Illuminati-R-Us

New Zealand 24 - 19 Argentina at the half.

As I stepped away from the television for a bit, I'm not sure whether New Zealand have scored the bonus point already or not. It could be three tries, three conversions, and a kick, or four tries and two conversions.

There is a non-trivial possibility that New Zealand will have this locked up next week, even with two more weeks remaining in the tournament. However, things would have to happen just the right way - New Zealand win today with the bonus point, and New Zealand best South Africa next week, also with the bonus point, giving them 20 points. Then if Argentina and South Africa get four points at most today and next week, and Australia get at most nine today and next week, no one could touch New Zealand.

Well New Zealand have the bonus point now.

New Zealand 57 - 22 Argentina

New Zealand score a bonus point, Argentina do not.

Table points - New Zealand have 15, Argentina and South Africa have 5, and Australia have none, but Australia and South Africa play less than an hour from now.

Australia 13 - 14 - South Africa at the half.

Australia are on the block here. If they lose, without bonus points, they cannot win the tournament. If they lose but get both bonus points, there may be a rather tortured scenario in which they can still win.

Australia 23- 17 South Africa

Australia survive, South Africa gets a bonus point.

Table points: 15 for New Zealand, 6 for South Africa, 5 for Australia and Argentina. It is still possible for any of the four teams to win the tournament.

So today was the third week of a six week tournament. The scenarios by which New Zealand lock it all up next week are:

(1) New Zealand win against South Africa (with or without the bonus point), and Australia win against Argentina.

(2) New Zealand win against South Africa (with or without the bonus point), and Australia draw with Argentina.

(3) New Zealand win against South Africa and score the bonus point, and Argentina win against Australia, but do not score the bonus point.

If New Zealand do win against South Africa, both South Africa and Australia are out, although Argentina may still win the tournament if they win against Australia, and score the bonus point if New Zealand also scores the bonus point.

In far less important news

FC Ingolstadt 0 - 2 Hertha BSC

Hertha's first "solid" win of the season, played in the way in which they caused trouble for a lot of teams last year. Liked it.

Rangers did not play today.

Played 30, won 20, drawn 3, lost 7.

Ross County 1 - 1 Motherwell

Played 31, won 20, drawn 4, lost 7.

Fortuna Düsseldorf 1 - 1 SpVgg Greuther Fürth

Played 32, won 20, drawn 5, lost 7.

Gaaaaah!

SpVgg Greuther Fürth 0 - 3 FC Würzburger Kickers.

I mean, come ON. Würzburg was just promoted from third league, how dare they? At least dä Glubb also lost.


Played 33, won 20, drawn 5, lost 8.

Arneb wrote:I mean, come ON. Würzburg was just promoted from third league, how dare they?

Only too familiar with those sentiments.

It's Heid v Lianachan this weekend. My money would be on Heid's lot.

New Zealand 41 - 13 South Africa

South Africa and Australia are out. Argentina must defeat Australia a few minutes from now, and score the bonus point, to stay alive.

Australia 36 - 20 Argentina

Congratulations to New Zealand, winner of the 2016 Rugby Championship! (Even though there are still two weeks of play remaining.)

Rangers 0 - 0 Ross County

Played 35, won 20, drawn 7, lost 8.

Hertha have their match tomorrow.

Was it a good goalless draw between your two teams?

I managed to miss it as I was en route to Spain, my guess would be no. We aren't that good and one of our big summer signings that we brought in to make us better is unhappy that we aren't good. Nothing to do with him underachieving of course. Joey Barton, since you ask. A man who has been an arsehole his whole career.

I've not seen any of it either, but am happy with a draw. The consensus on a County forum is that we could have won it. The BBC report that Rangers were booed off the pitch at the end. A sizeable part of their support labour under the misapprehension that they have a God given right to win every game.

Just a right to beat "wee" teams, you know teams that have been in a division above us for the last four years.

I flew out of Glasgow yesterday morning and there was at least one flight in from Belfast full of just those fans, I rarely want planes to crash but fuck me if that one had gone down the passengers would have been no loss.

Hertha BSC 2 - 0 FC Schalke 04

This is getting really, really nice.As the only team with three wins from three matches (except, of course, Bayern), Hertha greet the rest of the pack from second place! And almost a quarter of the points necessary to avoid relegation bagged already.

Played 36, won 21, drawn 7, lost 8.

Good work Hertha, and an excellent attitude regarding the points.

Good work indeed. Excellent progress in the early building of a safety net.

Heid the Ba' wrote:Good work Hertha, and an excellent attitude regarding the points.

The only attitude possible, really. The thicker their safety net, the more fuckuppery we can tolerate later in the season. And the fuckuppery is sure to come.

1. FC Nürnberg 1 - 2 SpVgg Geuther Fürth.

Fuck YEAH. Poor relation win the derby in convincing fashion, and in the opposition's living room to boot. It's probably better for me that I won't see my in-laws in the next few weeks.

Played 37, won 22, drawn 7, lost 8.

Hetha in Munich tomorrow. They'll return as finely minced Blau-Weißwurst, if you ask me for a prognosis.

Fuerth! And in in-lawburg! I suspect you're right about tomorrow.