Genuine Hibs Fan

The Steward incident has actually been interesting in the context of the "Scots complaining about referees all the time" thing. What you never (well, I can't remember it anyway) see is a procession of former Scottish internationals lining up to throw their toys out the pram when a decision goes against them. I don't think even in the wake of the 2015 QF did you see anything like the last few days. Apparently rugby is being "ruined" by the current tackle laws now that England have had a borderline case go against them. Of course, in reality rugby, and in particular international rugby, is a more exciting and high quality sport than it ever has been in the professional era; and there is next to no grounds to suggest that red cards ruin games. I think the orange card rule is an ok idea, but ultimately it's completely unnecessary.

I was giving you the benefit of the doubt but I've watched it again and you're at it if you believe "all the force" is from Keenan. This also, thank goodness, is not the NFL, so I'm not really interested how the sport with even worse head injury history than rugby manages things. "And I will put whatever I like in quotes thank you very much"

Sorry, in that case you're wrong. There is definitely force from steward there, hence why young Mr Keenan is now off having failed a HIA. There should be, and are, limits on how attackers play. For example, chuck a forearm in someone's throat or face and see what happens to you. However, when someone approaches you with the ball and you either attempt to, or do, stop them, it is absolutely the defender's responsibility to ensure the safety of their opponent. It's also why "well he was wriggling around" won't help you very much if you spear tackle someone onto their head; or (as we used to get pinged for all the time against Biggar) "well he's just chucking himself through the air and I'm standing still" doesn't mean you haven't endangered someone contesting a high ball. So sorry, the ball carrier dipping slightly is not mitigation unless the tackler is at least attempting to change his own body height.

There's pretty much nothing wrong with the rules imo, there's very rarely incidents where a genuine mistake is made, and a lot of bad faith "he threw his head at him!" Like the above. The best case for mitigation there is what, that Stewart thought he was going to kick/it's a "rugby incident" (an incredibly ill defined concept which always seems to just be used for special pleasing purposes)? So it's ok to try and charge down a kick by jumping shoulder first at someone's head?

Clive embarrassing himself a bit here, whether you like it or not that's a red every day of the week.

Dombrandt for that try

The entire Irish rugby media/social media reacted to Scottish people saying "we will really struggle to beat Ireland but we're really good" with thinly-veiled Kevin Keegan shit as if we were talking ourselves up. On the flip side, the couple of Irish rugby fans I'm pally with aren't like that at all and were a good laugh/magnanimous about last week, so I don't think it's representative of your "man in the street". To me it's mainly mental media stuff whereas ours often still acts as if we should be delighted to win more than the odd game

It's amazing how England can have such an advantage in pro teams and be left with awful options in some positions. Never going to stay fit but have to pick Manu when he is; big huddy Alex Dombrant at 8?!

Think they are different, if similar posters. Pretty sure Vincent lives in the UK whereas JTS was a sex tourist in Malaysia

Very good and well explained decision there by Jaco. Of course Darcy thinks the held up -> goal line drop is a poor change

Always a beamer to follow up something as good as soldier's song with "Ireland's call"

Yeah. I'm slightly delirious with the flu but I was thinking there he's the type of guy who Ireland and France maybe look at when they're 18/19 and go - that young FH/FB who's generally skillful, big, strong, very fast and hard to stop - well he's a back row now

That's my slightly contrarian thought on Kinghorn at the moment. he's not actually a great FB either, has some issues in that position as well. He's an excellent athlete and natural rugby player, but he's just not very rugby smart imo, so him starting anywhere you're going to see big issues in his game. I still think wing is where he's played his best rugby for Scotland, but FB over FH every time. If he was more coachable you'd even say 12 could be his best position.

Yeah has been doing my nut in all half. Not just the pictures, he's ahead of the ref's whistle as well

They're still old and in decline but this is starting to look like a very Warren Gatland Wales team