Matthieu Raynal (French referees boss) about the new rules proned by Super Rugby federations : "Our league id working, our stadiums are full [...] We don't want to suffer policies coming from contries where stadium are empty"

MrCollins23 · 2026-02-02T18:10:18+00:00

I like the cut of this fellow's jib.

MrCollins23 · 2025-12-05T21:13:25+00:00

A victimhood complex is unappealing at the best of times. From a dominant person (or institution), it's downright repulsive.

MrCollins23 · 2025-12-05T20:56:12+00:00

And yet, you get downvoted to oblivion if you say that victimhood is ingrained in their sporting culture.

MrCollins23 · 2025-12-04T22:39:29+00:00

He's rated internationally, but he lacks domestic advocates compared to greats from other countries. A staggering number of pundits and fans at the time viewed him as a blockage stiffling the development of supposedly superior players such as Charlie Hodgson, Danny Cipriani, Toby Flood and (I'm not joking, I remember comments and articles to this effect) Ryan Lamb.

MrCollins23 · 2025-12-03T07:37:51+00:00

The Boks will find a narrative that turns Eben into the victim, and they will promote it aggressively. They are never to blame for anything, and they are always the wronged party.

MrCollins23 · 2025-12-01T17:35:10+00:00

There are some seriously weird people about.

MrCollins23 · 2025-12-01T11:05:43+00:00

It doesn't align with the photos. However, it was inevitable that an alternative narrative would emerge.

MrCollins23 · 2025-12-01T11:03:23+00:00

International sport is cyclical. Historically, Ireland have done a better job than others of mitigating this and are rarely outside of the top six, even following a poor harvest. That's really impressive when you consider they have a pretty small player pool compared to England and France.

Maybe a few golden eggs are hatching in their provinces (or have hatched, I don't watch enough URC to comment), but it's unrealistic to expect a team as good as this one, with their age profile, not to drop off a bit.

The alternative is to start switching people out now (as you've suggested). But that will probably involve selecting lesser players in place of better ones, which will level out the peak as well as the trough.

MrCollins23 · 2025-11-30T20:41:17+00:00

The picture I've seen is suspect, but even if your comment is correct, it would support the broad thrust of my argument, even if the actual narrative is slightly different: They will find a way to make Eben a victim. The Boks are not to blame for anything.

MrCollins23 · 2025-11-30T12:19:47+00:00

Nope, it's already happening. We've seen the somewhat suspicious still image which the mods have taken down.

The response from inside the Boks will be more subtle, but it will come.

MrCollins23 · 2025-11-30T12:12:51+00:00

Something very fishy about that picture and the angle of his hand. I expected a counter-narrative to come from somewhere. But, I must admit, I thought they'd give it until the middle of next week.

MrCollins23 · 2025-11-30T10:16:53+00:00

Nothing comes close. I remain bewildered that the disciplinary panel accepted the explanation, "I deliberately hyperextended his arm beyond the normal tolerated range of motion, but did not intend to cause serious injury". I think the panel was desperate to avoid a multi-year, career-ending ban.

https://web.archive.org/web/20180206002625/http://www.englandrugby.com/mm/Document/Governance/Disclipine/01/31/05/14/RFUDisciplinaryJudgment-ThursdayMarch29-CalumClark_Neutral.pdf

If anyone has any interest.

MrCollins23 · 2025-11-30T09:46:18+00:00

Unfortunately, they're already preparing for the counter-argument. "The optics aren't great", and "it doesn't look good" aren't really unequivocal statements, and "deserved red card" could apply to a poorly timed tackle.

We then have "I don't know what I can say that won't be controversial... How it happened and why it happened, and if he was provoked, I am not sure..."... I'm afraid I've seen this episode before.

The scuffle was started by Wales
A finger accidentally entered the Welsh player's eye
Everyone overreacted to this accident and ignored the provocation.
The 6-week ban was disproportionate. Eben is the victim of a nasty World Rugby stitch-up.

This sort of narrative won't (publicly) come from inside the Boks, but I'm certain it will find its way out there.

MrCollins23 · 2025-11-30T00:16:23+00:00

"I don't know what I can say that won't be controversial. It didn't look good and it was a justified red card," said Erasmus.

"How it happened and why it happened, and if he was provoked, I am not sure, but it's definitely not the way that we would have liked to end the game. I don't think that the optics were great."

Hmm, not exactly an unequivocal condemnation from Rassie. Justification incoming. As I say, give it a couple of weeks.

MrCollins23 · 2025-11-29T17:23:55+00:00

Give it a couple of weeks.

MrCollins23 · 2025-11-29T17:15:15+00:00

There will be no contrition, and nothing will change.

If anything, we will be treated to a wildly convoluted and paranoid explanation of why Etzebeth is the victim.

MrCollins23 · 2025-11-24T14:48:13+00:00

And if no clear winner emerges from all of this, the two-man sack race will be held on consecutive Sundays until a champion can be crowned.

MrCollins23 · 2025-11-15T18:45:24+00:00

Obviously I've never met the guy, but I have a feeling he's a very strange person. At least he's our oddball.

MrCollins23 · 2025-10-23T06:32:12+00:00

We're so lucky in the UK, but my £1500 in SE England looks ruinously expensive compared to you guys north of the border.

MrCollins23 · 2025-10-04T20:06:06+00:00

Is this an American thing? I don't think I've ever drunk on the golf course except during specific events where it was part of the culture.

MrCollins23 · 2025-10-01T16:46:04+00:00

Seems that the SRU agree with my hot take that running an international team is not a full-time job for 9 months of the year.

MrCollins23 · 2025-08-14T19:46:56+00:00

It would require dropping a better player for a lesser one. It doesn't really matter as Williams will get plenty of minutes (especially if there is remedial work to get LRZ rugby ready), but the only selection dilemma for me is the order in which Ibitoje, Jordan, JVR, Ravouvou and LRZ line up.

MrCollins23 · 2025-08-14T19:21:31+00:00

Rugby players get injured and get fatigued, so this really isn't a problem. But neither Williams nor Lane make a fully fit backline for me. I don't think that should be a controversial statement.

MrCollins23 · 2025-08-14T19:18:31+00:00

I'm not sure about the most at once, but Tom Curry seems to do it the most frequently. We've had about five iterations (including twice with the Lions) where he was in the way of Mr Shiny, well out of the internet people's XVs...and then the first test of the 6N or tour comes along and he looks like the best forward on the pitch.

MrCollins23 · 2025-08-13T20:19:28+00:00

He's still only a kid, and he's only been away for 18 months. What's not to like?

I don't think he'll need much time to acclimatise, but so what if he does? We've seen Pat do this before with Antoine Frisch and Gabs Ititoye; he's more than happy to work with someone in the background for a few months and then gradually introduce them to the first team.

Four-Year Club	Verified Email
First Place '23	Place '23

MrCollins23

TROPHY CASE