prcscct wrote:Doesn't it seem odd that well organized and internationally competitive rugby seems to stop at the French and Italian borders? There is Germany and a whole host of eastern European countries including Russia with a big, strapping male population and you never hear about any of them as part of the rugby world. Pete
Well, they are there in the "Rugby World", but obviously the sport is not as big as it is in the "6 Nations".
Romania have had an indifferent International rugby history, and have had some star players in the past. They've qualified for every RWC since it's inauguration in 1989. Georgia - The strongest of the "lesser known" European rugby sides have qualified for every RWC since 2003 and have put in some good displays - certainly some physical ones in the 2011 RWC. Currently ranked 14th in the world (just 2 places below Italy). Russia - Not really a huge sport for them, but never-the-less they are ranked just 1 place behind Romania and did qualify for their one and only RWC in 2011.
None of the above have qualified from the Pool Stages of the RWC.
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - We Now Start a New Chapter - Pennod newydd
World Rugby: New Zealand to Experiment With Two Referees
"World Rugby is to trial the use of two on-field referees in New Zealand's 2016 provincial championship.
The decision follows a review of the rules by rugby's governing body.
Each referee's responsibilities have not been specified but it is thought the second official will police a new offside line a metre back from rucks.
Two referees have never been used in rugby union before but Australia's National Rugby League has had two on-field officials since 2009" - Did not know that one!
I'm in 2 minds over this one (offside rule mentioned). It will (or at least should) put a stop to the continual offside by the defensive back-line. An obvious advantage to the attacking team and more pressure on the "Rush Defense" - could well open the game up. On the other hand, it could well slow the game down if the (2nd) ref is going to blow-up for a pastime over additional infractions - of course, rules will only come into play if correctly implemented by the referee. Take the feed at the scrum for example...... crooked, nah!!
Either way, this could be a game changer and it will certainly be interesting to see how the trial goes down under.
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - We Now Start a New Chapter - Pennod newydd
^ The German national team is fairly well down in the IRB Rankings, below the likes of Korea and Hong Kong and a "Third Tier Playing Nation". Not too sure about the domestic league/teams,but the few games I've seen whilst working there on occasion have always seemed to involve the British and American Forces based there.
Rugby is way down the list of popular sports, with football/soccer being No. 1. Personally, I think American Football ranks alot higher in popularity....... those of Germanic persuasion can be a very strange bunch at times. No rugby? No wonder they look a miserable bunch!!
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - We Now Start a New Chapter - Pennod newydd
pharvey wrote:..... Australia's National Rugby League has had two on-field officials since 2009"[/i][/b] - Did not know that one!.....
Yes, I just through it was a part of their normal rules as I wasn't really a fan back in 2009 when it started. I would think the speed of the game was the determining factor. They're up and down the field constantly. One ref would be run ragged IMO. Pete
EDIT: I'm looking forward to the season start in March and see if the Rabbithos get back in contention this season with Sam Burgess back on the team. They finished 7th last year without him.
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^ I forgot to mention this morning, I didn't see anywhere the distance from the try line when this rule can be applied. They must have pinned a yardage limitation to it I would think.
I can understand however the strategy of a player to commit a foul in order to avoid a try and have only a 3 point penalty kick awarded. Critical I guess especially late in a match where a try could win it and a penalty kick would not. Perhaps this is why the rule was instituted in the first place.
There still has to be rules governing the rule though. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
It's usually fairly straightforward, Pete. The most frequent award of a penalty try is probably for repeated scrum, maul or ruck offences by the defending team on or near their own try line. (e.g. bringing down a rolling maul or going offside).
I'm not sure distance is relevant. Let's say a defending back intercepts a pass and is clear for a run the length of the pitch before being tripped from behind by an opponent. I don't think I've ever seen that, but it sounds like a penalty try to me, if the ref is satisfied no one could have caught him.
^ Tend to agree with DM on this one Pete - IMO the law is ref'd pretty consistently and it really is generally "beyond reasonable doubt" before a Penalty Try is awarded. As DM states, you'll see this more often than not from continual offences from an under pressure pack collapsing the scrum or killing the ball in a ruck for example - this being literrally on the try line or a matter of a few meters out.
I do seem to remember some years ago a Penalty Try being awarded from a fair way out - it was a kick and chase with the defending playing pulling the attacker back...... from memory it was Gareth Davies (now WRU Chairman) of God's Own against Scotland's Andy Irvine... back in the early-mid '80's.
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - We Now Start a New Chapter - Pennod newydd
Talking about kick and chase, plenty of intentional obstructions against the kicker/chaser I've seen, which the defender tries to make look like a follow through on an attempted tackle before the ball was kicked. I saw two in the Toulon/Leinster match the other day that weren't called. I guess they have to be quite obvious obstructions to get the Ref interested. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Talking about kick and chase, plenty of intentional obstructions against the kicker/chaser I've seen, which the defender tries to make look like a follow through on an attempted tackle before the ball was kicked. I saw two in the Toulon/Leinster match the other day that weren't called. I guess they have to be quite obvious obstructions to get the Ref interested. Pete
The "Kick and Chase" I was referring to really was blatent - the two players in question being well away from all others.... thankfully there wasn't a Sin Bin in those days, or God's Own really would have been stuffed out of sight....... Although the loss was bad enough for me then!
You've got to have some sympathy for the ref's with all of the off the ball goings on - whilst having to ref the game fairly (and legally), they still have to try and keep the game flowing without blowing-up at every opportunity.
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - We Now Start a New Chapter - Pennod newydd
Super 15 is now Super 18 with 3 new teams from Japan, South Africa and Argentina. To my knowledge Japan hasn't replaced Eddie Jones yet with a new national team coach. Pete
Mark Hammett named coach of Japan's Super Rugby Sunwolves
Just watched a replay of the Scarlets vs Ospreys match from 6 hours ago, 27-26 Ospreys. Penalty kick missed in minute 81 which would have given the Scarlets the win. Non-stop action and recommend it highly if you can find a replay later today. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Any thoughts / comments about Germany? Pete 
Pete 
against Scotland's Andy Irvine... back in the early-mid '80's.
and recommend it highly if you can find a replay later today. Pete