Boks stealing rugby’s soul, not White and Koroibete
If ever there was a game that may have caused South Africans to be gracious in defeat, this was it. The Wallabies systematically destroyed…
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But hang on…
What is ‘thugby’ about an accidental head clash? This isn’t Richard Lowe on Paul Carozza or someone eye gouging or biting (although hair pulling seems ok-ish).
And as the posters have said above, there were 3 concussions in the Eng v Aus game and not one resulted in a card… so are these rules even effective?
Kind of an important point and why I object to uncompromising absolutism. It’s seldom effective in achieving what it set out to…
Rugby must find balanced and sensible approach to safeguard game's fabric as well as players' health
Might have reduced contact to heads during clear outs if they hadn’t changed that rucking rule 😉
Unfortunately, tiresome as it may be, the public is turning away from the game and it’s now the 5th sport in Australia. A great pity given there is somewhat of a ‘relaunch’ being attempted.
Rugby must find balanced and sensible approach to safeguard game's fabric as well as players' health
“Did all it possibly could” to mitigate the risk…
Surely, that must give consideration to the fact that there is inherent risk within a contact sport, that the game is played by humans. If you don’t start with those parameters then it becomes a lineal choice – ban rugby or play rugby – rather than a compromise.
And also, are all the red cards and rule changes actually making a difference? That’s a key question that is unanswered right now.
Rugby must find balanced and sensible approach to safeguard game's fabric as well as players' health
This is the counter-argument… thanks DaShmooze.
Being a lawyer myself, I’m very familiar with the CTE arguments. And they certainly have their origins in the NFL (different game) where up until 5-10 years ago players routinely ‘targeted’ eachother by lowering steel helmets at heads.
I come back to my argument about striking balances. I think many judges would look at Ta’Avao’s situation and ask “how does any rule or coaching prevent that in a contact sport”.
Rugby must find balanced and sensible approach to safeguard game's fabric as well as players' health
Precisely Jacko. It is very sad for me, feel like my favourite pub is burning down to be honest and I can’t look my league mates in the eye anymore!
Rugby must find balanced and sensible approach to safeguard game's fabric as well as players' health
I’m curious… how do you coach a player to avoid a head clash like Ta’avao? The only way I can think of is to 100% ban ball and all tackles involving chest on chest contact.
Similarly, with charge downs. Do you coach a player not to jump while running as it may end with an arm or shoulder brushing a head?
And then there is clearing out rucks. If an attacking player gets over a ruck, seals it off (bum in air, shoulders down, head up) how can you coach to counter ruck without making contact with the head ever?
There has to be an acceptance that the game is a contact sport. You can coach ways to eliminate any head contact at all but it materially changes the way the game is played to such an extent it becomes a different sport.
Rugby must find balanced and sensible approach to safeguard game's fabric as well as players' health
The sport was amazingly good, it had found a balanced solution between 1999 and 2015.
There are arguments for reducing the number of replacements to make bodies smaller/ more athletic as well as the collisions less high impact. Certainly ensuring concussed players don’t play while concussed!
But fundamentally, the game (players, fans, administrators, drs) need to come to terms with the fact it’s a contact sport. It will always have a player making a mistake when positioning to tackle or clear out a ruck. If we don’t accept that, no rugby.
Rugby must find balanced and sensible approach to safeguard game's fabric as well as players' health
It’s a very good point Ad-O.
As I said in my article last year, there is a school of thought that lowering the tackle height is an issue – hips, knees, heads in wrong places… can be problematic for the tackler!
My fear is that the powers that be are soon going to be told by medical advisers that the game in its current form is ‘unsafe’ regardless of rule changes…
Rugby must find balanced and sensible approach to safeguard game's fabric as well as players' health
Exactly Piru.
Worth noting that the rules seemed to drastically alter/ become far more extreme right before a during the RWC in Japan in 2019. The game hasn’t been the same since.
6 yellow cards and a red in two games is madness.
Rugby must find balanced and sensible approach to safeguard game's fabric as well as players' health
I strongly empathise with your dad.
I’ve spent years arguing with my uncle and my best mates that Union is the the superior sport, more capable of being a spectacle, more thinking.
In all good conscience, I can’t argue that anymore.
Rugby must find balanced and sensible approach to safeguard game's fabric as well as players' health
They said that about Christian Cullen and Cheslin Colby.
Size isn’t the only factor and Campbell is the second best 15 in Australia behind Banks.
REACTION: Perese and Petaia join Wallabies' devastating injury list as Eddie's England level series
He’s the best 15 in Australia other than Banks.
REACTION: Perese and Petaia join Wallabies' devastating injury list as Eddie's England level series
What about Jock Campbell?!
The kid has a beautiful balanced running game, a big boot and is good under the high ball. A lot of Christian Cullen about him.
REACTION: Perese and Petaia join Wallabies' devastating injury list as Eddie's England level series
Petaia is such a liability. Watching him play over a good few seasons he is reckless with the ball and his body.
So often you see him fly into tackles head first or in completely the wrong position. He either knocks himself out, pulls a hammy or rolls an ankle!
REACTION: Perese and Petaia join Wallabies' devastating injury list as Eddie's England level series
Despite all the injuries the worst thing about this game is the Wallabies had several chances between 60-70 minutes to go ahead and win.
Blew it with 2 terrible kicks from JOC and 2 terrible throws from Faingaa.
Scrap JOC, Hodge and Beale start the young Reds 15, Jock Campbell. Don’t select Petaia again until he learns to tackle and strings some games together for Australia A.
REACTION: Perese and Petaia join Wallabies' devastating injury list as Eddie's England level series
I guess it’s refreshing honesty from Tupou – the Reds had a horrible season and he obviously wasn’t enjoying his footy and needed a freshen up. Do hope his calf muscles are ok – I’ve had issues with mine (half the size of his) and it’s becomes chronic if you rush.
Anyway, the pack looks pretty settled and Tupou and Philip coming in may bring some good aggression and mongrel (hopefully controlled).
'Best thing that happened to me': Taniela reveals he didn't miss rugby 'one bit' but refreshed after a big 'geez, f---' moment
“Quote all the laws in the world but”
Ha! The laws say he should have been cited and suspended for 2 weeks at least (that’s a starting point). Maybe reduced to 1 week for an early plea.
Ashton and Creevy both suspended for hair pulling. Countless suspended for striking faces.
Your point is ridiculous.
Rugby News: England star off home, Swain cited but Barrett, Hill and Jones off scot free, Poms cancel 'social' after loss
https://www.world.rugby/organisation/governance/regulations/reg-17/appendix-1
9.12
9.20(b)
9.27
5) The note does not apply to the following Laws whose low-end entry points already take into account head contact being a potential feature or consequence of such breach reaching the red-card threshold: 9.12 (biting, contact with eye(s)/eye area and, striking with head and tripping), 9.18 and 9.27 (hair pulling).
It is pretty hard to see how he didn’t get cited – should have had the kitchen sink thrown at him for sportsmanship, striking, contact above shoulders in maul and hair pulling
Rugby News: England star off home, Swain cited but Barrett, Hill and Jones off scot free, Poms cancel 'social' after loss
https://www.world.rugby/organisation/governance/regulations/reg-17/appendix-1
The law says he should have got 2 weeks for hair pulling – see 9.28 (5) which says hairpulling is an attack on the head and starts at 2 weeks.
Rugby News: England star off home, Swain cited but Barrett, Hill and Jones off scot free, Poms cancel 'social' after loss
Not sure why.
But gotta say the pack on Saturday stood around and more or less was dominated mentally and physically for 60 minutes of the game.
Rugby News: England star off home, Swain cited but Barrett, Hill and Jones off scot free, Poms cancel 'social' after loss
Let’s say Swain hasn’t retaliated.
It’s entirely possible, if not likely, Hill would not have been carded.
By not citing him, either for the hair pulling or the strike, they are clearly saying neither, whether on their own or together, deserves a week or two on the sideline. I think both morally wrong and technically wrong under the rules.
Rugby News: England star off home, Swain cited but Barrett, Hill and Jones off scot free, Poms cancel 'social' after loss
The citing process is more farcical than the rules themselves. Vunipola effectively got the same punishment Hill did and it looks as if World Rugby are perfectly happy for the games highest level to be blighted by the likes of Hill. Appalling.
Rugby News: England star off home, Swain cited but Barrett, Hill and Jones off scot free, Poms cancel 'social' after loss
Whaaaat? 😉
On any definition Hill attacked and struck the head of a player and while it was open handed it was high, intentional and with force. Under the rules it should have been a citing and 1-2 weeks off.
The hair pulling was brings the game into disrepute and is on the Pinching, Squirrel Gripping, Biting and Gouging scale… You said it yourself, Creevy got a weeks suspension. After or before the whistle, no difference.
Rugby News: England star off home, Swain cited but Barrett, Hill and Jones off scot free, Poms cancel 'social' after loss
As a fan I’d like to know who was involved exactly in the citing process at World Rugby. Was it Bill Beaumont and his mates perhaps?
The whole process, as well as the farcical rules, are bringing the game into disrepute. It’s a laughing stock.
Swain will learn but will Hill? Can’t help but feel our back row and lock options right now are missing a little mongrel and are prone to bullying. Arnold and McMahon anyone?
Rugby News: England star off home, Swain cited but Barrett, Hill and Jones off scot free, Poms cancel 'social' after loss
A really good comment Biltong.
One stand out comment above was the observation that all 3 concussions in the Eng v Aus game did not result in cards… so there is an added question of how effective the rules even are at achieving their aim..
Rugby must find balanced and sensible approach to safeguard game's fabric as well as players' health