The Rugby Thread

[Paddingtonwolf]

South African hooker is absolutely awesome at the breakdown. What a great player.

 

[Tredman]

The Boks look very close to being a really good side. This is a really good game.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

It's a sensational game so far. We look like we are justifying number 3 in the world status, but the Boks are also tremendous to watch.

As I see it the top five of Ireland, New Zealand, Wales, England and South Africa are a little bit clear of the rest at the moment.

 

[Paul]

There are not many people I actively dislike in sport but Eben Etzebeth you are loathsome

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Get in. Well happy about that.

 

[Pablowolf]

According to the commentator, Australia scored the first try like a knife through hot butter...

 

[Tredman]

It was a very good try. Sometimes you just have to say well done.

 

[Donegal Wolf]

Joe Schmidt stepping down as Ireland coach after world cup next year, Andy Farrell will take over then.

Hardly a surprise but this on top of yesterdays performance think I will spend the day in a dark room with a bottle of whiskey for comfort.

 

[Tredman]

Interesting from Eddie:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/17/eddie-jones-jack-nowell-forward-england-six-nations

A lot of it is bluster, but he is right rugby should consider other formations and positions. You can't change the scrum, but everything else shoudl be considered open to change.

 

[Johnny75]

Interesting from Eddie:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/17/eddie-jones-jack-nowell-forward-england-six-nations

A lot of it is bluster, but he is right rugby should consider other formations and positions. You can't change the scrum, but everything else shoudl be considered open to change.

Interesting article. The All Blacks have been doing this for years and broke the mould when they stuck a heavyweight boxer on the wing to run over an RAF fighter pilot.

 

[Tredman]

Interesting article. The All Blacks have been doing this for years and broke the mould when they stuck a heavyweight boxer on the wing to run over an RAF fighter pilot.

While you're here on this thread - what's your thoughts on head gear for youth rugby? My twins play for Stafford U10s and a lot of their friends are starting to wear scrum caps and other types of protection (even shoulder pads), does it help at their age?

 

[Tredman]

I'll chip in on this if you don't mind. My opinion is that it's a bit 'dangerous' to start wearing too much protective equipment, because where it no doubt can help with injury prevention', when wearing it you do feel less vulnerable, more indestructible and you start using your body almost like a weapon, so perversely you're potentially creating more opportunity to hurt yourself or your opponent. Comes down to be coached proper impact technique at the end of the day I guess.

I agree on that for the body armour stuff, I've seen some kids really throw themselves into tackles as their upper bodies are RoboCop style.

Head protection is a bit different imo, some kids don't have great technique so you can end up with a knock to the head as the tackler gets their arms and legs in the wrong place.

 

[Johnny75]

It's a thorny issue for a number of reasons.

There is an article by Dundee University to say that wearing scrum caps at any level is beneficial to the wearer in any game of rugby. It is not without merit to say that wearing a helmet/ protection under any circumstances will give the wearer an added layer of protection. There is also the risk that wearing scrum caps will give the wearer a false sense of security and they will put their head in dangerous places when there is no need to. This last part is simply down to coaches to get the message across.

Having said that the materials they use in scrum caps are only there to prevent cuts and abrasions they are not there for shock absorption and in no way can prevent concussion. There is data to say that even at low speeds (walking) that they do not reduce the risk of concussion below 90%. I would steer away from any scrum cap that says 'Maximum protection'. This is a lie and about to be stopped.

It is important to note that nothing can prevent concussion, you can lower the risk but nothing can prevent it. I would also say that tackling technique and lower tackling lines (below the nipple line) are the bast ways of lowering the risk. But sometimes the injuries are unpreventable like a fall on the head and if there is any doubt sub them immediately, or sit them out as the protocol goes.

The rules are about to change for rugby headgear. The first one is they are to be called helmets instead of scrum caps (stupid name) as they will now be actively reducing the risk of concussion. The second is they will become mandatory in Scotland and Italy in Europe first (they are already mandatory in Japan) for kids and then for adults.

In short something is better than nothing but not at the expense of technique, and that goes for shoulder pads too.

 

[Tredman]

It's a thorny issue for a number of reasons.

There is an article by Dundee University to say that wearing scrum caps at any level is beneficial to the wearer in any game of rugby. It is not without merit to say that wearing a helmet/ protection under any circumstances will give the wearer an added layer of protection. There is also the risk that wearing scrum caps will give the wearer a false sense of security and they will put their head in dangerous places when there is no need to. This last part is simply down to coaches to get the message across.

Having said that the materials they use in scrum caps are only there to prevent cuts and abrasions they are not there for shock absorption and in no way can prevent concussion. There is data to say that even at low speeds (walking) that they do not reduce the risk of concussion below 90%. I would steer away from any scrum cap that says 'Maximum protection'. This is a lie and about to be stopped.

It is important to note that nothing can prevent concussion, you can lower the risk but nothing can prevent it. I would also say that tackling technique and lower tackling lines (below the nipple line) are the bast ways of lowering the risk. But sometimes the injuries are unpreventable like a fall on the head and if there is any doubt sub them immediately, or sit them out as the protocol goes.

The rules are about to change for rugby headgear. The first one is they are to be called helmets instead of scrum caps (stupid name) as they will now be actively reducing the risk of concussion. The second is they will become mandatory in Scotland and Italy in Europe first (they are already mandatory in Japan) for kids and then for adults.

In short something is better than nothing but not at the expense of technique, and that goes for shoulder pads too.

Very interesting, thanks Johnny. Particularly about them becoming mandatory. Makes a lot of sense to change the name too, if I'm honest I never thought about getting them for my kids and that's partly due to the fact they don't do proper scrums so thought they wouldn't need to wear scrum caps.

[FYI - you've exceeded your PM space on here too]

 

[Johnny75]

Very interesting, thanks Johnny. Particularly about them becoming mandatory. Makes a lot of sense to change the name too, if I'm honest I never thought about getting them for my kids and that's partly due to the fact they don't do proper scrums so thought they wouldn't need to wear scrum caps.

[FYI - you've exceeded your PM space on here too]

Sorted, thanks.

I guess the name 'scrum cap' says it all as they were designed for the forwards not to get cauliflower ears!

The most tackles are done by the fly half/ centres and hence they are the most at risk of concussion. I'm surprised nobody thought to collect this data earlier but there you go.

 

[Tredman]

This is what I used to wear as a 2nd row, well at least for the first 10 minutes until I ripped it off as they were a right pain in the ass

 

[Johnny75]

Very fetching. But that was the time people used to play in things public school educated folks went down the pub in.

Thankfully your boys will be wearing decent kit these days.

 

[Paul]

This is what I used to wear as a 2nd row, well at least for the first 10 minutes until I ripped it off as they were a right pain in the ass

You're Wade Dooley ?? Oh my god all of a sudden I like you

 

[Tredman]

You're Wade Dooley ?? Oh my god all of a sudden I like you

I wish

And you didn't before? I'm truly shocked

 

[Paul]

I wish

And you didn't before? I'm truly shocked

Always will, mate, always will