The rugby

[Dogtrousers]

There's a huge backlash to the new tackle laws at lower levels. Quite surprised me:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0f0mxsj

Thanks I'll listen to that when I get a bit of time.

For context, it's about (I assume) new rules that will apply in England to non-elite rugby from next season on. Details here
https://www.englandrugby.com/news/a...height-across-community-rugby-in-england-2023

This is also an interesting summary. As far as I can see "good intentions, unintended consequences" sounds like a fair summary.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/good...am-korn/?trk=public_post_feed-article-content

In the same general area - every Chris Froome fan's favourite, Ross Tucker, often comments (videos and podcasts) on the subject.

Seeing as I'm someone who has only ever played rugby at junior level, back when god was a boy, I'm not qualified to pass comment. But it's interesting. I will comment from the point of view of the specatator. Whether we spectators think something makes the game better or worse to watch is really unimportant. We spectators don't have any skin in this game. It's about safety - if the changes are effective, then good. If they aren't then not good.

 

[Grant Fondo]

This Ireland v France is a cracker!

 

[Dogtrousers]

This Ireland v France is a cracker!

Certainly is!

 

[Dogtrousers]

Second half not as good as the first, as France faded a bit. But still, 100x the entertainment value even in the second half than we had in England Scotland

Storming win for Ireland

 

[Grant Fondo]

Second half not as good as the first, as France faded a bit. But still, 100x the entertainment value even in the second half than we had in England Scotland

Storming win for Ireland

Agree, terrific performance given the French quality on show. What a team.
I fear for England against either of them.

 

[Beebo]

There's a huge backlash to the new tackle laws at lower levels. Quite surprised me:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0f0mxsj

Why is it being introduced at all levels below elite level? When the head injury problem is at elite level where the full time training and physical size of the players makes the number and size of impacts much worse than in the amateur level where a bunch of lads trudge round a pitch in the mud.
Plus every televised game will be played with fundamentally different rules to the game that all junior players will play. How can that help develop the junior players?
I’m an U12 coach. Just getting players to actually tackle is hard enough, let along a clean tackle below the waist.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Scotland hanging on here. Break can’t come quick enough .

 

[Dogtrousers]

Why is it being introduced at all levels below elite level? When the head injury problem is at elite level where the full time training and physical size of the players makes the number and size of impacts much worse than in the amateur level where a bunch of lads trudge round a pitch in the mud.
Plus every televised game will be played with fundamentally different rules to the game that all junior players will play. How can that help develop the junior players?
I’m an U12 coach. Just getting players to actually tackle is hard enough, let along a clean tackle below the waist.

All good questions.

As to the introduction at community level "when the head injury problem is at elite level" I don't know whether that is actually true. The LinkedIn article that I linked above says: We understand that it has been trialed in amateur clubs in France for [since March 2019] and was introduced there in the wake of the deaths of four young rugby players including Stade Francais teenager Nicolas Chauvin after breaking his neck and Aurillac’s 21-year-old Louis Fajrowski following a heavy tackle.

 

[Grant Fondo]

Another Scotland win and a big margin, well played. Wales a shadow of a few years back to be fair.

 

[Slick]

I'll love it if we beat them.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Well, who would have thought it.

 

[Slick]

Scotland hanging on here. Break can’t come quick enough .

Yeah, I thought we were never going to get that record breaking win.

 

[Alex321]

Yeah, I thought we were never going to get that record breaking win.

We really should have been ahead at half time. Far too many errors when in good attacking positions. The last play of the half should have been a try, that ball wasn't that hard to take.

Second half, we weren't really in it.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Yeah, I thought we were never going to get that record breaking win.

We weren’t good and if Wales had scored that try , it may have been different. However second half result !!

 

[Mo1959]

We weren’t good and if Wales had scored that try , it may have been different. However second half result !!

Yep, I think the score flattered us a bit to be honest. Still, a win is a win

 

[Slick]

We really should have been ahead at half time. Far too many errors when in good attacking positions. The last play of the half should have been a try, that ball wasn't that hard to take.

Second half, we weren't really in it.

Would have made no difference in the end.