tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101694739527706614.post8627006328585697265..comments2023-07-09T21:38:41.963+01:00Comments on TOTAL FLANKER...a rugby blog: Johnny Tourette strikes againTotalFlankerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624839368553218464noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101694739527706614.post-57671286637640715102008-07-17T13:33:00.000+01:002008-07-17T13:33:00.000+01:00Hi TF,no problems reposting...My team also wanted ...Hi TF,<BR/><BR/>no problems reposting...<BR/><BR/>My team also wanted the lifting rule scrapped... they all complained they were suffering crook backs trying to lift a 120kgs immobile 2nd rower (moi!).<BR/><BR/>Matty... I'll be right over!<BR/><BR/>Karl aka StomperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101694739527706614.post-29221113441471235192008-07-17T08:38:00.000+01:002008-07-17T08:38:00.000+01:00Karl - some excellent suggestions which I will imm...Karl - some excellent suggestions which I will immediately forward to the RFU for consideration at the next committee meeting!:)<BR/><BR/>(Although, to be honest, I wouldn't mind reverting to the no lifting in the lineout law - my Vets team might actually win some lineout ball!).<BR/><BR/>Would you mind if I posted this on the main part of the blog?<BR/><BR/>cheers<BR/>TFTotal Flankerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06368624271678527333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101694739527706614.post-49686046750414309962008-07-17T08:07:00.000+01:002008-07-17T08:07:00.000+01:00Karl - excellent!You gotta visit at my blog and sp...Karl - excellent!<BR/><BR/>You gotta visit at <A HREF="http://greenandgoldrugby.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">my blog</A> and spray a few words when you get a chance!Matt @ Green and Gold Rugbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01448206561040202849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101694739527706614.post-53142193045648098532008-07-17T00:34:00.000+01:002008-07-17T00:34:00.000+01:00The RFU today announced that it is proposing a num...The RFU today announced that it is proposing a number of new ELVs to <BR/>be trialed in the Northern Hemisphere commencing with games played from 1st August 2008. <BR/><BR/>The new ELVs are aimed to return rugby to its purest form and <BR/>eliminate many of the changes that have taken place since the early <BR/>1900s. The key rule changes are; <BR/><BR/><BR/>The number of players will be increaed to twenty reversing the <BR/>reduction in player numbers that was effected in 1877. The RFU believe this significant change will allow the game to become more inclusive and tighten up the game for the forwards, eliminating much of the unnecessary open play that has become a blight on the game. <BR/><BR/>Another new exciting developments will be the reintroduction of the <BR/>goal from mark that was cruelly abandoned in 1971. This exciting <BR/>element of the game will allow skilled place kickers to score during open play without the need for the awarding of a penalty. This will result in more kicks at goal and further reduce the incentive to run the ball. <BR/><BR/>The RFU are also excited to announce the reintroduction of the leather spherical ball with an inner-tube made of a pig's bladder which had been incorrectly abandoned in 1862 following the introduction of Richard Lindon's rubber inner-tubes. The "new" balls will require a greater level of skill in order to convert kicks at goal into points - in particular in wet weather with the "new" balls weighing 30kgs when wet. <BR/><BR/>Other exciting ELV changes include, no lifting in the line out and kicking out on the full allowed from anywhere on the field. <BR/><BR/>Point scoring will revert back to those of 1900 with 3 points for a <BR/>try, 2 points for a conversion, 3 points for a drop goal and 4 points for the reintroduced Goal from mark. It is expected that this will be the most contentious rule change with some RFU delegates looking to a return to pre 1889 rules where no points were awarded for tries. <BR/><BR/>A represenative of the RFU Board, Steven Fotherington-Bligh, commented "we are excited by this new proposal which will see rugby revert to it's original purity, with an emphasis on rewarding kicks at goal rather than tries<BR/><BR/><BR/>Karl aka StomperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101694739527706614.post-18129751324585884402008-07-16T15:40:00.000+01:002008-07-16T15:40:00.000+01:00I absolutely agree that we should listen to the pl...I absolutely agree that we should listen to the players - ALL players, not just 260...and I'm assuming that the dissenting 10-17% were props & locks!! :)Total Flankerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06368624271678527333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101694739527706614.post-32656475130310218672008-07-16T15:27:00.000+01:002008-07-16T15:27:00.000+01:00interestingly enough, Freddie Michalak, the French...interestingly enough, Freddie Michalak, the Frenchie who played with the Sharks during the Super 14 season also was supportive of the ELV's-granted that is just one Northern Hemisphere player.Nursedudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07841605014910203222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101694739527706614.post-65086246732067504042008-07-16T14:14:00.000+01:002008-07-16T14:14:00.000+01:00Matt,true, but that would be the sensible thing to...Matt,<BR/><BR/>true, but that would be the sensible thing to do.....<BR/><BR/><BR/>Karl aka StomperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101694739527706614.post-84611319531820405102008-07-16T10:34:00.000+01:002008-07-16T10:34:00.000+01:00Maybe we should listen to the professional players...Maybe we should listen to the professional players who have actually played under the ELVs?<BR/><BR/><I>"...the results of a survey released on Wednesday by the players' associations in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have overwhelmingly endorsed the Super 14 experience.<BR/><BR/>Almost 90 per cent of the 260 players who responded said the laws were easy to understand and result in more continuity, while 83 per cent said the ELVs had been a positive for rugby.<BR/><BR/>And the most contentious innovation - the replacement of most penalties with a short-arm free-kick - was also resoundingly endorsed by the players, with 85 per cent liking the move."</I><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://totalflanker.blogspot.com/2008/07/johnny-tourette-strikes-again.html" REL="nofollow">Source</A>Matt @ Green and Gold Rugbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01448206561040202849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101694739527706614.post-28649137063347019102008-07-15T23:44:00.000+01:002008-07-15T23:44:00.000+01:00Hi TF,Played at Ealing during the 85/6 and 86/7 se...Hi TF,<BR/><BR/>Played at Ealing during the 85/6 and 86/7 seasons... 2nd row, mainly Extra 1sts<BR/><BR/>Yes, an Aussie but with 50% kiwi heritage - although I would have been disappointed with the 2007 kickfest regardless of nationality!<BR/><BR/><BR/>Karl aka StomperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101694739527706614.post-28509765284631165732008-07-15T09:37:00.000+01:002008-07-15T09:37:00.000+01:00Hi Karl - please don't let the facts get in the wa...Hi Karl - please don't let the facts get in the way, will you?! :)<BR/><BR/>All rugby worldwide from 1st August will be subject to the 13 ELVs agreed by the IRB in May - most of which were technical changes, the only significant changes being:<BR/><BR/>- 5m law at Scrum (which most don't have an issue with - other than Mr Lynagh who makes a very good point that hardly any team now goes wide from 1st phase)<BR/><BR/>- no pass pack to 22 law (again which most people like but which has caused an increase in aerial ping-pong from what I've seen)<BR/><BR/>- numbers in lineout law - now cause for concern in 3N<BR/><BR/>- quick lineouts not needing to be straight - which therefore signals the end of the lineout as we know it<BR/><BR/>- allowing the collapsing of mauls which just about everyone agrees is a stupid and dangerous idea (and which the RFU are sensibly refusing to apply to any rugby under the age of 19).<BR/><BR/>What JO'N objects to is the fact that the NH have not agreed to trial the "free kicks instead of penalties" provisions (other than in one yet to be specified competition) which many of uf see as a charter for cheating and which allows referees to cop out by awarding a free kick at nearly every breakdown, breaking up the rhythm of the game and effectively creating a Sevens/League hybrid.<BR/><BR/>Whether or not it can be proved that any of these changes improve the game, the likes of of O'Neill will still try to railroad them through because to do otherwise would just be a huge loss of face. And as he isn't getting his way he resorts to scaremongering and threats - it really is too pathetic for words.<BR/><BR/>And to lay the blame at the door of the English/Welsh Unions is entirely misguided (unlike your other examples which were not entirely unfair). Fact is that much of NH rugby is united in its concerns - coaches, players, referees, volunteers etc. We're not against all of the changes but what concerns most of us is that there seems to be a concerted attempt to force through changes that we see as harmful and unnecessary without consensus.<BR/><BR/>cheers<BR/>TF<BR/><BR/>PS - I'd also take issue with your assertion that RWC07 was "dross" and can only assume that you are an Aussie or a Kiwi?<BR/><BR/>PPS - when did you play at Ealing? (I was there 1988-90).Total Flankerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06368624271678527333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101694739527706614.post-17933152243403635362008-07-15T08:12:00.000+01:002008-07-15T08:12:00.000+01:00Well said Karl!Well said Karl!Matt @ Green and Gold Rugbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01448206561040202849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101694739527706614.post-27189808364356456062008-07-15T08:05:00.000+01:002008-07-15T08:05:00.000+01:00Hey Total,I thought the IRB had mandated the use o...Hey Total,<BR/><BR/>I thought the IRB had mandated the use of the ELVs for the 2008/9 Northen Hemisphere season?<BR/><BR/>In which case won't the 5N and (I supose) the Eurpoean Cup be played under ELVs while the GP and Celtic will now be played under the "old" laws?<BR/><BR/>No wonder O'Neil is pi*&ed - I imagine he thought that the IRB was running rugby in the interests of a global game... now seems the home nations are intent on breaking from the fold?<BR/><BR/>These are the same old champions of change that has opposed most important changes to the game, including;<BR/><BR/>- professionalism (although the Welsh were notorious for paying players)<BR/>- World Cup (England and Wales never wanted it)<BR/>- local leagues (remind us when England actually brought in leagues - it was certainly after I finished playing at Ealing!)<BR/>- central contracting of players (whoops England almost lost control of the game there for a while - some would argue they have!)<BR/><BR/>Is is any wonder Aust/NZ/SthAfr supporters see the old farts running rugby in the home nations as backward and un-imaginative - the very qualities that will hold the game back in what is a competitive global environment. <BR/><BR/>The IRB would know that they won't have a hope in hell of raising $250m in upfront fees if they serve up the same rugby dross that was dished up at RWC2007.<BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>Karl aka StomperAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7101694739527706614.post-65089371581068541752008-07-14T23:16:00.000+01:002008-07-14T23:16:00.000+01:00Chillax and wipe the spittal off the screen TF!You...Chillax and wipe the spittal off the screen TF!<BR/><BR/>You know what they say, you can't stop progess.Matt @ Green and Gold Rugbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01448206561040202849noreply@blogger.com