The Rugby Thread

Pross

kingstongraham said:

Dorset_Boy said:

And the Welsh Six Nations luck rears its head.
No way is that a yellow for Finn Russell. He knocks it up and then collides with 2 Welsh players. Penalty would have been harsh let alone yellow.

Wales's game to lose now.

He had no chance of catching it.

It was the same situation as Scotland benefitted from last week albeit there was cover this time so no penalty try. Oddly DB thought that decision was spot on.

I don't think the officials made a bad call all game including the tackle on the Welsh player in the first half where he definitely wasn't taken above horizontal. The only slightly questionable one was the possible deliberate knock on in the first half.

Pross

Title decider on now with France looking very good early on.

Pross

As I say that, France turn into France!

Dorset_Boy

France come out a light speed!

Pross said:

kingstongraham said:

Dorset_Boy said:

And the Welsh Six Nations luck rears its head.
No way is that a yellow for Finn Russell. He knocks it up and then collides with 2 Welsh players. Penalty would have been harsh let alone yellow.

Wales's game to lose now.

He had no chance of catching it.

It was the same situation as Scotland benefitted from last week albeit there was cover this time so no penalty try. Oddly DB thought that decision was spot on.

I don't think the officials made a bad call all game including the tackle on the Welsh player in the first half where he definitely wasn't taken above horizontal. The only slightly questionable one was the possible deliberate knock on in the first half.

To be fair, Scotland should have had a yellow when Wales scored their try. They had been told the next panalty would be yellow and the ref was playing penalty advantage when Francis scored. It last night's Tigers vs Saints game they still gave the yellow in the same situation.

Pross

Not sure what ball the French defender was watching.

Pross

Dorset_Boy said:

France come out a light speed!

Pross said:

kingstongraham said:

Dorset_Boy said:

And the Welsh Six Nations luck rears its head.
No way is that a yellow for Finn Russell. He knocks it up and then collides with 2 Welsh players. Penalty would have been harsh let alone yellow.

Wales's game to lose now.

He had no chance of catching it.

It was the same situation as Scotland benefitted from last week albeit there was cover this time so no penalty try. Oddly DB thought that decision was spot on.

I don't think the officials made a bad call all game including the tackle on the Welsh player in the first half where he definitely wasn't taken above horizontal. The only slightly questionable one was the possible deliberate knock on in the first half.

To be fair, Scotland should have had a yellow when Wales scored their try. They had been told the next panalty would be yellow and the ref was playing penalty advantage when Francis scored. It last night's Tigers vs Saints game they still gave the yellow in the same situation.

Yeah, it seems quite commonplace that the yellow gets forgotten then. Certainly shouldn't though, it's like being penalised for managing to score.

Pross

Gone scrappy after a great opening.

blazing_saddles

Pross said:

Gone scrappy after a great opening.

Was just going to post that it’s become a game of 2 quarters.
Lots of errors creeping in.

Pross

Irish discipline is costing them big time. Only one try each but the French lead is really stretching.

As I say that they catch France sleeping again and score a try.

Pross

Shaun Edwards is going to explode watching this defending.

Dorset_Boy

Right back in it now. Who will get tense and stop playing first?

mrb123

Second half has been excellent

Dorset_Boy

Contentious non award of a try there for France.

kingstongraham

60 seconds to kick is ridiculous.

blazing_saddles

Skin of their teeth but France the only team left in Grand Slam contention

Dorset_Boy

kingstongraham said:

60 seconds to kick is ridiculous.

Yes, and both sides kicked possession away at the end. Crazy.
France look so powerful, who can prevent them getting the GS?

Pross

Quality was a bit lacking in that game (I did have to have it on the radio for much of the second half so may have improved?). High intensity though.

3 very close matches from the first 5.

kingstongraham

Pross said:

Quality was a bit lacking in that game (I did have to have it on the radio for much of the second half so may have improved?). High intensity though.

3 very close matches from the first 5.

France's defensive speed at the ruck made it very difficult for Ireland to keep it moving. Really enjoyable match.

blazing_saddles

Dorset_Boy said:

kingstongraham said:

60 seconds to kick is ridiculous.

Yes, and both sides kicked possession away at the end. Crazy.
France look so powerful, who can prevent them getting the GS?

Saddest sight for me was Hoofer Murray coming on for Gibson-Park.

blazing_saddles

No love for the England Italy game?
It’s a bit flat with the half empty stadium and the match following the usual script

mrb123

Italy gifted it to us first half with the penalty count.

They could have scored a few points this half via pens but too far behind so having to go for the corner every time.

Hope he leaves Smith on this week. Smith is some player.

Pross

Only been watching since half time. Italy have been frustrating, making good attacks but managing to lose the ball just as they look like getting a scoring opportunity.

Have England switched off after picking up what looks like being a comfortable BP win or were they like this first half as well?

Currie was lucky to avoid a yellow card earlier killing the ball at an Italian ruck 10m out.

blazing_saddles

Since getting the BP, England’s intensity has dropped off the way Wales’s usually does.
Almost as if they are on the plane home

Pross

There's the difference, Italy have been knocking on the door for 30 minutes with nothing to show for it, England get their first real chance to score since I've been watching and get the try.

Dorset_Boy

Typical Italian performance, do 90% right and then make a crucial mistake.
Agree Curry should have been binned, very cynical, but the sort of decision 'bigger' teams get and smaller teams or those on a losing streak don't.
Typical stupid Eddie Jones decision to put Ben Youngs on - why oh why?
England need to be far for accurate and the intensity will need to be much higher in the rest of their matches.
Other than not binning Curry I thought the ref was good, and very clear.

mrb123

Dorset_Boy said:

Typical Italian performance, do 90% right and then make a crucial mistake.
Agree Curry should have been binned, very cynical, but the sort of decision 'bigger' teams get and smaller teams or those on a losing streak don't.
Typical stupid Eddie Jones decision to put Ben Youngs on - why oh why?
England need to be far for accurate and the intensity will need to be much higher in the rest of their matches.
Other than not binning Curry I thought the ref was good, and very clear.

The Youngs box kick from the half way line when they'd just made a load of ground was particularly annoying!

Pross

It's very odd bringing experienced players off the bench when the result is sealed. Perfect chance to give game time to the up and coming players.

Dorset_Boy

Pross said:

It's very odd bringing experienced players off the bench when the result is sealed. Perfect chance to give game time to the up and coming players.

We all know that, but Eddie just enjoys pissing people off. Quite surprised he didn't go with his favourites from the start.
As Smith was MotM Eddie will probably bench him next match.

blazing_saddles

Dorset_Boy said:

Pross said:

It's very odd bringing experienced players off the bench when the result is sealed. Perfect chance to give game time to the up and coming players.

We all know that, but Eddie just enjoys pissing people off. Quite surprised he didn't go with his favourites from the start.
As Smith was MotM Eddie will probably bench him next match.

He should have left him on last week, but taken him off this week, when the job was done.
Right now he’s too precious a commodity to risk getting injured.

Dorset_Boy

Unfortunately England's worst 'top level' referee is in charge of Scotland vs France. Karl Dickson should be reffing level 4, bnot internationals. He's utterly woeful.