Law-tinkerers are a danger to the game
The Rugby Paper|June 25, 2023
THE odds on Owen Farrell travelling to the World Cup as England’s starting No.10 are even shorter than the lifespan of a European Champions Cup format, which means three things: watertight kicking and defence, an ocean of attitude and, according to his critics, the imaginative scope of a whelk. How might we describe this style of rugby? Fazball. Owzat?
CHRIS HEWETT
Law-tinkerers are a danger to the game

For the avoidance of doubt, your columnist bows to no one in his support for the current national captain, who should be in the run-on side all week, every week, and twice on Sundays. But there is no disputing the fact that whatever Fazball may or may not be, it ain’t Bazball. Never has a single consonant encapsulated such a gulf in sporting attitude.

None of which will matter a tinker’s if England mark the 20th anniversary of their global triumph in Sydney by winning the Webb Ellis Trophy for a second time, rather closer to home in Paris. It’s not as if the Australian cricketers are queuing outside the nearest confession box to beg forgiveness for Usman Khawaja’s obduracy or Pat Cummins’ conservative field settings at Edgbaston. They prevailed in a genuinely great Ashes Test and are one-up in the series. Done. Dusted. End of.

Yet while the reductive debate over playing styles and philosophies rages on, with England playing the virtuous heroes and the tourists typecast as moral vacuums, last week’s unforgettable events told us a different tale, which went to the heart of professional spectator sport and the way it is presented to us. Is rugby’s so-called governing class paying attention? We can only hope and pray, for it is being repeated here for their benefit.

Test cricket has seen its share of changes down the decades, from restrictions on the number of fielders behind square on the legside to the curate’s egg confection of the DRS system, but to all intents and purposes, the game remains the same. Bradman would have recognised everything on offer last week within seconds of taking his seat in the pavilion. Sobers, currently 86 not out, could probably play a game tomorrow and have the reverse ramp shot in his repertoire by tea.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 25, 2023 من The Rugby Paper.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 25, 2023 من The Rugby Paper.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من THE RUGBY PAPER مشاهدة الكل
Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy
The Rugby Paper

Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy

TEN-TRY Exeter inflicted the backlash from six successive defeats in their worst ever start to a Premiership season on a young Pirates side suffering their own problems in the Championship.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 03, 2024
South America look to keep on building
The Rugby Paper

South America look to keep on building

AS Sebastián Piñeyrúa's historic six-year term as President of Rugby Sudamérica comes to an end, his replacement shows no signs of slowing down.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 03, 2024
Scarratt excited by new pathway
The Rugby Paper

Scarratt excited by new pathway

ENGLAND centurion Emily Scarratt is delighted with the new women's BUCS programme which aims to provide a smoother pathway for young aspiring female players.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 03, 2024
Baxter: I want to make things better
The Rugby Paper

Baxter: I want to make things better

ROB Baxter will not be walking away from Exeter, the only club still looking for a Premiership victory this season, believing he can get the Chiefs back on track and he cannot bear the thought of anyone else doing the job.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 03, 2024
Pearce walks in his father's footsteps
The Rugby Paper

Pearce walks in his father's footsteps

PADDY Pearce is living a dream after emulating his father and great-uncle by playing for the club he supported as a boy, Bristol.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 03, 2024
New England group will cause uncertainty
The Rugby Paper

New England group will cause uncertainty

SO JUST when we thought that everything was getting sorted between the RFU, the clubs and players, a number of new agreements and a new group raises its head.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 03, 2024
Galthie turns his sights to the future
The Rugby Paper

Galthie turns his sights to the future

FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie offered the clearest hint yet of Les Bleus' future on Wednesday, when he released 19 players back F to their clubs for the ninth and final Top 14 round before the international break.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 03, 2024
Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson
The Rugby Paper

Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson

CAMERON Anderson has hailed the impact made by defence coach Jason Gilmore, below, since he arrived at The Stoop in the summer.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 03, 2024
Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath
The Rugby Paper

Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath

BATH secured a thumping away success in the opening match of their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign against Ampthill at Dillingham Park.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 03, 2024
New faces take the plaudits for Saints
The Rugby Paper

New faces take the plaudits for Saints

NORTHAMPTON handed out a thorough lesson to a tame Leicester team in this one-sided East Midlands derby to launch the Premiership Cup.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 03, 2024