Blood and Mud

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3

Classic 6 Nations: O'Driscoll's hat-trick vs France, 2000
2008-02-04 22:49:00
Well, that was the weekend that was.  Let's look ahead to this weekend and the lacklustre Irish will be heading to Paris to take on the newly-swashbuckling French.  Here is a look at Brian O'Driscoll, when he used to be good.
More About: France , Classic , Nations , Trick

6 Nations 2008: Ireland 16 - 11 Italy highlights
2008-02-04 22:40:00
Skip to the two minute mark, as there is a lot of fluff at the beginning.
More About: Italy , Ireland , Nations , Highlights , 2008

6 Nations video: England 19 - 26 Wales highlights
2008-02-03 23:27:00
It was all going as I predicted until half time, then it all went slightly tits-up, to use a technical term.
More About: Video , England , Wales , Nations , Highlights

6 Nations 2008: Round 1 preview
2008-02-02 13:32:00
It’s here at last!  For an entire nuclear winter we have waited for meaningful international rugby to start again while enduring matches involving the Barbarians or an utterly uninterested South African team.  Until now. The RBS 6 Nations 2008 kicks off this weekend and it is one of the most difficult to predict for years.  Let’s take a look at the fixtures that await us in round one. England v Wales.  Twickenham, 16:30 SaturdayFor years, Wales have comforted themselves with the famous Stereophonics refrain, “As long as we beat the English, we don’t care”,  however, Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards will care.  A lot. So expect them to treat this game the same as any other as they try to turn Wales around. Gatland has picked a record 13 players from the same region in his first competitive fifteen, leaving England with the task of beating the Ospreys plus Martyn Williams and Mark Jones. For all the uplifted spirits in the Principality at the...
More About: Preview , Round

Your Say! Who's gonna win on Saturday?
2008-02-01 19:39:00
You know the drill: give us your opinion by clicking below.  If you really want to make your point, smash your fist onto the mouse button and shout "HAVE THAT!" when voting.  Ot not; up to you. <a href ="http://www.polldaddy.com&q uot; >polls</a> - <a href ="http://www.polldaddy.com/p/276 831/" >Take Our Poll</a>
More About: Saturday , Gonna

Crap lookalikes: Stuart Lancaster/Arnold Rimmer
2008-01-31 23:15:00
This one wings its way in from bloodster Karl Peters (and his missus). Lancaster is struggling to turn Leeds round at the minute, but at least he's not floating through space indefintitely as a hologram, stuck with his own personal nemesis.
More About: Crap , Stuart , Arnold

Classic 6 Nations: Italy vs Ireland handbags
2008-01-30 22:04:00
And let's not forget the other game this weekend in the RBS 6 Nations - which can certainly get a bit tasty,  especially when Sergio Parisse decides to kick off on the smallest bloke on the field. Brave man.  Don't forget to join our 6 Nations fantasy league!
More About: Handbags , Italy , Ireland , Classic

Roll up, Roll up for the bloodandmud.com 6 Nations Fantasy League
2008-01-30 20:50:00
I have set up the inaugural bloodandmud.com 6 Nations Fantasy league for the forthcoming 2008 tournament, and I want you (yes YOU!) to join up and pit your wits against the finest minds in rugby multimedia (that's me, you and the other readers, by the way).  What's more, there's prizes on offer for the winner and runner-up! The league is being hosted by those lovely people over at Scrum.com and you will first need to register with them, pick yourself a team and then join our private, exclusive, no riff-raff league. Such a classy league naturally has bouncers on the door to keep out the chavs, so you will have to enter the secret code to enrol.  Our Private League PIN is 5325, so once you've registered your team, click on the "Private League" link and then come and join us all.  It's all a bit Dan Brown isn't it? Although our league does not involve attempting to rubbish the Roman Catholic church, we tend to let them do that themselves.
More About: Roll

6 Nations 2008: Warren Gatland has figured out that Iain Balshaw is shit
2008-01-30 14:52:00
After only a few weeks back in the UK, Warren Gatland has managed to work out what the entire rugby watching public already knows: Iain Balshaw is a bit shit.  This obvious fact, however, has not registered in the mind of the man who is apparently best equipped to manage England, Yoda Ashton, who apparently believes him to be the best full-back in England. "Balshaw played on the wing for Gloucester last week, and I wasn't impressed with him at all." said Comrade Gatland today.  But what is it that gave Balshaw's capabilities away?  It could have something to do with: - He never gets his shirt dirty. Ever.- I have yet to see him tackle anyone properly- He loses a contact lens after ten minutes of every game - He is made out of balsawood and matchsticks- He can't kick very well None the above seems to trouble Ashton, but it will trouble Balshaw himself when James Hook drops 47 kicks on his head in the first seven minutes.
More About: Nations , Shit , 2008

Classic 6 Nations: Scotland vs France, 2006
2008-01-30 11:37:00
There has been very little talk about Scotland 's chances in the RBS 6 Nations 2008.  But, this weekend France would do well to remember what happened last time they were at Murrayfield....
More About: Classic

Classic 6 Nations: "Rory Underwood simply stopped running"
2008-01-29 09:41:00
On we go with our video series.  No matter how many times you watch this, it is still impossible to fathom what Rory Underwood was thinking: one of the fastest and dealiest finishers in world rugby is bearing down on him yet for some reason he thinks it's a good idea to slow down.  I blame Rob Andrew for, well, for being Rob Andrew.
More About: Running , Classic , Nations , Simply

Crap lookalikes: Russ Abbot/Lawrence Dallaglio
2008-01-29 01:05:00
Oh what an atmosphere, Lol loves a party with a happy atmosphere,So let him take you there, and soon you'll be all over a Sunday pa-a-per. Many thanks to BloodReader Ruggerbugger2002, who decribes himself as "an anonymous Wasps fan from Kent", for this cracking submission.  Don't forget to send you Crap lookalikes to this address.
More About: Lawrence , Alla

Classic 6 Nations: Wales vs England, 1999
2008-01-28 19:08:00
It's the big match on Saturday, so here at bloodandmud.com we are taking a look at some of the classic encounters of times past, starting with this humdinger.  Scott Gibbs scores an outstanding try at Wembley in 1999, which Neil Jenkins (of course) converted to snatch a last-gasp one point victory.  Check out the shavvy-headed Colin Charvis going bonkers at try-time...
More About: England , Wales , Classic , Nations

Join the 6 Nations betting league!
2008-01-25 20:35:00
Our dear friends over at The Rugby Blog are inviting us, one and all, to join their RBS Six Nations betting league.  It is a very simple idea: you sign up; you get a free £25 bet; you get a chance to win your own money back, plus £250 prizemoney and some tickets to Twickenham. I've seen some good deals in my time, particularly that one in Prague that involved 2 for 1 on beer and, er, other things (wink, wink) but this one is an absolute corker.  I urge you to get yourselves over there and get involved. Also, here is their magnificent self-produced 6 Nations preview video.  Talented bunch over there, I tell you.
More About: Join , League

Handbags: Canada vs England
2008-01-23 22:51:00
Most people think the Churchill Cup doesn't matter much; this Canadian lock, in particular, would probably disagree.
More About: England , Handbags , Canada

6 Nations: Eddie O'Sullivan; "I got selection right in World Cup"
2008-01-23 22:35:00
Well that's alright then isn't it?  Given that the Ireland team had been arguably the best team in Europe for the 18 months previous to the tournament, and that there were not exactly many people banging on the door of the first fifteen, a trained chimp would have got that bit right.  However, since the Genesis report into the failings at the RWC, Ireland are apparently going in the right direction.  They just need to convince Peter Gabriel to come back in so that pratt Phil Collins can go back on drums and they'll be sorted.
More About: World Cup , World , Nations , Eddie , Selection

Crap lookalikes: Danny Cipriani/Rachel Stevens
2008-01-21 23:39:00
The latest England player not be selected ahead of Saint Jonny and the former S Club 7 vixen who currently resides on the pop scrapheap.  A heady mix I'm sure you'll agree.
More About: Danny , Crap , Rachel , Rachel Stevens , Cipriani

Line breakers, bosh takers
2008-01-21 23:19:00
Line breakersRonan O’GaraThe borderline ginger and all-round World Cup failure put those things behind him against Wasps at Lough Thomond this weekend to produce a performance that dazzled in the rain like a Playboy model in a wet t-shirt.  Marshalled his team superbly and added his own touches of class: a lovely outside of the boot clearance to touch; and a glorious show-n-go for the decisive try.Martyn WilliamsFresh from recanting his international retirement, thus ensuring that Robin Sowden-Taylor will be as frustrated for his country as he is for his club, the ginger ninja played an absolute blinder in the biblical flood at Bristol.Tommy BoweUlster are shit, Tommy is not.  Let’s hope Eddie O’ Sullivan realises this. Bosh takersLlanelli ScarletsThis club beat the All Blacks once, on current form they will struggle to beat a box of Terry’s All Gold.Dan WaldouckOdd name, shite performance.  While I allow some leeway for the conditions, I don’t allow enough...
More About: Line , Breakers

Handbags: fighting, Czech style
2008-01-17 23:09:00
They do everything with more violence in Eastern Europe - even rugby.  RK Petrovice vs RC Ricany in the Czech domestic league, and one of the best run-up punches I have ever seen.  That lad really isn't getting up anytime soon.
More About: Handbags , Style , Fighting

Crap lookalikes: George Chuter/Brian Blessed
2008-01-17 22:55:00
Gordon's aliiiive!  It's the Leicester man and the shouty actor.
More About: Crap , George , Blessed , Brian

6 Nations 2008: What will Shaun Edwards bring to Wales?
2008-01-17 22:16:00
Shaun Edwards has signed for Wales , and in his most recent press conference he said that he could offer Comrade Gatland no insight on England players that he would not know already.  So what exactly will he bring to Wales? 1.  Being from Wigan, Shaun will show them how to make the world's best leek pie. 2.  He will learn the language quickly as he already has the spitting while speaking down to a tee. 3.  When team morale is low, he can regale them with stories about Wasps' many triumphs. 4.  Or Wigan's many triumphs. 5.  He'll teach them how to tackle, or failing that, how to pull leading black pop stars.
More About: Nations , 2008

6 Nations 2008: Serge Betsen retires
2008-01-16 22:30:00
France flanker and contender for hardest man in Europe, Serge Betsen, has decided to wave goodbye to international rugby immediately followed by the game altogether at the end of the season.  Rumour has it that Serge will now spend his time flying between his old Paris council estate and his native Cameroon king punching gangsters and ministers of state to clean up the streets of Paris and end government corruption in the African state.  Or he might just go on holiday.
More About: Nations , 2008 , Tire

Barbarians & Lions: A new validation
2007-12-03 21:49:00
In most circles, it has been a long time since barbarians and lions have been seen as a viable entertainment proposition; although it is surely only a matter of time before Jeremy Kyle has them on the same bill again.  The one exception to this has been the traditional world of rugby union, where these two have survived along with other traditions such as boorishness, drinking and social class structures.  Until recently. The disastrous Lions tour to New Zealand in 2005, where the great and the good of the British & Irish game were given an object lesson in winning ruthlessly - and Clive Woodward was given a lesson in how to dismantle an ego - led to many obituaries being written of the great touring behemoth.  Many of the same voices, and quite a few others, saved a little ink to scribe similar pieces about the Baa-baas. The logic was straightforward.  In the days when international teams would be eating steak and chips together an hour before kick-off, a s...
More About: Validation , Barbarians , Dati , Vali

Line Breakers & Bosh Takers
2007-11-21 00:15:00
bloodandmud.com gives you the top performers and the bottom feeders from the latest round of matches. Line Breakers Andy Farrell - Took a lot of stick from a lot of people in the World Cup, but played a blinder this weekend in a losing effort for Sarries, scored one try and floated a beatiful inch-perfect chip for another. Fraser Waters - Despite having a name that sounds like a rehab clinic, the Wasps stalwart was a revelation as they comfortably beat the Scarlets. Akapusi Qera - Made Marty Holah his bitch from the whole match against the Ospreys.  Not many people can claim to have done that.  Bosh Taker sGavin Evans - The Scarlets centre did a magnificent impression of a drunken tramp trying to punch a flying kestrel, such was his ineptitude in the face of Flutey and Waters Edinburgh - Hard to single anyone out here, as they were not so much swept aside by Leicester and beaten to near death with the brush insteadDavid Skrela -  Picked the wrong day to put his To...

Video: Monye munches Blair
2007-11-20 23:46:00
Ugo Monye shows a bit of unexpected bosh last weekend against Cardiff Blues.
More About: Video , Blair

It's here! It's in no way gay! ITS THE RUGBY UFC!
2007-11-19 23:50:00
You've gotta love the UFC.  The octagon; grown men grappling on the floor like newlyweds making the beast with two backs on their wedding night; people calling each other "bro" a lot; everyone wearing combat shorts and flip-flops; lots of tattoos - the list is endless and of questionable sexual orientation.  But here at bloodandmud.com we are making this sport even more appealling by creating the very first Rugby UFC! WE will take the hardest men from each era of the game, carefully reconstruct each bout to find the Champion of the Decade from the 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s.  Then, these mighty men will fight in the semi-finals, then the final, at which point the Rugby UFC Champion of the Universe will be crowned.  He will definitely NOT be gay. Follow the jump for the 1970s contenders, and come back soon for a full report on the fights..1970sCharlie Faulkner, Wales - Looked a bit like Bob Hoskins, played a bit like a serial killer with a particularly s...

Video: You complete tosser, part deux
2007-11-19 23:18:00
What a wanker...
More About: Video , Part , Complete

Video: You complete tosser
2007-11-14 23:02:00
There's is no point running this well if you can't put the ball down fella...
More About: Video , Complete

Wales: the future's Gav, the future's orange
2007-11-14 22:59:00
Wales caretaker coach Nigel Davies has used his one game in charge to show he has the cojones to work for Warren Gatland.  He has dropped motormouth-in-chief Gareth Thomas from his squad and brought bright orange centre-cum-standoff Gavin Henson back into the fold for the forthcoming match against the touring Springbok 4th team.  But is he right? <a href ="http://www.polldaddy.com" >polls</a> - <a href ="http://www.polldaddy.com/poll.asp? p=137854" >Take Our Poll</a>
More About: Wales , Orange

Line breakers & Bosh takers
2007-11-11 23:50:00
Let's take a look at the figurative winners and losers from the weekend. Line breakers Ryan Lamb - Weighs about 4 stone, but who cares when you can run a game the way he did in the first 40 against Ulster?  Showed everything required of a classic No 10, including a patent inability to tackle big blokes. Aurelien Rougerie - Discarded by Laporte in the World Cup, relished being back at home as he ran in three tries against the hapless Scarlets Mathew Tait - Carried his late World Cup form straight into his Falcons season.  Tougher tests will come but his pace and class were clear to see. Bosh takersDe Wet Barry - Grabbed a try, but was pretty anonymous in his English debut as his Harlequins took a tonking in Paris against Stade Ulster front five - "Fortress Ravenhill" will very quickly become "points sweet shop Ravenhill" if the big men play this badly again.Justin Marshall's hair - Quite why a scrum-half of his calibre wants to look like a gay ha...
More About: Breakers , Taker