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 
I don’t actually know what Sutherland looks like, but I think I can guess which one he is…
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Hawick shirts?????
NEVER!
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Thought not.
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Further to Flair’s post
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Great scenes, but you have to feel for the guy who missed
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It’s hot…………..
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I wouldn’t be so quick to laud Steffon
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Didn’t know about S.A conviction. I thought he was less of a dick than his brother ( and yes, I know it’s not setting the bar very high) and I always admired his McCawesque talent. He was instrumental in BO’s win yesterday and not just by his kick.
Ticht, reading back, you’re right. “Binned” here would be translated as “envoyé au frigo pour dix minutes”.
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Cricket’s gone well….
The cricket team get pumped by New Zealand.
The rugby team finish 5th in the 6N.
By Cat’s Law that means the football team will win the Euros.
Bugger.
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IT’S COMING HOME!*
* Not my home, obviously. Although I reckon a quick pub whip-around for some kit and 14 bodied blokes (able is immaterial) and we’d have about the same chance as England. I know it’s the patriotic duty of every media outlet and pundit in England to proclaim the football side champions-in-waiting before every tournament before the ritual – and horribly cruel – slaughter upon failure, but even by those lofty journalistic standards I can’t see what the hype is about with this vintage.
Am I missing something? Other than knowledge and insight.
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Is Scarlets-Embra still on? Both cricket Tests finished early, so need some good rugby 5o keep me sane.
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TBF none of the English pundits I’ve seen have predicted England to win it. It’s the relentless shoehorning in of England to everything that bugs me. The horrendous Jonathan Pierce even managed it yesterday in the Denmark vs Finland game (before the Eriksen incident). He mentioned a Danish player who’s club side is Borussia Dortmund “which is the same team as Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho, who are with the England squad and we have the first England game tomorrow”. Wonder if they get paid by the number of times they mention England in a game England aren’t playing in.
I should get paid the same rates judging by the number of times I’ve shoehorned England* into this post….
*That’s another 50p!
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I dont think it’s an English thing per se, BB, although having 4 home nations in terms of football within the UK probably make you more aware of it. Parochial pundits will do what parochial pundits do all over the world. The French ones are no better, believe me. But they can’t shoehorn the French one as opposed to the one from Normandy, Midi or Burgundy as they don’t exist.
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At least the French football team have been fairly successful, so the French pundits may well be within their rights to push for France (and they are strong favourites for this tournament), whereas the English football team….
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Scarlets score! ⁷-0 after 10 minutes.
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Embra blow a great break by the 12? who looks and runs more like a hooker than an inside centre. Not really. Quite a chunky lad though.
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A big pfft to that last penalty
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Deebee, the media haven’t gone big on England as potential winners since World Cup 2006 I don’t think. Even this year’s predictions are all caveated with “being optimistic” and things like that.
BB, Pearce’s just selling the coverage I think. However, the massive population thing comes in here. It makes some sense to give people a bit of scaffolding before you add to the knowledge and England supporters will understand something more if you mention an English player.
The gold standard for shoe-horning will always and forever be Will Greenwood’s masterclass during the Argentina-South Africa RWC semi-final in 2007.
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If could only convert some of these chances…
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On the pundit thing, perhaps it’s because I’m exposed to the UK press more than others, but the confidence and bigging up of national sides always seems a bit more over the top than elsewhere. England have some lovely footballers, but I wouldn’t bet Craigs’ money on them.
TomP – what was Greenwood up to? I watched the match in a bar in Bilbao with a touring Argentine rugby side. The level of noise means I have no idea what language the commentary was in.
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We
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Huzzah
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FFS embra
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Baws, that’s torn it
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Deebee, he spent the whole game talking about the England game from the day before.
BBC shamefully cut to a report on Scotland at half-time. Not a very good report but you can’t hope for too much.
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Snatching a draw from the jaws of defeat is better than Snatching a defeat from the jaws of a draw like last week I suppose
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Excellent last five minutes from Embra!
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Good win for England! Cat looking right for once.
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Croatia’s water polo team must be playing brilliantly at the moment. Very disappointing by Modric and the boys.
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Ah well. England win the game England were playing in against a team that isn’t England by a goal to nil. England probably deserved to beat the team that isn’t England, just, but it wasn’t a particularly brilliant game. Two more games tonight between teams that aren’t England and no doubt the ITV commentators will get a few mentions of England in.
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@tomp
Is that the one where he spent the entire time gurning like an idiot? I think he was trying to get a reputation as a bit of a “character” around then and kept referring to himself and his “northern grin” like there is some characteristic smile for such people. He went to fucking Stonyhurst anyway so if he wants to pretend he has some humble likeability he can piss right off.
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Sedbergh, OT.
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The England players they’re interviewing seem like a decent bunch of lads.
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On RTE Didi Hamann saying England impressed him. Saying the Germans might have a divided camp.
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The 3 midfielders were good. Foden showed glimpses, Mings was solid. Croatia were disappointing, apart from maybe Modric. He needs runners around him and didn’t really have that today.
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@tomp
Stonyhurst reckon Greenwood was one of theirs…..
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@BB
Late I know but……
As an Englishman who lived in Scotland for 17 years, I was confronted by the Herald and Scotsman on a daily basis – and don’t even mention the Record.
Surely you have some sympathy?
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OT, that’s curious. Am sure he went to the same school as Carling. Maybe some connection cos he played at Waterloo.
Bracken went to Stonyhurst. A friend of mine at university knew him in Liverpool when they were kids at school together. He told me Bracken always wanted to play for Ireland.
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OT, just found an old interview with Greenwood. His mum and dad were teachers at Stonyhurst but he got sent away to Sedbergh at 13.
Check out the BBC design on this baby: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/1220153.stm
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Flair
I dont think it’s an English thing per se, BB, although having 4 home nations in terms of football within the UK probably make you more aware of it. Parochial pundits will do what parochial pundits do all over the world. The French ones are no better, believe me. But they can’t shoehorn the French one as opposed to the one from Normandy, Midi or Burgundy as they don’t exist.
That’s a good point, and it’s also why Raab’s comments today in response to Macron were so ridiculous.
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Fair to say that Raab’s responses today do not define his ridiculousness – only confirm it.
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Bored and watching a golf tournament in the US, when a ‘leaderboard’ of Olympic Hopefuls pops up. Is golf seriously in the Games now? Although I suppose if tennis, football and rugby can be, why not? Olympic Formula One? Darts, chess, snooker/pool, 10-pin, where’s the cut off?
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Olympic Limericks!
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The man who didn’t read the Good Friday Agreement:
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/dominic-raab-good-friday-agreement-brexit-irish-border-a8758076.html
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blimey – it’s still 32C……….
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My missus used to work with the wife of a South African Olympic golfer, Deebee. I heard some complaints from the golf household about how they’d had to pay their own way to Rio.
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So Sarries back in the big league next season, thrashing Ealing 60-0 in the first leg of the playoff. Should make it an even more competitive league, I would think? If you have Bristol, Sarries, Exeter, Sale and maybe Quins all at the top table that’s decent depth of strong sides.
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Northampton, Leicester and Bath all look quite a bit further back, but five sides there or thereabouts with a good run from AN Other could make it more exciting (not that I’m saying it’s not exciting already).
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Ireland squad for summer tests vs Japan (3 July) and USA (10 July)
Backs (17) – Will Addison (Ulster), Robert Baloucoune (Ulster), Caolin Blade (Connacht), Billy Burns (Ulster), Harry Byrne (Leinster), Joey Carbery (Munster), Craig Casey (Munster), Andrew Conway (Munster), Shane Daly (Munster), Tom Daly (Connacht), Chris Farrell (Munster), Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), Jordan Larmour (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster).
Forwards (20) – Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Paul Boyle (Connacht), Ed Byrne (Leinster), Gavin Coombes (Munster), Ultan Dillane (Connacht), Peter Dooley (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster), Dave Heffernan (Connacht), Rob Herring (Ulster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Dave Kilcoyne (Munster), Ross Molony (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), James Ryan (Leinster), John Ryan (Munster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster), Fineen Wycherley (Munster).
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Deebs – erm…. can I have my money back please?
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