The Current State of Rugby
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I think the other big problem we have in test rugby etc at least (apart from plethora of cards), is we almost never see 2 tests in a row with top teams on field, as it has moved to a game of attrition almost rather than skill, and the injury toll is bloody horrendus. Look at tests this week, Wallabies, English , Argentina, SA, ABs , Irish , none of them are going field preferred team probably. I think we all have a good idea what problem is, players getting subbed off etc and we now have bigger playerss in game etc, and I not sure there any thought of fixing it.
I hear 'experts' etc saying the worried the WC will be decided by cards etc, also will be decided by injuries , and ask is that what we want? -
I got caught out last night from the law book changes ans simplification. Ireland's first try had me wondering why it was allowed as the ball clearly hit the hoardings. The old law clause for quick throws used to say they weren't allowed if the ball touched anyone or anything over the touchline. That has been simplified to anyone other than the player that took the ball into touch and the one throwing it in.
Can't wait to see the outcry when a kick bounces off something into the arms of a player well away from the point of touch wo trows it in quickly for a try
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The Origin decider is a million miles more entertaining than any rugby game I have seen in years
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@mariner4life said in The Current State of Rugby:
The Origin decider is a million miles more entertaining than any rugby game I have seen in years.
Ardie agrees.
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@mariner4life said in The Current State of Rugby:
The Origin decider is a million miles more entertaining than any rugby game I have seen in years
Only 8 penalties for the whole match (4 each) and no endless use of the video ref even for the biff.
The viewing experience was greatly enhanced with those two things alone.
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I was thinking that this hyper extreme focus on safety is occurring at the top level where they have 100 cameras and 4 match officials, but the vast majority of games are taking place in parks where reserves from the respective teams are running the touch and the only camera is in a phone being held by a kid in a pram (modern day parenting but that's another story). The incidents causing all these cards at the top level probably happen repeatedly at every other level, but are obviously not picked up because it's logistically and technically impossible. So is the welfare or these players not being considered? Obviously there's a vast gulf in skill and speed, but these types of "card events" will still repeatedly occur and probably much more often. It's a pretty massive disconnect IMHO.
Ultimately, and as I've said a million times, rugby is a brutal and dangerous sport. Obviously you don't want it to be a murderous free for all, but there are limits to how much you can sanitise a game like this. Sometimes you wonder if those instituting the rules every played the game or that they believe everything occurs in slo motion.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel we had one of our boys "Blue carded" on the weekend, the physio ran him through all the tests and signed him off before our game had even ended....but he still needs to go see a proper doc, who recommended an MRI etc...so hes out for at least a week and possible 2 even if nothing is wrong....obviously more if there is
I couldn't argue with the precautions...and i guess the real difference is if the doc tells him its serious and he shouldn't play again....then he'll coach...or manage like i had too last year....a lot seems to be keeping these guys playing....because its their job
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@reprobate said in The Current State of Rugby:
@gibbon-rib said in The Current State of Rugby:
@MiketheSnow said in The Current State of Rugby:
I'm a big fan of bringing back substitutions for injuries only
Define injury
You don't have to define it, you just have to limit the number of subs allowed. full size bench, but only 3 subs allowed for the game, nominally for injury. Then you can't rort the system that much.
I have to say having been a reserve in rep rugby as a teenager where you only came on for injury were some of the worst moments of my rugby playing days. I was stoked to have made the rep team, trained etc. But I was not good enough to make the starting side. We travelled playing other rep sides and I got maybe 5-10 minutes total in all the games. The other 4+ hours or so was standing in the cold on the sideline with all my gear on doing nothing.
Being a reserve is tough and I can't help but feel for players under this system getting very little game time at all.
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@Kiwiwomble said in The Current State of Rugby:
@Rancid-Schnitzel we had one of our boys "Blue carded" on the weekend, the physio ran him through all the tests and signed him off before our game had even ended....but he still needs to go see a proper doc, who recommended an MRI etc...so hes out for at least a week and possible 2 even if nothing is wrong....obviously more if there is
I couldn't argue with the precautions...and i guess the real difference is if the doc tells him its serious and he shouldn't play again....then he'll coach...or manage like i had too last year....a lot seems to be keeping these guys playing....because its their job
I don't have a problem with those protocols. That's rugby unfortunately.
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@Kiwiwomble said in The Current State of Rugby:
@Rancid-Schnitzel we had one of our boys "Blue carded" on the weekend, the physio ran him through all the tests and signed him off before our game had even ended....but he still needs to go see a proper doc, who recommended an MRI etc...so hes out for at least a week and possible 2 even if nothing is wrong....obviously more if there is
Jeez we're told that nobody sideline can sign a player off as fit to return - not even run an assessment (tho our club is desperately short of neurologists).
Blue Card = mandatory stand down for at least the 11-day period after the incident.
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I'll also add I caught a bit of a Newcastle Knights game the other week and Ponga took a blow to the head and went off for further assessment.
I respect that NRL is a bloody tough slog for players. And I look at guys like Ponga - 24, in his prime, playing against some big lads, with some heavy hitting - and wonder what he'll look like at 44. Or 54.
While Rugby seems to have gone waaaaaay too far on the way it runs player safety frameworks, IMHO the NRL isn't doing enough to protect itself against future lawsuits.
On a related point, which I've made before: World Rugby has a two-speed system where 1) refs are forced to crack down on head contact on the field, but then 2) various Judiciaries don't do their job after the game in handing down sanctions that might contribute to behavioural change. They give discounts for being a top bloke, or "remorse", or a clean record.
Quite frankly, none of that shit should matter when it comes to sentencing high contact, intent or no.
A certain Irish lawyer who used to frequent these parts says that is largely due to ex-players now being on panels. Perhaps that is a good point but I tend to think the Judiciary has been doing this since forever.
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@NTA said in The Current State of Rugby:
@Kiwiwomble said in The Current State of Rugby:
@Rancid-Schnitzel we had one of our boys "Blue carded" on the weekend, the physio ran him through all the tests and signed him off before our game had even ended....but he still needs to go see a proper doc, who recommended an MRI etc...so hes out for at least a week and possible 2 even if nothing is wrong....obviously more if there is
Jeez we're told that nobody sideline can sign a player off as fit to return. Blue Card = mandatory stand down for at least the 11-day period after the incident.
when i say "signed off", i mean completed a series of checks to work out if its a "go see your GP on monday" or "call an ambulance", as i say, blue card meant he needed to be properly cleared by a doc, its a 7 day minimum in Vic but depending on how quick he gets the all clear it could be more
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@NTA said in The Current State of Rugby:
While Rugby seems to have gone waaaaaay too far on the way it runs player safety frameworks, IMHO the NRL isn't doing enough to protect itself against future lawsuits.
One is a regional sport that only really has to deal with one set of politicians and one legal system. League can always be more permissive.
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@Duluth said in The Current State of Rugby:
@NTA said in The Current State of Rugby:
While Rugby seems to have gone waaaaaay too far on the way it runs player safety frameworks, IMHO the NRL isn't doing enough to protect itself against future lawsuits.
One is a regional sport that only really has to deal with one set of politicians and one legal system. League can always be more permissive.
Good point, however as a smaller sport globally, the NRL doesn't have an endless pot of cash to fight the lawsuits that may emerge.
Maybe it is proportional, I don't know. Maybe there are a few clauses in each contract to take care of it.
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@gibbon-rib said in The Current State of Rugby:
but it seems 9/Stan have decided to plough the same furrow.
I genuinely like the Stan coverage of rugby, much better than the turd that was Fox/Kayo (and a much better quality app/stream too), but I don't watch much of the build ups etc. But I don't mind listening to a bit Mehrts and Cheika at half time.
Missed most of the early discussion but I assume the stupid maul laws have been discussed.
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@Nepia said in The Current State of Rugby:
Missed most of the early discussion but I assume the stupid maul laws have been discussed.
God it is badly officiated. They'll spend 10 replays looking for a bit of foul play in the same maul that clearly shows a player is detatched or it was obstruction.
I'll be refereeing XVs for the first time in ages and, besides numbers at lineout (which I hate and think should be tossed from the book), my biggest bugbear is mauls.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in The Current State of Rugby:
Ultimately, and as I've said a million times, rugby is a brutal and dangerous sport. Obviously you don't want it to be a murderous free for all, but there are limits to how much you can sanitise a game like this. Sometimes you wonder if those instituting the rules every played the game or that they believe everything occurs in slo motion.
This might be an issue . Maybe rugby has become too sanitised. Rugby players are often shown as nice or good guys. And look out if any player isn't off the field (Reece). But now also on it.
Hating the dirty thugs in the opposing team might be good for crowd size. And overall interest.
