Rugger buggers in blackpropaganda

Well, we had a look at the opening ceremony and first game in the Rugby Union World Cup yesterday evening.
The former featured a very large rugby ball

and a lot of famous rugby players from the recent past.
The latter featured a smaller ball - and the present crop of England players against Fiji - who were expected to lose, and did, but they gave England a good game, and showed up the reason why I would not put my money on them winning the trophy.

So far, so good - but in fact I did not see all the match because
a) it began to look a foregone conclusion
b) more importantly, I could not cope with the commentators who waffled on about ‘game plans’, and the way the play was broken up by replays to check on fouls and scores. It seems to me the referee cannot make a judgment without referring to the big screen.
c) also the comments of Johnny Wilkinson and Clive Woodward (ex England player and coach when England won in 2005) who seemed to be making the kind of speeches they make when earning their money giving inspirational talks to big corporations.

Woodward and Wilkinson

So we watched most of a programme on George Martin - the Beatles’s musical producer who had a fascinating career - and still alive at 88. It was a joy not to be shouted at!!!

Only 43 more games to go - I shall watch Ireland this afternoon with the sound off!