Off Topic Other Sports Thread

well its all kicked off in the rugby world.

Hot on the heels of the wales decision to revert to the failed gatland model now england have sacked eddie jones.

 

Not surprised after the poor performances,but not sure Steve Bothwick is going to be the answer,time will tell.

 

Should have binned him yonks ago .

 

Decent game of rugby between Spud growers and the frogs.

 

a serious game.but the game is in trouble again when the refs go out of their way to avoid applying the rules.

the French hooker should have been off. he deliberately truend his shoulder into the Irish lads head and made zero attempt at a wrap tackle. hit the head and the rules are clear.

Barnes went out of his way to call it a yellow. Rugby will be back in court with this type of stuff going on.

the French were going forward when they had it and defended OK at their line but had to hold it up at least 4 times.

the French were ridiculous on their srum half taking aminite to kick it with 3 forwards trialing legs off the ruck and still he managed to have 3 blocked.

an absolute shocker of a show from Barnes indulging them being so slow.

 

Yes you're correct should have been a red according to the LAWS.

 

there was another quite deliberate head shot to George North as well.

the guy sees North head is low and absolutely smashes in knowing he's going to get him.

imo we are seeing very clear evidence of a rebellion against the head protection rules now. refs are now simply looking for every way to excuse head contact.

it is very obvious that rugby as a game has a big issue as head contact and concussions are almost inevitable at some point but Steve Thompson shows exactly why that law suit is going to break the game.

if people don't get real here and punish these obvious exploitation of the rules and refs approach then there will be more and more head contact.

the French lad just turned the shoulder in, never attempted any arm wrap or contact and just let the player momentum drive the shoulder into head.

Barnes looked and looked for some means to make the chest first. it was so patently obvious his approach was to avoid the red as reds kill a game of rugby

north put his head low. he's had a long long history of concussions bit that's no excuse for a guy going full bore at him when he didn't need to. another form of tackle would have done the job.

how rugby stays a proper contact sport and protects the head I don't know. bit I do know going backwards will end up in massive law suits that will kill the game

 

I want to know how the video ref allowed the Lowe try for Ireland. Foot in touch before he grounded the ball, which was only shown by the tv after it had been awarded. I also know that the grounded ball touched the in goal sideline, which is in touch and not a try in rugby league, is it not the same for Rugby Union?

 

it was pretty clearly in touch and lifted up.

the two angles viewed were inconclusive but another crystal clear angle from the touchline view of the lino came.out after at its blatantly in touch in that.

the issue is the ref gave a try originally so there had to be clear evidence to over turn and they didn't have it until after.

after that the flag/bumper is "in play" so can be ignored.

the ball was down in the field of play and again the evidence had to be the ball touched any part of the white paint first before he put downward pressure.

in the videos the ball curve was not touching the white paint prior to clear downward pressure.

I think it was fair touchdown but foot in touch was clear from reverse angle.but very very suspicious from thr angles they 4th official had


it was just very very marginal to prove it was down from what he looked at.

 

England winning easily so far but crap spectacle.

 

Poor second half.

 

it was a poor but uncompetitive match.

every line out England could walk the length of park basically.

Italy were quite poor and indiscipline under pressure. they coughed up a lot that other aodes won't.

really could not judge this England performance based on the fact really the new coaching team shouldn't be able to get much more out of the team at this point (very little time to develop)

the England team have Wales next who are woefully, then France who might be under severe pressure and finally Ireland

England should beat Wales really. Wales are as bad as England in terms of prep but have a lot worse outlook

the problem is France play Scotland who are at this point well on the up so if France get beat at home the pressure will be massive to go to Twickenham and win.

this style game isn't going to beat Ireland but it's last game and honestly I expect the Irish to be beat to hell by that game as Scotland will rough them up. Ireland were held up 4 times on the French line and really didn't break the heavy line so I think England can make it tough there.

 

Wales are in a mess. The regional game isn't working and interest low. They sell out the national stadium but that's just a social event for most. The crowd's rugby knowledge is not up to much either.

Scotland will not find France easy in Paris but they do have momentum so could spring a surprise.

Ireland are very good at what they do and make very few mistakes. I'd make them favourites and a likely grand slam winner.

Wales wont win a game and are heading for a wooden spoon.

 

the Welsh "regional" teams killed natural rivalries really.

I don't think they've ever got close to a European cup, or at least not in last 10 years.

the problem is when you see old men like wynn Jones still ****housing and lying on the ball etc then there's something really wrong.

the thing is... just about every rule change recently has favoured the kicking game and that doesn't suit Wales imo. the 50-22 rule for example is made for Ireland.

anyway I think the Scots are on the up but all is needed is one head shot on finn Russell and its game over.

 

Ireland are the team to beat but I don't see us beating them.

 

Gatland is a Kiwi so will win by any means necessary. If he can find the players he can turn it around but I'm not sure he has the players or will be given the time.

Ireland are basically Leinster with a few additions who are unbeaten this season. If anyone beats them it will have to be a hell of a performance.

 

the thing is they already have 3 or 4 injuries.

hooker had a hamstring, replacement got a concussion in last game. they were miserable on line outs v France.

sexton hobbled off.

they are missing scrum half but Murray came.in and the midget that came.on was decent

second row went off injured.

I think a back row is out.

and furlong is out as well.l since before kick off.

if the rate of attrition becomes an issue (and if Scotland are in for grand slam match 4 they will kick 7 shades out of them) then just maybe the meat grinder game might hold them.

might.

gatland hasn't had the time to get it together.

the thing about Ireland is the regional teams actually work for them and at this point it seems they are dropping spare Leicester.men around the others or moving players up like the best player on the park in that game was Dorris.

by contrast Wales have no such elite regional team as they are all fairly crap.

Scotland have by contrast 2 Pro teams that play the Welsh and Irish.

there are 4 teams in Wales, for a population smaller than Ireland and Scotland by a couple million.

Scotland have significant football competition so 2 makes sense

Ireland has zero pro sport competition for players but has 3.5 Pro teams as it focused only on 3 and the other is left to its own devices

Wales having 4 is probably hubris on thier part and a further amalgamation would be best to drive a couple of strong competitive sided at league and European level???

 

watching scots v France to avoid the build up to the butchers v the rusty steels.

2 red cards so far.

scot sent off straight off for leading with shoulder to head in tackle.

ref has to be then convinced to send of French no 3 who dived across a ruck to head butt the scot scrum half. the clearest red of all.

pure home town ref call bit lino said hang on there. you'd never ever see that in football.

the Italians yesterday were half decent, England were god awful, Wales worse.

Scots losing 19-0 just about hands the trophy to Ireland.

 

Jake Paul Vs Tommy Fury

I'd like to see JP win this. The Fury family fallout afterwards would be very entertaining.

Plus, if there is small chance of JP being stupid enough to get in the ring with Carl Froch... I'd love to see Carl knock the **** out of him

 

It's been reported all over the net that a script of the fight has been doing the rounds.