I’d like to tell you what a great game Munster v Cardiff Blues was but I can’t. It is likely as we approach the Autumn Internationals that I won’t be able to tell what those games are like as they have been sold to the devil: Amazon Prime. Business is business and Amazon’s goal of world domination of everything from blood pressure monitors (more on this later) to global sport coverage. Ultimately however what it will mean is if you want to watch sport on this platform you will have to pay for it, currently £7.99 per month.

No such problem for the grand finale of the 6 Nations. All three games on terrestrial TV on Saturday. England have announced a much changed squad with several new names included. Ollie Lawrence, Jacob Umaga, and Jack Willis have been rewarded for great seasons. No Ben Spencer which beggars belief in my mind. Why Willie Heinz is in the squad is beyond my understanding. Ollie Lawrence is clearly a replacement for Manu Tuilagi. In other words a big battering ram being replaced by a big battering ram. Max Malins and Ollie Thorley would offer some guile to counter the “heavy handed” approach but I don’t see them making the match day 23. Time will tell.

Sean Maitland has been dropped from the Scotland squad, a reward for being one of the Barbarian miscreants who dared to venture out for a bite to eat, or depending on your view, disgracefully letting his club, the game and his country down.

Wales v England has been moved from the New White Hart Lane to Parc y Scarlets. Obviously no fans in the ground, nor in the pubs or shops or the streets. Mark Drakeford’s draconian rules mean only those close to the supreme leader can venture out of their cells. Wow betide any parent wishing to buy nappies or ladies needing feminine hygiene products as these are deemed “non essential”. He is a clown who unsurprisingly is a close friend of Jeremy Corbin who as we know had the avowed aim to bring the country to its knees. Mind you Boris and Hancock and the Doom Brothers are doing a mighty fine job of turning the UK into the economic wasteland that we feared when Corbyn was in contention to be Prime Minister.

Ireland call John Cooney into the squad as cover for Jamison Gibson-Park. I would have had Cooney in the squad anyway.

Lots in the papers ahead of Bledisloe III but most is “blah, blah, blah” with little substance. It is almost certainly going to be the best game of the weekend.

Going back to the cancelled England v Barbarians King Eddie has said people shouldn’t be too hard on Chris Robshaw. Is he right? As I said yesterday I am not sure which camp to put myself into. I think I am ................. undecided ........... but yes I cannot be too harsh on young men who have already sacrificed plenty to ensure their clubs get the TV money they were contracted to earn.

Time to go but not before asking why are towns and cities and Wales and Scotland so keen to go into tier 3 lockdown. A) to save the NHS, B) because they are run by power crazed despots, C) because the rest of the country pays for the huge amount of money each council or country gets as a consequence?

The answer based on the current NHS and ONS official stats is NOT “A” which leaves “B” and “C”.

Oh! the blood pressure monitor. Unlike Dodo Harding’s dead in the water track & trace I was able to track & trace my order for a new blood pressure monitor from the minute I pressed “buy” to the moment the very nice young delivery lady knocked on the door just 22 hours later with said monitor in hand. I knew when it left Amazon, arrived at the distribution company, left the distribution company, and was an hour from my front door. Food for thought me thinks.

Monday 26th Oct: 08:45

A much better morning today so a walk to the park with the granddaughter is on the agenda. Not much rugby news today so let me get straight into.............

Arsenal 0 Leicester City 1. Didn’t watch it but nevertheless a great result . Jamie Vardy, what a player.

The F1 was significantly more interesting than of late. Yes Lewis Hamilton put on another dominant display but otherwise some pretty good racing for those in his wake.

Two IPL games with plenty of thrills and spills. Twenty overs yet Ben Stokes can still score 100 runs. Amazing.

Come on, there has to be some rugby to talk about. England are guaranteed winners of the Women’s 6 Nations. France failed to beat Scotland thus leaving the Red Roses with an unassailable lead.

No surprise that Ulster comfortably beat the Dragons yesterday. What was more of a surprise was Connacht beating Edinburgh in the prison camp known as Scotland.

Jack Nowell is out of the autumn games as he is due to have surgery on a toe injury.

France’s Bernard Le Roux might also be missing as he has been cited for allegedly elbowing Alun Wyn Jones in the face 18 minutes into Saturday’s encounter. Why can’t France keep their discipline in check, after all it was a horrendous use of the elbow that ultimately saw France lose their RWC 2019 quarter-final to Wales.

The 6 Nations finale next weekend plus Bledisloe III. More on these during the week.

Munster v Cardiff tonight but you won’t be able to watch it. Sadly this is where I think more and sport will go. We have already seen BT Sport and Sky take over cricket, rugby and soccer. What is the worry is that Amazon, Disney and other money rich operators are waiting in the wings. Amazon Prime for the autumn games is a perfect example of the direction of travel.

Right, here is what you’ve been waiting for......... the Covid reality test. Sadly another 171 people succumbed to the virus and yes Wales are seeing an increase in cases and deaths. The reality is Covid is only 19th on the list of “cause of death”. Right now all deaths from all causes is NO HIGHER than the five year average. Yet again you have to ask why the panic, especially as flu deaths are at an all time low.

One reason is the petty despots Sturgeon and Drakeford are playing politics, and playing politics big time. When a politician bans the sale of books you know the world is going mad and you know despite all the rhetoric about Scottish Independence the Scottish government is on the verge of bankruptcy. This is madness.

Before I go what else is madness is the rules about mask wearing. As an example you have to wear a mask when you go into a bar. You find a seat 15ft from the entrance and order your food and drink. You then take off your mask and sit and drink and eat and talk for two hours but you have to put it on to walk the 15ft to the toilet. What benefit wearing a mask for those 15 steps and 2 minutes to the wearer is is beyond my ken. Answers on a postcard to Professor Neil Ferguson, the scaremonger in chief. Pick from a) none, b) bugger all, c) nada, d) zilch.
Sunday 25 Oct: 08:30

The only place to start is Steel Cross. Why? Simply because it was GREAT to be back amongst friends enjoying a splendid lunch in the clubhouse on Saturday with some touch rugby being played on our magnificent A Pitch. Emma and Jacqui did a fantastic job not only serving us with liquid refreshment and great food but also makIng sure all the current guidelines were met in full.

Friday Club was as productive as always. Having picked up litter, brushed away water, unknotted rope (a long story) and shovelled sand I felt I had made a contribution ......... that was until I saw the amazing work the others had done repairing sheds, repairing bridges, rerouting drains and completing many other technical and far more impressive tasks. It was then I felt inadequate. I won’t bore you with the coffee break discussion about the siting of a mobile Covid testing station but I can say that Mr Pratt’s savoury pastries were delicious as were Mrs Dampers amazing cakes.

So to Friday night’s rugby offering. We watched endured Benetton v Scarlets. The weather was rubbish and so was the rugby. The Scarlets won however which will be a boost for the Welsh region. Liam Williams was head and shoulders the best player on the pitch and surely must be in contention for Welsh selection over the coming weeks.

In a much better game Scotland as expected were pretty impressive in putting away Georgia. This is no surprise and with Stuart Hogg and Jonny Gray available for the showdown with Wales next Saturday they could pose a serious threat. Georgia will only improve with more exposure to top flight rugby but I fear if they replaced Italy in the 6 Nations it would be one set of whipping boys for another.

Yes Italy were put to the sword by a ruthless Ireland side. The Italians showed flashes of brilliance, but all to frequently, so it came as no surprise the Irish pressure resulted in a 50 point, 7 try rout. Whilst one man doesn’t make a team the absence of Sergio Parisse was notable and for Ireland there remains a question mark over the longevity of Sexton and Murray they do still have what it takes. Losing Gary Ringrose with a broken jaw for six weeks is a huge blow.

Next up the Premiership Final. I am sorry to say this was pretty turgid stuff. The weather was atrocious and this clearly didn’t help, nor did the weariness post Champions Cup success and the lack of training due to the Covid out break. The Henry Slade and Jacob Umaga tries lit up proceedings and fair play to Wasps they battled and battled and battled but sadly at crucial moments luck didn’t go their way. With Exeter Chiefs on the ropes that misguided lineout throw by young Ben Harris summed up Wasps evening. It was fitting that Joe Simmonds slotted the winning kick with the clock in the red as he has certainly stamped his mark on the game and at the Chiefs. For me it was the right result solely because I think the play-offs are a waste of time money making exercise and after 22 league games the title should go to the team who heads the table. I know there are some who are jaundiced towards Exeter Chiefs but as a club who has come up through the leagues, was the only top flight club in profit and has been loyal to players and coaches alike there is much to praise in terms of their success.

Then came a short break followed by France v Wales. What a cracking opening minute for Wales and a pretty good game thereafter. Wales and France showed intent and threw the ball around at will. When it needed to be kept tight both sides did so with determination. Some of the tackling was ferocious and here lies Wales problem. Two of the French tries came as a result of defenders shooting out of the line but then missing their man. This created a huge gap for the French to run through and subsequently carve Wales open. Certainly more open than Wales is right now!! Antoine Dupont, man of the match, and Romaine Ntmack ran the show and showed maturity beyond their years. Whilst they were keeping Wales on the back foot Dan Biggar limped around whinging at the referee like a spoilt brat. At last Louis Rees-Zammit made his debut and take a bow Alun Wyn Jones, 148 caps. Nothing at stake but pride but in my mind the way France played both in attack and defence showed why there is already talk of France lifting the 2023 Rugby World Cup. There were promising signs for Wales and the game plan was more creative but George North was anonymous and has to go. Bring back Liam Williams or start Rees-Zammit. Dan Biggar needs to shut it and could find himself on the bench with Patchell starting next week. It would be a very bold move but I would even consider Callum Sheedy to start.

Some great rugby overall with the Ospreys winning too.

So to the cancellation of England v The Barbarians. A complete and utter shambles and an embarrassment for players such as Chris Robshaw and Richard Wigglesworth. I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand these are fit, young men who have been through the most intense period of rugby often cocooned in protective bubbles for days on end just letting off steam before a game with little meaning in the grand scheme of things. On the other hand they are highly paid professionals who should act as role models to the those who watch our great game and therefore their actions are disgraceful. A few more days of self-sacrifice, play the game, say farewell (Robshaw), take the money and run. It wasn’t much to ask. I feel for young De Granville who has been caught up in this. A promising young player who might have put a dampener on his international prospects for some time to come.

I’ll would have been watching either the IPL cricket or the F1 from the Algarve regardless.

Right, that’ll do for now, and much to my friend Dampers amazement no comment on Covid today. That will keep until tomorrow ;-)

Thursday 22nd Oct: 09:45

I think today’s image sums up the world right now. Anyway, to the weekend. Let me firstly clarify one thing. There is a socially distanced lunch at the club on Saturday and there will be some form of back to rugby via touch but it won’t be against our good friends over at East Grinstead. My misunderstanding. Sorry! The Ireland game v Italy followed by the Premiership Final will be on the TV.

NB. Numbers are limited and strict guidelines will apply. Get there early to guarantee your place in front of the big screens.

The good news is Wasps have been cleared to play on Saturday. It really would have been a damp squib if they had been forced into withdrawing. Will Wasps be at a disadvantage as they haven’t been able to train? No I don’t think so. These past few months have been intense with back to back games so it could be argued a two week enforced lay off might just have recharged a few batteries. Albeit against a poor Leicester Tigers and a weakened Bristol side Wasps have shown what they now have in their armoury. I think they will be a real test for Exeter Chiefs, especially if they play the expansive game we have so enjoyed in recent games. Jack Willis will be key and his head to head with European Player of the Year Sam Simmonds will be fascinating. All now depends on who is missing because they are isolating.

After their win against Racing 92 will lifting the European title be a mill stone around the Chiefs neck or the impetus to get the Premiership done. They have been far and away the best team in the Premiership so not lifting the title at the final hurdle would be travesty. Based on their resilience I think their bodies and therefore their defence will hold up and whilst there could be a reliance on the battering ram rather than the rapier I think they will hold off the Wasps challenge.

My personal opinion about the play-offs leads me to hoping for an Exeter win. My head tells me that is what is likely to happen. I hope we get a good open game and if Wasps do win then I hope it is because they went out there and threw the ball around and ran Exeter ragged as a consequence. Only time will tell.

Rob Baxter has diverted his attention from Saturday by discussing the future of the game at large. He is absolutely right that several of the top flight clubs and those down into the leagues below will not be able to weather the storm of Covid. In his mind there is no prospect of fans in grounds any time soon and with rugby below the Premiership unlikely to kick or pass or tackle in anger before September 2021 (that is my best guess) the prospect is really grim. Many people will have seen yesterday’s increasing number of deaths as justification to support the view of lockdown and no crowds and no games. I would like to remind you that based on the ONS data the vast majority of new positive cases are amongst the young but virtually all deaths are amongst the over 75s with underlying health problems. Please also glance at, no need to deeply scan, your newspapers and you will find many stories about young people dying unnecessarily in road accidents. I see no clamour to ban the young from driving which is SIGNIFICANTLY more dangerous for them than Covid. Finally, do the maths, 191 as percentage of 1600.

Ireland v Italy is likely to be one way traffic. Andy Farrell will want a comfortable win to set the tone for his tenure as Ireland Head Coach. Italy are never a push over but they will always be the poor relations. I can see no other result other than an Irish win. I will be watching the form of Johnny Sexton and will be keen to see how long he lasts. It might seem awful but I think he is at or near his “best before date” and as a consequence I would hate to see such a great player and loyal servant to Irish rugby go out on a bum note.

England v Barbarians will be previewed on Sunday morning but I really cannot get enthusiastic about this at all.

What I can get excited about is France v Wales. Liam Williams and Jonah Holmes have been released to play for their regions meaning that Louis Rees-Zammit is almost certain to be included in the match day squad, or that is what WalesOnline is saying. Josh Navidi is out which is a blow compounded by Ken Owens absence. The team will be announced later but I expect the starting XV to look strong but the bench might be light. France with Sean Edwards lurking in the background will be a much more robust side and I expect them, via their exciting young half backs, to play an expansive game but to be very robust in defence. Let us not raise hopes as France will win and sadly I expect them to win comfortably.

There is increased optimism that the Lions tour will go ahead and there will be fans in the stadium. Don’t underestimate the value of a Lions tour to the beleaguered South African economy. This is reassuring news for us but I am not holding my breath. Much can change in eight months.

Scotland v Georgia is on ITV 4 tomorrow but I will be watching Benetton v Scarlets on S4C
Ireland v Italy is on ITV 1
France v Wales is ITV4
Gallagher Premiership Final BT Sport

I watched Man Utd play PSG on Tuesday and Liverpool play Ajax last night. Neither were great games but it struck me how long the ball was in play versus rugby. Soccer is a much more fluid game so it is no wonder that non rugby devotees are turned off when they see turgid arm wrestling, minute after minute wasted at the scrum and mothers’ meetings before each lineout. Let us hope that this weekend’s games can dispel some of that by being a spectacle of running rugby.

I have had my say about Covid for today but PLEASE don’t take everything the BBC tells you about the state of play. PLEASE look deeper into the detail and ask yourself is lockdown and strangling the economy the only way. PLEASE if you are parent/grandparent stop worrying about yourself think about your offspring because very shortly their future will be bleaker than Blackadder bleakness.

Back on Sunday morning, if you can stomach it!

Wednesday 21st Oct: 09:45

Another brilliant but exhausting day with my granddaughter and grandson yesterday, it’s great for the blood pressure.

Following additional tests on the Wasps squad a final decision will be made today about Saturday’s Premiership Final. I struggle to get enthusiastic about this at the best of times so if Wasps fail to make it then rest assured I’ll probably watch the grass grow in my back garden.

Before I look ahead to this weekend The British & Irish Lions have announced a pre-tour game versus Japan at Murrayfield on Saturday 26th June. For obvious reasons Mrs Bleater & I have our fingers crossed that the tour goes ahead and we would consider this as an added extra. I fear however based on the rhetoric coming from Queen Wee Jimmie Sturgeon of Scotland by then all her subjects will have been well and truly brainwashed, or perhaps brain dead and any interaction with any other human being in the People’s Democratic Republic of North Korea Scotland will be banned.

Despite the unbelievably stringent lockdown rules, which by the way tax payers in England YOU are paying for, Scotland host Georgia on Friday. Scotland have bags of talent in their squad but are the perennial underachiever. They should, and for Gregor Townsend must win this one.

Despite the restart of the 6 Nations Pro14 rugby continues. Leinster v Zebre should be an easy win for the Irish side despite the plethora of players on international duty. Scarlets travel to Benetton where I think they might find things quite difficult, even though Benetton will be without many of their stars.

On Saturday attention will turn to Steel Cross where Crowborough host East Grinstead in a touch rugby encounter. Ireland v Italy will be on the TV as the faithful enjoy a socially distanced lunch. Later in the day Wales will be at the Stade de France where they will face the toughest of challenges in France. To the date yesterday Wales beat France in the quarter final of RWC 2019 in Japan. Reading the diary France were by far the better side on that day so I am sure they will be seeking revenge, especially as Wales have been ranked higher than the hosts for RWC 2023. I believe the team announcements are today. Will Callum Sheedy and Louis Rees-Zammit be in the match day squads?

Ospreys II host Glasgow II in the Pro14 but I guess that is of little interest to you

More games follow on Sunday including England v Barbarians which I will preview tomorrow along with the Gallagher Premiership Final, by which time we will know who Exeter are playing.

Scrap that. BREAKING NEWS: Exeter WILL face Wasps at Twickenham on Saturday.

The big question for those who follow the Red Rose is what is wrong with Elliot Daley. Talk of being absent with a “mystery” leg injury abound. Much is also made in the papers about the extra tackling practice Owen Farrell is being put through. Not before time I think. His tackling technique has been suspect for some time so this makes good sense.

Will 6 Nations games in empty stadiums be as passionately fought as those in front of tens of thousands of fans? When a player pulls on that international jersey and runs out for his country he is bound to be passionate so on the field I think most things will be unchanged. The eerie quiet when kickIn at goal in the Stade de France will be a different experience to the normal screeches from the baying mob in the stands. I think if there is a difference the officials are under less pressure. There won’t be the screams of derision and scorn as the men in the middle make the occasional error. Many of you will disagree but I still firmly believe there is no reason why the stadiums can’t be at least half full and don’t give me that bull about “its not the stadiums its the getting in and out that is the problem”. What is the problem is politics dictated by fear. Fear of having to say “we got it wrong”. No Damps ( ;-) ) I can’t let it go.

Only time will tell but as these games are to honour TV commitments and to make sure the unions get paid let us hope for free-flowing well refereed encounters rather than Greco-Roman mud wrestling.

That’ll do as breakfast beckons followed by back to back episodes of The Bridge followed by today‘s IPL between Kolkata Knight Riders and Bangalore Royal Challengers. What else is there to do when the rain is torrential and you tidied the garden for winter on Monday......... which is why my back is in half today.

Today’s thought for the day.......... do we think the world, and the USA especially, is screwed if the only two people the Americans can find to fight out the election are Donald “The Big Orange” Trump and Joe “The Truth Twister” Biden?

Tuesday 20th Oct: 08:15

Over recent weeks I know this blog and my words and actions have irritated many. Equally my views have chimed with many. One word has caused this division: “Covid”. Yesterday I received a very nice e-mail saying that yesterday’s blog was one the best for some time; more rugby, less Covid. That is exactly how I would like it too. In fact NO Covid would be great but that isn’t going to happen anytime soon.

Looking through the papers and rugby websites one word is loud and proud. Yes, you guessed it: “Covid”. Saturday’s Premiership play-off final has been thrown into chaos as Wasps report more positive Covid tests, four actually and three of those are players. Based on the Sale debacle the game should be called off and Exeter win by default. Exeter should have won any way as the play-offs are a reward for the sponsor and another attempt to make money for the clubs and the RFU. Bristol are on stand-by to fill the gap left if Wasps are forced to withdraw. Chris Foy in the Daily Fail puts it best: “ English rugby’s ultimate prize shouldn’t be a decider of the best ranked team to have avoided Covid”. There is no point in going ahead and quite frankly if Bristol were to win it then it would be a travesty (my friend Paddy might think differently ;-) ). I am sure we will know later today what the blazers decide.

The “C” word is also dominating the run up to the completion of the 6 Nations and the Autumn Internationals. With the Republic of Ireland, the Banana Republic of Wales and the People’s Socialist Republic of Scotland going into the most severe of totally unnecessary draconian lockdowns the games were thought to be in doubt. The tin pot dictators in each of the countries have deemed it acceptable that elite sport can continue so the games are not in doubt....... YET!!

In amongst the gloom the RFU have signed a new 5 year deal worth £7.5m per year with O2. They will continue their long standing association as shirt sponsors. Part of the new agreement means the women’s game will get a more even split of the funds.

Ellis Genge who has been pretty outspoken about players‘ wage cuts and their contracts has again piped up about the need for change. Rugby is like an oil tanker with the captains at the top finding it hard to change course or slow the vessel down once it is under way. The professional game came about in a rush and has changed little since. Perhaps Genge has a point. That said, if as he suggests they should look at soccer then I say “NO!”. The power ends up in the hands of agents and the players and a contract actually means zilch.

Fascinating how papers can report different things about the same thing. I read with interest that Tony Rowe of Exeter has told the press that Rob Baxter is in it at the Chiefs “for the long haul”. I then read with interest that Baxter maybe has ambition of the England job. I am not sure both those statements go hand in hand.

I’ll look ahead to this weekend’s games tomorrow and Thursday.

Right dear readers a recent e-mail on the subject of Covid points out that as the country becomes more divided in opinion with neither side willing to move nor believe the others statements on the science the time has come for “an open and honest national, or even global debate”. What about? “What is and is not an acceptable ‘death’ rate due to the virus”. The writer, like me has spent time doing his own research, so sadly lacking by many who simply follow the crowd. The conclusion that many are coming to and I have been bleating on about this for some time is “the cure is worse than the virus” and this is because our politicians appear to be obsessed with extending old and sick people’s lives for a relatively short period whilst giving the young and fit a future of destitution and depression (financial and mental). This simply cannot be right. People are dying but we are not hearing about them. The Covid Health Service is not reporting the tens of thousands of people who have died for “unexplained” reasons but many who can still use their common sense know that it is because they have been scared into not seeking treatment for other ailments or as has been the case denied essential treatment, even for serious cancers. This is MADNESS and cannot go on. It is ok for us older, fit and healthy to simply stick our heads in the sand and wait for our gilt edged final salary pensions to go into the bank. We MUST start to think differently otherwise our children and grandchildren will be condemned to a life of immense hardship.

By the way Wales had an eye-watering 625 positive tests yesterday and a terrifying ONE new death WITH Covid across all of Wales. Yes the country must go into lockdown.

To cheer you up another picture from my son-in-laws office window.

Monday 19th Oct: 08:30

I don’t know about you but I had a pretty enjoyable weekend. Friday Club was its usual therapeutic self; a bit of exercise and plenty of social interaction. A Saturday lunchtime drink at the club; Emma & Jacqui have that working well. An excellent Sunday roast chicken dinner. Of course all this was accompanied with my good friends Harvey, Stella, Mal Bec, Rose, and Sav. Sherry didn’t make it this weekend. Then of course there was the rugby.

I didn’t expect Bristol to win and didn’t expect them to win so emphatically. What a start; 16 seconds in and Harry Randall goes over for a try. I don’t think Toulon, even with the experience they had in the side ever recovered from that. Yes the Frenchmen put up a lot of resistance but Bristol always looked in control. In Callum Sheedy they have a star in the making. (Well done Wayne Pivac for getting him into the Welsh squad). Semi Radradra is already a star and with Dave Attwood and Ben Earl they have power and guile in the forwards. Max Malins try was a thing of beauty that put the lid on proceedings. It wasn’t all one way traffic but Toulon were let down by their discipline. Good game, good result for Bristol and Pat Lam.

Next up Exeter Chiefs v Racing 92. The first half was thoroughly entertaining, in my opinion, and a lot closer than I thought it would be. Exeter used width at times but all too often had to resort to the bulldozer for forward momentum. There were glimpses of French flair with Finn Russell pulling the strings. The second half was more of an arm wrestle and even though it was touch and go that Exeter would win when the game is an arm wrestle you would be foolish not to back the Chiefs and so it proved. We saw the best of Russell, we saw the worst of Russell. His no look pass giving Chiefs a simple run for a try was awful. Like Toulon on Friday the French discipline was poor and contributed to their downfall. At one point it was so farcical I thought there was a betting scam under way. When Nigel Owen correctly binned Tomas Francis for a deliberate knock-on late in the game it seemed that the tables would turn. Exeter’s defensive resilience came through and they weathered the storm for the victory. The game ended slightly bizarrely with the fiasco over the timing but Exeter are now European Champions.

On Sunday morning I enjoyed the second Bledisloe Cup encounter. The All Blacks fought off the early Wallaby onslaught and were back to their imperious all conquering best. Some of the play from both sides was outstanding but unlike their hosts the Australians could never quite finish off their moves. That boy Caleb Clarke is something else. It was brilliant to see 41,000 fans in the ground without social distancing and not a mask in sight. HOORAH for that! Whilst there were glimpses of brilliance in the other games this was a different level. Great stuff.

If there was one disappointment it was again the scrum. In all three encounters the amount of time setting and resetting was frustrating. Something has to be done to change this.

Talking of change the blazers have got to stop this new nonsense: the faffing around with a mother’s meeting before each lineout. Another time waster.

Finally pitches. Steel Cross looks magnificent and top flight rugby on it would not look out of place. Ashton Gate looked superb but quite quickly into the game players looked like Smurfs as they picked up the blue plaint from the Cup logo. Eden Park had more advertising on it than Crowborough High Street but the players were not covered in paint. Why? Simply because the broadcaster superimposes it onto the field. Why can’t the British TV companies do the same?

And another thing why were Racing and Exeter allowed to play in very similar kit. Yet more amateurish decisions from the rugby blazers!!

Exeter Chiefs Sam Simmonds is named European Player of the Year. Well done to him.

Ben Spencer is not in Eddie Jones squad but Willie Heinz is. What??????

South Africa as expected have pulled out of the Rugby Championship. A big blow all round me thinks.

Bristol are on standby to replace Wasps next Saturday if the Wasps Covid out break has gotten worse. Two European winners going head to head is no bad thing but it will undermine further the (pathetic and unnecessary) play-offs.

That’ll do for now other than to leave you with the same thought John Humphreys (Mastermind and Daily Fail) left me with this week. Writing in the Daily Fail he said we should not ignore FDRs famous quote “the only thing we have to fear........ is fear itself”. He went on to write “Fear replaces reason. Fear prevents us from dispassionately assessing the threat and calmly assessing the most effective way of dealing with it.” He then goes on to say “fear is especially effective in distorting the judgement of politicians” and sadly/worryingly he believes and so do I this is where we are right now with regard to Covid. It is an excellent piece covering much more than this and is well worth reading.

Must go, the picture is not Boris’s invasion fleet heading toward to Scotland this is the new (now leaking) aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth II and her battle fleet. The picture was taken from my son-in-laws office window. Now that is a job!!

Thursday 15th Oct: 08:50

Firstly thank for your feedback. The support is reassuring and even the (implied) criticism is most welcome.

A big weekend ahead for fans of Bristol Bears and Exeter Chiefs. Two cracking European finals.

Remember
Both games are on at Steel Cross
NB STRICT GUIDELINES WILL APPLY AND NUMBERS ARE LIMITED
Book or get there early

Tomorrow evening in the Stade Maurice David, Aix-en-Provence Toulon will take on Pat Lam’s Bristol. Whilst Toulon have had to cut their cloth accordingly they are a still a mighty side. Any team that has Sergio Parisse and Eben Etzebeth in their line-up will be a force to reckon with. The battle at half back will be interesting with Serin and Carbonel for Toulouse and Callum Sheedy and Harry Randall / Andy Uren for Bristol going head to head. Will Semi Radrada be the difference and can Bristol keep their discipline in check. Toulon dispatched Leicester Tigers with aplomb but they will find Bristol an altogether different proposition. Both sides like to play an expansive game so hopefully this is what we will get. Bristol will need to bounce back from the defeat against Wasps but this is the game Pat Lam has focussed on for some time.

So to my prediction. I think it will be a good game. I think, sadly, Toulon will edge it based on being more street wise and with it being in France.

On Saturday we see Exeter Chiefs take on Racing 92. I really don’t know what to think about this one. Exeter Chiefs will be well rested and having dispatched Bath last weekend and pretty much everyone else they’ve played confidence will be high. They have the advantage of the short trip to Ashton Gate. If the Simmonds boys are fit and Exeter continue to play what is in front of them rather than playing to a rigid game plan then they have a great chance to lift the trophy. The battle of the number 10s will be where the game could be won and lost. Joe Simmonds up against the mercurial Finn Russell. If Russell is on form and gets off to a good start then he certainly could be the game changer. That said one man doesn’t make a team and potentially that could be Racing 92s Achilles heel. Unlike tomorrow’s match-up this has the potential to be an arm wrestle similar to the turgid stuff we saw when Racing beat Saracens. The Chiefs will be able to include Jonny Hill whose hit on Talupe Faletau was deemed to warrant no further action.

I think this will be an Exeter win but it certainly won’t be a walk in the park.

Then on Sunday morning we have Bledisloe II, which will make a change from Project Fear II. I hope the game can deliver the excitement of last week and in front of 40,000+ fans that would be great. The Wallabies are a good side but I think there is plenty in the All Black tank that we didn’t see last week. It is also at Eden Park where the All Blacks losing is about as rare as a politician admitting they are wrong. I go All Blacks with something to spare.

By the way in order to be able watch this game “as live” I won’t now be drivelling, bleating or any other kind of writing until Monday morning.

There are other bits and pieces in the news worthy of comment such as why is King Eddie almost certain to ignore Ben Spencer when England face the Barbarians on Oct 25th, and what are the implications of the positive Covid tests for Wasps as they head towards the play-off final. These can keep until next week.

There is much in the papers about Long Covid, the lasting after effects for those who have contracted the virus. Paddy O’Fez brought this to my attention yesterday. Yes it is a worrying development and without question needs more exploration. However it cannot be used to close down the NHS more than it already is for the many thousands of people who are having appointments cancelled, even for cancer treatment.

There is an argument that says the government are damned if they do, and damned if they don’t but without question, and this is where I think Paddy and I are 100% aligned is a) we can’t trust anything we are told, b) many of those leading this are incompetent not equipped to do the job and c) we are continually promised a Rolls Royce and get delivered a Reliant Robin; track & trace being a perfect example.

Finally Wales is now officially closed. Beware of Mark Drakeford’s brown shirts manning the border posts if you were thinking of going into or even leaving the country.