honestly united

Azerbijan the best so far, followed b Belgium and Finland, Montngo, wat was that about

Most likely outcome from my perspective would be Africa 1 - Namibia or Kenya America 1 - USA America 2 - Uruguay or Canada (Canada have been dreadful since the last world cup)*** Europe 1 - Romania Oceania 1 - Fiji Oceania 2 - Samoa Europe v Oceania play off - Spain / Russia / Portugal vs Tonga The Repechage tournament will consist of the following four teams, 1. Africa 2. (Kenya or Zimbabwe if Namibia qualify) 2. Americas 3 (Canada or Uruguay) 3. Loser of Europe 2 vs Pacific Nations Cup 3rd place (Spain, Russia Portugal or Tonga) 4. Winner of Asia 1 vs Oceania Cup Champion play off (South Korea, Hong Kong, Cook Islands or Papua New Guinea) On current rankings Tonga would beat Spain in the playoff, and Spain would win the repechage with the 4 teams being Kenya, Canada, Spain and Hong Kong Edit to add how bad Canada have been, 2017 Test Record 1W 3L including losses to Brazil and Uruguay, win was against Chile 2016 4W 6L Not a single one of the wins was against a country that was ranked above them at that time. (Wins Russia, Chile, Uruguay and Brasil, 2015 1W 10L The only win was against an under strength Georgia in RWC warm up 2014 1W 5L The only win that year was against the mighty Namibians! Since qualifying for the last World Cup they have only won 8 games, and lost to Georgia, Japan x 3, Scotland, Usa x 5, Samoa x 3, Romania x 4, Tonga, Fiji, Ireland x 2, Italy x 2, France, Uruguay and Brazil (not including losing to Argentina 2nd string and the English Championship XV).

The Pro12 is a funny one, on the one hand they have had discussions with US, Canada, Spain and Georgia about expansion and adding teams on the other they are telling Italy they are wanting to take a team off them and deny them becoming a full partner in the league!

Jackson in as Fullback cover (im expecting Maitland to start there), and no Gilchrist is the only suprises for me. Played it fairly safe by the looks of it

Rugby is in some nick behind the scenes given how good the standard has been on the pitch. On the one hand you have the guys at the top trying to be even more elitist, while the smaller guys, who are improving all the time are getting more doors shut in their faces. In much the same way as Georgia are being denied a place a the top table in Europe at international level, At club level this would look like Italy are going to be denied a team in the European Cup (and same could happen to Scotland in future, as it would be a straight top 6 or 7 qualifying), the Russian clubs are being treated dreadfully again. The 2 clubs from Krasnador in Siberia are having to play the final of the Qualifying cup (the 2 fianlists get a place in the 2nd tier tournament next year) in Edinburgh on Finals weekend. However they are being stuck on a back pitch at Murrayfield rather than the main pitch, which was deemed good enough to host 5 matches a few weeks back. Enisei are being made to qualify for Europe next year, even though they won 2 games and had a better record than Bayonne, Pau and Greoble (and that was without being allowed to play any games at home), in the group stages, Pro12, Top14 and Premiership have ring fenced 18 of the 20 spots in the Challenge Cup and only give 2 spots to teams from other countries and that doesn't look like changing anytime soon. Unless we start opening up the competions to other countries and leagues the game is never going to progress. Until World Rugby and Rugby Europe manage to wrestle the power from The 6 nations, the Championship, the EPCR and Super Rugby then we are going to be in the same Elitist situation for years to come.

I think we will do ok this year, which by OK i mean lower mid table obscurity, and we wont be a nil point. We will pick up a few judges points given who has written the song.

Is it wrong to be quite glad that Laidlaw is off with the Lions and not on the Scotland summer tour?

To be fair Toony is only really stating the obvious in that this is as close to the old probables vs possibles games as you are likely to get, and it's the last chance for anyone to hold there hand up for selection for the summer tour. I think it will be interesting to see his first squad, whether he gives the Glasgow players the the nod in the close calls as back up players, or if decides he knows them well enough and gives the Edinburgh guys a chance so he as then at least got to know them

My understanding is that is what Gribbens has been brought in for to bring experience and leadership when the internationals are away, and you've got the likes of Ashe, Harley, the other Fagerson, Fusaro, Wynne along with Cummings, Peterson in the 2nd row, and im expecting more from big Brian in the 2nd row, given a full pre-season to bed in properly

I wonder if Glasgow will make many other signings, thats 14 out, Confirmed departures and appearances: Peter Murchie (116), Junior Bulumakau (8), Fraser Lyle (8), Tjiuee Uanivi (5), Nemia Kenatale (3) and Hagen Schulte* (1) Previously confirmed departures: Gordon Reid (113), Josh Strauss (104), Mark Bennett (66), Sila Puafisi (43), Grayson Hart (32), Simone Favaro (30) and Djustice Sears-Duru (4) Retiring at the end of the season: Sean Lamont (112) but "Huw Jones, Oli Kebble, Callum Gibbins and Adam Hastings will be joining Glasgow next season, while BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy players Lewis Wynne, Matt Smith, Jamie Bhatti, George Horne and Paddy Kelly have signed professional contracts with the Warriors." I can only see Glasgow needing a prop, a 4th choice scrum half for during internationals, and probably another back up at 10, its a shame that Brandon Thompson was only a short term loan from the Stormers he would have been a good long term addition (and allegedly Scottish Qualified) Out of those released, im only really suprised by Murchie, although that may be budget constraints given his age he probably wanted decent money and hopefully can get a move somewhere else, and dissapointed in Bulumakau as thought he had potential.

Kong:Skull Island 6/10 Really wanted this to be better, and really should have been. Special effects and the fight scenes are very impressive which is why i didn't rate lower, but there is not enough background information on the characters or story to be interested in what they are doing / why they go to the island. Could have done with being at least 30 minutes longer or cutting some other stuff out and adding more story before they got to the island. The lizard monsters as well as being ridiculous with just 2 legs, the no skin on their heads reminded me of monsters from another movie but cant think which. To be fair i think the most exciting part of the movie for me was in the credits with the images of Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidra.

I think injuries to some of the 2nd string guys have had a big impact this year. I dont think I've seen the big Namibian guy play they brought in to replace Nakarawa yet, I had forgotten Sarto was with us until he played last week, and Favarro deciding he wanted to play for Italy again didn't help. Also things like Price pushing as 1st choice for Scotland, were I bet everyone was expecting him to be playing for Glasgow, Fagerson being first choice prop for Scotland rather than back up with Nel out injured, Djustice Sears going and playing for Canada in the ARC during Feb & Mar Out of all the Pro12 teams Glasgow get hit hardest during the internationals by the shear number of players getting called up.

Loved both Rec and Rec 2 - didn't realise there was a 3rd one, will need to check it out loved the first 2

Ah yes you are correct, she won in Sweden.....

I quite like the Italian one, but was suprised it is the bookies favourite, as its in Italian and its usually a song in English that wins, but must be the dancing gorilla thats doing it! My favourite so far is Macedonia, but i think this year is probably a bit better standard than last year. UK to struggle to get into double figures, even with a song written by former winner from Sweden Emilie de Forest

Couple over the weekend Risen - Easter story from a Roman soldiers perspective, stars one the Fiennes (cant remember which one) and Draco from Harry Potter, actually quite a good film, well shot and acted, ruined by a really poor special effect at the end 7/10 Colonia - True story set during the Pinochet military coup in Chile and the protection afforded to a German cult 6.5/10

Congratulations to my old club Carrick on another win at Murrayfield yesterday to make it 2 in a row

I think the issue was that Johnson was playing him as an openside, and would only pick him as an openside when it was clear that he was much better as a blindside. Would still never going to be first choice, but should have been in the squad (the same as Barclay for the last few years) I am assuming there was a falling out while he was captain, which meant he was never asked back, as you cant see someone who was a regular at Saracens (was he not captain there as well?) not being called up otherwise

Has anyone had any issue's with the fingerprint recognition on their phones (mine is Umi Super)? I've had to turn it off on my phone as over the last week it has just been going off constantly, when the phone was in my pocket, even sat on my desk (with the detector pointing up!!) it was just buzzing away saying fingerprint not recognised. I've switched it off for now, and back to drawing in a pattern isn't really too much of a hardship, but quite liked the fingerprint recognition.

Passengers 4/10 - visuals are stunning, but severely lacking in anything else, could have been so much better

we finish 5th we are pot 3, as per last years, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016–17_European_Rugby_Champions_Cup#Seeding

Looking at the fixtures I still think Glasgow can make 4th, but granted we still need to win every game with bonus points, and hope Ulster dont get any but after Cardiff this weekend have to play all of the top 3, and Scarlets although they should beat Trevisio, Dragons and Connaught, then have Ospreays in the last game which should determine the best Welsh side. Although again if they pick up more than 1 bonus point Glasgow cant go above them. We need to beat Munster this weekend, if we dont we are out of it anyway.

I found the South Africans a decent bunch while we were in Newcastle for the world cup game

Aparantly the new contracts changed from being paid x for each TV show, it changed to x for each taping, so all the top stars were basically getting their pay cut in half as they do 2 tapings a day.

As Above, So Below, 5/10 Had been meaning to watch this for ages, it cam out when I was over in paris, and having spent a while using the underground, thought it may tie into this. sadly it didn't, but starts of with a Lara Croft esque lead looking for ancient relic, mixed in with some urban explorers. The first hour i found really watchable and one of the better "found footage", films, but didn't really pull off the horror part in the last 30 minutes, in the main her running back to the chamber alone was pretty woeful.