My sympathy for Wales after the pitch invader has been lessened a wee bit after finding out the fire alarm in the Saffers Hotel was set off at 3 and 7am.
Aus will win. They are on a good run of wins and have had a good season down south IIRC
Less than a score in a high scoring game tho
But on the other hand this is not far off a first choice Scotland team with key players in form, some of them got a good runout last week - you never know..............
Come on Scotland!
Scotland by 10+ points today. Then a top 2 place in the 6 Nations. Now is the time to lay down a marker for WC 2023.
Nicely worked Scotland.
Phew. Breathless stuff. Lovely try from Scotland and Russell is right on top of his game.
I'm at 17minites and reckon that Oz centres are both lucky not to have been pinged for no arm tackles. Hogg was clattered on the break and then just before Oz broke for full length proper no arm smash on the hairy forward that had him shaking his head for a bit.
Tough yellow.fagerson lucky with hand to hooper's face.
Well done Scotland! I went to put the game on, to find daughter #2 has cancelled her Prime account 🙁
What did I miss?
Great win for Scotland.
fagerson lucky with hand to hooper’s face.
Yep
Defences dominated the game. Both sides error prone when trying to go forward. Yellow card appeared harsh but given that the Australian was off his feet as well as his hand /arm making contact with the Scottish player's head probably correct.
Neither side could keep the ball for long. Scotland scrum was surprisingly dominant. This plus slightly better game management won us the game. High tension but not one for the neutrals
Just home from Murrayfield. Brilliant to see the old ground full again. Not a vintage game but very enjoyable. Little in it either way but I thought (admittedly through my blue tinted and beer enhance specs) Scotland just about deserved the win.
I was actually more pleased with this one than when we put 50 odd points on them a few years ago. Australia are a far better team now than they were then.
Credit to Ashman particularly. We were all a bit doubtful when he came on but the front row did a great job and he took his try superbly. We were delighted to be proved wrong.
Bring on South Africa!!
Gauss; you get a free month. Now on the way home, happy enough with that; we would have lost that game 18 months ago.
This would have been a red card a few years ago. Luckily for Fagerson the refs can't focus on more than 1 thing at a time.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1457370657025634315
I am assuming Hooper did not complain about the hand in the face or it would have been looked at. I think its one of those that looked a lot worse than it is
Doesn't need to be a gouge, just contact with eye area
I think its one of those that looked a lot worse than it is
I agree, just pointing out that it would have been red a few years ago. His thumb is right by the eye
Which is why I can only assume Hooper did not complain because if he had made an allegation of gouging it would have been looked at.
AA; It will 100% have been looked by the TMO who would butt in if he saw foul play.It doesn't matter how many close-ups twitter users put. The law on hands to face hasn't changed either,so he wouldn't have walked for that since TMO's were introduced.
It was something and nothing but du plessis needs a talking to about his being pushed by Russell. Both water carriers followed the ball making it not possible for a quick throw in. Hopefully another nail in the coffin of this practice.
I thought it a good game - highly entertaining. Both sides trying to attack ball in hand. Some tries scored, lead going back and forward. Its an entertainment business
I thought Poite had a decent game as well - all major decisions right and used replay well
Scotland did not quite click but still won which is good. That wasn't them at their best. Scotland ahead on all the stats bar territory first half where we played too much rugby in our half. We should be better next week and we will need to be
It will 100% have been looked by the TMO
It could have been missed as he was also looking for the try and the cheapshot elbow at the time, it also is possible that they make a mistake.
It's certainly contact with the eye area, I would argue reckless also as time is off, this does assume he has an opposable thumb mind.
https://www.officiating.worldrugby.org/?module=6§ion=53&subsection=181
https://www.laws.worldrugby.org/?law=9&language=EN
A player must not physically or verbally abuse anyone. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to, biting, punching, contact with the eye or eye area
I thought it a good game – highly entertaining
I thought, it tight and tense but basically rubbish, not a game for the neutral. Let's hope they stick with O Connor at 10 v Wales, he was beyond shit. The all time great Larkham in commentary must have been crying inside.
Edited to add Wales will get destroyed by an Aus side seeking redemption after losing to Scotland and England.
Wales are currently shit. Some interesting comments on twitter about a new scrum set up causing issues from Corbiserero.
I would argue reckless also as time is off, this does assume he has an opposable thumb mind
RACIST!
Don't get me wrong, dumb for an international player but he didn't gouge him,even if it had been reviewed it was never going to be worse than yellow. The twitter links above are trying to suggest he carried out what is probably still the most heinous act in rugby.
He didn't intend to do it, but given time was off he grabbed a face and made contact with the eye area of Hooper. (Given we need a medical examination to see if he has thumbs).
He really has displaced Sinkler as the dumbest tight head in the British Isles on recent form. He needs to calm himself down and concentrate on playing hard not acting hard. Good player though.
I did think in general the Scottish pack is becoming a very good unit, although they do seem to be getting involved in lots of handbags. Could be fun next week. The 6 forget his name has certainly been taking lessons from Itoje in cheerleading!!
Jamie Ritchie was the one fighting with Owen Farrell in the tunnel 2 years ago,a totally horrible player who would fight his own shadow. I agree on Fagerson, but if there was one Aussie to shove your hand over his mouth....
He really has displaced Sinkler as the dumbest tight head in the British Isles on recent form. He needs to calm himself down and concentrate on playing hard not acting hard. Good player though.
This.
It’s a shame Tompkins still think tackling is optional for an international centre ffs
Tompkins is an odd one, apparently good for Saracens and shows flashes for Wales but just doesn't seem up to it.
That's the reason Maitland isn't in blue. Just not got international head. Good for sarries but never been able to keep the heid .
Tompkins is an odd one, apparently good for Saracens and shows flashes for Wales but just doesn’t seem up to it.
I thought he had a good game against SA. I got the impression he was trying too hard to impress, in the games just after his initial success. Perhaps he would benefit from some consistency in selection.
I disagree 100 - Maitland has had a decent international career but he is at the end of his time now and we have a load of young wingers coming thru. Maitland has been a class act for Scotland
tj but if he played for Scotland as he plays at sarries he'd still be nailed on starter.
Sarries and Scotland have different styles of play, not every player works well in different systems.
I thought the issue with Maitland was lack of availability, always considered him a quality player.
The issue with Tompkins is the sheer number of missed tackles.
In other news some so called friend bought my son an England hoody for his birthday, you can imagine my reaction!
Maitland has been fantastic for Scotland and is flying for Salaries this year. Remember; when we capped him we were also selecting Tim Visser and Tom Heathcoate. Dark days....edit; JINGS! and Peter Murchie and Ruaridh Jackson!
just contact with eye area
Luckily Hooper has such tiny eyes 😆
France Argentina was a hard match some properly hard running into hard tackles. If France bring that to 6N it'll be smash the defence then let the pretty boys fly.
Bets on Scotland being dragged into a slogfest by SA? We should try to run them round but we won't.
If we get dragged into a slugfest we will lose badly. Its a test of game management for us. Lets see more of the tactical kicking from Russell and Hogg that they showed against england last year where they completely controlled the game and territorial position. last week we played too much rugby in our own half especially in the first half
France team had only 1 player over 30. That's a team building to the WC.
.......and looking good too, both in mens and women's teams. Personally I'm glad France are back as a force in rugby.
Looks like Pivac is feeling the pressure then!! Almost full "strength" 3 opensides in backrow will be interesting, no idea what strength Fiji are bringing. Adams at 13 will be interesting. Nice to see Jenkins as Captain.
Wales team to face Fiji, at Principality Stadium, on Sunday 14th November 2021;
15 Liam Williams (Scarlets)
14 Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys)
13 Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby)
12 Johnny Williams (Scarlets)
11 Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby)
10 Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints)
9 Kieran Hardy (Scarlets)
;
1 Rhys Carré (Cardiff Rugby)
2 Ryan Elias (Scarlets)
3 Tomas Francis (Ospreys)
4 Will Rowlands (Dragons)
5 Adam Beard (Ospreys)
6 Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Rugby – captain)
7 Thomas Young (Wasps Rugby)
8 Taine Basham (Dragons)
Replacements
16 Bradley Roberts (Ulster)
17 Gareth Thomas (Ospreys)
18 WillGriff John (Scarlets)
19 Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – uncapped)
20 Seb Davies (Cardiff Rugby)
21 Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby)
22 Callum Sheedy (Bristol Bears)
23 Nick Tompkins (Saracens)
The rankings make interesting reading - I think if Scotland beat SA then we move up several places 🙂 Mind you I don't think our odds are that good but Aus beat SA and we beat Aus so why not? 😉
Mind you SA and NZ are clearly out in front
https://www.world.rugby/tournaments/rankings/mru
Good to see Eddie trolling the England fans with his selections.
Faz in at 12 Tuilagi onto the wing (which worked well before) at the expense of Radwan who drops out completely. 2 8s on the bench but Curry starting there.
But hey he's starting Smith at 10.
