It’s the play-offs for both the URC and the English Premiership. As Ulster v Munster kicks off shortly, I shan’t waste any more time.
Onna telly this week
Friday 3rd June
| Ulster v Munster | 19:35 | TG4 / Premier Sports 2 |
Saturday 4th June
| Bulls v Sharks | 12:45 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Gloucester v Saracens | 15:00 | BT Sport 3 |
| Northampton v Newcastle | 15:00 | BT Sport 1 |
| Leinster v Glasgow | 15:15 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Stormers v Edinburgh | 18:00 | TG4 / Premier Sports 2 |
Ovally Balls 
Starmer can fuck right off, though:
He’s done more to split Labour than any leader probably ever.
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And what’s his fucking plan, anyway? He’s not said.
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thaum, he’s promised he’s going to write a book setting out his vision for Britain. He produced that 12,000-word essay last year that no one read.
Fun fact: When they were building the M6 toll road about twenty years ago they used pulped books in the top layer of the road. Apparently, it “helps hold the Tarmac and asphalt in place (and) also acts as a sound absorber”.
So some good’ll come out of Starmer’s screed.
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As a consequence of the Jubilee The Youngest was given a book today at school about some royalist god-fearing pandas. It’s very thin so not that much use for road building on its own, but I suspect quite a lot of them may be in existence.
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I think you’ve won the Bojo caption competition already, Slade!
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In two minds about whether to raise the issue of dubious panda-based propaganda being dished out with the school. Not sure what the rules are with them being CofE and her queenage having her role in that so the line between political and religious bilge is slightly blurred I suppose. Turns out it had been in The Little One’s bag over half term. Might just ask the Reception teacher if she considered smuggling them out herself to burn in her back garden as I get on reasonably well with her.
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Jimmy Seals RIP
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South African squad for the under 20 tournament later this month:
Props: Lamla Nunu (WP), Corne Lavagna (Bulls), Juann Else (Bulls), Corne Weilbach (WP), Sebastian Lombard (Bulls), Sivu Mabece (Bulls).
Hookers: Lukhanyo Vokozela (WP), Tiaan Lange (Bulls).
Locks: Reinhardt Ludwig (Bulls), Corne Rahl (Sharks), Connor Evans (WP), Merwe Olivier (Bulls).
Loose forwards: Ruan Venter (Lions), Cameron Hanekom (Bulls), Siya Ningiza (Sharks), Gcino Mdletshe (Bulls), Paul de Villiers (WP), Louw Nel (WP).
Scrumhalves: Nico Steyn (Lions), Neil le Roux (Bulls), Imad Khan (WP).
Flyhalves: Sacha Mngomezulu (WP), Compion von Ludwig (Bulls).
Centres: Carlton Banies (Bulls), Suleiman Hartzenberg (WP), Ethan James (WP).
Outside backs: Donovan Don (Griffons), Katlego Letebele (Bulls), Duran Koevort (WP), Canan Moodie (Bulls)
Some very decent players in there with URC experience – Moodie, Mngomezulu (who came on and did well v Edinburgh on the weekend), Ruan Venter and Reinhardt Ludwig. Hartzenberg was brilliant in the Varsity Cup. Khan and Hartzenberg were 9,10 and 13 for Bishops in Cape Town last year, Evans and Mngomezule 7 and 10 in 2019 and, briefly, 2020.
Nice stories about Nunu and Vokozela. They’re from the Cape Flats, a brutally disadvantaged area, and were introduced to rugby at the Connect Academy, which does great work getting kids into the game and then finding places for some at the smart Cape Town Southern Suburbs schools.
de Villiers and le Roux I saw last year playing for Oakdale (CJ Stander’s old school) against Affies of Pretoria. Both excellent, played pro rugby at schoolboy level.
Trouble, of course, is they haven’t played together before so have a lot to work on as they play England, Ireland and France, who all may have settled squads after the 6 Nations
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Anyone know which channel the Babas England game is on ?
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It’s the State of Origin this morning, SBT…..you might want to watch it
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Will be watching a replay later, OT, altho probably more interested in the Raiders game at the weekend.
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It’s New South Wales and Queensland in the final again
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Lost a bit of pizzazz since they banned punching, imho. NSW, if your asking. Katoni Staggs looks like one of the form players of the season tho, and Munster and Cobbo have been on fire too. Marones have a better looking pack as well. Tempting to watch replay now, work to do tho.
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No Hogg, no Russell…………………………no naughty boys on tour.*
*resting them is sensible ‘tho.
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Folded and watched extended highlights. Staggs injured, Munster on fire. Boooo.
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Hastings at 10 and Jones at 15 for the Tests (I would hope).
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Went and fetched my emergency passport at the UK High Commission in Pretoria today. Long story. Short version is my UK passport had expired and they won’t give me a visa on my SA one because I’m a British citizen. Emergency doc it is then. Got there and as I entered British territory I could only think of Cat as I hummed Jerusalem with a manic fervour! I’ll be in London in 72 hours! Lock up your beer stocks!
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@deebee
https://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/london/thedogandducksoholondon#/
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Learnt today about the town of Almunecar near Granada.
The town’s coat of arms doesn’t mess around:
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Also, there was a Phoenician city on the site that was eventually taken over by the Romans. The Phoenician settlement’s name was taken over by the Romans and so the place was known as Sexi until the Muslims invaded in the 8th Century and gave it an Arabic name.
The people are still known as Sexitanos.
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Dusts off Deebee hunting gear…
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Bokguns on stun….
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Dusts off Deebee hunting gear…
Entrapment best ensured by a delicately roasted game bird and the loud pop of a champagne cork.
Bokguns on stun….
The classic lure ’em with booze tactic I see. Works for me!
At the airport, boarding in an hour or so, sipping (glugging, actually) wine before the journey begins.
At the check in with my emergency travel document:
Lady looks with suspicion at the crappy little thing: “Where’s your current passport?”
Me: “In Durham”
Her: “What’s it doing there?”
Me: “Evidence in my application for a new one.”
Her, eyes narrowing with deepening suspicion, being confronted by an unshaven bloke in tatty jeans and a jacket: “Lower your mask.”
Me, half panicked, half flirting (in my case interchangeable): “Sorry the picture doesn’t have a smiley face.”
Her: “Looks better that way. Enjoy your flight.”
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He may be an evil bond villain (but a mere pussycat compared to Deebee) but I cannot stress how much I approve of this:
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Just to clarify, George Galloway is too stupid to be a Bond villain.
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Deebs – I think you may have covered this, but if you do have a free evening or afternoon in or around London, I could be persuaded to buy you a RWC19 victory and RWC23 commiserations pint.
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It DeeBee has any sense he’ll take a trip up the District Line to Upminster Park to watch South African cricket at its finest
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I have a superstitious dread of putting a new post up.
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I’ve been reading about a young man called Caleb Abrahams, a scrum half for Grey College in South Africa.
He was described as being a cross between Joost and Ruan, which is quite something to live up to.
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@TomP – I think that’s the first one of these sort of things that I can’t say I’ve been involved in anything to compare (if only with my presence). A two in similar circumstances without a doubt, but not a three.
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I haven’t been reading about South African scrum halves, I’ve been listening to an old Glaswegian plumber telling me all about his working life while he sorted out the boiler in my brother-in-law’s old flat. Given that I’m also half-deaf at the moment I might as well have been listening to that commentator.
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ticht, that comparison’s a bit over the top and doesn’t do him any favours. He’s a good player and has had two and a half top performances in the games I’ve seen in the last few weeks – second half against Paarl Boys, superb against both Affies and Monnas. The Grey winger Alphonso Isaacs is a very very big talent as well.
There’s a kid called Liedeman at Paarl Gim who plays a similar game to him and outplayed him when the two met last month. Abrahams took too much on himself in that game, but the outside half wasn’t too good that day and Paarl Gim played great.
Muller, the Stellenberg half back, is good. There’s a lad called Stephen Nel in Pretoria who I like and the Affies scrum half is decent – but they’re behind the other 2 I’d say.
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Niel de Kock, who’s at the Bulls and is in the SA Under 20 squad, is a fantastic half back. He’s got the current pros and the excellent Bernard van der Linde ahead of him but is definitely one to watch out for.
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Neil le Roux. Niel de Kock’s the one who played at Sarries.
Here’s Grey v Affies from a fortnight ago. A terrific match:
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Bulls leading the Blue Meanies at the RDS 7 – 10!
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Commentator: Crowd don’t like it
My ‘brain’:
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Ulsterman scores!
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Well, the take away from the last couple of weeks is that you can beat Leinster, but you. have to be feckin huge to do it
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They’re catching up again though!
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Does anyone know what the repercussions are for the outcome of this match, ie where the final will be played?
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Thaum, I thought the final is to be held in Dublin, whoever is playing, as a result of Leinster topping the log.
I’m open to correction of course
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Not at Loftus, thaum. Should be at the home of the highest-ranked team.
Good 1st half. Bulls are playing well, though getting beaten at scrum time. It’d be good to see Arendse, Tambwe and Moodie running but it’s very damp and greasy here. Elrigh Louw has been fearsome, although couldn’t hold Henshaw out. Leinster look very capable of making lots of metres quickly, but the Bulls have defended quite well.
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In fact the URC have said the final will be played at the home of the highest ranked team, so I guess that would mean Stormers would play Bulls in Cape Town if they got to the final, but Ulster would play them in Belfast.
Maybe.
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Bulls are getting shafted in the scrum, Porter’s elbow is hitting the deck at every scrum but it’s being ignored
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Great win for the Bulls. The defence was superb and they played smart rugby. Leinster really attacked hard once Sexton came on but they were held out for long enough. The back row were top class for the Bulls but the whole pack did a terrific job.
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Well done, Bulls, that is a big result
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Well well well, Bulls win.
*crosses fingers for Ulster tomorrow*
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