England vs Italy at Twickenham, 3.00pm

[Caballo]

I didn't like it, not in the spirit for me. I'm all for innovation in an attempt to win, not when you're just trying to minimise your loss.

[Sutton-Claret]

Thinner than a book of Italian war heroes.....

[Rileybobs]

So, is there a difference between a rule and a law in sport?

[LeadBelly]

Italy's original plan was to stand right by the scrum half(/acting scrum half) and jump on him as soon as he picked up. The ref informed them that a new law-tweak meant that they had to observe an exclusion zone around the 9 (not sure whether that's 1 or 2 meters).
O'Shea himself thinks the law will subsequently be changed to disallow what they did in future but, as he says, what they did was within the current laws.

[Firthy]

The law will be changed. Standing in a blatant offside position and waving your arms about to prevent the scrum half from passing the ball is ridiculous. It is just exploiting the laws and ruining the game.

I'm all for innovation when it improves the game but this isn't one of those times.

[Funkydrummer]

The powers that be are now looking to change the laws so that it won't be allowed, apparently.

[Spijed]

The law will be changed. Standing in a blatant offside position and waving your arms about to prevent the scrum half from passing the ball is ridiculous. It is just exploiting the laws and ruining the game.

I'm all for innovation when it improves the game but this isn't one of those times.

As long as it's not cheating and withing the laws of the game, what's wrong with it?

Is it any different from a team playing like Barcelona as opposed to Wimbledon of old?

Both play within the rules, except one pushed the rules to the limit.

[Dyched]

I'm by no means a rugby fan but take a little interest when England play. I like Jones and they way he comes across but yesterday he was a right embarrassing whining bugger. Just get on with it man.

[conyoviejo]

Just about sums the game up..too many bloody laws..England had no answer to what the Wops were up to .. That first half made rugby Yawnion a laughing stock in front of the cameras,especially when the Ref said "I'm a referee not a coach" ..lol

[HatfieldClaret]

I didn't mind it actually. I don't think the rules should be changed, no different from being in an 'offside position' in open play but it just became very frustrating when the England team failed to adapt and shut the tactic down.

Not a lot different from a striker anticipating a back pass to the goalie from an unsighted defender.

[Firthy]

I didn't mind it actually. I don't think the rules should be changed, no different from being in an 'offside position' in open play but it just became very frustrating when the England team failed to adapt and shut the tactic down.

Not a lot different from a striker anticipating a back pass to the goalie from an unsighted defender.

The difference being that you can pass forward or backward in football. In rugby you can only pass backward so all they are doing is killing the game and ruining it as a spectacle. those who think it's acceptable are definitely not fans of running rugby.

[HatfieldClaret]

Understand what you're saying but it wouldn't kill the game if the opposition had their wits about them, understood the rules and dealt with it. It was England's lack of awareness and understanding of the rules that made it so difficult for them.

[Spijed]

The difference being that you can pass forward or backward in football. In rugby you can only pass backward so all they are doing is killing the game and ruining it as a spectacle. those who think it's acceptable are definitely not fans of running rugby.

But how do you stop any team bending the rules in any sport, even if it's boring?

[Firthy]

But how do you stop any team bending the rules in any sport, even if it's boring?

Change the rules, which is what they will hopefully do now. Quite simple, a ruck only has to have a player from either (not both as current) team stood contesting the ball, to be a ruck.