Reds 2021

[Ignoto]

I can't disagree with Feo's punishment.

If World Rugby are actually interested in protecting player safety, than the defensive player should be required to keep their head up rather than burying it. The attacking team is required to not seal off the ball, and I'd argue that this head position creates the same sealing off for the defensive team.

By moving the head up, it gives the attacking player somewhere to safely aim when they got to clean out. More importantly, it will also help prevent a catastrophic injury occurring to the defensive players neck as the position they're in is ripe for a disc being pushed into a nerve.

 

[Forcefield]

The problem, as I see it, is that a professional rugby player should know what the laws are at the breakdown. Hardwick was blatantly not supporting his own body weight and didn't care because there was nothing to lose. That should be carded every day of the week. That would stop players taking things into their own hands in a situation like that. At present, it feels like referees let too much stuff go because they want a "free-flowing" game, but it is counter-intuitive and the game gets scrappy. I liked what the refs did with Super Ao last year. Problem with that is getting the Northern hemisphere refs on the same page.

 

[Sully]

The problem, as I see it, is that a professional rugby player should know what the laws are at the breakdown. Hardwick was blatantly not supporting his own body weight and didn't care because there was nothing to lose. That should be carded every day of the week. That would stop players taking things into their own hands in a situation like that. At present, it feels like referees let too much stuff go because they want a "free-flowing" game, but it is counter-intuitive and the game gets scrappy. I liked what the refs did with Super Ao last year. Problem with that is getting the Northern hemisphere refs on the same page.

This is what I came to say. If the referee had pinged him for leaning all over the ruck there is no red card. Some kaws are actually there for a reason.

 

[Rebels3]

The ruck is a complete mess. I'd say 50% of all pilfers are technically illegal.

Players seal off the ruck constantly, which means that the players trying to pilfer illegally use their hands on the ground, domnt hold their weight and body height, that then means that players have to bash into them or dangerously roll them to remove player off the ball. Its an absolute mess

 

[Jets]

Law 15.3 states that shoulders can't be below the hips. Should have been a free kick to the Reds before Feao entered the breakdown. Every time Hardwick entered a breakdown he was there illegally.

It's one of my bugbears about rugby is that this law isn't used. It doesn't exclude pilfering as McReight does it legally most of the time.

 

[The Nomad]

The breakdown is coached that way, which doesn't make it right, but that's how players train.

Have a look at Laurie Fisher on Instagram ( lauriefisher2504 ). He puts up a heap of training drills , just about all the breakdown drills involve sealing off with head and shoulders way below the level of the hips, they even use resistance bands around the hips and shoulders to reinforce this position.

You can't have cleanouts attacking heads and necks even though sometimes that is the only target presented , so it's again over to the refs to get it right.

Bit like when defending your try line , if the attacking player is driving nearly at ground level with head below hips , you are always going to make direct contact with the head and neck area, otherwise they score.

 

[Finsbury Girl]

most of the time there isn't even a ruck formed and the "cleanout" can in no way be interpreted as binding.

The horse has bolted on this one unfortunately.

 

[Braveheart81]

I started a new thread on the breakdown as I think there is heaps to discuss and not just limited to Feao Fotuaika's red card on Friday.

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/community/threads/law-issues-with-the-breakdown.18990/

 

[Zero_Cool]

Regarding Fotuaika, I'm not sure who plays THP on the bench, I was worried we looked a little light on for props? Can Nonggorr, Zander or Hoopert play THP?

LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) comes back via the bench, or do we relegate one of ASY (Angus Scott-Young) & Uru and who?

So I think Vuni is going to be on the bench again next week, but boy oh boy he'll be good! I'm still no closer to knowing who our best backline is.

 

[RugbyReg]

Zonggorr is a tight head.

 

[RugbyReg]

Mafi has been playing outstandingly well around the park obviously and even his line out work seems improved.

But his scrummaging work is coming along too. He really was at the heart of that 2nd tight head while the Reds were a man down. He really works over the opposition hooker.

​

 

[RugbyReg]

 

[PhilClinton]

Totally agree Reg. It will be an interesting dilemma when BPA is back.

Mafi’s current form, age and potential for improvement (just look at how much he’s turned it around this year) make his ceiling quite high. How much does benching him for BPA, when he’s performing so well hinder that? I’m not sure, but it creates more questions than answers. At least this year we can talk about him in positive light. It has been a great comeback so far after a string of shockers to end 2020.

 

[emuarse]

Totally agree Reg. It will be an interesting dilemma when BPA is back.

Mafi’s current form, age and potential for improvement (just look at how much he’s turned it around this year) make his ceiling quite high. How much does benching him for BPA, when he’s performing so well hinder that? I’m not sure, but it creates more questions than answers. At least this year we can talk about him in positive light. It has been a great comeback so far after a string of shockers to end 2020.

As BPA is committed to playing in the northern hemisphere, it is logical that Mafi in his current form is the run on hooker, with BPA off the bench.

 

[Jets]

I thought the use of Vunavalu was underwhelming. I'm worried he'll be Sailor 2.0 where he does some good stuff but isn't used to the best of his ability. I'm trying to remember if he was passed the ball at all. Just the chase on the kick-off was enough to show he's got something special about him, they need to start him and get him involved.

 

[PhilClinton]

Agree Jets - and I wonder how much of it is Vunivalu needing to get out of the league mindset where he was best used out wide, finishing backline plays and jumping for high balls on the last tackle.

I think back to the great Reds winger of the last generation, Digby Ioane. His best involvements weren't really out wide on the wing, but instead when he came in looking for runs during a long phase of play and targeted tiring forwards around the ruck. He was also a specialist at breaking the line off set plays when being used in that 12/13 channel. I think Vunivalu could learn from that approach, he is big, fast and explosive enough to go looking for similar opportunities.

 

[Jets]

Vunavalu is a different player to Digby. He needs to be given the ball with a bit of space and he'll rip teams to shreds.

 

[RugbyReg]

agree Jets. Those closing minutes (before the Mafi try) it was just battering stuff. We need to be creating one on ones for Filipo and Vunivalu because they'll beat anyone in those scenarios.

 

[wamberal]

Vunavalu is a different player to Digby. He needs to be given the ball with a bit of space and he'll rip teams to shreds.

Blimey. People (not including you) writing the guy off after his first game.

 

[Jets]

I think we should probably wait until he is passed the ball before passing judgment on him.