Domestic and European Rugby Union

[paul_e]

It was across 6 bans:
2 weeks for swinging a punch (in retaliation for being punched, other guy got 1 week).
3 weeks for an elbow (which was fair).
4 weeks for a headbutt (which made the Dublin one on Savage look aggressive).
then you get the big ones:
8 weeks for biting Sean o'Brian's Stephen Ferris' finger because he'd grabbed him by the mouth to pull him out of a ruck (o'Brian was a different ban for 6 weeks that I forgot about).
11 weeks for saying fucking cheat whilst looking at Tom Youngs but in hearing range of Wayne Barnes who decided it was aimed at him.
26 weeks for a eye-gouge, which was perfectly fair.

For me the 11 weeks was bullshit, without having any certainty of who it was aimed at (and Hartley admitting it was said to Youngs because of something he'd done in the scrum just before it happened) giving a ban which forced him out of the lions tour was completely unnecessary and then the 8 weeks was far too long given the circumstances so I reckon 15-16 of those weeks were entirely on reputation rather than punishing the 'crime'.


Really I just hope that's not what the press decide to focus on when talking about his retirement, he's doesn't deserve that.

[Jon Crofts]

Ah the dark arts of the front row.

[Dante Lavelli]

I think he is one of those players that you want on your team but otherwise you’d hate him.  Jones alluded to the fact that he was not the best English hooker but he was needed in the team because of his leadership qualities (Farrell appears to be a similar character).

Pretty sure that all people inside the game would say the same

Full disclosure: I’m a saints fan.

[UK Redsox]

Saracens are not going to contest the penalties

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50457698

[paul_e]

Saracens are not going to contest the penalties

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50457698

I have a suspicion that someone has pointed out that they're bang to rights after years or warnings and the specific rule allows for a much harsher penalty than they got (including automatic relegation and having titles stripped). They'll stay up with this so just take a season where their only aim is to push for the top 6 and come back stronger next year. Appealing would've been very stupid and unnecessarily risky.

[Jon Crofts]

Could have a huge impact on 6N with Sarries players opting to stick with club rugby to ensure Premiership status over England & 6N.

[paul_e]

Could have a huge impact on 6N with Sarries players opting to stick with club rugby to ensure Premiership status over England & 6N.

There used to be a rule where teams could be punished if their players didn't report for England without good reason (i.e. injury or international retirement). I don't know if it still exists and I don't know England would enforce it even it does in this case but I'd personally consider those players unavailable for selection for longer than just the 6N if they went down this route. The key now is to build towards the next world cup anyway so spreading a few caps around wouldn't be a bad thing, even if we lose a few more games.

[paul_e]

Sale v La Rochelle has just seen one of the most stupid red cards ever so La Rochelle are currently down to 13.

[paul_e]

And here is the red card from earlier - https://www.rugbydump.com/news/watch-red-card-for-crazy-eye-gouge-on-england-star-in-champions-cup?fbclid=IwAR2_5uJJGRoAu0v33EBVVO8PeNUKudrrqEocDsOY50AS-9dq6YSZPly07ek

Moving on, the Gloucester game has been great so far, 2 very good sides smashing the shit out of each other.

[paul_e]

I posted too soon, literally seconds later Montpellier decided to out do La Rochelle in the self-destruction stakes and had a lock given a red for a series of elbows to the face in a maul, most of them were fairly tame and would've been overlooked so on about the 4th attempt he made sure of the red card. Truly pathetic.

[paul_e]

Forget to mention this on Saturday, this is pure filth from Finn Russell -

[UK Redsox]

Last weekend....... Lydney 71, Crediton 9

It's been a long time since we gave anyone a hammering like that

[Dante Lavelli]

Saints are playing some great rugby against Leicester.  It’s slightly odd seeing seasoned England internationals being taught a lesson by a load of Saints players that have recently graduated from their development side.

[paul_e]

Saints are playing some great rugby against Leicester.  It’s slightly odd seeing seasoned England internationals being taught a lesson by a load of Saints players that have recently graduated from their development side.

Missed this one because I was at warriors vs sale (which was decided by a red card). I've heard Saints were very good today though.

[Risso]

Off to the Saints game today, will report back from the egg ball later.