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 
Tomp – I remember going to the beach around 2013. Some absolute synt brought a vuvuzela with him.
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He was also not confused about being the bad guy.
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ticht, you might enjoy this wide-ranging chat: https://www.mixcloud.com/RepeaterRadio/stewart-smith-radical-scotland-07-in-discussion-with-rory-scorthorne/
Features this at the beginning:
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Czechs the better team in a scrappy game and deserve the lead, although the penalty decision was well dodgy.
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I went to an England v Italy game at Leeds, some warm up game before a World Cup or Euros. It was the ‘No Surrender’ stuff that got the better of me. Last minute winner for the Italians went down well.
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Oops. Croatia wake up and equalize! Lovely goal too.
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Czechs have a big bald guy on up front. Sadly, not Jan Koller.
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BB, speaking of which, John Hartson was on telly the other morning, speaking about the tournament.
I really liked him, he was a throwback
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LaRoch are about to take the lead, but Fickou just gets better and better
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Good game, shame for the lack of public.
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Oh dear, Finn fucked up massively there. He was looking like the best fly half in the world, then hits a clearing kick into his own player, LaRoch score atry from the fall out
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Smart from.Dulin. Try LaR.
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Good half.
LaR worth their lead but it mainly came on the back of a howler from Russell
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True but there was a scrum after that and a good idea from Dulin.
At least both teams try to win rather than not to lose.
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Dulin’s play was excellent, but they shouldn’t have been in that attacking position.
I agree that they are both playing positive rugby, it’s great to see with so much at stake
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Credit where it’s due, too, West has been very good
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Well, we’ve got to half time level. Better than I thought.
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Racing getting beaten up in the scrum, legally or not doesn’t matter, they are losing the decisions
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Racing are coughing up simple possession time after time, squint throws at the lineout being the latest example
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LaR have gone big time defence to protect their lead.
I’m not sure some of the decisions were right, but they are getting them from the ref so fair play to them
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Racing’s best chance now is that the the rain will influence the game
LaR have been very smart all match
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Grealish comes on and stream dies. Might have to start supporting England again, so far they have been so boring and unimaginative I have been hoping for a Scottish goal, for underdog effort and supporter noise.
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LaR have bullied Racing somewhat, I’ve seen Racing absolutely batter opponents, but not from the back foot like they have been tonight
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Well done LaR, totally deserved win this evening, Racing barely got a shot off, they were completely shut down
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Yep. Racing bullied all game.
LaR’s pack is huge and they were also fitter. Even Atonio lasted 65′. West had a great game, unlike Finn who had a poor day (good ideas, poor execution mostly) but he’s not responsible for that defeat, Racing set pieces are.
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Just read that England held Scotland to a draw. Got to love an underdog.
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This was the best bit
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A good old stramash in the box. Arthur Montford will be proud.
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I quite enjoyed the soccer. Scotland played well.
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Quite enjoyed the football, by no means the worst nil-nil I’ve ever seen. I guess Stones hitting the post with a free header from six yards out was the best chance, but thought Scotland shaded it regardless. Everyone was happy enough here, especially once I’d explained that it was an impressive result for Scotland but a good enough one for England in terms of the tournament. The Middle One is an England then Wales supporter, the other two Scotland/Wales. Middle One predicted 0-0 with half an hour left (I went 2-0 England, Eldest couldn’t be drawn) so was happy with her rightness even if ‘not very pleased with England’.
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I was a bit disappointed in the lack of chilli peanuts, to be honest.
Especially since we’d been to the shop and I’ve only myself to blame.
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Two Scottish sporting visits to London this year, and we’ve come away undefeated.
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Really got the fear for Exeter this afternoon – I think that Sale will be after giving them a right ‘tatering.
A lots depends on the ref. – Tom Foley.
Anyone got a view on his style/preferences?
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@Ticht
nice article by Ian Jack:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jun/19/rothesay-decline-seaside-resort-skye-glasgow
Bute is a lovely island…………..
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Does Finlay Cristie ( SH with the Blues) qualify for Scotland? He’d be a great addition to the squad, fast, punchy, great defence, good eye. He’d also relieve Finn from some of his most dubious decisions.
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hmm………….16 – 0 after 10 mins
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Bristol all over Quins at the moment. Tries from Earl and Malins give them a 16-0 lead after 13 mins.
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It’s a little frantic, this game.
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Malins gets a second. Bristol scrum 15m in, on the Quins line. Hughes picks up and goes blind and it’s a walk in for Malins.
21-0.
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Now Malins makes the try, popping the ball over his shoulder for Morahan to score in the corner.
28-0
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Smith puts up a high ball and Malins misses it completely. Dombrant gets it and runs in from 40m. Quins on the board just before half time.
28-5
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The comeback is on for Quins. 3 tries in the first 15 mins of the second half. 28-24
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Now Quins mustn’t relax having almost caught up;
28 – 24
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Oh lordy. Gwan Quins!!!!
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Not even sure why they’re having a debate over the pass from Radrandra to Randall. Clearly forwards.
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Flair, Christie was born in Peebles in the Scottish borders, I don’t know if he intends to return, but he’s been in NZ since he was 7
Oh dear Scotland has one player in the bin and are about to get a red I think
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Yup, very clumsy challenge from Harri Morris on a man in the air, that will be the end of this as a contest now
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Now Quins have one scratched for a forward pass.
*phew*
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Ben Muncaster at 8 is a bit of a beast, he mullered the Irish 10 with a carry and ended his afternoon. The Irish 6 injured his shoulder trying to tackle Muncaster and now so has the 12
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