sun tel cryptic

[sarumite]

Help needed with two please . .

21a Hand over, you look closely at and endorse (7)

24a Story about love gone awry: Carmen (7)

[kayakamina]

21a Con sign

24a Romance...anag carmen +o

[sarumite]

Many thanks K . . mind had seized up for a moment, although perhaps I should have been less impatient as I'd just got "consign" after posting!

Thought about you at Twickenham yesterday, (was a bit envious), watched game on TV, good atmosphere, good result, let's hope it's the start of things to come!

[kayakamina]

Wonderful day at Twickenham. Marvellous weather and a cracking game.
Mike Catt made a tremendous difference and brought on the youngsters- maybe no Johnny now ?

Only downside was the whistling and jeering when the French were taking their kicks! First time I have experienced it at Twickers and do hope it is not the start of the dreaded soccer element infiltrating our game?

[sarumite]

Yes, I've always been a fan of Mike Catt and felt he should have retained his place more often in the past . . apparently he has been 'dropped' from the England team on eleven separate occasions!

I also noticed the whistling and like you, trust it's not the start of poor sportsmanship . . there are certain standards in the game of rugby which are important to retain.

[jenniferd]

Just to add a bit of spice - surely it was that the French were awful on the day not that the English were good!!
Also the Irish played their worst match in 2 years but would still have beaten England again. The Welsh even though losing, still give the impression of being better than they are and certainly better than England. It all depends on the day.
Saying that certainly wouldn't be in a hurry to bring back Wilkinson - he is a kicker but not a thinking playmaker!!!!

[sarumite]

jenniferd, whilst being a keen supporter of England rugby it is difficult to argue with any of the points raised.
However, after such a torrid period of mainly ineffectual rugby played by Englland since 2003, it is refreshing to see the seeds of hopefully a new dawn.
We will of course not have long to wait to evaluate the comparable merits of both Wales and England.

[jenniferd]

Or of Ireland again - against the Italians.
Scotland will probably confound critics and beat France - not sure where that one is being played. There must be a chance if France have to travel again but surely not in Paris.
Makes the whole championship very open.
Changing the subject slightly I wish the BBC would ditch Brian Moore. He is so England biased that even if they were being thrashed by New Zealand he would insist the better team was losing.

[sarumite]

Maybe so (ref. Brian Moore) .. but don't you just love his arguments with Eddie Butler . . and this is more than countered by the irritating drawl of Jonathan Davies.

Having said that, will there ever be a commentator to rival Bill McLaren? I somehow doubt it, just to listen to his commentary was reward in itself ! What a star, and completely unbiased.

[jenniferd]

Definitely agree re Jonathan Davies and Bill McLaren

[macpark]

If only I shared your confidence Jenniferd!!
Scotland are truly in the doldrums at the moment - I can't even bring myself to watch, buried as I am in Wiltshire. I remeber the glory days at Murrayfield with Andy Irvine and Iain McGichan.
You're right that just when everyone has written them off they pull out a blinder but as you also rightly comment, the match is at Parc de Prince so it would be a miracle I dare not even imagine if they were to win!!