Dear slightly creepy Rugby Santa,
I have been a very good girl this year what with refraining from England-bashing, Saracens-bashing and most specifically Owen-bashing. So please don’t give me the fucking coal again, although it might come in handy during this Tory-inflicted cost of living crisis. However, more than one piece would be nice. Can you cook a turkey on maybe five pieces of coal?
But let’s get on to the important stuff.
I should really have written to you during the (not-Norn) Iron Age when the World Cup draw was made. But what’s done is done. Please make the next draw better, and made within a millennium of the actual tournament. The absolutely bonkers opening ceremony was great, mind you.
Next, I’d like to have a clear favourite – or even two close competitors – for Ireland fly-half now Sexton’s retired. But he’ll need to be fly-halfing from behind a decent set-piece. Which brings me to …
Ulster’s line-out. Poor Tom Stewart seems to have been suffering from a major crisis of the nerves on his throw-in lately, so please give him a boost of confidence as he almost always scores off the back of a line-out maul in the 22 when he can get the feckin ball.
Ulster’s scrum could also frankly do with a bit of help, and the expected nectar of South African gods doesn’t seem to have worked at all. So maybe you could spike that nectar with something that’s undetectable by routine drug tests.
While I’m at it, I’ve asked the mister if he has any wishes for Wales or Cardiff, but he was just speechless. Overwhelmed, probably. Eventually murmured something about an injection of cash. Since most of us can’t currently get a Covid jab while cases are rising dramatically, that’s unlikely. But, Santa, can you fix all these things? And the situation in Gaza too?
If not, I’ll start to think that imaginary beings don’t have any influence on our lives. And you wouldn’t want that, would you?
Love and Glasgow kisses,
thaumaturge
Bit of humbug
And for the readers and especially commentators of this blog – thank you – and the memory of the recently-departed Shane MacGowan and the not-so-recently departed Kirsty MacColl, here’s this old cliché that dissolves me into tears every time I listen to it.
Boxing Day Derbies!
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.
Tuesday 26th December
| Cardiff v Dragons | 15:00 | BBC2 Wales / iPlayer / Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Scarlets v Ospreys | 17:15 | S4C / iPlayer / Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Munster v Leinster | 19:35 | RTÉ2 / Viaplay Sports 1 |
Ovally Balls 
I also forgot it was Friday! Perhaps a new post tomorrow.
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Squidge’s review of the year (warning, there will be tears)
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Sorry Slade, I can’t find a working stream :(
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Good crowd at Ashton Gate
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Refit, the Edinburgh v Glasgow game at Murrayfield tomorrow had sold around 33 thousand tickets by lunchtime today.
The reason that is six or seven times more than normally turn up for either team is, imo, many people are still home for the holiday period and the fact that it’s at 3pm on a Saturday makes it very easy to travel.
Where are these Bristol fans every week?
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Worst haircut on the pitch, opens the scoring for Exeter. Iosefa-Scott driving over from close range.
0-7 after 8mins.
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Sheedy gets his kick to the corner correct this time and Bristol maul in a try, Oghre with the ball in his hands.
7-all 13mins
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Bristol scrum is a mess, Exeter getting a lot of joy out of them, as Lahiff collapses.
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What a try by Exeter. Woodburn breaks the line in midfield and then the ball goes to Feyi-Waboso, who slides into the corner. It’s checked for touch, but he’s just got his feet up before the line.
7-12 23mins
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Good lord. Slade puts in a lovely cross-field dink, that is heading straight for Woodburn’s hands, when Heyward dives across, catches the ball in the air and slides into touch.
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Feyi-Waboso is quite a horribly balanced runner, if you’re playing against him. He just cut through Bristol.
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What a finish from Bristol!
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Bristol make a break and it’s Batley, the #5 with a chip and chase into the Exeter 22. Exeter offside at the breakdown and Bristol put it in the corner.
Exeter collapse the maul, supremely quick hands from Van Rensburg onto Heward, who dives into the corner to score.
14-12 38mins
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Oof. With seconds on the clock Townsend picks off a Bristol pass and legs it down the pitch. Malins catches him on the edge of the 22 and it’s knocked on at the breakdown. Half time.
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oof, Brizzle got lucky with that intercept
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Ridiculous run from the Exeter winger again
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Early score by Exeter in the second half. Bristol knock-on from the kick-off. Exeter work the ball across the park to Feyi-Waboso, who steps through the defence again, only brought down short of the line. Townsend dabs the ball over from about 5cm. Slade hits the post with the conversion.
14-17
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Yellow for Townsend – deliberate knock-on, on the edge of the 22.
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The young Welsh winger got a great hit in there to go with his attacking game
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Some excellent pick & go rugby by Exeter, eating up time on the clock for the yellow card. They get a penalty 5m out and only an excellent tackle keeps them out. Bristol then get a penalty, because the Exeter 2, Frost, gets a bit shovey. He’s subbed.
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I’m slumming it here with Bunnahabhain whisky and a variety of posh dark chocolate
No one said this was going to be easy
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Ticht – I got a bottle of The Glenlivet Founders Reserve from my sister and her boyfriend, for Christmas. Think I’ll open that for NY.
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The coms have it right – the difference in the two sides lies in how clinical they are in the 22. Bristol could have won the game a couple of minutes ago with an attacking the lineout, now they trail 14 – 24
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Exeter score their 4th in the 76th minute. Long throw from an Exeter lineout in the Bristol 22. Slade catches the ball and goes into contact. Arguably Bristol should then have a penalty for holding on there, but the ball is recycled and goes wide. Feyi-Waboso again gets close, before Vermulen scores.
14-24 with 3 mins to play.
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Agree Ticht. It all goes a bit aimless from Bristol when they really need some direction.
Feyi-Waboso gets the Maro (unsurprisingly).
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Good win by Exeter. Should have had more faith Slade.
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Happy with the result – I got diverted so only got the FT score. F-W’s a beast isn’t he? WElsh qualified as well, I think.
Thanks Refit!
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Excellent commentary, as always, Refit!
All right, new post might be saved for the new year….
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Lasted about 15 minutes of the Saints vs Sale game. Kick, hoof, scrum and repeat.
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Although had forgotten that Embra’s chance for revenge against Our Brave Glasgow Boys was on now. Try machine Johnny Matthews has scored – I think that’s his 87th of the season….
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@BorderBoy – Saints/Sale – you might say it’s “one for the purists” 😅🙄.
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38mins and we get the first points in the match, from Sale.
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You mean Sag would love it?
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Bugger. Nasty Embra People beat Our Brave Glasgow Boys 19-14, but we still get the 1872 Cup on aggregate. Grateful for small mercies, I suppose.
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Latest stat from Glasgow stats guy – Glasgow have scored 6 kicks at goal for the the entire calendar year 2023, 5 penalties and 1 drop goal. This doesn’t include conversions, but I found it to be an incredible stat.
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I wish it had been a damn site more Ticht. There have been umpteen times where we should have taken a shot a goal, but gone for the lineout instead. Our maul has been pretty good this year, but when it doesn’t work (like against Northampton), we should go for the points. Maybe its because of our lack of a consistant kicker.
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Happy New Year troops!
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HNY, BB and everyone! New post is here!
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