RugbyRebels

Digby wrote: And we've seen the odd round in the 6N when teams need lots of points to contest the title and then what do you know they suddenly remember how to try and play.

Digby wrote:

Sourdust wrote:

Digby wrote: If you're kicking away ball not wanting to get caught in possession, and really only play off a set piece when you've got the territory you want, and perhaps even then only play with a penalty advantage that's not my idea of being creative. I'd perhaps term that clinical, but that doesn't come with the ring of creativity

If we want to see backs moves without penalty advantage secured, then we have to stop penalizing attack. I'm not at all sure how. Make not releasing / sealing off etc. free-kick offenses in the opponent's half?

As ever I'd like them to enforce the laws as they are, you can only play at the ruck if you're bound/legal at the ruck, and actually enforce offside. Give the players no leeway whatsoever and see what happens.

Though even now it is possible to play if you're accurate. Japan were great fun to watch at the last couple of WCs even if that too is highly scripted in advance, and Australia and NZ will still play, one of those with rather more success than the other but they'll both still play. And we've seen the odd round in the 6N when teams need lots of points to contest the title and then what do you know they suddenly remember how to try and play.

Son of Mathonwy wrote: I'd like to see players punished for holding onto the ball, or walking off with it after the ref's blown up or it's gone into touch, and they know damn well it's the other team's ball. Just move them back 10 metres whenever it happens, no questions, and this widespread habit will end. When teams get the ball quickly from a penalty or free kick or touch, the game will speed up and defences will have less time to organise.

Which Tyler wrote:

Son of Mathonwy wrote: I'd like to see players punished for holding onto the ball, or walking off with it after the ref's blown up or it's gone into touch, and they know damn well it's the other team's ball. Just move them back 10 metres whenever it happens, no questions, and this widespread habit will end. When teams get the ball quickly from a penalty or free kick or touch, the game will speed up and defences will have less time to organise.

Hear hear.
It's almost like the refrain of "enforce the laws as they exist" has some merit

Sourdust wrote:

Digby wrote: And we've seen the odd round in the 6N when teams need lots of points to contest the title and then what do you know they suddenly remember how to try and play.

No problem when it's the last game, and just winning it isn't enough.

Otherwise, the "high risk / high reward" equation is just too front-heavy.

With the way refs are right now, it's not even any fun to watch "positive" attacking rugby, when your heart is in your mouth at every breakdown. And so eventually we'll tweak the interpretations back 10% the other way, and suddenly no-one will be able to get the ball off Ireland again. Rinse and repeat.

Sourdust wrote:Anyway, back to today...

I feel much calmer when I think I know how it's going to go. But I really don't. I think it's safe to say that we won't smash them, but other than that I think all possibilities are on the table... including a 6-6 draw. Like nearly everyone else I'm going for a narrow English win, because like everyone else I don't really have a clue. All I know is that by 7pm, it will always have been obvious what was going to happen, and we will all look stupid to have dared to dream / been worried at all.

normanski wrote:Need to stop Itoje pouring through.