Three years ago, we were in Bilbao for the Challenge Cup final. What a difference a pandemic makes. Also, the sun was shining, at least in Spain.
Regarding the Little Cup, Flair99 says: “To find Montpellier there is quite stunning, they’re fighting to avoid relegation, and they’re certainly not pleasant to watch. How about Leicester?”
Same, Flair, same.
La Rochelle v Toulouse will undoubtedly be a more interesting match. I’m calling it for La Rochelle, because I would like them to win.
Onna telly this week
Friday 21st May
| Leicester v Montpellier | 20:00 | BT Sport 1 |
Saturday 22nd May
| Sharks v Stormers | 12:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Lions v Bulls | 14:30 | Premier Sports 2 |
| La Rochelle v Toulouse | 16:45 | BT Sport 2 |
Sunday 23rd May
| Nada |
Ovally Balls 
If there were a thought-bubble caption on that photo, it would probably read Durrr … kerchink.
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Happy to see Connacht tough that one out…. I’d expected them to cough it up after leading 14-5 and 26-12….
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Trisk – yep, me too! And no doubt Claw.
Baby blue meanies score again, although it’s being looked at.
I doubt I will make it to half-time. Have literally been up with the birds all week. 03:40 this morning, to be more-or-less precise.
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No try.
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That Early try seems to have annoyed leinster
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No idea what that yellow was for
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Oh, tedious: baby blues over the line for real this time.
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Chimpie, it was an early pull on the jersey, but collapsing an advancing maul three metres from the line is only worth a second warning
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Michael Bent’s last game I think. Considering the criticism of his early selection for Ireland- he’s had a decent career with Leinster
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Not that I’m wanting to make accusations of bias, but where is the ref from?
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Well…. looks like straight or even notionally straight throws to the lineout are going same way as straight feed to scrum…..
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Leinster on third warning now
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Very good defence from Leinster
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A man up now and Glasgow make a pig’s ear of it
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It’s part of our ‘DNA’, Ticht. Never do things the easy way.
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Keenan does a Moses, clean through
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Oh maybe not, a bit of blocking
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Bit lucky, seen cards for those tackles by leister 1
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Been a bit ill tempered this game
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It was his second high hit in the game, Chimpie
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Yellow for Wilson.
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The actions of Leinster 6 needs looking at, there was a gouge, I think
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Really? Shocked I am! Shocked!
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Niko on for a last hurrah
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Been some impressive defence by Glasgow
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It’s a really good game
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Got some man-love for young darge, he’s great
Van der flier has been very good too.
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Good win for the weedge
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Wow! A Glasgow win vs Leinster! Shame there were no fans in, the place would be rocking now.
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Wilson was terrific
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back in UK on borrowed laptop, why is blog all old fashioned layout, anyone any ideas ? windows 10 and far more modern hardware than I am used to, but type fCE and layout of blog look zx81 style. Lordy, travelling in these times is an arse, came thru Dublin airport at 4.30 in the morning managed to sneak out for a few smokes and a coffee when cafe nero opened at 5, Heathrow, what a cock up. Walked off plane and straight thro customs,without so much as a nod. Within ten minutes of disembarking I was getting another coffee. Waiting for hazmat suited swat teams to storm the caravan I am strying in in mums garden. Why the fuck did I have to jump thru hoops for several days lining up correct paperwork if they can’t be arsed to even have the most cursory checks.
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Aha, think sorted layout thing.
Boarding in Boston was a nightmare, Aer Lingus said all my paperwork was sorted 24 hours before when I called them to check, 3 hours before the flight turned out not so much. Managed to run ( ok, more of a hoppity skippity diagonal fast waddle) thru several terminals and spend an hour and a half on the free laptops and printer in the Hilton, ten out of ten to them, and made flight with 10 mins to spare, but not enough time to check bag , so had to dump the 120 dollar bottle of artisan aged bourbon. At least 3 or 4 other people on the flight were not so lucky, and I suspect a lot more than that didnt make it on to the plane.
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What a nightmare!
I know someone else who’s recently come here (or, rather, returned as she’s a Yank living here) from the US, and she’s had two phone calls per day plus a knock on the door. Much to my surprise. Think your genius is in sneakily flying through Dublin.
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Well, that did cross my mind when booking, Thaum. Normally avoid Aer Lingus cos Dublin has a US CIS centre on the way back, and they seem to send all the miserable gits there.
Trying to find a number to call for border Agency to let them know I am here, zip,nada nuffink.
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Highlanders pummeled the Tahs this morning. Didn’t see the game except the score at the end, but it’s actually sad to see how shambolic the Tahs have become. I think they’ve now got the record for most consecutive losses by an Aussie Super side.
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SBT, glad you’re safe in Surry (I’m assuming?). Have a pint for me in Epsom if you’re around there.
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Barley Mow is around the corner from my mum’s old flat.
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Outside \Shere now. Many happy hours drinking Pride in the Barley was my local, don’t think I know anyone in town now, we all bailed cos too expensive.
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Total mental block, what are best sites for streaming prem games ?
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@SBT – cricfree.sc works pretty well for me. You’ll need to hunt through the links to find a good one though.
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SBT – I found the opposite, that the customs agents in Dublin were the nicest I’d ever encountered. By a long way!
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Talking about the US Immigration officers at the pre clearance centre . Last time I went thru , on a green card, I got held for an hour and they let me go 10 mins before flight, two guys were not let on plane, one Irish, one english, both green card holders for over 20 years, both with their wives, both wives allowed to travel. Minor infringements on had a dui and one I think breach of peace. Irish immigration and customs I have always found to be really lovely, including the guys yesterday that let me out of transit to go outside for a smoke.
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Boston USCIS always pretty damn friendly, I get hauled in for questioning every time because I have an arrest for a minor offence on record, discharged, but its on the files and thats what they have to do, and they are always chatty and apologetic, don’t mind that as I avoid queues and always get thru way quicker as a result anyway. JFK I avoid like the plague.
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We went through Dublin for the pre-clearance as each of us was worried for separate reasons. They couldn’t have been nicer, once we’d cleared up the confusion over our destination:
– Where is your final destination?
– Columbia
– And how long are you staying in the US?
– A week.
– How long are you spending in Columbia?
– Er, a week.
– Why are you going to Columbia via the US?
– ??? [penny drops] Columbia, SC, not Colombia the country! [Thinking: oh shit, now they probably think we’re cocaine dealers.]
– Have a nice vacation!
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Did see some people in the queue ahead of us getting hauled off to the innards of the building, though, which was worrying…..
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Thieving Embragibbons.
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Massacring Embragibbons.
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FFS, Faddes couldn’t catch the hooker.
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LI hammering Wasps: 35 – 10 at oranges – even with 14 men for the last 9 minutes(yellow) in which they scored 2 tries plus.
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But Ulster manage to get their hands on the ball, and score!
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