Pre-season Fixtures

I recently attended an RFU course on the new tackle height as it affects M&J's rugby. The word that we were given was that ref's will come down very hard on the new laws early in the season in the hope that it will force players to tackle lower (you have been warned!!). However, my take was that it will affect the ball carrier more. There is now a thing called 'late and low' which basically means that if a tackler is set to make the tackle, the ball carrier cannot then drop their shoulder to go into contact. This is a fundamental change that we have taught players from the early days of contact at the age of 8/9. Old habits will die hard.
Effectively, the ball carrier cannot invade the tacklers 'head space' with sanctions being a pen all the way to red for head/shoulder on head contact.
It does not affect the top 2 levels, but everything below it will be. It is only a matter of time before it reaches elite rugby.

Kimbo wrote: I didn't say he was favouring either side...

Kimbo wrote: The tackle law saw a Cov back-rower go off for ten against Lions, but apart from that there was little difference. I couldn't go to Mose, so can't comment, but my contact at the ground reported - quite gruffly  - that Sir was rather pernickity over it...

As mentioned by M728 on the N1 thread, it was the Jersey backs that made the difference against 'Mond, some real zip & pace esp during dry first half (2.30 KO meant we had same weather at Twickenham, but 50 mins later). The packs were more evenly matched, albeit Reds rotated quite a bit (9 players turned out in front row) & 1st-choice locks from last season missing (Cook retired/O'Connor injured). The wet conditions were quite a leveller in 2nd period, which saw just 12 points - 2 Jersey tries. Overall the Reds scored 8 tries, 6 of them from 5 back-three players + others from hooker Hadfield (overthrown home LO) + scrum-half Venner from close range.

Edited by islander - 28 Aug 2023 at 11:17

Zebra 20 Ealing T 26 FT

Jersey Reds squad v Richmond (A) 2023/24 pre-season, Richmond Athletic Ground, Saturday August 26th, k-o 2pm (* debut)

1st Half - Backs (15-9)
Brendan Owen; Robin Wedlake*, Charlie Powell, Jordan Holgate, Pete Sullivan*; Ben Burnell, James Mitchell.
1st Half - Forwards (1-8)
Greg McGrath, Daf Hughes*, Adam Nicol, Joe Peard*, James Scott, Thom Smith*, Lewis Wynne (capt), Hallam Chapman.

2nd Half squad
Forwards: James Hadfield, Harry Doolan, Huw Owen, Sam Grahamslaw, Monty Weatherby, Steve Longwell, John Hawkins*, Max Argyle, Ciaran Booth*, Alun Lawrence, Tim Grey.
Backs: James Elliott, Toby Venner, Russell Bennett, Josh Barton*, Dan Barnes, Alex McHenry, Ben Woolett, Scott Van Breda.

Mose 24-61 Cov (Wand/Mannion)

Mose 17-54 Cov

Mose 10-47 Cov (Lane/Mitchell)

Mose 10-33 Cov (Martin)