Rugby rules.

[Sir C]

It has struck me over the years that the rules of rugby have become more and more baffling, to the point where these days, attending perhaps two rugby matches per year, I spend half the game mystified as to what is actually going on.

It would appear that I am not alone in this, and that the England team are similarly hazy about the details.

What a fúcking state for a major international sport to get itself into.

[Peter]

I can't claim to completely understand the full implications of what Italy did but I must say it sounds brilliant. The clips of baffled and furious England players are hilarious.

[Billy Goat Sverige]

It has struck me over the years that the rules of rugby have become more and more baffling, to the point where these days, attending perhaps two rugby matches per year, I spend half the game mystified as to what is actually going on.

It would appear that I am not alone in this, and that the England team are similarly hazy about the details.

What a fúcking state for a major international sport to get itself into.

Twas a bit of a **** show tbh. England didn't adapt to it very well and i personally thought it was poor form from Italy. I mean, it didn't actually improve their chances of winning or scoring, it just stopped England from scoring 60+.

[SWv2]

Twas a bit of a **** show tbh. England didn't adapt to it very well and i personally thought it was poor form from Italy. I mean, it didn't actually improve their chances of winning or scoring, it just stopped England from scoring 60+.

Surely part of the game is to try and stop your opponents from scoring freely. Assuming no laws of the game were broken then what occured?

[Billy Goat Sverige]

Surely part of the game is to try and stop your opponents from scoring freely. Assuming no laws of the game were broken then what occured?

I suppose you can liken it to parking the bus i.e. using the tactics that give you the best chance of winning. Really it was just them admitting they're rubbish.

[SWv2]

I suppose you can liken it to parking the bus i.e. using the tactics that give you the best chance of winning. Really it was just them admitting they're rubbish.

I hate the term "parking the bus". Defending well is as much a part of the game as is fancy intricate passing triangles.

[Luis Anaconda]

I hate the term "parking the bus". Defending well is as much a part of the game as is fancy intricate passing triangles.

I agree in a football sense that good defending is an art - what happened in the rugby wasn't good defending it was exploiting a loophole in the law to the 9th degree. Inevitably, the law will change so can't blame Italy for trying it

[Pokster]

Twas a bit of a **** show tbh. England didn't adapt to it very well and i personally thought it was poor form from Italy. I mean, it didn't actually improve their chances of winning or scoring, it just stopped England from scoring 60+.

Well since they were winning 10-5 at half time it obviously did increase their chances of winning

[Billy Goat Sverige]

Well since they were winning 10-5 at half time it obviously did increase their chances of winning

Not really. They went into half-time leading against Wales and playing the conventional way. Their trouble is and always has been that they drop off physically in the last 20-25 minutes of games. Their points before half-time came from penalties and had nothing to do with their lack of rucking. As i said before, it was purely a spoiler tactic. They were always going to get battered, this just sopped it being a 40-50 point battering.

[Pokster]

Not really. They went into half-time leading against Wales and playing the conventional way. Their trouble is and always has been that they drop off physically in the last 20-25 minutes of games. Their points before half-time came from penalties and had nothing to do with their lack of rucking. As i said before, it was purely a spoiler tactic. They were always going to get battered, this just sopped it being a 40-50 point battering.

They were 2 points down with 10 minutes to go so your reasoning is flawed... they had a game plan and almost pulled it off. wd Italy imo