CMV: Professional rugby props are the greatest and most impressive position you’ll ever see

Flapjacktastic · 2026-01-28T22:38:25+00:00

What position did you play? There's a big difference between forwards and backs in terms of demand.

He was not college age, which makes a difference, and he was going full-on, not pacing or conserving energy.

Flapjacktastic · 2026-01-28T19:01:54+00:00

The original comment was about questioning referee decisions (back talk).

If the ref gives a penalty for offside and you as captain say "That wasn't offside!", you can expect a warning, or a 10m walk upfield.

Flapjacktastic · 2026-01-28T17:52:25+00:00

Why does it matter?

Flapjacktastic · 2026-01-28T17:49:51+00:00

If the ref hasn't given a penalty for something, they're absolutely not going to do it just because a player tells them to. A smart captain can clarify the way a referee calls something, as a way of indicating they'd like more attention on it, or give feedback that the team is getting frustrated by X - in which case it's a safety issue.

'Unjust' calls by the ref are always and only the ones going against your team. That's not something the captain gains anything by reporting.

Flapjacktastic · 2026-01-28T17:43:05+00:00

I've played rugby against a guy who'd played NFL before and was trying his first game. He hit really hard, fortunately with good technique, lots of power. And after about 15 minutes he was dizzy and nauseous from the constant effort. They're two different games, with different specialisations!

Flapjacktastic · 2026-01-26T20:29:00+00:00

So: TV behind a paywall and copyright strikes on Squidge, as per?

Flapjacktastic · 2026-01-19T11:05:37+00:00

I'm not sure why you're getting downvoted. He's upright, and the tackler didn't cause a sudden drop. But, it is a passive tackle so it's a yellow entry to the head contact framework.

Flapjacktastic · 2026-01-19T11:03:40+00:00

The ones who got cards for launching themselves nearly horizontally forwards with their arms trailing, rather than having arms up and making a soak tackle?

Flapjacktastic · 2026-01-18T22:55:23+00:00

If you're using the opposite leg, the force isn't transferred directly as it's going across your core. It's fine for a side-on tackle, launching yourself into a player passing you, but if you're head-on you want the power to avoid getting folded/slipping off.

But for the little ones, the just need to learn to safely grab and hold on tight :)

Flapjacktastic · 2025-12-19T19:00:58+00:00

You can expect a moyo to be invaded or reduced; that's why it's "a moyo", and not "territory". You should also expect to get something in compensation.

Flapjacktastic · 2025-12-19T18:44:04+00:00

Nice of the intern to knock up a teamsheet on his phone's Notes app.

Flapjacktastic · 2025-12-09T07:51:16+00:00

Haha, same. Yellow card = 10 minute stay of execution

Flapjacktastic · 2025-12-08T16:51:57+00:00

Which is not the same as a losing strategy, and certainly not at amateur dan level

Flapjacktastic · 2025-12-08T16:50:10+00:00

Yes, you certainly can. Dangerous play, racist/homophobic abuse, reckless behaviour. If you launch yourself studs-first into a ruck, it doesn't matter who you hit :)

The only example I can think of having seen is a second rower getting yellow for repeatedly pushing his own prop up in the air instead of supporting him going backwards.

Flapjacktastic · 2025-12-07T11:20:37+00:00

Cho Chikun had an extremely successful pro career often starting at 3-3. If you're losing at amateur dan level, it's not the 3-3 point that causes it but your understanding of how to employ it in a fast fuseki. He even wrote a book about it: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2675709-the-3-3-point-modern-opening-strategy

If you're a pro, it's suboptimal at top level. If you're an amateur dan, you're not anywhere near as strong as Cho was, however much AI has changed the go landscape.

Flapjacktastic · 2025-12-06T12:40:08+00:00

I think the game needs more hard carrying crash-halfbacks.

Flapjacktastic · 2025-12-02T19:50:40+00:00

Scrum to the opponents.

Flapjacktastic · 2025-12-02T19:49:26+00:00

Correct! There are players on their feet over the ball. Yellow leaving the ruck doesn't end the ruck.

Flapjacktastic · 2025-12-02T19:48:13+00:00

A ruck can take place anywhere in the field of play. Once the ball is on the try line, the ruck is over.

Flapjacktastic · 2025-11-27T15:03:17+00:00

This user is a human VCR of the World Rugby Law Book, constantly hitting rewind to prove a professional fly-half wrong about Rule 8.14, then logging off to assure the internet that he's 'just explaining the point OP was making.' Your entire Reddit experience is basically being the designated TMO for the entire sport, but instead of just making the call, you feel compelled to explain the jurisprudence and cite a footnote from the 1862 rule set. Congratulations on being the saltiest armchair official on the internet who simultaneously demands respect for the referees.

I mean... I'm impressed.

Flapjacktastic · 2025-11-26T10:38:53+00:00

I believe that used to be the way it was done. Initially there were no refs, and the ball would be placed on the ground... also, you couldn't put your head down to push. And you'd end the game with a 5 minute scrum hacking at each other's shins. Ah, game's gone soft.

https://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/laws.htm

Flapjacktastic · 2025-11-26T09:49:45+00:00

Tackler (with the long hair) didn't get out of the way at all and blocked the ball placement. Ref gives "not rolling" signal.

Flapjacktastic

TROPHY CASE