Saturday sport
My Saturday sport fest begins at 3-30am following the second Ashes Test match on the radio.
I prefer the radio to BT sport as there are no adverts and – except for the curmudgeonly Ian Chappell who has taken over the Boycott (highly but boringly critical) mantle – enjoy the commentators.
England actually did well in the first session with Joe Root and Dawid Milan carrying their bat.
They went in the second session but crucially Pope and Buttler were dismissed cheaply.
England really lack a sheet anchor in the middle order and that, plus the lack of a spinner who is aggressive but can hold up play too like Nathan Lynn, openers that can create a foundation and, lastly, bizarre tactics are the problem areas.
Harlequins are now a must-watch for me so I was comfortably installed by 1-00pm for their Heineken Cup match v Cardiff.
Harlequins must be the only club in any sport who put entertaining above winning.
They have at least eight players who with ball in hand will do something unexpected and exciting: Marcus Smith, Danny Care, Alex Dombrandt, Andre Esterhuizen, Tyrone Green, Joe Marchant and Louis Lynagh.
Eddie Jones was in the stand and I so hope he selects Cave, Smith and Dombrandt.
It takes two to make a game and I could only admire Cardiff who had 32 absentees.
It was 17-17 at half time and in the first part of the second half Cardiff had Quins under the cosh.
It was typical of Quins that – when awarded a penalty – they went for territory not points, Marcus Smith kicking well into Cardiff’s half.
They swiftly scored and after that it was an onslaught.
Cardiff simply did not have Quins’ resources on the bench.
The best try came from a Smith cross kick which Marchant carried over.
Harlequins won by an emphatic 43/17. One aspect of rugby I prefer to soccer is the lack of moaning.
Imagine how a top football club would react if – not allowed to travel to the game – it is awarded to the home side as happened in Montpellier by 28-0.
When a yellow card was questioned in the Harlequins/Cardiff match the culprit was told in no uncertain terms by the ref that “Keep it up and it will be a red”
My final watch was a one-sided match between Leeds and Arsenal (1-4).
Leeds are struggling in their second season, whilst the youth project of Arteta at Arsenal is taking shape nicely.
Those expensive imports like Aubamyang, Pepe and any number of overpriced central defenders, have had to make way for a group of 23 year olds and younger – Ben White, Martinelli, Smith-Rowe, Saka.
Add to this the 24 year old keeper Aaron Ramsdale and the injured Tierney and you have the ingredients of a young and successful side.
