Nigel Howle

Perhaps mean beating all the Home Nations?

Did they make the mistake of allowing lots of stalwarts to grow old together?

I haven't had time to catch up on the RL yet.

Plenty of anticipation for that game, but not much to shout about. Very scrappy. Not great, when you are trying to market the sport to the Yanks.

Pollock's card, at the end? Yes, probably. The foolishness of youth.

Do you mean the 20-minute red? If so, it was a penalty only, imo. I get all the concern about head injuries but we have to accept not every piece of foul play equals a yellow or red card.

While I'm moaning, there was a bit of a fight in the England v Australia game, so what? Let them have a bit of a scrap. Note how the crowd noise showed paying customers don't mind a bit of rough and tumble followed by a handshake.

Watching it again at half time, definitely can't see how that was a 20-minute red for Tadhg Beirne. Just a penalty, imo. Not a great decision when you are trying to sell Rugby Union to the USA by playing in Chicago, is it?

Are England finally turning from possible to probable winners in the Rugby Union? Imagine you are a tiring team and on 52 minutes on come Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Tom Curry, and Pollock. Power to spare, there.

Over half way to safety already 😀

Buxton into the second round of the FA Cup for, I think, the second season in succession. Sadly, Altrincham, my non-league favourites, didn't make it.

Think my nephew, who never misses a Stoke home game, gave today a swerve to go to the Rugby League Ashes #whoops! He also watches Warrington Wolves who didn't have a great season.

Strongest subs I can recall for England in the RU today. Six British Lions on the bench.

The attacking talent on the pitch that day was insane. Super performances from Mark Chamberlain and Paul Walsh.

Was this the most entertaining game you ever saw?
Clough reckoned it was, for him.
4-4.
Fox sent off. Two different outfield players went in goal for Stoke.
I was there.

Photo for the start of the RU autumn internationals, so who remembers Twickenham when it looked like this?
Photo by photographer Pete Jenkins. 1985.

Not exactly glamorous for Champ rugby Caldy. Stopped at a rugby club in Somerset from the Wirral to Penzance for a league fixture. Looks like they laid on a decent curry. Could be a bit whiffy in the scrums today! Hell of a trip. The glamour!

I heard him arguing it could be good for the EFL and the National League. His guests are saying all pro leagues should play on Boxing Day. I agree.

Ha! The Sun has it as their front page headline today but I 'published' first.

Just looked up Soldier Field, Chicago, having listened to a piece on the radio about the Ireland v All Blacks game coming up on Saturday. I didn't realise that the American Football grounds aren't as big as say Twickenham or Cardiff in terms of crowd capacity. I thought they'd be over 80,000.

No sweat

The Andrew formerly known as Prince.
That's all folks!

Dreadful. Saw a bloke swearing at a young woman manning the pharmacy counter yesterday. I told him to leave her alone. It's not her fault that the medicine is scarce. It always is these days.

My student daughter works part time in a DIY store. People try to nick everything including huge items that they can't think they can sneak out. Floorboards etc.

I once got a credit card bill for a transaction in Edinburgh. I was in London on the day and, thankfully, they believed me.

Suspended it straight away . It can't be used. Thanks for the offer. I am going to reverse normality and borrow a few quid from my daughter 😁

I suspended straight away. They assure me it can't be used. Thanks for your concern.

I have even offered to drive down the motorway and meet him in somewhere like Penkridge. He still reckons that's one and a half hours from home!
It's nonsense. He was operating for Uber in Stoke-on-Trent. I think I am just going to have to tell the bank to cancel it.

Left my debit card in a taxi. Bank has suspended it but driver says he is now in Birmingham and wants to charge £80 to bring it back.
Dick Turpin lives! Highway robbery.

No. I am allergic to Dan Brown books, sorry.