Probably a bit far-fetched
There’s no doubt that Sean Lineen, coach of the Glasgow Warriors, would have been delighted by the outcome of the first Heineken Cup Pool game last weekend. A home win is almost essential to further progress in the competition, but this is particularly true when your December back-to-back games are against a team who finished runners-up in the prestigious Top 14 competition in France less than 6 months ago. Continue reading
The Saracens vs Biarritz Heineken Cup fixture is going to go ahead alright … in London. Continue reading
Johno in happier times. Doesn't look like it, though.
Having been out of the country and very, very far away from a television set for the Grand Slam decider in 2003, the Mole never experienced the visceral reaction that Martin Johnson’s red-carpet stance prompted from so many Irish rugby fans. Continue reading
Ooooooh, James Downey! (With apologies to Whiff of Cordite)
On the strength of the weekend’s games, James Downey is Ireland’s best number 12 at the moment. This Mole has long rejected calls for Downey to be included in squads, never mind teams, but his displays over the last year have not only been impressive, they’ve shown improvement. Continue reading
Martin ‘Johno’ Johnson has resigned as England Manager.
Moles dig. Sometimes to make a molehill. Sometimes to get to the bottom of something. Sometimes for no reason other than curiosity. Just as spiders can’t help spinning webs, moles can’t help digging. DNA is something we don’t fully understand, but we know it exists. Continue reading
News of the departure of Simon ‘Give Us A Hug Shawsy’ Shaw from London Wasps comes a day after the announcement of Joe Worsley’s retirement from the game. Continue reading
Noves: Mental
This quote is from ageless Toulousain alchemist Guy Noves and was directed at Gareth Thomas. It came to mind because of two quotes in today’s dailies, one about a ten and one from a ten. Continue reading
Another Round Of Heineken, Please
Orange and Canal+ executives must have been appalled by the carnage among the Top 14 clubs in the first weekend of the H Cup 2011. French rugby should be on the crest of a wave following the RWC2011 renaissance but Clermont, Racing, Castres, Biarritz all bit the dust, with Toulouse the only French H Cup winners on the weekend. In truth new-boys Montpellier salvaged the pride of Les Tricouleurs rugby with a gutsy draw against European champions Leinster, which could even have been a victory. Continue reading
Gamblor seals the deal!
Northampton must be wondering just what they have to do to beat Munster in Thomond Park. The Liginds took everything they had, and after a marathon 41-phase endgame crawled out of the coffin and grabbed the win with a monster Gamblor dropgoal. RADGE! Continue reading
Digging Like a Demented Mole 