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Monday 18 February 2019

Just Occasionally A Morcel Of Truth Emerges

I was watching that immoral, semi-lucid, self-serving pillock Donald Trump last week as he vaingloriously trumpeted his declaration of a state of emergency, all over the funding for his bloody wall. It made my flesh creep - the man is so sodding ghastly. However in amongst the gruesome gloating and gurning he made a point that the liberal left has to get to grips with. Without a border you don't have a country. And the further point is this - those of us who believe in the nation state as the viable vehicle for the promotion of democracy have to account for this simple truth. It is an agonising exercise wrangling with this equation. The truly scary thing about Trump is that none of this causes him the slightest concern. Trump is beyond redemption but the rest of us cannot dismiss an inconvenient truth just because he is the man who voices it.

Don't get me started on Mike Pence. A European audienec received his mealy-mouthed apologia for what we must politely call Trumpism, in stony silence. This is not rude - it is appropriate. Sometimes humiliation is the only antidote to bullies. 

Tuesday 12 February 2019

Of All The Bars In All The World

I was in Prague last weekend for some decidedly anti-intellectual entertainment. The excuse was the stag do of my godson AW. Nothing need be said other than, if you have never seen a man in an inflatable pig costume chasing a dwarf then you have not lived as well as OG. For the record, Prague is really nice.

All of which explains how IW and I came to be comfortably stationed in an Irish bar to take in the Scotland v Ireland, and Italy v Wales fixtures on Staurday afternoon. We flew home earlyish on Sunday and I was in front of my own television for the final (England v France)  instalment of 6N Week 2. My predictions were correct as regards results but not so accurate relating to the manner of the victories.

Ireland were workmanlike against a Scotland team who have once again flattered to deceive. This game did give us our first Ronan O'Gara Gobshite Award of the season - Greig Laidlaw for criticising the referee in his post-match interview - it's not sodding soccer Greig, and even if it was, your sour observations were wide of the mark.

An unsuitably sour Scot
The Italy v Wales match taught us very little. Wales fielded a shadow side and won by a mediocre margin without it ever looking that poor old Italy might spring a surprise. Wales have much, much more to give. Josh Navidi is some player.

As for England, well the old adage is that you can only beat what's put in front of you, which in this case meant a French side who bordered on the embarrassing. And yet, they plainly have talent and pace, witness their lone try. England have thus far (to the admitted surprise of this delighted Englishman) carried all before them. The back-row unit of Wilson, Curry and Vunipola was particularly effective. Injuries to others (most notably Robshaw, Shields and Underhill) have paved the way for Curry and Wilson to show themselves off to pleasing effect. Vunipola we already knew about. Next comes Wales, at full strength and in front of their usual frenzied (borderline racist in unfortunate cases - we all have them I suppose) home support. Wales are odds against and that bet looks like value to me in a two horse race. Consider also the draw as a fun wager.

Tuesday 5 February 2019

It's A Funny Old Game

Do you know, I have long held the opinion that England could produce a near perfect storm of a rugby performance. I have also long held the view that they would not do it in the Six Nations, a tournament wherein the team bow too easily to the ferocious ill-will that other nations find it amusing to bear us. Looks like I was wrong because the manner in which England eviscerated a very good Irish side on Saturday was fabulous to behold.

The other games were of a different and less exalted type. The French managed to be very, very good for the first half and then calamitously bad for the second. Fair play to Wales who picked up the pieces but they cannot seriously hope to keep winning by playing that ineptly. Here's a free bit of advice for Warren Gatland - Dan Biggar is a better fly-half than Gareth Anscombe. And that comes from a man who has been very critical of Biggar's unpleasant on-field manners. 

Scotland were also a little skittish in dispatching poor old Italy. Still, job done.

Good news folks - no behaviour egregious enough for the Ronan O'Gara Gobshite Award to be bestowed. The tournament is young yet.

Roll on the second weekend. England to beat France but with a struggle; Ireland to revert to winning ways; Wales to win easily. We have to admit that thus far the famous OG powers of prediction have been awry - I'm keeping my best shots in the locker for Cheltenham, a treat that is now close enough to anticipate seriously. It's tough being me.

Friday 1 February 2019

OG Speaks Words Of Wisdom

Never mind bloody Brexit. Never mind bloody Trump. Never mind a newly bellicose bloody Russia. Never mind bloody Bercow. No never mind all these things, now for what really matters - the Six Nations starts in half an hour. Mind you, I'm not totally sold on starting on a Friday evening, I presume for the benefit of the great beast god television.

So who wins? Wales have their two toughest fixtures, Ireland and England, at home and for that reason I take them by a small margin over Ireland. Very little in it. In contrast England have to go to both Dublin and Cardiff and I am resigned to defeat on both occasions. Scotland will beat one of the perceived big three. Greig Laidlaw a nice outside bet to be the tournament's top scorer - I took 10/1.

As for France - I'm like everyone else - completely confused.