A L Richards

Fab session at @hayfestival yesterday with @thatlukeperson showing everyone how to draw his characters and taking questions afterwards. One of us followed the instructions devoutly, the other went a bit… off piste…

@jackM393 @CarlSherman @tiernan_c @StokeyyG2 Slowing down is one thing, holding onto the ball and refusing to hand it over is quite another. Agree the first is fair game for home advantage but the second is poor… especially when players are getting booked for kicking the ball a couple of yards away…

@CarlSherman @tiernan_c @StokeyyG2 Ball boys are taught by every club, to give the balls to home players and slow it down for away players. It's really not that deep, also I recall maybe one long throw all game. Matt targett isn't a long thrower

This Southampton ball boy refusing to give Matt Targett the ball in the playoff semi-final tonight…

@simonrug @Richard99366022 Slightly niche one but if Stephen Larkham isn’t repeatedly injured in the 2003 WC final the Aussies probably win that one… That changes a few people’s CVs…

@Richard99366022 Rupeni Caucaunibuca. Could have been one of the all time greats.

Trevor Woodman Ollie Griffiths Ellis Jenkins Sam Jones Tom Rees Rhun Williams

@StevenDickens3 @TightFive_Rugby As a Welshman I loved Jonny’s utter lack of arrogance. On a similar vein, imagine how many points Dan Carter would’ve ended up on… people forget just how much time he missed…

@TightFive_Rugby Jonny Wilkinson - crazy to say but just imagine his career without the injuries

Who is the ultimate ‘What if’ player in rugby history? Someone who was incredible talented, but didn’t live up to their potential because of injuries…

@TightFive_Rugby Dr Gwyn Jones. We were robbed of a worldy there. Henson would’ve been an all time Welsh great too. Non-Welsh I’m thinking of Bobby Skinstad’s ceiling and imagining Dan Carter’s stats without all his injuries - he missed a lot of time and is still untouchable…

@thepaulwilliams I don’t wanna see us go down the one dimensional Warrenball route again. My fave centre combos have always had a little and large approach, Smith/Nonu, Horan/Little, Gibbs/Guscott. You need variety to break down international defences. (Just no more Ben Thomas kicking please…)

Great to see Bryn Bradley selected for Wales. Wales now have the option to go super big in the backline. With Bryn Bradley, Max Llewellyn, Eddie James, Mason Grady, Louis Hennessy, Joe Hawkins, LRZ etc. That's sizeable 👊

@thepaulwilliams I went to Tokyo a while back and saw a guy walking 6 Dachshunds all wearing sunglasses and my life has never quite been the same since…

That is absolutely mental

@NettThom Did he not realise his team were losing 34-5 at the time either? He’s a talented kid but I’m a bit fed up with the narrative that somehow being a cock = being a character. Rugby doesn’t need that…

I’m sorry but this is just embarrassing now, the lad has talent that is obvious but his stupid behaviour is overshadowing it now and before too long it’s going to cost his team

@thepaulwilliams @RugbyPass I like the idea of attacking team scrum on the 22 for a held-up over the line. Rewards defence and attack keeps ball. I really hate the drop out from the goal line rule for kicks that [unintentionally] dribble into the in goal area. Skill should be rewarded not lucky bounces…

Do we need to change the laws around the try line? Has it almost become an unofficial setpiece? My thoughts on tryline defence, and attack, for @RugbyPass rugbypass.com/plus/are-law-t…

@therugbycoach10 Lots of us are calling it out and don’t like it…

@andrewfrugby Except he was wrong. And cost his team the opportunity to at least compete in that final scrum. Not a fan of it. The question he should’ve asked is why didn’t we try to go wide at least once during that last attack? Phenomenal comeback effort from Cardiff though, chwarae teg.

Ben Thomas has lost a lot of ‘rugby values’ respect this evening but he’s gained my utmost respect for the way he went at the ref tonight. The exact captain I want.

@markasadler @PremSportsTV @SimonZebo @anthonywatson_ @dallaglio8 The last try in this reel still gives me goose bumps. That one is the definitive “no other back rower in history” moment…

@PremSportsTV @SimonZebo @anthonywatson_ @dallaglio8 Nothing worse than being ridiculed online…x.com/thewelshdragon…

"I haven't seen a back rower, in the history of the game, be able to do the things that he does" 🗣️ @SimonZebo, @anthonywatson_ and @dallaglio8 on what makes Henry Pollock such a gifted rugby player 🫡 #InvestecChampionsCup

@AndyGoode10 If that shanked conversion hits someone, would it actually injure them or just sting and be a bit embarrassing? Yes, they should’ve made players aware before the kick but there’s absolutely no need to push Doyle. It’s bullying. Would he have pushed a bigger person? I suspect not.

Geoff Parling had a stinker today pushing Craig Doyle, no need for acting like that when the TV broadcasters fund the game

@QuadeCooper The one rule I would change is the held up over the line = goal line drop out. Think this should stay attacking ball but with a free kick (scrum could be too advantageous to the dominant side?) on the 22 in line with where the ball was held up.

I’ve been watching a lot of Rugby lately, and it got me thinking about how we could speed the game up and open it up a bit more. One idea I had, hear me out. To encourage more offloads and reduce the number of rucks, what if when a team knocks the ball on, they’re not allowed to touch it next which currently results in a scrum. If they do, it’s a long arm penalty. That gives the opposition guaranteed first rights to the ball. They can pick it up and play immediately with a backward pass, or if they want to slow it down, it could work similar to an AFL mark and you have 10 seconds to resume play or it’s a turn over again. If you step off the mark, you’re live and can be tackled. The goal is simple, reward teams that want to play fast, create more chaos, and reduce stoppages? Questions - would this ruin our beautiful game and allow less skilled players to play (which is what most people want inclusivity) Would it make it slower? Faster? There’s nothing wrong with our game?

@maybethiseason It was a good try, but the guy can’t play for more than 45mins. What happens if you need him to play more? What if your starting loose head (or the replacement) gets injured early on? For all his skills, he’s still a liability fitness wise…

Fucking Gatland. Carre would still be doing all that for Cardiff if that clown hadn't thought he was too fat for international rugby

@thepaulwilliams Ollie Chessum. Baffling decision. Just a mega player.

What's the difference between rotation and panic?

So @DwrCymru told me my bill has gone up by another 9.7% this year (after a 33.9% increase last year) as customers' bills have not kept pace with inflation. @Ofwat @MartinSLewis am I missing something? My bill is 68% higher than it was in 2021 - should we #nationalisewater?

@thepaulwilliams Maybe replace it with: “Are England the new France?” They can be bafflingly good or bad with absolutely no warning… Also is this a new era of 10s great on the front foot but poor otherwise (Ford, Costelow, Prendergast)? Finn Russell’s ability to flick a switch is a rare thing…

Remember that column I wrote about Ireland's aging squad and the problems it may present longterm. Well, go an unread it please. Cheers, Paul

@thepaulwilliams The stiff arm on Wainwright was probably more impressive! Astonishing player. His highlights reel is incredible.

That's about 5ft of lateral movement. Like trying to tackle a patio door.

@BrianODriscoll @brettruganalyst Fair point BOD, but does the left arm ever truly wrap or does it remain straight? What constitutes a wrap, or an attempt to wrap? I don’t think it’s a bad tackle, but just a bit mistimed in the end? Hope Fagerson reminds him next Lions tour that he got done by a prop’s footwork…

@HopeNow84 @brettruganalyst Attempted wrap only needs to happen with tackling shoulder. Once your technique/height is right control is irrelevant.

someone going to get very badly injured with this tackle technique. rightly penalised #ENGvSCO