Rugby 2023-24 World Cup Year!

I do find the culture of ‘cheating’ fascinating

I didn’t notice anymore cheating by one side than another. I did appreciate seeing Porter reffed correctly for a change.

Because it is not foul play under the laws and head contact process.

• So law 20b doesn’t apply, he hit above the line of the neck in a ruck it’s 100% foul play, no if’s or buts.

I’m sure the refs have been instructed to relax the law

Maybe, but it’s this infuriating changes to the standards and inconsistency that is the massive problem.

I didn’t notice anymore cheating by one side than another.

Yeh, but that wasn’t the point of the post, which you have ignored.

What the refs coaching and shouting hands off, I agree just blow the whistle and ping them by the time you’ve shouted and they have slowly reacted it’s too late.

I also agree with whoever it was that said hookers shouldn’t be able to step towards their team just before throwing in. They are stood in from of the touch judge for Christ’s sake how can they not see it.

@anagallis_arvensis

Agreed the laws especially on dangerous play should be strictly adhered to if those laws are in place. I can almost guarantee if anything and i stress anything above the shoulder  when running onto an opponent was a red it would stop in a season. They did it with taking out the jumper player and the game survived.
Both players falling and head contact is different it’s sport.
The RFU wanted it to be like F1 with the TMO I’m sure just because you can rewind and rewatch an incident live is fine but do it after the match if you catch foul play and the ref missed it call it out in the next break.

NZ screwed Ireland first and foremost by attacking the breakdown in numbers and slowing the ball. It was a fantastic mix of brute force and determination combined with the usual sublime skills the players have with the ball.

Can’t disagree with that, but I was thinking more about how NZ opened up the Irish defence.   All really good teams get worked out eventually, and then the next very good team becomes the really good team. Of course that’s frequently NZ. 

I’m sure the refs have been instructed to relax the law

they haven’t

Maybe, but it’s this infuriating changes to the standards and inconsistency that is the massive problem.

there is zero inconsistency.  What there is is the commentators and many fans not understanding the laws and head injury process

What there is is the commentators and many fans not understanding the laws and head injury process

It’s not a head injury process, it’s head contact. Can you explain law 20b then, how is it anything other than foul play if you hit a head in a ruck? 

Jesus Christ you two, knock it off!

Jesus Christ you two, knock it off!

We are allowed to discuss rugby on a rugby thread surely?

Maybe the laws of RU need to be simplified a bit…. 

After the TMO let the Welsh player off for a cynical shoulder to head I wonder if the ref decided to even things up a little in the second half.

Rather nice article about Biggar

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2023/oct/14/dan-biggar-the-battered-welsh-dragon-has-flame-extinguished-by-argentina

After the TMO let the Welsh player off for a cynical shoulder to head

Must have watched a different game to you.

Adams cynical body check that started the ruckus.

“Cheap shot” – Josh Adams lucky to escape yellow card for shoulder hit

Singing Swing Low during Fiji’s Cibi.

Classy.

I;m just hoping for a decent game!  been too many poor games in this WC for my liking

I like the Fiji kit.

FFS – is that Dolly commentating?  I so wish we could get feeds without the stupid commentators

A Fiji Afghanistan double in both World Cups today and I suspect up here we’ll be declaring a public holiday tomorrow!! 😀😀

Singing Swing Low during Fiji’s Cibi.

Classy.

The Irish sang over the haka. Why didn’t you comment on that?

Adams cynical body check that started the ruckus.

Yeah saw that, stupid was just wondering where the shoulder to head was?

It’s a song with racist connotations (that the RFU and their own players have asked them not to sing) being sung at a group of POC performing an important part of the their culture.

Like I said, classy.

Yes, that’ll be it.

To be fair, it probably wasn’t the best week to sing Jerusalem and who wants to sing God Save the King but maybe if there aren’t any good options for responding to the challenge people can just shut the **** up for once?

Fiji forcing it too much

As much as I think its a fairer run if Fiji go forward, England are outplaying them today, which cant be argued with.  It does not make them a good team though, and they will get embarrassed by France or such Africa.

Surprisingly entertaining game. Unsurprisingly whingy thread.

Good entertaining game, with England deserving their lead. Fiji need to stop conceding silly penalties.

However same as yesterday, the teams in the 8 o’clock game won’t be too worried about what they saw in the 4 o’clock game.

Could get a bit twitchy now!!

Well , neither team are winning the WC, but a great game!

Another good match. Fair play to Fiji in the last 20 minutes, made a game of it.

Apparently Ben Earle has won the whole tournament judging by his celebration 😳

How could you tell it was a deliberate knock on? Because when he thought he might be in trouble the Faz limp appeared.

Another superb contest. Be looking out for any tickets to future Fiji games

That was intense. 

If Fiji had pushed through and got that a last try I’d have applauded them. 

Easy tiger. You’ll get this one shut down as well🙄🤣

Congratulations England.

I never get tired of the way Farrell fakes injury when he’s done wrong – a penalty try in the 84th minute would have been hilarious 😂

C’mon France!!

I have mixed feelings.   As an England supporter its great that they are through.  However, the accomplishment is tainted by knowing they had an easier route and better teams will exit before them because of that.   It also grates a bit that the whole setup is a bit shit, yet now they have enough enough the bank to claim credit against that.

A good game though, probably at the pinnacle of both teams ranking in the world.

but maybe if there aren’t any good options for responding to the challenge people can just shut the **** up for once?

The words practice and preach spring to mind! 🙄