Learnings Not Learninged
In the exciting battle for the wooden spoon between Ireland, Wales, Italy and England, coaches have not learninged much from their previous selection errors. To be fair to Italy, they don’t have a huge range of players from which to select, and they have played brilliantly; they could and possibly should have beaten Ireland, so…
Six Nations 2026: Ancient Rivalries, Enduring Legacies
The squads have been announced, the photo-ops done, the pre-tournament blathering from the coaches and captains is out of the way, and what do we know about the 2026 Six Nations? It’s sponsored by Guinness. Much more than that, it’s difficult to say who will end where, and who will lift the trophy come mid-March.…
Let the feasting begin!
I’m not sure who invited Liz Truss, and perhaps that’s why everyone looks a bit nervous, as if they’re expecting a devastating mini-budget in the middle of the festivities. Nevertheless, a very happy feasting season to all, and may there be some cracking derbies over the next week or so. Crackling derbies would be good…
Tampering with the Six Nations
Six Nations have announced that they are ringing the changes for next year’s tournament. OvallyBalls had an exclusive mole in the decision room. Six Nations Clown Five: Listen, chaps, I’m awfully sorry we failed to get the Six Nations behind a paywall so that we could destroy the popularity of the only tournament that is…
Six Nations: Round Two
It’s the second weekend of the Six Nations, and this is where things get (even more) interesting! Following on from his (unexpected, even by him) success last week, Predict-A-Bear is back! This time in full Technicolor! And with lots of exclamation marks!!!! First up is Italy vs Wales. Italy looked decent in places last week…
Six Nations: A Saffer Perspective
I first remember watching the Five Nations as a teenager, back in the eighties. South Africa had only introduced television in 1976, with the apartheid government, in its Calvinist zeal, deeming it evil. Given the Kardashians and plethora of similar series, they may have had a point. My folks, bless ‘em only got a big,…
Remember, Remember the Rugby of November
The first week of November has come and gone – Diwali lit up the skies, Guy Fawkes (at least down here) Faded to Grey and Blondie wasn’t French Kissing in the USA, as she’d probably be pitchforked by the MAGA mob reprising their Halloween characters, whilst slobbering over their Freedom Fries and burning Kamala Harris…
Twelve-bar Blues Blues
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…
THE RETURN OF THE HOLY GRAIL
(or the resumption of the Four Nations, to unbelievers) And so it comes to pass, the northern interlopers have loped (and mostly staggered, bruised, battered, but peskily unbowed) back to the dark and dank recesses of their tiny lands (and France) to watch in awe as the might* of the sun-kissed lands** of the south…
And Breathe … Back to the Grindstone
Pink Floyd said it best when they penned the mighty ‘Breathe’ on the Dark Side of the Moon and clearly had this rugby season in mind: Breathe, breathe in the air Don’t be afraid to care Leave, but don’t leave me Look around and choose your own ground For long you live and high you…
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Ovally Balls 