I can't see in any way there'll be a rule change..
In the same way I can't see Italy getting away with that tactic again.
Sour grapes from Jones!
Apart from the ruck issue, what happened to Farrell's kicking yesterday, both off the tee and out of hand he was shocking. It wasn't that windy. I live a couple of miles away from Twickenham and the trees were barely moving, also since they completed the stand making it one continuous structure with no gaps the stadium provides shelter from the worst of the wind anyway.
Apart from the ruck issue, what happened to Farrell's kicking yesterday, both off the tee and out of hand he was shocking.
All I can think is that the whole 50th cap thing got to him - he's a player who divides opinion but is normally pretty reliable when it comes to kicking. He looked nervous probably for the first time in his international career.
Or maybe he's had some kicking pointers from Ford! 😆
Kicking by his normally high standards was poor, but there was apparently more wind than it seemed too.
Slightly off form / occasion pressure X tougher than average conditions = looked bloody useless
The Italians couldn't even kick straight from almost directly in front! Oh......
Was Farrell rattled? Usually very calm but I have seen him get rattled and then his game goes to pieces.
This makes nice reading today! IRB rankings
1 New Zealand 94.78
2 England 91.02
3 Australia 86.35
4 Ireland 84.18
5 Scotland 82.18
tjagain - Member
DezB - thats the laws on this. If they get within 1m its considered ruck is formed - and they would be offside unless they came in from behind the rearmost feet. really good explanation in picture form further up in this threadPOSTED 6 HOURS AGO #
Not quite true.
As above, ruck is formed when two opposing players are bound/engaged competing over the ball.
The 1m area, is the space in which you can bind/engage with the opponent in order to form that ruck (whether they like it or not). Their presence within being enough "competition".
If they're further away from the tackle and you attempt to engage/bind, you're not rucking, you're taking a player out off the ball.
BREAKING NEWS: World Rugby and police investigating suspicious betting activity relating to 6N kicking. Both Farrell and Dunbar rumoured to be involved. Farrell has been released but Dunbar still helping with enquiries. Sun Bet allegedly offered 8:1 on midfield player kicking ball backwards by more than 10m during open play.
Neither player has been available for comment and more news is unlikely to follow later.
Sun Bet allegedly offered 8:1 on midfield player kicking ball backwards by more than 10m during open play.
Dunbar had this nailed too 🙂
Interestingly after three rounds, I would suggest that the four pre-tournament front runners for Lions captain have already seen their respective cases weakened - not least since none of them are secure in their place in the 1XV line up.
Interestingly after three rounds, I would suggest that the four pre-tournament front runners for Lions captain have already seen their respective cases weakened
Who are they then?
I still think Warburton will be captain.
Breaking News (ish..)
Josh Strauss will be announced as a signing for Sale Sharks tomorrow, for the 17/18 season.
Good, but we've needed a big powerful lock so i wonder if Beaumont will move to Lock? Wonder how much Strauss will be on?
Thats a pity. Bluto has been good up north but glasgow and Edinburgh had 50 players whos contracts were up this year and as their stock has increased there is no way we can hang on to them all. Just don't leave him on the bench please.
Sale will still have possibly the smallest squad in the Prem, so I expect him to get lots of game time. Will possibly mean Cameron Neild moving up to hooker, which is where he apparently wants to be anyway.
Also, suspect the wage bill will mean he's a regular starter.
Just seen this:
Bristol (9) 12
Pens: Henson 3 Drop-goal: Henson
Bath (3) 11
Tries: Rokoduguni Pens: Priestland 2
😆
In other news Sam Underhill is a ****ing monster, how is he not the England 7?
how is he not the England 7?
He's too intelligent.
😉
The rule is so clear Connor O'Shea made absolutely sure he discussed the specific rule and how Italy would play it with the Ref before the game.
Can't see Farrell being involved in any betting scandals, too much to lose and little to gain financially on a relative basis.
M-dwarf; Strauss could look pretty uninterested at times, Munster at a bouncing Scotstoun; immense..Connacht in front of 10 Irishmen and a dog; not so much.
Bollocks to that ruck shit..
I present Bristol v Bath man of the match
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Gotta share this. You need the sound on.
https://twitter.com/btsportrugby/status/836276003475439616
Disgraceful. Change the rules. Refund the fans. Etc.....
Thats brilliant!!!
Why haven't I seen a clip of Murray putting his hand on the face of a Frenchman in the 22nd minute. Pretty certain it was contact with the face which is an immediate citing according to here....
Thanks CHF 😆
Bollocks to that ruck shit..
I present Bristol v Bath man of the match
I know a man in bristol with the strangest...
And he and I, as Wuss/Brizz adversaries, will be sharing a cot come Sunday when the sides meet at Sixways, but we'll be 1,000 miles away from the grounds. It's gonna be tense, and that's just his butt cheeks.
Jambas, I had hoped that
more news is unlikely to follow
Was enough. 😉
Right - I've just re-watched the game with 20-20 hindsight, and I can see why England are upset. There were many many occasions where Italy started with men in the ruck then withdrew. They then went offside and werevallowed to do so. Surely once a ruck is formed, it remains, even if one side roll out. Italy seemed to make the tackle with 2 or 3, let England form the guards, then withdraw and place a man between the England 9 & 10. That's clear offside in my book.
Haven't watched it again dan, but once a ruck or maul is formed, there is an offside line until the ball is played out. Generally speaking Italy's tactics were legal yet England still won with a bonus point, I don't get the refund comments from the likes of Jones,or the RFU's PUBLIC announcement of "seeking clarity." Something done by every int team after every test...quietly. What do they expect to accomplish other than looking like having a hissy fit because Italy didn't allow them to blood fringe players in the way they wanted?
That's my thinking too Duckman. It certainly wasn't every tackle, but there were multiple times it started with more Italians, who then left the tackle zone.
I agree about the whinging though. I guess he either was really angry, or was deflecting.
That's my thinking too Duckman. It certainly wasn't every tackle, but there were multiple times it started with more Italians, who then left the tackle zone.
You can have more than one tackler dont forget.
At the moment the ref calls ruck or tackle which helps the defending side know what to do. This would seem to help the defending team, surely the ref is there to ensure an even contest?
A simple rule change would be to stop that call and make it a player decision, although this would make for a penalty fest I suspect, especially when the brainless men in white play as they are clueless about the rules anyway.....
Just leave it as is. Any team tries to do an italy would see the oppisition pick and drive down the middle as the attacking teams " tackle attenders" can just pick the ball up and go forward.
AA I think you are right however the danger is teams will analyse when to ruck and when not to and it may make for a disjointed game.
I can imagine teams not contesting rucks in opponents 22 therefore making a pass back and a clearance kick much more difficult. You might then be faced with teams punching up the middle till they are in a position to attack. Surely less up the jumper rugby is better.
Both teams will be defending at some point Bear, so it evens itself out.
If you pick and go up the middle, force a tackle and a ruck all the defenders are offside. Its a non issue imo. It was just funny that England couldnt think on their feet but I reckon wvery one even Hask and Hartley will know what to do now!
[i]There were many many occasions where Italy started with men in the ruck then withdrew. They then went offside[/i]
coulda sworn I said that already!
The Nathan Hughes clip shows that it can be effective if used sparingly (and correctly) - and the Toulouse players clearly knew the law... Funny that Hughes was on the pitch during that whole first half and didn't explain to his Captain what was going on!
Just leave it as is.
I think world rugby have said they not going to look at it specifically. a.k.a. stop whinging. There's been a ridiculous amount of hand flapping, Two other good games of rugby and all the press have is outage that England were made to look silly.
Can't see it becoming commonplace, has has been said above, its now obvious how to get around.
There were many many occasions where Italy started with men in the ruck then withdrew. They then went offsidecoulda sworn I said that already!
yep, I watched the match again last night, it was actually shockingly refereed. I can see why there was utter confusion. At one point in the second half, England counter rucked, got the ball back, 3 Italians got out and then they proceeded to run around the other side as the ref shouted tackle. How you're supposed to play to that I have no idea.
I also saw nothing wrong with hask talking to the ref to understand how it was going to be reffed, however the fact that nobody on the England team seemed to know what to do about ti was quite worrying.
Not sure I immediately follow that every other nation would however...
Maybe its just me but the England v Italy game, reminded me of a game from my school days. I don't have an issue with that, all this crap about rugby isn't rugby without an intensely contested breakdown is garbage IMHO.
The International referees wash up might be interesting this week! I wonder if Poite enjoyed the game or not - certainly was different!!
Storm in a teacup now
The only thing that matters is the next matches
Wales v Ireland on Friday evening (after a big lunch, marvellous!) and a hard fought Calcutta Cup on the Saturday. Shame we have a "missing" weekend. But more time for the build-up...
This is when Lions places will really start to emerge instead of too many players harming their chances to date!!
Yep - the next round will set up the final weekend. 2 big home nation clashes, with the Europeans doing their own thing. Hopefully we will find out a lot more about both England and Scotland. As I said earlier, I'll happily accept a 1pt W. I'm sure Scotland will be travelling in expectation rather than hope for the first time in a while.
Then again, post WC, Sco were favourites for the first game v us last year. Seems a long time ago now. 17 times now I've heard "they'll need to play a lot better if they want to beat xxxxxxx" I would imagine a lot of teams find England quite hard to play now.
I've got 17hrs flying the morning after the Wales v Ireland game. Not clever!
Bad timing Capn, you'll miss the better match!! 😉
I've got 17hrs flying the morning after the Wales v Ireland game. Not clever!
Will you be wearing rugby boots?
Booked flights to make sure I didn't....! Wales v Ireland is the pick of the games next time.
Who wants to watch a one sided affair at the Library? 😉
Might watch some of it, midnight kick off though. 🙁
