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Posted: 21 February 2026 at 11:28pm

Plumtree shoulder injury

Costellow leg injury on crutches both having scans on Monday

1. The "One Ball" Rule for Kicking at Goal

Law 8.8 (for conversions) and Law 8.22 (for penalty goals) state that the kicker must use the ball that was in play unless it is defective. This prevents players from swapping in a "special" kicking ball that might be drier or pumped to a specific pressure just for the shot.

2. The Restart (The Kickoff)

Once the goal is kicked (or missed and goes dead), that phase of play is over. For the restart:

The "Ball Person" factor: In professional matches, ball boys/girls will usually have a spare ball ready at the halfway line for the team kicking off to ensure the game restarts quickly.
Practicality: If a player hammers a penalty kick deep into the stands or over a fence, the referee isn't going to wait for a fan to throw it back. They will simply call for a "new" match ball from the sidelines.

3. Match Ball Standards

Teams usually provide a set of identical, pre-approved match balls (often 5 to 10 balls per game). Because every ball in that set is considered "the match ball," switching between them at a natural break in play—like a kickoff—is perfectly legal.

KRR

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Posted: 21 February 2026 at 11:43pm

Behind the 10-Metre Line

By law, all players on the receiving team must be behind the 10-metre line in their own half.

Clearly as Fin Russell goes to kick off some of the Welsh players are still retreating and are not behind the 10m line. The referee in my opinion should have waited.

KRR

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Posted: 22 February 2026 at 12:51am

skyblue wrote:

Behind the 10-Metre Line

By law, all players on the receiving team must be behind the 10-metre line in their own half.

Clearly as Fin Russell goes to kick off some of the Welsh players are still retreating and are not behind the 10m line. The referee in my opinion should have waited.

I've also seen a video showing someone in a high viz top running from the field as the ball is kicked. Ref refused to allow us to restart at one pint as Costellow was still on the pitch and was being helped off.

Game should not have restarted until the person in a the high viz top had left. Where were the TMO the ref and the AR's on this one ?

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Posted: 22 February 2026 at 7:33am

ladram wrote:

If the Welsh boys were trotting back they are at fault not a ball boy imagine the crap he's going to get in school because we are blaming him and not the ref (for a change) Confused

In fairness that's his job, any time there is a restart the ballboyd/girls will have a ball on the half way waiting.

Laws suggest quick kick off can be taken.as long as all players are behind the ball.

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Posted: 22 February 2026 at 7:43am

skyblue wrote:

<h3 dir="ltr">Behind the 10-Metre Line</h3>
<p dir="ltr">By law, all players on the receiving team must be behind the 10-metre line in their own half.

Clearly as Fin Russell goes to kick off some of the Welsh players are still retreating and are not behind the 10m line. The referee in my opinion should have waited.

I think that is from a receiving point if view.

If the team kicking off decide they don't want to wait for that, that is up to them.

I guess if the WRU kick up a fuss you might see a law tweak like when Italy out thought England around the rucks a few years back.

But regardless I player for years and I coached for years and I was always told if you getting into position you always face the opposition.

We got caught cold yesterday, you'd hope it doesn't happen again.

It's a pity as I think that was the turning point of the game.

If we did want to blame the ref I thought the penalty against LRZ, the original offence was a knock on by tupipolotu, sure it came off his hand as LRZ tried to pass it.

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Posted: 22 February 2026 at 10:05am

Much better performance by Wales overall and good showing by Eddie James also thought Alex Man. And Botham were good.

Shame we got caught by the quick kick off although not all players were back behind our 10metre line and unfortunately neither the ref or any of the officials picked this up but we should stoll have defended it better.

Didn't think our 14 offered anything and really not sure ehy Ellis Mee was dropped!!

A few decisions went against us as well but still a big improvement

Sam played very well but now injured unfortunately

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Posted: 22 February 2026 at 11:10am

Really bad luck with all bouncing backwards into Grahams hands, our two covering forwards had no chance.

Who's idea was it to give Hamer Webb a cap?

Keep the faith

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Posted: 22 February 2026 at 11:23am

greypower1 wrote:

Really bad luck with all bouncing backwards into Grahams hands, our two covering forwards had no chance.

Who's idea was it to give Hamer Webb a cap?

I thought hamer Webb did well yesterday, you can't pin that on one player, several were out of place and sleeping.

Looking at it again it wasnt that quick of a kick off, Finn noticed us napping and went for it.

We only had 1 player not past the 10m line, we did have a water boy and the ball boy wasn't quite off the pitch, but that was no ones fault but our own.

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Posted: 22 February 2026 at 11:28am

A marked improvement. We came within a whisker (one dubious croc roll and a schoolboy error) of beating a team that whomped England last week. Scotland should be at peak powers. Ditto England. Ireland are on the wane but still capable of beating anyone on their day for about another 18 months. France will be so strong for a while with their depth and talent. They have everything. Italy are probably there or thereabouts as good as they'll likely ever be. We have 'just' risen off rock bottom. Perspective is everything.

LRZ - I thought he'd do more at FB. I was wrong. Move him back to the wing.

Hamer-Webb - Nope. Took a big blow early on but he has nothing special about him that sets him apart from other options; Rogers (good in the air), Grady (big and fast), Murray (elusive), even Tom Bowen.

Eddie - Had a great first half then they stopped using him. Defensively still getting OC reads wrong. Safe to say the best and most obvious option is to move him back to IC.

Joe - Thought he had a decent first half too but we were using him to bash so why not put Eddie there. Tailed off in the second.

Adams - everyone bangs on about his two or three good reads... those were literally his only tackles. Saw him miss many more. Doesn't do enough for me.

Costelow - Great first half. Our decline started when he went off for me. Really hope it's not too serious because when he's fit I think he played himself into the 10 shirt.

Williams - been a long time supporter of his but he's been dreadful for Wales for a while now. I don't know if it's the tactics he's being asked to play or what. I just don't know who the better replacement it.

Wainright - workhorse on both sides. Would like to see him in a bit more space. But we need him.

Botham - I had him in my teams from early. He played well in many losses over the last two years. I'd have him at six for now.

Mann - Difficult. I think he can ONLY play as a 7 due to size. He did well first half but then faded. Not a natural 7. If you pick him and Botham you have two very similar players. We need Morgan back desperately. In the meantime, I would pick Morse at 7 but that's just me.

Carter and Jenkins - 22 tackles a piece? Carter impressed me. He really stepped up. set-piece worked on the whole, and he made some dominant hits. Deserves to keep his place. Jenkins continues to impress

Francis - got through more work than usual in the loose. Still a problem position

Lake - Better. Less mistakes, much better carries. Needs this every game.

Carre - again, better I thought. More consistent with his carries. Needs to work on defence though.

I wouldn't be surprised if Tandy names the same pack for Ireland (with Botham for Plumtree), Edwards back in a FH. Maybe Mee back in for H-W. I'd go

Mee

LRZ

Watkin/Hennessey

James

Rogers

Edwards

Hardy

Wainright

(Morse) Macleod

Carter

Jenkins

Francis

Lake

Carre

Smith

Elias

Griffin

Davies

Thomas

Mann

Tomos Williams

Joe Hawkins

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Posted: 22 February 2026 at 11:33am

Wales supporters would be massively hypocritical if they kick up a fuss if indeed a rule was broken regarding the wrong ball. So that argument is a non starter.

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Posted: 22 February 2026 at 11:46am

SA14 wrote:

Wales supporters would be massively hypocritical if they kick up a fuss if indeed a rule was broken regarding the wrong ball. So that argument is a non starter.

Indeed😉😉, doesn't have to be the same ball anyway, think the only stipulation around the ball is that if you're awarded a kick at goal, you have to use the ball in play to take that kick unless there is an issue with that ball.

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Posted: 22 February 2026 at 12:08pm

I actually WATCHED a Wales game yesterday, first one in ages, with an element of real pride.

Don't forget we were playing a Scottish side that hammered England last week ,and for a large part of the game, we were better than them.

Yes it was a loss, but huge improvements in several areas.

Tandy needs to iron out the deficiencies and build on it.

On the evidence on show at Twickenham, it's highly unlikely we will beat Ireland , but hopefully be competitive, which would lead on to the final game against the Italians . We will get the wooden spoon again, but a WIN would do wonders firvthe side , it's confidence and give supporters some hope.

Purely from a Scarlets point of view, my worst fears , yet again with players injured. The key is Costelow, both for Wales and Scarlets.

He was injured FOR WALES against the Barbarians, two years ago, and has struggled to regain the zip and control he initially showed.

Against Scotland, all that was back, his kicking distribution and of course he fearlessly tackles.

Edwards doesn't come close to Sam in that form. Let hope he recovers well.

A word also for Eddie James. Wasn't a regular in the Scarlets side not long ago, now putting in really putting in commendable performances. at

national level. He needs to be tied down to long term deal at Parc

Mcloskey for Ireland show at Twickenham how important it is to have someone of that physicality in the centre.

I stood yer on tanner bank

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