Coach’s Corner | Get behind our boys to make this year ‘extra special’
What on earth is going on with the powers that be in Hong Kong television circles? The otherwise fantastic long holiday weekend was ruined for me and many others by the discovery that our subscriptions to Setanta, by way of Now TV, no longer covers the Six Nations Championship.
Firstly, a belated kung hei fat choi to everyone! Now I have to ask, what on earth is going on with the powers that be in Hong Kong television circles? The otherwise fantastic long holiday weekend was ruined for me and many others by the discovery that our subscriptions to Setanta, by way of Now TV, no longer covers the Six Nations Championship. Quite unbelievable.
Well, TV rant over, it’s that time of the year and the Six Nations kicked off with a mixed bag of:
- Indifferent performances – Wales at home to Italy, England’s first half in France.
- Exciting and unpredictable performances – the second half of that Stade de France game.
- Clinical performances – Ireland’s fine win against Scotland.
A very interesting start with little indication of a firm favourite after the opening weekend; France and Ireland are bubbling to the top, with France taking the edge having won four of their Six Nations titles in the year following a Lions Tour.
Ireland seem to have unfinished business – fuelled by the ever-lasting hurt of Warren Gatland’s Lions selections (omitting Irish legend Brian O’Driscoll) for the final test in Australia. The Ireland-Wales game is going to be a cracker and not a place for the faint hearted!
And Wales? There seems too much distraction with all that off-the-field political manoeuvring to imagine that they could win a third consecutive Six Nations title.
Anyway, with the “red packets” still being handed out and the Six Nations under way, it can mean only one thing … Sevens fever is about to hit Hong Kong! So what’s coming up on the calendar for local fans?
- Meetings over a beer or wine to decide the fancy dress theme.
- Trips to the tailors in Shenzhen.
- Calls from friends and families looking for a spare room.
- Emails from mates who have booked flights and accommodation while thinking tickets were the last thing they needed to worry about.
- Emails from “friends” from yesteryear who have recently discovered you live in Hong Kong and MUST BE ABLE TO GET TICKETS.
- And of course … planning your own itinerary for three days of rugby and, er, lubrication.
