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 
McGrain and Jardine were two of the best right backs about at that time.
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My first World Cup was 1974. Bremner missing an open goal against Brazil from about 6 inches out. Still at least we went out in the first round unbeaten.
*Sigh*
I’m just wondering what novel way we’ll find to not qualify for the next round in the upcoming Euros.
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I was 6 for the 78 World Cup. Watched quite a few of the games. I guess lots of afternoon kick-offs.
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‘“Argentine Angus”
Celebrating the global victory of the Argentine beef industry?’
As far as I recall it was a word-play on Aberdeen Angus, the big black cattle they have up there in the north east
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Porter is the first unlucky Lion of this series.
Out injured – replaced by Sinckler ……………………………..who is, I think, lucky.
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Exeter looking asleep – trailing 14 man Saints by 10 -0
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I’ve just tried ned into the game and I was obviously what Exeter needed as they’ve just scored two tries
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Exeter have woken up. Two tries in 10 minutes.
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hmmm………..
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Good win for Exeter in the end.
Why is Hutchinson not with Scotland this summer?
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Generous, I think BB.
In the first half they just did not compete.
In the second they ground it out put didn’t put 14-man Saints away like they should have.
Lawes was fantastic while he was on. Skinner made MoM for the winners – looked right.
Without Ewers and Vermeulen, Exeter struggle at the breakdown against an aggressive team.
I wonder what sides Sale and Exeter will face up to each other next week?
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Yep….Arie Haan vs Italy…
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A confected row over the plaster cast on Willy van der Kerkhof’s arm.
Rensenbrinck hit the post with about 2 mins left…. god only knows what would have happened if the Dutch won…. I suppose the ref would have cooked up a penalty….(Italy were probably the best team at that WC but no-one could expect 2 long shots vs Netherlands)
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Pretty happy with the Bok squad. One or two I wouldn’t have picked and a couple I’d like to see in. But that’s the nature of these things. And pretty sure both squads will have changed by the time the tour starts. Players I want in are Marcel Coetzee and Cornal Hendriks who surely will make the cut with injuries. Puzzling inclusions? Scarra Ntubeni, think the Angry Warthog is better; Liza Gqoboka should be in ahead of Thomas du Toit, but otherwise fairly happy.
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Vermeulen at Exeter has been fantastic for them- really improved following his arrival.
I would not like to play against him.
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Couldn’t help but wonder what the penalties are for bombing or petting. Have to assume running is OK.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jun/06/alistair-brownlee-disqualified-for-ducking-and-faces-olympic-omission
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Anyway:
*Music with Uncle (No.2)*
The ‘most fun’ one according to The Middle One.
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Actually in terms of Bok selection, I think Liza Gqoboka should be in ahead of Coenie Oosthuizen who’s scrummaging technique has always been suspect. As one scribe here put it, he’s been off the Bok radar for so long he may need a visa to get into the camp. Of the newcomers in the Bok set up, I love Joseph Dweba’s all-action style of play, I believe Jasper Wiese has been in excellent form for Tiggers, Wandisile Simelane is a classy operator in an otherwise journeyman Lions outfit, Aphelele Fassi is fast and exciting, whilst Rosko Specman is electric with ball in hand and has great 7s experience. The ones I’m not sure about are Yaw Penxe from the Sharks who has oodles of pace, but little else (so did Mapimpi to be fair before Rassie got his positional play and defence up to scratch) and I have no idea about Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg from Montpellier as a lock.
The squad has been picked with not just the two Georgia and 3 BIL Tests in mind, but also the SA ‘A’ side that will face the Lions, so I think some of the selections are expressly with that in mind – have the players in the Bok bosom, up until the SA ‘A’ match, so that they’re part of the structures and plans should any of them be called upon because of injury in the main squad. My pick for that SA ‘A’ side would be something like this, with F Steyn covering 10, 12 and 15, and Damian Willemse covering 10 and 15 as well. Think I’ve gone 5-3 split which is probably not what Rassie and Nienaber will do, but hey ho. So you could probably drop one of F Steyn or Willemse from the backs and put Rynard Elstadt in as an auxiliary loose forward.
The Lions should deal with that combination fairly easily given that it’s a scratch side, but there are some exciting players who’ll be looking to make a mark for the future and potentially the last two Tests and the 4N after that.
Props:
Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks, 12 caps, 0 pts)
Vincent Koch (Saracens, 21 caps, 0 pts)
Ox Nché (Cell C Sharks, 1 cap, 0 pts)
Coenie Oosthuizen (Sale Sharks, 30 caps, 20 pts)
Hookers:
Joseph Dweba (Bordeaux-Bègles, uncapped)
Scarra Ntubeni (DHL Stormers, 1 cap, 0 pts)
Locks:
Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (Montpellier, uncapped)
Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers, 3 caps, 0 pts)
Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks, 13 caps, 10 pts) – I believe he’s played largely at lock this season?
Loose forwards:
Dan du Preez (Sale Sharks, 4 caps, 0 pts)
Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo, 6 caps, 0 pts)
Marco van Staden (Bulls, 3 caps, 0 pts)
Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
Scrumhalves:
Sanele Nohamba (Cell C Sharks, uncapped)
Cobus Reinach (Montpellier, 14 caps, 30 pts) (difficult choice between him and H Jantjies as to who is 3rd choice behind Faf at the moment)
Flyhalf:
Morne Steyn (Bulls, 66 caps, 736 pts)
Midfielders:
Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles, 46 caps, 60 pts) (Kriel to move to 12 or F Steyn to start there?)
Wandisile Simelane (Emirates Lions, uncapped)
Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs, 67 caps, 141 pts)
Outside Backs:
Aphelele Fassi (Cell C Sharks, uncapped)
Sbu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks, 11 caps, 40 pts)
Rosko Specman (Toyota Cheetahs, uncapped)
Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers, 6 caps, 5 pts)
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Looks weak. Will get stuffed.
etc. etc.
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Players who are unlucky to miss out:
Liza Gqoboka (LH)
Akker van der Merwe (Hooker – not sure if he’s injured?)
Marcel Coetzee (Flank)
JD Schickerling (Lock – must be getting close)
Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Number 8 – been playing really good rugby, but injured)
Cornal Hendricks (12 – issue is a technical one with SA Rugby, otherwise he was a shoe-in)
Andre Esterhuizen? (12) Not a real fan, but the boys and girls at the Sharks think he steps on water. But they think that about all their players. The only notable thing I can remember him doing at international level is getting poleaxed by Owen Farrell.
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True Chimpie, hopefully just enough to soften up the Lions for Tests 2 and 3.
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@Deebee – Some great names in all of that, good work.
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the lionz are dropping like fliez already Deebee. Porter oot, Sinckler in. there’ll be barely a squad left by the time they get to SA.
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I see your Porter and raise you a Duane Vermeulen, who is apparently iffy after Friday’s match.
@CMW – thanks mate! Just pasted the whole squad and removed the preferred Bok 23, or thereabouts. No real bolters in the Bok squad (Penxe maybe, but only as a ‘dirt tracker’ really), with just the odd twitch of an eyebrow at some of the exclusions.
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Will still win 3-0 mind
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Is Porter out and The Sinck in a weakening of the Lions anyway?
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Not massively. Less irish representation will further enrage some parts of the irish rugby press.
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“Is Porter out and The Sinck in a weakening of the Lions anyway?”
It will make them much stronger, I read this in The Guardian some time ago.
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Simmonds seems to be a doubt though which would of course be a disaster.
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Harrumph! That coulda been a proper ATL!
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Does a one-liner from CMW now qualify as a ‘proper’ ATL?
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Liza Gqoboka’s brother Lizo is a better player in my view.
Some top trivia: David Denton and Rosco Specman played in the same school 1st XV, alongside Grant Hattingh. who almost got capped by Japan.
The school’s probably the 2nd strongest Methodist school in South Africa at rugby and is named after the school my uncle went to in the UK.
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Choosing between Lisa, Connie and Liz-o will be even harder for poor old Deebs though. Of course we all have these problems sometimes.
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Liza Gqoboka’s brother Lizo is a better player in my view.
You’re quite right, TomP, Lizo is the better player. Just as I prefer Rosko Specman to his lesser known brother Rosco. Wiki (yes, I know) has Hattingh and Denton at the same school, but not the Spekmeister?
And it’s not my fault – my British taxpayer funded luncheon got cancelled at the last minute leaving me in absolute panic and despair. Never mind though, it’ll happen next week, hopefully at a more expensive restaurant.
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He went there as a post-Matric from Mary Waters.
Team list from the 2008 K-Day game v St Andrews is at 40 seconds on this:
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Ah! OK – not on his profile. Did Rosco also go?
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Wales squad for games v Argentina and someone else who I forget. Canada maybe?
Forwards – Rhodri Jones (Ospreys), Nicky Smith (Ospreys) Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Sam Parry (Ospreys), Leon Brown (Dragons), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Ben Carter (Dragons), Cory Hill (Cardiff Blues), Will Rowlands (Wasps), Taine Basham (Dragons), James Botham (Cardiff Blues), Ross Moriarty (Dragons), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Josh Turnbull (Cardiff Blues), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).
Backs – Kieran Hardy (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues), Rhodri Williams (Dragons), Callum Sheedy (Bristol Bears), Jarrod Evans (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets, captain), Willis Halaholo (Cardiff Blues), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Ben Thomas (Cardiff Blues), Hallam Amos (Cardiff Blues), Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets), Jonah Holmes (Dragons), Owen Lane (Cardiff Blues), Ioan Lloyd (Bristol Bears), Tom Rogers (Scarlets).
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I always think Wales are missing a trick by not selecting Thomas Young
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He’s a good player but not sure if he’s quite good enough. The player I’d love to see back is Ellis Jenkins but he did his not bad knee a couple of months ago so better he gets rested up.
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Youngs has been one of the best opensides in the Premiership for a number of years, imo
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one too many esses in that sentences
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A lot of competition in Wales for the jersey so he’s a bit unlucky in that sense. Playing in England can’t help so much either.
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Basham’s in there now and is only 21. There’s also Jac Morgan from Scarlets who’s a fine player and also 21.
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Where’s Craigs disappeared to?
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I’ve not much time for mainstream rugby press here. Indo is a terrible rag. Times/Examiner are better. But even the Times is prone to a blue haze over Leinster players. So, I suppose they might try to confect some outrage.
Not sure who other than Sexton we’d have ‘expected’ to go. His injury profile went against him.
Keenan would have been a longshot in a well populated position… Ryan didn’t really play enough in 6N and injury profile was poor … Ringrose was borderline – didn’t really tear up trees in 6N. Stander was also borderline – again in a competitive area.
Flipside, we were all surprised by Aki’s selection (and a little by Porter – although his notional ability to “play both sides” might have been an advantage – like Daly’s versatility and boot helped him despite 6N form).
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Thaum – You need to say my name 7 times and I shall appear. I’ve been working in my garden* and drinking in the sun mainly. A tough life but someone has to do it.
* I hired a digger over the weekend and had to get the guy to explain how to use it. Perhaps sensing previous diy mishaps he said the most important thing to remember was to make sure there was a ramp in the hole so that the digger could get out. Otherwise I’d be stuck. Not sure where I’ve heard something similar before…..
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Have to say that is a terrible picture of Kyle. Although I doubt he cares.
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Rumplestiltskin!
I am reading a book you might enjoy: Chris Brookmyre’s Bedlam. It’s about a bloke who gets stuck in a computer game he used to play. The first few pages had me literally crying with laughter, although it’s turned a bit more serious – but still with highly amusing turns of phrase.
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