This week has seen the shocking death of a national icon, and our heartfelt condolences go out to family, friends, former sparring partners, and the general public who will miss one of those who best understood the subtle nuances of international debate, and who intoned those nuances in the most mellifluous of voices.
Eddie Butler – we raise a glass to ye. You entertained us and, most importantly, you told us what was going on with the minimum of bias.
For anyone who’d like a trip down memory lane with FakeEddie, feast on this.
But Eddie would not want us to forget about the rugby that’s on this weekend. (It’s always convenient to assign our own wishes to the departed, but I suspect this is actually true.)
Deebee7 is really excited about the URC kicking off, although he’s picked some strange teams to obsess about. Me, I’m looking forward to Cardiff v Munster (although I bet the mister isn’t) and Ulster v Connacht (often our Nemesis – hopefully not this time).
Meanwhile, most of the English Premiership matches aren’t on normal channels again, although you can watch Evil Quins v Evil Sarries if you subscribe to BT Sport, or Bankrupts v Exeter on Sunday.
There is also some Rugby Championship and Top14 action.
Onna telly this week
Friday 16th September
| Treviso 33 – 11 Glasgow | 17:30 | Premier Sports 1 |
Saturday 17th September
| Zebre v Leinster | 13:00 | RTÉ2 / Premier Sports 1 |
| Harlequins v Saracens | 15:00 | BT Sport 3 |
| Cardiff v Munster | 15;05 | BBC2 Wales / RTÉ2 / Premier Sports 1 |
| Lions v Bulls | 15:05 | FreeSports |
| Scarlets v Ospreys | 17:15 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Ulster v Connacht | 19:35 | BBC2 NI / TG4 / Premier Sports 1 |
| Edinburgh v Dragons | 19:35 | S4C / Premier Sports 2 |
| Argentina v South Africa | 20:10 | Sky Sports Main Event |
Sunday 18th September
| Worcester v Exeter | 15:00 | BT Sport 1 |
| Toulon v Clermont | 20:05 | Premier Sports 1 |
Ovally Balls 
This is really a very entertaining match. Both sides playing good rugby.
LikeLike
“Forget about a game of two halves: that was a half of three thirds.” True!
LikeLike
Intercept & try by Scarlets 4 just after the start!
LikeLike
And the 4 – whose name I can’t spell – immediately does a high tackle on Lowry and gives Ulster a kickable pen, which Cooney converts to restore the lead to 10 points.
LikeLike
Erm, 9.
LikeLike
TRY Burns!
LikeLike
Cooney converts: 22-38.
Apparently the Ulster shirt is supposed to be Slieve Donard.
LikeLike
Scarlets win a penalty, go for the corner and maul over the line.
LikeLike
15-14 to Bulls at half time.
Embra were 15 nil down and coughing up penalties every two minutes at one point, but we eventually got into the game and scored two nice tries.
LikeLike
Cooney gets a somewhat controversial try after Burns appeared to miss touch, but the ref over-ruled the line judge.
LikeLike
And now the Scarlets maul over again!
LikeLike
Scarlets win a pen in the middle of the pitch, go for the posts, and Ulster’s lead is reduced to 6 points.
LikeLike
Now Ulster win a penalty from a similar position (just within the half, off to the side) and opt for the posts. Cooney misses!
LikeLike
Now he’s kicked it out on the full!
LikeLike
Darcy Graham gets a hat trick 25-24 to Bulls
LikeLike
Yellow for the Scarlets’ 4 try to reproduce his intercept, but just knocking on.
LikeLike
Cooney makes no mistake this time with the pen (same position, other side) and the lead is back to 9 points.
LikeLike
TRY – Tom O’Toole!
LikeLike
FT: 39-55. Cracker of a match.
LikeLike
Immelman sends a 53m penalty wide on 82 minutes. Steyn had scored a similar one only minutes earlier.
Bulls win 33-31
LikeLike
Oh I forgot. Super League Grand Final kicks off at 6pm.
Just in case you need an excuse not to watch Strictly.
LikeLike
I never need an excuse not to watch Strictly.
LikeLike
…. what’s ‘Strictly’?
LikeLike
Some awful headache-inducing thing with shrieking and flashing lights and sequins.
LikeLike
yuk!
LikeLike
Still, here, still watching rugby
Nice try from Os v DeeBee’s Lions
LikeLike
Watching the snooker mixed doubles.
LikeLike
@slade
LikeLike
Gone over to Toulouse v Racing
LikeLike
Some awful headache-inducing thing with shrieking and flashing lights and sequins.
150 years of Embra celebration?
LikeLike
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s getting really lazy. He doesn’t feel like walking around the table, so he just brings the cue-ball back to where he’s standing.
LikeLike
Just got home. Never really thought the Boks would put 40+ on Argentina, so not overly upset.* That said, our dominance in the first 30 was wasted by trying to smash our way over when it patently wasn’t working. As much as our pack is damned good, it’s too predictable, especially when you have such excellent outside backs. Keep hoping we’ll get the balance right, keep getting disappointed and frustrated.
* FUCK!
LikeLike
Kiwis deserved the trophy because they got the points – having been savaged all year as being useless, they still won the bloody thing. Congrats to them! And their fans!
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Some awful headache-inducing thing with shrieking and flashing lights and sequins.
150 years of Embra celebration?”
This is Edinburgh we are talking about, anything more than an exchange of caramels and a wee dram of single malt is counted as being gauche self-aggrandisement.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Posted this elsewhere but thought it might go here too, what with this being a sport blog (cue argument about whether snooker is a sport…):
This mixed doubles snooker is quite fascinating, and not really because of the snooker. It seems to be the first time they’ve done it, and it seems that they’ve paired the men’s no. 1 with the women’s no. 1 etc. Am getting the distinct impression that not all of the men – including the commentators – are entirely on board with the whole tournament.
First match this evening had Ronnie O’Sullivan and Reanne Evans (the no 1s, but who had lost a previous match) against Neil Robertson (an Aussie) and Nutcharut Mink (also losers in the previous round).
First thing was the patronising commentary from Ken Doherty referring to ‘the ladies’ as if it were a hundred years ago and they were about to retire, or should be about to retire and leave the men to smoke cigars and drink brandy, possibly with Thérèse Coffey. Then there was the interaction between the players. Ronnie and Reanne lost the first frame of the best-of-four, but were talking and trading laughs. Robertson wouldn’t even bloody look at his partner. Looked like a shotgun marriage. They lost. Ha.
In the second match, Mark Selby is paired with Rebecca Kenna, which is unfortunate for him as Judd Trump’s partner, Ng On Yee, is a better player, as he has gracefully acknowledged by saluting her snookers as he comes to the table. Trump (no relation as far as I know) looks his usual sulky and self-centred self. The good’uns are winning this too. Wonder why? (I mean, if you give your partner no respect or encouragement….)
The winners of this tournament get £30K each, split evenly. That’s pretty much chicken feed for the men, but On Yee got £5K for winning the top women’s tournament last time.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Looks like Darge is out for a considerable time – will miss at least the Autumn Internationals.
Bugger.
LikeLike
I expect you are all excited tobe able to watch Exeter/Harlequins this afternoon. No?
It is usually a high-scoring and even match
Exeter’s line-up:
J. Simmonds, Nowell, Slade, Whitten, Woodburn
Skinner, Townsend
Hepburn, LC-D, Williams
van Heerden, Gray
Ewers, Tschiunza, Capstick
Yeandle, Kenny, Schickerling, Jenkins,S. Simmonds, O’Loughlin, Hogg
First run-outs for Slade, LC-D, Williams, S. Simmonds, Hogg after operations/ injuries
Wales’ young finest in Tschiunza and Jenkins
Only Vermeulen missing now,I think.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Exeter try after 3 minutes, so quick start, Slade. Was going to ask where Hoggy was, but see he’s among the subs.
LikeLike
p.s. I thought Jordy Barrett was very good at 12 yesterday.
LikeLike
This photo is bonkers
LikeLike
Thought it was an updated version of the Band On The Run cover….
LikeLiked by 2 people
Exeter stayed in the changing rooms at half time. Leading 31-7, now 31-35 and still 20 minues left.
Oh, and Hoggy, get a bloody haircut.
LikeLike
I like the Exeter 7
LikeLike
Christ Tshiunza
LikeLike
This game…
LikeLike
80 points so far in this game. Sag would have loved it….
LikeLike
Er…what? How did Exeter just win that?
LikeLike
I thought the pass from Hoggy was forward, but that was some great Sunday afternoon entertainment
LikeLike
Particularly as they were on their own line on the 80 minute mark. They’ll never go the full distance, I thought. A couple of good breaks, a slightly dodgy pass from Hogg (although it wasn’t obviously forward) and a brilliant finish from young Tschiunza in the corner. He looks a proper player this lad.
LikeLike
Wait. Dragons beat Munster?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Dean Ryan leaves Dragons.
Coincidence?
LikeLike