Rugby 2023-24 World Cup Year!

Too soon?

Is anyone watching the Wigan v Penrith league game? It seems like a lot gets referred to the video ref but I’m enjoying how decisive he is!
Puts that Scotland call into perspective..

I think that was a poor Scotland performance but I’ll take playing poorly and winning over being plucky losers any day of the week.

Watched the Wigan/Penrith game for the 2nd 1/2. What struck me was how poor quality the video refs angles seemed to be. Not much choice and not very clear when slowed down.

Scotland were ok but not great but actually pretty ruthless with taking points when they got a chance.

play to your full potential today and win

Oh well I got one part right.

Fairly uninspiring first half, Italy playing reasonably well. French not so much..

Big 5 minutes now

Blimey….what has happened to France?

I read somewhere that Sean Edwards has become very isolated in the coaching team.

Oh my!!

What an end to the game! So close

Bloody hell….

Gutted

Damn!!

Cruel.

Fabien Galthie should consider himself very very lucky to be 1 1/2 from 3 instead of 0 from 3.

Ginger, plays for Super Dooper Rugby team The Highlanders, Scotland should try poaching him!

https://twitter.com/StanSportRugby/status/1761289522925523296/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1761289522925523296&currentTweetUser=StanSportRugby

I think France infringed at the Italian penalty. And another one should have been awarded. Really really felt for Garbisi. Getting seconds to kick the re-placed ball. 😢

I think France infringed at the Italian penalty.

Thought the same. Clock should’ve reset, but then after England/Wales it seems like anything goes

I’m not disagreeing nick, but I think the rules for conversions and penalties are different. Conversions can be charged once the player starts his or her run up. Whereas penalties, the defending side have to remain “motionless”, arms by their side etc. There was definitely a run by a French player once Garbisi went to take the kick. I don’t know to be honest. It would need a look at the laws.

but then after England/Wales it seems like anything goes

Bless, still struggling with the idea of approaching the ball in any direction as the law states 😄😄😄

Blimey….what has happened to France?

Some Irish pundits have been blaming it on their immediate return to full Pro 14 commitments after the World Cup. The Irish players had a month off before returning to training with the provinces IIRC.

The Irish players had a month off before returning to

…..Leinster.

It would need a look at the laws.

Looks to me like it should have been retaken, and not only that moved 10m closer. If that really is the case pretty then gutting for Italy.

It’s done Wales a favour a kept them off the wooden spoon spot though.

Would appear certain circles are questioning DvdM’s eligibility to play for Scotland, conveniently ignoring the players in their own national squads who may not actually even hold a UK passport.

I’ll see your VdM and raise you a Feyi Waboso

Quite enjoyed this piece of commentary on Irish TV… pic.twitter.com/BIp64utxXy

— Ben James (@benjames1796) February 25, 2024

Would appear certain circles are questioning DvdM’s eligibility to play for Scotland, conveniently ignoring the players in their own national squads who may not actually even hold a UK passport

Yeah, ignoring the fact that NZ Maori capped Roots qualified for a home nation WHILE PLAYING IN WALES. Or the unfortunate fact that Tuilagi accidentally forgot to get citizenship. But maybe it could just be because we capped DVM on the wing and England capped Lesley Vainikolo on the wing…..As a Gloucester fan, those were tough times, good when he was bothered brutal the rest.

Blimey….what has happened to France?

Is it as simple as.. missing?

There was definitely a run by a French player once Garbisi went to take the kick. I don’t know to be honest. It would need a look at the laws

Indeed, but if you go by the Laws, you can’t ruck like this:

Law 15.3 Players involved in all stages of the ruck must have their heads and shoulders no lower than their hips.

Swings n roundabouts eh!

Scotland still have far more foreign born players than England. I’m old fashioned enough to think that the residency rules thing should be binned, or at the very least you should have been in the country for a considerable portion of your life.

Bundee Aki started his answer to a question in his post match interview with “Ah sure, look…”

He’s integrated! 😂

I’m old fashioned enough to think that the residency rules thing should be binned, or at the very least you should have been in the country for a considerable portion of your life.

That would be the end of the six nations as a credible tournament.On the basis that two nations would have many more rugby players to pick from than the others.

England have been using it since the days of exiled Russian Princes.

Rhys I couldn’t get in a dog shit Scarlets team last season Patchel.

Patchell is absolute class and an all round good guy from what I’ve seen of him. Glad he’s having well earned success in NZ.
To be fair to the Scarlets, wasn’t it injuries that kept him out of contention?

Good luck to Ospreys tonight.

Anyone watching the sevens? Got very fit playing it for a few years.

A fit Patchel back in the Wales team would be great next season.

Hogg arrested, looks like someone wound him up in a pub currently…..

Reports up here suggest it was the at the house of his ex wife. That’s after getting his mouth burst by his brother at Hogmanay. He got pelters at the game last week when they stuck him on the big screen.

Not that I feel much sympathy for him, but he sounds like he needs some help.

He’s always been like that. Only half the shenanigans have made the papers.

Allegedly.

Patchell is absolute class and an all round good guy from what I’ve seen of him. Glad he’s having well earned success in NZ.

Agreed. He was at school with my kids and co-starred(?) with my daughter in the chapel nativity play. Patch firing on all cylinders would be a shoe in to the Welsh side atm.