What does this beauty spot have in common with the England 23 selected to play Ireland on Sunday?
The only other exciting news to report is that Ticht found an old version of AoD still extant.
On the telly this week
Friday 21st February
| Crusaders 33 – 13 Highlanders | 06:05 | Sky Sports Action |
| Wales U20 14 – 11 France U20 | 19:35 | BBC Two Wales / BBC Sport website/ BBC red button |
| Zebre 0 – 28 Munster | 19:35 | FreeSports |
| Edinburgh 41 – 14 Connacht | 19:35 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Ospreys 13 – 21 Leinster | 19:35 | TG4 / Premier Sports 1 |
| England U20 21 – 39 Ireland U20 | 19:45 | RTÉ Two / YouTube / Sky Sports Mix |
| Sale 36 – 3 Leicester | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
Saturday 22nd February
| Rebels 34 – 26 Sharks | 03:45 | Sky Sports Action |
| Chiefs 14 – 26 Brumbies | 06:05 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Reds 64 – 5 Sunwolves | 08:15 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Stormers v Los Jaguares | 13:05 | Sky Sports Action |
| Italy v Scotland | 14:15 | ITV |
| Bulls v Blues | 15:15 | Sky Sports Action |
| Wales v France | 16:45 | BBC One / S4C |
| Glasgow v Dragons | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Ulster v Cheetahs | 19:35 | Premier Sports 2 |
Sunday 23rd February
| Wales v France (women) | 12:00 | BBC Two Wales / S4C |
| England v Ireland (women) | 12:45 | RTÉ Two / BBC Sport website / Sky Sports Action |
| Exeter v Northampton | 13:00 | BT Sport 1 |
| England v Ireland | 15:00 | ITV |
| Italy v Scotland (women) | 16:10 | BBC Alba / website / red button |
| Cardiff v Treviso | 17:15 | S4C / Premier Sports 2 |
| Scarlets v Southern Kings | 17:15 | Premier Sports 1 |
Ovally Balls 
Italian U20s are better these days. something something only a matter of time etc.
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10/10. Would read again (and probably will in several other publications today).
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Talking points: France
‘A first grand slam in 10 years is practically a done deal’
Steady on.
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@FFB
Yeah – that was pretty bad – rucks were crazy – kind of level you’d see at U10 when everyone is just falling over and grabbing at the ball .. probably equalled out in terms of effect – but does encourage bad behaviour in terms of clearouts
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@dov
Yeah – that was what was so frustrating – we defended the heavy carrying well enough and then gave it away …. 5-8 were great…. 1-4 didn’t offer much.
That’s now 3 kicks in last 2 games that Sexton has ‘shanked’ – and of course you start to wonder if there’s an injury there
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I hope those English posters who were so scathing of Biggar’s conduct on Saturday are equally outraged by Owen Farrell’s behaviour on Sunday
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I’m outraged by both. to the gulag with them
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I like biggar.
Faz was a bit of a dick for sure. Initially I think he held on as stander had a niggly pop at itoje (nothing really just a slap) he then took it too far and tries to prove a point when stander started slapping him to try and get him to let go.
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Utna – no, not really.
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Faz doesn’t flap as much Biggar. Doesn’t appeal ridiculously for every single thing. Even when there is no chance of the decision being changed (see Daly’s try in Cardiff a few years back, he immediately appealed… for… something…. anything).
Faz is physically confrontational and niggly and he does things I don’t like occasionally but he’s not the same kind of whinger as Biggar who isn’t even supposed to be talking to the ref really.
Plus, Faz is English. You can’t argue with that.
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@Utna utter bollocks. Faz ridiculous of course, but it’s Biggar’s gobshitery to the ref we can’t stand. Didn’t like to see Faz whingeing to Peyper after the event, but at least he’s the captain and so actually entitled to do so.
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Rugby values, guys. Personally I’d have sent both players off to the moon. Same goes for any player that looks at me cock-eyed.
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I quite liked the way Stander used Shaolin Open Fist techniques to confuse the ref though.
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The issue with Biggar is he’s actually shouting as the game is going on, whereas at least Farrell waits for the whistle to go. I wish he’d focus on the game more.
I don’t have a problem with either, they’re great passionate players, just because they don’t preface their complaints with ‘sir’ like my least favourite rugby animal – the posh English schoolboy – doesn’t mean they don’t respect the ref.
The question is – does it work? In Biggar’s case I think he’s undermining AWJ a little and for Farrell it seems ‘un-captainly’. Think having a sole speaker who is calm and under control is probably better (cf. Lions getting away with the ‘accidental’ offside in NZ).
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For the record, I like Farrell and have no problem with anything he did.
Just contrasting the response on here when different players shout at a ref
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We’ve a U14 like that – really loves rugby but when he sees a big lad running at him – he heads backwards. Got to be a mental thing – as he doesn’t always do it but does it too often for it to be “looking for space”
Anyway, second big match update – yesterday, we took our “Red” U14 team to a neighbouring club (trying to avoid A and B connotations). Neighbouring club being Castleisland – where Mick Galwey and JJ Hanrahan started. However, they’re struggling a bit – seniors didn’t finish league and their U14s started with 12 – which we matched, so we had the novelty of 3 subs.
Started off well, scored first – conceded 2 then got a second. By this time, the oppo 10 had turned up and made a huge difference – he got their big guys running at us and they got 2 tries either side of half-time. It was looking bad – then we came back into it – we’ve a few big/powerful guys ourselves and we ploughed up field and our 8 crashed over. One of our newest recruits, who was playing prop but is a handy placed-ball taker in gaelic football knocked over the conversion and we were up and running.
Another new lad – only joined training after Christmas and – this was his 3rd full match (I reckon) scored a brilliant solo try out on the wing – evaded the first two tacklers, stepped inside another and then went outside again and in at the corner – I was delighted for him (I must have looked ridiculous jumping up in the air as he grounded the ball). He’s quick and brave and has a decent step.
That left us – 10 points down. From the kick-off, our Spanish centre ran the ball straight back. They teach them well in Sevilla – he’s got fantastic tackling technique – goes low and tips them up – he’s an absolute threshing machine. A missed conversion left us with a converted try wanted on the last play – we got back to the Castleisland tryline and were recycling the ball and the home ref decided he’d seen a knock forward so whistled for full time.
Bit frustrating – but there were some really encouraging stuff – and as I’ve said before over – over the weekend we got 29 lads on the field in 2 different matches – so I’m delighted with that.
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great stuff trisk
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@Utna Faz is the captain so entitled to parlay with the ref.
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“So much Karl today.”
Slider said that last night.
There was one point in the game that Stockdale caught (I think) JJ in the air before he landed, the commentator said, “Stockdale was premature on Joseph there”, and no one mentioned it.
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Not really a Karl but Brian Carney’s piss take of Phil Clarke’s outfit is top notch stuff
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I wonder what it’s like, going in to work on a Monday, knowing that your boss saw you using your Shaolin Open Fist techniques on his son at the weekend.
Probably best not to say anything. It’ll be fine.
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@MisterIks and all the Homo Heidelbergensis
I managed to get my work trip changed so I’m now flying into Fft on Saturday morning and I’ll take the train down to meet up with you all in the Dubliner.
Back up to Frankfurt on Sunday afternoon to be in the office Monday morning.
Looking forward to seeing you all…
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“I wonder what it’s like, going in to work on a Monday, knowing that your boss saw you using your Shaolin Open Fist techniques on his son at the weekend.”
A couple of years back Faz got absolutely melted in a tackle, the camera cut to Andy F in the coaches box and he was pissing himself laughing.
Stander will be fine.
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@all
Thanks for the “likes” – glad you enjoy the updates from the grass roots….
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Can’t wait to watch *checks Currie Cup standings from last year* the Cheetahs… no sorry, the Lions… no sorry, the Griquas going well down in the Pro15.
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and about that other game yesterday – never got going at all, but did plug away until the end. Actually, did well in many respects in defending and just when it looked like England were out of ideas and opted for the kick…. managed to mess up a simple task. the second one was 100x worse – having seen how the bounce can deceive – we let it bounce again.
at the minute performances are up-and-down …and have been since turn of 2019. We get an up-tick every so often – France 2019 6N, then Wales in RWC warm ups, then Scotland at RWC, then Wales in this year’s 6N. Feels like the end of the Kidney era…we’d be great and then next game flat.
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Could it be that, like at the end of the Kidney era, there are a couple of greats getting past their sell by date and you need to bite the bullet and make some big changes?
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Dova, I think perhaps some injuries have necessitated the likes of O’Mahony still starting. You’d think a fit and firing Carberry would at least offer an alternative to Sexton, young Byrne at Leinster looks a real prospect at fly half for the long term.
Cooney has been terrific for Ulster this season, I would have thought good enough to start
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@dov
You get reluctant to write guys off for any number of reasons – I recall we had Healy written off and Jack McGrath as anointed successor and that switched quite quickly. Might switch back too….
The popular call was to discard O’Mahony and he’s been one of the better players over the 3 games. Maybe we’ll see if Stander-Vd Flier-Doris is a better trio the next day (though probably any two you’d like to name plus Leavy might be as good) (I’m a big fan of Leavy – just hoping he comes back as good).
Same with Earls – he showed a bit of liveliness when he came on – albeit like Doris and Dillane – the game was done, broken up and it can be deceiving the way a fresh player can look good when everyone else is knackered, but again he’s hardly the future now.
I guess major questions are at 9 and 10 – Cooney and Byrne to start vs Italy I’d imagine… unless Farrell is concerned and wants to ensure 3 home wins
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Ticht – I know Faz snr would be fine. I just thought it’s funny as in which other profession would the be remotely OK?
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Faz Snr won’t be too fazed by a bit of argy bargy
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good man – powerful genes
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That bout of fisticuffs was quite instructive into the Faz Snr psyche. What enraged him wasn’t the scrap as such. What happened was Stephen Wild was trying to break up the fight and was dragging people away. Dom Feaunati came running in and lamped Wild in the face from behind, complete cowardly cheap shot. Faz saw this and came wading in. You’ll notice as soon as it got a bit tasty Feaunati got the fear and slinked off. Hence Faz calling him a shit house.
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Some further aches and pains from a Welsh perspective, having just watched the first 20 mins again.
Our protection of attacking ball at the breakdown was shite; like the forwards were waiting in the back line and outside channels to run in the tries.*
When we won a turnover the kick-chase was lethargic (old problem).
Adams defensive positioning was very poor, including ball watching out of position for the first French try when Half P fumbled.
McNicholl looked clueless defensively, really adrift and not knowing where he should be.
The writing was on also on the wall in those first 20 mins as we created two 5 on 3 overlaps but The backs failed to do the passing basics – no wonder Ntamack picked off that intercept in the 2nd half. Also when we worked one of these overlaps only Half P was protecting the breakdown ball, and was duly counter-rucked by Le Roux I think.
BDB meanwhile was nudged out of regathering a kick by the French 7, but it set in train his squalling to the officials for ‘justice’ rather than getting a grip himself and getting on with it. Bloke needs a ‘shut up and get on with it’ slap, frankly.
*This really worries me because it looks like Pivac is expecting and coaching at ProWoo levels of opposition defence.
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Part Two:
Also the ref was guilty of ball watching at the breakdown so did not manage the offside line at all.
And then there’s George North. I feel sorry for him because his career as a rugby superstar has been scuppered by his equivalent of a boxer’s glass chin.
I really think he should step back from international rugby and maybe rugby in general because of the risk involved. It looks like any direct head contact means he loses consciousness. Seeing him prone on Saturday was a repeat of seeing him knocked out on the field at least two or three times before.
North himself surely can’t enjoy playing under that kind of risk / fear, while at the same time being criticised for falling below the Legend expectations he carries.
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They’ll freely thank you for allowing them to see you coming:
And may spend the money on a better designer:
//s.imgur.com/min/embed.js
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Damn. Why didn’t that work?
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This mob:
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@tomp
for 250 quid you get to have “regular meetings with the Directors”.
Yet I can not talk to Toby Young for free.
Decisions, decisions.
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You can talk to me for free OT. A quick slap up lunch, a few glasses of bubbly and I’m happy to dispense wisdom. Just tell me what your poison is and I’ll nick someone’s wisdom for the event. For free, as I stress.
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OT, how does that 250 notes compare with JBP’s scam?
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Also, not a union. It’s a limited company – looks like another grift scheme. The list of “who are we” is pretty fucking horrendous – bigots, Islamophobes, eugenicists. (And that’s just Toby Young)
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@tomp
Peterson is in a different league for fleecing people. 65k USD apparently
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They’ll even lend you the money.
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I think you could learn ten times as much talking with Deebee over lunch than you could giving that shitehawk Peterson sixty five grand
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Refit, No misogynists?
Ah, just seen Toby Young’s name.
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True ticht.
Though it might cost just as much, its be better value for money.
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“So much Karl today.”
Karl.
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Dead chuffed to hear you can make it Piperboy!
I think the head count is up to about 20 for the Saturday, including a couple of spouses and the odd local acquaintance meeting up with old friends.
I hope to dog this coronavirus doesn’t stick its oar in in the meantime and put people off!
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@Iks
North’s issue have to be a major concern – without being flippant it seems to be a regular occurrence. And there seems to be a similar situation around Biggar.
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