Rebels roll Lions for 37-17 Super win

But...once the ball is out, its fair game. From my understanding, once a seagulls can drop it's fits guts on it it's fair game... in that instance English could have gone from an onside postion to take it from the floor couldn't he?

Nick White has also had some good experience playing in UK conditions which will help when the team gets over there.

Stolen Force? What team is THAT? I have heard of the Western Force that plays in the GRR competition!! Is Stolen Force the 2nd XV in WA?

AND you will loose the supporters from ACT and VIC. We already lost a large group of the supporters from WA. This reduction in supporters will lead to a reduction in SPONSORS.

Long Weekend, Corona Virus would have an effect on crowd numbers. Rebels = 14,000 members!! Have a look at the number and type of sponsors the REBELS have and is still signing to see the progress!!! Get rid of REBELS and us members/supporters may just revert back to our South African and New Zealand Origin Teams as most will not suddenly support the reds or the tahs -- so even less people supporting AUS Rugby

Peter I think you’ll find Rah Rah can’t look past former Force players

thanks peter, so its the rule that you cant do a 'solo' counter ruck? i know you say that theres no penalty rule for counter rucking but if he is the only one collected (even by more than one player) in a counter ruck i do feel there would almost be a penalty blown for taking out the half. but maybe not and maybe teams should be practicing waiting for support when all the attacking forwards are off their feet. really for me if there are no players form the attacking team on their feet it should be ruck over plus id go back to being able to kick the ball forward from the ruck. i have no problem with tunovers being difficult, but when bad play creates a situation where its impossible for you that doesnt sit well.

Beating a poor Lions side is no great achievement

Geoff - I think the issue is on a counter ruck you CAN take out the halfback to drive over and secure the ball. The grey area is you sometimes are NOT allowed to counter ruck. If English had another fellow attached to him and they drove together over the ball AND stayed on their feet then the ref probably would have called it a counter ruck. There is no law that actually says the halfback is immune from being cleaned out from over the ball when counter rucking on your feet.

For the main I was ignoring players continuing from last year, looking more at who left and if the replacements are better or worse or where an existing player is better than the incumbent.

RahRah - First look beyond Rebels players. White is proven at intl level and that is far more important than super rugby level. That is White is chosen first. I did say Rangi was a possibility for the bench. Faingaa's combination with the Brumby props and his very good form deserve him to start. On DHP I said he was too slow for wing, I did have as the F/B so I think you are being a bit precious. Meakes is playing well but I am sure fairly sure JoC is ahead of him for 12, JoC with good intl form last year and strong performances in super rugby. IMO if it isn't JoC at 12 then it will be Toomua. Naisarani has had some good games as have Wilson and Samu.

RE your comment on the Hooker Pete, I feel that position will hopefully improve in depth in the next season or two with the development of Lonergan. He's a real player of the future, did great vs Chiefs on debut. Add to that Billy Pollard when he gets his chance long term and then coupled with continued development of Bell at the Tahs as well as some of the younger Reds props I think, hopefully, we have the makings of a decent front row come 2023 and beyond.

Geoff sometimes people do like to talk about the reasons for rules and their impacts including whether or not they produce a desirable result. This website generated a lot of content around whaf if discussions and not just limiting ourselves to what is. May I suggest you might find a bit more value in this particular discussion if you allow thought to expand a little beyond the current rules and how they are enforced. Scrums do not have taking your opposite to ground away from the ball and preventing it happening to you as a main element. Rucks do. The situation I’m discussing is the pretty comprehensive winner on the battle of this main rock element. If it were scrums it would be like not allowing a ball hooked back against the feed to be played without penalty

White can also step up for long range attempts if necessary, handy especially if Hodge isn't in team.

Gears over Corona virus probably putting people off, plus people don't go to watch a team lose. Was there last night and very surprised how sparse the crowd was. Both the Force and Rebels enjoyed crowds of around 24,000 in the very first matches, but failure leads to falling attendance. Are any SR rugby matches pulling decent crowds though?

no because he was there last year so that is a neutral impact same as no mention of JoC

It doesn't matter what my opinion is mate, that's how it's refereed. Quite often we'll hear the referee call out 'it's a ruck', which is a signal for the players that the defenders can't now reach in and pick the ball up. Sure, it means it's no longer a contest for the ball, (unless it's a counter ruck), I understand that point. But the real contest for the ball these days is beforehand, at the tackle, before the ruck is formed. Perhaps another way to think about it is to consider it like a scrum. Once the ball is hooked and on the attacking side's side of the scrum, the opposing team cannot 'contest' the ball other than push them off it.

Wasn’t aware the Force owner any player that ever plied their trade in Perth, in perpetuity.

And even a Championship didn’t bring the Tahs crowds back

I’ve addressed that other answer above Geoff. So do you think guaranteed clean possession is what should result from that kind of Ruck contest result?