A surge in unconventional tactics in rugby has emerged following intensified enforcement on head contacts, prompting scrutiny on players Ellis Genge and Tadhg Furlong, renowned for their physicality.
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Rugby pundit Ben Coles, in his latest piece for The Telegraph, delves into the growing trend of teams exploiting alterations in regulations, leading to what was once dismissed in rugby circles now becoming a matter of concern.
He began: “‘Playacting’ or ‘diving’ used to be words that rugby scoffed about when discussing a certain other sport, but an increasing file of evidence is undeniable, combined with players now regularly appealing to referees for instances of possible head contact to be reviewed, soundbites which are being picked up over referee microphones in most Test matches.”
“This was encapsulated within a single minute of the first half between England and Ireland on Saturday, with two incidents involving Ellis Genge.
Genge tackle on Furlong:
“The first was a clearout by Genge on Tadhg Furlong which, in real time, looks bad – ‘looks’ being the crucial word here – as Genge flies into the ruck with Furlong subsequently leaping backwards from the breakdown clutching his ear before quickly getting back to the defensive line.
“The whole sequence seems bizarre, particularly because Furlong is the absolute last person you could imagine getting involved in any histrionics. The contact appears initially to be shoulder on shoulder, but Furlong’s reaction creates doubt.
McCarthy clearout on Genge:
“Five rucks and 30 seconds later Genge was involved again, except this time he was on the receiving end of a double tackle from Joe McCarthy and Caelan Doris and driven to ground. As referee Nika Amashukeli arrives at the ruck, Genge, down on the floor, can be seen and heard shouting at Amashukeli; “He’s hit my head! Head!”
“Play continues but as the referee and players head to the next ruck, Dan Cole, England’s other prop, can be heard saying to Amashukeli “that’s a headshot”. At the next scrum England captain Jamie George asked if the tackle had been checked – Amashukeli’s response is hard to pick up but he indicates it was acceptable – and the matter was settled.”
“Still a chance” – How England can win the 2024 Six Nations next weekend
In a nail-biting turn of events, the race for the Six Nations title remains wide open, with Ireland, England, and Scotland all still in contention.
Despite Ireland holding the advantage, thanks to their bonus points, the competition is far from decided, leaving room for various outcomes among the trio.
Next Saturday, all eyes will be on Dublin as Ireland hosts Scotland at 4:45 pm, while England faces off against France in a high-stakes clash kicking off at 8:00 pm.
For a comprehensive preview of the upcoming matches and insights into the pivotal England vs. Ireland showdown, Stephen Ferris provides an expert analysis.
Stay tuned for the permutations of Super Saturday below…
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How Ireland Might Secure the Championship Despite a Loss
Even if Ireland falls to Scotland, there’s still a path to the Championship. If they manage to secure a losing bonus point along with a try bonus point, they’ll reach 18 points, making it impossible for any other team to surpass them.
Alternatively, if Ireland loses to Scotland but England fails to secure a win against France, Ireland would be on at least 16 points, with England only able to reach 14 points with a draw.
Even with just one bonus point from their match against Scotland and England winning in France without a bonus point, Ireland would still edge ahead with 17 points, leaving England on 16. This scenario would mark a historic first for a team not winning the most games in the Six Nations yet clinching the championship.
