Armchair Coach

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Super Rugby to trial new tackle law Referees will issue players with warnings for high-risk tackle techniques and two such transgressions will result in a one-match suspension.

Squad. ✊
🇿🇦🇯🇵

As I sit here in the comfort of my armchair, and with the benefit of 20-20 hindsight, I can safely reflect on the Rugby World Cup thus far. To be honest, no major surprises and upsets that one can really speak of, other than to do so based upon sentiment and one-minded support for a favorite team.

We now have the pleasure of looking forward to the semi-finals next weekend where we see England vs New Zealand and Wales vs South Africa.

The quarter finals went just about as expected with the Wales/France game almost ensuring an upset. Was it not for a mindless elbow to the face in the heat of the moment, we were in for a major upset. Especially given the current strife in the French dressing room.

So this brings us to the semi finals.

I will post my views on the semis during the week, but there is one safe prediction I can make, and that is that whichever referees officiate the remaining matches - the ones allowing cynical play and off the ball infringements will give Wales and New Zealand the edge. These two teams are brilliant at breaking the law without being caught. Usually, this leads to the opposition retaliating and being penalized (or even worse -carded for doing so). It is almost as if they practice their game play in that manner.

Based on the matches this weekend, there were a plethora of inconsistent penalties awarded (or not) and blatant forward passes being allowed go ahead. Watch the Japan - South Africa game especially and it is obvious. What dismays me is that I re-watched the games and both the linesmen and referee were in perfect position to spot these mistakes but elected in their wisdom not to. This happened in both matches on Sunday. Not to mention forwards being in front of the ball-kicker and not being tagged as off-sides - from rucks and malls especially.

Saffa props start for Scotland South African-born props Allan Dell and WP Nel will start for Scotland in Saturday's Six Nations clash against Italy at Murrayfield.

Fighting a losing battle The ever-increasing trend of players taking up off-season stints overseas is a high-risk business, writes CRAIG LEWIS.

Cobus Reinach, Heinrich Brussöw impress for Saints SARugbymag.co.za looks back at the past weekend’s Pro14, Top 14, Premiership Cup and Major League Rugby matches involving South African players.

Been saying this for years. It's going to turn soon.

The Breakdown | Rugby union’s obsession with bulk over speed and skill must be reversed How many more players like Pat Lambie will have their careers ended early before anything is done?

We will be starting a series on schoolboy and schoolgirl nutrition programmes that parents can follow without submitting their kids to questionable substance regimes that are so commonplace in today's schools.

The Armchair Coach was on injury-recovery for the past year and a bit, but we are fully fit and ready to take on 2019!