The Breakdown | Prendergast to Pollock via Paris: winners and losers from rugby’s ultimate weekender

A 72-hour TV blizzard was a test of sofa stamina as Ireland and England shone while South Africa looked ominous By Sunday night one question swamped all else. When does a diet of endless televised rugby become too much of a good thing? People are well used to three consecutive Si

A 72-hour TV blizzard was a test of sofa stamina as Ireland and England shone while South Africa looked ominous By Sunday night one question swamped all else. When does a diet of endless televised rugby become too much of a good thing? People are well used to three consecutive Six Nations games on “Super Saturday” but the weekend was on a whole new level.

It must have ranked among the most relentless 72-hour blizzards of rugby broadcasting in the game’s history. The Breakdown, naturally, was keen to get among it. Friday night’s Ireland v Argentina game on ITV had its moments, happily, although not as many as England A v Argentina on YouTube.

On Saturday, with South Africa 45-0 up against Italy by half-time, there was a case for covering the screen with a Turin shroud. Either way it was time for the haka in Murrayfield before Scotland v New Zealand, subsequently interspersed with an absorbing Champ game between Cornish Pirates and Richmond on Clubber TV. Continue reading...