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 
Bit drunk already. Thank God grandma has the twins and only have to keep a tiny baby alive.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Joe Simpson just slid in from about 10m out, it’s that wet in Glaws.
LikeLike
That is the worst 40 minutes I’ve ever seen from Glasgow, so many errors, schoolboy stuff
LikeLike
Weather in Italy looks lovely.
LikeLike
Decent to see a team in black turn up. Dragons 18-0 up against Glasgow.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Avs – if it makes you feel any better I’ve never seen England play so well*. Even in 2012. It’s been a long time since 2002 so I could be wrong.
You’ll thrash us next time obviously.
* hideous line out aside.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A good afternoon for MrIks in store, Dragons are deservedly in the lead
LikeLike
Well, I think it pnly fair for Edinburgh to beat Scarlets later to even this up
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lots of Glasgow fans definitely not gruntled by the performances so far this season (including this one), and there have even been some calls for Dave’s heid. This won’t help. We also need to get some clarity on his position for the rest of this season, and get the Scotland players back. We’re not going to get anywhere near the playoffs in this form.
LikeLike
That could well be Glasgow’s chance of a home play off gone
LikeLike
Big game in Galway today. The Cheetahs have been superb at home to start the season but not very good out of SA in their first two seasons of Pro14. A win this evening would be a great result for them. Connacht are decent so should be a good game.
LikeLike
Only saw the second half of Rodney’s Parade.
I won’t get carried away as only one team seemed to be enjoying being out there, but a good effort from the Drags. I heart Ollie Griffiths, I think he is a great player and prospect, but like the lad Basham they are just a bit too small to move up to international level for the positions they play.
LikeLike
This must be one of the few days in the year where it’s lovely sunshine in the Wesht and chucking it down everywhere else in these islands
LikeLike
Try Connacht. Really poor defence from Cheetahs, though.
LikeLike
@Iksy
Basham will be fine once he finishes growing/bulking. He still has a year left at age group rugby.
If he stays injury free, he’s a guaranteed 50+ capper.
LikeLike
That’s a shame for the Cheetahs. A lovely bit of skill but unfortunately forward.
LikeLike
A try each. 14-5 shortly before HT.
LikeLike
Try and a half by the Cheetahs. Lovely.
LikeLike
Old Ruan Pienaar still has it
LikeLike
Wow, was he onside?
LikeLike
Cheetahs look strong on attack and then Connacht intercept and run 97 metres for the try. Good good pace.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nope, don’t think so on the review
LikeLike
I’ve got the sound off, Herbie Hancock playing so I can’t follow the conversation
LikeLike
Noice from the Cheetahs
LikeLike
Can’t hear the on-field noise (including ref) anyway.
This is an entertaining match.
LikeLike
Zebre 0 – 3 Leinster
They kicked off same time as Con Che
LikeLike
That’s a red.
LikeLike
Should be a red for Dries Swanepoel for head to head. Silly.
LikeLike
Ticht – that’s surprising!
LikeLike
He’d never’ve done that if he were still at the Bulls.
LikeLike
I’m not sure that was a red, it looked far worse than it was
LikeLike
Listening to Ellis Jenkins talking about tomorrow. He mentions that Tomos Williams picked a fight with AWJ in one of his first ever Welsh training sessions. Proper Rhondda Boy is Tom.
LikeLike
I had a dog walk earlier on, in quite a different frame of mind to Avs, no doubt, and my mind wandered to Itoje. That was his best game for England since his breakthrough season, and I don’t think I noticed him doing any of the silly winding the opposition up when they concede a penalty… Anyone else notice that? Think being more focused on the game suits him.
LikeLike
TomP we had a guy called Jeremy Richardson, he and his brother were always scrapping with team mates at Ed Accies, Edinburgh and Scotland camps
LikeLike
I did, Dab. Sinckler as well after they won a scrum penalty, very little celebration. Itojee looked absolutely wired at one close-up on the face. An outstanding match from him.
LikeLike
No way, ther was an obstruction by Connacht there
LikeLike
A *scrum*?! Are they insane?
LikeLike
Wtf Whitehouse that is terrible
LikeLike
That really is shameful homer reffing
LikeLike
Connacht might have got away with something there!
LikeLike
Our league is a joke
LikeLike
Good match though. Both teams like to chuck the ball around and take chances.
LikeLike
86th minute score by Connacht wins it.
LikeLike
Congratulations, England fans.
England did to New Zealand what NZ did to Ireland.
LikeLike
Commiserations, New Zealand fans.
Does this mean there’ll be some restructuring?
New players introduced?
LikeLike
@LADOAB
“England did to New Zealand what NZ did to Ireland”
Puts in perspective how bloody awful we were last Saturday…. in fact maybe we were terrible much more than NZ being good…
LikeLike
@ticht
“I’m not sure that was a red, it looked far worse than it was”
Well at least we weren’t treated to another of Whitehouse’s “medium force” explanations….
LikeLike
Go embra
LikeLike
A good start
LikeLike
Well, this should be a Ticht-pleasing match.
LikeLike