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Yeah but rugby players still have respect for the ref, and each other. A lot of footballers are just overpaid entitled young brats.
The commentators clearly see Scotland as favourites to beat Wales next weekend, but I really can’t tell what to think. I’d be happy for Wales to be underdogs though.
I think it could be tough for Wales, Scotland seem to be able to score tries, the scrum is strong, whereas Wales defence is poor and our scrum distinctly average. Scottish lineout is ropey but Wales isnt a strength either.
Yeah but rugby players still have respect for the ref, and each other. A lot of footballers are just overpaid entitled young brats.
If you read my post I said that football has it's own problems but players running in from all over the pitch to get involved in mass brawling isn't one of them
Never understand why rugby fans have the need to degrade football with the term "Wendyball" having played both, each are physically demanding in different ways.
Never understand why rugby fans have the need to degrade football with the term “Wendyball” having played both, each are physically demanding in different ways.
Its due to all the play acting and feigning injury which is what I was talking about not the running in to scuffles, its getting far too common and its due to the lack of ability to sort out issues themselves.
Rugby has been a dirty game for a long time. I know of a former Scottish international from the amateur era who was told that his role was "not to start fights but to get straight in there and end them" He has spoken about how he was aware of his aggressive attitude in certain situations even 20 years after he retired from playing.
Yeah but rugby players still have respect for the ref, and each other.
Sexual assault is an unusual way of showing respect.
Well I never! Somewhat unexpected. NO fluke either. Scotland rattled France and pushed them off balance. Fantastic game from Ritchie and Watson preventing the flow of quick ball. get defense in the backs. forwards never took a backward step
Which means we'll implode against Wales. We seem to front up for the tough games but then bottle the next one. A case of believing your own hype.
NO fluke either
Without the red card I dont think you'd have won, cracking result though as I said earlier this will really put pressure on Pivac. The Scottish scrum looks good and the welsh scrum aint good!!
Maybe , maybe not AA. We would still have given them a game anyway when I feared a stuffing.
Nice to see a Scotland pack with a bit of a hard edge. I thought they were immense as a unit. contained the French pack and slowed and turned over ball all game. Tactical kicking still a work in progress, Hogg looked dangerous, better performance from Hastings.
Marler seems intent on getting a ban with his tweets. He said after his international retirement that he absolutely hates being in an international camp as he can't stand the travel and time away from his family. He said too that he used to deliberately try and get banned before the 6N and other big blocks of matches as he can't stand being in camp. So it is probably part misguided attempt at being funny as seems to be his thing and part "if he punches me great that's a red for their captain if he doesn't do anything and I get a ban who gives a f.. I'm finally outta here"
Thats a charitable view, I just think he's a WGBE
I even googled WGBE and I can't find it?
Willy Grabbing Bad Egg.
WGBE
Weapons grade bell end?
My take - there's always been a little tussle on the pitch. In the old days, if someone tackled you a bit strongly, you told your teammates, and you all got him in the next ruck. It happened. Everyone was friends at the end.
And it's been going on for some time - remember Mendez on Ackford 30 years ago. And he got the wrong bloke; it was Probyn who'd been winding him up https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/featured-post/33915/probyn-column-the-truth-about-why-mendez-punched-paul-ackford/ - and that was for genital grabbing as well.
The difference is nowadays there is nowhere to hide. The cameras are everywhere, so it appears to be worse. But it's cleaner than it used to be. Just more visible (after the event!)
Yep, the difference is the player that reacts gets worse punishment than the on doing the winding up. Players need to be stopped from doing shit that is trying to get others to react
Some chat on twitter that the games are all going to be off?
France Ireland is definitely off, Wales Scotland looks to be going ahead at the mo.
Willy Grabbing Bad Egg.
Excellent!
And it’s been going on for some time – remember Mendez on Ackford 30 years ago. And he got the wrong bloke
I was at that match.
The difference is nowadays there is nowhere to hide. The cameras are everywhere, so it appears to be worse. But it’s cleaner than it used to be. Just more visible (after the event
I reckon that the game has been much cleaner for the last few years and is going through a dirty patch, but it's nowhere near as dirty as it was a few years ago, or in the lower levels. (One of my colleagues walked in with a black eye this morning, having been red-carded.)
I also wonder if it's because teams get so much home advantage, for whatever reason, that sometimes they think they can get away with anything when playing in front of their home crowd?
Lswes and Marler cited, not Liam which is odd
Lswes and Marler cited, not Liam which is odd
If only there was some way in which these things could be dealt with as they happen, so that they have some bearing on the game, and not on a subsequent game in another competition. Maybe have a few experts on or near the pitch, watching the game and officiating on what happens, maybe even in real time. The could even apply the laughable titled Laws, occasionally. I mean, it's not as if several million people managed to miss Lawes' tackle, or Marler's weirdness. They weren't hidden at the bottom of rucks or in a dark corner of the stand.
Anyway, I'd suggest some sort of poll, like a rugby twitter, where a question could be put up eg "Testicle fondling? Red, yellow, pen or play on?" and the general public can vote. You could even charge for it so the unions raise money..
And bonus, more stats. "Well. 78% of voters have gone for the 'Free Marler' option, which means he can carry on playing. However, 85% were located in England, and 37% were multiple voters. Keep the money coming in, people."
Unfortunately Marler is not easy to replace in the England pack. SA ran through the England scrum in the WC final until Marler's power was brought on.
He is a troublemaking bleeder though. A real dirty git.
Genge tends to replace him and he is not as strong, and just as dirty.
not Liam which is odd
what did he do?
what did he do?
Looked like a neck roll flip at a ruck followed by an "accidental" elbow to face. Must have been not as bad as first viewing, it wasnt replayed
thanks...I missed that
Genge tends to replace him and he is not as strong, and just as dirty.
Is he? His disciplinary record says otherwise. He’s an aggressive carrier but doesn’t get involved the the dickery that Marler does.
Lawes did nothing wrong - arms out and goes over the top of Alun Wynn.
Yet Williams deliberately lifts and up ends Curry - thats a red card.
Leyton where is Lawes left arm? Attempted wrap or trailing so leading with shoulder?
Doesn't matter - it never made contact. On the field it'd be a warning from the ref, Lawes will get warned about his technique nothing else.
Lawes did nothing wrong – arms out and goes over the top of Alun Wynn
Funny he's been cited then.
On the field it’d be a warning from the ref,
About what he did nothing wrong in your opinion.
Lawes will get warned about his technique nothing else.
See above.
In the real world he makes contact with the head, he leads with the left should and has his left arm dropped, its very similar to the Tuilagi one. Tuilagi gets a pass from me as its near the try line but the Lawes one is just a cheap shot, AWJ is going down because he's been tackled properly by someone else, Lawes comes in to simply damage him, any decent flanker would wait for him to drop and jackle as he's isolated.
Yet Williams deliberately lifts and up ends Curry – thats a red card.
I can only think other angles show it as not being the case.
I can only think other angles show it as not being the case.
Who cares about other angles? I don't see anyone posting other angles of the Marler incident. Doesn't mean it didn't happen.
Who cares about other angles?
Citing commissioners?
^ that’s much dirtier than a smack in the chops. No wonder the French bloke thumped someone.
I’d like to have seen Jones thump Marler as well, then it get reviewed and have the ref tell Marler to get ****ed. He’s one of those fannies that thinks everything he does is hilarious.
I’d like to have seen Jones thump Marler as well
Yep, with the benefit of hindsight, knowing we would lose anyway!
Never seen AWJ throw a punch I dont think. I would have loved Samson Lee to have ****ed him following the gypsy boy jibe too!
Yes 😀
France have submitted a load of info re potential eye gouging / contact with the eye area that led to their prop losing his shit. The pictures don’t look good. Will Hanning get cited?
Was that in the scuffle that Ritchey ran into, ending in the Frenchie getting red?
I’d like to have seen Jones thump Marler as well, then it get reviewed and have the ref tell Marler to get ****
But that was AWJ's point - he couldn't do anything like that because he would have been sent off and Marler would have remained on the pitch.
But that was AWJ’s point
Exactly
Was that in the scuffle that Ritchey ran into, ending in the Frenchie getting red?
Yup. The pics don’t look great.
But that was AWJ’s point – he couldn’t do anything like that because he would have been sent off and Marler would have remained on the pitch.
Of course. I just like the thought of AWJ reacting in a traditional manner, the matter being reviewed by the TMO, and when the ref sees what Marler did he sends Marler off and pardons AWJ. It’s merely wishful thinking!
10 weeks for the ball snatcher.
I think they're called the scrum half actually.
Ape that'd be the good d days.
Being a borders 9 in Hampshire a ref once told me "I don't know what you're doing but if he hits you again I'm sending you off" good reffing as I was raking his ankles at every put in..
4 for Tuilagi, nowt for Lawes
So is Will Griff John any good? Hope so as the Scotland scrum has been good so far!
And pro14 suspended
Wow, so happy that the tournament I reffed at took place yesterday! Just received this from the RFU:
"the Rugby Football Union (RFU) will suspend all rugby activity in England, at both professional and community level, including club training, league and cup matches plus rugby education courses from Tuesday 17 March until Tuesday 14 April, subject to continued review."
I am hating the world.
Looks like our boys April tour to Great Yarmouth is off. Mixed feelings... 🙂
From the Guardian
A controversial plan to allow England’s Maro Itoje to play in France next season while still being available for the national team has sparked a major row between England’s leading clubs and the Rugby Football Union. Itoje has been offered a seven-figure sum to join the top French side Racing 92 on loan rather than turn out for relegated Saracens in the Championship but the idea has been vetoed by other Premiership club owners.
What should Itoje do? Take the money and run or turn out in UK lower division?
If it were me I would move to France. Given playing life just make as much as you can while you can.
All pretty academic now given the cancellations and lockdowns.
Do you think Racing 92 will allow him to wear a scrum cap?
Are bans in playing weeks or calendar weeks? Wee willie tweaker might be out for longer if playing weeks.
Games, there was the scandal of Sale 3xv v some local team for an England international a few years ago, wasn't there?
Itoje / Saracens have an even bigger issue - the championship teams are proposing a 2.5 million salary cap - so Saracens will have to get rid of a load of players anyway more than likely.
English clubs have no room in their salary caps to take on sarries players. too expensive for pro 14 teams. Some of them are going to end up with no clubs or seriously reduced saleries is my guess
Squidge report on the scotland game is in and as usual well worth watching
Yesterday sky sports mix screened the 1997 and 2002 NZ vs England games. Cor blimey, I last played in 1997 myself but compared to today that seems a dangerous place to be. Plenty of tackles around the neck, people being torpedoed out of the rucks, rucking out of course and Justin Marshall being punched in the face by cockerill with the latter being merely asked to walk away.
Jnr was shocked at the scrums, asking why the dove cult pelt into each other (1997) and at Neil Backs 8 stitches and no head bandage before he gets back on the field.
Great to watch but brutal and more raw skill on show.
I have been watching old games as well. 1990 and 2000 calcutta cups. Its like a different game. The size of the players, the complexity of the backs running lines and what they got away with then
Also from other bits a few good laughs. This by Nathan HInes is superb - especially the look of innocence and disgust when a pen is given against him
The best ypu've seen your team play?
For me the opening few mins of this match v ireland in the 2011 world cup quarter final is awesome!!
From about 29min in
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=WGYk0rnN47s
Second half of the calcutta cup last year or the match against NZ a couple of years before OK we got beat but by 'eck we pushed 'em close. Closer than any other NH team that year IIRC
Don't bother with the first half - its just a load of lucky pish from england 😉
All jesting aside I think that calcutta match is one of the best I have seen. Certainly one of the most entertaining ( even if I did go off in a sulk after half an hour) and the draw in the end seems fair
AA
Darcy Graham ( my current man crush) the new Shane Williams? Its great to see a place still exists for the wee guy who can run around everyone
For those looking for old games - a lot of the european minnows cup games here
https://www.epcrugby.com/challenge-cup/latest-video/epcrtv/live-streams/
Lets have some more rugby chat.
Players who made the best of their talents and players who may never fulfill their promise:
Tommy Seymour ( Tennessee Tam) Not the fastest, not the most skillful but a great international career and never let Scotland down.
Mark Bennett ( the messiah) - looked to have it all when he came on the scene and looked like he was going to be a fixture in the scotland team. Lost perhaps his best years to injury. Now just one option at centre
Yours?
Josh Lewsy, always seemed amazingly fast and sturdy, perhaps didn’t play enough.
On the other side Austin Healey. No doubt talented but ruined potential by being an utter maverick gobshite.
(In other news Jones has signed to Coach England to the 2023 RWC don’t you know )
Classic Lions series’ on Sky today. ‘97 Lions at the mo. I remember the players well, but amazing how much of a free for all it seems compared to now, especially the scrums.
Players who made the best of their talents and players who may never fulfill their promise:
Player who made the most of Talents. AWJ, not the biggest, not the strongest, not the most athletic but an utter ****ing legend
Player who didnt fulfil potential, nope cant think of one!!@
Player who didnt fulfil potential, nope cant think of one!!@
Hahahahahahahahahahaha
Hows your orange man crush doing these days?
Not fulfilling potential for Wales must go to this fella. Had he been born in NZ or Aus or been at his peak in the 70's he would be recognised as one of the best player ever to pull on a 10 jersey, as it was he played for a shit Wales team and then was lost to league.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rt4AIRMzJ2o
Aye - a great player. Shame about his punditry
Josh Lewsey is welsh by the way so he certainly underachieved!!
AA - I bet you are glad the Scotland / Wales game was called off 😉
Whatever else - there is no doubt at all Scotland have the prettiest team.
Josh Lewsey is welsh by the way so he certainly underachieved!!
Ha Ha.
To me he epitomises one of the places Daly makes the current squad weak - Lewsey offered himself into the line 5m inside the winger as the oppo is drift out to cover, Daleys constantly looking out to the wing which is just a predictable pass-up-the-line until the space runs out.
AA – I bet you are glad the Scotland / Wales game was called off
I am, you whining and moaning about us cheating because we pushed in the scrums or something would have done my head in!!!
Al Kellock made the most of what he had. He always seemed to be fighting for his place in the Scotland team but I always felt both Glasgow and Scotland played better than the sum of their parts when he was captaining.
Leadership on the field and consistently playing better than the sum of their parts has been an issue for both Glasgow and Scotland since he hung up his boots.