A Glaring Omission

How very remiss of me - I've been so busy proudly telling everybody about it that I forgot to announce to the blogosphere that Daughter Number 1 made it to the top of Kilimanjaro last month. Brilliant. The only person injured in the whole process was your correspondent when he fell over descending Snowdon on a training jaunt. Prat. Or is that pratt? I think either is acceptable these days.

That's Our Hellie waving

Another week gone in the Six Nations and evidence, as if it were needed, that Ireland are a hyper-competent, beautifully coached team. Their mastery of the kicking game undid England thoroughly. Very impressive but England need not despair provided they learn from defeat, not least: 1- that in any serious game of rugby you take penalty points when they are on offer; 2 - that you must be precise in line-out calling and action; 3 - that kick-offs are a crucial source of possession whether you are kicking or receiving.

As for the other weekend action, Wales didn't have to bring out Plan B against a dreadfully disappointing France - which is just as well because the Overgraduate has been firm in his opinion that no such plan exists. A couple of years ago I posited that Saint Andre would bring intellectual ballast to the French operation. I would seem to have been wrong - well go figure. France will sooner or later demolish someone but have no notion how they did it. Their situation is hopeless but not serious. Which puts them in a better place than poor old Scotland who contrived to lose to spirited but limited Italy. Mind you if God is auditioning for an understudy, Sergio Parisse must be in the frame. Some player.