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 
Bit of festive fun!
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/dec/24/take-our-global-idioms-language-quiz-adam-sharp-wheel-is-spinning-but-hamster-is-dead
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Happy hols all.
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Merry Christmas everyone.
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Merry Christmas dinghy residents.
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My sister is making Xmas lunch
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Nice Yorkies!
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Got this from my sister, who’s a Buffalo Bills fan.
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and lo, I did eat and drink too much and there was a wailing and gnashing of teeth……………
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It’s a try-fest at the Arms Park! 26-7 after 18 minutes.
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Slade – feel like I will never be hungry again. Have just eaten one little piece of turkey for the sake of eating something, but that’s all I’ve had today.
More turkey with bubble & squeak planned for dinner.
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‘Did the Dragons lose?’
Well not yet, but conceding 33 points in the first 23 minutes has put them well on the way.
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38 now!
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First time I’ve seen the Drags this season, somehow almost all the games I’ve caught have been Cardiff which isn’t what I’d choose. I’m forming a tentative judgment that the Dragons are still not very good.
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43!
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CMW – yes, it doesn’t look hard to shatter their defence, although it’s also true that Cardiff do look sharp. And the Dragons’ set piece is shite.
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45-7 at HT. Happy mister!
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Cardiff always look good at least in parts of their games. Against teams that defend they have to string a few good phases together and that normally means they fuck it up after some nice build up play. And then concede soft points themselves. Today there isn’t really any opposition. The two tries Tomos Williams has been on the end of were both really good though.
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Fabulous running fattie try!
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I fell asleep. Well done Cardiff anyway!
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After the score hit 50, I went to strip the turkey carcass.
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Nice Yorkies Refit, I love ’em but can’t be bothered just for myself, everyone else in the family is vegan
I did bother with kilted sausages though, aka pigs in blankets – the best part of Christmas dinner is leftover kilted sausages and chicken on Boxing Day.
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Mmm, too right. We are currently indulging in bubble and squeak with ‘dirty’ (cheesy) pigs in blankets and turkey. Delish!
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Munster have managed to lose their hooker at 7 mins in; not quite sure why; seems an injury.
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The weather at Thomond Park is absolutely filthy, which is a shame.
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The conditions are very similar to the Glasgow/Edinburgh game from Saturday, the game is similarly not that great so far. The derbies are often very tight affairs “for the purist”
I’ve never really got that phrase, “one for the purist”, Shirley the purist would want to see free-flowing rugby (or any sport) with lots of speed and skill on show?
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Ticht – was just about to say that it’s not a bad match under the conditions!
I must be a purist. :-)
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And I suppose what ‘purist’ means in this context is a rabid fan of the sport who will appreciate things like minor victories at the breakdown while all the players are blinded by mud and rain.
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I don’t know, maybe the hooker was a tactical sub, as the youngster is doing well! Scrums and line-outs being won.
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That was a bit of commentator’s curse as Leinster solidly win the next scrum. But then Munster steal the line-out, and but Casey kicks it out on the full. Sigh.
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Then he tip-tackles a player at the next line-out. He’s probably quite lucky just to get a yellow.
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Well that was stupid by the Munster scrum half, but he gets pretty lucky with the decision from the ref
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Really good maul defence from Munster
The atmosphere is really kicking in now
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One for the purists it is, then
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It’s 0-6 at half time, and the commentator says, we’ll call that one for the Purists. Munster have done well without a scrum-half for nearly ten minutes. Harry Byrne looks to have been injured.
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Munster not getting nilled at home! 3-6.
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Ah well, 3-9 on a filthy night. Not the greatest match as it turned out.
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Blue Meanies win out in the end.
I can’t say I enjoyed the game, as much as I was looking forward to it.
I think that means The Dubs top the table now
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We have the chance to drub the Dubs on New Year’s Day. But I doubt we will.
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Men’s try of the year (not even Duhan’s best try in that match)
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Women’s try of the year
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imo, this was a better rugby team try from Duhan, although it’s difficult not to celebrate that first
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Manu crocked (again)
Tbh, I think this might be a good thing. I think it’s time to move on.
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Welsh captain Morgan is set to miss a lot of if not all of the 6N, too. He’s just had knee surgery.
It’s a blow to Wales, he’s a real player
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I hope Morgan recovers quickly and permanently, it would be a crying shame if he ends up being injury prone. Time to let Manu go gently into that dark night?
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ok Refit: best of luck tonight – Bristol should win at home but, you never know……….
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Exeter Chiefs:
Ben Hammersley;
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso; Henry Slade; Ollie Devoto; Olly Woodburn
Harvey Skinner; Stu Townsend
Nika Abuladze; Dan Frost; Josh Iosefa-Scott
Rusi Tuima; Dafydd Jenkins (c)
Ethan Roots; Ross Vintcent; Greg Fisilau
Replacements:
Max Norey; Alec Hepburn; Marcus Street; Lewis Pearson Jacques Vermeulen; Tom Cairns; Joe Hawkins.
9 from last season’s ‘best’23.
Lots of rotation; a rest for wonder boy Wyatt and others. Starting with Townsend always a worry – looks like they want a fast start rather than squeeze/control. Zack Wimbush – no, me neither. (6ft 6in, 110kgs, 20yo)
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In case you missed it – Jonny Gray to Montpelier next season
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Cheers Slade, I’d actually lost track of what day it is.
Bristol don’t have the greatest track record against Exeter, I think you’re more optimistic than I am 😅
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REfit, if you are watching on line, can you send me the link?
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I’ll be watching on Discovery, but I’ll find a link for you :)
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