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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 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.
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+.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir C
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?Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Goat Sverige
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:Quote:
Originally Posted by Sir C
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by SWv2
Well since they were winning 10-5 at half time it obviously did increase their chances of winningQuote:
Originally Posted by Billy Goat Sverige
I hate the term "parking the bus". Defending well is as much a part of the game as is fancy intricate passing triangles.Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Goat Sverige
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pokster
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?Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Goat Sverige
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 itQuote:
Originally Posted by SWv2
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 imoQuote:
Originally Posted by Billy Goat Sverige
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by 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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda
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 EnglandQuote:
Originally Posted by SWv2
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)Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Goat Sverige
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 sayQuote:
Originally Posted by Pokster