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#Post#: 55873--------------------------------------------------
Re: Toby Flood interview: 'Rugby is unrecognisable from when I
started - the physiques, the athleticism, the violent hit
DIR By: Fearless Fred
Date: January 2, 2021, 3:57 am
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I can recall a certain Quins game where we only made 2
substitutions (neither of them a front-rower), both after 70
minutes had been played. One was a back row replacement with 72
minutes gone, and the other at fly-half with 76 mins gone. The
FH replacement only had one touch of the ball & that was to kick
the ball out of play after we'd won a penalty at the breakdown.
Not a bad game iirc! [emoji6][emoji1]
#Post#: 55884--------------------------------------------------
Re: Toby Flood interview: 'Rugby is unrecognisable from when I
started - the physiques, the athleticism, the violent hit
DIR By: MadMax
Date: January 2, 2021, 6:24 am
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--- Quote from: Fearless Fred link ---
>
> I can recall a certain Quins game where we only made 2
substitutions (neither of them a front-rower), both after 70
minutes had been played. One was a back row replacement with 72
minutes gone, and the other at fly-half with 76 mins gone. The
FH replacement only had one touch of the ball & that was to kick
the ball out of play after we'd won a penalty at the breakdown.
Not a bad game iirc! [emoji6][emoji1]
>
--- End Quote ---
Didn't Ceri Jones have an incredible record of playing the full
eighty minutes for us?
#Post#: 55898--------------------------------------------------
Re: Toby Flood interview: 'Rugby is unrecognisable from when I
started - the physiques, the athleticism, the violent hit
DIR By: KentQuin
Date: January 2, 2021, 10:52 am
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--- Quote from: Yareet link ---
>
> It is an often-parroted idea but if I’m honest I question the
logic. As an example, of the current Quins squad, who do you
feel could not play a full 80?
>
> You mention the habitual changing of the front row yet Tom
Dunn recently won his first England cap by coming on in the 78th
minute.
>
> Even Adam Jones managed 70+ minutes when he came on as
loosehead. And he was 35 at the time.
>
> Front rows can last 80.
>
> You also make it sound as if the rise of the big centre has
meant that we no longer see silky runners like Guscott. But a
centre partnership has often had both a basher and a glider:
Guscott and Carling, Tindall and Greenwood, Nonu and Smith,
Esterhuizen and Marchant.
>
> Whilst you were drawn to the gliders, other young players will
have preferred the big hits and storming runs of the bigger
guys.
>
> Both players have got larger since professionalism (as all
players have) but I don’t believe the skill levels have dropped.
>
--- End Quote ---
Oh c'mon, you've cited a few examples but more often than not we
see significant change in the pack. Just finished watching Wasps
vs Exeter who made 5 and 4 changes each in their pack, all
between 40 and 60mins, both changing their entire front rows. I
think that's a pretty fair representation of where modern rugby
is at.
I agree that current day professional props can play the full
80, but more often than not they don't. I don't blame the
coaches, why wouldn't you make the changes if they're available
to you?!
Personally I don't think its an unreasonable view that fewer
substitutes would result in a greater emphasis on aerobic
fitness and therefore help to reduce injury count. The question
is how much of a difference would it make? It's certainly not a
silver bullet, but to my mind it's one of the more sensible
suggestions. The alternatives are carry on as we are and accept
an ever rising injury count to players and careers cut short, or
looking at more fundamental rule changes, such as limiting
numbers in the ruck.
It's an interesting subject and it'll be intriguing to see how
authorities reduce the risk to players without diminishing the
physical contest and/or changing Union for the worse.
#Post#: 55930--------------------------------------------------
Re: Toby Flood interview: 'Rugby is unrecognisable from when I
started - the physiques, the athleticism, the violent hit
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: January 3, 2021, 4:29 am
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I'm really surprised that no-one picked up on this comment.
“As players, you can’t take refuge in the possibility of there
being no relegation this season,” said Flood. “That breeds the
wrong sort of feelings. We’re in good shape and looking forward
to fighting for our points."
Quite a strong reality check from an experienced current player
basically saying that the players would struggle to motivate
themselves for the dead rubber games if there was no relegation.
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