2013 British and Irish Lions

[ratsapprentice]

Bros, have you not seen his grotesquely distended cranium?

 

[Aedaphon]

Bros, have you not seen his grotesquely distended cranium?

Good point, well made.

I actually hadn't considered that before though, finals are stressful enough to throw off performance in a schools level game, let alone internationals.

 

[donmcdazzle]

. If something like that happened outside of a rugby match, the offender would be in court for assault.

Sorry for picking on you mate but I just love this comment people always use. Pretty much everything in a rugby match is assault if done on the street. Imagine tackling some random person on the footpath, or running into someone and bumping them off.. You'd be in huge trouble.

 

[Zed]

Will be interesting, considering Beale is playing standoff and O'Connor fullback lately.

Yeah JOC can play anywhere really and Beale played most of his rugby at 10, but with Cooper in the side, Beale will end up at 15.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Sorry for picking on you mate but I just love this comment people always use. Pretty much everything in a rugby match is assault if done on the street. Imagine tackling some random person on the footpath, or running into someone and bumping them off.. You'd be in huge trouble.

Gotta show my support for this, people have to understand context.

 

[McTallshort]

Sorry for picking on you mate but I just love this comment people always use. Pretty much everything in a rugby match is assault if done on the street. Imagine tackling some random person on the footpath, or running into someone and bumping them off.. You'd be in huge trouble.

Completely agree, if we want to go down the "if it was on the street" scenario we would all be playing tag rugby in a few years.

 

[Peat]

Completely agree, if we want to go down the "if it was on the street" scenario we would all be playing tag rugby in a few years.

Alternately, since we'd all be going to jail anyway, we'd all start using knives.

 

[McTallshort]

Alternately, since we'd all be going to jail anyway, we'd all start using knives.

No a gun is more effective on a fast winger

 

[Peat]

No a gun is more effective on a fast winger

Melchett: "Recommendation for the Harrow Governors: Heavy machine guns for
fullbacks." Bright idea, Blackadder. (speaks to Baldrick) Now then,
soldier, are you looking forward to giving those Frenchies a damn
good licking?

 

[lucky number 7]

I'm not bashing Croft, I'm just waiting for a mate.

You deserve reps.

When I'm on my laptop I'm going to shower you in dem greenz

 

[Big Ewis]

Don't forget we beat the Lions last time they were here

And as for the loss against France - don't read too much into it. End of a long season for the Wallabies, lots of injuries etc etc not making excuses, we lost fair & square, but deducing they are are lacking in calibre because of that loss is a tad naive! And don't forget it was only a couple of years ago we pumped the French at home by 50 points. - my point being some of the results from these 'friendlies' are meaningless in the big scheme of things.

Oh I've read into the November test just as I should...a weak scrum is a weak scrum for e.g., but besides the France match I like the Wallaby defense. I feel that with the lack of forward strength they've defended beyond their capability.
The 2013 Wallabies (minus Pocock even) are hardly the 2001 Wallabies...but I'm a bit confident in one point: the way the NH has played this tournament (6N), there is so much room for improvement for all 4 the Lion int'l sides. The only team that's shown any sort of attack is Ireland, and even they have had tremendous problems keeping the level of play consistent. Besides their obvious strengths and advantages over Australia, the Lions aren't exactly intimidating either this year....I feel like both sides will just be simply at a bit of a lower level, and I don't think it's going to be as epic a clash as it has been so far.
Hopefully the Lions have enough diversity that they can play some wide open rugby and not just be a ruck and scrum team and pile up penalties; just for our viewing pleasure I mean and satisfaction as rugby fans; but by the looks of it, Australia will really need to run and gun, find open spaces, go wide and fast - and if they execute well and hold the effort for 80min, like I've said we're low on attack in the NH these days and the Aussie defense I'm sure can hold the Lions to low try-scoring performances...but then....there is that scrum issue !!....:masturbanana::sex011:

But then, the Aussies' style takes so much creativity and improvisation, while the NH Lions style is just about effort and work. They don't have to be inventive at all. The Aussies have to create brilliant offense to win just one game, while the Lions have a comfortable plateau to operate on. The Lions WILL, by default, win most scrums, get penalties off the forwards' pressure in the rucks...etc...it seems like too much too easily for the Lions, and so much to generate for the Wallabies.
...and there are THREE tests !....

 

[lucky number 7]

Whether Cole did anything to provoke it or not doesn't change the intent Healy had to cause harm. That's what I have a problem with, players doing things like that with intent, regardless of whether they have been provoked. No player deserves to have their leg stamped on with such force, even if they have done something illegal (but non-dangerous). What Cole did was cynical, yes, but only in terms of the gameplay. Healy was cynical in a way that suggests he may have a lack of a calm temperament. I know from the past that Gatland really dislikes play that puts people in danger or is cynical. With Wales he has dropped players for doing similar things.

Other than the first weekend, I can't see that Healy has offered anything more than James as a prop. I also think it is ridiculous that players that commit such offences as Healy has can be back playing so soon after it occurred. How is it that a tip tackle by Warburton in the world cup that had no intent to cause harm and was just a bit foolish received such a longer ban than Healy's offence?

Sweet mother of **** you're being a twat here.

Healy stamped on his ankle yes , worst case scenario it's a broken ankle , dangerous play cynical and deserving of punishment nor arguments here.


Warburton picked up player flips him onto neck/ upper back - worst case scenario = death. Yes there was malice in the hit yes there was intent. You don't accidentally let go of the man and fire him head first into the ground after lifting the ball carrier.

Yeah it was a bit foolish...

 

[dullonien]

Sweet mother of **** you're being a twat here.

Healy stamped on his ankle yes , worst case scenario it's a broken ankle , dangerous play cynical and deserving of punishment nor arguments here.


Warburton picked up player flips him onto neck/ upper back - worst case scenario = death. Yes there was malice in the hit yes there was intent. You don't accidentally let go of the man and fire him head first into the ground after lifting the ball carrier.

Yeah it was a bit foolish...

Uh oh, LN7 has lost it.....

 

[j'nuh]

Sweet mother of **** you're being a twat here.

In case you haven't noticed, he's already commented on Bradley Davies' discipline. I'll do likewise with Calum Clark: his discipline is questionable for what he did on Hawkins last season. I'll even do it with a Gloucester player: Hazell has to be questionable too for striking a player repeatedly on the floor. You seem to be taking this personally, as if it's an attack against Ireland/Leinster, and not just someone questioning a player's discipline.

But this isn't cool to say.

Healy stamped on his ankle yes , worst case scenario it's a broken ankle , dangerous play cynical and deserving of punishment nor arguments here.


Warburton picked up player flips him onto neck/ upper back - worst case scenario = death. Yes there was malice in the hit yes there was intent. You don't accidentally let go of the man and fire him head first into the ground after lifting the ball carrier.

Yeah it was a bit foolish...

No way are the two comparable. Warburton's tip tackle could be described as reckless, but where the hell do you see the malice? It seemed clumsy without intention to me. Tackling is a part of the game, and sometimes it goes wrong, especially because "big hits" and driving a player backwards are things players want to achieve. Players who are overeager often become sloppy. However, acts like stamping or eye gouging are far more clear cut when it's done with intention, as seen in Healy's stamp.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

For those of you who havent played rugby, when you pick up a player in a heated situation it is very hard not to let their natural weight drive them head first into the ground.

What Wab's did was reckless BUT was more lack of care than a deliberate spear....where as Healy was annoyed and stamped on an ankle to cause pain.

Do either of them have disciple problems?.....No

Should they both be lions.....Yes

You want Disciple problems look at repeat offenders, i'll give you two, our very own Hartley and C Clarke. Both have repatedly got into trouble....thats very different from the two mentioned above.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

In case you haven't noticed, he's already commented on Bradley Davies' discipline. I'll do likewise with Calum Clark: his discipline is questionable for what he did on Hawkins last season. I'll even do it with a Gloucester player: Hazell has to be questionable too for striking a player repeatedly on the floor. You seem to be taking this personally, as if it's an attack against Ireland/Leinster, and not just someone questioning a player's discipline.

But this isn't cool to say.


No way are the two comparable. Warburton's tip tackle could be described as reckless, but where the hell do you see the malice? It seemed clumsy without intention to me. Tackling is a part of the game, and sometimes it goes wrong, especially because "big hits" and driving a player backwards are things players want to achieve. Players who are overeager often become sloppy. However, acts like stamping or eye gouging are far more clear cut when it's done with intention, as seen in Healy's stamp.

I don't buy that for a second. You don't tip a player past parallel to the ground and drop him on his shoulders/neck without intent to do so.

 

[j'nuh]

Players are instructed to tackle low and hit the player backwards away from the gainline. If you can lift a player, they have no control going forwards and it gives you a big opportunity to make the opposing team lose meters. When lifting a player, a tackle round the hips plus an attempt to drive backwards means that you need an arm around their middle to support them. The lower your tackle, the worse the tip. If you forget to adjust yourself when lifting then it can be easy to unintentionally tip tackle. It's careless, but I don't believe with the frequency it happens that there are that many cynics in the sport.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Players are instructed to tackle low and hit the player backwards away from the gainline. If you can lift a player, they have no control going forwards and it gives you a big opportunity to make the opposing team lose meters. When lifting a player, a tackle round the hips plus an attempt to drive backwards means that you need an arm around their middle to support them. The lower your tackle, the worse the tip. If you forget to adjust yourself when lifting then it can be easy to unintentionally tip tackle. It's careless, but I don't believe with the frequency it happens that there are that many cynics in the sport.

I agree with you here, for example in Ireland's U20 match vs France Fickou got a yellow card for what looked to me like a perfect tackle. However the difference with Warburton's tackle was that he planted his feet with no attempt to drive them, dropped one shoulder while lifting the one controlling Clerc and continued to actually drop Clerc into the ground. It was a moment of madness on Warburton's part and it was much the same as Healy just delivered a different way. I play rugby and even though I'd be the first to admit I'm not the biggest hitter but when I do catch someone and end up lifting them I'd always pump my legs until I lose balance and they'd usually hit the ground on their backside, I also get frustrated at times in a match and try to do something dirty, this is when I'd try to hurt a player in a tackle or give them a cheap shot, they're much the same thing.

 

[munstermuffin]

For what it worth Paul O'Connell played in A game today between Munster and Leinster and looked superb. He needs a bit more bulk but his leadership is superb

 

[Peat]

And Gatland was watching, apparently