The rugby

[AndyRM]

well ok what is the nations championship thing then !?! why are South Africa playing Italy and Scotland against New Zealand. why is it called the nations championship, why is it a championship, whats the north south divide thing about,

for those of us who dont pay any attention to rugby and are channel surfing wondering why theres loads of rugby at lunch time now, whilst just waiting for the cyclocross european championships to start

It's a Northern/Southern hemisphere tournament designed to fill the gap in World Cup years.

The winner of the Northern hemisphere group plays the winner of the Southern at the end to lift the trophy.

There's relegation involved somehow, but I don't really know how that works yet.

 

[Dorset Boy]

Kiwi second try comes from a tap penalty clearly taken well in front of and to the side of the mark.
Begining to look ugly for Scotland - being reffed off the pitch, no possession, no territory, 3 AB tries in 20 minutes.

 

[Dorset Boy]

Utterly cynical AB offside that stops momentum dead, was worthy of a yellow.

 

[Dorset Boy]

Now collapsed maul, cynically playing the scrum half, now offside.
Finally a yellow for the ABs

 

[Pross]

It's a Northern/Southern hemisphere tournament designed to fill the gap in World Cup years.

The winner of the Northern hemisphere group plays the winner of the Southern at the end to lift the trophy.

There's relegation involved somehow, but I don't really know how that works yet.

I find it weird splitting it into NH and SH leagues when NH and SH teams play each other though. It feels like pointlessly turning the previous AIs or summer tours into a tournament. Not sure it’s needed or provides any benefit. That said I’ve never understood why every Test match had to be turned into the [insert random name] Cup though either.

 

[Dorset Boy]

ABs down to 13 briefly.
More cynical offences in their own 22.
But great scrum from them in coffin corner

 

[AndyRM]

I find it weird splitting it into NH and SH leagues when NH and SH teams play each other though. It feels like pointlessly turning the previous AIs or summer tours into a tournament. Not sure it’s needed or provides any benefit. That said I’ve never understood why every Test match had to be turned into the [insert random name] Cup though either.

Yeah, it's a format that feels very contrived. By all means have a two groups, but mix them up. Although then it does just become a slightly different version of the World Cup...

 

[AndyRM]

ABs down to 13 briefly.
More cynical offences in their own 22.
But great scrum from them in coffin corner

They can't be far off a red at this point.

 

[Blazing Saddles]

ABs down to 13 briefly.
More cynical offences in their own 22.
But great scrum from them in coffin corner

They are obviously taught to cynically offend inside their 22. Better to concede 3 points than 7.
The only solution is to yellow card every offence, after the warning is given.

 

[Dorset Boy]

Fair play Scotland, after a slow start they have come right back into it.

 

[Blazing Saddles]

Fair play Scotland, after a slow start they have come right back into it.

Only for NZ to stretch further ahead. The gap looks insurmountable now.

 

[Pross]

NZ really not at their best. Lots of missed tackles and handling errors. Scotland by contrast have tackled well.

 

[Pross]

Ref dealt with that clash of heads quickly and sensibly. I thought Klinghorn had handed off with a closed hand to the head at first.

 

[Blazing Saddles]

Apparently it’s not even a penalty when you come off worse in a head on head contact if you come from NZ….

 

[Blazing Saddles]

Ref dealt with that clash of heads quickly and sensibly. I thought Klinghorn had handed off with a closed hand to the head at first.

I agree that it was sensible, but by the strict letter of the law it should have been a yellow card.
Anyhow it’s become moot as NZ score again.