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.
Nothing has gone Saints way tonight, but they’ve been second best at pretty much everything. A couple of scrum penalties aside, they’ve struggled to get into the game.
Still 12 to go and only 10 points in it. Leinster have been so much more dominant than that. And yet, Saints just can’t get enough continuity or control.
Ooh, another try for Saints. A tap penalty on the Leinster line, a couple of phases in tight, before they go wide. Finn Smith converts and it’s a 3 point game with 5mins to go. 20-17
Well now! Saints batter away, take the tap penalty and get it wide with a looping pass and score in the corner! Conversion is good and it’s 20-17 with 5 to go!
Saints with a last charge downfield, they’re busting it up all over the place, but Leinster get the turnover penalty! All they need to do is win the lineout and clear. They’re making a mess of it… but eventually scramble the ball into touch! Weird match: Leinster looked in complete control for most of the game, but simply couldn’t put Saints away at all. In the end, Saints threatened a burglary for the ages.
I may be wrong. Quins go long on the lineout and make progress up field. Dombrant almost get to the line, but manages to recycle. Ball to Smith, he does a little shimmy, breaks the line and scores. He also converts. 5-7 15mins.
It has all gone bonkers in midfield. Quins play some fast, passing rugby, then Dupont pounces on a loose ball and it’s Toulouse’s turn to chuck it about. Until it ends with a knock on & scrum.
It’s getting a wee bit tetchy at scrum time, Aldeghri has a penalty against him, for mouthing off to the ref. Quins go for the lineout, but it’s overthrown and TLS break down field.
Costes puts in a grubber behind, Murley (Q-11) tries to dive on it, but rolls over it. Kinghorn controls the ball and Dupont picks it up to score his second.
Hat-trick for Dupont! Mauvaka spots a gap on the edge of the Quins 22 and pins his ears back. A defender manages to tackle him just before the line, but he presents the ball perfectly for Antoine to pick it up and dive over the line.
Ooh, Quins off to a flying start in the second half. They get a penalty and put it in the corner. TLS engage early at the maul and Quins go wide. Esterhuizen tries a grubber, but it bounces off a TLS player and back into his hands. Smith goes wide and Murley launches himself into the corner to score.
Ooh, Lynagh glides through the TLS defence, on the far side, however his pass is intercepted by a TLS hand. They clear the ball into Quins half, but Smith does an excellent job of saving the ball from touch, right on his tip-toes. Quins run it back and Green (Quins FB) cuts the perfect line to score. 31-26 55mins.
Ntamack goes high on Esterhuizen, who stays down. The physio is on and points at a replay being shown on the screen, to the referee Brace. Nothing happens.
TLS put the ball into the 22 and set up a maul from the lineout. It looks like Quins have done a good job to defend it, but TLS go wide FAST. Quick hands get it to Mallia, who heads to the corner. He’s tackled short, but not held and he dives for the line and scores. Ramos kicks the 2.
Bloody hell, Marler just found a gap and broke a tackle to make it into the TLS half, with Quins winning a penalty from the breakdown. However, he then slaps Ramos round the back of the head and it’s reversed.
TLS go long at the resulting lineout and move the ball in-field. They’re pinged on the Quins 22, at the far touchline, for holding on, with 5 seconds left on the clock. One of the TLS players is lying on the ball and Brace marches them back 10.
Green taps and goes, but doesn’t have the support. He’s turned over at the breakdown and the ball is hacked into touch. Final score 38-26.
Excellent game in Toulouse, kudos to Quins. Their discipline ( lack of, obviously) cost them a YC card (surprisingly not red for a direct hit to the head, but then it’s Brace) and a reversed penalty at the worst of time when they had Toulouse in the ropes. Some great handling, lines, counter rucks etc…
Smith isn’t very popular in Toulouse (understatement of the day) as he started some stupid shenanigans with Ramos, whether with England or Quins during their previous game. Excellent player though, although he looks like he would probably be even better if he wasn’t so much in love with himself.
Sounds like a cracker of a match! Will have to find a replay. Marler? Not unexpected, to be honest. Smith is Smith, personally don’t like him, but he’s a very good footballer.
Well done Toulouse.
I criticise Care for his quick tap penalty right in front of the posts – which failed. Quins coyld have had a sure 3 pts and Toulouse possibly a yellow.
Quins lost all control and momentum from there to half-time and it cost them a lot of points and the match.
It may work against some lower teams but not the top ones.
I didn’t see what happened but as far as I’m aware it was an accident, Blair Kinghorn has posted a picture of his face with his new Roman nose, as in it’s roamin’ all over his face.
He looks like he’s been in with peak Mike Tyson. I hope it is a fairly straightforward fix and that it’s a quick one, it would be a heartbreaker to lose out on the European Cup final because of it.
I thought the game was going to be a lot more one-side that it turned out but Toulouse do that, they are want to lose concentration and when the opposition is as good as Quins they will come back into it.
There will be many comments about this or that aspect of the game (bad ref, bad tv director, RC not dished etc) but for my money, it was a wonderful game of rugby, very much like Quins vs Bordeaux, with jaw dropping skills and great entreprising spirit. Takes two to waltz, right?
Wish Quins played in T-14.
Merci messieurs.
Watching the snooker final. It’s an odd one as no-one expected either player to be in the final, and neither is really up to World Cup standard, but all the top seeds got knocked out in earlier rounds including (sadly) new world number one, Norn Irishman Mark Allen. (Last year’s winner, bald bad-ass Belgian Luca Brecel, got knocked out in the first round.)
Obviously we are cheering on the Welshman, who went seven frames down in the first session, but is slowly clawing it back and is now only three frames down.
Last year’s winner, bald bad-ass Belgian Luca Brecel, got knocked out in the first round
Get your money on now for Wilson to get knocked out in R1 next year…..as has every 1st time champ since who knows when…. probably Terry Griffiths 1977 champion.
Ovally Balls 
Leinster in a mean mood in that first 40. Saints didn’t help themselves with some sloppy passing, but they were outplayed for the most part.
LikeLike
Leinster are just bullying Saints. Meanies.
LikeLike
Nothing has gone Saints way tonight, but they’ve been second best at pretty much everything. A couple of scrum penalties aside, they’ve struggled to get into the game.
LikeLike
And then they score! Great resolve to keep going and they’re not letting this go. 20-10. Still 20 to go. They do need to hang onto the ball more.
LikeLike
Still 12 to go and only 10 points in it. Leinster have been so much more dominant than that. And yet, Saints just can’t get enough continuity or control.
LikeLike
82,300 people at Croke Park! Magnificent!
LikeLike
Ooh, another try for Saints. A tap penalty on the Leinster line, a couple of phases in tight, before they go wide. Finn Smith converts and it’s a 3 point game with 5mins to go. 20-17
LikeLike
Well now! Saints batter away, take the tap penalty and get it wide with a looping pass and score in the corner! Conversion is good and it’s 20-17 with 5 to go!
LikeLike
It was an excellent conversion too, right between the posts, from all the way out on the touchline.
LikeLike
Saints with a last charge downfield, they’re busting it up all over the place, but Leinster get the turnover penalty! All they need to do is win the lineout and clear. They’re making a mess of it… but eventually scramble the ball into touch! Weird match: Leinster looked in complete control for most of the game, but simply couldn’t put Saints away at all. In the end, Saints threatened a burglary for the ages.
LikeLike
Whew! Saints are one of my favourite English teams, but y’know … they’re still English.
LikeLike
First try inside 4mins for Toulouse, making it look very easy. I think this could be a long afternoon at the office for Quins.
LikeLike
I may be wrong. Quins go long on the lineout and make progress up field. Dombrant almost get to the line, but manages to recycle. Ball to Smith, he does a little shimmy, breaks the line and scores. He also converts. 5-7 15mins.
LikeLike
Please keep the updates coming, Refit! Not able to watch.
LikeLike
They’re really not fans of Smith, down in France. Constant boos and whistles whenever he has the ball.
LikeLike
I’ve missed a try by Mauvaka and another by Quins, Dombrant over from a lineout. 12-all after 25mins.
But from the restart, a Quins player has the ball ripped away and Flament scampers over in the corner to score. 17-12 just before the half hour mark.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It has all gone bonkers in midfield. Quins play some fast, passing rugby, then Dupont pounces on a loose ball and it’s Toulouse’s turn to chuck it about. Until it ends with a knock on & scrum.
It’s getting a wee bit tetchy at scrum time, Aldeghri has a penalty against him, for mouthing off to the ref. Quins go for the lineout, but it’s overthrown and TLS break down field.
Costes puts in a grubber behind, Murley (Q-11) tries to dive on it, but rolls over it. Kinghorn controls the ball and Dupont picks it up to score his second.
24-12 32mins
LikeLike
Hat-trick for Dupont! Mauvaka spots a gap on the edge of the Quins 22 and pins his ears back. A defender manages to tackle him just before the line, but he presents the ball perfectly for Antoine to pick it up and dive over the line.
29-12 38mins.
LikeLike
I was a little over eager there, only two tries for Dupont (so far).
LikeLike
Ooh, Quins off to a flying start in the second half. They get a penalty and put it in the corner. TLS engage early at the maul and Quins go wide. Esterhuizen tries a grubber, but it bounces off a TLS player and back into his hands. Smith goes wide and Murley launches himself into the corner to score.
31-19 45mins.
LikeLike
Quins lose another lineout on their own throw. It’s really not helping them.
LikeLike
Ooh, Lynagh glides through the TLS defence, on the far side, however his pass is intercepted by a TLS hand. They clear the ball into Quins half, but Smith does an excellent job of saving the ball from touch, right on his tip-toes. Quins run it back and Green (Quins FB) cuts the perfect line to score. 31-26 55mins.
LikeLike
Ntamack goes high on Esterhuizen, who stays down. The physio is on and points at a replay being shown on the screen, to the referee Brace. Nothing happens.
Have I ever mentioned I’m not a fan of Brace?
LikeLike
Jack Walker’s in trouble. He flies head-first over a ruck, straight into Dupont’s head. Ref goes for review.
LikeLike
Somehow it’s only a yellow. Baffling from the ref/TMO.
LikeLike
TLS put the ball into the 22 and set up a maul from the lineout. It looks like Quins have done a good job to defend it, but TLS go wide FAST. Quick hands get it to Mallia, who heads to the corner. He’s tackled short, but not held and he dives for the line and scores. Ramos kicks the 2.
38-26 69mins (nice).
LikeLike
Bloody hell, Marler just found a gap and broke a tackle to make it into the TLS half, with Quins winning a penalty from the breakdown. However, he then slaps Ramos round the back of the head and it’s reversed.
LikeLike
TLS go long at the resulting lineout and move the ball in-field. They’re pinged on the Quins 22, at the far touchline, for holding on, with 5 seconds left on the clock. One of the TLS players is lying on the ball and Brace marches them back 10.
Green taps and goes, but doesn’t have the support. He’s turned over at the breakdown and the ball is hacked into touch. Final score 38-26.
LikeLike
Excellent game in Toulouse, kudos to Quins. Their discipline ( lack of, obviously) cost them a YC card (surprisingly not red for a direct hit to the head, but then it’s Brace) and a reversed penalty at the worst of time when they had Toulouse in the ropes. Some great handling, lines, counter rucks etc…
Smith isn’t very popular in Toulouse (understatement of the day) as he started some stupid shenanigans with Ramos, whether with England or Quins during their previous game. Excellent player though, although he looks like he would probably be even better if he wasn’t so much in love with himself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a cracker of a match! Will have to find a replay. Marler? Not unexpected, to be honest. Smith is Smith, personally don’t like him, but he’s a very good footballer.
LikeLike
Highlights
LikeLike
Well done Toulouse.
I criticise Care for his quick tap penalty right in front of the posts – which failed. Quins coyld have had a sure 3 pts and Toulouse possibly a yellow.
Quins lost all control and momentum from there to half-time and it cost them a lot of points and the match.
It may work against some lower teams but not the top ones.
LikeLike
@Flair – you could be referring to both players, I think!
LikeLike
Yes, I certainly could. I can’t stand theatrics nor mouthing, the game’s hard enough..
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t see what happened but as far as I’m aware it was an accident, Blair Kinghorn has posted a picture of his face with his new Roman nose, as in it’s roamin’ all over his face.
He looks like he’s been in with peak Mike Tyson. I hope it is a fairly straightforward fix and that it’s a quick one, it would be a heartbreaker to lose out on the European Cup final because of it.
I thought the game was going to be a lot more one-side that it turned out but Toulouse do that, they are want to lose concentration and when the opposition is as good as Quins they will come back into it.
The final should be a cracker.
LikeLike
wont not want
LikeLike
Ticht – ha, I gritted my teeth when I saw ‘want’ and thought Must resist the pedants’ curse, but luckily I didn’t have to!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thaum, I don’t actually know if I typed it or it was auto-corrected, but it jarred when I read it
LikeLike
There will be many comments about this or that aspect of the game (bad ref, bad tv director, RC not dished etc) but for my money, it was a wonderful game of rugby, very much like Quins vs Bordeaux, with jaw dropping skills and great entreprising spirit. Takes two to waltz, right?
Wish Quins played in T-14.
Merci messieurs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Watching the snooker final. It’s an odd one as no-one expected either player to be in the final, and neither is really up to World Cup standard, but all the top seeds got knocked out in earlier rounds including (sadly) new world number one, Norn Irishman Mark Allen. (Last year’s winner, bald bad-ass Belgian Luca Brecel, got knocked out in the first round.)
Obviously we are cheering on the Welshman, who went seven frames down in the first session, but is slowly clawing it back and is now only three frames down.
Final two sessions tomorrow.
LikeLike
What happened to Ronnie? Always seems as though he just has to turn up to win it (or that’s the impression I get from various media mutterings).
LikeLike
BB – knocked out by Stuart Bingham, who in turn was knocked out by Jak Jones.
LikeLike
Mosese Tuipulotu confirmed to Edinburgh
LikeLike
Weekend rugby wrap:
European rugby is Ticht’s beloved jambon beurre baguette. Super Rugby Pacific is McDonald’s just without the taste or health benefits.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Last year’s winner, bald bad-ass Belgian Luca Brecel, got knocked out in the first round
Get your money on now for Wilson to get knocked out in R1 next year…..as has every 1st time champ since who knows when…. probably Terry Griffiths 1977 champion.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not quite right …..must have misheard the chat or misread…. but no 1st time winner at the Crucible has retained the championship
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucible_curse
LikeLike
Don’t think we’ll be seeing Stuart Hogg on TV for a while
LikeLike
I should hope not! What a way to ruin your legacy.
LikeLike
What did he do? Haven’t seen anything down here.
LikeLike
Deebee – he’s been accused of stalking and threatening his ex wife. His court date is in July.
LikeLike