Weekend TV sport
With no Premiership or Championship soccer taking place you might have thought some of the internationals between European titans (e.g. Netherlands v Spain or Italy v Germany) might be broadcast, but the powers that be apparently imagine that we prefer women’s football or Scotland or Wales internationals.
I did watch the dull game between England and Albania ending 2-0. Thomas Tuchel does not convince me, particularly after he bad-mouthed Gareth Southgate and Jude Bellingham. It’s an old trick, mainly used by dishonest tradesmen, to criticise the work of a predecessor.
Tuchel is enjoying a honeymoon period but a bad tourney – or a couple of defeats – and he’ll be toast.
I did enjoy Harlequins beating Saracens 23-13.
It was their first history for 13 years over their North London rivals and Quins fans – particularly on The Rust – were cock à hoop.
I do not consider many of them are fit to play at the highest level and three that are – Marcus Smith, Fin Baxter and Caden Murley – were rested but Quins always have talent in depth and are worth watching.
Fly half Jamie Benson came on for the second half and the Cambridge graduate stepped up to the plate with 5/5 penalty kicks.
If he carries on like this Marcus Smith might not make the Quins side, let alone England or the British Lions.
Quins are now in a Premiership play-off position but have to play Bath next week and Leinster after that, so it was sensible to rest players.
The match – played at the Spurs stadium and shown on ITV4 – received great hoopla, but we had to suffer David Flatman as analyst.
He was also the analyst on TNT for their coverage of Bath v Gloucester (42-26).
Unlike its soccer namesake, you cannot predict with certainty the rugby Premiership winners.
Last season it was Northampton Saints, this time Bath look the dominant side under coach Johan Graan and a traditional Bath robust pack was bolstered by the return from injury of Sam Underhill.
Behind them was the best fly half in Britain – Finn Russell – who orchestrated the side whilst Ben Spencer is a reliable scrum half.
Gloucester have fewer stars now that Louis Zammit had gone to seek his fortune in NFL, yet have had a good season but they must be worried that Quins might now pip them for a “top four” play-off place.
