Well done NZ.

Class from Read and Hansen.

This is a very special side. I can't think of another international side who could have competed against this BIL side with a man down for so long. And almost win it.

SBW aside they can be proud of their effort. They came to play, but that was curtailed by the sending off. In real time I thought it was a yellow. On reflection red was the correct call.

Garces was the worst kind of referee, inconsistent. At times he looked as if he was trying to balance the ledger, at others like he was making it up as he went along.

Thank goodness.

Despite almost clutching defeat from the jaws of victory I'm delighted that my Doomsday scenario didn't come to pass and the Lions proved me very wrong.

AWJ and Warburton had their best games on tour. O'Brien and Itoje were very good, and the rest of the pack went about their business with quiet steel. Our tackling was immense.

Vunipola has been criticised, but I think he was given the job of the Fall Guy. His transgressions kept Garces' gaze on him and our back 5 had free reign to ignore the offside line.

Wellington police need to be informed that Itoje has appropriated McCaw's Cloak of Invisibility.

Gatland certainly told his team to 'beg for forgiveness, not ask for permission' and they got away with as much as I could.

His try aside I thought Murray was average and Webb must be wondering what he has to do to get a run.

And I'm not convinced that the Sexton Farrell combo worked.

Despite plentiful, clean ball from scrum and line out the BILs created very little. Davies was the pick of the backs again I thought, and Farrell's pass to Williams to set up Faletau's try was top drawer.

A draw would have been a fair result but I'm very happy that we're going back to Eden Park with it all to play for.

But hopefully Gatland realises that he got out of jail with this result.

Hopefully he won't be fooled that he picked the right team.

I can understand why he would start the same team next week but if we have any chance of beating a 15-man NZ at Fortress Eden then Lawes needs to partner Itoje, with Henderson on the bench.

And I'd put Farrell back at 10 and Te'o at 12.

So on to Act Three, 'The Fall of Eden'

No dramatic change for me tbh

Live in a small market town in rural Wales.

Essentials are in walking distance.

Shop shelves are well stocked and shopping is civilised.

Out with the dog at sun up and see the same 1-2 guys each morning.

Lunchtime walk round the block I see no-one.

Evening dog walk with the missus we may see 2-3 people.

Missus is working from home so I'm im the upstairs 'office' (see attached)

I keep house when I'm not teaching skiing so nothing different there.

Still having a chance to take photos when I'm out and about, but all commercial photography work is on hold.

Plenty of chat with family and friends via wattsapp and facebook.

And ski forums and the Fern.

The better team won - predictably, comfortably - whilst rarely getting out of 3rd gear.

Wales tired in the last 20 through their own doing.

Poor accuracy going forward and shit kicking handing the ABs both possession and field position time and time again.

Out lineout was pathetic, and has been for what appears to be decades.

But all that said it was magic to be singing and shouting your lungs out watching the best team in the world.

A couple of those tries were sublime and more than worth the entrance fee.

The atmosphere was electric.

Brilliant effort from all at the Stadium.

Slick, like clockwork (maybe not the bars).

17 mins walk from my front door to my seat.

Post-match hanging about pitchside was great.

Good chats with your supporters,

Great to be back.

Happy, healthy, unwealthy.

But the unwealthy is directly linked to my life & career choices.

But I definitely favour unwealthy over unhealthy.

Made the most of 2020 despite losing a lot of work and income.

It’ll come back.

Just celebrated 10 years with my partner Nerys. 10 months was the longest relationship prior to meeting her.

Both very happy.

Just had a belated 54th birthday celebration this past weekend with 3 days skiing in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales with lads half my age.

Unapologetically life is great.

But Nerys and I are both glass 7/8 full people.

@tim said in Junior Bok banned for 'sexually crude' comment aimed at England opponent's mother:

SIX WEEKS

Surely it should have been 9 1/2 weeks

@gt12 said in Crusaders. v Reds:

Blackadder was bloody lucky not to see a YC in the 51st for me, just lay there to stop the Reds attack, clearly on purpose.

How the fuck that isn’t a RC for Matera is beyond me. Dropped from height and just lucky the guy managed to get his shoulder coming down to get an arm out (still think his head directly hit the ground). Fucking lucky the guy is walking tomorrow.

Dumb, dirty play which should have seen him red carded.

There’s no place for that shit in rugby and thankfully they’ve scrapped the 20-minute red for next season.

Teams deserve to play with 14 men for things like that.

Far more players have been retired through shoulder injuries than head injuries, so whilst the ref made the correct call under current guidelines any lift past the 90 & subsequent drop should be a RC IMHO.

Whether the player lands on the head or shoulder or back first.

Something Wild
Field of Dreams
Goodfellas
No Escape
Unlawful Entry
Cop Land
Hannibal
Narc
Identity
Control
Revolver
Smokin Aces
Powder Blue
Killing Them Softly

Great preformances in some really good to great films

Not a bad legacy

@OomPB said in Springboks moving forward:

Wales 3 test match rugby tour of South Africa 2 Jul (Pretoria), 9 Jul (Bloemfontein) & 16 Jul (Cape Town) 2022

WALES SQUAD FOR SOUTH AFRICA TEST SERIES

Forwards (19): Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby – 16 caps), Wyn Jones (Scarlets – 43 caps), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 10 caps), Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 27 caps), Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 5 caps), Sam Parry (Ospreys – 5 caps), Leon Brown (Dragons – 22 caps), Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 64 caps), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 38 caps), Adam Beard (Ospreys – 34 caps), Ben Carter (Dragons – 6 caps), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys – 150 caps), Will Rowlands (Dragons – 18 caps), Taine Basham (Dragons – 10 caps), Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby – 89 caps), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys – 65 caps), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Rugby – 30 caps), James Ratti (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – uncapped).

Backs (14): Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 67 caps), Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 11 caps), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 33 caps), Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys – 31 caps), Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints – 100 caps) Captain, Rhys Patchell (Scarlets – 21 caps), George North (Ospreys – 102 caps), Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 20 caps). Owen Watkin (Ospreys – 31 caps), Johnny Williams (Scarlets – 5 caps), Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 39 caps), Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys – 51 caps), Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 16 caps), Liam Williams (Scarlets – 78 caps).

Springbokke squad to be announce in next week.

3-0 to the Boks

Maybe 2-1 if they go 2 ahead and then experiment for the 3rd Test

Oil City Confidential is a great documentary on Dr Feelgood

@Kiwiwomble said in Movie review thread...:

@Machpants ...the screen grab for that video was misleading....

Very

@MN5 said in What are you listening to, right now................:

@Tim said in What are you listening to, right now................:

1983 thrash:

James Hetfield is such a cool rockstar. Awesome grunty voice and a very handy riffing guitarist who can play some tasty lead stuff as well. Actually the whole band are pretty bloody wicked even if Lars is low down on the list of rock stars you’d want a beer with.

James Hatfield, the Mark Knopfler of Heavy Metal.

I've really tried to like / get in to Metallica no to avail.

@booboo said in Memes:

@RoninWC said in Memes:

I don't mind being seen to be dumb ... I'll ask...

It’s adjustable

This 2 mins already looks better than the original