Room 101: Mike Umaga – Stourbridge coach
I fail to understand why anyone would want to go on this show and air all their dirty laundry in public. Before you ask…I’ve only seen it because my wife’s a fan of the show. Perhaps it’s got something to do with the fact she’s from Yorkshire (only kidding!). While most of the people on the show are pretty despicable, I’m no fan of Jeremy Kyle either. I think I’d have to be held back from giving him a slap if he talked to me the way he does to his ‘guests’.
TRP verdict: Who are we to argue? You’re in
2. Train delays
Every week I seem to be affected by train delays. The frustrating thing is you can’t do anything about it and, half the time, you don’t even know why you’re sat motionless at a station or on a siding in the middle of nowhere because little or no useful information is available. As soon as the train fails to pull away in good time I start to panic that I’ll miss my meeting. It’s even worse when you’ve got connecting trains to make: a delay at the start of your journey can ruin your whole day. Obviously I can understand the delays in the South West at the moment, especially in Dawlish where the track was washed away, but most of the time it only takes a light shower or a bit of overnight frost to throw a spanner in the works.
TRP verdict: No danger of this one hitting the buffers, you’re on track for a clean sweep.
3. Travel-shy top nations
I’d love to see the leading rugby-playing nations tour the Pacific Islands again. I think I’m right in saying that Scotland was the last Home Nation to come over to Samoa – in 2012. No disrespect to the Classic All Blacks, who played Fiji in the Centennial Test in Suva last year, but I’m talking about a full-on, proper Test match.
Not only would it help raise the profile – and the revenues – of Islands rugby, it would be a special for the players of Samoa, Fiji and Tonga to be able to play in front of their own fans and family every once in a while; they would grow a couple more inches and find that little bit extra in terms of their performance, I’m sure. I think it would also enrich the rugby-playing experience of SANZAR and Six Nations players to be exposed to the unique atmosphere and build-up you get in the Islands.
TRP verdict: You’re in. Sadly you’ve got more chance of England playing in the Isle of Fernando’s.
