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.
Just been invited to an event with a knighted British and Irish Lion! Woohoo!
It’s a stuffy official gathering. Boooo!
Free food and booze! Woohoo!
In Pretoria, so not going to be drinking and driving. Too far to Uber. Boooo!
On a weekend when I’m travelling, so that’s that then anyway. Ach!
Boks to face Scotland, England and Wales on the EOYT, so we play Ireland, the All Blacks and Wales twice each this year. Bok schedule is quite daunting for a post-World Cup year, where we traditionally suck: Wales at Twickers as a warm-up in June, then two Tests each against Ireland and the All Blacks, with a first Test against Portugal sandwiched in-between. After that, it’s Argentina at home before two Tests in Australia and one in Argentina. That’s not far off World Cup levels of intensity, especially given that both Ireland and the All Blacks will want to make statements on SA soil. Shouldn’t imagine we’ll be getting a warm fuzzy reception in the UK in November either!
No.1 son is playing U18.5 age group – reached the quarter final in Munster top level (we have cup, development cup, plate, dev plate, bowl, dev bowl – so 48 teams reach some knock out phase or other). Lost out to eventual champions.
Not bad for a group with 17-18 active players – generally blessed with injuries – THP broke his leg in Feb, but somehow rest of them survived with only the odd muscle strain.
Played local cup final on Sunday winning 31-18 – downside was we got a bye to the final as our opponents couldnt field. Still it was an excellent performance helped by brilliant sunshine and a firm pitch
No.2 son is playing #10 in U16 age group – reached the quarter final in Munster top level (we have cup, development cup, plate, dev plate, bowl, dev bowl – so 48 teams reach some knock out phase or other).
Lost out in “controversial” circumstances – newbie ref appointed and really out of his depth – he’d reffed a U14 game with a a week or two earlier and been fine – this was too fast and furious. His decison making was wildly inconsistent and basically the boys couldn’t handle it.
Playing a team with a heavier pack – they needed to go wide and move them around, but tried the direct route too much. Lost by 1 score – a pity as it was the first competitive loss all season.
In the local cup – we lost away to team whose own ref was in charge. Game ended with a massive brawl. I’ve a ‘horror’ photo of a tackle on my son – shoulder straight to the head….play on.
In between we went to Toulouse – U16s played Toulouse Montaudran as one game on the tour.
No.3 son plays second row for the U14s. Unlike last season where they won all around them – we were a lot weaker – U13 cohort were pretty raw. Started season with a few consecutvie defeats, then a draw, a narrow loss and 3 wins gave some confidence.
In Munster, we ended up in what I think was a very strong group and only won 1 out of 4 but only lost by a score in the others
Ended up in a plate final in West Munster, but too many played poorly. Tackling non-existent….
Anyway, nos1 and 2 sons will play together next year – which I’m really looking forward to. No3 son is most likely to get game time as a prop next year – which might suit as he’s a reasonable call carrier in tight and got a decent pass, but as yet not the levels of athleticism needed for 2nd row at U16 group.
@deebee
I’m expecting Ireland to go “locked-and-loaded” – after the series win in NZ, a GS and 2 6N, Farrell will want to get another win in SA before he heads off to the Lions
I don’t expect it to be an experimental team with fringe players – equally, I’m guessing SA have a point to prove after RWC2023.
Earliest we’ll see any post-RWC experiment with Ireland is the AIs, and then with NZ and Aus – we might not.
Then Farrell’s replacement will want to show well in 2025 6N, so that probably won’t be the time for experiments either – so could be the summer of 2025.
Then with expectation of a solid contingent with the Lions – what remains could be so experimental and janky that promising international careers are wrecked and we’re back to the tried and trusted for 2025 AIs.
With 2026 6N and run in to RWC2027 coming up quickly – it could be seen as too late to start blooding players – so we run into RWC2027 with an ageing squad
Trisk, Rassie has already said that he’s building towards 2027 and the results leading up to it are of lesser importance. But I’ll bet plenty that he’s secretly looking to put one over both Ireland and the All Blacks – he’s a fiercely competitive coach. No Bok coach or player wants to lose to the Kiwis, especially at home and we’ve got a point to prove against Ireland as well: our record recently has been crap (as has everyone’s to be fair) and he won’t want Ireland doing to us what they did in New Zealand last time out.
Think he’ll send a largely fringe and ‘next generation’ side to Twickers for the Wales match, like he did against Wales in Washington in 2018. That side, which lost 22-20, included 7 uncapped players and a number who went on to being part of the 2019 and 2023 sides. Some fell by the wayside too and I had to remind myself of a who a few guys were!
South Africa: Curwin Bosch; Travis Ismaiel, Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Elton Jantjies, Ivan van Zyl; Ox Nche, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Wilco Louw, Jason Jenkins, Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt), Kwagga Smith, Oupa Mohoje, Dan du Preez
Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Steven Kitshoff, Thomas du Toit, Marvin Orie, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Embrose Papier, Robert du Preez, Warrick Gelant
@Trisk – glad to hear your lads are continuing their rugby, even if results didn’t all go their way.
Regarding the comment box – WordPress added an option to disable all the fancy features, so I turned it off. It was making commenting from mobile and generally posting links to things a pain in the arse.
He’s been injured for about a year, Slade. Not sure he would have played again this season even if he hadn’t been leaving. And nothing I’ve read about Jonny over the years makes me think he’s the type to rock the boat. Especially as his injury rehabilitation would have taken place with Exeter.
You’d hope he fully recovers – at 30 he’s probably approaching ‘peak lock’ for a couple of years. Being out injured for a season will have given the rest of his body and mind time to rejuvenate too.
Alec Hepburn to Scarlets apparently – looks like Exeter are offloading players. My take on the Johnny Gray situation, through no insider knowledge at all, is that the insurance has run out and as he’s not going to play for Exeter again the club aren’t going to renew to pay his salary and for rehab.
I can’t see there being a spot for Gray in Scotland, both clubs have a lot of locks on their books with young Scottish guys coming through.
If he can pass a medical I can see Gray going to France, he was liked with Montpellier recently.
Crusaders carved up the Rebels earlier, 39-0 I think, and in the other big upset of the weekend so far, the Tahs are 7-0 up against the Chiefs, courtesy of a try their hooker called Heaven. Make of that what you will!
Heaven the hooker held up short! Or something. Chiefs get another bloke binned for it. They’re playing 20 minutes of the first 27 with 14 players. No idea what the first card was for. Tahs maul from the 5m lineout again, which goes down, legally (no hooker involved it seems), but the 9 nips in at the corner and it’s 12-0! 20 minutes in.
Chiefs respond with a well worked try of their own, the fullback gliding through after selling a dummy, but doing his hammy in the process. 12-5 as D-Mac almost has his kick charged down! Off the post.
Chiefs turning the screw at scrum time. 5m out, 3rd reset coming up. Surely a penalty try shortly? Tahs hold it up, but get pinged for offside. Scrum called again… they go wide after being told to use it and score in the corner with ease. Seemed a lot of huff and puff for that!
For those who claim there’s no space on a modern rugby pitch, take a look at Chief’s 3rd try: off the top of the lineout, 9 to 10, skip pass, wrap around, wing coming in off the left to create the extra player and a couple of passes and the wing is in without a defender near him. Simple, excellent, lovely to watch.
Tahs take 3 points from in front to narrow the gap to 2, but from the restart don’t find touch, the Chiefs run it back and the Tahs kinda decide to watch whilst the 9 (obvs) scurried through, jinking this way and that. 15-24 and it’s looking ominous for the Tahs.
Tahs 9 (obvs) instigates a modern-day brawl, which means everyone grabbing jerseys and pushing, but with big grins so the ref knows they’re just good blokes have a chat.
Chiefs turning up the heat now. Penalty in the 22 and they get the shove on, tying in the Tahs loonies. Number 8 picks, goes, clatters a few out the way and over! 15-31 with 17 to go.
Tahs got a 7 pointer whilst I wasn’t watching, clawing it back to 22-31.
Under a penalty advantage the Chiefs burst deep into the Tahs 22. Boschier scores in the corner, but I reckon it would’ve been a penalty try if he hadn’t. No matter, D-Mac slots the extras. 22-38.
Thought about putting a new post up, but it would have been me boring on about Ulster, who pretty much must win tonight against Treviso (at Ravenhill, luckily). A bonus point would very much come in handy, too. McCloskey’s back, but Hume’s still injured from last week, as are Hendo, Herring, Flannery, Doak and Kitshoff, who seems to have played his last game for Ulster. So we have Addison in the centre, for some stupid reason. He’s not even very good at his normal position.
I missed the build up, so I don’t know if they mentioned it but the thing I’ve seen with Bennetton is that they’re very good at holding possession and building large numbers of phases – it showed there for the try
Thaum, what’s the deal with Kitshoff? They said earlier that he won’t be seen in white again now that he’s injured and that was said in the press this week – I thought he’d signed for three years?
Ticht – that’s right, but by mutual agreement, the contract has been ended early. He’s really not been good for us, and is presumably very expensive, and I expect he’s homesick himself.
Ovally Balls 
Just been invited to an event with a knighted British and Irish Lion! Woohoo!
It’s a stuffy official gathering. Boooo!
Free food and booze! Woohoo!
In Pretoria, so not going to be drinking and driving. Too far to Uber. Boooo!
On a weekend when I’m travelling, so that’s that then anyway. Ach!
Boks to face Scotland, England and Wales on the EOYT, so we play Ireland, the All Blacks and Wales twice each this year. Bok schedule is quite daunting for a post-World Cup year, where we traditionally suck: Wales at Twickers as a warm-up in June, then two Tests each against Ireland and the All Blacks, with a first Test against Portugal sandwiched in-between. After that, it’s Argentina at home before two Tests in Australia and one in Argentina. That’s not far off World Cup levels of intensity, especially given that both Ireland and the All Blacks will want to make statements on SA soil. Shouldn’t imagine we’ll be getting a warm fuzzy reception in the UK in November either!
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@Refit – Bradbury back to Embra confirmed, 2 year deal.
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McCloskey is merely being rested
Probably IRFU instructions…..
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Grassroots update #1
No.1 son is playing U18.5 age group – reached the quarter final in Munster top level (we have cup, development cup, plate, dev plate, bowl, dev bowl – so 48 teams reach some knock out phase or other). Lost out to eventual champions.
Not bad for a group with 17-18 active players – generally blessed with injuries – THP broke his leg in Feb, but somehow rest of them survived with only the odd muscle strain.
Played local cup final on Sunday winning 31-18 – downside was we got a bye to the final as our opponents couldnt field. Still it was an excellent performance helped by brilliant sunshine and a firm pitch
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Grassroots update #2
No.2 son is playing #10 in U16 age group – reached the quarter final in Munster top level (we have cup, development cup, plate, dev plate, bowl, dev bowl – so 48 teams reach some knock out phase or other).
Lost out in “controversial” circumstances – newbie ref appointed and really out of his depth – he’d reffed a U14 game with a a week or two earlier and been fine – this was too fast and furious. His decison making was wildly inconsistent and basically the boys couldn’t handle it.
Playing a team with a heavier pack – they needed to go wide and move them around, but tried the direct route too much. Lost by 1 score – a pity as it was the first competitive loss all season.
In the local cup – we lost away to team whose own ref was in charge. Game ended with a massive brawl. I’ve a ‘horror’ photo of a tackle on my son – shoulder straight to the head….play on.
In between we went to Toulouse – U16s played Toulouse Montaudran as one game on the tour.
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Grassroots update #3
No.3 son plays second row for the U14s. Unlike last season where they won all around them – we were a lot weaker – U13 cohort were pretty raw. Started season with a few consecutvie defeats, then a draw, a narrow loss and 3 wins gave some confidence.
In Munster, we ended up in what I think was a very strong group and only won 1 out of 4 but only lost by a score in the others
Ended up in a plate final in West Munster, but too many played poorly. Tackling non-existent….
Anyway, nos1 and 2 sons will play together next year – which I’m really looking forward to. No3 son is most likely to get game time as a prop next year – which might suit as he’s a reasonable call carrier in tight and got a decent pass, but as yet not the levels of athleticism needed for 2nd row at U16 group.
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Hmmm – what’s happened (again) to the text entry box – all the formatting features are gone again…..
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then two Tests […] against Ireland
@deebee
I’m expecting Ireland to go “locked-and-loaded” – after the series win in NZ, a GS and 2 6N, Farrell will want to get another win in SA before he heads off to the Lions
I don’t expect it to be an experimental team with fringe players – equally, I’m guessing SA have a point to prove after RWC2023.
Earliest we’ll see any post-RWC experiment with Ireland is the AIs, and then with NZ and Aus – we might not.
Then Farrell’s replacement will want to show well in 2025 6N, so that probably won’t be the time for experiments either – so could be the summer of 2025.
Then with expectation of a solid contingent with the Lions – what remains could be so experimental and janky that promising international careers are wrecked and we’re back to the tried and trusted for 2025 AIs.
With 2026 6N and run in to RWC2027 coming up quickly – it could be seen as too late to start blooding players – so we run into RWC2027 with an ageing squad
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Trisk, Rassie has already said that he’s building towards 2027 and the results leading up to it are of lesser importance. But I’ll bet plenty that he’s secretly looking to put one over both Ireland and the All Blacks – he’s a fiercely competitive coach. No Bok coach or player wants to lose to the Kiwis, especially at home and we’ve got a point to prove against Ireland as well: our record recently has been crap (as has everyone’s to be fair) and he won’t want Ireland doing to us what they did in New Zealand last time out.
Think he’ll send a largely fringe and ‘next generation’ side to Twickers for the Wales match, like he did against Wales in Washington in 2018. That side, which lost 22-20, included 7 uncapped players and a number who went on to being part of the 2019 and 2023 sides. Some fell by the wayside too and I had to remind myself of a who a few guys were!
South Africa: Curwin Bosch; Travis Ismaiel, Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Elton Jantjies, Ivan van Zyl; Ox Nche, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Wilco Louw, Jason Jenkins, Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt), Kwagga Smith, Oupa Mohoje, Dan du Preez
Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Steven Kitshoff, Thomas du Toit, Marvin Orie, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Embrose Papier, Robert du Preez, Warrick Gelant
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@Trisk – glad to hear your lads are continuing their rugby, even if results didn’t all go their way.
Regarding the comment box – WordPress added an option to disable all the fancy features, so I turned it off. It was making commenting from mobile and generally posting links to things a pain in the arse.
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The comment box is no longer fancy. Or being used. It is sad. Especially being called a pain in the arse.
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Johnny Gray leaving Exeter with immediate effect to sort a new future.
Sounds like both sides were fed up with each other……………………
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He’s been injured for about a year, Slade. Not sure he would have played again this season even if he hadn’t been leaving. And nothing I’ve read about Jonny over the years makes me think he’s the type to rock the boat. Especially as his injury rehabilitation would have taken place with Exeter.
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You’d hope he fully recovers – at 30 he’s probably approaching ‘peak lock’ for a couple of years. Being out injured for a season will have given the rest of his body and mind time to rejuvenate too.
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BB
I would agree with you but it seems odd to terminate the relationship now esp. as JG has no apparent new ‘home’.
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Alec Hepburn to Scarlets apparently – looks like Exeter are offloading players. My take on the Johnny Gray situation, through no insider knowledge at all, is that the insurance has run out and as he’s not going to play for Exeter again the club aren’t going to renew to pay his salary and for rehab.
I can’t see there being a spot for Gray in Scotland, both clubs have a lot of locks on their books with young Scottish guys coming through.
If he can pass a medical I can see Gray going to France, he was liked with Montpellier recently.
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linked.
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Jeez, he can’t pass a ball, now you want to pass a medical? Tough school this.
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Crusaders carved up the Rebels earlier, 39-0 I think, and in the other big upset of the weekend so far, the Tahs are 7-0 up against the Chiefs, courtesy of a try their hooker called Heaven. Make of that what you will!
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Heaven the hooker held up short! Or something. Chiefs get another bloke binned for it. They’re playing 20 minutes of the first 27 with 14 players. No idea what the first card was for. Tahs maul from the 5m lineout again, which goes down, legally (no hooker involved it seems), but the 9 nips in at the corner and it’s 12-0! 20 minutes in.
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Chiefs respond with a well worked try of their own, the fullback gliding through after selling a dummy, but doing his hammy in the process. 12-5 as D-Mac almost has his kick charged down! Off the post.
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Chiefs turning the screw at scrum time. 5m out, 3rd reset coming up. Surely a penalty try shortly? Tahs hold it up, but get pinged for offside. Scrum called again… they go wide after being told to use it and score in the corner with ease. Seemed a lot of huff and puff for that!
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12-all at oranges.
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For those who claim there’s no space on a modern rugby pitch, take a look at Chief’s 3rd try: off the top of the lineout, 9 to 10, skip pass, wrap around, wing coming in off the left to create the extra player and a couple of passes and the wing is in without a defender near him. Simple, excellent, lovely to watch.
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Tahs take 3 points from in front to narrow the gap to 2, but from the restart don’t find touch, the Chiefs run it back and the Tahs kinda decide to watch whilst the 9 (obvs) scurried through, jinking this way and that. 15-24 and it’s looking ominous for the Tahs.
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Tahs 9 (obvs) instigates a modern-day brawl, which means everyone grabbing jerseys and pushing, but with big grins so the ref knows they’re just good blokes have a chat.
Chiefs turning up the heat now. Penalty in the 22 and they get the shove on, tying in the Tahs loonies. Number 8 picks, goes, clatters a few out the way and over! 15-31 with 17 to go.
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Tahs got a 7 pointer whilst I wasn’t watching, clawing it back to 22-31.
Under a penalty advantage the Chiefs burst deep into the Tahs 22. Boschier scores in the corner, but I reckon it would’ve been a penalty try if he hadn’t. No matter, D-Mac slots the extras. 22-38.
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Final score. Aussie sides got battered on both sides of the ditch today.
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Thought about putting a new post up, but it would have been me boring on about Ulster, who pretty much must win tonight against Treviso (at Ravenhill, luckily). A bonus point would very much come in handy, too. McCloskey’s back, but Hume’s still injured from last week, as are Hendo, Herring, Flannery, Doak and Kitshoff, who seems to have played his last game for Ulster. So we have Addison in the centre, for some stupid reason. He’s not even very good at his normal position.
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Treviso deserve to lose just for the offensive colour they’re playing in.
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And Treviso are over in the corner in the fifth minute.
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I missed the build up, so I don’t know if they mentioned it but the thing I’ve seen with Bennetton is that they’re very good at holding possession and building large numbers of phases – it showed there for the try
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I went an “n” too much there, Benetton
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Oh, Timoney. We’re also missing Timoney, who’s been one of our best players this year.
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Ticht – yep, we are being out-played.
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TRY Stewart! Run in!
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Nice from Cooney
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Excellent try-saving tackle from Cooney there, as well.
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I’m all for Ulster winning, but the complete lack of a pretence of neutrality from the comms grates a bit
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Treviso must have slotted a penalty while I wasn’t looking, ‘cos it’s 7-8 now.
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Thaum, what’s the deal with Kitshoff? They said earlier that he won’t be seen in white again now that he’s injured and that was said in the press this week – I thought he’d signed for three years?
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Cooney again with a brilliant tackle! Scrum-halves, eh?
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Ticht – that’s right, but by mutual agreement, the contract has been ended early. He’s really not been good for us, and is presumably very expensive, and I expect he’s homesick himself.
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Ah right, Cheers Thaum.
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Great. We’ve got Lowry doing the kicking because Burns seems to be injured (but is still playing).
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Scarlets leading fully loaded Sharks 13 – 10
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See Parton’s scored for Sarries. Must have been a dolly…..
(Sorry).
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TRY someone on the Ulster side!
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TRY Stockdale! That was quite a fabulous team try.
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And that’s 21-8 at HT!
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