Since there’s nothing else worth watching this weekend (Ulster’s season having finished), Flair99 has some top tips on Top14 matches:
Three intriguing games in France this week-end.
Friday at 20:45: Racing vs Stade Français
The winner gets to the semi, the loser goes on vacation (about time). So Paris vs Paris, about 5kms separate their two stadia. Subplot, Fickou who played 90% of the season for Stade now plays for Racing. Probable winner: Racing.
Saturday 17:45: Biarritz vs Bayonne
Biarritz, ProD2 finalist, host Bayonne, who finished 13th in the T14. About 5kms between the two towns. Winner stays – or climbs – to the T14, loser goes down or remains in ProD2. The biggest game in the Basque country since Asterix. Winner? Who knows, probably Bayonne.
Saturday 20:45: Bordeaux vs Clermont. The other QF.
Probable winner, Bordeaux.
LaR and Toulouse lie in wait.
And so does Galthié who’ll fly to Australia without his skipper (Ollivon sidelined for about 6 months) and all the players involved in the T14 final (they may play only in the third test).
And Deebee7‘s take on the SA squad picked to play the Lions:
Actually in terms of Bok selection, I think Lizo 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)
Onna telly this week
Friday 11th June
| Brumbies v Highlanders | 10:45 | Rugbypass |
| Zebre v Munster | 18:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Racing 92 v Stade Français | 19:45 | FreeSports / Premier Sports 2 |
| Leinster v Dragons | 20:15 | Premier Sports 1 |
Saturday 12th June
| Rebels v Crusaders | 05:35 | Rugbypass |
| Bues v Western Force | 08:05 | Rugbypass |
| Waratahs v Chiefs | 10:45 | Rugbypass |
| Bath v Northampton | 15:00 | BT Sport Extra |
| Bristol v London Irish | 15:00 | BT Sport Extra |
| Exeter v Sale | 15:00 | BT Sport 3 |
| Harlequins v Newcastle | 15:00 | BT Sport Extra |
| Wasps v Leicester | 15:00 | BT Sport 1 |
| Stormers v Lions | 15:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Sharks v Bulls | 17:15 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Bordeaux v Clermont | 19:45 | Premier Sports 1 |
Sunday 13th June
| Scarlets v Edinburgh | 13:00 | Premier Sports 1 | ||
| Ealing Trailfinders v Saracens | 16:30 | Premier Sports 1 |
Ovally Balls 
Bloody hell, 4 mins left and it’s 31-31.
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And we’re going to extra time.
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Jo Marler has been terrific today……………
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Ref at scrum, “good this side, not so good other side”
Marler, “I’d say it was world class this side”
:-)
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Bugger.
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Great finish from Green
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Smith must be in the England squad for the summer, Shirely?
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Some game this
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Plucky France hold Hungary to a draw.
Only watched second half. Good to know that good teams start slow cos I thought France were rather mediocre.
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How was that a legal tackle???
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Well I only saw extra time, but that was brilliant
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Refit, I thought his shoulder just slipped under the jaw
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Thanks Ticht for the info about Christie. Read he has a year left in his contract with the Blues. He was very good this morning and bossed Aaron Smith for most of the game.
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Oh you mighty mighty quins. Hard luck Bristol (refit).
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Ticht – personally I saw him tackle Saile’s nose with his shoulder. Not that it would have affected the outcome.
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It was marginal either way, Refit, the whiplash took the head on to the shoulder and I’ve seen cards given for it
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I’m watching EngFra
Thanks for the info on the French player, Flair, I’m keeping an eye out for those you mentioned
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Bibi off with a hamstring injury after 15 mins, unfortunately, he looked good
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Nelson Epee has sliced through for a 20-minute hat-trick.
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Epee, rapier-like on the wing (sorry), three tries in 20 minutes
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Flair was right about Haddad, terrific player
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Benetton 5 up through Ioane after 5 minutes. Good score.
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Tambwe sneaks over after a drive from a 5-metre line out. 8-5 with the kick to make it 8-7 to come.
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Benetton got another try that I missed and now get a penalty try for a high tackle by Strav Jacobs, who gets a yellow too. 20-8 at the oranges.
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England Under 20s beating France 24-22 now. And Big Brennan looks to have a nasty injury.
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Blimey, 20 – 8 to Benetton, I did not see that coming
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30-8 now. I was having dinner for the first 10 minutes of the second half. Suspect the Bulls were too.
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35-8
Is this a full strength bulls side?
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Benetton been very good in the rainbow thingy
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Bulls ate getting well beaten here, well played Benetton
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Just in case you are interested, Exeter won.
I am happy and relieved.
Final should be good.
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I didn’t see the game so will have to rely on Youtube
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I thought Jo Marler had a fantastic game (not so the Sinck) and Jo Mrchant was very good and cool as well.
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Chimpie, it’s not but they’ve been well beaten. Benetton have played very well, the Bulls poorly.
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Well well, very many congrats to Benetton
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Just how did Wales beat Turkey the other day?
The truth is out there:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E4P5ldzWUAMcQ0h?format=jpg
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This is not a good story, at one time I thought he was destined for a long Scotland career, I hope things pick up for him. The story does not reflect well on the Dragons, but I’m sure they aren’t the only ones who would be so fucking useless in these circumstances
https://amp.rugbypass.com/news/rugby-injury-jack-cosgrove-disfigured-and-discarded-the-training-ground-incident-that-claimed-a-young-props-career/?__twitter_impression=true
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Horrifying. How the hell did they him drive after having his eye poked out?
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Total failure of duty of care, imo, Chimpie.
Ntmack very badly injured here
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Argh, I am not reading that after Chimpie’s comment. Out, vile jelly! I am squeamish about eyes.
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Romain Ntamack gives a thumbs up as he is stretchered off.
A good sign
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C’mon Toulouse ffs
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A few minutes ago, we heard a thump and some yelling (in Polish) from next door. Slightly concerned. Then checked the sport page and learnt that Poland had just equalised with Spain, so all well, I think. :-)
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Argh, Prem sports has fallen over
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Out, vile jelly reminds me of this: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/28/william-shakespeare-death-mistake-argentinian-tv
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Kolbe is human, he hooks one straight out and behind himself
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Kolbe coughs up a penalty straight after
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Thaum, whit?
I only read the first paragraph but that is some error
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Toulouse get over the line, just
Good
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Ticht – yoof in journalism, don’t know they’re born, etc.
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