Mason Grady is apparently going to be a very busy lad on Saturday as he’s playing both wings against Bath. We knew Cardiff were having some financial difficulties, but this may be an economy too far. Either that, or someone at Cardiff’s been tipping their Brains a bit too much. Of course they feel under pressure: these are the days it never rains but it pours.
In other European Cup news, whichever eejit is in charge of the scheduling has joined the bizarre and troubling vendetta of the URC against households having one Cardiff and one Ulster fan. Yes, for the second week in a row, the matches are scheduled at the same time.
Let’s hope this weekend’s rugby is better than last week’s, where – except for Quins v Racing 92 – the most entertaining bit was the dust-ups between Leinster and La Rochelle.
*Maybe that should be burning down both sides.
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 15th December
| Northampton v Toulon | 20:00 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Bayonne v Glasgow | 20:00 | TNT Sports 2 |
| Gloucester v Clermont | 20:00 | Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Scarlets v Black Lion | 20:00 | iPlayer / S4C / epcrugby.com |
Saturday 16th December
| Saracens v Connacht | 13:00 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Stormers v La Rochelle | 13:00 | TNT Sports 4 |
| Edinburgh v Castres | 13:00 | Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Bordeaux v Bristol | 15:15 | TNT Sports 1 |
| LIons v Newcastle | 15:15 | Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Treviso v Perpignan | 15:15 | epcrugby.com |
| Lyon v Bulls | 17:30 | TNT Sports |
| Leinster v Sale | 17:30 | RTÉ2 / TNT Sports 1 |
| Pau v Dragons | 17:30 | epcrugby.com |
| Cardiff v Bath | 20:00 | S4C / iPlayer / TNT Sports 1 |
| Ulster v Racing 92 | 20:00 | TNT Sports 3 |
Sunday 17th December
| Exeter v Munster | 13:00 | ITV1 / STV / TNT Sports 1 |
| Montpellier v Ospreys | 13:00 | Viaplay Sports 2 |
| Harlequins v Toulouse | 15:15 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Stade Français v Leicester | 17:30 | TNT Sports 1 |
Ovally Balls 
That didn’t take Glasgow long!
But wait! Foot in touch!
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Good match, this! High tempo.
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Now Bayonne look to have scored, but it looks like a double movement.
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More like a treble movement. (Triplet? Sag would know.)
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Hello … is there anybody out there? Just nod if you can hear me. Is there anyone home?
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Bayonne get a penalty for the opening actual points of the game.
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Saints very much in control against Toulon 10-3 up.
What was the Glasgow card for?
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Glasgow’s defence has been brilliant, and Bayonne get a penalty and look to score (again), but it’s another double movement!
Glasgow on a warning.
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Refit – only just noticed that! Something a prop did, according to the mister. Stopping an attack.
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This first half is showing up all of our problems this season, Weak squad and insistance in not taking kicks for points when available. I know we like to play quick, but there are times when Young Master Horne tries to play too quickly when things aren’t on. Also our discipline is shite at the moment.
Apart from that, we’re fine.
Apart from tonight, obviously.
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But then we score a try like that!
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Wow! Cracking running try by Glasgow’s very speedy no. 8, who outran everyone!
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He beat the winger!
Well, also the hooker, but never mind that.
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He’s from the Sevenz, Thaum.
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Oh look (or listen). There’s a Scottish co-commentator who can pronounce ‘Bayonne’.
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What a great half of rugby!
But I want Flair to explain why Bayonne are the ‘aviron Bayonnais’. The Bayonne Oar, as I understand it?
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I spose they are by the coast.
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Thaum,
It’s the generic name for one of many Bayonne’s sport clubs. It was originally just a rowing club, around 1875 but it slowly added various sports, rugby, football etc.. Most clubs in France ( Stade Français would be a good exampje) are what we call multisports clubs. It coud include as many as 12 sections, basket-ball, handball, swimming, etc..
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“He’s from the Sevenz, Thaum.”
He’s from Edinburgh, we brought him in from the 7s squad. Another one moved across the M8 along with Rory Darge, He was the form backrower in Edinburgh at the time.
He’s a prime example of what we lose with only having the two teams, in a third pro team Miller would have thrived and possibly would be knocking on the door of the national squad.
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Thanks, Flair, that makes sense! Seems a good way to go about things.
Ticht – yep, it would be good if Scotland had at least one more team.
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Stadium sold out for the 18th time in a row. Unexpected tonight in the Hcup as it is not their priority obviously. I encourage anyone to try and watch a game there. Great people, true connaiseurs, great little city to enjoy.
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I once played a cup game over in the Basque Country – it was a made game, ferocious during the game and at the apero afterwards too, in the best possibly way
It wasn’t a high level, but the prop I was against one one of the best I ever played.
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I’ll keep that in mind, Flair! Was like that in Clermont, although I suspect Bayonne may be a bit more picturesque.
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Ticht!
the prop I was against one one of the best I ever played
I find this quite a fascinating subject, as someone who’s never packed down in a scrum.
I realise it might be asking quite a lot of you at the moment, but I think it might make a terrific ATL if you could describe it, dark arts and all. No pressure, but I’d really like to read it!
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And that’s a fabulous finish!
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Thaum, I did one before on the old blog on that very subject. I don’t suppose there is any access to that is there?
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Glasgow errors creeping in. Shit kick followed by squint line-out throw. But at least there’s a MacBeth. (Yes, I know it’s really McBeth, and he’s actually a Saffer.)
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Ticht – ooh. There are some bits available from one site. If you click on ‘Other Pages’ then ‘Creation Myth’ at the top, you’ll see what’s available. I’ll have a look later on.
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Looks like both matches are one-point games at the mo.
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Glasgow win! Not sure how. Lineout collapsed, didn’t take points on offer, Bayonne missed penalties, but we won!
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Glasgow win! That was a great match. Either side could have won, and maybe Bayonne should have tried for a drop goal at the end – the full-back was certainly in position.
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Not sure who the ref was, but he did well, I thought.
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Brilliant result for Glasgow – nail biting stuff, but the lineout and maul which has been such a weapon has turned to liquid in the last two weeks
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Ticht – I’ve had a quick search of those particular archives, and can’t find your article. Do you know when it was published (approx), or do you have a copy of it still?
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Yep, good game in Bayonne. Glasgow were the better team, no doubt about that. But it will be good for Bayonne confidence for the rest of the season. They were afraid to get a drubbing in Munster or to be overwhelmed by the speed of Glasgow attack and they certainly held their own for a club that once again will fight to avoid relegation.
Excellent no non sense ref.
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Cunnng Stormers. They have LaR play in an empty stadium. Dont know how they can adapt to such conditions.
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Just an FYI, tweets aren’t embedding properly at the moment. It’s not a WordPress thing, it’s happening on other websites too.
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LaR lead 13/6 at HT. Forward oriented as expected. Several bone crunching tackles from both sides, I certainly enjoy the comfort of my couch, though I wouldn’t mind being in the stadium, plenty of room and quite sunny.
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Connacht were giving Sarries a close run in the first half, but Saracens have put their foot down in the second. Maitland has just scored their 5th try, from a lovely 20m+ pass from Farrell.
38-17 on 55mins.
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And the other winger, Sinti, scores the 6th just a couple of mins later. A little step inside an on-rushing defender and he’s in the corner. 43-17
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Poor game in SA. Disjointed and full of errors.
And just when I write it, LaR finally score a good try . At last!
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Disallowed. Score 14/20 instead of 14-27. Stormers still in it then.
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Connacht have scored 5 tries, even in defeat. The final one comes in the 82nd minute, from a JJ Hanrahan intercept of an Itoje pass. He gives it to Prendeghast, who scores under the posts.
Final score 55-36
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Bristol have sent the weens out to play Bordeaux and it shows. First half ends 22-3 and the likes of Jalibert and Penaud are a level above their Bristol counterparts. Second half could be horrific, at this rate.
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Refit, they may be young but the forwards hold their own. What I can’t understand though, is why the 9 and 10 constantly kick their rare own good ball away.
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Leinster were very un-Leinsterlike in the first half, but normal service has been resumed.
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boo!
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Eek!
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Mind you, Sale have scored two tries since I wrote the Leinster thing above! That winger (Read? Reed? Reid?) has some pace.
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Still, it’s 37-27 at FT.
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