Rugby

Steward's red card rescinded: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65035837

So is the grand slam now void?

It's handed to Wales.

We'll claim the 2011 World Cup instead if we're rescinding red cards.

*Georgia

@Greenbank I'm sort of glad to see it was rescinded but also surprised in many respects as it basically says that the referee was wrong to go to 'the protocol' at which point most people and pundits acknowledged that the writing was on the wall.

Betty Stoggs Pasty Munchers Fantasy League was a real humdinger and it was great to see @Saffronspokes top the table with consistently good scores and selections. He held off my late charge to second and was able to take advantage of @c00ps - who went into the final week leading - modest last couple of match days. Well done to all participants; what a wonderful way to waste many hours and I look forward to a world cup version

that the referee was wrong to go to 'the protocol'

Or an admission that the protocol doesn't cover every situation perfectly (which it can't really).

I think the idea is to swing the needle so far over to a strict set of rules that it changes player behaviour, and that some people will be unlucky along the way, and that it will effect the outcome of some matches (not saying that it definitely did for England).

It's a tricky one for sure.

Completely agree.... it's really difficult and if we're sticking with this I like the idea of the orange card where where the red can be rescinded to a yellow within 10 minutes in which time a team representative can essentially lodge an appeal or that a team can look over a longer period, off pitch, at the whole situation. (or maybe, straight red for malicious foul play, swinging arms, leading with the head and a 20 min sin bin for victims of circumstance). The really challenging part is when players put themselves in a vulnerable position to get a red card despite no intention or malicious intent.

I like the idea of the orange card where where the red can be rescinded to a yellow within 10 minutes in which time a team representative can essentially lodge an appeal or that a team can look over a longer period, off pitch, at the whole situation.

The same thing already happens in Super Rugby I think, so when a player is given a yellow card is given the video referee has the ability within the next ten minutes to then upgrade it to a red card.

Thanks for organising again. Knew my last-minute u-turn on Blair Kinghorn would get me! Well played all.

I had Kinghorn in every one except the final iteration too....the thing is, at one point or another, considering I tinkered so much, I had the perfect team so rough with smooth and all that..... hopefully a world cup one next

On one hand I'm glad that Stewart's record isn't tarnished by what was not a malicious act. But on the other, I still think it was a collision he could have avoided, or at the very least lessened the impact to Keenan. And as it was direct contact to the head, red was the correct on field decision. Ireland were in attack with possession (albeit it went a bit loose), he was not realistically going to get the ball so was coming into the line as defense, fully upright, and turned his body/elbow/forearm into contact. If they had have even collided front on, it was probably not even a yellow and they both might have played the rest of the game.

I also noticed that most pundits/commentators who were lambasting the decision are from an era whose contemporaries are suing the RFU for long lasting damage from head injuries.

Yeah thanks for organising. You're 100 percent right on the tinkering, I was lucky that many of my u-turns didn't cost me too badly, there were a couple of real clangers though.

I also noticed that most pundits/commentators who were lambasting the decision are from an era whose contemporaries are suing the RFU for long lasting damage from head injuries.

Isn't this just because most pundits/commentators are from that era anyway? Most of them who were supporting the decision were also (BOD, etc.).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKx34oesDjI&ab_channel=WorldRugby

Nigel Owens viewpoint, I do like his analysis of refereeing.

I see BOD and Rory Best etc as from a later/younger generation than the likes of Clive Woodward.

Ah, I saw the main criticism being from Matt Dawson & co - who obviously played with Steve Thompson, Ryan Jones, etc.

I try to avoid Sir Clive whenever possible.

Anyone involved in club rugby will probably be half aware that the new national cup competition (s) are variations of the Papa John's Cup, championship, shield bowl etc and seemingly offer national competition for pretty much every club at every level. At lower level I think it's straight regional knock out (ie South West so yesterday a couple of teams from Cornwall traveled to Somerset and Bristol) and a little higher up there are regional groups of 4..my team for example unluckily have 2 away trips with total travel of 740 miles whist another team travels 40 miles in the group. Anyway, St Austell defied expectations and a few late changes to win away at Matson (who'd won their league undefeated) and now face Marlborough at home who won well at Chippenham. I noticed on the Marlborough teamsheet at least half a dozen Pacific Island players a number of whom have A caps etc.... similarly Chippenham teamsheet seemed to have a few islander names also. Are there links with forces here, is this area synonymous with Pacific islander communities or have they just bought in (in one way or another) half a dozen quality players from the 3rd tier of NZ rugby etc? @c00ps -;sort of your neck of the woods

My old neck of the woods. Now on Cambs/Beds border. But Buckley Barracks (RLC) is near Chippenham, so I wouldn't surprised if there was a link. When I played in the old NLD leagues, Long Eaton used to have several squaddies/engineers from Chillwell Barracks in the 1sts.

@c00ps 8 islanders in the Marlborough squad for tomorrow and they've drafted in a fly half with just the 5 senior Tonga caps and a dozen appearances for Sarries before he left a couple of seasons ago!! Incredible that at this level my club pay the head player-coach and no one else and presumably, given there are 3 Tonga A internationals and a senior Tonga international in the team and they're being looked after with a nice local hotel this evening someone has fairly deep pockets. I think there are rules in place at level 6 (both teams will be level 5 next year after promotion) regarding the amount of money that can be paid, if any, at those levels but those in the know tell me that accomodation, a car and a well-paid job basically make a mockery of those rules is a person or club silly enough to go down that route at that level. There's definitely a touch of the Keegan 'I'd love it if we beat them' about tomorrow. If you fancy a watch just pop St Austell V Marlborough rugby into YouTube at 1500

Good luck!

Afraid I will be at Bedford vs Jersey tomorrow at 3. But I'll have a look after, if it's on the club's channel.

nice one

The fly half is an ex Bedford Blue I think. Viliami Hakolo.

Have a great day

@c00ps
25-22 win.... absolute nail biter. My god they were big.... seriously, looked like a championship team Vs a SW team...at least 20st heavier in the pack. Was a classic case of Cornish grit and stubbornness and exceptional defence refusing to let them roll us over which I guess comes with the togetherness and remarkable situation of 16 of the 18 man squad having come through mini-junior ranks at the club. I assume they simply steamroller teams in their league (undefeated this/last season) and they have a flying Fijian on one wing and a rapid Tonga A international at 15. Strangely, if you did a combined team looking at individuals you'd probably select a maximum of 5 of the St Austell team as Marlborough had the talented individuals but not quite the teamwork, defensive patterns and backs against the wall mindset which I guess comes with the territory of winning every week. Chippenham (who've lost both games this far) have given 'us' a walkover last game (very handy as the round trip is 350 miles) so one game from HQ! Worth a catch up on YouTube if you get the chance

Fantastic result! Will have a look later, kids allowing...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65469633

Worrying signs coming from London Irish.

Seems like the Worcester takeover didn't go through by yesterdays deadline as well.