Rugby Diary - 18th April

Got up early again today to watch yet another episode of sodding Soccer AM. I’ve been watching this Saturday morning football programme for over a month now in the small hope that I might catch a glimpse of our Wasps lads as they take part in the Skill Skool segment. It was back at the beginning of March that the film was shot, yet still no sign. Was it on today? Nope!

Midday – wondering what I should do with my day now that I have got my football fix out of the way. No rugby on TV as Sky are televising tomorrow’s game against Bath and Newcastle. Hang on, wait! It’s the EDF Cup Final today and that’s on the BBC!! It’s funny how you forget these things are on when you’re not in them…

Oh dear! Gloucester were well and truly stuffed by Cardiff. 12 points to 50. Oops! What is it with Gloucester that they can’t seem to pull a win out of the bag when it really matters? Their fans continue to suffer and they are once again calling for the sacking of their underperforming coaching team.

There was also a Premiership game played today. Northampton v London Irish. We really needed Irish to win so that we can have as realistic a chance as possible of getting into 7th position for that glimmer of hope for Heineken Cup rugby next season. Did Irish do it? Did they help us out? Bloody Not Nots. Lost to Northampton 21-17. Great! That means that the Saints are now in 7th place with our game still to play tomorrow. If we win with a bonus point then we will be level on points with them, but not sure who will be ahead in the table.

All this talk of getting into 7th however might be quite irrelevant come the close of the season. We’re chasing this hope that getting into 7th will help us qualify, however for that to happen it means that Bourgoin must win the ECC. The other three teams left in that competition are all English and all outside of the top 6 in the Premiership. A winner’s medal from them would get them in the Heineken next year and take away the final place that we are chasing.

So that is all the rugby out of the way for today. I am trying to pick my Lions squad at the moment, and I am currently struggling to pick my front row players. Fingers crossed I get this finished before the actual team is announced on Tuesday.