Rugby

I felt he led with the shoulder, but I didn't think he intended to hit the head, was probably not expecting the previous tackle to bring GN down and was trying to drive him off the pitch before the try line.

I think intent is no longer important, tackler has a duty of care, and the velocity he was approaching with and the fact that he wasn’t wrapping his arms, means that in the current climate means it could only be a red card.

Interesting to see what happens to Marler as well, rule book says a min of 12 week ban for contact there, but that I think is more for people aiming to injure, fairly sure he was trying to wind up instead, suspect he will get a shorter ban.

And why are Scotland playing in this horrendous baby blue kit?!

Someone didn't separate the colours from the whites.

That has to be one of the most stupid red cards ever. Why would you stand up in front of the ref and throw a punch.

Ha!

Yeah, pure stupidity.

I’m really disappointed that France seem to be falling back to bad habits, would have been good for them to win it

Back when I played serious rugby every good team had at least two players who specialised in niggle to try and get that reaction from the oppo. That doesn't exist at a top flight level anymore because it's too easy for the tmo to pick up on (unless your name is Joe Marler of course). So I can't understand what was going through his head.

Impressed with the work rate that France are showing to try and get back into this.

It’s how they try and settle arguments in the French navy

What a muppet

Now seen the reverse angle (not shown in stadium) and fair enough. No mitigation allowed for no ‘wrap’.

The "that was harsh" reaction from a lot of press and Lawrence D'cokefiend's discussion about Tuilagi's red is the reason I can't stand 90% of English rugby fans and pundit's. I used to think it was all ego and cockiness. But now I come to realise that it is just a fragile ego they have. When they are doing well, it creates an unbearable smugness. When things go wrong, toys exit the pram with more speed then Jonny Ma-ohmygodhessoamazingswinglowsweetchariotwewontheworldcup17yearsago

That and he threw his shoulder in. Was impressed by him going out of his way to apologise to George North on his way off the pitch.

the French navy

A l'eau, c'est l'heure

A l'eau, c'est l'heure

You can just see Ritchie says that just before the punch comes in.

Post match JR confirmed that it was a misunderstanding and Haouas just had toilet paper stuck on the back of his boot.

He also smacked him on his metal cheek bone as well...

People do get their knickers in a twist about English rugby. It's a public school/posh boys' sport traditionally, so what do you expect? It is changing, but very slowly. Pundits are pundits and paid to be partisan, wherever they're from
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/rugby-union/51796122
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/rugby-union/51795296

I think Tuilagi was unfortunate insofar as I don't think there was intent, but - and I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong - I don't believe the mitigation of North dropping to one knee from Slade's tackle counts for a no arm tackle in the way it might for a high tackle. As @Bobbo says, Tuilagi had no complaints and went to apologise to North once he was off.

O'Keefe didn't have a great game, he played ludicrously long advantages for knock-on and missed lots of offside, particularly North who was almost permanently in front of the back foot.

Shame about France losing, I really wanted them to win this year.

It's a public school/posh boys' sport traditionally, so what do you expect?

Definitely true down in the south east. But back when I used to play in the Notts leagues, there were a large number of ex-colliery sides also. Proper mixture.

I went to play at Brive in the mid 80s (yeah, I'm that old) and couldn't believe the difference

Yeah, definitely not in the South West / Midlands heartlands either...

Yeah, not sure there are many public school boy players down here in Devon, mainly farmers who learnt to tackle on pigs...

https://tony-collins.squarespace.com/rugbyreloaded/2015/9/21/here-we-go-again-english-rugby-union-is-not-a-middle-class-sport

an interesting counterpoint.

I played most of my Rugby in Ireland (North and the Republic) and have since 2006 played against teams from all over the UK and whilst I haven't toured myself, I have been part of the club when hosting many international (not *I*nternational) touring sides. The English rugby thing, is a thing.

While I understand where you are coming from. I would add that the same thing historically applies to every home nation bar Wales. At times in the past the Ireland team has resembled a BlackRock College old boys team and if it wasn't for the borders the Scottish team would have until very recently been made up almost exclusively from ex public schoolboys.

Ireland especially has made great strides in moving away from this stereotype partly because, Munster, the other traditional rugby hotbed is vastly different from Dublin but also because the academy system is excellent and draws from a much wider community than is traditional.

I haven't read the article that @fizzy.bleach referenced yet but from my own experience the continued dominance of the public school system is down to the fact that clubs run the academies and prefer to deal with schools as it's easier for them. Simply put you have to look long and hard to find a state school that fields a rugby team these days.

Simply put you have to look long and hard to find a state school that fields a rugby team these days

Massively this ^

There are a limited number of minis setups that are out there (St Neots Minis near me and Battersea Ironsides being the only two non-school outfits I can recall at the moment). But rugby union introcduction and development for children is dominated by the public (and grammar) school system.