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 
Bok squad for the Lionzzzz to be announced next Saturday! I think! Wasn’t really listening! Can’t wait!
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Bok Squad Batters Blog!
Pom pretenders play possum!
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June 5th, Deebs.
And in Bronco news – so near:
https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/ward-close-barretts-record/
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Cardiff playing some neat stuff at Thomond Park. Tomos Williams in for a fine try after 3 minutes. Uilisi Halaholo with the skillz.
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Good contest at Sale, Brizzle with lots of possession and territory, Sale with a mighty defensive effort.
Tackle score – Bristol have made 8 tackles, Sale 57, with 18 mins on the clock
No points on the board yet
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We are in Cardiff(ish), but not at the match, and can’t even watch it. Funeral, unfortunately.
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And no wifi!
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Sorry to hear that Thaum.
I have something for for layer that I heard on the radio today, it’s a Bowie song played by a string quartet.
I don’t often go for that sort of thing but it’s really good and I immediately thought of letting you know about it.
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How’s British And Irish Lion Chris Harris (still seems odd typing that) doing?
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Cheers, Ticht.
Hint of song to try to find it?
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Decent nil nil at Sale halftime
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Thaum
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That’s a Sag pleasing scoreline.
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Brizzle have scored and now “Manu is back” as the commentary says
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Sheedy is some bloody player
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Jake Kerr has had a decent run out tonight
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Cardiff went in at the half 21-10 down. Have now pulled back to 24-24 with 20 to go. The 6 minutes of the game I’ve watched so far they’ve been all over Munster.
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TomP – the mister sends a like.
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It’s been all Sale since Semi Radrada got binned, three tries and it’s safe to say the small but mighy crowd have played their part. It really shows how home advantage makes a difference when there is a crowd.
19-5 to Sale now
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Welsh fans, check out Ioan Lloyd‘s finish for Bristol tonight, it’s lovely
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Now a Brookter pleasing scoreline.
Although the game hasn’t finished yet….
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BB, are you watching?
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Munster just win 31-27. Game ends in a silly way. Ball just pops behind the back feet of a Cardiff ruck 5 metres out and Lloyd Williams rolls it back in with his foot. The Cardiff guy at the back of the ruck picks up, Munster penalised. Munster call Captain’s Challenge and Andrew Brace runs to halfway to check on the screen. Sees it and game over.
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Sale win a well fought contest.
High quality game.
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ticht, I’ll look out for Ioan’s try tonight. There’s a youtube clip of his highlights as a school and youth player that’s outrageous.
Of course, his brother Jac’s coming through and might turn out even better.
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Ticht – no. I’m up near Oban this weekend and no BT Sport on the TV.
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Woof! The wheels on the ‘Canes hooker (from 45 secs)
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This photo just turned up, I call the place home
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Refit, that’s the lad who scored the hat-trick v England in the Under 20 final a few years back. There’s a try he scores for Wellington against Canterbury in the NZ provincial champs. He gets it on the outside 55 metres out and sidesteps George Bridge before racing home. Quick and strong.
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Well, Munster escaped with a win… pretty bad really for a team that managed a bonus point.
Very effective once they got into the red zone… but highly reliant on pens to get there…. no kind of creation in the backs.
I’d wouldn’t be supportive of the captains challenge but 10/10 to whoever spotted the ball going back into the ruck… smart and sneaky.
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Crusaders 26-9 up in Sydney against the Tahs at HT. Was relatively close for the first 25 minutes, but the Kiwis have too much gas out wide and too .ugh ability to get it there for a Tahs side struggling to keep their shape in the face of some relentless, accurate attacking.
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Crusaders went 33-9 up straight after the break and then started playing like the Tahs, allowing them two tries to get back to 33-23, before restoring their cushion at 40-23. Dunno what happened after that.
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54-28 in the end, so I read. Blues and Brumbies on now. No score after 9 minutes.
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Brumbies pick up where the Tahs left off from and blow it once they spin it out wider. Maybe Kerrygold can become the official butter supplier to Aussie rugby: every time they spread it generously they end up with butterfingers.
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Blues hooker Kurt Eklund barges over a couple of minutes later after some typically assured and flamboyant handling by the Blues – forwards and backs.
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Brumbies controlling much of the game with little to show for it until they finally get the maul right and score the 7 pointer. 7-10 Brumbies lead.
Blues straight back at them and level it up from the tee.
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Well fuck me. A comical restart which nobody wanted bobbled about, Blues gathered, number 13 through the defence like a hot knife through butter and offloads to the chippy 9, Christie, who weaves his way to the line. Blues go to oranges 17-10 up.
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Assistant coaches sums it all up: Laurie Fisher looking a little bewildered and slow whilst his Blues counterpart, Dashing Dan Halangalu is all smiles and self-assurance.
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Blues getting bossed in the scrum. At least 3 penalties so far.
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Last night’s combat saw Sale becoming credible Premiership favorites. Seem to have Bristol’s number (as do Exeter) but look too physical for Exeter as well.
Daunting, given even better players set to return………………mind you, trading up in skills for a step down in physicality may suit both Exeter and Bristol.
At the moment, semi-finals look like Bristol/Quins and Exeter/Sale………….but there are still banana skins lying around……………
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If this doesn’t load at the time I want it to, Lloyd’s try starts from 4 mins into the vid, he does two defenders up like kippers with a swing of the hips.
Lovely stuff
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Good win for Treviso earlier, to Thauma’s horror I’m listening to a Cowboy Junkies concert not so much in celebration but because I haven’t watched them in ages and they’re damned good.
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Horrible punctuation there, but I’m well into the well, so to speak.
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Good win for Treviso earlier, to Thauma’s horror
Indeed.
Have had an email from the Ulster supporters’ club basically saying, ‘this competition is shite’.
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Drqgs bossing Glasgow so far. But the Warriors with the penalty. Nice kick, 10-3.
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Ha, posted that before I saw your second one!
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Presumably they’re enjoying the Cowboy Junkies concert though?
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No doubt they have members with questionable musical tastes.
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Glasgow’s kit is hideous.
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Very entertaining Glasgow try though!
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