Grumpy? Moi? Well, perhaps still a little hung over after the agony of Ireland going out in the quarter-finals once again. Even if it’s what I expected ever since I first beheld The Draw From Hell, supposing we even made it out of the pool stage. Perhaps World Rugby, who surely can no longer be called Dublin-based, have learnt their lesson and will make the next draw within a millenium of the actual fucking tournament.
Still, there were some cracking matches last weekend, even if all the results were wrong (in my very humble opinion, of course). It’s safe to say that there is not much doubt about this weekend’s results. But who knows? Maybe we’ll get a big surprise and Argentina, despite their relatively poor form, will beat the All Blacks.
We’ve also got English Premiership matches, and the URC kicks off this weekend.
Onna telly this week
Showing matches that are televised in the UK and Ireland or on popular subscription services. Bold indicates free-to-view.
Friday 20th October
| Argentina v New Zealand | 20:00 | ITV1 / STV / S4C / iPlayer |
Saturday 21st October
| Zebre v Ulster | 13:00 | Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Connacht v Ospreys | 15:00 | S4C / iPlayer / TG4 / Viaplay Sports 2 |
| Lions v Stormers | 15:05 | Viaplay Xtra |
| Dragons v Edinburgh | 15:05 | Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Leicester v Sale | 15:05 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Cardiff v Treviso | 17:15 | S4C / iPlayer / Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Munster v Sharks | 17:15 | TG4 / Viaplay Xtra |
| England v South Africa | 20:00 | ITV1 / STV |
Sunday 22nd October
| Bulls v Scarlets | 14:00 | BBC1 Wales / Viaplay Sports 2 |
| Harlequins v Exeter | 15:00 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Glasgow v Leinster | 16:00 | RTÉ2 / Viaplay Sports 1 |
Ovally Balls 
Or maybe not, CMW,
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That was just ridiculous from Jordan.
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That was just quite a lovely try.
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Jeez, England are going to have to watch out for Will Jordan in the final.
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Jordan really just reminds me of Bin Smuth. So unfussy as as player and just very, very good at what he does.
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Looked like a forward pass to put him away, not that it makes much difference. Agree with SBT that Argentina got nothing at all from the ref while it still mattered/’mattered’.
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CMW – was looking up your record defeats stat in a WC semi-final (and didn’t find it), but did find this: A foreign coach has never managed a World Cup-winning team.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Records_and_statistics_of_the_Rugby_World_Cup
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Wouldn’t be surprised if England are in second place on the list prior to tonight from 1995 (I know they got some consolation tries in the second half, but don’t think that many semi-finals have been one-sided).
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CMW – found it! 49-6 in 1987. So no, Argentina have not stolen your thunder.
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DMac just headbutted Matteo Carreras there, totally upright. Nothing in it, play on says ref.
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I don’t think tomorrow’s match will be quite so one-sided.
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Turns out Argentina were already second from 2007 against SA. I remember nothing at all about it, but the Boks seem to have scored some tries, no doubt proving that that World Cup wasn’t shit or something.
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Also, having watched a fair bit of Santi in Glaws jersey, he really doesnt convince yet at 10. Would have kept Sanchez there for this world cup if it was me.
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Anyways, well played AB’s, they look sharp. Only possible half weak link I can see is Scott Barrett doing something daft, he does seem to be unable to help himself, whether its his wreckless charges into rucks formerly, or his attempts at sneaky ruck play. Lucky not to get penalised a few times , and eventually yellow carded for it.
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@Thaum – We know how to do these things properly and got one of ours sent off when we were getting stuffed instead of one of theirs (should have been as well as one of theirs).
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I’ve had an answer from my Argentine mate about the gender question.
It’s just an exception. If they were women it would be las pumas.
I find it very unsatisfying.
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Although I suppose that means that the women’s team would be Las Pumas?
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Greta back in my good books.
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“I’ve had an answer from my Argentine mate about the gender question.”
Thank heavens for that. Better send it to Keir Starmer so he knows what to say next time he’s put on the spot.
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Tim – I can’t believe* people accused her of AS, for having a toy octopus in her photo.
(Ignore the dipshit editor of the JC, whose tweet this is)
*I totally can
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@Refit – Can you explain the octopus thing, it’s entirely lost on me (I can’t read comments on Twitterx any more as I’m not signed up to it so just get the original post).
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CMW – it’s an AS trope. The evil octopus with its tentacles controlling events around the world
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Apparently, the Kraken is/was a nazi symbol for the international jewish banking cabal, or something, and while Greta claims she thought that it was a small stuffed blue cartoon octopus, which autistic people use to help with emotions, it has become obvious that she is in fact a neo-nazi sympathizer, and as such, has been cancelled by the labor party. Or something.
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Also, I’ve got a couple of sign-up codes for Bluesky, if anyone wants them. It’s like the old Twitter. It’s actually a fun place to be.
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Ah, that really clears it up then. Thanks Refit. So, she might not be anti-semetic, but pro Tsarist ? and hence anti-communist ( or at least anti-stalinist ). So theoretically anti communist, and therefore by default a fascist ? Or something. Think I’ll stick with rugby. Either way, now Greta is evil, we won’t need to fret about hot summers and stuff.
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It doesn’t look like a particularly evil octopus. I mean it doesn’t look happy either, but then there’s not much to be happy about. Its tentacles would barely seem to be controlling events on the corner of her sofa.
Didn’t know it was considered an anti-semitic thing, sounds a bit like even claiming that for the propaganda use described is overreaching in itself if it’s a generic thing.
More importantly I don’t rate this particular example as a cuddly toy, I’ve seen (and indeed am surrounded by) much better.
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That particular toy is reversable and is used by autistic people (like Greta) as a tactile thing, when they’re stimming.
It’s literally just this
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Thats golden, Refit. Am getting irrational feelings of positivity.
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Wow! Pretty toxic on the Graun BTL after last night’s match. Sad. It was clearly a let down after last week’s fare, but it was always likely to be, given the way things panned out.
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The octopus being able to turn inside out like a real one is a cool idea, but it still looks shit.
The Middle One has a particularly mournful looking leopard (called Sad Leopard) that does sad much better for example.
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Just to illustrate quite how dumb the Greta thing is
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Young Tom Stewart captaining Ulster, and a couple of names on the team sheet I’ve never heard of before: one Flannery at fly-half, and the 12.
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Zebre over the line for the opening points.
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And our new boy Flannery returns the favour!
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Doak converts, and it’s 7 all.
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And Zebre have just scored a rather lovely try to go ahead again!
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And Ulster also score a great try ending up with Lowry.
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And Zebre score again! They are playing some very pretty rugby.
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The Ulster blazers (the red-and-white stripey ones) all seem to be dressed up as Jimmy Saville?!
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And Stockdale goes over in the corner.
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Doak converts a tricky one, and it’s 21 all.
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Ulster give away a kickable penalty, but Zebre miss their first one, and Ulster hoof it down the pitch.
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Treadwell’s going to reflect on his sins for ten minutes.
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And Zebre score an impossible-looking cross-kick just after the clock goes red for the BP!
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Conversion is missed and it’s 26-21 at HT.
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Zebre score again! Ulster’s defence is definitely not up to standard.
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Ulster also giving away an uncharacteristic number of penalties.
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McFarland ringing the changes, and not before time.
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And Tom Stewart scores at last.
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Burns coming on for Flannery now. Flannery’s done well, I think. Hope for the future.
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