That’s what I get for venturing a rugby opinion on a rugby Notablog: roped into writing about some rugby stuff rather than wittering nonsense. Well, it may still be nonsense, but there we go. Teams haven’t been announced as of this writing, but without further ado some ‘ predictions’:
Leinster vs Saracens
What I said previously: “I can see Sarries giving the Blue Evil a run for their money at the weekend, possibly even sneaking it”.
I’ll stand by this. It’s suitably vague for me to claim a win whichever way it goes. And whichever way it goes, evil wins. Salary cap busters and relegation fodder Sarries, with their strong squad – albeit minus a finally-sanctioned Faz – vs the giant-squad-sized Pro-14 champs-for-life Blue Meanies. Who would bet against Leinster at home? However home advantage may not count for much in a crowdless stadium, and impending relegation doesn’t seem to have dented the Londoners’ squad or resolve significantly so far.
Ones to watch
Leinster: Sexton was relegated to the bench for last week’s ProWoo final in favour of Byrne which seemed to do Leinster no harm whatsoever.
Saracens: Fez is serving his ban but watch him anyway. Very carefully.
ASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Racing 92
What I said previously: “No idea about Racing vs Clermont”.
Still no clue really: not been following the Top 14 at all of late. Finn plays for Racing, though, and he keeps doing funky stuff which hits YouTube highlights when not taking a strop with Scotland management. They’re probably pretty good overall, as *taps in search quickly* they are top of the T14 at the moment! Okay, only two games into the season, but still top – and won both of them.
ASM are third, having won one less game, but are at home (got beaten by Bayonne last time out, however), and they don’t lose at home that often. And they play in yellow. Are crowds allowed in for this one? I don’t even know that.
Ones to watch
Racing 92: Finn! Watch him dance; see him spin!
ASM: err *hastily types in search* Oooh, Damian Penaud! He’s pretty handy.
Toulouse vs. Ulster
What I said previously: “Step too far for Ulster, vs Toulouse”.
Facing Toulouse at their home ground is a hell of a challenge, and while Ulster have made big strides in recent years under Dan McFarland, this may be one a bit too large. Still, should be able to make a fight of it, coming from behind to squeak past Wmbra in the ProWoo QF (boo!) before being pipped by Leinster in the final.
Toulouse are one of the big names in Europe with actual cup wins and stuff, and a squad stuffed with talent, both home-grown (current France half-backs) and foreign (including Cheslin Kolbe). There have been no cup wins since 2010 and I’m sure they’ll be wanting their name on the cup once again.
Ones to watch
Ulster: Marcell Coetzee. Not flashy but very solid.
Toulouse: Romain Ntamack. The silky hair and dreamy eyes.
Exeter Chiefs vs. Northampton Saints
What I said previously: “Exeter will biff Northampton”.
Probably true. The cultural appropriators have been winning a lot even when putting out B teams (yes, I know they got done by Sarries last weekend), whereas Northampton’s form has gone off a cliff a bit. Exeter are a well-known quantity now, but teams still don’t know how to stop them when they get into the oppo 22. They combine a beastly pack with some incisive backs and are a contender for the whole log this year, one suspects. Northampton were riding high in 2019 and early 2020 but their freewheeling style seems to have hit a bumpy patch, and they lost to basement-dwellers Tiggers last outing. Can only see one winner here.
Ones to watch
Exeter: There’s no I in team.
Northampton: The ref needs to heed Big Dan Biggar’s advice.
As predicted by Chimpie
On the telly
Friday 18th September
| Bristol v Dragons | 19:45 | BT Sport 2 |
Saturday 19th September
| Reds v Brumbies | 09:45 | Sky Sports Arena |
| Bordeaux v Edinburgh | 12:30 | BT Sport 3 |
| Leinster v Saracens | 15:00 | BT Sport 3 |
| Clermont v Racing 92 | 17:45 | BT Sport 3 |
| Toulon v Scarlets | 20:15 | S4C / BT Sport 3 |
Sunday 20th September
| Toulouse v Ulster | 12:30 | Channel 4 / BT Sport 3 |
| Leicester v Castres | 15:00 | BT Sport 3 |
| Exeter v Northampton | 17:30 | BT Sport 3 |
Monday 21st September
| Sale v Harlequins | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
Ovally Balls 
You would think Bristolwere desperately trying to score to turn the score over by the way they were desperately running from their line not being 30+ points in front
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Very enjoyable watch that
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Words Thaum. Words.
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Fucking get in Geoff Parling. What a result.
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Luckily I only saw about 10 mins of the Drags last night, in that dreadful spell from about 57 – 67 mins, then switched it off.
I was annoyed before the start, because it looked like the team was thrown together without any squad match practice, just all the big names in the shed just thrown together. I mean, Roberts hasn’t played any rugby for yonks, and had a dose of covid only a few weeks before. I also have vast doubts about the merits of Jonah Holmes, even if he’s dallied around the Welsh team.
Ryan Out!
Which reminds me, thanks for the ATL Chimpie, a most pleasant read on a Saturday morning.
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And I can’t understand why my favourite Mighty Wolves player would toddle-off to those Merseyside also-rans.
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Wolves have reached their limit on Portuguese players.
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Shit, sorry Chimpie. Words innit.
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Plus, he wants to play on the same side as the best left-back in the world.
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Stupid Reds. Needed them to win by 11 to bag max points on Bru.
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Luckily for Edinburgh, I’ve backed them to lose.
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Good start from Bordeaux but Edinburgh have a chance to claw 3 points back. Not sure if the kicker’s name is Galbraith or Kyloe. Galbraith sounds Scottish so must be that. Kyloe sounds like an Aussie Rules player from the minor leagues. Either way, the plonker missed it. 7-0 it remains.
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If we keep it to under 50 we’ll have done well.
So far Edinburgh have done everything wrong
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Oh dear, Embra!
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Bordeaux storm back and score under the posts. 14-0 and cruising.
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Edinburgh defend the lineout maul very well and get the scrum feed. Let’s hope they can hold this one up better.
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They do, but the ball carrier gets isolated and penalised.
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Assuming it’s hot and muggy in Bordeaux? Lots of handling errors. Schoeman doing some yeoman work in the tackle and clearing areas.
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The comeback is on
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What channel is showing embra bordeaux?
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It says ATL chimpie ya choob
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Again not watching this one. But had a gander at the Bordeaux side – Ben Lam and Joseph Dweba. Lovely.
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Bah. Edinburgh blew that just before the break. 14-10 woulda been much better thsn 14-3 considering how Bordeaux started.
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Brilliant from Graham
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Cracking try by Embra.
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Feckin blew it
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A little bit of politics. Fortunately, a new test-and-tracing contract hasn’t gone to management consultants. The travel agents have landed the contract:
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-investigations/revealed-travel-agent-lands-fresh-serco-test-and-trace-work-despite-staff-training-concerns/
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The corruption is unbelievable.
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Commentary report: Mullins commentates, O’Driscoll makes an observation, Dallaglio then repeats what the others just said.
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Almost like being a woman in a meeting.
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Saracens have come to play. Or, box-kick and defend as it’s also known.
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Very good by Itoje.
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Presumably Lowe will go back and get his haircut finished at some point
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Duncan Taylor is playing well, good to see
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It’s not pretty but it’s pretty well executed stuff, the errors are coming from opposition pressure
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A mighty scrum from the bad guys, the ones in black
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Gwan sarries!!!
Am I alone in supporting them?
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Not many scums makes Leinster cry in the tight like that, brilliant from Koch and Vunipola
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Two British and Irish Lions and a World Cup-winning Springbok in that front row. Good luck to the lads playing in the front rank for Ampthill later in the year.
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Craigs, I don’t mind Sarries, I don’t like that they gamed the system but I suspect they are not alone and Leinster are exactly skint
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aren’t exactly
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Jamie George is some player
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Pretty impressive
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Castres have defaulted on their match tomorrow due to too many players testing Covid-positive, so Tiggers are straight through.
Bloody Saracens score.
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Very good by Goode and Taylor.
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Connors in over Van der Flier isn’t looking a smart decision at present.
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Hope Leinster can sort themselves out at half-time.
Otherwise, it’ll be up to Ulster to beat Saracens in the final. :-)
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Pen from 58m?
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That was a beat down
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Best coached 40 minutes since the re-start of rugby. The breeze probably helped a bit as well.
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