'I'm pleased': Ex-Wasps lock James Gaskell confirms his new club

The law says the sanction is a scrum. But the ref can do whatever he/she wants, including a penalty of course.

You have a nice little interpretation guideline for refs, about intent and cynicism. You should send Andrew Brace a helpful note to suggest it.

Rassie took the bet that he would get the scrum. Good call.

If you don’t see this attempt as arrogant, disrespectful and cynical, you are part of the problem.

In fairness, Italy have their own past history with this stuff when Conor O’Shea taught them not to engage at the breakdown so they could come around the back of the rucks during the Six Nations, which was quickly banned after 2 games, so they can’t have too many gripes for someone doing a similar thing.

As for the perfectly executed comment that was for the lifted player creating the driving maul that scored the try. That was well executed for a pre-planed move in a live game situation.

I have a feeling you may see more of the lifted players, with a driving maul, as it will be tough to stop with that juggernaut pack of theirs and Rassie will play to his strengths as we have seen with his scrum dominance over the last few years. This is a slight variation of a theme, built on similar dynamics of a dominant pack.

It seems to be the only law in rugby that is ruled based on intent not action. It's the refs call whether there was intent to catch or in a position to do so. Hardly clear cut

The ref still gave a scrum feed on halfway to Italy. There's no law change required to it, let's see the Boks pull the same stunt against a tier one.

France, Allblacks, etc, would love to set a scrum feed on halfway but we all know there's no way Rassie would dare to pull this silly stunt in a major test.

What it is, is a stupid rule. Union is about competing for the ball, whether it's at the breakdown the scrum or line-out, the ball retention is never guaranteed. Why is passing any different? If you want to pass a wild ball in the space of a defender you run the risk of an intercept or getting a scrum, why should you get rewarded with a card to the other team. How is that encouraging competition.

I detest all the scrum penalties dished out to teams deep inside their own half and think it should be play on if the ball is playable from a scrum if it collapsed rather than a penalty.

I detest silly antics like ‘lineouts’ in the middle of the field and intentional kickoffs to offside players. That to me is disrespectful of our amazing sport.

I support policing the offside laws intensely to ensure so called rush defence isn't simply offside.

I support penalizing all players leaving their feet at the ruck, players flying in and flopping onto the pile to seal off the ball.

I detest the current situation where defenders put their hands on the ball and are then warned, it should be a penalty then yellow.

Penalizing players coming into the ruck from the side and taking out defenders.

I support wingers and fullbacks scoring most of the tries.

I support any team that plays their rugby positively and not cynical slowdowns.

I see players like DuPont, Arendse, Will Jordan, French outside backs with blistering pace and want those players to have the time and space to be superstars.

I want teams that field eight forwards on the bench to be well beaten by teams that field five.

Midfielders I want more Moodies and less Allende battering rams.

Libbok and Pollard I respect both types of first five but would pick Pollard in a world cup final.

I want penalties to be reduced to two points and tries increased to six, except maul tries, they should be reduced to four points.