[November Tests 2016 EOYT] England vs. Argentina (26/11/2016)

[TRF_Olyy]

McCall said, pre-Sale game, that Kruis will be playing next weekend and hinted that it would be for England.

Launch being cited is a joke. One of the cleanest players of the game with an exemplary record. Never in a million years would he endanger another player.

The clip pretty clearly shows contact, though, and WR specifically mentioned a few days ago that they're coming down hard on contact with the head/neck.
Wouldn't be surprised if he's cleared, but not surprised at all that he's been cited (and I think he should, regardless of how nice he is).

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Cited and punished for 2 weeks. Could have been 4 but a guilty plea, clean record and good conduct in the hearing got it reduced. Hate to lose yet another player for our next 2 games but looking at the clip, I can't really argue. It's a nice change from previous English players who have received much harsher punishments than were merited (13 weeks for the Ashton "gouge" anyone?)

 

[Every Time Ref]

Barely less premature than it was 2 weeks ago

I almost want us to lose one so this doesn't become a thing

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I almost want us to lose one so this doesn't become a thing

Not nearly arrogant enough for an England fan....who are you?

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Cited and punished for 2 weeks. Could have been 4 but a guilty plea, clean record and good conduct in the hearing got it reduced. Hate to lose yet another player for our next 2 games but looking at the clip, I can't really argue. It's a nice change from previous English players who have received much harsher punishments than were merited (13 weeks for the Ashton "gouge" anyone?)

Well there's that. On the other hand, he's our best available lock in the current injury crisis and he's been neatly banned for the remaining internationals this year, for what is almost certainly completely accidental.

It's hard to be totally sanguine.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Well there's that. On the other hand, he's our best available lock in the current injury crisis and he's been neatly banned for the remaining internationals this year, for what is almost certainly completely accidental.

It's hard to be totally sanguine.

I'm annoyed don't get me wrong and I don't think there was any malice but I don't fundamentally think it was wrong to cite him or that the 2 weeks was anything other than a fair response. It is simply unfortunate we only had 2 weeks left of the internationals. What will make me angry is if none of the New Zealand players get punished but Launchbury does, that will really make a mockery of the system.

 

[Which Tyler]

I'm annoyed don't get me wrong and I don't think there was any malice but I don't fundamentally think it was wrong to cite him or that the 2 weeks was anything other than a fair response. It is simply unfortunate we only had 2 weeks left of the internationals. What will make me angry is if none of the New Zealand players get punished but Launchbury does, that will really make a mockery of the system.

Yup. This is the very thing that the IRB are cracking down on this year. he made contact with his foot, on someone's head. You can call it accidental, reckless, or even deliberate; it is currently wanted out of the game, and there have been a few bans for exactly the same thing in domestic rugby this year.
The high shots by the kiwis hae been wanted out for a while, and also deserve bans - albeit not severe ones. If your first point of contact is your shoulder against a player's head, then it's a high tackle, however much you wrap the arms afterwards, and however low those arms go.

 

[The Jones Boy]

I'm annoyed don't get me wrong and I don't think there was any malice but I don't fundamentally think it was wrong to cite him or that the 2 weeks was anything other than a fair response. It is simply unfortunate we only had 2 weeks left of the internationals. What will make me angry is if none of the New Zealand players get punished but Launchbury does, that will really make a mockery of the system.

I wouldn't stress about that Rage, I can see Cane getting 2 weeks and Fekitoa getting at least 4-6.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Not nearly arrogant enough for an England fan....who are you?

Losing doesn't matter when you're truly arrogant. Pity those poor foolish nations who tie their self-esteem up in winning streaks, whatever the result I will always know I am superior for I Am English.

 

[spartan32]

Saw an article yesterday that suggested that there should be no contact above the chest and that "big hits" should be taken out of the game altogether. Now I'm all for player safety but if you make the game too safe it loses the essence of what it's about and starts taking the football approach to contact with players throwing themselves left right and centre.

I understand the current laws and regs around contact with the head but quite frankly they're daft. It should just be about what was done, but the intent behind it and the result. If launch had swung out with the boot and knocked someone out, or cut them badly etc fair enough. But if you just catch a player with no real result then I don't agree that player should be cited. The NZ players are a different matter. Hitting up as high as they dare, leading with the shoulder with the clear intent of doing max damage. If they get it wrong they deserve a ban, and if it continues bans should be incrementally lengthened.

However even without Launch I still think we can take this series home. Our backline are looking better then ever and some of the be boys in the pack are making a real impression. Sinklair, George, Hughes's with the old guard of Cole Hartley Vunipolas on good form also.

 

[Which Tyler]

It wasn't written by Allyson Pollock was it?
Either way, it's a silly suggestion. I'm all in favour of bringing it down to armpit level, to try to provide a buffer against legal tackles that deflect up; and allow a margin for error before getting actually dangerous; but waist is arguably more dangerous - just for the tackler instead of the tackled.

ETA: Oops - you siad Chest, not Waist (though I've also seen that suggested) - in which case it's no difference at all from the existing shoulder level.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Isn't there talk of having no contact above the waist at youth rugby level.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Isn't there talk of having no contact above the waist at youth rugby level.

And then suddenly at 18 years old you get a load of overexcited kids who have recently had a growth spurt (combined with the aggression of a teenage boy with something to prove) are let loose on the upper body with no understanding of the correct technique. That sounds like a ****ing terrible idea to me.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Nico Sanchez can play (he had been cited). To be completely honest, i have no idea what these guys are looking at. I was 100% sure he'd be banned for this Saturday's game. The images show he punches a guy on the floor (in retaliation, true).

 

[petite]

Nico Sanchez can play (he had been cited). To be completely honest, i have no idea what these guys are looking at. I was 100% sure he'd be banned for this Saturday's game. The images show he punches a guy on the floor (in retaliation, true).

yes it`s strange but if you look at it closely you´ll se that he`s punching something but cant actually see what until the scott stands up. then the punching is over. there must be some more footage available for the comission. maybe the scott player was grabbing him and nico was punching the arms to get rid of him.

 

[jomjom]

Cant see anything but an easy English win.

 

[Jakedood]

Cant see anything but an easy English win.

I'm not so sure here... Maybe that's because my old PE teacher used to have a bit of a fear of the argentines (it was Willie Anderson, the guy who took a leak on the embassy Argentine flag, and walked up to the haka, so maybe Argentinian prison scared him a bit) but even then, Argies have never been ones to back away from a fight, and that pack of theirs, if fired up, could cause serious damage to an English scrum that has shown signs of frailty vs both Fiji and South Africa (Fiji is the worrying one). If its goes to a set piece style game, we could come under trouble, so have to keep handling errors low. If the weather is good, the Argentine backs could be sublime or Shiite, we dont know really, but if it's the former, England had better be sharp.

Still think England will win, but an Argentine win is not beyond the realms of possibility at all

 

[Bruno_ARG]

yes it`s strange but if you look at it closely you´ll se that he`s punching something but cant actually see what until the scott stands up. then the punching is over. there must be some more footage available for the comission. maybe the scott player was grabbing him and nico was punching the arms to get rid of him.

It's always the same with Sanchez. I mean, both Hourcaude and Perez already proved that they are not up to the task of coaching Pumas and Jaguares. But at least they could teach the team some discipline.

 

[FNS]

Cant see anything but an easy English win.

Probably yet England will have to play B+/A- at least the 80 mins.

 

[McTallshort]

Isn't there talk of having no contact above the waist at youth rugby level.

To be honest at youth level I was always taught to tackle the legs anyway. Far more effective at bringing someone down.