Rugby - Who? Me, Sir? Offside?

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Originally posted by Bearcat
Rugby: The Ball's Out!

That has to be a strong contender!

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On a lighter note, I notice that the Brumbies have indeed signed former Boks U21 skipper and centre Clyde Rathbone. I hope he has some more strings to his bow because the Brumbies could be said to be already quite well off for centres with Stirling Mortlock, Pat Howard, Jimmy Holbeck and a very talented youngster in Joel Wilson.

BTW, Havak, I watched Pat Howard in the local club grand final on the weekend. His team went down narrowly but he gave them a huge chance with a great solo try with about 5 minutes to go. He did well through the entire final series, and while club footy's a whole lot different to S12, the creativity and class he showed augers well for him. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised to see him return to your part of the world. It would take an awful lot of good luck - for him - and very bad luck - for others - to see him in Wallaby kit.

[LDiCesare]

But I have it on good authority that you've never been offside in your life, LDiCesares.

Of course, but the referees sometimes make bad decisions, you know. By the way, it is funny to see referees decisions termed as arbitrary. In French, a referee is called un arbitre. I think it says it all.

The bottom line is that the breakdown - by its very nature - has always been the most contentious part of the game and probably always will be. The bothersome thing here is that there are certain refs whom you know are more likely to err in things like "holding on".

I agree, and I can't see any way out. Making rulings in an area so prone to mischief is too hard, so common sense and referee interpretation has to be relied upon. Unless refs can be telepath and read the thoughts of the players to know whether they tried to move away but couldn't or pretended they couldn't or thought they could hold on just a bit more, we will always have to adjust the play to the refs we are given.

[Havak]

I liked Tamerlin's "Commonwealth Wars" one better.

It was a class suggestion but it doesn’t reflect the dynamic properly. It would need to be “Commonwealth Wars: Aussies versus all the rest”?

Havak, scrapping this rule will have an advantage for the Tigers, Franck Tournaire will cost your team less points.

Well that is one upside to it I guess.

'Tis a pity one can't legislate for common sense in refs.

Quite right. I recognised Mr McHugh from your description of ‘some refs’ by the way.

Your point that these things boil down to the officials judgment is well made. As long as there is a human factor involved no referee will ever get it quite right. And I don’t any ref will ever please both sides.
I hope Caligastia is noting all these titles as there’s enough for a hundred years worth of threads now
Based on his own law discussion how about Rugby – coming in from the side

I noticed the Rathbone decision but decided not to mention it. Now you have though
This seems different to the Vickerman case, at least he moved to Aus as a youngster. Rathbone captained the Bok U-21 this season. He IS South African. He is likely to represent Australia at senior level. It’s not right whatever rationale you roll out for it.

Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised to see him return to your part of the world. It would take an awful lot of good luck - for him - and very bad luck - for others - to see him in Wallaby kit.

We would have him back anytime. He was a great crowd favourite here and, with all respect to Kafer he isn’t in the same class.

That lad I thought was leveraging his contract just signed a new five year deal with his L***** club by the way.

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Originally posted by LDiCesare

Of course, but the referees sometimes make bad decisions, you know.

Frankly, I don't know how you remain so patient with the incompetents.

By the way, it is funny to see referees decisions termed as arbitrary. In French, a referee is called un arbitre. I think it says it all.

I agree, and I can't see any way out. Making rulings in an area so prone to mischief is too hard, so common sense and referee interpretation has to be relied upon. Unless refs can be telepath and read the thoughts of the players to know whether they tried to move away but couldn't or pretended they couldn't or thought they could hold on just a bit more, we will always have to adjust the play to the refs we are given.

Very true. I suppose we should look on the bright side. It's another of rugby's wonderfully unique qualities - there's a part of the game in which absolutely no one really knows what's going on! How many sports can claim that? And don't anyone suggest that silly Winter Olympics sport where they push a stone down a lane of ice and chase it with brooms. If the stone was dirty, why didn't they sweep it before they pushed it? They seem to know what's going on. Buggered if I do.

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Originally posted by Havak
Quite right. I recognised Mr McHugh from your description of ‘some refs’ by the way.

Can't you tee up one of your ex-front row chums to run onto the field and flatten him again?

I noticed the Rathbone decision but decided not to mention it. Now you have though
This seems different to the Vickerman case, at least he moved to Aus as a youngster. Rathbone captained the Bok U-21 this season. He IS South African. He is likely to represent Australia at senior level. It’s not right whatever rationale you roll out for it.

Let's not paddle down this stream again?

We would have him back anytime. He was a great crowd favourite here and, with all respect to Kafer he isn’t in the same class.

Different players, but they didn't call Kafter "Tugboat" for nothing.

That lad I thought was leveraging his contract just signed a new five year deal with his L***** club by the way.

Oh well, I hope he profited from it. Although apparently he's a top L***** player so he probably could have asked the earth regardless.

[Devil of Truth]

Originally posted by finbar
Can't you tee up one of your ex-front row chums to run onto the field and flatten him again?

Slowly now. I was at the game. I actually felt sorry for the poor guy.

And Mr. McHugh too.

[Havak]

Can't you tee up one of your ex-front row chums to run onto the field and flatten him again?

I’d rather he saw sense and retired. I’m not a big fan. Give me Chris White any day.

I don’t want to joke about the assault on him really – it brought massive shame on SA rugby. He might be a ref who comes across as biased at times (and you know I have thought that of him myself – Paris 2001, Neath 2002) but what happened in SA was plain wrong. I doubt DoT will agree with me but suspending them from international competition might make them take it more seriously than they seem to have so far?

I mean Bok refs are not exactly popular here but if one was ever assaulted the culprit would do serious time (I think you would be in trouble simply under provisions of the safety of sports ground acts for starters).

Let's not paddle down this stream again?

I have to state occasionally how ludicrous I think it is.

But I’m fair – I find it as ludicrous in the case of David Hilton. If you didn’t know he is the Englishman who played in two world cups for Scotland before they discovered that his Scottish grandsire actually wasn’t (unless Bristol is in Scotland). He has just re-qualified under residency rules.

Old tugboat is a much more physical player than Pat was. He is not bad by any means but because he is doing the basic work of a centre and not showboating step and goes he just hasn’t grabbed the crowd in the same way. I kind of like him – he is so solid it draws players in to the tackle to hold him and that frequently gives the wings space (to waste hopelessly this year sadly).

The guy is the L***** equivalent of the ‘Players player of the year’ apparently. Stuff him – we only want l***** boys who have seen the light and want to play real rugby for the nature of it and not just the dosh. Incidentally I don’t know if he is injured but the lad we spent ages tempting from Hull RL over the summer – I haven’t seen him myself or heard his name in dispatches yet. More money well spent!!

[Tamerlin]

Originally posted by Havak
Quite right. I recognised Mr McHugh from your description of ‘some refs’ by the way.

In France, almost all the referees should receive an intravenous injection of "common sense" before the game starts, some would also be well advised to ingest a pill of "honesty".

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Originally posted by Devil of Truth


Slowly now. I was at the game. I actually felt sorry for the poor guy.

And Mr. McHugh too.

Nice set up, nice punch line. If you'll pardon the expression.

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Originally posted by Havak
suspending them from international competition might make them take it more seriously than they seem to have so far?

I'd vote for suspending them from international competition at 38 minutes into the second half of a Test with them leading by a converted try.

Old tugboat is a much more physical player than Pat was.

Good, solid, reliable, very hard-working, not bad skills, lacks a yard.

Incidentally I don’t know if he is injured but the lad we spent ages tempting from Hull RL over the summer – I haven’t seen him myself or heard his name in dispatches yet. More money well spent!!

Do you mean you lured him or tried to lure him?

[finbar]

Originally posted by Tamerlin


In France, almost all the referees should receive an intravenous injection of "common sense" before the game starts, some would also be well advised to ingest a pill of "honesty".

*French referees, en masse, consult defamation lawyers*

[Havak]

In France, almost all the referees should receive an intravenous injection of "common sense" before the game starts, some would also be well advised to ingest a pill of "honesty".

Said with real feeling there! Hope Finbar is wrong about the lawyers.

I'd vote for suspending them from international competition at 38 minutes into the second half of a Test with them leading by a converted try.

Said like a true Aussie.

Good, solid, reliable, very hard-working, not bad skills, lacks a yard.

Pat lacked a little for pace, but Rod is slower yet as you say.

Do you mean you lured him or tried to lure him?

Courted, lured, signed and… have yet to use for first team duty.

[finbar]

Originally posted by Havak
Pat lacked a little for pace, but Rod is slower yet as you say.

I forgot to add that Kafer is - or was - a mighty fine play organiser. He - as much as Steve Larkham - was responsible for calling the shots at the Brumbies.

Courted, lured, signed and… have yet to use for first team duty.

Did he have a rugby background? How's he doing in the 2s?

[Caligastia]

I think we all need to vote for the next thread title, we only have 35 posts left!

I vote for Rugby - The Ball's Out!

My second choice is Havak's "Coming in from the side"