First a nod to the retirees. *Nods*
Tonight we have the Little Cup Final, Glasgow v Toulon. The French side are half-way down their league table while Glaes are fourth in the URC, and have home advantage … but I think it will be a close-fought affair all the same. The Home of the Big Yin by 4.
Then tomorrow there’s the Big Cup Gladitorialism of Leinster v La Rochelle. Ronan O’Gara will be rubbing his hands at the prospect, especially after his club side beat the Blue Meanies last weekend in the URC semi-final. But Leinster have made 12 changes to the B-team they put out last week – mostly to concentrate on this Cup, one assumes. BUT Sexton is still injured, which could be a big factor; one of they Byrne brothers is in instead.
It’s a tough one to call too, but I think home advantage will tell again. The Home of Leopold Bloom by 5.
Onna telly this weekend
Friday 19th May
| Glasgow v Toulon | 20:00 | BT Sport 1 |
Saturday 20th May
| Leinster v La Rochelle | 16:45 | ITV1 / STV / BT Sport 2 |
Ovally Balls 
The match ends with a NZ penalty – Aus crossing. Mo’unga puts it out for the win.
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38-7, Aussies made them work hard, but it was easy in the end.
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Windy & drizzly at Murrayfield. Are we in for a game of rucksy-dropsy?
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‘Swet at Murrayfield.
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That seagull must not be okay!
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That seagull got itself into some decent positions there, and is now doing a lap of honour.
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TRY Graham!
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Italy go in ahead at HT with a last-second penalty: 5-6. They have looked more organised, but Scotland more creative. Both sides lacking in match-fitness, not surprisingly.
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Well done to Scotland! Close, but the last-minute try makes it look quite convincing.
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Bugger, missed the first half of SA/Arg. SA leading 15-9.
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Argentina score in the 82rd minute, brining the final score to within 1 point. SA nowhere near as dominant as they would want to be, ARG had most of the play in the second half.
Final score 22-21.
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Carreras missed 4 kicks to, most of which he would usually get. Quite a step up defensively for the Poomas.
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Was in Durban for a 50th, so we were watching, drinking, braaiing and partying all at the same time. It wasn’t a great performance by the Boks and Argentina will feel they let one get away there with the missed kicks. Can’t decide if Rassie and Nienaber are playing possum, or if the Boks are not actually as good, with as much depth, as we were led to believe. Some players have struggled this year in the national jersey, notably Lood de Jager, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Lukanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi and Jasper Wiese.
De Allende continues to underwhelm, meaning those outside him aren’t getting much decent ball, Damian Willemse is emphatically not a 10, whilst Faf, I’m afraid, should be our number 3 choice SH in France, with his insistence on box kicking when we’re on the attack in the opposition half – sometimes closer to the 22 than half way!
Positives, have been Kitshoff and Marx in the front row (Malherbe is a great scrummager, but doesn’t offer much outside of that), Etzebeth and Snyman in the second row, Vermeulen at 8, with PSDT seemingly gradually getting back some form, with the openside jersey up for grabs – Siya Kolisi obviously, if he is fit the WC, otherwise none of Marco van Staden (supreme against Australia, not dominant against the Pumas), Kwagga Smith nor Deon Fourie has really grabbed the jersey with much conviction.
Grant Williams was hugely unlucky to get ironed out after 30 seconds (I see they’re citing the Argentine player for his ‘CJ Stander’ charge-down), but at 9 we’ve got good cover. 10 is still a question mark – will Pollard be fit, and if so, will anyone outside of 10 get the ball, other than through a kick-chase? Libbock would be my choice, with Arendse at 11, Grant Esterhuizen at 12, Am at 13, Kolbe at 145 and Willie le Roux at 15. It’ll probably be Faf, Pollard, de Allende from 9-12 against Scotland, so I won’t bother speculating on those outside of them!
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Deebee, wouldn’t worry too much, Argentina can beat anyone on a good day, and they were impressive at the weekend. Your defence held really well under huge pressure, as did theirs tbh.
Faf does appear out of sorts, but if the plan is to kick……
Is Grant Andre’s brother ? and is 145 a squad number or a new position? Hangover ?
Have a suspicion that this may be a cup for upsets, Poomas look like a serious contender for a semis berth, and Fiji have a fair chance of going thru at the expense of Wales or Australia on the latter two teams recent form.
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Is Grant Andre’s brother ?
I’m under oath to say nothing on these issues.
and is 145 a squad number or a new position?
Consults copy of Kama Sutra…… squad number, I think, although a page appears to have been torn out.
Hangover ?
Oh. I think you may have outed me there.
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SBT, this could well be The Upset Cup™, with one side of the draw stacked with the higher ranked teams and the other side, er, not. Two of Scotland, Ireland, SA, NZ, France and Italy won’t get out of their groups, with another two culled in the QFs. The only massive upset on that side of the draw would be if Tonga somehow managed wins over two of the Bks, Scotland and Ireland to progress. Can’t see it, but that would be massive. Tonga probably play the role of wrecking ball for one of the top three. Can’t see Italy troubling either France or NZ too much, so no shocks there.
However, there are potentially a couple of banana skins in the pools on the other side – Wales won’t fancy Georgia and nobody will fancy Fiji, if they click. Australia surely can’t be as shit as they’ve been in the RC, can they? Yes, they can, especially with an already cigarette-paper thin front row losing Allan Alaalatoa this weekend, by the looks of it. Another mangling awaits next weekend and their stocks are already depleted. Could Georgia do a repeat of stifling them like they did Wales in November? That would be massive!
England, Japan and Argentina – England coming off a lousy 2022, and not really seeming to have much to stem the decline, but Japan haven’t reached the heights of Tokyo 2019 again, so might struggle to get anywhere, whilst Argentina have blown hot and cold – beat England in November, got stuffed by the Kiwis last month, beat a sorry Australia and then should probably have snuck it at Ellis Park this weekend.
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This is a lot of fun
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If your club ever plays vs La Rochelle and you should get tickets, do not miss the opportunity: 99.5% of La Rochelle fans have renewed their season ticket, 7200 people are on the waiting list and the stadium has been fully booked 80 times in a row.
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Flair, Finn Russell on the prospect of the RWC In France
“I think in France, the following they get for rugby, it’s one of the best countries in the world I’d say for that and potentially for the World Cup it’ll be even more. I did the 2015 and 2019 World Cups but I think this is going to be the best one for us as players with the atmosphere that’s going to be there, the hype around it, and for myself it’s just trying to perform as well as I can.
“I know what the build-up to big games in France and the environment can be like, and obviously so will Richie Gray, so hopefully I’ll be able to chat to the boys and let them know what it’ll be like because it won’t be like Japan or London, it’ll be different to that every game.
“The opening game against South Africa in Marseille, I think that’ll be a massive game, I’ve never played at that stadium but I’ve heard it’s amazing. I’m looking forward to it, it’s the biggest stage in front of a country that really loves rugby so it’ll be great fun.”
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New look Wales for Saturday.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-name-new-look-team-27440353
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No Jamie Ritchie, he just be carrying a knock
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Is that the full first team Ticht ? Looks like it.
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It’s close SBT.
Jamie Ritchie has picked up a niggle, otherwise he’d start at 6, with Fagerson Jnr moving to the bench.
George Turner is our first choice hooker.
Hamish Watson and Rory Darge will have a shoot out for the 7 shirt over the next few weeks.
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On the other hand France will most probably field a B team.I’ll give you an update asap.
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This is the team Midi Olympique think will start.
They are usually reliable.
XV de départ probable : 15. Dulin ; 14. Bielle-Biarrey, 13. Gailleton, 12. Moefana, 11. Dumortier ; 10. Jalibert, 9. Couilloud ; 6. Macalou, 8. Tanga, 7. Boudehent ; 5. Chalureau, 4. Woki ; 3. Bamba, 2. Bourgarit, 1. Gros.
Both Bielle-Biarrey and Gailleton should’ve been with the U20s but GalthiĂ© highly rate them. No more than 4 or 5 of these players should appear at the WC. And barring a disaster, all from the bench.
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Forgot the bench:
Remplaçants : Mauvaka, Wardi, Falatea, Willemse, Cretin, Serin, Hastoy, Vincent.
Most of these, except Cretin and Hastoy, will be at the WC.
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Ticht, I think Finn nails it. There is of course a FLF as anyone who’s read the comments BTL in l’Equipe knows, but generally the French, specially in the South know and love their rugby. I was at a few games in 2007 (SA vs Tonga or was it Samoa?, Ireland vs Argentina etc) at the wonderful Parc des Princes and the atmosphere was unbelievable. I was at the Stade de France several times (Fr vs Wales, SA, Australia, even the ABs) and it will never be as good as the PdP. But Marseille, Bordeaux or even Lille could provide great entertainment.
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Flair – the only match I’ve been to in France was Clermont v Ulster, and it was a wonderful experience, although the atmosphere in the Stade Marcel Michelin was incredibly hostile for the away team! I don’t mean that anyone was rude or unwelcoming – quite the opposite – but it is a cauldron for sure. The drums! I expected a Balrog at any second.
After a terrific reverse fixture at Ravenhill the previous week, which Ulster narrowly won, we got slaughtered.
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Thaum, not a great fan of Tolkien here, so had to look up Balrog.
Glad you enjoyed Clermont despite the slaughtering.
Problem with the WC is the games will be played in the biggest venues. So not in Toulouse, not LaR, not Bayonne, not Toulon, not the PdP nor the traditionnal Bordeaux stadium etc but big anonymous places. Except in Marseille, I don’t expect atmosphere such as in LaR or Clermont.
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Saw this one live in 2007. Recall quite an atmosphere in the stadium in Nantes. Mind you, I think the roar from the English fans was more relief then pure exuberance.
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Have mentioned this before, but it is worth mentioning again, for me at least. I saw that game on the way south, and was hoping to pick up more tickets, but funds were limited, so I stayed with some friends in Armangac for the group rounds, and toured local bars and PMU’s ( ?) watching games with a coffee and a vintage local brandy. Anywhere that had a telly had games on, and always an enthusiastic and knowledgeable clientele, and I could not think of a better way to watch a rugby world cup. Outings every day to discover new towns and new roads, even watched one game in a little cafe in Lourdes, followed by a trip to the cathedral, and an attempt to head over into Spain, which ended up with me turning round on a mountain road a few miles from the border as my venerable Moto Guzzi didn’t appreciate 4 inches of snow . warmed myself up with another brandy and another game in Tarbes on the way back. Favourite bars were in Manciet , Nogaro and Barbotan- les Thermes. Also one of my favourite motorcycling stories, when I headed to Toulouse to try and score a ticket , gave up and headed into the town centre, I couldn’t find anywhere to park, so asked a motorcycle gendarme in front of the Cathedral where there was any motorcycle parking. He said that as I was on a motorcycle, I should just pull onto the main square right out front of the cathedral, as it was the safest place, and we had a chat about bikes and rugby. English cop would have probably told me to fuck off to out of town parking like everyone else.
If I can magic up a couple of grand in the next month, I would do exactly the same again.
The only downside of the trip was on the way home, I was out of money, and watched the semi in St.Malo the night before catching a ferry. The feeling of deflation amongst the French in the bar was rather sad, as such superb hosts they deserved a better outcome. I hope they go all the way this time, but with the caveat that I would be happy for them to lose to England in the final :)
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SBT – the Salvation Jane in Clermont is a great place to watch a rugby match!
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England XV vs Wales :-
Backs Freddie Steward, Max Malins, Joe Marchant, Guy Porter, Joe Cokanasiga, Marcus Smith, Danny Care
Forwards Ellis Genge (captain), Jamie Blamire, Will Stuart, David Ribbans, George Martin, Lewis Ludlam, Tom Pearson, Alex Dombrandt
Replacements Theo Dan, Bevan Rodd, Kyle Sinckler, Jonny Hill, Tom Willis, Jack van Poortvliet, George Ford, Henry Slade
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Woe betide Italy!
FIVE Ulstermen starting and one on the bench – and an Ulsterman captaining!
Line-up
Ireland: O’Brien; Earls, Henshaw, McCloskey, Stockdale; Crowley, Casey; Kilcoyne, Herring, O’Toole; Henderson (capt), McCarthy; Baird, Doris, Conan.
Replacements: Stewart, Healy, Furlong, Beirne, Prendergast, Blade, Frawley, Nash.
Italy: Allan; Odogwu, Brez, Menoncello, Ioane; Garbisi, Varney; Fischetti, Nicotera, Riccioni; Lamb, Ruzza (capt); Negri, Zuliani, Halafihi.
Replacements: Bigi, Buonfiglio, Ferrari, Cannone, Lamaro, Cannone, Fusco, Pani.
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Great story SBT, I hope you find the necssary funds to do it all over again.
Lourdes and Tarbes used to be as sucessful as LaR and Toulouse now. Such small towns can hardly afford teams in the third division now.
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As predicted by Midol, Frznce fir Scotland:
Le XV de départ des Bleus : 15. Dulin (cap.) ; 14. Bielle-Biarrey, 13. Gailleton, 12. Moefana, 11. Dumortier ; 10. Jalibert, 9. Couilloud ; 7. Macalou, 8. Tanga, 6. Boudehent; 5. Chalureau, 4. Woki ; 3. Bamba, 2. Bourgarit, 1. Gros.
Remplaçants : 16. Mauvaka, 17. Wardi, 18. Falatea, 19. Willemse, 20. Cretin, 21. Serin, 22. Hastoy, 23. Vincent.
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‘Midol’ is the brand name of a period pain medication in the US. :-)
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Good question, Squidge.
No.
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Got your underdogging in early there BB. Surely with the South African 10 issue, the Ireland half baked , half broken Sexton, and Monsieur Le Genie at the helm, you have some small hope of a quarter final ?
Got a “second ” team lined up ?
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“That’s what the world is, after all: an endless battle of contrasting memories.” – Haruki Murakami
Which is why EVIDENCE is sometimes needed. In case anyone tries to historical revisionism on the last World Cup:
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Surely with the South African 10 issue
9, 10, 12, style and approach, best starters versus bomb squad impact, loss of form from key players, Rassie doing the book circuit rather than rugby, Nienaber already with one foot in Ireland, Kolisi and Pollard still not fit – I’m not sure we should even bother getting on the plane!
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Link wouldn’t work, Deebee. What was it ?
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It’s a glorious exhibition of power rugby, culminating in Owen Farrell doing his best impression of a turnstile.
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SBT, the link does work. But you don’t want to know.
Thaum, if the Midi Olympique lunatic fringe knew! I don’t comment BTL there, but for once I wish I did.
BTW, about the result of next Scotland/France, GalthiĂ© said verbatim: it’s not the subject. Translation: I’m putting together a team entirely made up of fringe players, those who will survive have an outside chance of making the 33 list.
He also clearly indicated that the ” premium” players wouldn’t play the second leg either. They won’t be involved before the last two warm up games vs Fiji and Australia. It makes sense.
Aggregate score: Scotland by 40.
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Deebs, highlights of the England New Zealand semi final then ? Owen always does his turnstile defence, its all part of the cunning plan.
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Flair, sounds like France may go into their crunch match against New Zealand badly undercooked! Scotland will also go into the World Cup with waaaaay too much confidence have duffed the Mighty France twice! The omens are looking good!
SBT – did New Zealand make it to the semi? I wasn’t aware.
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Deeb, it isn’t the most important game but FWIW I think France will beat the ABs in the opening game. The ABs are better than a year ago but this summer they only faced weak opposition.
It’s the QF game vs either SA ( my bet) Ireland or possibly Scotland that is primordial. Then it’s weak oppo again before the final, vs the ABs probably. Revenge is best served cold .
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New post on its way.
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New post is here.
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