It all started off with such high expectations: in honour of Welsh Legends, a pre-match drinky at the Owain Glyndwr. Unfortunately the beer was being served by an amateur, and headless Brains was the result.
Not to worry! A text arrived from a colleague of the mister’s (a Tigers fan) announcing that he was at O’Neill’s, so we made our way there. The colleague was nowhere to be found, and the beer (and wine) was equally shit. The main point of interest was that the owner must be a County Antrim man, judging by the exquisite photographs on the walls.
Next on the agenda was to find somewhere to watch the Munster v Racing match. After considerable traipsing, eventually found a pub that was both showing it and had drinkable booze. Hooray!
As you’ll all know, that was quite an exciting match, ending in a draw.
On to Arms Park for the main event!
Arms Park is a civilised ground that serves Courvoisier doubles. Whoever designed the signage must have been overly-appreciative of said cognac, because the signs in no way resembled any of the seating information on our tickets.
With the help of a friendly usher, we eventually found our seats, in the middle of a garish sea of Leicester supporters. A particularly large-lunged one was sitting directly behind me, and was given to shouting YESTIGAHS every time Leicester touched the ball.
Noticing me flinching, he said, “Sorry, I’ll try to warn you before I shout. But I don’t always know when I’m going to do it.”
“Oh. A bit like Tourette’s, then?”
As for the rugby itself:
.
.
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(Yay, try Cardiff.)
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.
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Ah shit.
Further Reading
Weekend team selections start here.
ClydeMillarWynant’s views on known knowns and unknown unknowns.
On the telly this week
Friday 29th November
| Munster v Edinburgh | 19:35 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Ulster v Scarlets | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Bath v Saracens | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
Saturday 30th November
| Wales v Barbarians (women) | 11:45 | S4C |
| Wales v Barbarians (men) | 14:45 | Channel 4 |
| Northampton v Leicester | 15:00 | BT Sport 2 |
| Treviso v Cardiff | 15:00 | FreeSports / PS2 |
| Connacht v Southern Kings | 17:15 | TG4 / Premier Sports 1 |
| Dragons v Zebre | 17:15 | S4C / Premier Sports 2 |
| Glasgow v Leinster | 19:35 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Ospreys v Cheetahs | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
Sunday 1st December
| Harlequins v Gloucester | 15:00 | BT Sport 1 |
Ovally Balls 
Happy Thanksgiving all.
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Happy Turkey Day, SBT.
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Chek’s perfectly entitled to disagree with those of us who think the Labour antisemitism thing is ‘bollocks’/overblown/disinformation/whatever. We all need to be able to disagree. I think he probably will accept that our various beliefs to this effect are genuine though and that with that and what he knows about people on here what he said to Ticht was a wee bit out of order.
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Had a drink tonight. I only play beaver-marmot-simulacrum when I’m sober. It being a serious business and all that.
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@Craigs, I don’t particularly want to go down this rabbit hole, but if asked I’ll explain to Chek why I thought his highly personal attack lacked insight, balance, proportion and maturity.
Or, I’m prepared to let it be and move on.
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I’ve just read the introduction and first two chapters from TomP’s link at 20:31 last night. I will continue later, but I’d really recommend it if this subject is of any interest, initial thoughts from it are that’s it’s a good reminder that when reading through details, always keep the bigger picture in mind.
Also, I realise that this is ostensibly a rugby forum, I’m happy to keep it that way as many will use this as a refuge from day to day crap, and that is more than valid. The balance does shift from time to time, I’ll try to stick to the ovallyballs in the title.
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That’s fine Ticht. I don’t think that you’d be wrong to either. But when people start using the ‘age and wisdom’ or lack of argument they may as well expect ‘OK Boomer’ in response.
I appreciate that it was an attack on you and you reacted reasonably at the time.
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“I’ll try to stick to the ovallyballs in the title.”
Amen. I’m aware that I am prone to drift into these subjects so will try to stick to rugby going forwards.
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“I’ll try to stick to the ovallyballs in the title.”
I don’t know, I’m pretty sure there are other safe topics. The potato for example. And of course Country music. I’m confident that Thaum, as an enlightened member of the always fair-minded rugby fraternity, will listen to and consider our posts on why it’s great and end up with a new love for it as a result.
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My missus began last summer hating cricket and now she likes it. Therefore Thaum will love country music by the end of the 6 nations.
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Fuck you and your potato CMW.
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Apologies. I was triggered by the word “potato”.
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Morning everybody
I for one found your debate last night very interesting. I don’t have to agree with all opinions but think there is great value in such debates within this forum of friends, so long as it doesn’t get out of hand or personal.
I have gained a lot from reading comments from Ticht, Chek and everyone else yes, even CMW and OT.
Thank you Thaum for the effort you make to enable this place.
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‘I don’t know, I’m pretty sure there are other safe topics’
Just don’t mention alternative methods of making cheese on toast.
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The tangents have always been interesting (well, mostly, not all of them are for everyone)
Going on to politics is going to be a tad fraught at the best of times, and, being a bit UK-centric here this is a particularly divisive election.
Hopefully Chek hasn’t permanently drained the flounce reserves and we can all take a deep breath and carry on.
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This is insane
‘A bill to ban abortion introduced in the Ohio state legislature requires doctors to “reimplant an ectopic pregnancy” into a woman’s uterus, or face charges of “abortion murder”.’
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Live and let live I say.
Prog issue 104 ‘features Marillion on the cover and an article discussing the impact of the band’s debut album, Script For A Jester’s Tear.’
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Possibly a day late, but deep frying turkey can be a tricky business
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Americans, huh!?
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Not doing that this year. 😢
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At home for crimbo this year so having the usual ‘discussion’ about what we cook. I quite like Turkey, I think I am in a bit of a minority here.
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O’Shea to just over the road from Quins. I imagine he’s been brought in to make our game ‘not rugby mate’.
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Chimpie: Daddy wants to cook turkey this year.
Mrs Chimpie: we’re not fans of turkey. Well, not home cooked turkey at any rate. Let’s go out to eat or get a takeaway. Put your feet up. We appreciate your effort but want to see more of you this Christmas.
Chimplets: yeah, yeah. Put your feet up, have some port. Step away from the cooker.
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My cooking is great.
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Morning.
Off to the big shoe this evening – Ulster vs Scarlets B – and expecting a satisfying thumping.
Currently at soft play. A riot, as always.
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Big show
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Although we can all agree shoe is superior.
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Shoeperior
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Apparently we failed to finalise a two-state solution last night? Should i be glad I’ve not read back?
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I’ve rediscovered a (long dormant) love of chess after getting the chess.com app. Unfortunately almost 20 years of not playing equals being pish.
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Your:
Exeter team to play Wasps:
15 Phil Dollman, 14 Jack Nowell,13 Ian Whitten, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Tom O’Flaherty
10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Nic White
1 Ben Moon, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Harry Williams, 4 Dave Dennis (capt), 5 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Dave Ewers, 7 Don Armand, 8 Matt Kvesic
16 Elvis Taione, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Sean Lonsdale, 20 Sam Simmonds, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Joe Simmonds, 23 Tom Hendrickson
Baxter taking the opportunity to rest/rotate……………..Dollman and Steenson to bring the fear to the opposition
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“Currently at soft play. A riot, as always”
Having fun in the ball pit (Karl)?
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I quite like Turkey, I think I am in a bit of a minority here.
The random majuscule confuses me, Chimpie.
If you’re referring to the bird, I’m with you. I do enjoy turkey dinners.
If you’re speaking of the country – I’ve never been.
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@enzom
Great time of year. A pit of snot and dirty fingers.
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Unfortunately almost 20 years of not playing equals being pish.
That or forgetting how pish you were to start with.
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One thing to come out of this arguing is that it’s great preparation for Xmas. Normally I try to avoid too much political discussions with my dad as its supposed to be a nice meal that my mum has slaved over. But having read this article I plan to go nuclear this year:
https://www.thenation.com/article/thanksgiving-conservative-relatives/
Here’s some inspiration for you:
Do not let them feel safe. Do not let them feel comfortable. Do not let them feel like their biases are simply honest talk. If you think of yourself as an ally to members of other communities, then we need you to speak up at precisely those moments when nobody from that community is around.
Tis the season after all.
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Your arch villains
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Wee Johnny and Huw back
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Relatively non-evil line up. touch of the b team about it.
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Leinster, that is
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Glasgow really need to be winning that one.
they also need to start finding an alternative 10
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Aye, but there are B teams and there are Leinster B teams.
Glasgow stats guy reckons Sexton has never played a regular season game at Scotstoun and hasn’t played Glasgow in a non-knockout for over ten years.
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I also like turkey.
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Chimpie, whilst I agree Glasgow really need another 10, imo they are very hard to come by – Scotland looked for yonks and couldn’t find one, France seemed to be in a similar boat. Ireland had Ronads and then CFT, maybe Jackson could be mentioned. Wales have had one or decent ones in recent years, New Zealand always do, but the game isn’t overflowing with them, not like great backrow players or even centres
Pete Horne does well in the league, I think.
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England? Faz is good, Ford has come back on to his game, I always liked Cippers, but England have about a billion rugby players. don’t they?
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All this turkey talk is gobbledygook to me.
Did a goose once when I was in the UK for Christmas – spectacular.
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But anyway, the initial point about Glasgow really needing to win is valid, because they ain’t getting a point from the 1872 games :-)
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Deebee, was is really greasy?
I read Jay Raynor the other day, he said he cooked his goose once and the kitchen felt greasy for months afterwards
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P-Horne can do a job in the Pro14 at 10 but he’s really an inside centre. Why’s it so hard to bring through competent pro level 10s (not talking international class) in Scotland?
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