One week to go. One week to go, and nothing’s been cancelled yet. Is that wise? Possibly not, but we can all agree that Six Nations is more important than life or death itself – unless personally affected.
Meanwhile, there are a couple of matches to keep us entertained until then.
Papremborde is one of those names I can only hear via Bill’s voice.
That era of French rugby, with Bill commentating was very special. Time has probably confused teams in my mind, but Papremborde, JP-Rives, Skrela, Fouroux (sp?), Cholley, Roland Bertrand, was my intro to 5N and the fabled French flair (and no small amount of wild passion). Always fancied that if I had been any good at the game I’d have opted for France to play for during apartheid . God saved France by tweaking my ability.
Don’t really remember the transitions, but by the time you got to Sella, Blanco, Codorniou and Lescaboura in the backs in 4he mid 80s, you had to be sold on French rugby .
In the 80s I think I’d only watch full France matches once or twice if lucky a year. Games usually kicked off about the same time or they might show the first half of the early match before switching at half-time. As we lived in England, I’d always see France v England in full. If we were visiting my Nan or an uncle or aunt when Wales were playing France, we’d catch that.
You got the Wales-France highlights after the Ireland-Eng;and game, of course, and that was always going to be bad from a Welsh perspective but probably better than watching us get stuffed for 80+ minutes.
Sometimes used to get a second France game the week Wales weren’t playing. I think possibly only if they were playing England though. Not sure what they used to show in England on England’s weekend off.
Thankfully in the 80s the BBC’s highlights showed all the best rugby from the match rather than just things that led to penalties and people kicking penalties. Meant we got to see all those great France moves that didn’t end in tries.
It picks itself, CMW. Unless Hallam usurps one of them.
And why not? I’d be happy with it because he’s experienced pretty much every injury, disaster and embarrassment a player could muster in their career, and all before his prime.
He’s ripe for a purple patch that beckons in a golden age, if Pivac is wise enough to realise this at this special moment in time.
Craigs, just to respond to your comment from yesterday about the Lions tour, I would be in favour of postponing it to next year (if the home unions and World Rugby agree) rather than trying to play it this year in empty stadia or dog forbid in Australia. I simply can’t see that the teams would be able to remain in a bio-bubble for 8 weeks or that the tour would be a ‘Lions Tour’ without the fans.
One of the things I miss about the old AOD days is if Craigs had mentioned something like The Expanse then, we would have had 5 pages worth of Cat rant declaring how shit it was, then completely contradicting himself, before deciding he was right all along.
Refit – yeah, I can’t see how he could have stayed. Great character though.
I have to admit a little shamefully that I didn’t initially think they were as serious as they are (I thought they related to drunken unwanted advances at some kind of comic convention thing). But then Google and twitter threads corrected my thinking.
@Craigs – Australia’s offer was made because they’re in a similar (or worse) financial situation than we are. See Australia’s ‘good faith’ cancellation of the cricket tour here. In fact, they’ve cancelled every tour since Covid, except the money-spinners against England and India.
@TomP – it is, but I don’t think it involved travelling as much as the Lions itinerary does, unless you’re going to have all the matches played in two or three venues?
Sachin Tendulkar responding to Rihanna’s criticism of India’s clampdown on protesting farmers suggests he may be looking a new career, much like Imran Khan in Pakistan:
“India’s sovereignty cannot be compromised. External forces can be spectators but not participants,”
Did the first 6 books a while back, haven’t got around to the newer ones. Will save that for a bit I think.
Didn’t know about the Anvar thing. Not sure I want to know the details .
The TV series has been pretty good although a bit uppy & downy with some ropy acting. Enjoyed series 4 more than the book it was based on TBH. Likewise I thought series 1 was very good [1].
[1] eldest chimplet caught some of it on TV when he shouldn’t have, and it gave him protomolecule nightmares.
The last couple of books take a jump forward in time – I think there is one more left in the series. TV series 1 was on SciFi or whatever it’s called. Mainly notable for the fact that Avaserala couldn’t swear. She’s made up for it in the later series.
Ovally Balls 
I just about remember Bastiat playing. That back row was terrific.
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Papremborde is one of those names I can only hear via Bill’s voice.
That era of French rugby, with Bill commentating was very special. Time has probably confused teams in my mind, but Papremborde, JP-Rives, Skrela, Fouroux (sp?), Cholley, Roland Bertrand, was my intro to 5N and the fabled French flair (and no small amount of wild passion). Always fancied that if I had been any good at the game I’d have opted for France to play for during apartheid . God saved France by tweaking my ability.
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There were a few dirty bastards in those French teams but Cholley’s the one who always gets the laurels for most violent.
Here he is punching Scottish players in that wonderful year of 1977:
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You spelled Fouroux right but got two of the other names wrong.
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Gallion’s first year, ’78, is the first tournament I remember very clearly. I thought he was terrific.
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lovely to see a big #8 legging it to the line………
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Don’t really remember the transitions, but by the time you got to Sella, Blanco, Codorniou and Lescaboura in the backs in 4he mid 80s, you had to be sold on French rugby .
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And spelled ‘the’ wrong too. And nor even in a French way!
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If ever a Scottish team needed Jim Hamilton it was that side against the French meanies.
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He could have got himself beaten up which might have given the rest of them a chance to play rugby.
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In the 80s I think I’d only watch full France matches once or twice if lucky a year. Games usually kicked off about the same time or they might show the first half of the early match before switching at half-time. As we lived in England, I’d always see France v England in full. If we were visiting my Nan or an uncle or aunt when Wales were playing France, we’d catch that.
You got the Wales-France highlights after the Ireland-Eng;and game, of course, and that was always going to be bad from a Welsh perspective but probably better than watching us get stuffed for 80+ minutes.
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I always think of Starmer-Smith commentating on French games as well rather then McLaren, which is probably wrong but there we are.
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Sometimes used to get a second France game the week Wales weren’t playing. I think possibly only if they were playing England though. Not sure what they used to show in England on England’s weekend off.
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Thankfully in the 80s the BBC’s highlights showed all the best rugby from the match rather than just things that led to penalties and people kicking penalties. Meant we got to see all those great France moves that didn’t end in tries.
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Us vs the Scots was the game they usually showed in Saeslandia.
And France v England was (and still is) when Wales had the weekend off (play Italy – so the same thing really).
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Adams out for 2 games for a Covid breach so looks like LRZ is going to be winging it on Sunday.
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Nigel often did the French home games, Bill did the ones they played in the UK and Ireland (from what I remember).
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What does that make the Wales back three? Halfpenny, North and LRZ?
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It picks itself, CMW. Unless Hallam usurps one of them.
And why not? I’d be happy with it because he’s experienced pretty much every injury, disaster and embarrassment a player could muster in their career, and all before his prime.
He’s ripe for a purple patch that beckons in a golden age, if Pivac is wise enough to realise this at this special moment in time.
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Amos in!
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What about Liam the Scaffolder ? Gotta have him in there.
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Liam is banned for 2 games (I think) after performing a clearout head-first.
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He got 3 matches and missed the defeats to Cardiff and Leinster. Back for the Scotland match next week.
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So does the Ireland game not count?
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Nope.
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Anyone else watch The Expanse?
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Yes. Have read all the books and now on series 5 on Prime. It’s excellent.
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Craigs, just to respond to your comment from yesterday about the Lions tour, I would be in favour of postponing it to next year (if the home unions and World Rugby agree) rather than trying to play it this year in empty stadia or dog forbid in Australia. I simply can’t see that the teams would be able to remain in a bio-bubble for 8 weeks or that the tour would be a ‘Lions Tour’ without the fans.
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One of the things I miss about the old AOD days is if Craigs had mentioned something like The Expanse then, we would have had 5 pages worth of Cat rant declaring how shit it was, then completely contradicting himself, before deciding he was right all along.
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BB – I’m reading the books just ahead of the TV series which I may have to change.
Both really really good. Best thing currently on telly by miles. I thought Dominique Tipper stole the series this time around.
The only downer is Cas Anvar being a piece of shit. My thoughts go out to all the women he abused/assaulted.
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Cat was wrong about many things. He’d be wrong to say that too.
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Deebs – I think Australia’s offer was done in good faith. I can understand the frustration from a Saffa perspective though.
Hopefully good sense will prevail.
(Pfft)
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Craigs – I’ve been loving The Expanse. Just finished the latest season and I think I’m up to date with the books.
Alex was one of my fav characters and that moment was a bit of a gut punch. But then I googled Anvar, seems fair now.
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Isn’t that what happened during the Rugby Championship in Australia last year? I think they could do it.
It’s a desperate shame for the coffers of SA Rugby but if there’s doubt it’s wiser to be cautious.
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Refit – yeah, I can’t see how he could have stayed. Great character though.
I have to admit a little shamefully that I didn’t initially think they were as serious as they are (I thought they related to drunken unwanted advances at some kind of comic convention thing). But then Google and twitter threads corrected my thinking.
Am going to have to finish the books now.
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…blimey – there seem to be 9 books in the series
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@Craigs – Australia’s offer was made because they’re in a similar (or worse) financial situation than we are. See Australia’s ‘good faith’ cancellation of the cricket tour here. In fact, they’ve cancelled every tour since Covid, except the money-spinners against England and India.
@TomP – it is, but I don’t think it involved travelling as much as the Lions itinerary does, unless you’re going to have all the matches played in two or three venues?
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* I think.
No matter, just slag them off anyway.
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Sachin Tendulkar responding to Rihanna’s criticism of India’s clampdown on protesting farmers suggests he may be looking a new career, much like Imran Khan in Pakistan:
“India’s sovereignty cannot be compromised. External forces can be spectators but not participants,”
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Did the first 6 books a while back, haven’t got around to the newer ones. Will save that for a bit I think.
Didn’t know about the Anvar thing. Not sure I want to know the details .
The TV series has been pretty good although a bit uppy & downy with some ropy acting. Enjoyed series 4 more than the book it was based on TBH. Likewise I thought series 1 was very good [1].
[1] eldest chimplet caught some of it on TV when he shouldn’t have, and it gave him protomolecule nightmares.
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Deebs – OK, from afar it seemed to be good faith but I haven’t been paying too much attention to it really.
They could just postpone the Lions and the RWC to give everyone a chance to adjust. Money would be a problem though.
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The last couple of books take a jump forward in time – I think there is one more left in the series. TV series 1 was on SciFi or whatever it’s called. Mainly notable for the fact that Avaserala couldn’t swear. She’s made up for it in the later series.
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Hehe
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Hah! ‘Best Number 10 in the world’ starts on the bench on Saturday.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55932836
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Sanguine
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That’s just how worried England aren’t, about Scotland 😁
*Ducks*
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@bb
Only person to call him that is one Welsh rugby fan.
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Looks weak.
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England by 15
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15. Stuart Hogg CAPTAIN (Exeter Chiefs) – 80 caps
14. Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 50 caps
13. Chris Harris (Gloucester) – 23 caps
12. Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby) – 0 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh) – 5 caps
10. Finn Russell (Racing 92) – 51 caps
9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) – 37 caps
1. Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh) – 11 caps
2. George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) – 12 caps
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 34 caps
4. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps
5. Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs) – 61 caps
6. Jamie Ritchie VICE CAPTAIN (Edinburgh) – 23 caps
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh – 36 caps
8. Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 9 caps
Substitutes:
16. David Cherry (Edinburgh) – 0 caps
17. Oli Kebble (Glasgow Warriors) – 5 caps
18. WP Nel (Edinburgh) – 40 caps
19. Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 65 caps
20. Gary Graham (Newcastle Falcons) – 2 caps
21. Scott Steele (Harlequins) – 1 cap
22. Jaco van der Walt (Edinburgh) – 1 cap
23. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) – 26 caps
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