Seems like several T14 clubs also make a loss. Maybe they have a stronger revenue:loss ratio they have to maintain? Just to ensure confidence and ongoing TV deals etc...

General Q: do T14 and Prem have similar governance in terms of financial management, or does T14 just have better TV deals and crowds; and more reliable benefactors?

Do we know how much of the ticket increase is volume, and how much is pricing?

Unlikely as it may seem, driver could have been dodgy/in cahoots with the lad.

This is risk management in practice. Probability is not the same as risk, before you pipe up.

Noticing Menoncello only twice in 50 minutes is a pleasant and unpredictable surprise.

Buy a horse and start talking about your horse occasionally. Then sell the horse.

Tbh it doesn't sound like you're dealing with Einstein, should be all good.

Not really my favourite film of the year. But the year is pivotal, and unavoidable. It's all the over the bloody trilogy.

Back to the Future.

Should have made a film of Live Aid.

Masters are like buses, eh Rory?

#Masters

This aged well.

Rory in complete control for final 2 days, never in doubt.

Honourable mention to Justin Rose.

I've a huge soft spot for the Mathieu v Wout thing which goes back nearly 20 years now I believe.

Both greats, MVDP with a little more luck and focus in the last 3 years.

So happy for Wout today.

Mathieu pulling for 110km had hints of Amstel Gold.

Looked like contact to me, and deliberate. Aldegheri also seemed to go down heavily, I think trying to suggest there'd been some hideous unfortunate collision.

Cameras found him out.

Clear trip, on slowmo, for me. Willis' position why no PT. I'd have given PT, ball carrier would have had 1m and momentum, and not have been falling.

Bath must be licking their lips at this. The big 2 favourites with fancy squads both struggling to score freely.

They'd be 25 points up by now (as would Northampton also have been).

#BORvTLS

Does an actual red require malicious intent now (like deliberate gouging).

The words Carley used, sounded like red, not 20 min red.

Sheehan to centre?

#LEIvSAL

Presumably Baird to the row and Dan to the back row.

Sheehan is special.

#LEIvSAL

Harry Byrne looks good doesn't he.

#LEIvSAL

Here's looking forward to Sunday pm: Roubaix (history in the making), UBB v ST, Masters.

I'm not sure he will. Monkey off his back, he could win a few in the next 2 or 3 years while he's fit and hungry.

Might not happen of course, but he looks more relaxed and mature.

TMO did try that a bit when Barbeary tipped Pollock in the first half and sounded like he wanted Brace to give yellow. Brace just did that assertive talking nonsense and suddenly everyone shuts up, and just gave a penalty.

Maybe Brace subconsciously dislikes Pollock a little too much.

To be fair Northampton did Leinster squarely in the semi last year, and gave the final a proper go against UBB.

But you would fancy them to get a little beaten up, up front. And maybe the ST defence would be a little more robust 😃

Maybe yes.

Is it a Euro only kit? The Northampton one looks quite good I think, and a bit T14. Maybe a bit if Euro psychology?

To be fair, UBB sometimes look like this, and then score 60 odd points.

And to be fair Jalibert is better at this stuff than anyone else, and he has the LBB card to play too.

Both dark, with black. Maybe a color blindness clash?

Or maybe it's so that their defence coaches won't recognize them, and they won't get bollocked.

The world's greatest democracy.

They're either spineless (he's been at this shit for 14 months now), or we must deduce that this has tacit US strategic support, and that they just pretend to be shocked by the clown.

Seems a shame they wouldn't meet in the final.

Hints of the RWC23 draw here.

After that first half, I'm not sure Leinster will continue with their experiment of replacing the Sexton loop with the Munster loop.

I'd be.laughing if the origin of this wasn't so painful.

#LEIvEDI

Yep very poor. But also predictable.

In this situation it was already clear there were 'homer' pictures for the ref, so even worse decision of Stormers to stay tight and not just go for DG.

Officiating in rugby is not easy, and it's frustrating when it's not done even handedly.

Christophe Ridley twice started sentences about mitigation, twice mumbled something about time, and twice didn't clearly finish his mitigation nonsense.

Having open mics and TMOs doing their jobs is clearly embarrassing when another official doesn't want to give a call. And then some TMOs ignore..

Agree heavily. Some calls are looked at, some aren't.

Beirne got correct yellow in last 10 for deliberate knock-on when game almost dead. Exeter had one ignored in first half when miles ahead...

Nonu avoided what should have been straight red because ref bottled it.

Officials teams inconsistent.