Due to other commitments I have not had an opportunity to get onto H&A before now -- and this is only a quick note. Just to say who'd have thought the top Welsh team would be the Dragons? My verdicts so far: The Blues - uninspired. The Ospreys - unforgiveable. The Scarlets - unlucky. The Dragons - unlikely heroes.
I mean come on -- Connacht beating the Blues? The EDF champions with half-a-dozen internationals and a sprinkling of Lions beating a waste-of-time development team with the nous of a Sunday League B team? I'm expecting better from the Blues and the Ospreys. We need to show the world - NZ, SA, Aus in particular - that the Magners teams can play attractive rugby and convert it into results, without being perpetually rusty as they seem to be at the moment.
Sunday 20 September 2009
Saturday 12 September 2009
Ospreys v Ulster Live!
OK let's give this a go - live blogging on a live match! Ospreys v Ulster is now on on S4C so why not watch and join in?
Friday 11 September 2009
Rugby This Weekend
Across your TV networks this weekend:
FRIDAY
Munster v Cardiff Blues 7:00pm
Toulon v Toulouse 7:30pm
SATURDAY
New Zealand v South Africa 8:35am
Saracens v Northampton 2:30pm
Ospreys v Ulster 6:00pm
SUNDAY
Glasgow v Llanelli Scarlets 5:30pm
Keep up to date at http://www.livesportontv.com/rugby-union
FRIDAY
Munster v Cardiff Blues 7:00pm
Toulon v Toulouse 7:30pm
SATURDAY
New Zealand v South Africa 8:35am
Saracens v Northampton 2:30pm
Ospreys v Ulster 6:00pm
SUNDAY
Glasgow v Llanelli Scarlets 5:30pm
Keep up to date at http://www.livesportontv.com/rugby-union
Munster v Cardiff kicks off the weekend
So as I write this, the first (proper) entry of my blog, Munster are 13-3 up against Cardiff after, guess what, another dubious refereeing decision. Oh..it's now 16-3. So much for the EDF champions.
So the Blues' visit to Ireland kicks off this weekend; the only Welsh side not to win last weekend. Even the underperforming Scarlets managed to grind one out against the Celtic League champions last weekend. Gwent sit pretty atop the Magners League after restricting Ulster to two penalties at the Parade last Sunday, whereas the Ospreys went to Connacht. No prizes for guessing who won there.
Over the bridge, the Harlequins debacle rumbles on...sort of. Not content with faking blood injuries to their own players, they began their domestic campaign by drawing blood (real blood this time, red cells, white cells, plasma, platelets, the lot) with a headbutt. Classy. The RFU has, for their part meanwhile, said that "Bloodgate" is over. Visiting fans sporting Dracula masks may think otherwise.
Xavier Rush has scored a rather sweet try for the Blues by the way. I'll let you know if they get the conversion in a minute.
Incidentally I plan to run live-commentaries on some matches in the future - keep an eye on this page for more information.
Also in England, Gloucester have lost number 8 Luke Narroway to a back injury for 3 months and Riki Flutey fears a shoulder injury will keep him out of the autumn internationals. If injuries are all English rugby has to worry about then I'm sure they'll take that.
Half time - Munster 16-10 Cardiff. Highlight of the half was Leigh Halfpenny almost running around the entire Munster team before a stupid intervention by the touchjudge brought play back several thousand yards.
Elsewhere in the Celtic League Edinburgh play Connacht. Tomorrow Leinster play Gwent and Ospreys play Ulster. Glasgow play the Scarlets on Sunday. For TV times see the post above this one.
Munster's stadium looks awesome. Such a shame we've opted for slightly-soulless concrete function-over-form boxes in Wales.
Of course the big event this weekend is the Tri-Nations - NZ v SA. A win for South Africa would sew it up, although the All Blacks, while not exactly hitting top gear, are always the ones to watch. If you get up in time - it's on at 8:35am on Sky.
The other big news of the week was that, 50-odd games to go until the autumn internationals, the WRU and RRW have finally hammered out a participation agreement. About bloody time, we all say in Wales. Loving rugby is in our blood. We'll turn out to see the team through famine, hurricane, earthquake. But what we won't tolerate is while the men in red are losing teeth, breaking cheekbones and being eye-gouged on the park, is men in suits arguing over money off it. What I appreciate about this agreement is that the Regions (who owe their very existence to the WRU) have to agree to certain conditions, which I think will finally answer who runs rugby in Wales. And that is the WRU. It will always be the WRU. It will never be some sort of ad-hoc "umbrella body" who can't even run a website, let alone a national pastime.
Getting spicy in the Munster-Blues game now. I'll stop chattering on and get on and enjoy it.
PS: Sign up for the H&A twitter feed - you'll be updated when the blog is updated. https://twitter.com/hakasarias
So the Blues' visit to Ireland kicks off this weekend; the only Welsh side not to win last weekend. Even the underperforming Scarlets managed to grind one out against the Celtic League champions last weekend. Gwent sit pretty atop the Magners League after restricting Ulster to two penalties at the Parade last Sunday, whereas the Ospreys went to Connacht. No prizes for guessing who won there.
Over the bridge, the Harlequins debacle rumbles on...sort of. Not content with faking blood injuries to their own players, they began their domestic campaign by drawing blood (real blood this time, red cells, white cells, plasma, platelets, the lot) with a headbutt. Classy. The RFU has, for their part meanwhile, said that "Bloodgate" is over. Visiting fans sporting Dracula masks may think otherwise.
Xavier Rush has scored a rather sweet try for the Blues by the way. I'll let you know if they get the conversion in a minute.
Incidentally I plan to run live-commentaries on some matches in the future - keep an eye on this page for more information.
Also in England, Gloucester have lost number 8 Luke Narroway to a back injury for 3 months and Riki Flutey fears a shoulder injury will keep him out of the autumn internationals. If injuries are all English rugby has to worry about then I'm sure they'll take that.
Half time - Munster 16-10 Cardiff. Highlight of the half was Leigh Halfpenny almost running around the entire Munster team before a stupid intervention by the touchjudge brought play back several thousand yards.
Elsewhere in the Celtic League Edinburgh play Connacht. Tomorrow Leinster play Gwent and Ospreys play Ulster. Glasgow play the Scarlets on Sunday. For TV times see the post above this one.
Munster's stadium looks awesome. Such a shame we've opted for slightly-soulless concrete function-over-form boxes in Wales.
Of course the big event this weekend is the Tri-Nations - NZ v SA. A win for South Africa would sew it up, although the All Blacks, while not exactly hitting top gear, are always the ones to watch. If you get up in time - it's on at 8:35am on Sky.
The other big news of the week was that, 50-odd games to go until the autumn internationals, the WRU and RRW have finally hammered out a participation agreement. About bloody time, we all say in Wales. Loving rugby is in our blood. We'll turn out to see the team through famine, hurricane, earthquake. But what we won't tolerate is while the men in red are losing teeth, breaking cheekbones and being eye-gouged on the park, is men in suits arguing over money off it. What I appreciate about this agreement is that the Regions (who owe their very existence to the WRU) have to agree to certain conditions, which I think will finally answer who runs rugby in Wales. And that is the WRU. It will always be the WRU. It will never be some sort of ad-hoc "umbrella body" who can't even run a website, let alone a national pastime.
Getting spicy in the Munster-Blues game now. I'll stop chattering on and get on and enjoy it.
PS: Sign up for the H&A twitter feed - you'll be updated when the blog is updated. https://twitter.com/hakasarias
Tuesday 8 September 2009
Welcome / Croeso
Hello rugby fans everywhere and welcome to Hakas & Arias, a new rugby blog for the new 2009/10 season. I hope to provide a unique view from the sofas, stands and pitchsides of this new season.
You won't just find the usual commentary on rugby matches or players' performances, but also features on the state of the game, the behind-the-scenes intrigues and offering something of a different perspective on the game we all love.
A little about me - I'm Welsh (so rugby's pretty much part of my DNA!) and I have played for both my school and village teams, as well as a short-lived university effort. I never miss an international, and also ensure that I get down to the Millennium Stadium at least once a year when I can.
I support Newport Gwent Dragons, Blackwood RFC, Cornish Pirates and London Welsh. One of my long-term hopes is to see a representative Cornish side turn out regularly against other constituent countries of the UK. I am pro-Henson, anti-RRW and my all-time rugby favourite moment is, predictably, Scott Gibbs' try against England at Wembley in 1999.
I hope you enjoy the blog and I look forward to your replies and comments.
You won't just find the usual commentary on rugby matches or players' performances, but also features on the state of the game, the behind-the-scenes intrigues and offering something of a different perspective on the game we all love.
A little about me - I'm Welsh (so rugby's pretty much part of my DNA!) and I have played for both my school and village teams, as well as a short-lived university effort. I never miss an international, and also ensure that I get down to the Millennium Stadium at least once a year when I can.
I support Newport Gwent Dragons, Blackwood RFC, Cornish Pirates and London Welsh. One of my long-term hopes is to see a representative Cornish side turn out regularly against other constituent countries of the UK. I am pro-Henson, anti-RRW and my all-time rugby favourite moment is, predictably, Scott Gibbs' try against England at Wembley in 1999.
I hope you enjoy the blog and I look forward to your replies and comments.
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