English Over The Sleeve

The results are out. Now we know what the knock-out stages of the Heineken cup look like.

2 French teams - Toulouse and Perpignan. The Stade Français did not qualify (they needed Cardiff to lose v. Bristol) although they went out in style. Sky News noted that the tournament lost out in colour (Stade Français play in pink).

2 London teams - well, the Saracens actually live in Watford, and the London Irish play in Reading (of all places!)

3 teams from England, all from the South. The northernmost team is Gloucester, the current Guinness Premiership leaders. A fun fact about Gloucester for my French readers - it’s pronounced “gloostère”.

0 teams from Italy.

2 teams from Wales - a result not equaled for the last seven years. Ospreys and Cardiff

And the 8th team is Munster, from Ireland. Munster beat the Wasps (the defending champions) over the weekend.

But before the next stage of the Heineken cup, we have the 6 nations to look forward to. Let’s see if England can show Europe what they showed the world in September!

Here’s a question for you: why does London have a large amount of top-flight Rugby teams, while Paris has one ? (we’ll assume here that London is Greater London (600 sq. miles), and Paris is anything in the Ile de France (depts. 75, 77, 78, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95)(4.5 thou sq. miles).

RATP, the Paris transport authority, is at least partly on strike. So I’m leaving about now for Paris - I may have to hoof it…

Grrr

Still, the good news is that we’re in the final

(Sky News is talking about the ‘after-effects of industrial action’. This is just bad journalism. 2 unions are still on strike - and that information is available on the RATP’s home page (in French).)

Flags, check.
Face paint, check.
Walking shoes, check.
Thick coat, check.
Address tatooed onto my arm, check

South Africa have got to win. They’ve had an easyish time at the RWC, and now they’re meeting the underdogs - that is, the guys who were not assured of making it through the group stages. They have to beat them again. If they don’t win, their whole country is going to boo them. Pressure.

By contrast, the England team wants to win, hopes to win. Not many people are expecting them to win (see the bookies for details), although a lot of people (myself amongst them) would like them to win. No pressure.

Which team do you think has got the better prep for this match?

are on line in the gallery.

You can put your match photos here too - just make sure that they are about the rugby match (during the match or partying afterwards).

We won. We won. We won.
Really, we did it.
We really did.

Just thought I’d mention it

So the semi-final (the ineresting one…) will be France - England, in Saint-Denis. This could be good…
In preparation, I’d like to teach the Parisian French, who have always been passionate about Rugby ever since about last week, a new song - and in the best traditions of rugby, we’ll translate it straight from the English. Let’s go!

Balancez bas, char sucré
Venant pour me porter jusqu’à la maison ;
Balancez bas, char sucré
Venant pour me porter jusqu’à la maison.

Well done! Next lesson, serving pints as standard

We won!
Let me rephrase that: WE WON!!!

England 12 - 10 Australia

Nothing more to say, really.

So the IRB can’t find a solution for the ongoing shirt problem for the France-NZ match in Cardiff? (For everyone out there, France won the toss to play in their home strip - dark blue, but NZ has only two strips : black and, well grey…)
I have a solution, familiar to all those who’ve ever played rugby or football on youth camps, school, whatever : skins and shirts.
The French play in their home strip, seen here. The All Blacks play without shirts. Sorted.
Come to think of it, maybe the French should play the skin side… the French Team Calendar

Wales scored a last-minute try against England at Wembley

No particular relevance to the England game tonight (that nearly wore out my F5 key - French TF1 had decided not to show the match…) - I just find it funny.

I was going to write a post about how despite an injury-ridden team, England defended well and were not left behind on the scoreboard.
I’m not, am I?

I’m not even going to write about Jason Robinson - the French love giving rugby players nicknames, but Jason Robinson was always Jason Robinson - incomparable! My gut is telling me that he won’t be playing for Queen and Country again - Mr Robinson, we salute you!

South Africa 36, England nil.