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Joined September 2009
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While performances at the World Cup have been analysed to death, there is one analysis that has been missed: the effort of the fans.…
They say that rugby crowds in Australia lack passion. They say that Sydney crowds in particular lack passion. They say it is the fault…
There was something missing from the Wallabies team in Wellington. Most viewers could see what it was. But maybe the players need to see…
The laws make it easy in situations like these.
Law 11.3 relates to a deliberate knock on. If there is debate here about whether it went backward or forward, you have to feel sorry for the ref trying to make a decision with 68,000 fans yelling at him.
Which is why he then moves to Law 9.4 – “A player must not intentionally prevent an opponent from having the opportunity to play the ball, other than by competing for possession.”
A player can compete for possession by attempting to take an intercept. For example, the player can knock the ball in the air and try to regather – thus competing for the ball.
If, however, the player knocks the ball down or back, they are not competing for possession – but they are “preventing an opponent from having the opportunity to play the ball”.
Thus, they should be penalised and potentially carded, regardless of whether the ball was knocked on or knocked back.
The Wrap: Three epic Test matches all swing to the north
There are two laws that come into play in a situation like this.
Law 11.3 relates to a deliberate knock on. The referee deemed it to have gone backwards, so if only looking at this law, his decision was correct.
However, he also needs to be aware of Law 9.4.
This law states “A player must not intentionally prevent an opponent from having the opportunity to play the ball, other than by competing for possession.”
It is this law that allows a player to hit the ball in the air and attempt to regather the ball – that is, “competing for possession”.
If a player slaps the ball down, as was the case in Cardiff, the player has “intentionally prevented an opponent from having the opportunity to play the ball”, with the sanction being a penalty and yellow card. Simple.
The Wrap: Three epic Test matches all swing to the north
Funny – I was thinking exactly the same thing watching the game live. As you say, not long enough to make it obvious, but long enough to get in the way and slow things down just that second or so.
In fact, if you watch the video of the last penalty frame by frame, you see three very clever tactics by the French:
1. The tackler trips the ball carrier as he goes past, then swivels around to grab the legs, putting himself in the position of a long tackle, and slowing players arriving.
2. He stands up and runs across the back of the ruck before getting back on side, slowing the halfback.
3. The arriving player who is attempting the turn over is effectively cleaned off the ball, but then goes down on on arm while having a second dig at the ball.
Interestingly, if you watched last weeks All Blacks Vs Fiji game, where 14 of the Fijian players play in France, they were penalised around 8 times for not supporting their weight in the contest (i.e. putting their arm on the ground). I suspect it is just a French way of playing, and some referees interpret it differently.
French breakdown precision must be the Wallabies' goal in 2021
With no sport expected to be played in the Northern Hemisphere for the next 6 months, and lots of people sitting at home with not much to do, while missing their weekly sporting fix…
Is this an opportunity for Aus/NZ to play a 6 month Super 10 comp, and sell the coverage worldwide? The UK, Europe, the US?
That might give RA some breathing space to re-negotiate.
Just a thought bubble…
Optus put rugby broadcast negotiations on hold
That’s easy – there is a specialist sports administrator CEO sitting in Sydney.
He went to the Central Coast Mariners when it was a basket case, and within two years they had won a premiership.
He started the Western Sydney Wanderers, and within a couple of years had a couple of premierships.
He then went to the Cronulla Sharks, who were in the middle of a drugs scandal, and last on the ladder. You guessed it – two years later they won the premiership.
Rugby needs Lyall Gorman. A specialist sports administrator, who can change the culture of an organisation to get results – and is not beholden to anyone in rugby.
It’s time for Australian rugby to embrace a new hiring philosophy
I’m not sure that it was Horwill’s call for the scrum at the end.
The “Medic” made a dash to the sideline about 10 seconds after the penalty was awarded, and started signalling furiously to Horwill to take the scrum.
Gutsy decision, whoever made it.
Gutsy Wallabies force the silence of the Lions
Bay – I also went to EBHS – but it was almost 30 years ago (how old do I feel now!)
Back in ’81 EBHS fielded 1st’s, 2nd’s, 3rd’s, 4th’s (who played in the 3rd grade comp), plus a full compliment of 15’s, 14’s etc.
The 1st’s and 2nd’s both won their competitions, with the 3rd’s being knocked out in the semis. The 1st’s were also finalists in the Coca Cola Challenge Cup, and Waratah Sheild.
7 of the players in the 1st’s went on to play for NSW Schools, and 3 of those then went on to represent Australian Schools on their undefeated European tour. 2 of those 3 went on to represent the Wallabies – Brett Papworth and Ian Williams.
Despite the change in demographics, EBHS continues to be the leading rubgy school in the zone, being zone rugby champions in 2006, 2007 & 2008. In 2008, they won the 1st’s, 2nd’s, 15a’s, 15b’s, 13a’s and 13b’s (don’t know about last year). These kids must be playing local rugby for the school to be that strong, so we need to ask why are they not feeding through to Eastwood Rugby?
I don’t think it is completely a problem of competing sports either – back in ’81, EBHS also produced Australian Schoolboy representatives in Baseball (2) and Tennis (1). They also won the 1st’s soccer zone comp for the first time that year.
Gee I feel old….
Eastwood reflects rugby's lack of vision
Well put Bay.
Abigroup, and the guys who put together the camp should be recognised and applauded.
A couple of the kids in my sons (U8) team attended the camp this month, and both came away saying “it was the rugby camp we’ve ever been to”. And they go to every rugby training event on offer, including those run by their school, their club, and the NSWRU.
The kids also really appreciated Benn Robinson and Luke Burgess helping out. One of their biggest thrills was when Luke was selected to be their coach for the final game of the camp.
So, I’m with you Bay. Well done to Paul & Dave Schmude (great guys) Abigroup, and the rest of the sponsors. The ARU should be recognised for their assistance, but derided for trying to take all the credit. After all, the camp is known as the “Abigroup National Rugby Camp”. Imagine how the ARU would react if the press started refering to our national team as “The Wallabies” instead of “The Qantas Wallabies”…
P.S. Not only did the ARU get the name of the camp wrong, they got the ages of the campers wrong too. The camp is open to boys and girls from 8 – 17 years of age.
Credit where credit is due, ARU
The problem with statistics is that there are always more…
It seems that of all students in Australia, 32% go to private schools, with most private schools in NSW playing rugby.
On the other hand, of the 68% of other students, you might assume that less than half of those schools actually play rugby. Which means that say 34% of students go to rugby playing public schools. So, of all rugby playing schools, it’s about a 50:50 split of public:private.
Which means that the public school system is over represented at Waratahs level, with a 60:40 split of players coming from public:private schools. And that is despite private schools offering scholarships to promising rugby kids…
ARU need to allocate more resources to schoolboy rugby
Awesome article.
Sums up perfectly all that’s good about rugby…
Ireland Vs Australia, the greatest moment
Thanks for your feedback guys. I felt compelled to write it after watching a replay of Saturday’s game with my son.
Towards the end of the game, he looked at me and said, “Dad, why aren’t they even trying?”
The season is now over for our boys. The ARU have decreed that at this age, we don’t keep score for any game – but just try telling our boys that! So no semi’s or finals for them.
The boys are proud to tell me that of the 18 games they played, the won 15. And, in the very last game of the season, everything came together. The passing was great. Our bigger boys discovered that they could run. Defense was superb. Every single boy put together what they had practiced all year, and everyone had a blinder of a game.
I was overseas, and missed that last game. But the first thing my son told me when I got home was “Dad, we were winning 11 tries to nil. John [our other coach] told us near the end that it is important that everyone on both teams enjoys their rugby. So we missed some tackles so they could score 2 tries. It was really good!”
These boys have heart…
What the Under 8s can teach the Wallabies
CraigB – I could not hope to have said it better myself. ARU – WhereRU?
An open letter to the ARU
The Spirit Of Cricket is within the MCC Lawbook, prior to Law 1, and titled “Preamble to the Laws: Spirit of Cricket”.
It says in full:
“Preamble
The Law
Cricket owes much of its appeal and enjoyment to the fact that it should be played not only according to the Laws, but also within the Spirit of Cricket. The major responsibility for ensuring fair play rests with the captains, but extends to all players, match officials and, especially in junior cricket, teachers, coaches and parents.
Respect is central to the Spirit of Cricket.
Respect your captain, team-mates, opponents and the authority of the umpires.
Play hard and play fair.
Accept the umpire’s decision.
Create a positive atmosphere by your own conduct, and encourage others to do likewise.
Show self-discipline, even when things go against you.
Congratulate the opposition on their successes, and enjoy those of your own team.
Thank the officials and your opposition at the end of the match, whatever the result.
Cricket is an exciting game that encourages leadership, friendship and teamwork, which brings together people from different nationalities, cultures and religions, especially when played within the Spirit of Cricket.”
Smoke and mirrors: England's contrived outrage can't help them avoid the facts