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 
@Trisk
Only Island-based players – is that usual?
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On the england embiggening thing, I’ve heard that our press is perhaps a bit more hyperbolic on all fronts than most other countries. Could be a result of being part of that…
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@craigs
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OT – haha. My inlaws lived in Scotland for a few years and one of my mil’s pet peevs was everything being called Scottish. I.e. Scottish Sun newspaper, BBC Scotland etc etc. She always wondered why people needed the reminder that they were in Scotland buying a newspaper.
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Yeah. Aregentina’s what happens when we get to English levels of cockiness.
Way too many people getting excited by this. I suppose by 4 o’clock today they’ll have a better idea of what it means to support Scotland in a major finals. They’d better get used to heartache.
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Good to see Baloucoune on the squad!
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We got back to playing “rugby” at the weekend – half our U14s played in a tag tournament – winning 10-7, and moving forward to a semi-final next Sat.
We adapted usual tag rules – so we played 10-a-side on full pitch. A 10-a-side, we’ve entered 2 panels of 15 – otherwise we’d be looking at 3 or more if they’d gone with the usual 7. With vacations, clashes with other sports -we’d lose a few – so it was the perfect number. A few subs that we could rotate and give most of the lads a break, but most played 70% of the game – which is really all they ultimately care about.
Took them about 5 mins and 2 or 3 pens to get into the League-style habit of retreating 7 metres after a tackle. One of our lads scored 5 tries – I suppose ultimately, he’ll be captured to play GAA (or soccer) but he has serious speed and a great step, plus very decent hands…. we could improve his tackling (couldn’t really get worse) but he’ll “do” most defenders 1-on-1
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I should also say that they loved Scotland.
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We’ve same thing here with newspapers “Irish S*n” (or Scum as I prefer to call it) etc
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I was looking at the TV listings for tonight and noted there’s an RTE documentary on the partition (The Partition). Thought it looked interesting and could be a good companion piece to the OK BBC docco*.
Then noticed that it was presented by Michael Fucking Portillo.
* authentic Dublin slang.
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@slade
Yep, that would be the rule – maybe you’d see exceptions at U20 or below as we try to bind in IQ players – the idea would be to get them into a provincial academy* fairly sharpish.
*there’s something else between academy and full-time I can’t recall
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I was football mad as a kid, we played every night after school, we played at lunchtimes, during the summer term we persuaded our teacher that playing football was a really good use of our time instead of lessons. We played all summer long.
I knew almost all the players in the Scottish first division (it was a long time ago) as well as knowing most of the players in the English first division, certainly the Liverpools and Arsenals.
I bought (or was bought) football magazines and comics, my grandad took me and my brother, but mostly me to see Hibs and Hearts and if not them then the local junior side (junior football is a semi-pro level with adult players). I lived for it.
Now I don’t now the name of the manager of the Scotland team, nor the name of one of our players, not one. I may have heard of one if someone tells me the most well-known, but I wouldn’t put a quid on it.
There are only so many times you can hit the back of your hand with a five pound hammer before you stop thinking it’s going to be a good thing.
I must have said this before, but the quote I most associate with Scottish football was from a pundit who described the Scottish feeling towards the national team is “delusions of adequacy”.
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I’ve looked them up. I have vague recollections of Steve Clarke at Chelsea.
I recognise the name Jon McLaughlin, one of the goalies, but the John McLaughlin I know of is a 79 year old jazz guitarist, I don’t think even Scotland would play him in goal.
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…….thanks Trisk
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@Ticht
oh I don’t know…………………….the idea of The Mahavishnu Orchestra representing Scotland has a certain appeal.
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Robertson’s really good, ticht. You must know him. Liverpool player.
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I was pretty good on football until i left the UK. Mostly cos I used to go to watch a few games a year and would watch Match of the Day, some of the big league games on Sky and the Champions League. Now, very limited. Part of the problem is football’s just relentless and there’re games every day of the week. Plus, paradoxically, rugby, the game I prefer, had more coverage and it was as easy to follow from abroad as football.
Cricket’s the one for me. I was on top of that when I was a nipper but now can’t tell you who’s in the first division in the different leagues or if some of the competitions I knew lots about even exist.
Czech fourth division football I am knowledgeable about.
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Harshly, I say he couldn’t have done worse than a couple of the incumbents I recall in the 70s….
Though I was like you too – got the Rothmans Yearbook every year – practically memorised it. Gradually, lost the ‘grá’ (= love as gaeilge) for soccer. Enjoyed the NL/UK game yesterday as both teams seemed to go at it – rather than looking not to lose.
One of my sons is obsessed with FIFA video game – knows nearly every player and their ratings…and oddly enough he doesn’t play – plays (GAA) football and rugby. (Ultimately, there’s a limited number of hours in a week and we’ve 2 other sons who need to be ferried to rugby, rowing, football, hurling.
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@tomp
Regarding cricket I reckon part of it was being able to watch a live Sunday League game each week on BBC2 – meant you knew who was who and what they were good at etc. Plus they used to cover the Natwest and B&H cups as well, and the finals were a big deal on the BBC. I could probably tell you more players who played for Derbyshire or Northants in the late 80s than play for them now.
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we try to bind in IQ players – the idea would be to get them into a provincial academy* fairly sharpish.
*there’s something else between academy and full-time I can’t recall
That’s ’cause you got IQ problems.
Which team is the designated ‘Golden Generation’ in this tournament? I thought France might be, but Wenger says they’re still young and developing.
ScotlBelgium? Is this Belgium’s golden generation?LikeLike
@TomP
Ah, yeah – forgot about cricket …used to be knowledgeable.. now I wouldn’t recognise any player from any test team never mind the other formats.
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Ah, yes – great Lancs 1 day team of the 70s…. Wood /Lloyd opening, followed by Clive Lloyd to lamp the ball to all corners… David Hughes emerging in the twilight to hit 24 off an over…
Supposedly, when he comes out to bat his partner gestures to the darkening skies and says “Give a go” – to see if with a new batsman the umpire would take them off for bad light – and is amazed when Hughes swings at everything….
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@trisk
Bit before my time that one, but it’s a famous match. I remember the other legendary Lancs era of the late 80s, early 90s with the likes of Mendis, Fowler, Fairbrother, Watkinson, Wasim, Defreitas, Austin, Hegg, oh and David Hughes was still captain then.
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Well that was a bit of a kick in the teeth just before the break.
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Or a deep cut, given that it was Schick who scored.
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Schick cuts to the quick. Scotland had some chances, just couldn’t finish.
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Ah well, normal service resumed. Welcome back to the big time, Scotland, here fir your usual 3 games.
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That David Hughes sounds brilliant.
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@tomp
They even named a school in Anglesey after him. And some bloke who moved to Dorset as a kid. His name escapes me though.
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David Hughes can bat at nine and not bowl.
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Actually. Hughes effectively says it was a deliberate policy to go after the spinner rather than face Mike Procter in the gloom (still, those apochryphal tales are always fun)
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I think the only game I’ve seen more often than I’ve seen that one is the ODI when Viv got 180-odd. Not a huge variety in the rain-break entertainment back in the day.
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@Trisk – I think the words “in the gloom” might be superfluous in that sentence.
Procter’s four wickets in five balls used to get a pretty regular airing too.
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Since we moved back my son has become good friends with my neighbours kids. They’ve also been quite nice.
Can I maintain my grudge?
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Yes. Prick.
Neighbour, not you. Did that need clarification?
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Hmm – Ewers gets cited – a case of revenge eaten cold etc?
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ITV commentator during Poland vs Slovakia, “You need to be REALLY bad to go out of the competition after the first round.”
Thanks for that Sam.
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BB, I think the matches I’ve seen thus far have been very entertaining on the whole, with some really skilful players all round. Pretty harsh by the ITV pundit.
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Hard to when kids are friendly….
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There will be 8 ‘really bad’ teams going out. I think we’ll be one of them – we have more good players than we’ve had for years. We just don’t have enough of them in the rights places. We have two brilliant left backs in Robertson and Tierney, but not so great with the right backs. We have good midfielders (Billy Gilmour will be a star, but he’s only about 20), but we struggle with central defence, goalie and attackers.
Now watching the Spain game from Seville and wishing I was back there.
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https://www.thefarside.com/2021/06/14/2
One for Thaum.
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Bulls squad for the Rainbow Cup final:
Forwards: Lizo Gqoboka, Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Schalk Erasmus, Sydney Tobias, Jacques Van Rooyen, Mornay Smith, Robert Hunt, Ruan Nortje, Janko Swanepoel, Jan Uys, Walt Steenkamp, WJ Steenkamp, Muller Uys, Marcell Coetzee (captain), Nizaam Carr.
Backs: Ivan Van Zyl, Zak Burger, Keagan Johannes, Chris Smith, Clinton Swart, Cornal Hendricks, Marco Janse van Vuren, Stravino Jacobs, Madosh Tambwe, Dawid Kellerman, Gio Aplon, David Kriel.
They’re missing a number of players – Steyn, Nyakane and van Staden are with the Boks, Duane Vermeulen would’ve been anyway. Another very good back-rower, Elrigh Louw, is injured as is Embrose Papier. Stedman Gans and Kurt-Lee Arendse with the 7z squad were both running hot earlier this year.
There are still some decent players in the squad – Kriel, Tambwe and Jacobs are a young and pacey back 3, Cornal’s been superb at 12 all year, Chris Smith’s an ok outside half, Gio Aplon might come off the bench and he was Cheslin before Cheslin was Cheslin but is 38 now.
Up front Lizo’s grand and second row Ruan Nortje is a prospect. Muller Uys (pronounced Ace) is an yster. Marcell, you all know about.
Couple of interesting choices that probably won’t be in the 23 are prop Robert Hunt, who’s been around a bit and played for UCT in the Varsity Cup this year, and hooker Sidney Tobias. He’s the son of the great Errol Tobias and played a bit for some provinces and for Tukkies (University of Pretoria) in 2014 in the first live match I saw in SA. Has been playing club rugby for the last few years but Jake White’s signed him for the Currie Cup and he gets a flight to Europe early doors.
What with the flight and the weirdness of being outside SA and the injuries and enforced withdrawals, I think they’ll have a tough game against a confident Benetton, who showed up ok v Connacht a couple of weeks back.
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It’ll be a very tough assignment for the Bulls, TomP. I do think one of the strengths of the Bulls this year is that they’ve beaten the other SA sides without as much gold dust sprinkled through the side – they’re very much a sum of their parts, rather than a glittering array of superstars. Obviously the Bok/7z/injuries exclusions take their toll, as will flying to Europe and playing in unfamiliar conditions at short notice, but they’ll give a good account of themselves. Like him or loathe him, Jake White has always been very good at getting the best out of players and is a meticulous planner. Benetton favourites, but the Bulls have a decent shot.
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I probably think about rugby too much – I was watching Spain and Sweden in the Euros last night and it occurred to me that Spain were playing too laterally – Sweden played a drift defence – moving side to side following the ball.
It was only towards the end when Gerard Moreno came on and Spain played a little more directly and with a little more pace/tempo that Spain started to create chances. Up to that point it was very one dimensional, playing side to side across the face of the defence – they didn’t engage the defenders, they didn’t try to turn them.
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Aha, following old sport….. I just pulled a box out of the back of my mums shed yesterday with some myold cricket programs on it. Will check later and see how well I did.
Alan Butcher, Graham Clinton, Jeff Howarth, Roger Knight, Graham Roope, Monty Lynch, can’t remember who was the keeper before Jack Richards, David Smith, David Thomas, Robin Jackman, Pat Pocock. i’ll thro in Sylvester Clarke as well, altho he was a bit later too, but a big favourite of mine, and I know Younis Ahmed and John Edrich were still around in the earlier days, as well as Intikhab Alam. Might be able to throw in 7 or 8 of the Leeds team from the late seventies, and can probably manage a fair England 15 from late seventies/early 80s, altho it will be mix and match. Hmmmm, here goes. Fran Cotton, Peter Wheeler, Big bloke with sandy curly hair, Bill Beaumont, Maurice Colclough (another big bloke with sandy curly hair), Roger Uttlley, Mike Rafter Tony Neary ( John Scott on the bench ? )Steve Smith, John Horton ( He of the Paul Ringer late tackle fame ) Paul Dodge, Tony Bond, Mike Slemen, John Carelton, Alistair Hignell. Not a bad side.
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No more ProWoo.
‘sgonna be the ‘United Rugby Championship’
URC
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Some shocking saffa underdogging been going on.
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Interesting twist that the URC is going to be free-to-air (mainly)
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