SA look very good. Its not many teams that have stopped Scotland crossing the whitewash recently. Second SA try a thing of beauty and Scotland blew the meager two chances they created
SA midfield shut down Russell very well indeed
anagallis_arvensis
Full Member
Never mind TJ, better luck next time. Shame that’s the end of the weekends games, oh well it’s been fun, see you next weekend
Yer Arse! You stay right here.
Enjoyable game. Found myself cheering on Scotland...which was [i]weird[/i]!
The Saffers ' medics" need to spend less time on the pitch though, giving their big boys a rest too often
Realistically that's made Scotland's world cup all but impossible. We need to win the remaining 3 games and particularly in the two coming games look for a big points differential. South Africa were deserving winners. World rugby needs to tighten up on it's procedures, the obvious head on head impact would have been a red card in many games.
You stay right here.
Got to get the tea on and walk the dog....then tucked up in bed early. Tomorrow's a school day!
@gordimhor We’ll only lose to the All Blacks or France in the quarters even if we do manage to get through, which we won’t unless we beat Ireland. Which seems unlikely.
@ratherbeintobago
I'm looking for us squeaking past Fiji and losing to Romania then beating Ireland by 12. Which will be enough to give Ireland a more difficult path to the final. It will also cause a diplomatic incident in my son's house as he's married to a Dublin woman.
I’m looking for us squeaking past Fiji and losing to Romania then beating Ireland by 12.
I don't think Fiji are in this world cup!
Are they playing both anthems at once? 🤬
That whole build up was the best I've seen Wales play in a while.
Fiji looking good, two great tries.
This is going well
Wow! They are so strong in the midfield.
This could be a long night!
Yep, the Fijian centres are terrifying
Did a flanker just burn Josh Adams? 😳
Not sure my nerves can take much more of this
Dan Biggar is such a prick!
I agree with Dan Biggar!!
Very entertaining first half 😁. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Well it's entertaining!
Dan Biggar is such a prick!
Biggar is a god imho, but maybe he needs to calm a little today.
Fiji are frighteningly good and brutally physical
As regards Fiji their performance tonight is just confirming my suspicions that Scotland were wrong to ditch Vern Cotter. Very entertaining game.
It's one of my life's dreams to see someone spark Dan Biggar out. It could well be North that does it too. Note how no one was screaming at Biggar for falling off of tackles. He's a berk who thinks he's bigger than the team.
Sadly he's not alone in the modern game - Ben Earl, Maro Itoje, Jonny Sexton, Nic White - they would all have been thumped multiple times in the past, hopefully to the point where they mended their ways.
Bigger was right, but there’s leading, and there’s shouting.
Biggar is right, kick the ****ing thing.
Biggar wants the others to follow the game plan but some of them are playing like under 10's.
Biggar has high expectations of himself and others.
All of these things.
And yes is is also a prick, rugby teams need them.
I would love it if Biggar got sent off for ranting.
Really love it.
Like, dine out on the memory of it happening for the rest of my life 😂
Just blow the final whistle now!!!!
Seems a bit harsh in context
Yellow card a bit harsh on Fiji after 3 red zone pens by Wales
So Wales concede 3 penalties in 3 mins, two of which were cynical as…then Fiji get a yellow for their first one? Er…OK
I'm unclear why fiji got a yellow card for one offence when wales didn't for 3 offences.
Wales give a million penalties away and get a warning. Fiji give one and get yellow!!!!
Bullshit
Yip bollox!!
I'm not even sure what the offence was?
I’m not even sure what the offence was?
Collapsed a maul that was about to go over.
😭😭😭
This is too painful to watch!!
Blimey a bit stressful this 😀😀😀😀
<p style="text-align: left;">Should've been another yellow there ffs</p>
You lucky, lucky bastards!
Good grief
<p style="text-align: left;">Bit gutted for Fiji tbh!</p>
Biggar would have murdered the team had Fiji won.
Oof! What a game.
Bloody hell.
Fair play to Wales though. They've improved a lot, and Fiji were pretty good.
Crackin' game, unlucky Fiji ...
Well that was exciting 😁
Ahhhhh Fiji
Ref not great tonight inconsistent at best.
Result for Wales thou
Bloody hell. Hard on Fiji that - they were electric. Hope they beat Australia. Hopefully Wales can build now game by game.
Penalties tho, ****s sake Wales.
Some game that. Would not have wanted to ne the Fijian player to go for the conversion to win had that final try gone over!
>I pointed out when the list of WC refs that some of the English ref selections were appalling. Carley being one of them. He's appalling inconsistent and random in the Prem. And he's been the same this eve. He shouldn't be reffing the 5th tier never mind the WC.
Should have had at least 2 more in the bin for Wales for the repeated cynical offsides 2m out from their own line.
Fiji truly robbed by the ref.
Wales really needed that referee’s endless forgiveness there, didn’t they. Gutted for Fiji.
Mods/admin can we please please please get rid of the ridiculous text formatting options please!
Ref was consistently on the wrong side of rucks/mauls/scrums, especially on the try-line.
No consistency or confidence in his decisions. Looked way out of his depth.
don’t think Fiji are in this world cup!
They are they're in Scotland's group cunningly disguised as Tonga
There is no doubt that world rugby were thorough in their analysis/reviews of referees before selecting the pool.
On that basis, the worst that can be said is..everyone can have an off day; that is not the same as saying Carley's performance was unacceptable - it wasn't.
Armchair critics and referees...and all that.
Moving on from that, I thought Joy Neville would have been closer to being in the match referees pool.
Neville seems to have dropped down the pecking order recently - a shame - I think she is very good
I pointed out when the list of WC refs that some of the English ref selections were appalling. Carley being one of them. He’s appalling inconsistent and random in the Prem. And he’s been the same this eve. He shouldn’t be reffing the 5th tier never mind the WC.
He is definitely one where I bet the prem team who have got him reffing their next game have a collective eye roll on finding out. You can also see how little authority he carries with the players by their body language on field.
It was ludicrous how the Fijian got a yellow immediately on the first offence when Wales were infringing repeatedly on their own line. Sure, as a one off offence it was slightly more obvious as a scoring chance, but Fiji were very hard done by there.
Fair play to Wales for getting the result, but boy will other teams be salivating at the holes in that performance. On balance Wales were beaten in the scrum. Their were some really good individual performances in the backs (Tomkins, Adams), but taken as a unit, Wales look there for the taking. It has been a slippery slope for a long time, but the Wales bench has so many players that make you say "who?" nowadays that there is nowhere near the strength in depth required.
The finalists will play seven internationals in seven weeks. Depth of squad will be a huge factor. For me, that means SA and France. The draw, however suggests that they will contest a semifinal...
I thought Wales looked a massive step up from anything seen from them in the last year or so.
Scored some tries when got into the Fiji 22. Defended pretty well, won our lineouts. Scrums went ok until bench came on. Beat a team ranked 3 above them in the world. Can't grumble at that.
Hmmm.
Yep, they were 'OK' but ZJ was very lucky to get his try after the cross-field kick wasn't caught by the Fiji player as it really should have been.
Wales should also have been penalised more for the continued penalties and time wasting - it was ridiculous! If Fiji hadn't wasted time opting to retake scrums (or if there had been another 5 minutes on the clock) then it would have been a different result.
But they did and there wasn't so Wales squeaked through.
Fiji's yellow was a clear yellow, dragging down a maul heading for line, could have been penalty try even. Wales should probably had a yellow sooner and another one later, Biggar's on the line was closest to a professional foul and perhaps should have been a straight yellow. Loved the game, best of the weekend by a mile for a neutral.
Wales made 253 tackles according to BBC, compared to 70by Fiji. Any team defending for that amount with concede pens.
anagallis_arvensis
Full Member
I thought Wales looked a massive step up from anything seen from them in the last year or so.
I'm happy with how Wales played too. No one is arguing that they're a great rugby team. Some of the experienced players had their best game in a while. Fiji provide a different set of challenges to most other teams and Wales found a way to win. Wales (like England) now have one foot in the quarter finals, they have a history of improving game on game in tournaments and I have a feeling they may do so again.
Get to the quarter finals and produce a decent performance and I think most will be happy with how the tournament has gone. Let the top 4 or 5 teams worry about winning, that's not Wales aim.
For me, that means SA and France. The draw, however suggests that they will contest a semifinal
They can't. If Fra & SA win their pools they can only meet in the final. If SA come second in their pool then they'll meet France in the ¼ final - assuming France win their pool which is highly likely now they've beaten NZ.
Get to the quarter finals and produce a decent performance and I think most will be happy with how the tournament has gone. Let the top 4 or 5 teams worry about winning, that’s not Wales aim.
Yep
We are proper knackered when Biggar retires, the six nations with Costelow at ten.... Shudder.
They can’t. If Fra & SA win their pools they can only meet in the final. If SA come second in their pool then they’ll meet France in the ¼ final – assuming France win their pool which is highly likely now they’ve beaten NZ.
That's correct. I knew that, but I typed semifinal despite knowing. 🤦♂️
Just off to check I've not put the TV remote in the fridge or similar. If I can remember where the fridge is. 🤔
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/66785811
Two match ban for Curry, wonder who is next on the England high tackle tombola?
It won’t be Farrell, but I’ve got a few beers on for him to get at least a yellow for the same thing before the end of the tournament.
There were a fair few suspect tackles over the weekend that I saw and I only watched four games.
↑Wales name team to face Portugal
Wales team to face Portugal: Leigh Halfpenny; Louis Rees-Zammit, Mason Grady, Johnny Williams, Rio Dyer; Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake (c), Dillon Lewis, Christ Tshiunza, Dafydd Jenkins, Dan Lydiate, Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Corey Domachowski, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Taine Basham, Gareth Davies, Sam Costelow, Josh Adams.
SA have named 4 scrum halves in their match day 23! What’s that about?
Looking at there options regarding 6:2 bench splits in future games? Faff covering ten gives them options as does the other one playing on wing.
No love for FRA VS URU then.
Commentary is still utter Blige.
I'm enjoying it 😁. Commentary is pretty awful...
France in a spot of bother here
Wow!!!!!!
Or maybe not?
I thought the first Uruguayan try was a knock on (he "kicked it" with his thigh)
Commentary is still utter Blige.
no love for Mary J then?
England team to face Japan:
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 27 caps)
14. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 74 caps)
13. Joe Marchant (Stade Francais, 20 caps)
12. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 54 caps)
11. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 60 caps)
10. George Ford – vice-captain (Sale Sharks, 86 caps)
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 7 caps)
1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 83 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 80 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 63 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 71 caps)
5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 12 caps)
6. Courtney Lawes – captain (Northampton Saints, 101 caps)
7. Ben Earl (Saracens, 19 caps)
8. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 22 caps)
Replacements
16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 4 caps)
17. Ellis Genge – vice-captain (Bristol Bears, 53 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 30 caps)
19. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 4 caps)
20. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 70 caps)
21. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 124 caps)
22. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 25 caps)
23. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 15 caps)
Not many surprises, change in the front row for game time and Ludlum on for Curry. Pretty clear what the first team is.
The big question of course comes next week, who gets drop for the shoulder charging idiot?