Billy Vunipola Dropped

[mike909]

It is reported that Billy got booed when he came off the bench at Briz today.

He got booed every time he touched the ball or made a tackle.

As Bristol is a very diverse and very inclusive (in the main) its no great surprise. It has a big gay pride event which runs for 2 weeks and is host to Bristol Bisons, an "inclusive rugby team"

Its a bit like the reaction as if he's been playing in Brighton

[RBB]

Gotta love the West Country sense of humour, Bears played 'It's Raining Men' over the PA at half time, quality!

[mike909]

Gotta love the West Country sense of humour, Bears played 'It's Raining Men' over the PA at half time, quality!

That's very funny indeed

[Neils]

So Nathan suggests the RFU are jokers and gets a longer ban and Billy gets told off for his outburst - which he has not taken down yet. You do despair over the RFU and some of its actions.

[jamestaylor002]

Can't have the Premiership golden boys being in too much trouble 

[Neils]

Can't have the Premiership golden boys being in too much trouble 

You are too right.

[mike909]

Agreed

And on other website we're starting to get some apologists that are suggesting BV has been disrespected and the like.

Given we live in a country that rejects prejudice and discrimination, I'd have presumed someone with half a brain would get that supporting and publicising such views comes (or should come) at a cost.

[Neils]

Ah the half brain hurdle to cross sadly seems lacking.

[mike909]

Yep - as I posted elsewhere (not DW) I don't think this is a "position" that BV has thought through carefully, but you'd have thought an agent or someone might have briefed him on social media?

[Neils]

I have had discussions many times with what I call younger generations about being careful very careful about modern social media platforms. There seems to be a lack of appreciation that committing your immediate thoughts to a computer commits them to the ether for ever. The mantra of type, then stop and think before sending seems sadly ignored.

[RBB]

Can't have the Premiership golden boys being in too much trouble 

There are a number of issues in play here, the main one being BV himself and his crass attitude. The other main one is that the RFU is being inconsistent almost by design. By that I mean, Nathan's misguided tweet was viewed as criticism aimed towards the panel and the RFU, therefore the punishment was upped to reflect their perspective in relation to what 'they' thought was perhaps an 'outrage'. With the BV issue they are not outraged and any slight was not aimed at them but another community, therefore the punishment is viewed as adequate from their point of view. I see many more years of bewildering decisions from the RFU and the disciplinary panels, it will take years to turn that battleship.

[Neils]

Should sink it! 

[jamestaylor002]

Can't have the Premiership golden boys being in too much trouble 

There are a number of issues in play here, the main one being BV himself and his crass attitude. The other main one is that the RFU is being inconsistent almost by design. By that I mean, Nathan's misguided tweet was viewed as criticism aimed towards the panel and the RFU, therefore the punishment was upped to reflect their perspective in relation to what 'they' thought was perhaps an 'outrage'. With the BV issue they are not outraged and any slight was not aimed at them but another community, therefore the punishment is viewed as adequate from their point of view. I see many more years of bewildering decisions from the RFU and the disciplinary panels, it will take years to turn that battleship.

So do you think that the RFU will only dish out harsher sentences based on whether they're included in the insults or not? It's what it appears to be.

[NellyWellyWaspy]

Should sink it! 

Sink the Bismark (RFU). I have been calling for this for years. A load of (old minded) duffers living in a different age. Not fit for purpose.

[RBB]

No, in the comparison that was drawn earlier in the thread I feel there are reasons for the inconsistency, Nathan was harshly treated for what was very minor, I have concluded that the panel felt the tweet was aimed at them and therefore they have reacted to that part of the issue within the process. In the BV instance they will be so far removed from the severity, or the likely impact of the social media post, then they will perhaps see it as trivial. My underlying point is that the RFU is inconsistent by design, Gaby got 4 weeks last season for an error of judgement, Tom Youngs gets 3 weeks for smashing shoulder first into a players head, a player who was on the floor and unable to move out of the way. Inconsistent seems to be the watch word.