The new English Premiership season kicks off tonight with Bristol v Saracens. No doubt I speak for all of humanity when I say that I hope that home advantage bears up.
We also have some forrin matches, far away, between minor sides, and some Women’s World Cup matches.
Onna telly this week
Friday 17th September
Bristol v Saracens
19:45
BT Sport 1
Saturday 18th September
Australia v South Africa
08:05
Sky Sports Arena
Argentina v New Zealand
11:05
Sky Sports Arena
Castres v Bordeaux
14:00
Premier Sports 2
Leicester v Exeter
15:00
BT Sport 1
Montpellier v Toulouse
16:00
Premier Sports 2
Clermont v La Rochelle
20:05
Premier Sports 1
Sunday 19th September
Italy v Ireland (women’s WC)
14:00
Facebook / YouTube
Newcastle v Harlequins
15:00
BT Sport 1
Spain v Scotland (women’s WC)
17:00
BBC iPlayer/ Alba
Toulon v Stade Français
20:05
Premier Sports 2
LikeLoading...
184 thoughts on “The Return of the League of *cough* Gentlemen”
You can imagine the Tory grandees down the club, grumbling into their beards: ‘By Thatcher’s urine, this young Johnson is a spendthrift profligate cad! Harrumph!’
Aus 5-0 up after Faf binned for a cynical slap down. Quade misses a pretty easy conversion. The Boks are looking no better than last week early on, conceding silly penalties and not capitalizing on their own possession.
Penalty Aus straight from the restart. They go to the corner. Bitch the drive but on a penalty advantage and they’re over. Looks miles forward but not even checked. Well slightly forward out the back of hand. Still should have been checked. Great conversion and 12-3. Christ the guy is standing in front on that pass.
Pollard gets 3 more back, but Boks still ponderous and concede a penalty through shit handling. Cooper with another shot. Banks off injured with a wrist injury by the looks of it. Cooper converts. 15-6. Just like last week, the Boks concede almost as soon as they score.
Promising overlap and botched, but tackled in the air and a penalty to the Boks. Pollard for the posts. 15-9.
Pollard nails another and it’s 15-12 with 3 to go before the break. Nkosi contesting very well off the box kicks. Marvin Orie has been solid in the lineouts.
Boks expansive play has yielded nothing thus far, but largely I think because they’re simply not used to it in match situations. There are opportunities out wide though and I hope they keep trying it and get reward.
Australia have looked very dangerous running at our close and one out defence, so we need to tighten up there too. They’ve asked more questions in 120 minutes so far than the Lions and Argentina did in 5 Tests.
Faf takes a quick tap after Aus penalised again for early tackle at the lineout and after a couple of phases, he nudges through for Am to score in the corner! 15-17 and Boks ahead for the 1st time. Penalty Boks at the restart and Boks outside the Aus 22.
Not enough patience from the Boks as Pollard goes to the sky and an easy mark for Hodge on as a replacement for Banks. Bomb squad front row on after six minutes of the 2nd half.
Pollard penalised for offside. Right in front too. Aussies trying to milk a card for Koch pushing Cooper in the face. Penalty routine and Aus back in front 18-17.
Scrum outside Aus 22. Early push gives Aus the exit. Aus try a quick lineout at the front, but knock it on. Bok scrum on halfway. And another handling error gifts the Wallabies another penalty. Kicked to the corner and this could be curtains if they score. Nick White knocks on, but Australia have the lineout outside the 22.
Koroibete gets a second from a loose turnover and it’s all over. Thought that the turnover came from fairly blatant obstruction, but not given and no matter. 30-17 with 11 to play. They’ve just been too smart for us.
Bok penalty under the posts and they opt for the scrum. Which hasn’t been massively dominant. They break off the back and Hooper gets the penalty on the floor. Sums it up really.
It was Refit, could have been red, ot sure how the player being on the ground is a mitigating factor. Boks get a final penalty and Marx overthrows. Shambolic.
They played a very good game, lots of ball in hand and fluid, but also very clever kicking game. The Boks were poor across the park, but the Aussies were simply too good tactically. Australia scored four tries, all by backs, all off good innovative play.
Ovally Balls 
Should clarify that I don’t mean to imply that either Itoje or Rashford (ask ex-Minister Williamson which one) is not a gentleman.
LikeLike
I see Dayglo didn’t spend the off season working on his commentary.
LikeLike
Thauma, they’re both gentlemen. Unlike Gav the gaffe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Charles Piutau does have quite the step.
LikeLike
Yeah, he sent me the wrong way and I’m just sitting on my chair!
LikeLike
Ulsterman Charles Piutau does have quite the step.
FIFY
LikeLike
The only bit of excitement is this game was that run from Piutau. Until now! Amazing what happens when you pass the ball and don’t kick it away.
LikeLike
I’ve only just joined the game, nice run from Thacker
But the noise!
How fantastic to hear that again
LikeLike
That was a lovely line break from Bristol. Now come on and score!
LikeLike
All came to nowt.
LikeLike
:-D
THATCHERS UREN is a comical shirt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You can imagine the Tory grandees down the club, grumbling into their beards: ‘By Thatcher’s urine, this young Johnson is a spendthrift profligate cad! Harrumph!’
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t like that as a penalty, he was deliberately trapped in there.
They did away with a couple of years ago but they are allowing it again
LikeLike
Thaum, it’s burden, one of the best ciders you’ll taste carries that name
LikeLike
Aye, I know, but it’s funny all the same!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s rubbish, his knee was not on the floor
LikeLike
Something happened to Piutau off the ball there….
LikeLike
Ticht – correct, not at the time of the head-bash.
LikeLike
Funnily enough, Piutau’s been subbed.
LikeLike
Why did I watch this?
LikeLike
normal service resumed
LikeLike
That’s that then.
Saracens have been the better team on both sides of the from what I’ve seen this half
LikeLike
18 should have gone himself there, the defence was shifting leaving a huge gap
LikeLike
Bristol are a bit shit. Sorry, Refit.
LikeLike
@Thaum – Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo (true)
LikeLike
Aus 5-0 up after Faf binned for a cynical slap down. Quade misses a pretty easy conversion. The Boks are looking no better than last week early on, conceding silly penalties and not capitalizing on their own possession.
LikeLike
Pollard with a shot to narrow the gap. Boom! Good start. 5-3.
LikeLike
Penalty Aus straight from the restart. They go to the corner. Bitch the drive but on a penalty advantage and they’re over. Looks miles forward but not even checked. Well slightly forward out the back of hand. Still should have been checked. Great conversion and 12-3. Christ the guy is standing in front on that pass.
LikeLike
Pollard gets 3 more back, but Boks still ponderous and concede a penalty through shit handling. Cooper with another shot. Banks off injured with a wrist injury by the looks of it. Cooper converts. 15-6. Just like last week, the Boks concede almost as soon as they score.
Promising overlap and botched, but tackled in the air and a penalty to the Boks. Pollard for the posts. 15-9.
LikeLike
Swinton gets yellow for a no arm tackle on Vermeulen. Was close to red. Boks giving it a bit more air this week, but not really penetrating much.
LikeLike
The commentators obsessions (both north & south hemisphere) with downplaying head contact is rather infuriating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pollard nails another and it’s 15-12 with 3 to go before the break. Nkosi contesting very well off the box kicks. Marvin Orie has been solid in the lineouts.
LikeLike
Boks expansive play has yielded nothing thus far, but largely I think because they’re simply not used to it in match situations. There are opportunities out wide though and I hope they keep trying it and get reward.
Australia have looked very dangerous running at our close and one out defence, so we need to tighten up there too. They’ve asked more questions in 120 minutes so far than the Lions and Argentina did in 5 Tests.
LikeLike
Faf takes a quick tap after Aus penalised again for early tackle at the lineout and after a couple of phases, he nudges through for Am to score in the corner! 15-17 and Boks ahead for the 1st time. Penalty Boks at the restart and Boks outside the Aus 22.
LikeLike
Not enough patience from the Boks as Pollard goes to the sky and an easy mark for Hodge on as a replacement for Banks. Bomb squad front row on after six minutes of the 2nd half.
LikeLike
Aussies winning the kicking game with huge boots downfield forcing the Boks to run back at them.
LikeLike
Not sure what Koch was doing there and how he got away with any kind of scrutiny.
LikeLike
Pollard penalised for offside. Right in front too. Aussies trying to milk a card for Koch pushing Cooper in the face. Penalty routine and Aus back in front 18-17.
LikeLike
Scrum outside Aus 22. Early push gives Aus the exit. Aus try a quick lineout at the front, but knock it on. Bok scrum on halfway. And another handling error gifts the Wallabies another penalty. Kicked to the corner and this could be curtains if they score. Nick White knocks on, but Australia have the lineout outside the 22.
LikeLike
Boks get it wide, but lose it again and Aus counter. Scrum Australia just in the Nok half.
LikeLike
Nok is pretty accurate. Magic from Koroibete down the short side. Great numbers, great offload from the prop! 25-17 and I can’t see a way back.
LikeLike
I wonder if Gats is watching this thinking what may have been?
LikeLike
Koroibete gets a second from a loose turnover and it’s all over. Thought that the turnover came from fairly blatant obstruction, but not given and no matter. 30-17 with 11 to play. They’ve just been too smart for us.
LikeLike
Bok penalty under the posts and they opt for the scrum. Which hasn’t been massively dominant. They break off the back and Hooper gets the penalty on the floor. Sums it up really.
LikeLike
That’s a lucky yellow for Weise.
LikeLike
Wiese compounds a miserable day with a cheap shot of a clean out. Yellow only. Kiwis are going to paste us.
LikeLike
It was Refit, could have been red, ot sure how the player being on the ground is a mitigating factor. Boks get a final penalty and Marx overthrows. Shambolic.
LikeLike
“I wonder if Gats is watching this thinking what may have been?”
Deebee, I didn’t see the match, but did the Aussies play their typical wide game?
LikeLike
They played a very good game, lots of ball in hand and fluid, but also very clever kicking game. The Boks were poor across the park, but the Aussies were simply too good tactically. Australia scored four tries, all by backs, all off good innovative play.
LikeLiked by 2 people
John Smit pointing out that our basics haven’t been at the level they were against the Lions, but that’s not the point. No Plan B. That’s the problem.
LikeLike