Author: thaumaturge

Onna telly forra next two weeks Friday 21st April Cheetahs v Sharks 13:30 Sky Sports Arena Pumas v Western Province 15:30 Sky Sports Arena Stormers v Treviso 17:30 Viaplay Xtra / TG4 Ulster v Edinburgh 19:35 Viaplay Sports 1 Newcastle v Northampton 19:45 BT Sport 1 Saturday 22nd April Lions v Zebre 13:00 Viaplay Sports … Continue reading This is a new post

The image editor posts hopefully Scotland vs Italy  Previously the wooden spoon fixture, these teams have made some recent progress but the Italians are definite underdogs here. Italy have made 4 changes and given a dayboo to Simone Gesi on the wing. However, they lack Capowuoouuzzzo at full back so, whilst they look fairly settled, they don’t have … Continue reading Six Nations 2023 – Super Saturday!

Yet another scrum reset required First thing first Rome Saturday afternoon. Dry and warm. 19°C. Weather should favour the Italians, who like to run the ball more and more incisively than Wales. A solid scrum will get parity and may even create problems for Wales. The Cannone brothers, Lamaro, Polledri are fast and mobile, all … Continue reading Six Nations 2023 – Round IV

With a Welsh strike narrowly averted, minds can concentrate In golf, the 3rd round is known as the Moving Day (or some such), when those in contention put down a marker, thunder up the leader board and peer imperiously down at the chasing pack before the Sunday finale. This Could Be That Weekend in the … Continue reading Six Nations 2023 – Round III

The French are coming, you say? Jesus, Mary Joseph and the wee donkey. Ireland vs France tomorrow is  – in the view of many people – the match to decide the destination of the 6 Nations championship and put the winners on course for a Grand Slam. These are not so common in Irish rugby history to be … Continue reading Six Nations 2023 – Round II

Can you feel it? That frisson in the air? No, it’s not fucking Phil Collins! (Don’t be an idiot.) Kick off your high-heeled stud boots; it’s party time. SIX NATIONS OPENING WEEKEND! WOOHOO! The delectable anticipation, the raw hunger, the beautiful dream as yet undisturbed by some snot-nosed kids bringing your blissful reverie to a … Continue reading Get Up for the Garryowen

Being short of time as I’m travelling tomorrow, I have shamelessly stolen Deebee7‘s prognostications. But first, I’m sure we can all rejoice that Stuart McCloskey has kept his starting place on the Ireland team with Aki relegated to the bench. Your results for the weekend: Tonga v Uruguay: Tonga by 14 – Tonga are enjoying playing … Continue reading Autumn Internationals: Third Week

Ireland v South Africa With Bundee Aki in detention for being a bad boy and Robbie Henshaw pulling a hamstring in training, Stuart McCloskey is at last getting a start in a big game. Fellow Ulsterman Flying Robert Baloucoune also starts on the wing, with Rob Herring and Kieran Treadwell on the bench. Springboks better … Continue reading Autumn Internationals: Justice for the McCloskey One!

Part I | Part II After a week of meetings, meals and general bonhomie in Yaoundé, it was time for the drive back to Douala. Mercifully, we didn’t fly and could experience the wonders of the rainforests and music all over again. As well as the increasingly oppressive security, with the elections less than a … Continue reading Le Zoulou Blanc – the Not Johnny Clegg Story of Travel in Africa: Part III