General Rugby Discussion II

Eod100

Wonder will this be for rugby players and if it will have any impact on players moving to Italy to play? https://twitter.com/malvestefano/status/1144339228903563264?s=19

salmocab

Parisse finishing up with Stade. Mutual consent apparently, I wonder will he wrap up after the WC or play out a year or two back with treviso.

Dave_The_Sheep

I've lost a lot of time for Parisse. He's mouthy more often than not at this stage, petulant child like. I get that he's been the best player by a million miles in the Italy setup, but it's like it's gone to his head. I won't miss him at this point, though doubtless Italy will.

Buer

Dave_The_Sheep wrote:

I've lost a lot of time for Parisse. He's mouthy more often than not at this stage, petulant child like. I get that he's been the best player by a million miles in the Italy setup, but it's like it's gone to his head. I won't miss him at this point, though doubtless Italy will.

He has been a bit of a twat for several years now on the field. He'd eat himself if he was made of chocolate.

awec

Buer wrote: »

He has been a bit of a twat for several years now on the field. He'd eat himself if he was made of chocolate.

Wouldn’t we all Buer?

irishbucsfan

I mean, that’s a mad thing to have a problem with anyway. I’d eat anything if it was actually made of chocolate

Maybe not in one sitting mind

errlloyd

One of the law changes WR have proposed is that a held up try results in a 22 drop out not a scrum five. Does anyone agree with that rule? I think we already have a problem where lots of maul / pick and go tries that were probably scored don't get awarded because there is no evidence. It's annoying when it happens to your team, but not too bad because you get the scrum. Now you'll have the try disallowed and lose 45m of territory.

deezell

It's a mixture of trying to reward defensive effort, and possibly discouraging that type of attack where you know you'll get another go as it were. A 22 drop out is excessive though, maybe reverse the scrum, or give a free kick behind the line.

CatFromHue

that doesn't make any sense to me.

if you held up a player anywhere else on the field it'd be a penalty for not releasing in the tackle, so you do need to reward the attacking team for getting over the line and into a position to ground the ball.

Squidgy Black

Stupid rule. I mean if they're end goal is to have less tries scored and reduce the number of attacking scrums then fair enough, but it's going to have a big impact on the game.

deezell

CatFromHue wrote: »

that doesn't make any sense to me.

if you held up a player anywhere else on the field it'd be a penalty for not releasing in the tackle, so you do need to reward the attacking team for getting over the line and into a position to ground the ball.

Conversely if you've succeeded in getting around and under the ball held by the grounded attacking player, and he doesn't release, it's a turnover and a full penalty.

Clegg

Getting this in before midnight.

It's the 18th anniversary of the 1st Test of the 2001 Lions tour when BoD scored his GoAT try.

thomond2006

Parisse has signed a one year deal at Toulon.

Buer

thomond2006 wrote: »

Parisse has signed a one year deal at Toulon.

Good fit.

thomond2006

Buer wrote: »

Good fit.

Right at home with fellow backrow pensioners Gorgodze (turns 35 this month) and Messam (turned 35 in March).

It's a pity Benetton or Zebre couldn't pick him up. Whether he would be much use on the field over the course of the season, off the field it would have been great.

AdamD

Is he even still good?

razorblunt

thomond2006 wrote: »

Right at home with fellow backrow pensioners Gorgodze (turns 35 this month) and Messam (turned 35 in March).

It's a pity Benetton or Zebre couldn't pick him up. Whether he would be much use on the field over the course of the season, off the field it would have been great.

I'd almost argue they'd both be better off without him, players won't go looking for him like Italy tended to do at times.

Squidgy Black

Boudjellal said in the Parisse signing press conference: "He will play for us after the RWC, and since Italy is in the same pool as NZ and SA, he will arrive back at the same time as the French players."

Squidgy Black

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Boudjellal said in the Parisse signing press conference: "He will play for us after the RWC, and since Italy is in the same pool as NZ and SA, he will arrive back at the same time as the French players."

Jesus ouch.

Well into the mean spirited column though - Parisse may not appreciate a remark like that.

bilston

Deleted User wrote: »

Jesus ouch.

Well into the mean spirited column though - Parisse may not appreciate a remark like that.

Sounds like more of a dig at the French than the Italians. Italy are never getting out of their pool. I don't fancy France will either to be honest but they certainly have a much better chance than Italy.

bilston

bilston wrote: »

Sounds like more of a dig at the French than the Italians. Italy are never getting out of their pool. I don't fancy France will either to be honest but they certainly have a much better chance than Italy.

It's completely a dig at the French - I just think the collateral damage of treating Italy like an afterthought and completely dismissing them is a bit unwarranted from the guy, especially as he just signed one of their most decorated players. Italy were solid enough at home this six nations and have recently beaten South Africa so whilst very unlikely it's not a foregone. Parisse may not care at all - but it's a bit insulting.

Shefwedfan

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Boudjellal said in the Parisse signing press conference: "He will play for us after the RWC, and since Italy is in the same pool as NZ and SA, he will arrive back at the same time as the French players."

That’s a dig at France....some people won’t be happy

Burkie1203

https://twitter.com/AllBlacks/status/1145952073432723457?s=19

Buer

Exactly a year after getting into an altercation with his other half which led to a court appearance and his Connacht contract being torn up, Sevu Reece is in the NZ squad. Interesting how things happen in different countries.

Squidgy Black

Buer wrote: »

Exactly a year after getting into an altercation with his other half which led to a court appearance and his Connacht contract being torn up, Sevu Reece is in the NZ squad. Interesting how things happen in different countries.

He's had one of the best breakout seasons in Super Rugby history. If the Crusaders win this weekend, he'll have a Super Rugby winners medal as a starter on the team, and potentially an ABs cap during the championship.

Connacht were 100% correct to cancel his contract given the political climate at the time with the IRFU and the provinces being under a lot of heat from social media etc, but on the other hand, fair play to him for turning around a situation where he had his contract cancelled and was looking at potentially missing out on a professional contract for the season. Self-inflicted, but still some determination.

Squidgy Black

Shefwedfan wrote: »

That’s a dig at France....some people won’t be happy

He hates the FFR with a passion, it'll be no skin off his back to piss people off. The backhanded dig at Italy was merely a side effect of his blatant dig at the French national team, but I'm sure Parisse was thinking "what the fúck" as soon as he said it.

Buer

Squidgy Black wrote: »

He's had one of the best breakout seasons in Super Rugby history. If the Crusaders win this weekend, he'll have a Super Rugby winners medal as a starter on the team, and potentially an ABs cap during the championship.

Connacht were 100% correct to cancel his contract given the political climate at the time with the IRFU and the provinces being under a lot of heat from social media etc, but on the other hand, fair play to him for turning around a situation where he had his contract cancelled and was looking at potentially missing out on a professional contract for the season. Self-inflicted, but still some determination.

I would say that he has turned things around and that's a fair point. I would very much question the judgement of calling him up to the NZ squad though. In a very roundabout way, the best thing that ever happened to his career was the incident with his girlfriend. I'm aware that's an extremely disingenuous way to put it but it's not wholly inaccurate.

It sends a very odd message to a society that is taking measures to try and curtail domestic violence.

Yeah_Right

NZ Rugby has history with this. Tuitupo, Savea, Moala and others all got selected for the ABs despite assault/DV convictions. I think the policy is that everyone can make a mistake and they deserve a second chance.

I hope he has conquered his demons and can have a good career and happy, healthy relationship. If he does it again, I would hope they can his ass.

Squidgy Black

Buer wrote: »

I would say that he has turned things around and that's a fair point. I would very much question the judgement of calling him up to the NZ squad though. In a very roundabout way, the best thing that ever happened to his career was the incident with his girlfriend. I'm aware that's an extremely disingenuous way to put it but it's not wholly inaccurate.

It sends a very odd message to a society that is taking measures to try and curtail domestic violence.

From the outside, things seem to be a bit more laid back in NZ in terms of giving second chances. Whether this is a reflection of society as a whole, or just the fact the majority of the population are invested in rugby compared to the likes of Ireland/England where a large part of the population has a negative perception of people who play rugby and the culture associated, I'm not sure.

I do agree that looking at it, it seems the whole thing has been swept under the rug.

errlloyd

I watched an interview with him where (in the nicest possible way) he seemed fairly immature and naive in that harmless type way. Like many of the other PIs who come over in their early teenage years after being poached by a project player system secretly designed to exploit economic differences moving for a better education, he is a little juvenile.

He then seemed to struggle pretty hard with drink for a while. I hate domestic violence, but he is still with his partner. She probably does want him to have this success. But that doesn't help other victims of domestic violence in NZ who have to look at him and be like "why would I report my abuser, in a year he could be an All Black".

In summary, I am uncomfortable with it.