Last night I was ‘forced’ (Mothership usage of term, meaning doing it quite voluntarily) to watch a Peter Green tribute show led by Mick Fleetwood.
There is a star-studded cast of musicians, mostly playing very well, but they insist on playing twelve-bar blues, which must be the most rigid and repetitive form of music in existence, except for the even more terrible ones.
It’s like watching endless pick-and-goes, only there might be a chance of something exciting and different happening as a result of those pick-and-goes. A try might be created, or a horrible mistake might occur that leads to an end-to-end score by the opposition.
No chance of anything like that with twelve-bar blues, even as played by expert musicians. It is going to have exactly the same key and rhythm, the same clichéd lyrical and musical tropes, everything completely predictable and boring. The musical ball gets recycled, stuffed up the jumper, and goes again. And again. And again.
It’s also like watching scrums being reset for what feels like hours, but is probably only about three or four minutes. And the same thing happens in every scrum, but the referee just calls for a reset again. And again. And again. A dystopian nightmare.
But rejoice! There is some rugby available to watch in the near future, and hopefully it will be much more exciting than that.
Onna telly in the next week or so
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.
Friday 6th September
| Tonga v Fiji | 04:00 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Japan v USA | 11:05 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Scotland v Wales (women) | 19:35 | iPlayer |
Saturday 7th September
| Bayonne v Perpignan | 13:30 | Premier Sports 1 |
| England v France (women) | 15:30 | BBC1 |
| South Africa v New Zealand | 16:00 | Sky Sports Mix |
| Argentina v Australia | 20:00 | Sky Sports + |
| Bordeaux v Stade Français | 20:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
Sunday 8th September
| La Rochelle v Toulon | 16:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Vannes v Toulouse | 20:00 | Premier Sports 1 |
Ovally Balls 
It goes over!
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Fuck’s sake, we are playing like idiots now. Cooney kicks possession away, bit of tennis, then it’s a line-out to Cardiff with less than 2 mins to go.
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But Cardiff lose it forward!
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It’s 21-19….
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Fuck! Kok (I think) spills it, and it’s over.
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I’m going right off him. He didn’t have a very good match, except for that one brilliant bit where he threw it back in-field for a score….
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How the actual fuck did we manage to lose that?
Other than Cardiff being so much better than us in the second half, that is.
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Thanks for the comms Thaum.
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Highlights of The Mighty Warriors’ win. Commnetators nearly put me off right at the start when they called Brace “one of the best referees in the world”…
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Weird that they let people who’ve never watched a rugby match do the commentary BB?!
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I’m pretty sure they also called Sione “world class”, so they got something right.
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Damian Willemse out of the November Tests. It’s a huge pity because he’d come back from injury in sublime form. We do still have Willie le Roux and the vastly improved Apelele Fassi at 15, but Willemse also covered 12 and (at a push) 10. He’s been replaced in the squad by the Bulls loose forward Cameron Hanekom, who has been on Wales’s radar. Go figure. But it’s a richly deserved call up for a youngster who’s put in some excellent performances this season.
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Real rugby update
ARNOLD CLARK EAST REGION LEAGUE DIVISION 2 (MEN’S)
A new one on me, Dunbar’s game against Hawick Harlequins was abandoned on 60 minutes because it was too one-sided and Quins only had 15 players so when one got injured they threw in the towel.
It was 73-14 at that point
Dunbar are now 7 from 7, 35 league points to the good with a points difference of 311
I wouldn’t bet against them beating Edinburgh at the moment
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I’m going to have some cracking scars, when I’m fully healed.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DBn8n4ytLab2cDd6h-m36phnEDe_oCwG_3c5eM0/?igsh=MWxpNHA5aGVsMDh2cA==
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Damn, can’t see that without a login!
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They’re very neat!
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Yeah, these photos are the first time I’d properly seen them (one of the nursing assistants kindly took the pics, when I was being washed this morning).
I understand now, why there was a bit of a pinch on my right shoulder, when they pulled the suture out (I think the squiggly bit at the bottom caught a tad).
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Away from my shoulders
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Oh, for fucks sakes. Eng v NZ is only on BT Sport, as far as I can see. Not even highlights on terrestrial telly. I don’t think I’m going to be able to watch any of the autumn tests – the hospital only has Freeview and crap WiFi.
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Looks like I’ll need to up my MBM game then…
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Munster snaffled a TBP from the Sharks.
Problem is lack power in front five – starting FR very experienced but on the downslope athletically (still sound enough in the scrum to get better of Leisnter in that facet), but probably needed to be replaced 3 years ago. Academy props haven’t worked out or haven’t reached required levels to be starters.
You can see it in the huffing and puffing close to the try line – can’t break the line.
Defensively – no stopping power against opposition packs
Getting done over in the tight – means they’re opting to get the ball wide quickly at costs and intercepts, knock ons follow
Team is cursed with injuries – lads who were signed as cover/second layer are starting.
On the upside – NZ are coming to town on Saturday…..
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Rowntree is to leave Munster with immediate effect. From his comments it looks like he jumped rather than being pushed
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Wow Ticht! Any news on why he jumped? I know Ten Haag has been booted by United, but I don’t think Rowntree is in the running (no matter how bad the Glazers are at buying the right people).
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Rumours and rumours – technically, he’s an IRFU employee not employed by Munster. So this went to the top.
Rumours about things going pear-shaped in SA on coaching side…
Pity – he was well liked by fans.
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So Damian Willemse, the wonderfully talented, if injury prone fullback, got injured last weekend (again) and was replaced by loose forward Cameron Hanekom in the Bok November Test squad. Frans Malherbe has now withdrawn due to injury and the tighthead prop has been replaced by….. Jordan Hendrikse, the exciting Sharks flyhalf. Good news for him and loosehead props in the UK!
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Right, time for England Vs South Africa.
Albeit in the women’s football.
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Update to my physio today. I got to move my arms myself (with support/assistance), instead of having to keep my muscles relaxed while they’re moved for me.
It felt good doing it myself and I was left with a good ache in my shoulders (now gone). I can also do some exercises on my own, without the physios present.
I keep making progress and it’s very satisfying 😊.
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England 2-0 at half time. We are ranked a lot higher than SA.
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Final score 2-1.
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Good luck with the rehab, Refit
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Rehab seems to be going well, Refit! Long may it continue.
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England and the Replacements to sing their tune on Saturday:
England: 15 George Furbank, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Tommy Freeman, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Chandler Cunningham-South, 5 George Martin, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Jamie George (captain), 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Alex Dombrandt, 22 Harry Randall, 23 George Ford.
6-2 split on the bench, I wonder what Bill Beaumont thinks of that? Is George Ford a finisher at 10? I’d imagine you’d want to be ahead if he’s coming on. And what’s with four vice-captains? Three in the starting pack and one reserve back? A bit weird that. Will decide on scrum or lineout by committee?
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Borthwick going full Rassie with the bench split and naming the side two days early. Scott Robertson (or Robinson as he was called by a Graun scribe) must be quaking.
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Joe Marler calling for the haka to be binned the week that reparations for slavery and colonialism took centre stage. As Damian McKenzie noted in SA when they felt it was disrespected, “it gives us a chance to connect with our ancestors.” I too was fascinated at its Scottish roots. I personally enjoy the theatre of the haka, although I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
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Bring back the throat slitting! Watching Va’aiga Tuigamala do that was a scary sight to behold.
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I personally enjoy the theatre of the haka
I can recall the fairly half-hearted hakas (hakae?) of the early 70s – so I appreciate it’s a bit of a spectacle. And I think it’s valid to recognise the cultures contributing to rugby.
Occasionally, it becomes a bit precious – insisting on silence and everone standing to attention…but don’t come too close…..
I also think when we got to see NZ once in 4 or 5 years – it was a novelty. For example up to 1989 Ireland had played NZ 10 times since 1905. Once every 8 years – granted WW1 and WW2 got in the way. Next week will be the 38th meeting – 28 in 35 years. Plus we get live coverage of the away matches too – so it’s not quite the strange and fun thing it was.
IIRC the haka used in the 2023 U20s world cup seemed to last as long as the match…. Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji seem to keep their ritual challenges a bit snappier ( it’s just a feeling – I don’t have the stop watch running)
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Strikes fear into the heart
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I’ve found Premiership highlights on ITV4 and I didn’t realise they had Squidge on, doing analysis. I’m pretty sure he’s filming it in the same room he makes his YouTube videos. He’s got a little rugby-geek corner, with pictures of Antoine Dupont and Jaguardo on the wall.
It’s very cute.
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Must try to find it – if Squidge is on…..
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He did a nice spotlight on AJ McGinty this week, and the work he’s doing for Bristol.
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That’s disgraceful bullying, if it’s accurate.
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So, as the AIs finally get underway, I’ve gone for New Zealand by 4 and Scotland by 13 over Fiji.
I reckon England will be a bit underdone first up and expect the Kiwis to come out firing (hello, Joe Marler!) and run up a bit of a lead, which will be too much for England to claw back. It’ll be a tight, tough old match in the end, but the ABs to have enough to get over the line.
Scotland should handle Fiji well enough, despite Fiji being on a four match winning streak. 13 could be a lot more, depending on the fitness and cohesion of the Fijians – I have no idea.
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I’m a bit more pessimistic than you Deebee. I’ve gone for NZ by 17, but Scotland by 22.
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Refit, remember the ABs struggle to score in the last 20, so as long as you’re within touching distance, it should be a lot closer.
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