Japanese Top League - Now showing on Stan!

[Strewthcobber]

it would be weird if they started deeming those finishes illegal

By the letter of the law I think it probably should be illegal.

9.11 Players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others including leading with the elbow or forearm, or jumping into, or over, a tackler.

And from the 2022 clarification.

In principle, in a try scoring situation, if the action is deemed to be a dive forward for a try, then it should be permitted. If a player is deemed to have left the ground to avoid a tackle; or to jump, or hurdle a potential tackler, then this is dangerous play and should be sanctioned accordingly.

On the other hand, rule of cool. Play on

 

[PhilClinton]

Yeh interesting.

This thread isn’t the place to discuss necessarily, but I’ve also seen a large increase in the number of ‘sneak’ tries scored this year where a player essentially puts the ball on a part of the try line which looks to be shielded by a ruck which has formed. Daugunu scored one of the weekend for the Reds and I think Tizzano has scored a few.

I’m not sure I’m a fan of these. The defenders essentially have no chance to defend it as the part of the try line being used is part of a ruck.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

How has the Joey Manu experiment gone in Japan?

He's good at contesting aerial cross kicks but apart from that he struggles to get himself involved

 

[LevitatingSocks]

Yeh interesting.

This thread isn’t the place to discuss necessarily, but I’ve also seen a large increase in the number of ‘sneak’ tries scored this year where a player essentially puts the ball on a part of the try line which looks to be shielded by a ruck which has formed. Daugunu scored one of the weekend for the Reds and I think Tizzano has scored a few.

I’m not sure I’m a fan of these. The defenders essentially have no chance to defend it as the part of the try line being used is part of a ruck.

might be one of those occurrences where legislating it out of the game causes more issues than it fixes

 

[PhilClinton]

might be one of those occurrences where legislating it out of the game causes more issues than it fixes

"An attacking player may not ground the ball on a tryline which sits within a formed ruck"

Maybe I'm just noticing it now but it genuinely feels like a tactic which wasn't used before, and at very least not when I was playing a long time ago.

You'd often have halfbacks and players 'sneak' a try by quickly grabbing the ball and going to the side of the ruck, but I can't recall anyone simply doing it within a ruck essentially. It feels like a loophole which has been identified by players recently.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Lima Sopoaga is still playing. He has grey hair and a massive big ol' floppy pudding belly. Like a prop. He can't run at all. He plays 1st 5. He is 34.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Best he doesn't go swimming, then, someone might mistake him for a dolphin or even a baby whale...

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Best he doesn't go swimming, then, someone might mistake him for a dolphin or even a baby whale...

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

It's like you're seeing what I'm thinking...

Stop it immediately!