I had not been paying close attention to the European Cup(s), which was probably a good thing for my mental health. Because, while doing the deep and arduous research for this post, I discovered that Ulster’s pool-mates are Bath, Cardiff, Harlequins, Toulouse and Racing 92. (Six in the pool? What’s happened?*)
Well, we’ll probably beat Cardiff.* We might beat Bath and/or Harlequins, but I’d be happier if we weren’t away to them both. Given our form so far this season, I’m not too optimistic. Can only see two French sides going through.
*Apparently what’s happened is that you don’t play all the teams in your pool. We’re not playing Cardiff. Boo! And naturellement, the two French clubs are not playing each other, so won’t have a loss. Who the hell designed this?
If you’d like to frighten yourself about your own favoured side, the pools are here.
Or go here if the Challenge Cup’s your thing.
Onna telly this week
Showing matches that are televised in the UK and Ireland or on popular subscription services. Bold indicates free-to-view. Times are in the UK zone, so adjust as necessary.
Friday 8th December
| Glasgow v Northampton | 20:00 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Connacht v Bordeaux | 20:00 | TNT Sports 2 |
| Clermont v Edinburgh | 20:00 | Viaplay Sports 1 |
Saturday 9th December
| Toulon v Exeter | 13:00 | TNT Sports 3 |
| Black Lion (who they?) v Gloucester | 13:00 | Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Zebre v Cheetahs | 13:00 | epcrugby.com |
| Bath v Ulster | 15:15 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Toulouse v Cardiff | 15:15 | S4C / iPlayer / TNT Sports 3 |
| Castres v Scarlets | 15:15 | epcrugby.com |
| Bulls v Saracens | 17:30 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Munster v Bayonne | 17:30 | RTÉ2 / TNT Sports 3 |
| Ospreys v Treviso | 17:30 | Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Bristol v Lyon | 20:00 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Dragons v Oyonnax | 20:00 | S4C / iPlayer |
Sunday 10th December
| Sale v Stade Français | 13:00 | ITV1 / STV / TNT Sports 1 |
| La Rochelle v Leinster | 15:15 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Leicester v Stormers | 15:15 | TNT Sports 2 |
| Newcastle v Montpellier | 15:15 | Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Racing 92 v Harlequins | 17:30 | TNT Sports 1 |
Ovally Balls 
Cheers Thaum.
CMW, best wishes and the most positive thoughts for your daughter’s op.
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Thanks Ticht (and all well wishers from the previous blog). Sorry to hear about your health problems, sounds very frustrating.
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“If you’d like to frighten yourself about your own favoured side, the pools are here.”
OK so the only Welsh side in it is the one I like the least and they’re going to do very badly anyway. Super.
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CMW, I feel a little bit of a fraud because my symptoms are on the lighter side compared to others. I’m tired a lot of the time and my concentration span is shot, plus I have shortness of breath, but I do feel as if it’s all improving on a month by month basis – I got the lurgy in March.
One of the things they’ve put me on is a programme with English National Opera which starts in the new year, it’s a singing programme designed for Long Covid patients who have shortness of breath, and singing training has worked for a lot of people with this symptom.
I’m quite looking forward to it actually.
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Ticht, since March! Bloody hell! Glad it seems to be improving. I’ve had a different condition that also results in fatigue and brain fog, and can completely sympathise.
The singing programme sounds great! We’ll have you doing the Go Compare adverts soon.
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Best wishes, Ticht and CMW.
Wrote a post that seems to have been lost. No worries but the site’s acting a bit weird.
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Noice intercept try by Glasgow.
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Oooh, that was horrible for Mitchell, just handing the ball to the Weedge winger to score.
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Flair – I’ve checked the spam bin; there’s nothing in it.
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Sending positive thoughts the way of Ticht and chez CMW.
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Just switched to the other match, so I’m relying on you lot to update us on Glasgow v Saints.
Beagles have scored; it’s 0-7.
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Saints have taken the lead. Big Dave [Lawes] dropping over the line, after they create an overlap.
5-10
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Nine months is a long time to be struggling with something. And the concentration thing must be a terrible downer. A singing course is certainly a novel response from the health service, but hope it makes a difference and of course that it turns out to be fun.
I’ve just come through a pretty much two year nightmare with my hearing that has finally been resolved with hearing aids after a fifteen month wait to see an ENT specialist after I was referred. Not exactly delighted to have to have them at the age of 47, but they’re making a world of difference. I found that just not being right for such a long time was at times more debilitating than the problem itself though there were also times when it was particularly bad that I wouldn’t include in that.
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Tommy Freeman crashes over from short range, for Saints, after some really good phases across the Glasgow 22.
5-15 22mins
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Oh dear, Mack Hansen looks broken.
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Oh, that was a lovely play for Penaud to score from.
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Weird yellow for the Glasgow 6. He’s lifted across a lineout and dropped by his lifters. He lands on top of Alex Waller’s head, who is down for a long time receiving treatment. It’s ruled dangerous play by the ref/TMO.
Healey makes a valid point, that the danger was created by the lifters removing support, not necessarily by the player left in mid-air.
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CMW – we are all a load of pathetic geriatrics, aren’t we?
It took months and months for my problem (Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia – where you don’t process it from food for some reason) to be diagnosed, and another year or so until I felt normal again. As you say, getting a diagnosis is the most important thing, so that at least you know what’s wrong with you and can deal with it. Fortunately for me, it’s been treatable, but I can remember trying to hold on to consciousness just sitting on the sofa, and not knowing what it was.
Vegans: get some B12 supplements, or you will regret it!
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It’s safe to say that Connacht are not at their best tonight. It’s 5-12 at 37 minutes, and there are passes not going to hand, knock-ons, etc.
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And 5-12 is the score at HT as Connacht knock it on.
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DOC: Pete Wilkins [the Connacht coach] is a lovely man, but he needs to lose it within that dressing room…. That first half was not acceptable…. The set piece is a joke.
He’s not wrong!
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They shoulda sent DOC into the changing room. Bordeaux score easily in the 42nd minute.
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Connacht have wisely changed their front row. Bealham in particular was getting penalised, quite rightly.
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Hooker is still on, but props changed. To good effect as they score!
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Nope, there was a knock-on.
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Maybe not a knock-on, because Connacht ended up with the ball. Not really sure what’s going on!
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And Bordeaux score again through a series of Connacht fuck-ups.
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Aki seems to be leaking a penalty on every rare occasion where he touches the ball.
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CMW & Ticht and any others suffering from something………………….
…………..thinking of you and hope you can keep positive: singing ‘çure’ sounds teriffic – I used to be in a choir many years ago and still miss it.
As we get older things keep óccurring’ too often – I went for a scan today generated by some sort of noise in my lung. I’m not happy but thankful to be looked after promptly.
Anyway – non-English teams getting beat so it’s not all bad.
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Slade – I was going to like your post until I saw the last line. ;-)
Yes, I think France have a much better health care these days. The NHS is broken.
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Lovely solo try by the Glasgow 11. Gets the ball on half-way, puts a chip into the corner and beats two Saints players to score.
12-28 70mins.
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It’s 5-34 at the Sportsground, 67 mins. Hopeless.
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Rumble at the Scotstoun – players spill through the advertising hoardings and onto the running track. Instigated by a Saints player pushing a Glasgow player’s face into the floor, after he was tackled into touch.
Lawes stops the following lineout maul and Saints clear their lines.
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Bordeaux score again.
I texted Claw to ask why Connacht are so shite, but for some reason he hasn’t answered.
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Penalty try Glasgow and a yellow for Saints replacement prop Haffar, after a maul collapse.
19-28 79mins
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Thaum – cheeky :)
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Valiant effort by Glasgow, to try and get something from the match in the 84th minute, but Saints force the ball carrier into touch and end the game. Final score 19-28.
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5-41 at the end, and the 5 was frankly dodgy as it came off a scrum that Bealham had dropped (ref was on the other side). Absolutely awful performance by Connacht. Bordeaux were obviously good.
Can only hope that Connacht don’t improve for the Irish derbies over the xmas period.
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Refit – I did also express my wishes that he was well. Which is unlikely with this result.
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Glad to hear that various ailments for folks have been diagnosed and things are improving.
Was celebrating Daughter 2’s 30th birthday (and where the hell did all THAT time go?) so didn’t see the Glasgow game. Sounds like I didn’t miss much. I think the squad is a bit too thin for URC and Champions Cup campaigns. I think we’re quite weak in a few places, particularly at 10 (I mean Duncy Weir is still playing even though he’s not first choice) and we lose a bit of control in the backs if Sione isn’t playing. I was going to make a point about Connacht, but they thumped us too….
In other news, I did a DNA test as I’m working on my dad’s family tree, and it turns out I’m 3% Viking! (Well, Norwegian). I’m 7% Irish, but then so’s everyone, and 90% Scottish, which is the important bit. To be honest I’m amazed I’m not 50% sheep and 50% Border Collie judging on what I’ve found so far – lots (and lots) of agricultural labourers and shepherds there. I haven’t even started on mum’s side, but that will be the same.
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Heard back from Claw. He was not impressed by Connacht’s performance last night, to say the least.
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I think Exeter’s inexperienced team are in for a bit of schooling at Toulon this afternoon but have the opportunity to earn some big credits for their future
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Do send Claw my best Thaum. And let him know his voice is missed here.
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Ditto what Refit said
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Something weird about seeing Exeter in *that* shade of blue.
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Lucky for Exeter, that Villiere is a short lad.
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Some enjiyable rugby in Toulon, a YC a bit harsh (how lower could a 2m tall guy can go, when his back’s already horizontal? – mmffft nice Karl here), good thinking and good handling. Exeter not in the same league as previously after losing so many players.
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Refit/Ticht – have done that!
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Ewww, that was a nasty accident.
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Oh, that’s unlucky. Serin comes on and not 5 mins later does his shoulder/arm in a tackle. The Toulon 10 also seems to have gotten away with hitting Woodburn in the head, with his shoulder. Can’t believe they haven’t even reviewed it.
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