Got caught napping by the bank holidays and have only just realised that today is Friday, and there is European Cup rugby on! So imagine a long and hilariously funny post here. Or just skip to the fixtures.
Onna telly this weekend
Showing matches that are televised in the UK and Ireland or on popular subscription services. Bold indicates that it’s on a free to view channel. Times are in the UK zone, so adjust as necessary.
Dickson letting Care off with diving over the ruck and taking out Mitchell. Clear yellow, and it would be his second. Isn’t given. Even the TNT sport commentators thought it was yellow, that’s how obvious it was. (Although LOL and Ugo aren’t there so they might have thought different).
Leicester get a 3rd try, Van Wyk just squeezing the ball over the line. It feels like 90% of the match has been played in Bristol’s 22, so it could be worse.
Brown goes to tackle Van Rensberg in a very upright position and there’s head contact. He gets a yellow for it, which is his second and he’s off with a red. 8 mins to play.
Ooh, well, the Ospreys have been demolished by the Bulls, 61-24. Stormers are hosting Leinster, who were absolute shite away in SA last week, so who knows. Connacht playing Dragons in Wales, but still can’t see them losing that. And Lions are down 6-23 to Munster at HT.
Bloody hell, Bristol have burgled a win. Heenan steals the ball just inside Bristol’s half. He gives it to Ibitoye who half-breaks into Leicester’s half. He passes to Thacker who pins his ears back and is only tackled well into the 22. After some short drives, Bradbury picks up the ball and dives for the line. They check to make sure there’s not a knock-on and it’s good.
MacGintey converts and the final whistle goes. 19-21
Stormers pump Leinster! (Even though it owuld have been their second team). Glasgow now 4 points clear at the top of the log!
Our final game is Zebre at home, so all we have to do is win the two games in between. Shouldn’t be a problem, I mean its not as though we have to go to South Africa and play the Bulls and the Lions.
The number of league wins, equal third with Bulls and Munster
The number of bonus points gained, equal last with Dragons.
The number of times Edinburgh have scored 3 tries.
The number of our position in the league table.
Losing Kinghorn to Toulouse was a blow, but good luck to him, he is playing well there. That added to long-term and short term injuries in our back three including recent breakthough players Harry Paterson, Wes Goosen and Jake Henry have hamstrung our campaign- across the back three they’ve missed an average of ten games each and the lack of BPs is killing us
I have no idea why the actual numbers got wiped from the post, wp is a weird beast.
Anyway, it’s ten wins, three bonus points, ninth in the league and seven times we’ve scored three tries
And to add to the frustration that comes with supporting Edinburgh, Ben Healy is the top points scorer in the league on 147, 30 ahead of his nearest rival Johan Goosen of the Bulls
Ticht;
He’s having a fabulous season – Exeter would be lost without him.
Perhaps they have been ditching expensive players so that they can afford to pay him what he wants next season and beyond?
Billy V apparently arrested in Majorca for unruly behaviour (sounds a bit more serious than that and having a few underlying alcohol issues) and Stuart Hogg talking about his mental struggles should remind us all again that elite sportspeople live with huge pressures and under microscopic attention – it can’t be easy, and having social media battering you for every small mistake you make must just ratchet it up even more. As fans, we really do need to be careful about what we post.
Watching the snooker again, and it strikes me that a disproportionate number of the players are left-handed. (And then there’s Ronnie, who can play with all three hands.)
Which got me thinking about the number of left-footed players in rugby. I’ve no idea if footedness correlates with handedness, but I’d think so; I’m both right-handed and right-footed.
Is there something about left-sidedness that makes you more likely to be an élite athlete?
(Not that I’d normally describe snooker players as athletes, but you know what I mean: people extremely talented with hand-eye coordination and so on.)
Eyeballs intact. Avoided video. Just. Cunning trap, Baldrick! Public holiday here today (we celebrate Worker’s Day as a full holiday) so been lunching and stuff for most of it. Slightly pickled now I’m home. See you all tomorrow!
Quick drive by. Rugby players in too much beer shock. Nothing to see here, give em a bit of counselling and a hug, move along.
Anyone got any good TV recommendations? Like a bit of Scandi, or something quality French would be good, like Call my Agent or the cop one with George North in it. Need to avoid watching the news.
Gallagher Prem is fun, lots of unpredictability, looking forward to the climax.
Tim – no, I’ve not watched anything particularly good lately. There was a third (?) season of Wisting that was okay, but only four episodes.
And that comment reminds me of my grandfather, who said one of two things after each meal he was served: ‘It was all right, what there was of it’, or ‘There was plenty of it, such as it was’.
Thaum, when my grand father was served a slice of ham or whatever that he considered too thin, he’d say something like: “pas mal, mais ça avait goût de couteau.” Not bad but tasted like knife.
“They” are saying that Sione Tuipolotu’s little brother Mosese is joining Edinburgh soon, he’s currently at the Waratahs.
On another note, France was a whole new world to me, food wise. How can simple things like butter or sliced ham taste so much better?
A ham and butter sandwich on a baguette is a thing of beauty, in fact so much so that Michel Roux Jr. took someone to a little take away place in Paris to sample a jambon beurre baguette when they were doing a tv show about the best restaurants in various cities.
Flair, in case you are interested, I’ve just had a look and they went to La Tour D’Argent (v expensive), Jambon Beurre in Rue St Honoré and finished with huge seafood platters at Brasserie La Couple
Ticht, I used to live towards the eastern end of rue St Honoré (the western part is very very posh, Elysee palace and all that). A good jambon- beurre as we call it, is a thing of beauty. La Coupole is your trade mark Paris brasserie, decent food but quite overpriced. La Tour d’Argent is in a different bracket, an expensive treat for a round number birthday or some such.
Also looking forward to tomorrow’s rugby. Toulouse are quite entertaining these days. Clermont meh…
Ah! I know where you’re all talking about now! I’ve had dinner at La Coupole! It was about 20 years ago on one of my first visits to Paris. Magical memories!
A couple of things to consider today: will the Sharks be able to rouse the London Saffers to support them at the Stoep? Will Northampton croke at the Park?
Ovally Balls 
McDuhan goes to the bin for a high tackle, and Cardiff score immediately. 7 all.
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Premier Sports has given up on the motor racing now, and is instead randomly switching to another rugby match.
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Dickson letting Care off with diving over the ruck and taking out Mitchell. Clear yellow, and it would be his second. Isn’t given. Even the TNT sport commentators thought it was yellow, that’s how obvious it was. (Although LOL and Ugo aren’t there so they might have thought different).
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Edinburgh have scored again, dammit.
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Leicester get a 3rd try, Van Wyk just squeezing the ball over the line. It feels like 90% of the match has been played in Bristol’s 22, so it could be worse.
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Bristol do a score! Lahiff getting the ball over the line, after Bristol actually get some time in the opposition half.
19-7 69mins (nice)
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Brown goes to tackle Van Rensberg in a very upright position and there’s head contact. He gets a yellow for it, which is his second and he’s off with a red. 8 mins to play.
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Lahiff gets a second try, with some help from Luatua driving him over the line. 19-14 with 4 mins to play.
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Final score in Cardiff 7-24. Grr. Need Stormers / Ospreys / Connacht / Lions to lose.
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Ooh, well, the Ospreys have been demolished by the Bulls, 61-24. Stormers are hosting Leinster, who were absolute shite away in SA last week, so who knows. Connacht playing Dragons in Wales, but still can’t see them losing that. And Lions are down 6-23 to Munster at HT.
So there is hope!
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Bloody hell, Bristol have burgled a win. Heenan steals the ball just inside Bristol’s half. He gives it to Ibitoye who half-breaks into Leicester’s half. He passes to Thacker who pins his ears back and is only tackled well into the 22. After some short drives, Bradbury picks up the ball and dives for the line. They check to make sure there’s not a knock-on and it’s good.
MacGintey converts and the final whistle goes. 19-21
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Stormers pump Leinster! (Even though it owuld have been their second team). Glasgow now 4 points clear at the top of the log!
Our final game is Zebre at home, so all we have to do is win the two games in between. Shouldn’t be a problem, I mean its not as though we have to go to South Africa and play the Bulls and the Lions.
Ah.
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We will welcome you with all the great hospitality we can muster, BB. Lions and Bulls need to win those matches to have a shout.
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Edinburgh’s season so far in a few numbers,
The number of league wins, equal third with Bulls and Munster
The number of bonus points gained, equal last with Dragons.
The number of times Edinburgh have scored 3 tries.
The number of our position in the league table.
Losing Kinghorn to Toulouse was a blow, but good luck to him, he is playing well there. That added to long-term and short term injuries in our back three including recent breakthough players Harry Paterson, Wes Goosen and Jake Henry have hamstrung our campaign- across the back three they’ve missed an average of ten games each and the lack of BPs is killing us
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I have no idea why the actual numbers got wiped from the post, wp is a weird beast.
Anyway, it’s ten wins, three bonus points, ninth in the league and seven times we’ve scored three tries
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Oh and it’s Darcy Graham and Emaliano Boffelli who have been missing from our backline, two first choice internationals
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And to add to the frustration that comes with supporting Edinburgh, Ben Healy is the top points scorer in the league on 147, 30 ahead of his nearest rival Johan Goosen of the Bulls
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Exeter are doing a number on Glaws, led by Slade who has cut through the defence seemingly at will
He also converts from the “wrong” touchline
Glous 5-24 Exeter
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Ticht;
He’s having a fabulous season – Exeter would be lost without him.
Perhaps they have been ditching expensive players so that they can afford to pay him what he wants next season and beyond?
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Billy V apparently arrested in Majorca for unruly behaviour (sounds a bit more serious than that and having a few underlying alcohol issues) and Stuart Hogg talking about his mental struggles should remind us all again that elite sportspeople live with huge pressures and under microscopic attention – it can’t be easy, and having social media battering you for every small mistake you make must just ratchet it up even more. As fans, we really do need to be careful about what we post.
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Deebee – as long as we’re still allowed to shudder at Dayglo and his towel.
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…….Raging at the dying of the light…………………………….
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Here is the G’s article on Vunipola’s arrest: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr/29/billy-vunipola-tasered-during-arrest-at-weekend-in-spanish-bar-rugby-union
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Thauma luckily we don’t have the Dayglo trauma down here, so shudder away!
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Well, I tried to find it for you, Deebee, but was unsuccessful. Mostly because I can’t remember what the thing is actually advertising.
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Watching the snooker again, and it strikes me that a disproportionate number of the players are left-handed. (And then there’s Ronnie, who can play with all three hands.)
Which got me thinking about the number of left-footed players in rugby. I’ve no idea if footedness correlates with handedness, but I’d think so; I’m both right-handed and right-footed.
Is there something about left-sidedness that makes you more likely to be an élite athlete?
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(Not that I’d normally describe snooker players as athletes, but you know what I mean: people extremely talented with hand-eye coordination and so on.)
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I found it, sorry
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Nice one, Refit! :-)
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It’s not fair that Deebee’s eyeballs go unpunished.
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Deebee must still be having his eyeballs bleached.
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Eyeballs intact. Avoided video. Just. Cunning trap, Baldrick! Public holiday here today (we celebrate Worker’s Day as a full holiday) so been lunching and stuff for most of it. Slightly pickled now I’m home. See you all tomorrow!
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Deebee. You must watch the video. It’s only fair.
But after you’ve finished celebrating Worker’s Day (do you only have one worker in SA?).
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Quick drive by. Rugby players in too much beer shock. Nothing to see here, give em a bit of counselling and a hug, move along.
Anyone got any good TV recommendations? Like a bit of Scandi, or something quality French would be good, like Call my Agent or the cop one with George North in it. Need to avoid watching the news.
Gallagher Prem is fun, lots of unpredictability, looking forward to the climax.
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Tim – no, I’ve not watched anything particularly good lately. There was a third (?) season of Wisting that was okay, but only four episodes.
And that comment reminds me of my grandfather, who said one of two things after each meal he was served: ‘It was all right, what there was of it’, or ‘There was plenty of it, such as it was’.
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During the meal, he would get very cross if he couldn’t reach the butter, and would shout, ‘There should be two butters on the table!’
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(Butter is nearly as much of a religion in Ireland as potatoes.)
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Thaum, when my grand father was served a slice of ham or whatever that he considered too thin, he’d say something like: “pas mal, mais ça avait goût de couteau.” Not bad but tasted like knife.
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“They” are saying that Sione Tuipolotu’s little brother Mosese is joining Edinburgh soon, he’s currently at the Waratahs.
On another note, France was a whole new world to me, food wise. How can simple things like butter or sliced ham taste so much better?
A ham and butter sandwich on a baguette is a thing of beauty, in fact so much so that Michel Roux Jr. took someone to a little take away place in Paris to sample a jambon beurre baguette when they were doing a tv show about the best restaurants in various cities.
I’m looking forward to the rugby this weekend.
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Flair, in case you are interested, I’ve just had a look and they went to La Tour D’Argent (v expensive), Jambon Beurre in Rue St Honoré and finished with huge seafood platters at Brasserie La Couple
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France was a whole new world to me, food wise. How can simple things like butter or sliced ham taste so much better?
Probably better to sample them with wine than Irnbru.
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Ticht, I used to live towards the eastern end of rue St Honoré (the western part is very very posh, Elysee palace and all that). A good jambon- beurre as we call it, is a thing of beauty. La Coupole is your trade mark Paris brasserie, decent food but quite overpriced. La Tour d’Argent is in a different bracket, an expensive treat for a round number birthday or some such.
Also looking forward to tomorrow’s rugby. Toulouse are quite entertaining these days. Clermont meh…
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Ah! I know where you’re all talking about now! I’ve had dinner at La Coupole! It was about 20 years ago on one of my first visits to Paris. Magical memories!
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Crusaders Clobbered in Christchurch! Reds Rumble Razor’s (ex)Rabble! 28-33 final score and another humiliating chapter in their woeful season.
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A couple of things to consider today: will the Sharks be able to rouse the London Saffers to support them at the Stoep? Will Northampton croke at the Park?
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Stoep being Afrikaans for a verandah.
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Going to miss tonight’s Croke Park extravaganza as we’re going round a friend’s. :-(
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Saints are missing the fun too and they’re on the park!
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Immediately as I posted that, they get a scrum penalty. For small sums, I can diss your team to victory. It’s a gift.
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