Turn off the phones, lock the kids in the soundproof basement, prepare your food and drink and turn on the telly, ‘cos it’s time for the European cups again.
Prognostication is not my forté, but I’ll give it a bash for the Big Cup matches.
Northampton v Racing 92
I was surprised to discover that Racing 92 are only in 8th position in the Top 14, whereas the Saints are sitting pretty in third place in the English Premiership. However, Racing know how to bring their best game to an important match, so I’m going for les Parisiens by 7.
Cardiff v Toulouse
Can’t see anything other than a Toulousain trouncing of the hosts by about 15 points.
Leinster v Bath
With Bath languishing at the bottom of the Premiership, this can only go one way. Blue Meanies by 40.
Bordeaux v Leicester
The two top teams in their respective leagues, again to my surprise. I’ll raise a glass of Haut-Médoc to the home side by 3.
Clermont Auvergne v Ulster
Having attended this fixture in a previous competition, ordinarily I’d say a safe win for the home side. However, TomPirracas’ sleuthing informs us that Clermont is a Covid-ravaged camp, so that and downright foolish optimism leads me to predict Ulster by a point.
Exeter v Montpellier
Another tough one to predict, so home advantage to provide a narrow win.
Ospreys v Sale
Ospreys must be exhausted after last week, but Sale are not doing very well this year. Ospreys by 7.
Connacht v Stade Français
Connacht are on good form, and have been unlucky to narrowly lose a couple of their matches so far. I have no similar insights on SF, but they are towards the bottom of the table. Connacht by 4.
La Rochelle v Glasgow
Two fifth-place sides competing. Hmm. Chez nous by 3.
Wasps v Munster
Given Munster’s very depleted squad, Wasps by 15. At least.
Onna telly this week
Friday 10th December
| Northampton v Racing 92 | 20:00 | BT Sport 2 |
| Lyon v Gloucester | 20:00 | BT Sport 3 |
Saturday 11th December
| Cardiff v Toulouse | 13:00 | Channel 4 / BT Sport 2 |
| Leinster v Bath | 15:15 | BT Sport 2 |
| Bordeaux v Leicester | 15:15 | BT Sport 3 |
| Clermont v Ulster | 17:30 | BT Sport 2 |
| USAP v Dragons | 17:30 | S4C |
| Exeter v Montpellier | 20:00 | BT Sport 2 |
Sunday 12th December
| Ospreys v Sale | 13:00 | BT Sport 2 | ||
| Connacht v Stade Français | 13:00 | BT Sport 3 | ||
| La Rochelle v Glasgow | 15:15 | BT Sport 3 | ||
| Wasps v Munster | 15:15 | BT Sport 2 |
Ovally Balls 
I did not know that.
LikeLike
Me neither.
LikeLike
Glad I can tick that off of the frighteningly small list of things I DID NOT KNOW. That and almost everything else.
LikeLike
Janice Long also famously appeared on a very early episode of 3-2-1 and won a silver cutlery set that she sold the next day for big money.
LikeLike
Flee to the Czech Republic earlier. It’s a very bracing -9 here at the moment.
LikeLike
LikeLike
Well, Middle One had their booster appointment cancelled last week, and tested positive on a LFT this morning. The rest of us have had boosters and we all tested negative today.
Middle One is currently at testing centre doing a PCR, but with symptoms of a heavy cold and a thumping headache we pretty much know what the result is going to be.
LikeLike
Sorry to hear that Ticht. Sort of similar story here. Daughter 1 got her booster on Wednesday (after an hour and a half wait – in the rain), did a flow test on Friday which was negative as was hubby’s. We all did one, plus daughter 2’s boyfriend and they were all negative. Sunday, daughter 1 texted us to say she’d done another flow test which was positive. We all did one which were all negative. We’ve all done one again today which again were negative. She’s now sent away her PCR test and we all wait for the result. Daughter 2 was going to be at work in the office tomorrow, but she can work from home if needed.
LikeLike
Dammit, the last game standing has been postponed due to Covid in the Glasgow camp, no 1872 derby tonight.
LikeLike
Best wishes to the BB Clan
LikeLike
Thanks Ticht – though it now looks as though son-in-law is showing symptoms too. So will be very surprised if the PCR tests come back negative. Will keep doing flow tests and medicate with whisky.*
*May not be recommended by the medical fraternity.
LikeLike
best wishes to everyone affected directly or indirectly by this bloody virus……………………
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stat attack
LikeLike
I went to bed when Stokes was out, hoping I could get up early and catch Root and Bairstow reaching their 150s.
LikeLike
Boland’s 6 for 7 off 4 overs are strange figures – up there with the amazing Bob Massie figures from Lords 1972.
LikeLike
I was very impressed with Boland’s double wicket maiden over. Shows what bowling at the top of off stump can do. Simple but excellent.
LikeLike
I recall something similar was said of Rodney Hogg (took 41 wickets in 78-79 after most of the Oz team defected to Kerry Packer’s set up) – “sneakily bowling straight”
LikeLike
Leicester Tigers in Salary Cap trouble?:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/dec/28/leicester-tigers-rugby-union-cooperating-with-investigation-into-image-rights-payments
LikeLike
Oh dear, how sad, never mind.
Am halfway through Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet, which is utterly brilliant. Enhanced by the fact that ‘I’ve seen this place, and I’ve walked this floor’ in most of the locations.
LikeLike
…probably finished the 2nd half now……………
LikeLike
BB’s Deep Thought For The Day.
Maltesers just taste better from a box than a packet.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Slade – not quite! Been trying not to finish it as the library doesn’t re-open until tomorrow.
LikeLike
Books are essential in the Slade household – glad to hear you use a library!
LikeLike
Just amazed there are any left open in England.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The most local library is tiny – I have probably twice as many books at home. But you can go to, or order from, any library in Warwickshire, so I haven’t had trouble finding anything yet.
LikeLike
Warks.not very handy for N.I. is it?
LikeLike
Don’t you start!
LikeLike
Xmas reads from Waterstones :-, Hurdy Gurdy, ” a hilarious tale of plague in medieval England ” not enthused. Mildly amusing. Will go back and check the references, and not believe anything they say ever again.Utopia Avenue, lovely story well written, thoroughly entertaining, needed a firmer hand with final editing, good read, could have been great, and something about someones granny and mum in vietnam 30s to seventies so far, just started, getting sucked in.
LikeLike
I got an eclectic mixture of books. The newest Olive & Mable book, written by their food provider Andrew Cotter, My Name’5 Doddie, a Time Team Book, Lemmy’s autobiography, a Dave Grohl book (though not his new one, and a couple of fantasy books. That’ll keep me going through January.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A song for 2021……………………
LikeLike
See Johnny’s rocking the little seen Peruvian shepherd and pj bottoms look.
LikeLike
Tonight’s alcoholic pleasure is a nice little Glenlivet 12 year old whisky. Very smoooooooooth and a tad smoky.
LikeLike
BB – sounds great and stirs memories.
My fix last night was paracetamol/tramadol thanks to an eruption of arthritis in my neck – slept like a baby
This morning is beautiful with snow on the mountains- 20c forecast
LikeLike
Vietnamese book is The Mountains Sing, by the way. Thoroughly enjoying it. -20c, Lordy. hope thats not coming our way.
LikeLike
oops – not -20 but +20
LikeLike
It may not surprise you Salde, to know that the weather here in Glasgow is not beautiful with snow on the hills. Mild, wet and sunny-ish.
LikeLike
Salde? Is that French for Slade?
LikeLike
hmmm……..seems to be Italian for ‘firm’
…………………….or could be ‘salade’ – yes, I’m sure you meant that
and, yes, I can just picture/remember the Glasgow weather
LikeLike
Afternoon all! Just popping in to wish everyone a fabulous New Year and may all your wishes for the year come true!*
Unless you’re playing the Boks. Then you can sod off.
LikeLiked by 2 people
John Crace’s look at 2022 is very funny: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/dec/31/good-riddance-boris-all-hail-empress-truss-my-predictions-for-2022-john-crace
LikeLike
Half the comments seem to be, “John, that’s all really funny, thanks.”
The other half seem to be, “Shit, this is all going to come true, isn’t it?”
LikeLike
It’s all plausible. Or feasible, as Mike Read would say.
LikeLike
Happy New Year everyone! Here’s hoping for a better one.
LikeLike
Happy New Year, all!
Crace’s predictions are already coming true: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/dec/31/chris-whitty-knighted-as-covid-experts-feted-in-new-year-honours-list
LikeLike
I so hope that 2022 is better for everyone.
Crace is very good and, even though he is mainly a satirist his views and forecasts are worryingly accurate – I think he gets stressed by that too.
He is a hero for me…………….. matched only by the wonderful Marina….
LikeLike
Agree! They were both wrong about Corbyn though. :-p
LikeLike
Jeez , Jezza jinxes January jottings.
Happy new year everyone.
LikeLike
Brookters Blue Boks batter wayward Wasps.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hoggy bounce allows Exeter in for their first try. Good move all round.
LikeLike
SBT, I believe a couple of the Blue Boks are moving back down here? Du Preez brothers I think.
LikeLike