Always a Wasp

My thoughts:

Immediate law changes
? Referees to call ?use it? and start their five-second countdown at rucks earlier, to avoid ?caterpillar rucks? - the current 5 seconds is rarely enforced, why not try enforcing that first?
? Hookers must maintain a full ?brake foot? by putting one foot forward at scrums to aid their stability - thought that was already in place?
? A crackdown on water-carriers entering the field - agreed

Possible law changes (to be voted on by World Rugby council in May)
? Closing the ?Dupont Law? loophole, by tweaking the offside rule from kicks, to reduce kick-tennis battles - agreed
? Remove the option of a second scrum when a free kick is given at a scrum - dont understand the point? If a pack is dominant, they shoul;d be allowed to be dominant
? Outlawing the dangerous ?crocodile-roll? at rucks - agreed, thought this had already been banned?

Possible trials
? A shot-clock for scrums and lineouts - very good idea
? Ability to mark the ball inside the 22m from a restart whats the point here? Surely you want a team to be having to deal with the ball rather than stop the game & kick the ball? Am I missing something?
? The ball must be played after the maul has been stopped once, not twice - dont agree, just because some people see the maul as boring doesnt mean it should be de powered
? Further protection of scrum halves at the base of rucks and scrums - how much more protection do they need?
? Play on if a lineout is not straight, but the throw is uncontested - Can kind of see that one working

Areas for further analysis
? Possible global trial of a 20-minute red card - actually agree with this one, given the farcical red cards we've seen that have ruined games
? A big safety review of the breakdown, and possible removal of the ?jackal? - yes, clean up the breakdown, but the jackal is very important & the jackler needs to be protected, not outlawed
? A review of the role of the TMO - agree
? A review of how and when replacements are used - agree
? Possible introduction of a lower tackle-height for the elite game - generally agree, but not if it means more ridiculous red cards. we alreday see very few actual high tackles, most that get picked up are due to bad positioning or "rugby incidents" so not sure how lowering the tackle height is going to help. That said, contrary to predictions the lower tackle height at grass roots level has not ruined the amateur game


Generally I am not a fan of messing around with stuff that doesnt need messing around with, but some of the issues being addressed do actually need work
Forgot to add, I wouldn't call any of that "Radical" but thats where we are with journalism these days

How successful Wade will be at Kingsholm will depend on how Skivs wants to play the game.
Last season at Racing with Finn Russell at 10 he played in 9 games & scored 7 tries
This season in a team playing more conservative rugby he has also played in 9 games but only scored 2 tries.

Maybe with Atkinson at 10 next season Gloucester can get him the ball in some space?

What happened to humour!

Well I found Scotland's performance on Saturday very humorous 
Cheered me up no end!

Farrell Snr doesn't seem to be doing a bad job.

Interesting that when he was in the England set up, everyone wanted him gone... Nothing as fickle as sports fans.

who from very little can fashion an all conquering team

IMO Scotland has the best side its had for generations, I'd hardly say it was "very little". As for all conquering... beating England doesn't require that much at the moment given they gave Scotland all their opportunities to score. But as they say, "as long as we beat England!"

It's 2025 they are aiming for I believe.

Not entirely sure whether that would make a difference IMO
Hiring a team to compete with what are essentially 50-60% international sides is going to be a challenge even with no salary cap. They would be starting a team from scratch in June/July to start playing in September. They wouldn't realistically get access to newly hired players before that. That's a big ask! I can't see them being competitive for several seasons.
Obviously not known at the moment how well off Wasps expect to be but will they be able to compete financially?

Don't agree with some peoples view of history. Wasps went bust because of decision Wasps made. No one else.

I do agree that maybe things could have gone differently after they went bust if the RFU & PRL had a better plan for the future, but ultimately Wasps caused their own demise.
If Wasps are allowed to come back as franchise club in the mythical Prem2 then what will happen with the "Rugby Debts"? Weren't these a pre req for any return above level 11?
Other debts are gone because Wasps was a business that went bust. Like any other business that goes bust debts are written off or a percentage recovered from sale of assets.

As for the URC, I cannot see a Wasps side recruited between now & September being able to compete with even the Welsh sides. For some people that might be OK but I don't want to watch my team losing by 50 points to Leinsters B team or equivalent every week. Plus away games that will be a struggle to attend & no relegation or promotion? Not for me thanks

While I understand the dislike of the prem I can't see why anyone would get excited by the URC. Wasps would be down the bottom of the table with the Welsh sides getting pumped every week plus away games will be a pain in the a*rse once the novelty has worn off.
For me, prem 2 or championship is where wasps should be.
I share the concern that is a wasps team with no wasp connections other than a badge actually wasps? But I will cross that bridge when /if we get there

Criteria for entry of any club into Prem 2, should it ever come off, are not entirely known at this point. (not exactly a surprise I know!)
Assume that any club will need finance of some description, with proof thats its real & agreed for a set period of time, a team & ground to play in. I think it will be safe to assume "Rugby Creditors" will be quietly forgotten about.
If Warriors can agree all of that, then I guess they will assured entry, just like Wasps & Irish, the noises coming from the RFU & PRL would seem to indicate that.
Prem 2 is not being welcomed by anyone so far so not sure how this is really going to pan out.