Comments on: International Scout Notes: 17th December

By: James

James — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 10:27:25 +0000

I enjoy the rough stuff just as much as anyone, but brighty is right. It’s one of the few clips of a rugby game that shocks me. It’s not like Hawkins puts on a brave face, he was clearly in distress, panic and a lot of pain. Never a nice thing to see done to any man, anywhere. Certainly not in our good game we love.

By: Grundy

Grundy — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 17:12:31 +0000

I’m on your side brighty, he should never have been allowed to play rugby again for me. It ws a despicable cowardly act

By: Alan

Alan — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 16:12:22 +0000

As it has already been pointed out, England are balls deep in back row forwards so it would take something extra special for either of those 2 to get in the side (although I am a fan of Gibson, being a London Irish fan and everything).

Jamie George might get to train with the first team for a bit. Bomber is a fan of picking one of the younger players with potential and giving them a bit of experience of being in and around the squad in the week leading up to a test.

By: brighty

brighty — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 15:49:14 +0000

Just watched it again. I can’t see anything different in to what I’ve said. Calllous. I hadn’t seen that particular clip before, would love to know what Cockerill was saying to him.

It doesn’t matter to me what relative punishment he got – there are loads of heinous examples like the ones you quote, Healy on Cole, etc. Get tough on more of em.

I dislike the “here is half the sentence for pleading guilty” nonsense as well.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 15:22:52 +0000

Whilst I also agree that Clark’s punishment wasn’t enough, you make it sound even worse than it was Brighty.

Play had stopped a mili-second before, all players involved in the ruck were still on the floor and Hawkins was laying on top of the ball

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxfOcZrxuHU

The act was done in a moment of madness and thuggery and was bad enough without any need to exaggerate it.

There is definitely a question in my mind over punishments in rugby at the moment. Horwill and Mike Phillips are two stamps that spring to mind immediately and going back a bit, Hore’s assault on Bradley Davies, which if I remember rightly, he only got 5 weeks for

More and more these acts are caught by the cameras, but it feels that the authorities view being caught as punishment enough without handing down the appropriate ban

Clark by the standards of these bans, was dealt with harshly.

By: Mitchell

Mitchell — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 14:53:50 +0000

It's near the end of 2013, but that's easily one of the best tries of the year. It's my favourite really. Nothing Perpignan can really be falter for except being bettered, in this case. From deep, late in the game, under pressure, sublime offload, even better finish. I'm becoming a big fan of JJ Hanrahan. I think he's got everything Sexton does and more. A very bright prospect!. A legitimate 1st. choice for 10? I certainly think he deserves his chance.

By: Blub

Blub — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 14:24:38 +0000

Its a good point on the punishment and I have to say that – generally – I feel that some acts are not punished severely enough – and I agree this is one of those.

Or, I should say, that acts are not punished severely enough at the highest level. At lower levels, bans are often far more lengthy.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 13:55:49 +0000

Ewers & Burrell.

I know Burrell get’s a frequent mention but his physicality, destructive tackling, decent pace and sleight of hand make him essential for the 6N.

Dickinson got a lot of rave reviews at the start of the season, but think he’s been found a bit wanting for physicality when the competition has stepped up for European level. Ewers however is a monster of a man, a big Picamoles, impresses me every time I watch him. With Morgan’s form being questionable I think there’s a good case for Ewers to come in as back up to Vunipola for 6N.

The English guys mentioned above need a lot of people to fall over to be in contention for 6N in my opinion.

By: brighty

brighty — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 12:57:39 +0000

I also do not feel like he has been punished. Banned on fully pay, free to train himself into readiness the moment his ban stops. I know it’s said far too often about rugby but for this one the assualt was so pre-meditated that to me it is relevant to point out that he’d be on a GBH charge if he did it anywhere else.

By: brighty

brighty — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 12:55:28 +0000

I understand your point Blub. Part of it for me is an emotional reaction when I see the clip of him doing it. Play has stopped. People are peeling away from the mass of bodies in the ruck, moving off to the restart. He looks down, sees an arm, coldly hyper extends it until the elbow shatters. Then gets up and walks off. That’s psychotic.

I can’t justify people getting away with stamping or punching. On an emotional level I can imagine red mist in the heat of a play, the lack of certain injury. I can’t work out how to put this – but what I mean is a punch/stamp is usually done with the intent to hurt/bruise, not to shatter/maim – pulling ones arm the wrong way can only maim.

By: Blub

Blub — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 12:45:28 +0000

Have to agree with Jamie. Clark has “done his time”, and is back playing well.

Whether he is truly a reformed player is hard to say, but I feel we have to move on.

I have to say, that I do feel there have been far more malicious acts on a rugby field than this. Whilst I do not condone what he did I do feel strongly that acts such as punching from behind, and stamping on heads, that we have seen recently, or indeed stamping on other parts of the body are just as insidious, but appear not to have the same level of criticism levels at these perpetrators as Clark seems to get. Continually.

By: brighty

brighty — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 12:40:04 +0000

It’s the arm break. The cold, callous and deliberate post-play assault. He should be nowhere near pro rugby. I find it hard to stomach that he’s even allowed to play the sport again.