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Gethin looks set to miss 6 nations. Real shame I had a dream about him making a 4th lions tour
http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38265487
So who do we think will get the longest ban. Hartley for the swinging arm to the head or Jiffy Juniors Little Bro for doing the ****er sign hand signal?
Anyone see Beale's yellow card for Wasps?
The most innocuous "high tackle" on a player bending down low as he goes for the tackle. If that's the new law, I'll be yellow carding kids left right and centre. Bloody stupid.
The softest red has to be Phil Burleigh for Edinburgh Gave pape a little slap on the cheek Open hand but still a red card ( rightly by the laws) Mind you we did have a sniper in the stands as well
https://twitter.com/GLove39/status/807739723951308801
Wow. That was some terrible overreacting. Has he been cited for that? It was a crack down initiative last year.
Beale's card was a bit soft. Dai Young isn't impressed either.
Pape has not been cited. Its only a penalty / yellow card offence so no point. the ref should have reversed the penalty. Initial offence the slap - pen and red card. simulation - reverse the penalty
I think all simulation both soccer and rugby should see the player treated for the injury, if pape's slap was that hard then he definitely needs a hia.
I think the best way to deal with simulation is mockery. As well as man of the match have "dive of the match" Highlight it as much as possible. Ask him about it in post match interviews
Pape has form, did the same in Word Cup when SOB gave him a tap after been held in a ruck.
Now if we were picking players attempting to seriously injure an opponent Pape's fracturing of 3 of Heaslip's vertebrae must be up there.
^^
Exactly
Now I'm not saying that heaslips injury wasn't serious. But was he really only out for 4 weeks............with fractured vertebrae?
Pape got a citing commissioners warning ie a yellow for his dive. Burleigh a one week ban.
3 weeks for James Davies
Six week ban for Hartley. Seems fair enough.
He'll be available for the 6N opener against France, if a little rusty.
Now can we get back to talking about rugby?
Yes, but its an outrage that we won't be able to start with our #1 hooker 😉
Yes, but its an outrage that we won't be able to start with our #1 hooker
😆
6 wks for Hartley is about right IMO - inline with the laws and guidance.
2 weeks added for his previous and then 1 removed for good biscuits.
Neil Francis won't be too happy.......
O'Halloran joins Jones, Schmidt and Townsend in turning down the Lions. Something is going seriously wrong here.
Yeah. They don't want to work with cementhead, that's what!
No point in any of the scots coaches going. the style Glasgow and Scotland ( and to some extent Edinburgh) play in is nothing like Gatlands style so whats the point? Townsend sends his players out with a attack from anywhere anytime and take risks approach.
They don't want to work with cementhead, that's what!
I think it may be more that they have contracts, but does that not fit your narrative?
What narrative? I wouldn't want to work for the bloke. Why so personal? you know he's a kiwi right?
I dont take it personally. Dont really like Gatland but I dont like people making stuff up. Gatland was the only choice for the Lions as he was the only person available other unions rightly dont want to release their coaches.
I don't disagree, but the fact that coaches are turning their noses up at what was considered one of the greatest honours in rugby is iffy at least. Farrell wouldn't be anyone's first choice. Wozza won't care, he'll just get on with it, the real bad news here is for the Lions, and not just this squad either.
Contracts have been around for a long time. Gatland is under contract as are the rest of the management team. Nothing has changed there.
If Townsend had been offered the head coach role I bet he would have taken it and simply kept Cotter on for another year for Scotand
Gatland negeotiated a break clause. I dont think any of the other unions are stupid enough to let their coaches off. Would a top aviva coach risk his future to do it?
If Farrell has, one would expect Ireland wouldn't have different rules for others? Good PR too. I can understand new scots coaches not wanting to piss off as soon as they arrive to be fair.
At at tangent, I wish we could go back to the original kit (on the left);
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If Farrell has, one would expect Ireland wouldn't have different rules for others?
He is an assistant coach/adviser at Munster. Doesnt coach ireland does he? I expect he took the gig with the Lions in mind and so had a clause or he isnt that botered about his Munster job.
Farrell is Ireland defence coach, nothing to do with Munster this season.
He is an assistant coach/adviser at Munster. Doesnt coach ireland does he? I expect he took the gig with the Lions in mind and so had a clause or he isnt that botered about his Munster job.
[url= http://www.irishrugby.ie/mobile/coaches/ireland.php ]Farrell is defence coach for Ireland and a consultant coach at Munster. [/url]
It would have been good to have had some Scottish coaching input in the sense that the Lions need to draw from all four home unions.
We need all the home unions to have a decent 6N and then competition for places will be stronger.
I think there's also and argument that if there's a toss up between two players for one position then you might favour, for example, a Scottish player over an English one in order to get a better balance for the tour party. I'm not saying don't pick the best players but if there's nothing in it then players from the unions with a likely lesser representation should get the nod.
When did Farrel take the Ireland job?
The fact that so many people have turned down the Lions jobs is very sad for the game imo but I dont think its because Gatland us in charge. Although the fact that he was the only real candidate is also very sad.
Sobering stuff for George North:
George North must consider retiring rather than run further risk of brain damage, according to an expert on concussion.“George does have to make that decision,’’ Dr Barry O’Driscoll, a member of World Rugby’s medical committee for 15 years, told The Rugby Paper yesterday.
“If he was playing the sport just for fun, that would be it.”
The Welsh Lion has been knocked out five times in less than two seasons. On two occasions, for Wales against England, and again for Northampton eight days ago, North has been allowed to carry on playing.
Dr O’Driscoll asks: “Is George getting concussed more easily now? He seemed to lose consciousness remarkably quickly this last time.
“Anyone who has had three concussions should consider retiring. George is a great, great talent but he has to face the facts. The pressures on the lad are huge because this is his career.
“All I can say to him is: ‘Take an appreciable break from the game. Listen to the experts. Consider the medium and long-term consequences.’
“You have to respect that it’s his decision, his life. What has happened to George and the way rugby has responded has annoyed me.This is the second time in his case where the game has got it all wrong.’’
World Rugby intervened on the first to demand an explanation from Wales as to why their medics cleared North to continue after his second knock-out of the match.
An official investigation into why North was cleared to continue at Welford Road is due to announce its findings this week. Dr O’Driscoll, a fearless critic of World Rugby’s policy on concussion since resigning in protest three years ago, is in no doubt that the game has failed North on each occasion.
A former Ireland full-back whose nephew, Brian, took more than his share of head blows, Dr O’Driscoll has repeatedly called for the scrapping of the HIA, head injury assessment. The procedure allowed North to resume a mere eight minutes after leaving the field.
“George passed a test which is meaningless,’’ he said. “It means brain-damaged players are put back on the field time after time. If you suspect a player of being concussed, you should not have to bother with this test.
“I resigned over this issue and nothing has happened since to make me change my mind. You can see the damage this so-called assessment off the field is causing. If you need that assessment, you need to stay off.
“They keep changing the ground rules but there is no test for concussion that can rule it out in ten minutes or 13 minutes as it is now. It’s Mickey Mouse stuff – so hit-and-miss, so unscientific. I feel sorry for the team doctors because they are under huge pressure.’’
When did Farrel take the Ireland job?
IIRC he was offered it soon after he left/got sacked from the England job but wasn't able to take it up until after the 6N for contractual reasons.
To me it appears some teams are better than others at looking after their players. For some its if concussion is not proven put them back on the pitch. for others its if there is any doubt then they don't play on
Scumhampton saying the specialist has said he is symptom free?????
Doesn't matter. The more and more frequent the concussions are the more likely it is to have another and the more damage each one does.
He needs a year out IMO and possibly retire right now.
He needs a year out IMO and possibly retire right now.
And yet the experts assesing him dont agree. Whole thing is ****ed.
two different things. Showing no symptoms now is not the same as no increase in susceptibility to future brain injury
Its well known and proven that if you have one concussion you are more susceptible to another and that the less time gap between injuries the greater the lasting damage
I don't think North has been the player he was since the last round of concussions; remember the 13 Lions season?
the concussion management review group are looking at it. They announce today.
There's an image in today's telegraph online thing that has a picture. I'd question a medic that arrived to find a motionless man, knowing the mechanism of injury, as loose looking as he is and didn't believe he was unconscious.
The twice I've been knocked out on a rugby pitch I've wanted to play on and swore I was conscious throughout, later I saw a pitch side picture and yeah I was spark out. Still would swear I remember the whole thing to this day.
I hear that Toulon are offering 1/2p £900k a year to stay.
😯
Anyone watching Bath v Blues? Thoughts on the red card...I have obviously had one eye removed so find it hard to judge but it didnt look like red to me. That pass looked miles forward to me for Brews try too.
Argentinian player gets a three-year ban for tackling the referee, yeah, the female referee...
[url= http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2682081-rugby-player-bruno-andres-doglioli-banned-3-years-for-tackling-female-referee ]Report and gif here[/url] that ~I can't manage to embed but here's the still pic
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AA - I didn't see it but the report is he hit him in the face? So automatic red card
His head was down in a maul. Hand came up made contact with face and straight away let go. It was never a gouge. Going to be a lot of players sent off if this is a new guidline.
Watched it, slow-mo is what made it look bad. It obviously exaggerates the duration of contact with the eye. Slow mo can help some things but not late tackles and brief contact to the eye area.
Looks bad in slow mo as he does make contact with eye area but in real time its obvious the player was trying to avoid doing this and was just attempting to reach over the maul to get at the ball. No way it was a red card. Wonder if his hearing will see him get a ban too.
On a related note how did Hartley get a week off for admitting guilt when he was cited he just had a hearing to decide on the length of the ban..guilt is assumed when you've had a red card surely?
I guess guilt is assumed but you could see a situation such as last nights red card where the player argues he shouldn't have been sent off especially when admitting guilt of an offence like gouging carries such a stigma.
guilt is assumed when you've had a red card surely?
I think players can go into a hearing to argue they're not guilty and that the ref either got it wrong or was too harsh.
Cards have been overturned at hearings IIRC.
namastebuzz - Memberguilt is assumed when you've had a red card surely?
I think players can go into a hearing to argue they're not guilty and that the ref either got it wrong or was too harsh.
Cards have been overturned at hearings IIRC.
Posted 6 minutes ago # Report-Post
I have sat on them up to Scottish Prem 1, this is absolutely the case.
Anyone else think that the Argie that stamped on Marlers face got a pretty lenient ban at 7 weeks?
I have sat on them up to Scottish Prem 1, this is absolutely the case.
Fair enough but I doubt at that level a million people have seen it on tv!! Hartley was hardly likely to argue it wasnt him or he didnt do it was he! Earles hearing will be tricky. He had best get the chocolate hob knobs sorted!!!
Watching the weegies warm up, prop jumps up and touches the crossbar from a standing start. 😯
Never realised Racing were so shit.
Glasgow playing some great stuff. Fin Russell for Lions!!
Noooooooooooooooooooo AA. Glasgow are taking them apart with pace and high risk rugby. great start. Racing will come back into it and will score I am sure but what a great half.
Any neutral - you need to watch this game and see why we rate Russell
Noooooooooooooooooooo AA
Said it ages ago. He has pace, passing ability and kicks well. Ford is flakey, Sexton is a sick note and Biggar lacks the flat passing game. Sexton and Russell with Faz as utility will be the 10's.
He is a great player and what we are seeing in these two games is him also controlling the game - something that he has not been good at in the past. I don't want him to go on the lions and I don't think he will because the way he plays is not Gatlands way - so all he will do is get splinters from sitting on the bench - and the last tour took Hogg a year to recover his confidence and form - I don't want that to happen to Russell
right now you have to say he is the best 10 around tho
Who's this Carter bloke playing opposite Russell?
Some past it antipodean. don't think much of him 😀
Must have been great and a real learning curve to play against Russell. One he will no doubt tell the Grandkids about.
I don't think he will because the way he plays is not Gatlands way
Gatlands way...interesting is it based on the players he has available? He based the Wales game plan around Shane when he had him.
As a side note it was interesting to watch Faletau play a more traditional ball carrying 8 role for Bath the other night rather than the 3rd Flanker that he plays as for Wales.
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Can you turn your treble up and your bass down please @AlastairKellock
7:51 PM - 16 Dec 2016
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So it wasnt just me that couldnt make out a word he said!!
I think the other way around AA but its an interesting thought. Its not just playing bosh rugby tho. its playing a very structured safety first game.
True but as we have seen this season Wales dont really have the players to do anything else. To be fair to Gatland he picked Priestland whenever he could have till his head went and we simply dont have the centres to play a high tempo passing game.
I see that Tuilagi is looking at the England captaincy.
Another yellow.
That Jack Roberts looks useful shame Wales cant/wont pick him or Williams (or Luke Hamilton given some of the back row dross we have in our "squad")
Only saw the second half flashy, what was yellow for?
Pointless shoulder hit.
Zebo was never a yellow though.
Dreadful ref all game.
Ref gave the yellow for repeated infringments not the late hit which was fair enough if it was a pen which was borderline!
Congratulations to Glasgow btw, fine result. Was hoping January's Racing matches would have some bite but now just an excuse for a few beverages. Sadly I bet the ground will be half empty. I wonder what they will do about tickets 2:1 ?
Something very odd in Goosen's retirement at 24 !
http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/38345300
Potty Mouth Bundy Aki " Fait play to Wasps they were f@@king brilliant."
Just got back from watching Ospreys really put it to Grenoble.
Ref gave the yellow for repeated infringments not the late hit which was fair enough if it was a pen which was borderline!
Now, if it was a penalty (Which it wasn't) then I can get the idea that a team penalty for repeated penalties would be in order. But it simply wasn't a penalty! It was a bloody excellent last gasp run and dive at a tackle. He was fully committed to it.
They should have had several more for being repeatedly off their feet and over the ball, though.
Great result for Scumhampton
That ref in the muns/leics game was terrible. He missed the big stuff, let the TMO tell min what to do and penalised the shit out of the game for trivial stuff. I did enjoy that last kick though.
Saints put out a shit (well shitter than first choice team this season) and got humped; who would have thought it? Mallinder and co have surely got to go this season.
Glasgow showing the pace and speed trumps power....plus they're playing like a team not pensioners on their last pay check 😆