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Rugby World Cup

Ireland issue tentatively optimistic update on Dan Sheehan


Ireland players, from left, James Lowe, Dan Sheehan and Joe McCarthy after their side's defeat in the Steinlager Series match between the New Zealand and Ireland at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
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Andy Farrell expects Dan Sheehan to be fit for Ireland’s World Cup campaign after revealing his first-choice hooker sprained a foot ligament against England.

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Comments on RugbyPass

B
B 9 minutes ago
Why South Africa's ‘scrum dominance’ gospel is spreading around the world

Finally!!!!!!

The FEED should be the arm wrestle/battle/tug of war



...

351 Go to comments
O
Over the sideline 10 minutes ago
All Blacks player ratings vs Australia | Bledisloe Cup II 2026

No story change. My post is there for all to see

149 Go to comments
I
Itsallacademic 12 minutes ago
Why South Africa's ‘scrum dominance’ gospel is spreading around the world

“Incorrect”

No, it is in fact correct. Just because a referee let’s players get away with it, does not mean that is what the law says. The relevant law 14.5 (c) makes it a tacklers responsibility and there is no quantification through words like “attempt to” or similar.



...

351 Go to comments
B
B 21 minutes ago
Brendan Venter: 'Wine is very much like rugby. You never get to beat wine. You can never fully understand it.'

That’s very unfair. The Aviva grass is 95% natural, like the fans

It's mainly just training grounds, but (don't tell anyone!) they use recycled waxed jackets and dye them green…



...

23 Go to comments
B
B 28 minutes ago
Why South Africa's ‘scrum dominance’ gospel is spreading around the world

They do. They are 2/3 deep in #9’s and back line players who could run quick ball and do serious damage

I didn't play in the 1980’s but the game had a huge problem around spinal injuries and it was all to do with scrums. The main driver towards professionalism was the safety aspect around this and landmark UK and Australian legal cases that resulted in rule changes



...

351 Go to comments
I
Itsallacademic 33 minutes ago
Why South Africa's ‘scrum dominance’ gospel is spreading around the world

If believing that helps you sleep, go right ahead.

351 Go to comments
J
JW 41 minutes ago
Why South Africa's ‘scrum dominance’ gospel is spreading around the world



a tackler that gets trapped on the wrong side of a ruck gets penalised, regardless of his intent.

Incorrect. There are many occasions where a tackler does not get penalized. You need to differentiate between intent and ‘cause and action’. A refer penalizes a trapped player when hos own tackle technique put him in that situation. He didn’t intent to find himself there the actions he took determined it would happen.



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351 Go to comments
J
JW 55 minutes ago
Why South Africa's ‘scrum dominance’ gospel is spreading around the world



It is kind of hard to miss the NZ hooker standing up to stop the momentum.

Saffa popped first from memory. SA stood up themselves when they thought theyd gone forward enough.



...

351 Go to comments
c
cnw 57 minutes ago
Why South Africa's ‘scrum dominance’ gospel is spreading around the world

We are going in circles here IT. The rules do not contain a penalty provision for being a weaker scrum or for being shunted or bossed around. If the issue is dangerous - who is causing that? And strong scrums get good possession and good go forward without needing penalties. And we come back to my starting point - penalising the weaker scrum for being weaker is just disproportionate.

351 Go to comments
J
JW 59 minutes ago
Why South Africa's ‘scrum dominance’ gospel is spreading around the world

Refs trying to avoid giving penalties.

351 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
Why South Africa's ‘scrum dominance’ gospel is spreading around the world



As long as you stay square, keep your bind, etc. while backpeddling you won't get penalised.

No, surely you must know that’s not true. So I can’t really converse if I think you’re lying sorry.



...

351 Go to comments
c
cnw 1 hour ago
Why South Africa's ‘scrum dominance’ gospel is spreading around the world

Well, I’ve given my view on that above. But if you are right, and it is about dangerous scrums - who is causing them? The dominant or the weaker scrum? If the dominant scrums are forcing the weak scrum to collapse? I just think it’s gone too far to use a rule about protecting players to weaponise the very thing that is causing the danger in the first place. It could lead as I say to perverse results. Wouldn’t it be better and safer to encourage teams to win possession as the main priority, not penalties? Free kicks can achieve that proportionately to the purpose unless the weaker scrum is clearly preventing the stronger scrum from getting possession in which case yes they should be penalised.

351 Go to comments
I
Itsallacademic 1 hour ago
Why South Africa's ‘scrum dominance’ gospel is spreading around the world

Sorry, I just don’t agree. If a THP commits a dangerous act he should be penalised. Even if it wasn't dangerous, it would still be illegal. Rugby is not just about having posession, the quality of the posession matters. Getting the ball out while the oppositions defensive line is retreating is a massive advantage over getting the ball from stagnant position. If someone commits an offense to stop their own scrum from retreating, that is (and always should be) a penalty.

351 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
All Blacks player ratings vs Australia | Bledisloe Cup II 2026



You know Razor’s tenure is directly tired to BB right?

Razors own choices screwed him.



...

149 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
All Blacks player ratings vs Australia | Bledisloe Cup II 2026

Changing you’re story now huh? At least you’ve learnt to back down when needed.

149 Go to comments
I
Itsallacademic 1 hour ago
Why South Africa's ‘scrum dominance’ gospel is spreading around the world

Nope. I have never once said a dominant scrum deseves a penalty.

You bring up a point, I counter it. That is kind of how this works, it isn't stretching anything.



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351 Go to comments
c
cnw 1 hour ago
Why South Africa's ‘scrum dominance’ gospel is spreading around the world

Really IT - scrum dominance and penalities is all about dangerous play? We are making the scrum safer by penalising THPs off the park, going down to 7 men scrums for player safety? That is just not a cogent justification for over penalising the weaker scrum - in fact on one view of it plainly could lead to very dangerous scrums or nanny scrums if both THPs are yellow carded.

We need some common sense here - penalise for clear intentional infringements designed to prevent the stronger team from winning possession. Otherwise play the game - get the ball and score the tries.



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351 Go to comments
I
Itsallacademic 1 hour ago
Why South Africa's ‘scrum dominance’ gospel is spreading around the world

“And that’s why automatic penalising of the losing scrum is disproportionate”

I agree. Losing a scrum is not, and should not be, a penalty. But offending to avoid losing the scrum is, and should be.



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351 Go to comments
c
cnw 1 hour ago
Why South Africa's ‘scrum dominance’ gospel is spreading around the world

Come on IT you are now stretching your argument to fit the outcome. Whether it is dangerous play is a matter of interpretation. Your entire point has been to justify the dominant scrums who already getting penalities because of their dominance not because of some concern for player safety.

351 Go to comments
I
Itsallacademic 1 hour ago
Why South Africa's ‘scrum dominance’ gospel is spreading around the world

See my other responses. Intent is pretty much irrelevant in rugby. Scrum offenses are dangerous, comparing them to a knock on or off-side is misguided as those contains no element of danger. If you want to make this argument, compare it to other acts defined as dangerous. You will see intent doesn't really apply to any of them either.

351 Go to comments
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