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InternationalBluesEnglandRebels

Rugby Pass Podcast: A Sense Of Occasion

Sonny Bill Williams /Getty
This week on the Rugby Pass podcast Scotty reunites with pod legend Mark Stafford. The theme of the episode is ‘A Sense of Occasion’ and topics include the diabolical Rubik’s Cube that is the 2017 Super Rugby draw, the necessity of an All Blacks vs England game this year, the Brangelina split and Mark’s childhood get-rich-quick scheme.

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Fissler Extra: RWC winner on URC shortlist, Italian eyed as Faf back-up

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Another ex-player weighs in on new Jacques Nienaber theory in Ireland

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Ireland coach John Fogarty makes frank Tadhg Furlong admission

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World Rankings record on the line in round two of the Six Nations

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'I’m severely worried': Ex-players sound alarm over looming Irish crisis

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Wales forced into emergency coach change during Six Nations

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France-based South African back-rower set to answer Stormers SOS

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Latest Long Reads

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'I don't think fans understand some of the consequences' – Peter O’Mahony on the worrying trend in modern rugby

Ahead of his punditry debut, the former Ireland captain gives his take on the "circus" surrounding Ireland's fly-half debate

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Freddie Steward and Fraser Dingwall are quietly becoming crucial for England

Wales thrashing comes with its caveats but the centre and full-back are making real strides in an England shirt

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Wales brace themselves for French invasion knowing they simply have to do better

The French juggernaut will roll into Cardiff hellbent and demolishing any Welsh resistance and Steve Tandy's men must show smarts and grit

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Comments on RugbyPass

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Shane Klaasen 9 minutes ago
William Havili to make history for Moana Pasifika as Ngani Laumape debuts

laumape back in Nz rugby wow

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Eric Elwood 13 minutes ago
Wales brace themselves for French invasion knowing they simply have to do better

Thanks for the info….That’s not good!

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PMcD 15 minutes ago
Where Irish rugby should actually look if they want to play blame game

James Haskell knows a fair few things about back row play and he just said there was just no fight or emotion from IRE in that first half, which both the scoreboard and most of the stats will probably confirm.

He clearly didn’t see what you are seeing if you thought there would be no change in intent and the fact Farrell has made 6 changes probably tells you everything you need to know on that front.



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PMcD 20 minutes ago
Where Irish rugby should actually look if they want to play blame game

Eric - I think you are trying to hide from the fact that vs South Africa in the Autumn, IRE were 86% tackle completion vs 89% from South Africa who have the best blitz defence of them all.

To fall off as much as they have is unacceptable from the players.



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T
TheNotoriousFig 22 minutes ago
Andy Farrell makes 6 changes to Ireland team for Italian job in Dublin

That is a little more adventurous than I expected.

Exciting to see fresh faces, even if they are not young, Izuchukwu and Robert Baloucoune deserve a crack. Edogbo off of the bench will be really interesting to se and a welcome new face to the tight 5.



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Harry 23 minutes ago
O’Mahony: “People don't understand some of the consequences"

POM, the lawn mowing bully!

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JJ 31 minutes ago
Fabien Galthie hands out debut in one of two changes for France

So Bielle-Biarrey will be France’s oldest three-quarter! Frightening, especially as the U20s put 50 on Ireland last week. The young talent France have is incredible.

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Eric Elwood 31 minutes ago
Where Irish rugby should actually look if they want to play blame game

Which is similar to Leinster’s. Including last Thursday’s match Ireland have lost 3 matches in 4 years. There was a clear defensive systematic issue last Thursday. Farrell was ill advised to shoot the mouth off before considering things more rationally.

With a week to fix the system errors, weaker opposition (no disrespect) and a more level playing field as regards video replays (incidents benefitting Ireland might be replayed) there should be a big jump up in standard here. I don’t see any increase in “intent” though.



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JJ 35 minutes ago
Wales brace themselves for French invasion knowing they simply have to do better

£50 for adults and £25 for kids. We have 90 available across the 3 games. If that’s repeated at all 300 clubs across Wales, that’s 27,000 unsold tickets, on top of the 45,000 the WRU have left. The Italy game will be about half-full.

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GS 37 minutes ago
All Blacks duo ink new two-year deals with Chiefs

OK, let’s just agree to disagree. The simple reality is he went in for the tackle, had poor tackle technique and was run over, and a try was scored.

Will be very surprised if we see him in an AB jumper this year.



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Eric Elwood 40 minutes ago
Wales brace themselves for French invasion knowing they simply have to do better

How much would the cheapest ticket go for now may I ask?

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Eric Elwood 41 minutes ago
Where Irish rugby should actually look if they want to play blame game

It is not as simple as you make out. Leinster are de facto joint top in the URC with Leinster on attacking stats. However, they are near the bottom with a tackle completion rate of 79%. Teams who rush defences (use counter ruck) have way more missed tackles. What happens is the player who evades the tackle is forced into the rush and is gobbled up. If the attack gets the long way around the rush then the scramble has time to make the tackle.

What happens when a team does not use a counter ruck and tries to rush is that they are not slowing the opponents ruck speed and don’t have time to set properly. This weakens the rush and promotes fatigue. More missed tackles, more damaging missed tackles and things deteriorate as fatigue sets in. The rush line is not high so France could get around it economically meaning that the scramble missed tackles also.



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PMcD 48 minutes ago
Where Irish rugby should actually look if they want to play blame game

IRE were also 78% tackle completion for the whole of the 6 Nations, so has been slightly underwhelming for a while compared to being 84.6% in the 2022 6 Nations (so confirms how much they have dropped in this area).

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Eric Elwood 1 hour ago
O’Mahony: “People don't understand some of the consequences"

“People love sport in Ireland, people love the game, but some of the opinions cross the line on social media. People get hysterical about it. People who don’t know what they’re talking about. People are firing stuff off online that, these days, goes direct to a fella’s phone. I don’t think they understand some of the consequences it might have. I’d like to talk about some of that stuff.”

I think players pundits and coaches and media in general need to have a quick course in social media. Social media gives more amplification to divisive posts. They are the most likely to get looked at and responded to. During the “race riots” in England derogatory comments against specific groups (I wont elaborate) amounted to 80% of noise on the topic. A study with a sample size of communication found < 15% held those views in the real world. A massive distortion.



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Hammer Head 1 hour ago
Andy Farrell makes 6 changes to Ireland team for Italian job in Dublin

Nice to see Irish players practicing catching and passing.

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JO 1 hour ago
The times are changing, and some Six Nations teams may be left behind

Yes. It was in response to the growing legal jeopardy. The RFU did extensive research, at least to be seen to be doing the right thing. This was one of the aspects they looked at. Happened in the last 3 years. Very relevant. Defensive move from a legal hazard perspective.

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LE 1 hour ago
Townsend makes shock decision as Scotland make 4 changes for England

or Kinghorn at 15, Expect Ford to be constantly scanning the backfield for positioning errors with an out of position Wing and FB

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PMcD 1 hour ago
The times are changing, and some Six Nations teams may be left behind

Interesting IRE changes NB - to have dropped JG-P & Beirne to the bench, which would have been unthinkable in the past, it does make me wonder how strong the post Lions burnout is. . . . But they had to do something after last week and 6 changes is about the max you can do at this level.

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Eric Elwood 1 hour ago
Andy Farrell makes 6 changes to Ireland team for Italian job in Dublin

Really excited to see Eddie Edogbo make his debut off the bench. Get brother Sean Odogbo in soon too!

Smart to leave Beirne out. He needs a rest before England and he is 33 and won’t be around much longer anyway.



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Eric Elwood 1 hour ago
Italy forced into one crucial change for Ireland challenge

The reshuffle in the back line is not ideal. Apart from last year I have felt Italy have not performed versus Ireland. Pelting rain here still in Dublin but due a little drier on Saturday.

Ireland’s defense will be significantly better than in Paris. Some word that all may not be well in the camp. Farrell’s decision to blame the players may not have gone down well.



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