International Rugby

[peter w]

This is a good take on it.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/dec/05/the-breakdown-rugby-union-forward-pass

[paul_e]

I agree it was a very tight call, my point is that (at least when I did it in about 2001) it should be judged on a balance of probabilities.  If someone is running straight and their arms travel across their body correctly then the ball will have left the hand backwards, if their hands come out in front then it's probably forward from the hand.  They're the simple ones that the commentators talk about, (and that Peter's article covers) but they get more complicated.

Think of a little popped pass out of the tackle for someone to run round the corner on to, there is virtually no hand movement in that so you don't have that cue (they're the ones that the SH sides get away with more than any other) and they can be really tough to call.  When the ball is out of the back of the hand the the players body shape before throwing the pass makes it difficult to tell you move on to the reaction and position of the receiver and this is where, as I said, Williams made it very easy for the ref.

If Williams was 2 metres deeper and at full pace he takes the ball clean in the box and it probably doesn't get flagged but he'd over run it so he slowed and started again and because of that he had to reach for the pass.  By slowing he showed that he knew he wasn't in position to take a pass and then on top of that when the pass did come it was too far in front of him which again suggests it's forward.

As I say, it's one that I can totally understand why it was given as it was.

[nigel]

Looks like Manu Tuilagi and Denny Solomana have f**ked up their chances for Autumn Internationals.

[Jon Crofts]

Cultural issues i.e. Tuilagi is a known beer monster and Solomana has been led astray by the sound of it.

[UK Redsox]

England's women through to the World Cup Final. France ran them closer than I expected. It took a great try-saving tackle by Meg Jones to stifle a French comeback.

The late try made the scoreline more flattering than England deserved.

In the earlier semi, the USA stayed with NZ for around an hour but then got blown away

[JD]

England's women through to the World Cup Final. France ran then closer than I expected. I took a great try-saving tackle by Meg Jones to stiffle a French comeback.

The late try made the scoreline more flattering than England deserved.

In the earlier semi, the USA stayed with NZ for around an hour but then got blown away

I reckon it will be one hell of a final. England's great defence against NZ's brilliant attack. Big news here in NZ and they are very determined to win. 

[JD]

The All Blacks are giving SA an absolute hammering. Currently 50-0. Some of the tries have been breathtaking.

[UK Redsox]

......and there's another try to finish things off

[UK Redsox]

57-0...... that was a stuffing

[nigel]

Not taking anything from NZ, but South Africa  are no longer the force they were.

[paul_e]

Not taking anything from NZ, but South Africa  are no longer the force they were.

They have a lot of problems, the biggest being that a lot of their best players are moving to Europe very early and then being overlooked in selection or used sparingly.

[nigel]

Not taking anything from NZ, but South Africa  are no longer the force they were.

They have a lot of problems, the biggest being that a lot of their best players are moving to Europe very early and then being overlooked in selection or used sparingly.

Agree, mate.
Rugby needs a strong South Africa, and Australia.

[taylorsworkrate]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/sep/20/lions-all-blacks-2017-tour-warren-gatland-sean-obrien-should-have-won

I'm not Gatlands biggest fan, and Sean O'Brien was there and I wasn't, but I do find these comments peculiar and disrespectful.

[PaulWinch again]

Blimey Sinckler and JJ left out of England training squad.

[paul_e]

Blimey Sinckler and JJ left out of England training squad.

and 5/6 (depending on where you stand on Slade) fly halves in the squad, which seems excessive.