In think tw and trackstar will like this (Phil Bennett)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pbmrKh4gAk

yeah, I never liked the rugby style of the Sasanaigh. 

In think tw and trackstar will like this (Phil Bennett)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pbmrKh4gAk

yeah, I never liked the rugby style of the Sasanaigh. 

A wonderful way to start the weekend.

and here just a few minutes of American football with similar action

Best Returns in Football History

Just a little collection of kickoffs returns, with sprints, evasion, stumbles, and misses.

Note the very effective spin move - could be left, right, or even end over end.

There is charm spin in every one of them!

**

N.B. - for those not that familiar with American football - these are kick-off returns - so the kicker has booted the ball as far as possible down the field into offensive territory.

It's a long way back for the runner!

Thanks! Glorious stuff (including the sidestep of the saint-like Phil B)

Maybe you could explain a strategy question about American Football.

Someone one made the claim to me, (not necessarily from a verifiable source) that the rules state that the ball can be thrown forwards once
per play but backwards and unlimited number of times. Ergo, any rugby move (that didn't involve kicking) was permissible also.
So American footballers could form a back-line, do scissors, switches etc. and, especially since there is no rules against interfering with
play in front of the ball carrier, obstruction, tackling without the ball etc. they could advance them considerably?

In think tw and trackstar will like this (Phil Bennett)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pbmrKh4gAk

yeah, I never liked the rugby style of the Sasanaigh. 

A wonderful way to start the weekend.

and here just a few minutes of American football with similar action

Best Returns in Football History

Just a little collection of kickoffs returns, with sprints, evasion, stumbles, and misses.

Note the very effective spin move - could be left, right, or even end over end.

There is charm spin in every one of them!

**

N.B. - for those not that familiar with American football - these are kick-off returns - so the kicker has booted the ball as far as possible down the field into offensive territory.

It's a long way back for the runner!

Thanks! Glorious stuff (including the sidestep of the saint-like Phil B)

Maybe you could explain a strategy question about American Football.

Someone one made the claim to me, (not necessarily from a verifiable source) that the rules state that the ball can be thrown forwards once
per play but backwards and unlimited number of times. Ergo, any rugby move (that didn't involve kicking) was permissible also.
So American footballers could form a back-line, do scissors, switches etc. and, especially since there is no rules against interfering with
play in front of the ball carrier, obstruction, tackling without the ball etc. they could advance them considerably?

So, the answer is mixed, but I would say that there is more use of laterals, various players throwing to each other (not a quarterback centric as it used to be) and also trick plays these days.

I looked up the history and can offer this:

"While the forward pass is an invention of the North American games, the lateral and backward pass is also a part of rugby union and rugby league, where such passes are the norm. Compared to its use in rugby, laterals and backward passes are less common in North American football, due to a much greater focus on ball control in American football strategy; they are most commonly used by the quarterback, after taking the snap, to quickly transfer ("pitch") the ball a short distance to a nearby running back (or, rarely, wide receiver) on a rushing play. Laterals are also often seen as part of a last-minute desperation strategy or as part of a trick play. Examples of plays utilizing the lateral pass are the toss, flea flicker, hook and lateral, and buck-lateral."

Also see that embedded link on American football strategy. Interesting stuff.

For students of the game, there is also the definitive NFL Rule Book 2019.
Of course, some people feel there are too many complex rules and too many breaks in the game. But it brings a chess-like element, in my opinion, always thinking several moves ahead etc., and how to use the other teams' weaknesses against them, specifically with regard to penchants for penalties.

The wild card games were excellent this year - the playoff games last weekend also good, but i had hoped for more fight from the Packers.

So, now we will have the San Francisco 49ers against the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb 2.

Trackstar will remember this

www.youtube.com/watch?v=15z5cp4oYOU

Trackstar will remember this

www.youtube.com/watch?v=15z5cp4oYOU

Yes, I do - haha!

And I see you are launching a new tradition now - rugby in the morning.

A great way to start a winter's day!

Six Nations starts next weekend!

Six Nations starts next weekend!

Indeed. Cymru am byth! But I don't feel too confident at the moment.

It is becoming an interesting trend, approaching statistic significance, of the relative (out)performance of teams coached by kiwis
or not. Schmidt, Gatland, and (when in position) Vern Cotter. vs. Italy and Ingerlund. 

To put a maths twist on the subject of rugby, consider the following heavily reduced form of rugby:

There are two wingers from opposing teams, one starts with the ball (attacker), one without (defender).
They start from directly under their respective posts.
The pitch is of dimensions width L and length y.
They run with constant speeds in the ratio w  (attacker/defender).
The objective is to score a try in the conventional manner

(a) What ranges of w lead to a try being always score-able or always defendable?
(b)  What do the respective geometries of attack and defence strategies look like?
(c) how does this depend on L & y?  In particular, are there critical values in the pitch dimensions?
 

I've regained my faith in rugby today. They played great. So was Johnny May. He should be playing for the Kiwis.

2026 Nations Rugby; get it?

I've regained my faith in rugby today. They played great. So was Johnny May. He should be playing for the Kiwis.

“France can expect absolute brutality from England, we are going to go out there to make sure they understand what test rugby is. It is about being brutal, it is about being physical and it is about dominating the set piece.” 

Eddie Jones.

I love the smell of hubris in the morning.

Still hungover from Brexit celebrations probably! My ability to solve differential equations is suffering too!

Who knew Kansas City was not in Kansas?! But New York City is still in New York, right? Can’t hurt to check.

Still hungover from Brexit celebrations probably! My ability to solve differential equations is suffering too!

Alan and I are depending on you, Paul. Take a few days off. I am doing a bit of reading up myself. I am encountering funny terms like 'mollifier' and 'generalised' solution.

What is worse: discontinuous initial condition or discontinuous coefficient?

Take your time.

I've regained my faith in rugby today. They played great. So was Johnny May. He should be playing for the Kiwis.

“France can expect absolute brutality from England, we are going to go out there to make sure they understand what test rugby is. It is about being brutal, it is about being physical and it is about dominating the set piece.” 

Eddie Jones.

I love the smell of hubris in the morning.

You mean, like he bullied the Boks in the final? LOL

And congrats to Shaun Edwards. 
That kick into touch by Bouthier was sublime.

The build of the French players 5'10" 13 stone on average that's only 80 kilos... then it is possible to play real rugby.

Secret is ; put them under pressure. Can't resist this one

www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5PT65I2ny8