Domestic and European Rugby Union

[paul_e]

The selection of Pollock at this stage would be a major surprise, Paul?

I'm not sure it'd be a surprise as such, he's probably the best u20 in Europe right now and is clearly going to be an England regular for years.

However back row is the hardest part of the squad to work out. Doris, Earl, Curry and Ritchie are definites and Conan is probably going as well which leaves Morgan, Darge and Pollock as the options for the last spot.

All 3 can be justified inclusions but I suspect Morgan goes as a political pick of token Welshman.

The other option is to take 2 of them and use someone like Chessum as a 5/6.

[paul_e]

Brilliant from Saints, Pollock was exceptional again and Furbank had a fantastic hour, hopefully that wasn't much of a knock that forced him off.

Gutted for Henry, how he got tackled is exactly how I broke my collarbone last year, at his age I'm sure it'll just be a dislocation but still really fucking hurts to get slammed onto one arm like that.

[Weedy]

Sad news about Sebastian "Sea Bass" Chabal:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-14598477/Rugby-icon-doctor-memory-loss-Sebastien-Chabal.html

"Ex-France forward Chabal shared how he has been suffering from memory problems since calling time on his career in 2014, speaking on the YouTube show 'Legend'.

'I don't remember a single second of a rugby match I've played. And I don't remember a single one of the 62 Marseillaises (France's national anthem) I've experienced,' he said."

[Dante Lavelli]

Are the saints ridiculously dirty (v Leinster) or is the ref giving them no margin for error?

[taylorsworkrate]

Get in! Brilliant effort to basically beat the Irish national team away from home by Northampton

[paul_e]

Are the saints ridiculously dirty (v Leinster) or is the ref giving them no margin for error?

The latter in the main.

It was an excellent performance from Saints though, Pollock, Mitchell, Smith and Freeman were all 10/10.

[lovejoy]

So today is the annual trip to watch an away defeat for Gloucester against Quins. 25 years and one win and one draw. Why do I bother?
(Beers on the green in the sunshine).
On the Quins bench is a player who my son played club rugby with. I feel old.