The Wallabies are just simply an embarrassment.

Scotland

great game to open the 6 nations. No punish for going for the points at the end of the game though instead of kicking the ball 2 feet to the left for the 100% guaranteed win

Ireland were really poor. If they'd got a 4th try when they were piling on the pressure second half it was over. Shame, now have to win out. Possible but difficult.

Bump

English reaction to Italian tactics might be the most pathetic collective dummy spitting I have ever seen.

I just read the article on the BBC. How dare the whipping boys try something different?

Seems the Italians didn't really commit to the strategy. The ref clearly understood the law, so the Italians should have been making way more use of it. Can't they literally just run around the rucks and pick up the ball?

No, you have to stay at least a metre away from the 9/ball player.

Surprised it took England so long to realise the correct counter (to drive directly at the vacant space over the tackler. Also surprised that Italy didn't have a second level to their plan (having players 1-2m behind the tackler but not engaging, thus dissuading the 9 from a carry)

Does seem the strategy has a lot of counters. The defensive line turns into a mess, so any kinda player hitting it at speed has these massive holes to aim for. Also have tons of space behind for chips.

Not sure I totally understand the rule though. So no ruck is formed so the ball is live? So why can't they just go and pick up the ball if it's live? Can the person who was tackled just decide to stand back up pick up the ball and keep going? If it is tackle is made, but no ruck formed, can the ball just be left where it is forever because no rules for the #9 to move it?

I like the strat, its like the don't engage a maul for the free offside pens, but I feel like the rules should be if there is no ruck, the ball is live and the tackle isn't complete. A tackler holding a ball carrier down then constitutes a ruck being formed.

I'm surprised you're surprised. England have been playing international rugby for 146 years without the least sign of ever having had any rugby intelligence. In all that time they've had precisely two players with more than a glimmer of rugby instinct - Dai Duckham and Jerry Guscott.

Yes - I can't see why they didn't seal the straight down the middle route. However the BBC are reporting that their original plan was somewhat different, so maybe they didn't really have time to plan that through - though, again, you would have thought the players would have figured it out on the pitch.

I don't really see this. You just trade two/three guys rucking for two/three guys getting in the #9's passing lanes and a NFL-style hand-off receiving running back's line of motion.

I don't really see why the defensive line should be any weaker - except for possibly in a line directly downfield over the non-ruck itself or why there should be more space behind. The strategy doesn't deploy half the team in locations that would be offside if there had been a ruck. But maybe I'm missing your idea/point.

Not allowed - cannot be within a yard of the #9 - who assumably is themselves within a yard of the ball, so you can't touch the ball.

Yes as far ass I understand it. But as per Ashley's idea for a second level, the person tackled will have to stand back up, pick the ball up once stood up and get going again, so they should in theory struggle to have any momentum and are more likely to be pushed back over the gain line by one of the second level tacklers than the #9 or someone to whom he hands off would be.

This I can't figure out.

I guess that if there's no ruck formed the tackled player has to get up or move away from the ball. (15(b)) The law says "at once" - but in any case eventually. At that point I don't see that the #9 is protected - the ball is just lying on the floor and he may or may not have a hand on it. But I, f'sure, no expert.

Cool post

Seems the real counter to the strat is to just lame it out. 2 players go in to form a ruck, they get no counter ruck, so just pick up the ball and drive 2 metres. Rinse and repeat until try time

that seems the orthodox reply at this point.

@Ash - the media in the NH says this has been used 'frequently' in the super12. I haven't seen any of that so:

* is that right?

* what have been the follow on tactics for offense and defence?

K so at the 8ish minute mark of WALES vs Ireland, Ireland try this offside strat, only it is clearly a contested ruck, as soon as the scrum half passes it, the ref immediately blows the whistle for offside. At what point should this be a yellow card? Since at what point does it become intentionally cheating?

How much were England Ireland tickets going for again? lolololololol

Well, usually yellow cards are given for:
a) Foul play
b) Cynical play to prevent a try being scored; and
c) Persistent offending

So being deliberately offside at a ruck should only be a yellow card if it falls within b or c.


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I thought Scotland were supposed to be good now?

No, they are ok, but they ran hotter than the sun to beat Ireland, played bad vs France, then played good vs Wales. They aren't even close to England and had barely any chance of winning at Twickenham, would have needed to run hotter than they did vs Ireland

England too good.

And yes, we are okay but wouldn't say we are good.

Don't be silly

Sure that I saw a plug for your national team on scheissdsf last night, you might have some important world cup qualifier soon

I was at the Wales Ireland game. Fair play Wales deserved the win, they were clinical and defended like demons. But the scoreline doesn't tell the story. That match was all about Irish incompetence inside the 22 and at the line out. With a bit of nous that game is Ireland's and with the Scotland one being the same we honestly could easily be going in looking for the slam. England meanwhile have been good in one game and are looking to do the same. The difference is they were clinical at the vital moments. It's fine margins. I hear a lot of talk after this weekends games that England will destroy Ireland but i just don't see that as a realistic reflection based on what has happened this 6 nation's. I think we can definitely win it but converting at the line will be vital. Wales got to within 5 yards only 3 times in the game, Ireland 7. 3 tries to zero. If Henshaw isn't an idiot there decent chance Ireland win that game. Ah it's been such a frustrating 6 nation's. England win without getting out of second gear and we **** it up completely in 2 games we should have won.

Ye I agree, based on the form of Autumn and 6 Nations, I think England are the better team but it is close. Then I think there is a decent gap between those 2 and the 3rd best team which is probably Wales

Yeah incredibly frustrating game, but wales deserved it based on the fact (as you say) they converted their chances and we couldn't.

Would like to see O'Mahony come in for the England game, for Seanie as there's no way Heaslip gets dropped. Would also like to see us actually use Ringrose as something other than a battering ram. And Payne for Kearney 1 time would be great.

For Ireland the Championship is all but ....dead

Well if we stop a world record streak twice within 12 months and best England then i don't think it will be the worst 6 nation's of all time. Rather a what might have been moment.