Roar Guru
Joined May 2013
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Long time rugby player, coach, ref and fan.
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Dean Mumm's yellow card in the 23rd minute of the Australia-Ireland game illustrated a frustrating disconnect between World Rugby, referees and fans. Mumm was…
Saturday's final Bledisloe Cup match provided us with a good example of where rugby needs to be consistently better. I'm not talking about controversial…
With new Springboks coach, Allister Coetzee, coming into the fold, the mandate for South African team selection has been made clear to all and…
He's been labeled inept, a disgrace, a coward and calls have been made for him to never ref at international level again. Even World…
He may not be the sharpest offensive player in world rugby and he may not even know all the rules yet, but there is…
World Rugby CEO and Australian Brett Gosper wants England to go through, Australian George Smith thinks Fiji will, while Welshman Lee Byrne has doubts…
There's a classic line in the movie The Princess Bride where Wallace Shawn's character, Vizzini - a villain of self-proclaimed super intellect, says that…
It would be interesting to get a full run-down on Michael Cheika's reasoning for his starting selections in last night's game against South Africa,…
Last week, the Roar Law Representation Group began its task of simplifying the laws of rugby to reduce some of the inconsistent and unnecessary…
Steve Hansen and Andre Watson have said it, while my Canadian wife says it every time she watches a game: the laws of rugby…
One of the great champions of equality for all, Nelson Mandela, once said "Money won't create success, the freedom to make it will." When…
All Black great Jeff Wilson recently offered up an article in which he encouraged young rugby players to sacrifice early education for their sporting…
You have to give credit to commentator Phil Kearns for trying to make the scrum contest between the Rebels and Crusaders on the weekend…
Benji Marshall made his Super Rugby debut this weekend and was a bright spark in a largely directionless Blues loss. While he looked a…
You don't really get a rugby break these days, so on Christmas Eve it's time for the serious business of looking at who was…
For many, a victory is a fantastic achievement. For others, consistency of performance becomes the goal, while for the very few, dominance is the…
Australia beat Wales last weekend in an exciting clash that showcased a marked improvement in execution and decision-making in a year that has been…
Karl Marx, in his 1846 book, The German Ideology, said: “The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways: the point, however, is…
As we approach what is sure to be another epic and brutal clash between the world's two best rugby teams it is relevant to…
There have been a lot of abstract suggestions as to why the Wallabies are so far off the pace this year - culture, depth…
RT,
The same reason that incest is frowned upon in general – because there’s a high risk of children of incest having genetic issues, not to mention, causing conflict in the family unit.
Where is the moral conundrum with SSM?
Israel Folau cops backlash for gay marriage tweet
SSM is the 1st step Pete K – there is nothing morally wrong about 3 consensual adults wanting to be married is there? How does that affect anyone else?
Israel Folau cops backlash for gay marriage tweet
No, it’s not – it’s a matter of law – are you not paying attention?
Israel Folau cops backlash for gay marriage tweet
Technically, Adam and Eve having sex was masturbation since she is just his rib
Israel Folau cops backlash for gay marriage tweet
Yeah why not? Does it affect you in any way?
Israel Folau cops backlash for gay marriage tweet
“Why does having a different opinion automatically translate into not respecting others?”
Except this is not just a different opinion Ian – he is voting for legislation that denies the equal rights of 10% of the population. Thats where the lack of respect comes in.
Israel Folau cops backlash for gay marriage tweet
Playing for Australia has no correlation to equal marriage rights. Someone who is not from Australia can go and play rugby for the country that they qualify for – there is no discrimination there. Marriage is the only institution that allows different legal rights to married couples. Thus it provides no other option to people who aren’t allowed to do it.
Secondly, not sure if you know this, but pedophilia is a crime – we don’t allow pedophiles to marry kids because there is a moral obligation to protect our youth. There is no such moral imposition with gay marriage – these are consensual relationships between adults and they affect you in absolutely zero ways.
Your church doesn’t have to believe in equal rights, you can continue thinking that discrimination is okay, but people with good morals are well within our rights to tell you that your beliefs are idiotic.
Israel Folau cops backlash for gay marriage tweet
Geoff – I agree there might be an issue with the time taken, but do we really think that citings and bannings are applied consistently and accurately – every weekend there is a new controversy or a coach complaining about the inconsistency of the judicial system
Time to scrap outdated card system
Thanks Dav SA – I did exactly that last year
The Roar Law Representation Group Part 2: Rucks, mauls and interpretation
Time to scrap outdated card system
I agree dontcallmeshirley, the call is not really the issue. The issue is that the crowd has no idea what they are complaining about because the rules arent applied consistently
Time to scrap outdated card system
Agree Tycoch, I was at the France-Wales game and it absolutely destroyed the game as a contest
Time to scrap outdated card system
You called it perfectly Timbo and the judicial officer has seen it the same way – of course, my suggestion is just that, a suggestion, but the main point here is that people are confused by sanctions, so there needs to be more clarity.
Time to scrap outdated card system
I agree Daire, especially now that we know more about the long term effects of concussion – safety is paramount and thats how refs are trained
Time to scrap outdated card system
Thanks Machooka, I think there is certainly confusion about what constitutes different sanctions, so it should be talked about
Time to scrap outdated card system
Not sure if you were watching with Irish commentary, Poth, but they certainly mentioned it and here’s an article expressing irish ire
https://www.sportsjoe.ie/rugby/heres-what-nigel-owens-said-to-prevent-australias-dean-mumm-getting-sent-off/104248
Time to scrap outdated card system
Thanks Brando, there is certainly a concern about how long it would take to make such determinations and we wouldnt want it turning out like American football. The key point of the article is that the carding system isnt quite accurate enough at the moment.
Time to scrap outdated card system
Thanks J Estey – that actually happens in hockey too and I think its a fairly sensible approach to carding.
Time to scrap outdated card system
Thanks StuM – they did trial the white card some years ago, but it quickly got dismissed and I’m not sure why
Time to scrap outdated card system
There are more than 600 clauses and subclauses in the rugby law book – that is ridiculous. No ref can remember all of that
Time to scrap outdated card system
Thanks OB, I think that’s another system that could be looked at although they trialed the white card some years ago and refs seemed hesitant to use it. I think this was because of the built up reliance on reffing with yellows and reds.
For league followers out there – what do you think of the league citing system? Happy with it?
Time to scrap outdated card system
Hi Piru, thanks for your comment – I think 5 minute blocks could be a way to apply the sanction too – maybe 10 is too harsh
Time to scrap outdated card system
The sanction would be determined on the field, so Mumm would have gotten a 20 minute sinbin and then the refs calculations would be used during the judicial process as well (assuming the citing commissioner agreed with the ref)
Time to scrap outdated card system
I think the refs already go through that process, in terms of determining a sanction – it’s just a case of apportioning a sanction for each part of the action rather than the overall outcome
Time to scrap outdated card system
As a ref, I am a little bemused by the continued emotional response to this game. NZ did make some clumsy and reckless high tackles, most likely the result of being over-motivated by their previous loss; however they were all dealt with perfectly within the laws on the field. The citing commissioner has now vindicated these decisions with nothing for Cane and a 1 game ban for Fekitoa.
I sympathize with Robbie Henshaw, but his concussion was simply a result of a very fast and unanticipated collision. The speed with which Henshaw changed angles gave Cane very little time to get any lower. The contact was shoulder on high shoulder and unfortunately it slid up into his face. The point of contact is worthy of a penalty – high shoulder is now deemed dangerous for the exact reason that Henshaw got injured, but to suggest an intentional action is weak. Arms were wrapped and the tackle wasn’t late, so there are no other mitigating factors even suggesting a yellow card.
Fekitoa’s tackle was high and he jumped into it which suggests some intention, so definitely dangerous but I think it too has received an appropriate sanction.
Stop the whinging Ireland, you're better than that
South Africa have an incredible team and are starting to gain confidence as well – I think the odds in Yokohama for their first WC game against the ABs will be very slim.
I wouldn’t say the team selection is settled though. Their midfield is up in the air. Both Kriel and DDA cramp a lot on attack, so they should probably mix one of them up with a more direct runner such as Steyn, Esterhuizen or Rohan. They also have two very creative and smart options in Am and Willemse. A partnership of DDA and Am gives them the best combination of skills IMO.
Willemse has to be the back up 10 – he has the most x-factor of any of the back ups and like Pollard, he is very good at attacking the line and setting up forward momentum. This plays nicely into the Springbok strengths. I would also be backing up with Hougaard at 9. He can be inconsistent but again, hes the most dynamic sub to bring on. Kwagga Smith needs to be in the team for the same reason.
15. Le Roux
14. Nkosi
13. Am/Kriel
12. DeAllende
11. Dyantyi
10. Pollard/Willemse
9. De Klerk/Hougaard
8. Vermulen
7. Steph-DuToit
6. Kolisi/Smith
5. Etzebeth
4. De Jager/Mostert
3. Malherbe/Louw
2. Marx/Du Plessis
1. Kitshoff/Mtwarira
SA B
15. Colbe
14. Lleyds/Mapimpi
13. Steyn
12. Van Rensberg
11. Skosan/
10. Jjantes/Du Preez
9. Papier/Van Zyl
8. Whitely/Du Preez
7. Notshe
6. Louw
5. Snyman
4. Botha/Orie
3. Koch/Oosthuizen
2. Mbongi/Van der Merve
1. Nyakane/du Toit
Springbok report card: How does Rassie rank?