SlowGettingUp
2nd Team Getting Their First Start
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Congratulations to the Springboks (South Africa) for defeating the All Blacks (New Zealand) today in Paris. First time a country has won four World Cups and the first to repeat. Particularly nice that they have a Black Captain with a mostly White Afrikaner team (the game was historically played mostly by Afrikaners).
It's interesting to contrast the officiating with the NFL. Most dramatically, the Referee (who is miked-up the whole time) apologized to the players at the time after incorrectly awarding a penalty kick early in the game that proved the difference in the game. But the biggest difference is the review process - we can see it happening and they show the issue being reviewed - for example when someone fell on a player's leg while tackling him causing an injury they show the replay and decide if it was intentional or not.
In fact the key issue in the game was the All Black's Captain being sent off (initially for 10 minutes but after further review for the remainder of the game) after a blow to the head of a Springbok when he was tackled high. No helmets, and so they are cracking down hard on all blows to the head. The review process decides if the blow was dangerous and if there were any mitigating circumstances (like the player being tackled suddenly ducking his head down).
So there really is no reason why the NFL can't similarly review personal fouls such as roughing the QB. Could happen automatically and without causing delay.
The Springboks played a very Belichickian defensive game - not the most exciting brand of rugby but effective in this case.
And I'm still waiting for some enterprising NFL coach to use a designed lateral with two receivers running parallel routes.
Incidentally, CTE is an issue in Rugby too:
It's interesting to contrast the officiating with the NFL. Most dramatically, the Referee (who is miked-up the whole time) apologized to the players at the time after incorrectly awarding a penalty kick early in the game that proved the difference in the game. But the biggest difference is the review process - we can see it happening and they show the issue being reviewed - for example when someone fell on a player's leg while tackling him causing an injury they show the replay and decide if it was intentional or not.
In fact the key issue in the game was the All Black's Captain being sent off (initially for 10 minutes but after further review for the remainder of the game) after a blow to the head of a Springbok when he was tackled high. No helmets, and so they are cracking down hard on all blows to the head. The review process decides if the blow was dangerous and if there were any mitigating circumstances (like the player being tackled suddenly ducking his head down).
So there really is no reason why the NFL can't similarly review personal fouls such as roughing the QB. Could happen automatically and without causing delay.
The Springboks played a very Belichickian defensive game - not the most exciting brand of rugby but effective in this case.
And I'm still waiting for some enterprising NFL coach to use a designed lateral with two receivers running parallel routes.
Incidentally, CTE is an issue in Rugby too:
Longer rugby careers linked to higher risk of brain injury - study
Scientists found signs of degenerative disease in professional as well as club players' brains.
www.bbc.com
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