Ireland v England Grand Slam Decider 2023

Rugby has a massive problem with red cards these days. So easy to get one, even accidentally bring clumsy while fatigued. I suppose composure could be seen as a skill in itself. But so many big games effectively decides early with sending off. That said, I do believe Ireland would have won yesterday 15 v 15

The slagging of the rules and how professional officials read/interpret and enforce them is tiresome.

One thing yesterday and particularly after the red card I thought Ireland were trying to force the game too much. When we possibly needed just to play rugby and string phases together and stretch and already panting England, we were trying to play through tight spaces in the middle. Actually we rarely played the ball through the hands into the wide channels. I know England's rush defence had a say in that but we never stood off a little or chipped over the rush.

On the red card, the oncoming train of litigation along with the appalling images from so many games of players concussed may finish rugby as a sport. The huge driver despite the image of pushy Daddy's is often pushy mammy's ferrying kids here there and everywhere to further their prospects in sport. When kids are 6,7,8 10 their playing loads of sports and the ones who'll make it in one sport could quite likely make it in several others. If rugby cannot sort the issues that lead to concussions it may not continue as a sport.

There is absolutely no industry or company that would allow it's employees face such danger on a regular basis. Any such industry or profession would be shut down immediately.

What if one of the current Irish Team in ten years time can't remember winning the grand slam. Little consolation being at a 25 year anniversary weekend if you can't remember any of it. Offhand have 3? Irish players had concussions over the last 7-8 weeks?

Rugby has to do whatever it takes to sort this issue. The incredible conditioning of the players and the immense physicality of modern rugby has turned rugby into an incredibly physical contest.

Not sure anyone claiming he wanted to inflict injury and that there was malice. As per game rules it was a red. End of. Players shouldn’t be allowed away with these incidents based off their poor judgment calls. How on earth would the game be officiated with this attitude?’

Basically every rugby players natural reaction is to turn and potentially brace for impact when a player is running at them without the ball. It happenes every time in a kick and chase situation for example. Keenan gaining possession of the ball a split second before the collision has made the situation. Its rugby though, sometimes you just can't account for the bounce of a ball.

Under the laws it probably is a red card, but the laws are flawed. World rugby need to take a long hard think about where they want the game to go and what are they trying to achieve. Its a contact sport, people will get head injuries. It happens in almost everyone other sport.

Again, I've not seen anyone outside of Irish people who think yesterday's decision being s red is good for the sport and the position that should be place long term.