RWC 2011 thread

[Simmer]

	Quote:	PaddyG
	I did think the winning penalty was borderline though, I've seen a lot worse at lineouts. Yes there was initial contact, as you'd expect if competing for the lineout ball, but he hardly pulled him down.

The commentators I was following hesitated to see the penalty at first as well, but then it was clear - the other SA player who stayed on the ground and didnt jump, held the Aussie jumper's leg up in the air as he was coming down, thus illegally not letting him land. (The touch judge would have seen that easily, and made the call I figure).


Bryce Lawrence's forward pass calls made me cringe, but maybe with 1 bad call each way (that I saw), that was semi even.

In typical southern hemisphere style, the breakdown was hotly contested, but not a mess - slow ball means its a mess, but if the ref allows teams to muscle through the ruck to win a turnover, so be it.

SA were just really unlucky on attack, losing the ball and not capitalizing on aus's mistakes -did anyone remember to tell SA that Quade Cooper has regular brain explosions under pressure?

David Pocock's crucial ball turnover, on defense, saved the game. Meanwhile SA's unlucky kicks sealed the result.

my thoughts anyway.

[roostermike]

	Quote:	Simmer
	The commentators I was following hesitated to see the penalty at first as well, but then it was clear - the other SA player who stayed on the ground and didnt jump, held the Aussie jumper's leg up in the air as he was coming down, thus illegally not letting him land. (The touch judge would have seen that easily, and made the call I figure). Bryce Lawrence's forward pass calls made me cringe, but maybe with 1 bad call each way (that I saw), that was semi even. In typical southern hemisphere style, the breakdown was hotly contested, but not a mess - slow ball means its a mess, but if the ref allows teams to muscle through the ruck to win a turnover, so be it. SA were just really unlucky on attack, losing the ball and not capitalizing on aus's mistakes -did anyone remember to tell SA that Quade Cooper has regular brain explosions under pressure? David Pocock's crucial ball turnover, on defense, saved the game. Meanwhile SA's unlucky kicks sealed the result. my thoughts anyway.

I would agree on the last penalty, I also saw Danie hang on to his leg. So fair.

But... From what I saw a "hotly contested breakdown" did not mean allowing: 1) hands in the ruck (I saw plenty of instances when the ball suddenly popped out), 2) not releasing the tackled player (i.e. clear daylight, although i don't think he needs to do the chicken dance, but at least a semi-release, and 3) remaining on your feet at the ruck (if you are trying to steal, I saw plenty of times when Pocock was slumped on top of the other players).

I won't mention the numerous high-tackles, as some of our Boks have been known to go a little high.

Again, no sourgrapes, win is win, however ugly it is.

[colinjhw]

Unfortunately, I didn't see the game. Only had updates on my iphone app. Happy with the win, but disappointed that these two teams met so early... Same with next weeks game against NZ... Oh well, we shouldn't have lost to the Irish!

[MarkH]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rug...ter-final.html

[tigerli]

	Quote:	colinjhw
	Oh well, we shouldn't have lost to the Irish!

If you hadn't you'd have gone home now, having been slaughtered by the Welsh.

[tom tulpe]

	Quote:	roostermike
	Again, no sourgrapes, win is win, however ugly it is.

Spoken like a true Bokke supporter

[roostermike]

	Quote:	tom tulpe
	Spoken like a true Bokke supporter

Where does your allegiance lie? Let me guess... an English rose...

[roostermike]

	Quote:	tigerli
	If you hadn't you'd have gone home now, having been slaughtered by the Welsh.

Welsh are looking pretty damn good, I must say.

[Simmer]

I suppose to lose a game that would have been normally been winnable 4 out of 5 times, is a sucky way to go out of the world cup.
Hope that doesn't happen for us (again) Sunday

If Wales make France look ordinary, then perhaps they will have enough belief come the final, to win it. If its close, then facing NZ or Aus so far away from home might be a psychological step too far.

At least if Wales win it all, the Welsh people will go nuts for 4 years (or more). If NZ wins it, then it won't repair the pain and jabs of only being able to win at home entirely.

[Caviarchips]

What a totally deserved sending off in the Wales game for a career threateningly dangerous tackle. Looking forward to see how the pundits try to spin it as a harsh decision

[yjt]

You really think so? I thought yellow would have been deserving. The commentators do my head in though. Last week I had to change to TF1 for the Wales-Ireland game even though I don't understand french. The bias was just ridiculous. Again the welsh commentator was clueless acting like he was harsh to get penalised. Giving cliches like it wasn't malious bla bla bla. The refs have constantly given yellow cards throughout this tournament for tackles like this

[yjt]

Another point as well: I find it strange that the IRB pick refs who could be accused of not being totally neutral. I'm sure the refs are being neutral but the picked a Welsh ref for the South Africa- Samoa game, a game which decided if Wales got through or not. Apparently Alain Rolland, as the name suggests has a french dad. After the red card decision you can imagine the accusations that will be coming

[Caviarchips]

	Quote:	yjt
	You really think so? I thought yellow would have been deserving. The commentators do my head in though. Last week I had to change to TF1 for the Wales-Ireland game even though I don't understand french. The bias was just ridiculous. Again the welsh commentator was clueless acting like he was harsh to get penalised. Giving cliches like it wasn't malious bla bla bla. The refs have constantly given yellow cards throughout this tournament for tackles like this

Yeah...I really do. (I'm a ref ) It was malicious and if Warburton doesn't admit that he knew what he was doing, he's lying. It was ill-disciplined and dangerous. He should know better.

[Simmer]

Horrid technique in that tackle.
Gutted for Wales.
But there was enough stupid decisions made by them to justify a loss.

High kicks (bombs/up-and-unders) get really boring to watch when they aren't working.

[yjt]

Fair enough I'm just a hobby fan. I've just found that tackles like this has been constantly been sanctioned with a yellow up till now.

I suppose the situation was similar to the De Jong Karate kick early in the Football world cup final. There the ref decided to not show the red card which would've been deserved as to not ''ruin the game'' and was criticised afterwards. Here the ref took the opposite approach and will also be criticised. It's a lose-lose situation for them.

Regarding the game I thought Wales would have deserved the win. With half the Irish team close to pension, English without direction and the French being French this young Wales side could become the top NH side for years to come.

[Caviarchips]

	Quote:	yjt
	Fair enough I'm just a hobby fan. I've just found that tackles like this has been constantly been sanctioned with a yellow up till now. I suppose the situation was similar to the De Jong Karate kick early in the Football world cup final. There the ref decided to not show the red card which would've been deserved as to not ''ruin the game'' and was criticised afterwards. Here the ref took the opposite approach and will also be criticised. It's a lose-lose situation for them. Regarding the game I thought Wales would have deserved the win. With half the Irish team close to pension, English without direction and the French being French this young Wales side could become the top NH side for years to come.

I agree - I don't know if I'd have had the balls to do it (not that refereeing Balsall Common 5ths is close to a RWC semi!) and I don't know if he SHOULD have done it for the sake of the contest, spectacle etc, but I don't think that anybody can argue it wasn't justified. It was a spear tackle by a captain in a high pressure game. He shouldn't have done it. For the Welsh to blame the ref rather than their leader is kind of missing the point.

Still, would loved to have seen them win

[MidfieldGeneral]

my twopence worth, france versus wales:

1. sending off was harsh but understandable and probably right
2. wales played well but screwed up: too many missed point kicks, halfpenny penalty was out of range, should have gone for drop goal at the end
3. france have a good defence and still have a good game in them for the final
4.great game, had me on the edgeof my seat,

[jacek]

It was an awesome game after all which made me no less excited than seeing Boks gone against Wallabies last week. I was on my feet in the last minutes still hoping that red daredevills with one man down will turn the game around...

What I have learnt from this world cup though is that the last saying always belongs to the ref, however wrong it might seem. But it is another place for this discussion subject to pundits and petition can fly over the inter webs now

One thing that I cannot digest is loss against French team with significant ball possession and initiative by Welsh players. It is another irony (along the previous Boks game) but there is no justification for so many penalties missed which cost you the match at the end of the day. It is all about getting on the scoreboard. It's just magic of the rugby game and RWC pressure

[Caviarchips]

	Quote:	jacek
	What I have learnt from this world cup though is that the last saying always belongs to the ref, however wrong it might seem. But it is another place for this discussion subject to pundits and petition can fly over the inter webs now

Seems I'm not the only one who thinks it was a fair decision

Maybe the neg repper who didn't fancy the public debate might like to pop by

[jacek]

	Quote:	Caviarchips
	Seems I'm not the only one who thinks it was a fair decision Maybe the neg repper who didn't fancy the public debate might like to pop by

The referee was clearly abiding the law... Imagine bunch of naysayers arriving with criticism if he did otherwise. However IRB might take time and revise the laws in the future so that ref can make decision based more on circumstances. These are big lads and used to land on their necks... Well, ref killed the game