NPR

Eh?

He has a point, to an extent, regarding rugby's supposed moral high ground.

Rugby folk talk about respect to the referee then spend the next 3 or 4 days online bitching about how shit the ref was, just like football fans do.

Always seriously disliked the deep sanctimonious hypocrisy of Rugby supporters.

Shushing opposition supporters for example, or banter or everything else that makes racism, classism etc acceptable to a rugby crowd is disturbing as shit.

Not a good look
Rugby is professional cheating ffs.

Jim Lahey wrote: Thu Mar 30, 2023 12:23 pm He has a point, to an extent, regarding rugby's supposed moral high ground.

Rugby folk talk about respect to the referee then spend the next 3 or 4 days online bitching about how shit the ref was, just like football fans do.

I suppose it's also saying don't be so sanctimonius as to drive away fans from other sports where that sort of thing is normal.

While I appreciate the viewpoint, I do think some things should remain taboo and diving is definitely up there.

Surely a whole pitch of 30 Sextons will drive fans away faster than warm Fosters in the bar?

My brother worked in football broadcasting and I had countless debates with him about why they never called out diving and general gamesmanship. It would go a long, long way to making it unacceptable in the game if it was constantly called out - particularly at pub and youth levels.

The problem was always that it was presumed that players wouldn't agree to appearances or interviews unless you flattered egos, so any criticism - even in jest, and even the most egregious - was verboten.

Are rugby players that thin-skinned? No idea, but I'd hope we could be a bit more blunt about it. I'd also think rugby does tend to a more macho culture where Sextoning is an admission of failure.

Rugby's not a sport that can survive having to check every incident because someone's made a massive meal of it, and right now with the focus on safety & having stringent punishment, having players attempt to warp the views of the officials by overreacting risks undermining the entire thing.

inactionman wrote: Thu Mar 30, 2023 1:03 pm My brother worked in football broadcasting and I had countless debates with him about why they never called out diving and general gamesmanship. It would go a long, long way to making it unacceptable in the game if it was constantly called out - particularly at pub and youth levels.

The problem was always that it was presumed that players wouldn't agree to appearances or interviews unless you flattered egos, so any criticism - even in jest, and even the most egregious - was verboten.

Are rugby players that thin-skinned? No idea, but I'd hope we could be a bit more blunt about it. I'd also think rugby does tend to a more macho culture where Sextoning is an admission of failure.

100% they are. They go on podcasts etc to talk about going on the lash with the hosts and what great blokes they are. No one would dare ask Sexton why he spends half the game clutching his head begging for cards.

This is a direct outcome of how the TMO system is set up. The TMOs don't look at stuff unless directed by players rolling around for ages or literally being forced to (see Gilchrist's red), so the entire process demands players act like this. Ludlam cost England a chance to get back into the game by not lying on the floor for ages after Ryan hit him in the head.

I don't think we should bad mouth any other sports, but I really don't want to see diving become the norm. I'm hoping with proper tmo review and perhaps enforcing hia checks on anyone who goes down clutching their head, will help. 13 minutes off the pitch when they don't need to be will annoy most players more than anything else.

sockwithaticket wrote: Thu Mar 30, 2023 12:50 pm

Jim Lahey wrote: Thu Mar 30, 2023 12:23 pm He has a point, to an extent, regarding rugby's supposed moral high ground.

Rugby folk talk about respect to the referee then spend the next 3 or 4 days online bitching about how shit the ref was, just like football fans do.

I suppose it's also saying don't be so sanctimonius as to drive away fans from other sports where that sort of thing is normal.

While I appreciate the viewpoint, I do think some things should remain taboo and diving is definitely up there.

I did wonder if Steward had gone down after the collision and stayed down for a bit if he would have been sent off?

Paddington Bear wrote: Thu Mar 30, 2023 1:41 pm

inactionman wrote: Thu Mar 30, 2023 1:03 pm My brother worked in football broadcasting and I had countless debates with him about why they never called out diving and general gamesmanship. It would go a long, long way to making it unacceptable in the game if it was constantly called out - particularly at pub and youth levels.

The problem was always that it was presumed that players wouldn't agree to appearances or interviews unless you flattered egos, so any criticism - even in jest, and even the most egregious - was verboten.

Are rugby players that thin-skinned? No idea, but I'd hope we could be a bit more blunt about it. I'd also think rugby does tend to a more macho culture where Sextoning is an admission of failure.

100% they are. They go on podcasts etc to talk about going on the lash with the hosts and what great blokes they are. No one would dare ask Sexton why he spends half the game clutching his head begging for cards.

This is a direct outcome of how the TMO system is set up. The TMOs don't look at stuff unless directed by players rolling around for ages or literally being forced to (see Gilchrist's red), so the entire process demands players act like this. Ludlam cost England a chance to get back into the game by not lying on the floor for ages after Ryan hit him in the head.

But how good is he for the half of the game he actually plays rugby? Can you imagine if he put in a full shift instead of clutching his head for 40mins (more like 30mins nowadays that he's old and frail)!?

Just WOW.

Ironic he uses a picture of Farrell after he'd been straight armed in the head. Quins should have had two red cards ffs.

Marylandolorian wrote: Thu Mar 30, 2023 3:23 pm

JM2K6 wrote: Thu Mar 30, 2023 1:04 pm Rugby's not a sport that can survive having to check every incident because someone's made a massive meal of it, and right now with the focus on safety & having stringent punishment, having players attempt to warp the views of the officials by overreacting risks undermining the entire thing.

Like this one last weekend. He stayed on his knees until the ref told him to get up.

Deary me.

JM2K6 wrote: Thu Mar 30, 2023 3:10 pm

You're the clown who argued that the Steward red card was the right decision weren't you?

This is far worse than what Steward did...



As for Northmore on Farrell, it's a straight arm deliberately aimed with force to the head with zero mitigation. I'd have though you and your knitting circle would be all over that demanding a red card but of course you go after Farrell instead.

Pathetic hypocrite.

Bismarck and Jake White is not happy. The Irish like the diving, maybe their captain like to act like a spoiled brat.