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 
Eben done for not rolling and DMac kicks another penalty. NZ to within a point. 13-12 60mins.
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My god, the SuperSport comms team are incredibly one-eyed. Le Roux goes for an intercept, but only hits the ball with one hand. The ref calls for a replay and one of the commentators thinks he’s looking at something Beauden B did.
Yellow for Le Roux. McKenzie misses the attempted penalty, but NZ regather the ball.
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Steencamp is penalised for not rolling in the tackle. Pen NZ and McKenzie pulls it wide of the posts.
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Kolbe is blocked by Lomax, after Hendrikse puts a chip into the NZ 22 and the NZ player gets a yellow.
NZ are still playing with 2 of their 3 starting front row, on 73mins.
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NZ do an excellent job of preventing the SA maul getting going, but Marx peels off the back and dives over in the corner to score.
18-12 75mins
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Lovely shimmy by Feinberg-Mngomezulu on half way, gets him into the NZ half. He puts in a grubber, but it dribbles into touch. NZ can’t clear their half, following the lineout and SA get the ball back. They’re really finishing the match on a high.
Kolbe tries a drop-goal, but it’s wide. Perenara gets an official warning for being a mouthy git.
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Seconds on the clock and NZ get a penalty 15m inside their half. Barrett gets the ball just inside the SA half. PSdT steals the lineout and SA win. 18-12
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It felt like that match never really got going. NZ had long periods of possession, particularly in the first half, but they never seemed like they were going to score. SA mostly kept them at arms-length, chipped away at the score board until they were ahead, then stayed there until the game ended.
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Very clinical analysis, Refit! This side it was screaming at the Boks for constantly being caught with no support for the ball carrier. Not sure how many turnover penalties we conceded from that. Also starting to think Tony Brown is a sleeper agent: Bok passing and handling is way off the mark.
Helluva Test, if lacking in flowing rugby (but it’s Boks-Kiwis, so win at all costs) but tense and tight from start to finish.
Happy that we’ve now got the Freedom Cup back after 14 years, have one and a half hands on the 4N title, have beaten the Kiwis four on the bounce, and quite significantly six of the last eight. Happy camper on this side!
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Australia lead 20-3 after 20 minutes.
Lose 67-27 in the end!
Still, its only the All Blacks next. Not like they’ll be pissed after two defeats by the Spirngboks.
Ah.
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Great frenetic test match rugby. Lots of great defence, some pretty good attacking multi phases gaining ground yards by yards, and two packs slugging it out magnificently. Rampaging big men, Weise and Satiti noticeably, but also Taylor, Marx, Etzebeth, particularly desrve honorable mentions, and Carley should get 10/10 for allowing a decent contest at the set piece, and armwrestle from the old days there.
Boks rightly the victors, one or two borderline reffing calls, but evened up overall, I thought.
Waiting for the Poomas to appear on rugby24, poor Wallabies.
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Arg / Aus highlights
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C’mon Scotland! Great start!
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Hush Deebs!
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I say nothing…
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At least we didn’t concede in the 89th or 100th minute this time…
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Watched both games on catch up yesterday (as I spent Sat afternoon getting our middle son’s collar bone fixed – soccer, eh?)
He’s played rugby since he was 8 – 16 yesterday but never really picked up a injury beyond the odd muscular strain – soccer broken collar bone, gaelic football – concussion…. anyway 4 to 6 weeks before he gets on the field.
It was a real shame as we had a pre-season game yesterday and it would have been first time playing with his older brother in a competive game (age grade here is U18.5 to anyone born after 01-July doesn’t move up to adult / U20 until they’re almost 19)
Number 1 son had a stormer – moved across from 9 to play 10. Scored 2 of our first three tries, then moved to 9 as game was won to allow our very good 13 to play at 10, and scored another running the length of the field at the end. (Tralee were weak enough – 2 handy lads at 10 and 12 – good broken field runners – who are both in Munster under age squads. I’ll add here we have no boy in any Munster age grade panel)
Like me – he shot up between 15 and 17 and unlike me – he’s very gym conscious. I won’t say “health-conscious” as I’m not agreed that a protein shake washed down with red bull is a good pre-match prep.
Anyway I started this comment referring to Saturday’s RC games…..
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I watched Arg/Aus first as I’d heard the result.
20-3 lead flattered Australia a bit. Argentina could have scored a couple – and certainly the one disallowed for Lavinini’s obstruction might have been scored irrespective.
Defence was generally all at sea – I suppose the whole thing was summed up by the try scored by the sub backrow Oviedo who threw a dummy, stepped the next defender and ambled over the line.
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I’ve only seen condensed highlights of the Arg-Aus match (largely Pumas running, diving over white lines and celebrating), but when the Pumas switch on, they’re desperately difficult to beat. They can turn on the running and passing game like no other side in the world at the moment, and shred sides in minutes – the All Blacks have been subjected to this a couple of times in the last few years. Magical rugby, when they get it right. Thankfully for the rest of the world, they don’t get it right often enough, consistently enough (or maybe its a pity?).
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And the Boks are sending over a depleted squad, speculated to be much like the B+ side that played the 2nd Test against Australia in Perth, for our visit to Argentina in two weeks. Could get very messy and give Argentina a real shot at the RC, if the Boks bugger it up in the return leg. I’m not happy!
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@deebee – you might be walking into it …. to coin a cliche Argentina are now the new France… you never quite know what version will turn up … nor at times you suspect do they.
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Trisk, you’re spot on – the changes aren’t quite as dramatic as your panicky poster from the colonies first thought, with 7 players rested from last weekend, but still some serious talent in the team. The rested players (of the fit ones) are Bongi, Malherbe, PS du Toit, Sacha F-M, de Allende, Kolbe, and Willie le Roux. So three starting forwards, three starting backs and Willie (sort of starting, but always).
No issues in the front row with Ox and du Toit probable starters, leaving Steenekamp and Koch on the bench as per usual. Du Toit can play both sides as well, although it’s not yet known if he can hold a tune as well as Matt Stevens. Marx has perfected the ‘bomb squad’ role at hooker, although his experience and abrasiveness may be needed early doors against a fiery Argentina. Surprised Etzebeth wasn’t rested, but he’ll pack down at four with Nortje at five, same as last week. Back row will be interesting – Siya at 6 and Wiese at 8 almost certain, but then who at 7? Probably Dixon, with Kwagga, Louw and van Staden on the bench. Dixon can move into the 2nd row if needed, giving the Boks plenty of fresh legs in the loose trio. Louw can also play lock at a push.
I’d like to see Jaden Hendrikse start at 9 and he’ll probably do it with Manie ‘barn door’ Libbok at 10, with Kriel at 12 and Am 13 (or vice versa – Kriel’s really made 13 his own this season). Arendse and Mapimps on the wings, fabulous Fassi at fullback.
Props: Thomas du Toit, Vincent Koch, Ox Nche, Gerhard Steenekamp
Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar, Malcolm Marx
Locks: Eben Etzebeth, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Salmaan Moerat, Ruan Nortje
Loose forwards: Ben-Jason Dixon, Siya Kolisi, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Marco van Staden, Jasper Wiese
Utility forward: Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Prop and hooker).
Scrumhalves: Jaden Hendrikse, Cobus Reinach, Grant Williams
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok, Handre Pollard
Centres: Lukhanyo Am, Jesse Kriel
Outside backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Aphelele Fassi, Makazole Mapimpi
Utility back: Canan Moodie (Centre, wing)
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@deebee
That doesn’t look too depleted – which is some statement considering who is rested and who’s injured
I never got around to commenting on SA/NZ. Certainly an arm wrestle and the new boys Va’ai and Sititi (check spelling) seemed to add a pep to NZ.
At times SA reminded me again of our U16s – cross the gain line and get turned over or concede pen as supporting players don’t react or stand back admiring…..
[They got beaten in QF last season but with game in the balance my middle son – also playing 10 – made 2 separate breaks – as the coach said “we’d have won if Cathal had any gas …or any support”]
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At times SA reminded me again of our U16s – cross the gain line and get turned over or concede pen as supporting players don’t react or stand back admiring…..
It’s the single most frustrating thing – the number of times we got done because of the lack of a supporting player to pass to or to get over the ball almost cost us the match.
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My in-laws are currently in the Kgalagadi Reserve in Botswana and have just sent me pics of their abandoned deck chairs – with lions strolling around the camp site! Lucky buggers! Need to win the lottery so I can swan around like that.
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Lions going, “Dammit, they got away!”
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Not far off, from some of the pics I’ve seen! There are very few things in life that are better than being in the wild. I don’t have much experience outside of Africa, but to be in the bush here, in the heat, with just animals, the sounds of nature, no mobile phone reception, no human footprint (well, very little) and absolutely no constrictions of ‘time’ – just you and nature. It’s soul food!
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Or lion food…
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Deebee: you lost me at the ‘heat’ bit. I think 22° is getting too warm.
Also, coming from an island where the most dangerous (non-human, obvs) native animal is the bee, I’m not keen on things like snakes and poisonous spiders and vicious insects.
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The rest of it sounds lovely, though! :-)
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Coming from an island that’s home to Peter O’Mahoney, I’ll think you’ll cope with the wildlife quite easily!
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Bugger, can’t upload a pic from my phone.
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Ooh, England Women vs NZ Women is on. Come on the Roses!
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Very even match so far. First points to England on 18mins, a powerful maul drive over the NZ line. Conversion missed. 5-0
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Abby Dow skips down the wing, evades the clutches of a NZ defender and scores England’s 2nd. 10-0 30mins.
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3rd try to England. The England FB, Kildunne, just manages to get the ball on the try-line after being brought down by a defender. 17-0.
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England a player down at the end of the first half, one of the locks getting a yellow for a high tackle.
Strong start to the second half though, Hunt skipping through the defence to touch down under the post. 24-0 42mins.
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NZ finally on the board, with a peach of a try. The 14, Leti-I’iga, puts a chip into the England 22, from halfway and the bounce completely does the England defender. It’s gathered by another NZ player, who passes to Leti-I’iga to score the try.
24-5 53mins.
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Katelyn Vaha’akolo speeds down the wing to score a second try for NZ. 24-12 61mins
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24-12 is the final score.
In other news, Ireland Women beat their Aussie counterparts 36-10.
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Never mind the warm-ups, in the REAL top game of the afternoon, Scotland beat Fiji 59-15.
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Not to mention Jonny May’s Angouleme, the former club of one Maurice Colclough, who put on a fine show in the French D2 over Stade Nicois, with Jonny coming on as a sub to have a hand in a couple of tries.
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Thauma, you’re lucky you’re not with my family – just sent videos from a camp in the region of the Botswana-Namibia-South Africa border. It’s roughly 38 degrees Celsius, with the only things moving being a few snakes.
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Horrific!
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In other news, Ireland Women beat their Aussie counterparts 36-10
This was a much needed boost after the recent trials and tribulations
– failing miserably qualify for the 2021 World Cup,
– lost 5 out of 5 in the 2023 6N and none even close
2024 6N was better but still only 2 out of 5, but 3rd in 6N meant qualification for 2025 World cup
Organisational issues have been at the root of the downturn.
Concentration on 7s – drag has been such that Beibhinn Parsons who played first for Ireland at age 16 only has 12 full caps since 2018 because she’s mainly a 7s player
“Professionalism” implemented but only feasible for those already living/working in Dublin. €30k isn’t a salary that’ll go far in Baile Atha Cliath.
Performances were so bad that we’re only 9th in world rankings.
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Bok side to face Argentina has been announced. It’s a bit of a mix and match, again, like we saw in Australia. Fassi deserves his spot at 15 again, after being very impressive so far this season under the high ball and (largely) with his positional play and fabulous on attack. Good to have Arendse back on the wing, the kid can sidestep you through a keyhole, never mind a telephone booth. Interesting to see what Am can bring to 12, with Kriel at 13 – they’re both essentially 13s, so hopefully Pollard gives Am enough decent ball to work some magic; he’s got great hands and timing in the offload. Reinach and Pollard as the halfbacks is less exciting, with Reinach looking like he’s fading a bit and Pollard not known for his flashy play.
The forwards are interesting, with a decent back row, albeit van Staden has yet to really impress in a Bok jersey, but Wiese will bring fire and go forward to the pack, and Dixon plays the PSDT role pretty well. Nortje is slowly growing into the 5 lock role and had good games against New Zealand, whilst Moerat plays 4 lock and has the impossible boots of Etzebeth to fill – 2nd row could be a bit of a weak link. Good to see Marx start, we’ll need his bullocking runs and pilfering skills to keep the Pumas honest. Ox at LH is awesome and just keeps on trucking. Thomas du Toit completes a very good front row -and they’ll need to be against an Argentina full of brio and dash after smashing Australia last time out.
the bench is classic bomb squad and I don’t think Argentina will be able to match anything like it – they’ll need to be well ahead when Rassie rolls out Steenekamp, Koch, Etzebeth, Louw and Kwagga, with Wessels newish and a point to prove (lots of detractors back here). Hendrikse and Libbok provide great pace and verve off the bench too.
Aphelele Fassi, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Jasper Wiese, Ben-Jason Dixon, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje, Salmaan Moerat (capt), Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche. Bench: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Jaden Hendrikse, Manie Libbok
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Reinach is probably the only surprise there – I thought he was sluggish and well off the pace in 1st match vs NZ – I wasn’t surprised he wasn’t there for 2nd match.
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Yeah, Trisk, I think he peaked at the World Cup last year and has struggled a bit this season. That said, in both Kiwi matches our 9s struggled with the forwards not committing too many to the breakdowns. Useless lumps.
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SRU – oh, look, feet. And here’s a shotgun that just happens to be lying around….
https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/articles/cvgl4zpklxgo
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Jeez, BB. Doesn’t look like Scottish rugby is in a good space administratively. The other side of the story would be interesting, if they weren’t all shtum! ⁸
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