Six Nations 2021

[fucthest8]

Thought you were just trolling

Yeah, suddenly realised how that might be read

flypanam no, players would just stop doing it right?

 

[two sheds]

flypanam no, players would just stop doing it right?

Or: no players, would just stop doing it right?

 

[flypanam]

Yeah, suddenly realised how that might be read

flypanam no, players would just stop doing it right?

No they wouldn’t. We still have players with hands beyond the ball in a contest, not supporting their own weight by kneeling on the player on the ground, handling on the ground until it’s noticed. It’s part of the game. It’s the cheek of it, that keeps us watching and shouting at the ref.

 

[fucthest8]

No they wouldn’t. We still have players with hands beyond the ball in a contest, not supporting their own weight by kneeling on the player on the ground, handling on the ground until it’s noticed. It’s part of the game. It’s the cheek of it, that keeps us watching and shouting at the ref.

Agreed, but lazy runners just really fucking annoy me. It's not cheeky, it's literally lazy and therefore dull

 

[sleaterkinney]

There are some positives coming out of that, we need to shelve Stander though, a lot of huffing and puffing and not much else, Lowe was good and unlucky to not get a try.

 

[bendeus]

Haha, a couple of jammy wins and this thread is full of Wales and the Lions.

Yes, absolutely jam packed

 

[stavros]

With two rounds played has anyone made a significant case for Lions inclusion? Some would've been in already (Hogg, Itoje), so the one who's stood out for me has been Wyn Jones.

 

[1927]

No they wouldn’t. We still have players with hands beyond the ball in a contest, not supporting their own weight by kneeling on the player on the ground, handling on the ground until it’s noticed. It’s part of the game. It’s the cheek of it, that keeps us watching and shouting at the ref.

Ireland have based their entire game plan on that for the last 30 years.

 

[bendeus]

With two rounds played has anyone made a significant case for Lions inclusion? Some would've been in already (Hogg, Itoje), so the one who's stood out for me has been Wyn Jones.

Zammit as a bolter, Henderson for sure....

 

[flypanam]

Ireland have based their entire game plan on that for the last 30 years.

Comedy doesn’t work for you.

 

[bendeus]

Remember Condon?

There's also Flanquard the magnificently named French flanker. Talk about le determinisme nominative (sic)

 

[bendeus]

Apropos of nothing, Genge sounds like a livestock disease, sort of like scrofula or swarf

 

[1927]

Comedy doesn’t work for you.

It was fact not humour.

 

[bendeus]

I have a possible Lions team in my mind based on form in the first 2 rounds, not reputation, waiting for the Ireland game before confirming my thoughts. Current makeup is 6 Scots, 2 Irish, 3 Welsh, 4 English.

C'mon, I'll bite. Name your team, sir!

 

[Elpenor]

C'mon, I'll bite. Name your team, sir!

I’m going to regret this! slightly changed from my team of yesterday

As said this is based on what I’ve seen in individual positions in the first 2 games, I’ve not been thinking about past reputation, key partnerships, whether this is a team which could actually play together and make enough tackles, kick the goals etc. No South Africans in the team either...

Wyn Jones
Luke Cowan Dickie
Kyle Sinckler
Alun Wyn Jones
Jonny Gray
Hamish Watson
Tom Curry
Matt Fagerson

Ali Price
Finn Russell
Louis Rees-Zammit
Cameron Redpath
Garry Ringrose
Anthony Watson
Stuart Hogg

I think this team could do with someone really putting their hand up at 9, I was not 100% convinced on this call, not seen much competition especially at 9 but went for players who would know each other’s game. Price has had a few screw ups but also hasn’t let it go to his head.

Thoughts, rebukes and insults most welcome.

 

[bendeus]

I’m going to regret this! slightly changed from my team of yesterday

As said this is based on what I’ve seen in individual positions in the first 2 games, I’ve not been thinking about past reputation, key partnerships, whether this is a team which could actually play together and make enough tackles, kick the goals etc. No South Africans in the team either...

Wyn Jones
Luke Cowan Dickie
Kyle Sinckler
Alun Wyn Jones
Jonny Gray
Hamish Watson
Tom Curry
Matt Fagerson

Ali Price
Finn Russell
Louis Rees-Zammit
Cameron Redpath
Garry Ringrose
Anthony Watson
Stuart Hogg

I think this team could do with someone really putting their hand up at 9, I was not 100% convinced on this call, not seen much competition especially at 9 but went for players who would know each other’s game. Price has had a few screw ups but also hasn’t let it go to his head.

Thoughts, rebukes and insults most welcome.

I think it's mostly fair based on form to date, though I'm not sure if AWJ has done enough to secure a test berth. He is sadly beginning to show his age.

Backrow remains very fluid - there's so much talent competing for very few berths.

Agreed about scrum half, which traditionally has been a real strength of the Lions. Keep expecting Tomos Williams to translate his obvious talent and form at club level onto the international stage with some degree of consistency but it hasn't quite clicked. Could yet be a bolter but time is running out for him.

 

[Elpenor]

AWJ is probably 50% there for leadership as I couldn't see a captain in my team initially. Curry for captain in 4 years time!

 

[flypanam]

So the get rid of the coach brigade has started up. I’m not sure Farrell is the person who should take the fall for the two losses. I’m reasonable happy that we’re moving in the right direction.

starting the game with out Murray or Sexton was great and overall we performed well enough. Farrell must take the blame for putting Healy out after the head clash as he was obviously in difficulty but blame also lied with Healy and the doc.

there are obvious issues but it lies in what Catt is doing or rather no doing, we seem all at sea in attack running lateral lines, not fixing players. But also I think Easterby needs to communicate what he wants in defence, the same issue we had under Joe is there with Farrell we are too narrow in defence.
One mistake Farrell made was not giving Casey ten minutes but it is understandable as the game was close.
No doubt the game in Italy will see a return to the proven players as its must win game but that would be a mistake. This is the problem with centrally contracted players, if fit the IRFU want them to play. Italy would be a good chance to play a bunch of under 23’s and see how they do.

on really good news Joey Carbery is back training with Munster, he won’t play international until next year but he is a player that could unlock our attack.

 

[bendeus]

Fagerson gets a longer ban than POM

 

[flypanam]

Fagerson gets a longer ban than POM

Unbelievable decision.

 

[bendeus]

Unbelievable decision.

It's interesting. Apparently he accepted it was foul play but disputed it was worthy of a red, therefore less time off for contrition. POM, on the other hand, whose act was malicious and premeditated and deserving of a much longer ban, obviously had better advice, did the so sorry, I admit it all, won't happen again line and got the result he wanted.

 

[starfish]

Considering Fagerson was trying to clear out a, what do they call it nowadays, "jackaler?" & POM fucked into someone prone on their back.

 

[Elpenor]

POM is renowned for being a dirty player who will no doubt do it again. Not sure about Fagerson. Doesn’t seem fair somehow

 

[bendeus]

Considering Fagerson was trying to clear out a, what do they call it nowadays, "jackaler?" & POM fucked into someone prone on their back.

With his elbow, trying to mask it from Barnes. Yeah, filthy fucker.

 

[bendeus]

In a broader sense it says as much as you ever need to know about World Rugby's actual commitment to player safety

 

[bendeus]

POM is renowned for being a dirty player who will no doubt do it again. Not sure about Fagerson. Doesn’t seem fair somehow

I think the whole mitigation thing should be chucked out and that faux (or real) contrition at the hearing should count for nothing. If offence x is committed you have a window of y-z game ban, with y being reckless but not premeditated and z being malicious. No mitigation or mea culpas, none of this unblemished record stuff (POM, ffs!), just 'this many weeks and off you fucking toddle'

 

[gosub]

Haha, a couple of jammy wins and this thread is full of Wales and the Lions.

I'd rather go into the the Wales England match with the games we've had rather than the English. Scotland really made them look beatable and Italy unfortunately isn't really a pressure test that sees if what needed fixing is actually fixed. Didn't expect much from Wales this year but its coming together, and those scorelines could have been a lot more solid without the kicking purple patch....


Got a bit ahead of myself and looked up up that France Wales is the last game and an 8pm'r. God, I miss the pub already

 

[1927]

I think the whole mitigation thing should be chucked out and that faux (or real) contrition at the hearing should count for nothing. If offence x is committed you have a window of y-z game ban, with y being reckless but not premeditated and z being malicious. No mitigation or mea culpas, none of this unblemished record stuff (POM, ffs!), just 'this many weeks and off you fucking toddle'

Id rather see it changed to so many games off, rather than weeks. otherwise you get the crazy situation where due to suspension of games due to covid there were 10 week bans that didnt result in players missing any games at all. Get a 10 week ban in the last game of the season and you dont miss a game, crazy!

 

[bendeus]

Id rather see it changed to so many games off, rather than weeks. otherwise you get the crazy situation where due to suspension of games due to covid there were 10 week bans that didnt result in players missing any games at all. Get a 10 week ban in the last game of the season and you dont miss a game, crazy!

Yeah, can't remember the AB player who assaulted Bradley Davies from behind but that's exactly what happened. X week ban including pre season friendlies = no ban at all

 

[bendeus]

Apols for long C&P (and indeed for sticking it in the 6N thread) but this is pretty interesting. Current and ex players beginning to exert pressure on world rugby to protect long-term health and the future of the game. Proposals include a review of double tackles, tackle height upper limit and quick ball release after the tackle is made, as well as limiting substitutions to injury only, having a minimum number of days off for players between seasons and limiting full contact training. Also requesting a concussion fund being set up by WR to support ex players with long term health effects. All sounds very sensible to me. Player welfare is being thrown under the bus by club and country alike and it needs to stop now - people's lives are being absolutely blighted by the long term impacts of playing - they're literally being crippled for our entertainment and something has to give.

Progressive Rugby’ calls for significant changes to how game is played

Profound changes called for to protect the rugby-playing community from brain injury

Ireland and Lions prop Paul Wallace is one of a number of signatories to a letter from a group called ‘Progressive Rugby,’ who are calling for significant changes to the way the game is played and organised on a global basis.

The thrust of the letter to the chairman of World Rugby, Bill Beaumont, calls for more profound changes to take place to protect the rugby-playing community from brain injury, claiming it to be greatest threat to the game.

Beaumont wrote an open letter on December 17th last outlining how World Rugby holds player welfare as its number one priority at all levels after recent accounts of former players and their experiences.

In the tackle area, the group call for a review of “double teaming” players, where ball carriers are simultaneously hit by two players from the opposing side, the upper level of tackle height as well as a timely release of ball following the tackle. The group are also calling for limiting substitutes for injury only.

The current rule allows for tactical substitutions, where more than half the team are permitted to come on fresh, usually in the second half causing an imbalance between tired and fresh players.

“The problem you have is you play rugby and you get fatigued,” said Professor John Fairclough. “The analogy is if you have Joe Calzaghe in a boxing match with Bernard Hopkins and after eight rounds you bring in Roy Jones (to fight Calzaghe). You have disproportionate physical strength. That’s when you have a problem.”

Former England players, Simon Shaw, Steve Thompson, Kyran Bracken and James Haskell, current Welsh backrow Josh Navidi and former Welsh international Alix Popham, former Canadian international Jamie Cudmore and former Scotland international Rory Lamont have also signed up to the changes.

“Of course, they are,” said Haskell when asked if modern players are more at risk. “Look at the size they are. I think they are massively at risk. When I was playing, we were doing things out of fear not out of science. It’s a dangerous game, a contact sport. It is a game of who controls violence. You might not like it.”
Life on the line

Former Clermont player, Cudmore, spoke of “the club putting my life on the line” and cited “puking in Twickenham while getting stitched up and asked to go back on the field.”

Included too were medics Dr Barry O’Driscoll, Professors Fairclough and Bill Ribbans and well as British Labour Party MP Chris Bryant, chair of the all-party parliamentary group for acquired brain injury.

In returning to play following a head injury, the group are also seeking to extend the minimum number of days before a player is back on the pitch competing to at least three weeks as well as mandatory comprehensive screening as in other sports after recurrent concussions.

Post retirement player welfare is also addressed and the body advise that a concussion fund be established by World Rugby, that ownership of a player passport should be developed and a more empathetic relationship with insurers should be agreed.

Much attention has recently fallen on England’s 43-year-old former hooker Steve Thompson, who played in every game of the 2003 World Cup but cannot remember the final, which England won. Thompson has been diagnosed with early onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Progressive Rugby have requested to speak with senior figures in World Rugby to discuss how they can work together to control an issue “that threatens the very future of our game”. They have also asked for an independent “broad church” of experts to appraise current research, risks, and protocols in the game.