Got distracted by being off this week on account of the happy occasion of getting a new dug.
But in case you missed it, you can read ClydeMillarWynant’s excellent Real Cricket Match Report here.
For Your Televisual Pleasure
Friday 28th August
| Brumbies v Western Force | 10:05 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Glasgow v Edinburgh | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
Saturday 29th August
| Waratahs v Rebels | 10:15 | Sky Sports Action |
| Sale v Bristol | 15:00 | Channel 5 / BT Sport 2 |
| Dragons v Scarlets | 17:15 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Ulster v Leinster | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
Sunday 30th August
| Harlequins v Northampton | 14:00 | BT Sport 1 |
| Exeter v Worcester | 15:00 | BT Sport Extra |
| Munster v Connacht | 15:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Gloucester v Leicester | 16:30 | BT Sport 1 |
| Cardiff v Ospreys | 17:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Zebre v Treviso | 19:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
Monday 31st August
| London Irish v Saracens | 13:00 | BT Sport Extra |
| Bath v Wasps | 15:00 | BT Sport 1 |
Ovally Balls 
BB – he should be playing for Munster, really.
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49-12 at FT.
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Beautiful sky in Cardiff.
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Or Newport, as it turns out!
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Glaws frolocking here, Thorley has his 4th inside 30 minutes.
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Wizard try from Potter there!
(Well somebody was going to…)
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*groanz*
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Cardiff have just scored their second try.
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Ospreys score one.
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17-13 HT
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Interesting now, Leicester have two tries this half, so right back in the game. Now 36-27.
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Lawdy, does Beadle have any hair left ? 36-30 now.
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Try Gloucester which should finish Tiggers off.
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Ospreys’ Cracknell to the bin.
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Ospreys score after the clock goes red, but it’s not enough for a LBP.
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29-20.
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‘BERNARD LAPORTE – the Vice-President of both the Six Nations and World Rugby, who is currently seeking re-election as Chairman of the French Rugby Federation – has told French newspaper Le Progrès that discussions are underway to bring World Champions South Africa into this Autumn’s ‘Eight Nations’ tournament, in place of Japan, who will not travel to Europe due to coronavirus issues.’
Hmm
Considering covid has buggered the chance of the saffa teams finishing the pro14 [1] [2] this would be a surprise. Would have thought bringing in Georgia would be better for the game overall anyhoo.
[1] and Japan’s attendance
[2] Soon to be the pro16?
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Chimpie, Not sure the Boks will be able to schedule it in anyway. We’re still trying to get the 4N here done this year, with latest indications from Australia being that they may have to host it as New Zealand won’t be able to. The earliest that tournament will take place is mid October, possibly November, so unless the 8 Nations is scheduled after that we won’t be in a position to take part.
And that doesn’t even take into consideration that our sides are only now starting contact training again, so we’re at least a month off match fitness.
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Yeah, sounds more like a vague rumour than something likely deebs.
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Watching Munster vs Connacht yesterday – I thought Munster made hard work of beating a team who were 2 short for 60 mins from a position of 14-0 up already. Odd for a comprehensive win to be disappointing.
There is – to my eyes – when in attacking circumstances still a tendency to try “yet-another-one-out-runner” rather than spinning it wide. You get the feeling the half-backs aren’t in control. Ok, Farrell and “Damo” are fairly straight hard runners – not 2nd 5/8th there but given lack of numbers, you’d be moving it around all day surely as you know there’s a number mismatch somewhere and it’s most likely to be outside.
Oddly enough, Connacht’s second try came from throwing it wide – granted it’s 2 on 1 but it’s a bad pass, Roux doesn’t get anywhere near but Munster defender bites and it’s a simple run in for the sub hooker. if Roux catches it he probably gets tackled short.
2 red -cards – Papa’ili was gone as soon as replay showed he made no attempt to adjust his height (“bend your back” as they say in GAA circles – meaning pick up the ball don’t play soccer style). Aki was caught same way at the last World Cup. Start low and there’s some “mitigation”. Unfortunate all round as he’d look good in the 20+ mins he was around. Delahunt – again….leading with forearm into face/neck with a fair amount of force – if seen, you’re gone.
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‘England players take 25% cut on match fees from autumn Tests to £17,250’
Tough times in Ingerlund.
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Sanzaar have denied the rumours, Chimpie, so I guess the Boks will be in Europe in a couple of months.
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Oh such cynicism in one so young
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DVDM on the Embra / Glasgow game on Friday
‘it was just, honestly, a really shit game’
Accurate ,and admirable honesty.
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I’d certainly be enthused if – as is suggested – the (Blue) Bulls or Sharks turned up in the Pro ‘N’ – they’d be a draw in a way neither the Cheetahs nor Kings were
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Kids now have to wear face masks in school, so the Beeb were in my main school this morning. They did a bit for Breakfast (it was on just after 8.30 if anyone was watching). There will also be something on Reporting Scotland tonight (Virgin Channel 862 for those of you not in Scotland and on Virgin) which was filmed in my library.
Also some photos in the story below (last 2 photos, one above is also from that school).
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53972609
The librarian hid……
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Well done, Wasps!
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The Librarian Hid would be a good title for a crime thriller.
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Bulls, Sharks and Stormers have all got the players. Travel and the fixture card’ll be big deciders as always.
I felt a bit for the Cheetahs. Some good players but not enough cash to stop the Super Rugby franchises (or European clubs) nicking them. I think the squad the turnover was over 50% per year. Something similar happened with the cash-strapped Kings.
One thing to watch for is the political battle at Western Province/the Stormers at the moment.
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If you’re missing CJ, this is worth reading all the way through:
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I think a commentary on here on the London BLM protests was a missed opportunity for CJ.
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Nice dug, Thauma. Did I miss it, or does the sleek, timid, reflective one have a name yet (down, Craigs)?
My ladz over there also have a dug now. Looks like a German Shepherd / Labrador mix; a rescue dug from Romania I think, called Floyd. Took a day or two to settle down, but bounds about in frabjous joy now.
Have fun, Thauma and the Mister!
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News for Chimpie: There’s QAnon and now there’s qAnon. But QAnoners think qAnoners are a false flag operation.
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Christ, I had ONE job! Turn on the TV to see my library. Didn’t realise that the Scottish news started at 6.15 tonight instead of 6.30. Bollocks.
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15 mins is but a blink of the eye in Prog terms BB, don’t be too hard on yourself.
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My lad’s cricket team has an extra training session at 9.45am tomorrow with an unnamed “special guest”. No social media postings allowed during the session and very strict social distancing is in place for the cameras. ECB are very twitchy about that apparently.
Who do you reckon it could be?
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Lord Sir Ian Botham.
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Or CMW.
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I’m worried it might be Boris.
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It’s Christine Lagarde.
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I’d be worried for your lad’s safety if it is, ‘specially if they let him bowl (Johnson, not your lad).
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@tomp
70% voted to leave here. Might get a few balls short of a length.
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Why would a bunch of 9-year-olds give a monkey’s about the President of a the Eurozone’s central bank rather than her ability with the willow?
Then I remembered they’re from Essex and she’s forrun.
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Iks – she has a name she came with, that I wasn’t particularly keen on, but she knows it and it does suit her.
Her on-line identity is TAO (The Adorable One).
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RaceOfStalwarts (that was his old handle, wasn’t it?) has just popped up on the Graun soccer pages under the the Brighton pre-season review
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/sep/01/premier-league-2020-21-season-preview-no-3-brighton#comment-143382065
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It was Nasser Hussain and Graham Gooch
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Lyra Antarctica Seaborn is a beautiful set of names to give a lass.
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@Thauma, so her name is Tao and it rhymes with Bow-wow-wow? Marvellous.
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Christ, I’d forgotten about them. Thanks for that.
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