Ireland v England - 19 August 2023

[Bada-Bing!]

A whole succession of ex RL coaches.

The main one being…. And no doubt having the biggest impact on how Owen plays the game.

Still as has been pointed out Owen's a big boy now and the point is he hasn't sought to change it enough.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The main one being…. And no doubt having the biggest impact on how Owen plays the game.

I reckon that'd be worth bringing up if Andy Farrell didn't coach one of the most disciplined sides in world rugby or coached Eoin Farrell in the last 8 years but he's not an involved party.

These boards are generally the exception, and I'm in no way having a go here, but there's so much misdirected abuse and criticism surrounding any high profile incident these days, it's tedious to be online for.

Critic's Farrell's tackling, criticise the citing board for the decision, and on a macro view criticise world rugby if you're not happy with the severity of punishments being handed out. Beyond that there's nothing to this incident.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I reckon that'd be worth bringing up if Andy Farrell didn't coach one of the most disciplined sides in world rugby or coached Eoin Farrell in the last 8 years but he's not an involved party.

He clearly got riled up by the journalist question. But don't you think he still has a responsibility to answer the question on his son't tackle technique? Saying it's become a circus seemed like deflection to me.

These boards are generally the exception, and I'm in no way having a go here, but there's so much misdirected abuse and criticism surrounding any high profile incident these days, it's tedious to be online for.

I've avoided too many of the usual outlets like X for the trolls etc who don't focus on the real issues of this case.

Critic's Farrell's tackling, criticise the citing board for the decision, and on a macro view criticise world rugby if you're not happy with the severity of punishments being handed out. Beyond that there's nothing to this incident.

Lawes coming out in the Times saying Farrell is not malicious and is a family man doesn't help matters. The issue is he shouldn't be able to get away with it. He has a duty to set an example if nothing else to the grassroots of the game.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

He clearly got riled up by the journalist question. But don't you think he still has a responsibility to answer the question on his son't tackle technique?

No

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

He clearly got riled up by the journalist question. But don't you think he still has a responsibility to answer the question on his son't tackle technique? Saying it's become a circus seemed like deflection to me.

He's riled up because media are going after his son, his first words were "[do my thoughts] really matter?" and "of course [we care about player safety]". He's so far removed from the incident and gave less of an opinion on Jones, and Edwards who think head shots should be allowed by the sound of it. It screams witch hunt to me.

And I don't think he has anything to do with his son's tackling at this stage, we don't have Zander Fagerson's or George Moala's dad up on pressers, nobody would be hunting down Mike if George Ford was tall enough to, and hit someone high later.

I've avoided too many of the usual outlets like X for the trolls etc who don't focus on the real issues of this case.

I can only envy you for that! Fair play. And just to reiterate, any frustration I'm showing here stems from twitter and the like, not here.

Lawes coming out in the Times saying Farrell is not malicious and is a family man doesn't help matters. The issue is he shouldn't be able to get away with it. He has a duty to set an example if nothing else to the grassroots of the game.

I agree to an extent, I'm pretty loud on these boards when it comes to preventing head injuries, but equally I don't think change should be player driven. Players need to do everything they can within the laws of the game to win matches, otherwise its not fun to watch. The player Farrell should be used as an example of how not to tackle, punish him, drive the point home that you can't enter a contact zone like this. In general I think you could have worse role models, he is totally committed and unwavering about how he does things and there's definitely a lot more good than bad in the guy imo.

For what it's worth, I've said he was stupid and he deserves 4 weeks off from the off but the legs this story has grown annoys me the same as Sexton's did.

 

[Reiser99]

For me the whole issue has blown up because of the citing panel. If Farrell had been banned for 4-6 weeks then the story would be dead already. However, because there is about to be a world cup and because he's the England captain people have leapt on that. The focus shouldn't be on Farrell, but the citing panel who made this decision.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

I do think that Ireland should have anticipated this and had a talk with Andy. A journalist was bound to try to get a quote by winding him up by bringing his son into things. Of course he's going to be biased and protective about his kid. Just knowing before hand that he needed to say "I don't comment on former players/teammates" would have gone a long way.

 

[Saintjay]

He clearly got riled up by the journalist question. But don't you think he still has a responsibility to answer the question on his son't tackle technique? Saying it's become a circus seemed like deflection to me.

I've avoided too many of the usual outlets like X for the trolls etc who don't focus on the real issues of this case.

Lawes coming out in the Times saying Farrell is not malicious and is a family man doesn't help matters. The issue is he shouldn't be able to get away with it. He has a duty to set an example if nothing else to the grassroots of the game.

That's one of the reasons bad character evidence is tricky. If you already have the firm believe they have done it it the past they must be guilty. Then it carries on any prejudice into a trial. That's normally why it's only considered at the end of a trial and when sentencing. Justice is not about the person, it's about evidence and fact. Some in my view wrongly have made it about the person.

If people want to say bad things about Farrell. Don't be surprised if some people actually say good things about him as well. That includes friends, family, team mates.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

He's riled up because media are going after his son, his first words were "[do my thoughts] really matter?" and "of course [we care about player safety]". He's so far removed from the incident and gave less of an opinion on Jones, and Edwards who think head shots should be allowed by the sound of it. It screams witch hunt to me.

And I don't think he has anything to do with his son's tackling at this stage, we don't have Zander Fagerson's or George Moala's dad up on pressers, nobody would be hunting down Mike if George Ford was tall enough to, and hit someone high later.

I think the point he should have drawn the line was when he said my opinion on this is probably biased anyway and so let's draw a line on this and next question.

 

[McTallshort]

First question from Sonja "let's talk about Owen" FFS

 

[Reiser99]

Andy Farrell would be the biggest troll ever if he keeps Earls on the bench.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Zebo on commentary is gonna be a struggle

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

"When you have penalty advantage and you just hit one out runners"

It's because they can't do anything else. As usual telegraphing the passes and allowing the Irish defence to close down all options before they even become options for us.

 

[Wasps92]

James Lowe is an annoying prick.

 

[big ginger 8]

20cm off being a 69m kick.

 

[Reiser99]

England still look like they can't communicate and have no idea in attack.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Lol

 

[Saintjay]

So easy finding a gap in Englands defence.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

England still look like they can't communicate and have no idea in attack.

Or defence, gaping gaps as usual.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Shocking from Stuart,
Hartley being too kind, prop should always be tighter rather than covering wide - especially when it's a forward running that line