A L Richards

Apprentice economist and self-publishing epic poet. The latter suggesting narcissism, delusion and possibly paramnesia, amongst other storied idiosyncrasies...

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

@thepaulwilliams Yep, I saw this at the time and just cringed. Let’s not try to normalise or excuse this behaviour at rugby matches. This should not be classified as creating an atmosphere or as banter. It’s just arseholishness and I hate seeing it in football, let alone rugby. #NoRespect

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

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…

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

@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…

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

@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…

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

@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…

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

@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…

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

@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…)

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

@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…

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

@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…

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

@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…

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

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

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

@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.

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

@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…

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

@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.

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

@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.

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

@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…

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

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

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

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?

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

@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…

[A L Richards @HopeNow84]

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