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?

[Burney]

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.

I like that Italy are conforming to national sporting stereotype by playing negative, spoiling rugby that could almost be designed to put fans off watching. :hehe:

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[Luis Anaconda]

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+.

Yes the frustrating thing was that we didn't adapt until the coaches had a word. Although, I've spoken to a few people who've played rugby for years and assumed an offside line was formed at the tackle (which a rule change will inevitably be brought in now). At least Daly still looked good. Did Johnny May even play?

[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]

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

[Billy Goat Sverige]

Yes the frustrating thing was that we didn't adapt until the coaches had a word. Although, I've spoken to a few people who've played rugby for years and assumed an offside line was formed at the tackle (which a rule change will inevitably be brought in now). At least Daly still looked good. Did Johnny May even play?

It makes sense that a line should be formed and only the tackler can go past it if there isn't a ruck. At times they had two people either side of our no.9. Ridicules :hehe: I don't know why he persists with May, Nowell is much better. Also felt sorry for Farrell. Probably his worst game in the shirt and on his 50th cap.

[SWv2]

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

I was talking purely from a football sense, a manager complaining post-game because the opposition, invariably a lesser opposition, had the temerity to not play open expansive football but instead chose to defend well.

I don’t fully get the nuances of rugby but did find your match difficult to watch. A shoot out on St Patricks weekend awaits unless we fúck up in Cardiff which is not beyond the realms of chance.

[Luis Anaconda]

I was talking purely from a football sense, a manager complaining post-game because the opposition, invariably a lesser opposition, had the temerity to not play open expansive football but instead chose to defend well.

I don’t fully get the nuances of rugby but did find your match difficult to watch. A shoot out on St Patricks weekend awaits unless we fúck up in Cardiff which is not beyond the realms of chance.
Not impossible we **** up at home to Scotland either though. But it should be a great last day. I assume your lot will be out on the Friday night so advantage England

[Luis Anaconda]

It makes sense that a line should be formed and only the tackler can go past it if there isn't a ruck. At times they had two people either side of our no.9. Ridicules :hehe: I don't know why her persists with May, Nowell is much better. Also felt sorry for Farrell. Probably his worst game in the shirt and on his 50th cap.

Farrell is allowed an off day. I think Nowell is his first choice with Daly now and Watson to come back in, possibly at full back (Brown is starting to show his age, I think)

[Luis Anaconda]

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

A hugely defensive game plan which saw them concede "only" six tries. No - the really were never in danger of winning, p. Never in doubt as some might say