Just one day to go and we’ll be into the final stages of the inaugural Nations Championship. Actually it’s a day and a few hours as Ireland don’t kick off against Los Pumas until 20:10 tomorrow evening. There are some cracking match ups. The one above for a start. Andy Farrell has named a mix of experience and not so experienced, but with plenty of fire power on the bench.

Then you have Scotland v New Zealand followed by Wales v Japan. There is much positivity in the Scotland camp, and so there should be. However, New Zealand have arrived ‘fully loaded’ in their words, and have put together some impressive performances of late. Down in Cardiff expectations have been on the up. Recent performances have been better by a long way, and key players have been leading the charge, especially in the Premiership. The game needs a lift in Wales, and the team need a boost ahead of significant challenges that lie in wait in the guise of the All Blacks and Wallabies.

Then on Sunday it is the turn of England who host Australia. England have been hit by late injuries, and even now are sweating on the fitness of ‘key’ players. Australia were showing signs of a resurgence, but then fell away badly against the All Blacks. England, in my opinion, of all the home nations have to put in a performance. Reading the papers, the murmurings of discontent amongst the paying public are ever present.

The one huge bonus of this new tournament is all games will be shown live on ITV. This is a massive positive for the game. However, again reading what the hacks have written, it is not all sweetness and light. There are many who say the game is being driven by TV audiences with no consideration for the fans or the players. Gone are the traditional summer tours, so following your team is much more difficult. To be fair, in this the European leg it is easier as the travel distances are less, but down in the south it is nigh on impossible. Then you have the final jamboree in a couple of weeks time. No-one knows who is going to be playing who. The blazers have considered this with a ‘follow your team’ ticket but nevertheless it is a complication fans could do without, especially as tickets are expensive. The Guardian for more detailed analysis.

On a wider issue there is much consternation that this inaugural tournament will no longer offer up the possibility of full and fair promotion, and therefore relegation between Tier 1 and Tier 2. The big four in the south, and the Six Nations in the north are going to pool their marketing resources under one entity to exploit to the maximum the financial opportunity the Nations Championship will offer up, especially at the expense of the smaller nations. The Torygraph have this covered best, but if you have access to the Daily Fail they go one further and don’t pull their punches on the subject.

Don’t forget Crowborough II v Midhurst at Steel Cross on Saturday. Kick off is 14:00. I will do my best to be there but I’m on grandparenting duties. It might be hard to get away.

As I am currently absenting myself from Friday Club, intense physio at The Horder Centre every Friday morning, I will bring you a few comments on the teams that will be announced later today. England don’t share their selection until Friday.

The US mid-term results dominate the proper news, and quite rightly. Will common sense now prevail and the world can find a way through the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Trump will want to reap revenge on those who he thinks have failed him, this when the blame for failure lies fully and squarely on his shoulders. The knives are out and being honed to a deathly sharpness right now.

However, Americans might need to take a moment, and take note of the old saying: ‘be careful what you wish for’. Reading through the papers it is clear, the pathetic wokery of the democratic past will return, and in turn will stifle the desired progress with pathetic and unnecessary legislation.

Talking of which, our Government are doing much the same. I read a piece just yesterday where a boss who uses the wrong pronoun in the workplace could end up in prison. This in itself is absolutely pathetic wokery in the extreme, and highlights the stupidity of the government. Serious villains are being spared prison, serial offenders of the worst kind are being released early because of prison overcrowding. Where are the bosses who call a bloke who decides he wants wear a dress ‘Mr’ going to go. I know, the hotels vacated by the illegal immigrants.

Wednesday 4th Nov: 09:50

Unashamedly, after the best night’s sleep in years, I’ve had a lie-in. Maybe old age isn’t so bad after all !!

A postscript to yesterday. Not only is it the first Sponsors Lunch on Nov 21st, it is another of our band nights that evening. Check the website for details.

I have had a quick look at the proper news and I am DELIGHTED to say the big orange moron has been given that bloody nose. The mid-terms have dealt him a crushing blow. You cannot pre-voting say to the electorate ‘imagine it is my name on the ballot paper’ then when defeat is obvious turn around and blame everyone else. ‘They were terrible candidates’. Let’s us hope the two Houses of US Government can rein the idiot in, especially as my fear is he will now do something even more stupid than the things he has already done.

Bleater, this is a rugby club website. Come on, where is the rugby news. I’ll get to that, but not before talking about our Supreme Leader who is showing himself to be as much of a clown as Trump. We, the UK, are up to our neck in debt. A debt we are struggling to pay. We are screwing the people with higher taxes, and restrictions to doing business. What does Burnham do? He goes to the EU and says ‘here, lets do a deal. You help me, and I’ll give you our taxpayers money to give to the poorer countries in Europe’. It doesn’t stop there. Your savings are going to be taxed, and not only will the takings be spent on benefits, we are now going to help out Caribbean countries with massive handouts, no matter our the Supreme Leader tries to package it up.

To rugby. Finally!! A huge weekend is ahead of us. Six games, all live on terrestrial TV. You’d expect the papers to be awash with coverage. Well, they are not. What have we got instead. In the Torygraph Oliver Brown suggests the problem with mercenaries has gone beyond a joke. Yes, this is about who should be eligible to play for your nation and who can’t. He also touches on the pathetic change to the rule where after a three downtime period you can switch allegiance. The Aussie Mark Nawaqanitawase is the focus of Brown’s ire, but yes, Janse van Rensburg gets a dishonourable mention. I agree Oliver, it is a joke and has been for some time.

Then you have the papers prattling on about the laws, especially the recent changes, and the fan experience, this in relation to the stop-start nature of the game. Yes, of course the TMO is mentioned in this piece. Interfering so-and-so. The problem is clear. When The Bard and I are discussing the game, and we have been in it for years, and we get flummoxed by the laws, how do you think the casual viewer this weekend is going to cope.

Then, looking left, The Guardian brings us the not unexpected news, Premiership rugby is deep in the financial brown and smelly stuff. According to The Guardian revenues are falling, losses are growing, wages are going up. The combined club debt rises to £366m. The report suggests six of the ten clubs are balance sheet insolvent. The regular reader of this guff knows my view. It is madness.

I see Qatar have pulled out of hosting the 2028 Nations Championship due to the ongoing Middle East crisis. That is no bad thing. In fact, that is a good thing. I’m not sure we want, misogynistic, homophobic, states front and centre showcasing sporting events.

I’m going to close with some sad news. Yesterday I learnt of the passing of Bibi. Who was Bibi? He was a French guy who played for Crowborough, Montargis, and was instrumental in driving the Vets Cap Ferret tours forward. A great player who I had the pleasure of playing alongside on just a few occasions, but more importantly he was a smashing bloke who lived life to the full. He will be missed by his many friends and family.

Tuesday 3rd Nov: 09:25

A couple of announcements to start.

Firstly, next weekend. Our 2s host Midhurst at Steel Cross in one of the many Sussex Cup competitions. I believe the kick off is 14:00 but I’ll confirm on Thursday.

Secondly, Nov 21st. The 1st XV host Sevenoaks II, but more importantly it is the first of our sponsors lunches. Always popular, and a great way to show our appreciation of them by being there at lunch. Contact Louise and book your place.

Ok, looking back at the weekend. Wales women scored a stunning double over Japan in the WXV. Like Canada, Wales are benefitting from having more and more players in the women’s Premiership. England got back to winning ways with a comfortable win over USA.

Leicester Tigers under Geoff Parling have got back to winning ways. They beat Bristol more comfortably than the 16-22 scoreline suggests. Its good to see Quins back to winning. The Saints game against Gloucester was brutal but thoroughly enjoyable.

In the URC the Dragons won again. Marvellous. I was surprised at how easily Cardiff got past the Ospreys, but then again a lot of the Ospreys regulars are away with Wales.

What makes the rugby headlines. The injury to Alex Mitchell and the call up of Ben Spencer and Harry Randall to Steve Borthwick’s squad. Shaun Edwards has gone on record that Borthwick refused his offer of help, even as kit man. Edwards is currently working with Argentina.

I’m still a bit confused about how the Nations Championship works. I think there are two tables; a south and a north, and once the final round of games are done there is a final stage where top plays top etc. This will be held at Twickenham the last weekend of November. I understand there are lots of tickets still available, BUT they don’t seem cheap.

There must be something in the proposal about Welsh regions joining the Premiership. The URC have engaged lawyers to sue the WRU if the matter progresses any further. No panic, both the WRU and those running the Premiership move at snails pace at the best of times.

In other sport, how low have Leicester City fallen. They could only muster a 2-2 draw at home to Stevenage for heavens sake.

Huge congrats to Kimi Antonelli. The young man has been outstanding, and has kept his feet firmly on the ground throughout.

Who would be a football manager. West Ham have sacked their manager Nuno Espirito Santo. Who is going to be next? The guy at Newcastle?

In the proper news it is a big day for the USA. Will the big orange clown get a bloody nose in the mid-terms. I hope so. The man is out of control. In fact, I genuinely think he is losing his mind.

The Supreme Leader is flying to the Caribbean with the newly anointed first lady by his side. What are the chances of him of kow-towing to those who want reparations for our role in the slave trade. History tells us slavery was abhorrent, but we should not be using taxpayers cash to say sorry for something way back in time.

You could hear the slamming of brakes, and the whining of the back seat drivers as Shabana Mahmood went into full U-turn mode. What hacks me off is the simple fact the back benchers are more concerned about their jobs than us the taxpayer, hence the U-turn rather than a sensible rethink. For the record, some of those who have come to the UK and are now working in our stressed and underfunded care system, they need all the praise and support we can give them. I’d take British citizenship off the bone idle born and bred rather than penalise those who have come here to work hard in a challenging environment.

Finally, yes it was in the Daily Fail, but I nearly lost the plot when a women living unashamedly on benefits was asked about the budget. She was unhappy because the rise wasn’t enough, and she was now having to buy cheaper fags. If there was ever a statement that highlighted how broken the benefits system is, that is it.