The Late Show

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The Scent of Blood...

Missing In Action
BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Ospreys v Northampton (Thu)That the Ospreys are claiming 29 absentees for tonight's Anglo-Welsh game is a dramatic illustration of the farce that the modern squad system is becoming. Some may well ask how on Earth a squad that can lose 29 players, and still field a match 22, is sustainable. I certainly wouldn't want to be paying that wage bill while barely filling 7000 seats.Still, it's a chance to see players we've never seen before; or even heard of. I confess I don't know James King from Adam (Jones, ha-ha). The best of luck to him.The good news

Blue Isn't The Colour
England unveil new away kit - TelegraphOoh, [rant mode=ON]What are England doing in blue? It may be an unwritten rule - indeed, it may well exist only in my head - but there are some colours that certain countries should never sport. "National" colours must come from flags, or other readily-identifiable national symbols. England and Wales cannot be blue. White, red and green are okay, although green is pushing it for England. Wales can justify black and gold (from St. David's cross). Scotland or Ireland would look bloody silly playing in red, wouldn't they?

Failure To Launch
A few weeks ago, I opined that the Ospreys didn't look rusty. Sadly, it appears they've been left out in the Swansea rain ever since.Saturday's game at Liberty Stadium was excruciating. Some of the rugby played was of amateur quality...

Blood on the Carpet
Bloodgate - The SequelExcellent words from Will Carling on the machinations of self-absolution and cover-up.But Will and other ex-player pundits are unavoidably compromised when discussing the matter. There are friendships and loyalties involved everywhere, and these can make it impossible to remain objective.As with nearly everything I've read from ex-players on this issue, Carling can't resist pointing out Dean Richards' status as a scapegoat. It's a perfectly fair point and an understandable one for someone who knows Dean Richards - the whole man, not the straw one - to make.