the whistle keeps going before the offence even happens…
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Jamie Roberts goes off to be replaced by Freddie Burns. Hope the Doc’s not injured as we may need him next Saturday.
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Got a penalty in the end there I suppose.
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Oh no, Horse did everything right but fell at the final hurdle
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Horse in! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So close! Brilliant tackle in the corner.
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Cuthbert with a 75-metre run through Bath. Just tackled (and very well) at the corner by Mercer. Horse looked knackered by the end of it.
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I don’t know why JP Doyle is in Japan, he is an excellent referee
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isn’t, not is
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disappointing finish.
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Cardiff fail to slot the penalty for the LBP at the death.
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Deserved nothing for that first half. That was Phil Davies level of bad.
There’s not a thing on or off the field that is pointing at anything other than decline.
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Good win for Bath. They out Exterered Exeter in that second half. Reasonable dayboo for Hoggy, a couple of nice wee breaks and a couple of dodgy kicks.
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Commiserations Yos, Edinburgh have been there so often, but like the SRU needing a side in Edinburgh, Cardiff won’t be allowed to die by the WRU
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Exactly that ,BB. Not free flowing stuff, but lovely to see Exeter given a taste of their own medicine :)
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I’m not necessarily an Exeter fan, but now that Hoggy’s there, I’ll be following them more closely. Just like Maitland at Sarries, and Hutchinson at Saints and so on.
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And of course, the one and only Duncy Weir at Worcs!!
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I do that, BB, I pick the GP games to watch based on which Scottish players are involved – there are so many games on tv now you have to have some criteria!
The Premiership is going from strength to strength imo, I’ve been watching for around ten years now and it really is a brilliant league with top class game and good attendances at the grounds
That doesn’t make me like the club owners and their agenda any more
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I wonder whether Drags v Glasgow will go ahead with so much rain forecast.
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“I wonder whether Drags v Glasgow will go ahead with so much rain forecast.”
BBC forecast is for “light showers and a moderaate breeze” in Glasgow at the time of the game, MrIks
oh hang on it’s at Dave Parade, I see what you mean, 81% chance of it pishing down
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I somewhat agree, in that the Arms Park is too big a rugby name to die (the heritage alone is worth big £s), but everything is pointing to the current (probably managed) decline becoming a heroic WRU rescue once the the lease at the Arms Park runs out in a couple of years.
It’s all part of the WRU’s long game, is my semi-educated guess.
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*Duck Update*
Been getting some insider tips from Toby about going undercover.
http://debeste.de/100958/Tag-12-Sie-haben-mich-noch-immer-nicht-entdeckt
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Bugger. That was meant to be a pic not a link.
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Iks wants 3 minute pop songs?
One of the earliest that I can remember….
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@Iks – that’s quite the accootrement he’s got there.
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Marina’s headline:
“Pity our Conservative MPs, forced to go on strike to protect their way of life”
I’m not sure I can bring myself to read it.
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Apropos of nowt
If you have Netflix and haven’t watched it, watch Fargo – I’m nearly finished watching the second series, having watched them both before, because I wanted to take a run up at the third
There are so many great call backs to the film, and other Coen Bros stuff, in the tv series
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Big talk from Maro. May have to revise my prediction
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/oct/25/maro-itoje-ric-flair-wwe-england-rugby-world-cup-semi-final
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@ticht
Will give it a whirl. Sacrilege to many, I know, but I never thought Fargo (movie) was one of the Coen’s best offerings
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Sacrilege!
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Nervous nervous nervous…quick bottle of Piper Heidseick to settle the tremors (hope the rugby gods don’t smite me for early celebrations).
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GB Vs Tonga about to kick off.
Exeter legend Josh Jones on the bench for GB.
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@OT
Odd GB selection. Would have thought it time to move on from Graham, Hill, Hall & Widdop.
Maybe with no Sam Burgess, they felt experience needed. I would have given Regan Grace a run at least.
Dont like Hastings & Coote in a GB team. Would have preferred Williams and Lomax (or even Tompkins)
Tonga’s pack is formidable and they have good outside backs (although Hurrell and Jennings are in the twilight of their careers). Fonua-Blake and Taukeiaho have been close to the best props in the NRL and Taumalolo is a phenomenon. Mau’u is great as well. Fifita hasn’t been great of late but he will no doubt lift his game for this test.
Their weakness is the spine. Hopate is a very good FB, but Havili and Lolohea are fringe 1st graders at best. Dont know much about the broncos kid at 7
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Having typed all that, Lolohea has started very well
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Will watch up to 1/2 time and then switch over to the Eng-NZ game
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Tonga’s pack are a sight to behold. Absolutely fierce.
Was also surprised to see Hall playing. Last year Tommy Makinson was the in form winger but he’s injured.
Problem with Graham and Hill is working out who is better. Can’t think of many right now.
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@OT
Ryan Sutton was impressive in the NRL. Tom Burgess had a very good season (having a different haircut than George has done wonders)
Pity Eorl Crabtree retired
(dont watch enought super league to discuss alternatives in detail, but still surprised to see so many England old stagers roll up the middle for GB)
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GB need to keep some possession here.
At least Slammin Sam isn’t on to give away a stream of penalties.
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0-0 after 20+ minutes
Fifita knock on with the try line beckoning. Tonga getting the best of things so far, but not capitalising.
Been very impressed with Walmsley for GB. Never seen him before (iirc) but great tackling. Whitehead good as ever
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