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 
Never really been bothered by the Challenge Cup – it’s never been on TV that’s easy for me to get to watch, never going to be put on a TV in a pub and not a competition anyone really wants to be in. Mostly won by clubs that aspire to something better however unrealistically and often with them having reached the latter stages despite themselves. Might as well never have existed as far as I’m concerned.
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Take that kiwis
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Is John Legend the worst musician of all time? Every song he puts out seems to try outdo the previous one for nails on chalkboard mind-numbing slushy irritating shit. Or am I just a grumpy hungover old git?
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Another walloping of woeful Wallaby wannabes in Auckland. Finishes 48-21 to the Blues who’ve now scored 98 points in two matches against the Aussie sides so far. The Tahs had moments of competence but not much more and even His Jinger Highness got sin-binned. Loosehead Angus Bell scored again though, so at least the props know their way to the line.
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Think there are a fair number of contenders for that crown.
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Britain v Russia in the ice hockey world champs today. Think we can hold them to 7.
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@deebee
There’s been worse
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OT, you don’t expect me to click on that do you? Not a great recommendation from you! I’ll just take your word for it.
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@deebee
They don’t actually play the song. More them taking the piss out of the song before meeting the singer
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My West Ham supporting neighbours just walked past wearing AFC Hornchurch colours on their way to Wembley. I accused them of being glory hunters.
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Just listened to the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion track – using my imagination to up the audio quality, a very enjoyable listen.
The Rammstein one was bonkers! A bit more to my personal taste musically (loved the odd harmonies), and well … those effects!
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https://postimg.cc/9rYrFWW9
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That didn’t work
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ah, better
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I watched the Rammstein song, the music suits the German language.
The flaming wings made me think of a Spike Milligan story. After the war he was in a touring repertory company and one of the acts was a guy in a fairy costume who would swing back and forth on the end of a rope whilst singing some songs.
One evening they were at a theatre which was narrower than usual. The guy jumped off from the side and hit the opposite wall, knocking himself out.
The audience were treated to an unconscious guy in a fairy costume, hanging limp and penduluming across the stage.
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Just spotted someone in the crowd who looks a lot like Boanova.
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Obvious question I know, but was he wearing a scarf?
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Didn’t notice! There was a mask though.
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‘Mon the French team!
Let’s hope it’s a better game than last night’s was.
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Deffo red here
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Some crazy half-back skillz on display.
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Now that LaR got a deserved red, thus becoming the underdog, I’m supporting them. Also the fact they did play most of the rugby, Toulouse playing in an unusual passive way. LaR bossing the collisions not entirely unrelated to Toulouse’s poor showing.
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Shame, that was a terrific bit of play
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Nearly great. Game has bee a bit dull TBH
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That is the perfect place for an attacking scrum, but no
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The forwards are going to be knackered after this match…………………….
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Kolbe having a tantrum
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Toulouse have been pretty brainless in their play today
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That’s better!
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I did that with my previous post
Nice score
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Unbelievable Jeff. They’ll be dancing in the streets of the London Borough of Havering tonight
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What’d I say about the half-backs?
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Well well
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That’s a bit of a howler of a miss
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Kicking off the tee not so brilliant, though.
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LaRoch have to really attack the scrum
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That’ll be history then.
Well done Toulouse
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Oh well. Congratulations, Toulouse!
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A better kicker would’ve kept LaR in the game or even won it for them.
Still Toulouse were the better team.
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This might be the T14 final as well. My money would be on LaR, if they can keep 15 men on the pitch.
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Flair, for me Ntamack was poor today, he will be better next time, I think that would make a difference
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Our small but mighty Union Sportive Plateau de Sault got to a cup final. It was a regional one for across the Pyrenees, from the Basque country to the Mediterranean . It was wicked competitive, really hard, physical games, not the highest standard, but hard.
We lost and it was absolutely gutting, there were tears, and lots of beer
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Ntamack poor? At least he kicked all his points, unlike Ihaia West who hit the wood three times.
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My pub pool team won the equivalent of the local Challenge Cup. There was much celebration.
I was nervous as fuck, but managed to win my game.
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Ticht, Toulouse will be better next time when Marchand (hooker and usual captain), Aldegheri (prop) and one of Tauzin/Guitoune/Holmes returns at centre. That young Argentinian who scored Toulouse try has been with them for only a few weeks and it showed.
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Interesting article in the Graun about a programme talking about 1971 in music, and asking if it was the ‘greatest year’. It obviously has an American bias, but they do mention a lot of good stuff, and STILL miss out American Pie, Sabbath Volume 4, Led Zeppelin IV, Sticky Fingers, Who’s Next, plus Nursery Cryme, The Yes Album, Aqualung, In The Land of Grey and Pink, and Meddle from the Proggy side of things. And there will be loads of other stuff I’ve missed out too.
Shame it’s on Apple TV.
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/may/22/asif-kapadia-1971-music-documentary-apple-tv
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“Ntamack poor? At least he kicked all his points, unlike Ihaia West who hit the wood three times.”
True, but BT Sport had Austin Healy doing the analysis and he flagged up several times when a try was on if Ntamack had run straight and passed, rather than kicking or delaying the pass. There were huge holes in the LaRoche defence when they were a player down, but Ntamack didn’t exploit it bar that one occasion.
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Funny how when Austin doesn’t try to be ‘funny’ he actually comes up with some good analysis.
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He should leave being funny to Flats, who genuinely is.
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Healy did make me laugh once when the camera tuned into a rather portly-looking player and Austin said, “He’s had a good Christmas”
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