The Guinness Premiership Final: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

What a game!  The Guinness Premiership final between reigning champions Leicester and pretenders to the throne Saracens was a pulsating match and the best I have seen in years. 

The lead changed hands five times during the course of the game.  Just when Saracens thought they had snatched the win as Glen Jackson slotted over a penalty with four minutes on the clock, Leicester conjured a try from the resulting restart and substitute Dan Hipkiss stormed over to clinch the cup.

33-27 was the final score.  Breathless rugby.  It's almost impossible to sit here and write "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" for this game, because as finals go it was top drawer entertainment.

But here goes anyway.

The Good

Toby Flood:  One of the key men for Leicester, and he delivered in spades.  Only missing one kick from the tee, Flood controlled the game well.

Dan Hipkiss - The Tigers centre has been sidelined with injury of late, but he made the biggest impact in the match when he came on from the bench and steamrollered his way over for the winning try.

Geordan Murphy - Who stepped aside when it was time to lift the cup and gave the captains honour to departing stars Lewis Moody and Ben Kay.  I thought that was really sweet.

Attacking rugby - Both teams played expansively and threw everything into the game.  It was refreshing to see teams almost forget it was a final and go out and play.  Take note Toulouse and Biarritz.

Ernst Joubert - Two tries for the Sarries skipper, which sadly for his side, was just not enough.

The Bad

No Brendan Venter - Saracens' director of rugby (and everyone's favourite panto villain) was forced to watch the game at home after failing to get his ban overturned.  A real shame.  Venter has been one of the real characters this year, adding colour and spice to the game.  I know he's not everyone's cup of tea, but I think he is brilliant.

Defence - But who cares when it gives you entertainment like that?  Well, the defence coaches might I suppose...

Not respecting the kicker - Sarries' fans booed when Flood lined up a couple of his kicks.  I know it's not the done thing, but in such a massive game and when they thought they had been hard done by, I can't really blame them.

The Ugly

I can't think of anything.  No really, I can't.  This game was everything I wanted a final to be.

Oh there is one thing:  the fact that I will have to wait until September until the league starts again for the new season.

Shortest Shorts: Offender # 3 (International Special)

In a veritable feast of rugby this weekend there were plenty of contenders and offenders for my (non-)prestigious Shortest Shorts award. 

However, one player's shorts were head and shoulders above the rest - and when I say that I mean it almost literally.  Whilst Dan Hipkiss barely got the ball on Saturday he did almost blind me with his ridiculously crotch-skimming attire.

Seriously Dan: please pass on the extra-small shorts next weekend and pick out a medium pair at least - for all our sakes.

Whilst I couldn't find any snaps of Dan from Saturday's England game (probably because he only touched the ball twice) here are a couple of photos I found of him unsubtly covering his man gems:

OK, pretty short but I can cope...

AGH!  I take it all back.  I've just gone blind. 

(Also, check out Wilko's incredulous look.  He's so upset he's keeled over in state of shock.)

I now cannot shake this unsettling mental image and I am off to go and poke out my mind's eye with a biro.

8.5 out for ten for this scantily-clad effort.  Please wear correctly fitting shorts in future.  I like to be able to concentrate on the game I'm watching...