Now that the anguish of the World Cup is behind us, we can all* pretend that it was all a horrific nightmare and concentrate on the leagues. Ulster have got their international players back at last, although very (very, very) sadly, Munster don’t have Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Tadhg Beirne or Dave Kilcoyne back yet.
*Except Deebee, obvs. I expect he’ll mention once or twice over the next four years that the Boks have won it twice in a row.
So sit back, pour yourself the beverage of your choice, and relax with a nice friendly match.
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 10th November
| Zebre v Sharks | 17:30 | Viaplay Sports 2 |
| Cardiff v Bulls | 19:35 | BBC2 Wales / iPlayer / Viaplay Sports 2 |
| Ulster v Munster | 19:35 | BBC2 NI / iPlayer / Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Gloucester v Bath | 19:45 | TNT Sports 1 |
Saturday 11th November
| Toulouse v Perpignan | 14:00 | Viaplay |
| Treviso v Stormers | 15:00 | Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Leicester v Harlequins | 15:05 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Lyon v Stade Français | 16:00 | Viaplay |
| Ospreys v Glasgow | 17:15 | Viaplay Sports 2 |
| Scarlets v Lions | 17:15 | S4C / iPlayer / Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Edinburgh v Connacht | 19:35 | TG4 / Viaplay Sports 2 |
| La Rochelle v Bayonne | 20:00 | Viaplay |
Sunday 12th November
| Dragons v Leinster | 13:15 | S4C / RTÉ2 / iPlayer / Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Northampton v Exeter | 15:00 | ITV1 / STV / TNT Sports 1 |
| Toulon v Racing 92 | 20:00 | Viaplay |
Ovally Balls 
Interesting by Bristol. Thacker is playing 7, but also throwing into the lineout.
First score to Bristol, Bradbury driving over from close range.
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Imagine when our World Cup Boks are back! Oh.
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Damn Lions score again!
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Oh wait, no, there was a knock-on.
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I really don’t like Ollie Lawrence being so good for Bath. Feels unfair. He just created a try from a Bristol restart, from pretty much nothing.
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Ulster nearly score, but Baloucoune’s grabbed around the neck. Back for the penalty.
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We have lost 3 out of 3 line-outs by my count. WTAF?
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Finally won one.
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TRY Hume!
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My feed has died. Bollocks! Can the Lions survive without my leadership? Doubtful.
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I’ve still never worked out why Ben Spencer didn’t get a proper go at the England 9 shirt.
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Is he any good, Refit? Probably a hint in there.
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Tsk! McCloskey puts through a lovely delicate little kick for Stockdale, who somehow manages to leave the ball behind.
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And the Lions score again.
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Deebee – IMHO, he’s one of the best 9s in England. Used to play for Sarries and now at Bath. Good pass, quick and a big lump.
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Ulster’s handling suffering in the hot, dry conditions, I’m assuming?
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got a good stream for the Bris game Refit ?
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Shot of McFarland looking grim, probably mentally composing his half-time bollocking. Ulster have been very poor.
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Ulster’s handling suffering in the hot, dry conditions, I’m assuming?
Aye, that’ll be it. It looks like that particularly wet Irish rain that’s pouring down.
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Ben Spencer, well thats easy, either didnt get n with Eddie Jones, or doesnt get on with Owen Farrell. Or both. I agree, he is excellent, and still quick.
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Refit, his surname isn’t Youngs. Always struggling from there!
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7-14 at HT.
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Cardiff really like to throw it around which is kind of fun, but they don’t half make a lot of mistakes. 12-7 down at half-time though Zebre’s second try was something of a joke as it almost certainly should have been disallowed for at least two things and quite possibly three or even four.
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Tim, try this one https://www.vipbox.lc/rugby/bath-vs-bristol-2-live
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Thought this Van Graan guy was supposed to coach boring rugby?
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TRY Stockdale!
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Absolutely fabulous touch-line conversion from Doak to even things up.
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Lions take the lead again with a penalty.
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Ulster win a penalty on the restart and go for the corner.
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Bulls down to 13 against Embra. One player to a red and another to a yellow. Edinburgh now lead.
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And they go for the maul and it’s TRY Herring!
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On a side political comment, not only are Ulster fans waving the yellow flag (ie the whole province of Ulster, not the Six Counties), but someone is displaying a Palestinian flag.
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BB, why did Schoeman not go for an HIA, given that he was flattened and being attended to until the TMO got involved?
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Cooney on for Doak. Not sure why; Doak’s playing well. But John is very good too!
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Bristol probably lucky to only be 17-7 down at half time.
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Deebs – don’t know, only following it via BBC text.
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Meanwhile, McDuhan scores!
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Rob Herring with another squint throw! Although it may be that the wind took it.
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Lions have done well to stay in the contest until now, but Ulster just starting to turn the screw. Now the scrum penalty. Could be a long last 30, if Ulster can throw the ball in straight!
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BB, was a cheeky question – bloody McSaffer doing an Argentine football flop.
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The new fake pitch is wreaking havoc on players’ studs. I think it also puts players at more risk of injury. I’m against them.
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Ali Price on for Edinburgh. Feels weird writing that.
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Ooh, lovely try for Bristol. Sheedy putting a perfectly weighted kick into the Bath 22, for Lane to run onto and score. Lead down to 3 points, 17-14.
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Oh no, Finn throws an intercept, picked out by Ibitoye. Some really nice handling ends with Malins scoring in the (other) corner. 17-19
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Ulster win a penalty and unusually decide to go for the posts. But that makes a converted try’s difference, so a wise choice, I think.
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Ulster with a penalty on the Lions 22. Strangely going for posts when they’re now well on too and would surely be looking for the BP? 24-17 nonetheless with 12 to go. A draw would be a win here for the Lions.
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Cardiff have just gone ahead, for the first time I think, via a try.
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Jesus christ. Ulster win a penalty in the 22, and don’t go for the posts or the corner or a scrum, but a pick and go that fails.
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God, we are shite. Not only have we now gone backwards, but we’ve given a penalty away.
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Well, we’ve managed to hang on to the win. No bonus, but a LBP for the Lions.
We were really shit and lucky to win that. And there’s really no excuse for missing the bonus point, which may well come back to bite us later on.
Slade, Ewers got MotM. (Not sure why.)
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