[Major Bloodnok]

Bragging rights achieved...

https://anoldgreydog.uk/2026/01/13/view ... na-10-ecc/

[Yareet]

As ever, chapeau

[DavenportSharky]

Excellent. Finally someone agrees with what I wrote on here. Enjoy France.

[dinogyro]

I might be that sad that I would watch a Sale training video and enjoy it.

[SSR]

I would read the Major's report on it .

[Major Bloodnok]

I might be that sad that I would watch a Sale training video and enjoy it.

I have...

[poyntonshark]

Quality with a capital Kwuh as usual sir, but, I'm sorry, you're not convincing me about that first half. The quality of rugby on show from all 30 players was not up to snuff. The weather may mitigate some, but the excuse does rather smack of the Irish Olympic skating judge giving a 5 out of 6 to the guy who fell over 8 times, because "It's awful slippery out there". I assume there was no tropical wind at half time to raise the temperatures, as our handling at least, was much improved in the second half.

I don't usually pay much attention to a MOM unless there is such a a standout performance to make it obvious. If pushed I think EVR may just have sneaked it for me, but I have no issue with TOF getting it.

Commentary noticed and highlighted Koch's acknowledgement of Bev.

[Major Bloodnok]

Not having a replay to consult, I can only go by my feelings as the half-time whistle blew. They were a mixture of relief, frustration, and anticipation. Yes, the quality of rugby wasn't great – I didn't mention it, but I thought Fordy looked positively jittery at times – but I didn't feel bored by it. There was sufficient jeopardy to keep me interested.

And that defensive set will go down in history alongside Rourke's Drift.

[PappjeShark]

An excellent review, Major.

That defensive set - by the time of the next break in play, we’d taken them from our 5m line to halfway and were very close to completing a break that could’ve gone the whole way.

I didn’t see the Koch/Rodd touch, however I did note that after the first series of scrums were almost all penalties against us, Bev spoke to the ref at length. At the next scrum, the ref paid close attention to that matchup, which was stable on that occasion, and I don’t think Bev lost another one either. So huge credit to him for working out how to hold his own against such an experienced and wily old fox.

[Yareet]

An excellent review, Major.

That defensive set - by the time of the next break in play, we’d taken them from our 5m line to halfway and were very close to completing a break that could’ve gone the whole way.

I didn’t see the Koch/Rodd touch, however I did note that after the first series of scrums were almost all penalties against us, Bev spoke to the ref at length. At the next scrum, the ref paid close attention to that matchup, which was stable on that occasion, and I don’t think Bev lost another one either. So huge credit to him for working out how to hold his own against such an experienced and wily old fox.

[poyntonshark]

Please, just to avoid the juvenile in @SSR sending him apoplectic, can we stop talking about their Koch touching Bev.