The Rugby Thread

[Cormack74]

Fair play to O'Shea or Ventner or whoever for coming up with that as a tactic. Apparently it's been done before but I've never seen it and I'm not really a fan because it just makes the game messy.

Actually Buzzo, in the days when Scotland were struggling they used to come up with a load of inventive stuff and I'm a bit surprised they never thought of it.

Anyway although it worked for a period I think Italy became reliant on it and when England started to work out what they had to do to counteract it Italy didn't really have a plan B, whereas the plan B should surely have been give the ball to Campagnaro and get on his shoulder. His form has been superb in club rugby and I don't get why it's taken them so long to give him a start this year.

I'd obviously like to have seen England score more points but it's good for the tournament that even if (and it's by no means a certainty) they beat Scotland, they won't be going up against Ireland in the last game with a massive points difference, so if Ireland beat Wales there will still be everything to play for.

[Buzzo]

I didn't see the game other than the last ten mins or so when England scored three tries.

What tactics were the Italians using? It seems a harsh scoreline on them in the end, Englands power in the last 20 mins pretty much dod for them.

Couple of huge matches next, Scotland going for an improbable Triple Crown, with the Welsh out to restore pride against the Irish, and then the final weekend.

Lots of possible scenarios, which is great for the tournament.

[ChesterDave]

I was in work so missed most but the commentary on the bits I heard said they were avoiding forming a ruck in the tackle so the men were not offside when they were further forward than the ball.

[Cormack74]

I didn't see the game other than the last ten mins or so when England scored three tries.

What tactics were the Italians using? It seems a harsh scoreline on them in the end, Englands power in the last 20 mins pretty much dod for them.

Couple of huge matches next, Scotland going for an improbable Triple Crown, with the Welsh out to restore pride against the Irish, and then the final weekend.

Lots of possible scenarios, which is great for the tournament.

Dave's given a good summary. No one came to support the Italian tackler so whilst England were getting men over the ball thinking that a ruck was formed it hadn't and the Italians were coming round to England's side legally. It prevented Care passing to the backs and made everything messy.

Maybe England should have dealt with it better / earlier but it was so unexpected it took everyone a while to adjust.

[Buzzo]

Just watched the highlights.

Bizarre game. England's defending on both Italian try's was diabolical.

[Buzzo]

Haskell and Hartley asking the ref for what the law is on forming a ruck.

Eddie Jones being a complete dick about it really.

[RichC]

I've never seen anything like it tbf essentially standing in offside positions preventing the ball being passed but by the letter of the law as it stands its legal.

Disrupted the game massively as a spectacle but fair play to Italy for trying something to try and give themselves a chance.

[Buzzo]

It wasn't pretty, but what are Italy supposed to do? Turn up and get absolutely slaughtered?

They are under huge pressure so fair play to them for trying to mix it up a bit.

It took England too long to figure it out, basically they needed to pick and drive rather than look for the pass.

After all that though... Italy still got humped

[Buzzo]

I suspect World Rugby will change the law after that.

[RichC]

Oh I don't blame Italy the loophole is there and they exploited it well, fancy it would catch a fair few teams out the first time of it happening.

I'd expect the rules to be looked at after this though

[Buzzo]

Oh I don't blame Italy the loophole is there and they exploited it well, fancy it would catch a fair few teams out the first time of it happening.

I'd expect the rules to be looked at after this though

I was more musing out loud than responding to your post which I agreed with.
I agree, a valiant attempt by the Italians. A cheeky one, but not one we are likely to see again.

Haskell and Hartley though. ****ing hell, properly rattled for a while, they'll get ripped for years on that clip.



'I am a referee, not a coach'.

[Buzzo]

In case anyone missed it:



[ame="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FU1irXn8YaM"]Romain Poite: "I'm the referee not the coach" | RBS 6 Nations - YouTube[/ame]

[Mark3]

Oh I don't blame Italy the loophole is there and they exploited it well, fancy it would catch a fair few teams out the first time of it happening.

I'd expect the rules to be looked at after this though

No need to change the law.

This can be countered by a pick and go through the middle of the tackle area and looking to offload in the tackle rather than going to ground - both of which England did in the second half after Italy pulled the score back to 17-15.

[Buzzo]

Scotland up to 5th in World Rankings

[RichC]

Only a Scot would celebrate this