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https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cpwrj451k95o
So long and thanks for all the Grand Slams
It's a shame it didn't work out for Gats this time, but he came back in to a broken Welsh rugby system and was on a hiding to nowhere from the start.
I don't know what the answer is but something has to be done to get it back on track. The system works in Ireland but just lurches from one problem to another in Wales.
The system works in Ireland but just lurches from one problem to another i Wales.
The difference is quite a large number of millions in budget in the much more populous and affluent place
Well at least we've got a nice hotel in Caerdydd for all those punters who want to spend even more to watch us lose by 40
Well at least we've got a nice hotel in Caerdydd for all those punters who want to spend even more to watch us lose by 40
Well at least we've got a nice hotel in Caerdydd for all those punters who want to spend even more to watch us lose by 40
Firmly behind the sofa and won't be coming out!!
Well this is a bit more competitive than everyone was expecting
Much improved look like a team again, Ireland just had better players
So the ball just has to be near the ground for it to count as an England score?
So the ball just has to be near the ground for it to count as an England score?
I think Marcus Smith isn't a good enough tackler to play 15.
I think Marcus Smith isn't a good enough tackler to play 15.
Too many visits to the 22 for so few points for Scotland. Going to cost them in the end.
I dunno, England aren’t showing much.
Well, I'll be very happy to be proved wrong 🙂
So the ball just has to be near the ground for it to count as an England score?
Referee was right on top, called it immediately and didn't feel need to refer. Sometimes eyes 2m away are better than fixed camera angles. I thought rugby was supposed to be supportive of the officials - or is that only when they rule against England?
Referee was right on top, called it immediately and didn't feel need to refer. Sometimes eyes 2m away are better than fixed camera angles. I thought rugby was supposed to be supportive of the officials - or is that only when they rule against England?
Weird, normally you'd expect 300 replays but the director didn't feel the need to show us any replays at all (or at least I only saw one that pretty categorically showed the ball held up).
It's almost like they don't want to draw any attention to that particular score.
Can any of you rugby experts tell me why England keep kicking the ball back to the opposition?
Well, to me I agree the camera angles showed the ball in the air but only a moment or so after it hadn't been able to show it grounded - different to showing it not being grounded.
But it didn't need to, because the ref had seen it with his own eyes already to the satisfaction of being able to not need a replay.
If he hadn't seen it, then I agree it wouldn't have been given on that evidence. But he did, so he gave it, and that should be respected. No?
Well, I'm sure we'll see lots of replays. Same as we will of that Itoje 'turnover' just gone.
Anyway, England are probably going to win this and if they do it'll be thanks to the front 5. Not so much size or power but mobility Scotland's front 5 can only dream of.
Or of that Scotland dangerous play
I think Marcus Smith isn't a good enough tackler to play 15.
Lucky lucky England
Ach well, can't complain too much. Like I said, too many points left in the 22. Well done England, wish we had your front 5.
Or of that Scotland dangerous play
To be fair, his feet were still lower than Itoje's were on his 'turnover' 😉
Epic game that! So glad of the win for England...
Scotland should be rightly disappointed in themselves... They played better than England for most of the game, but made far too many mistakes and conceded too many penalties.
What a day for Fin Russell to forget his kicking boots though!
Well that was crap.
Cracking game, disappointed to lose but thoroughly enjoyed it. England forward power is the difference.
Have just watched the Calcutta cup after successfully avoiding being told the result at work The England try was a mistake by the referee but it was missed kicks that cost Scotland the match. We have only ourselves to blame.
The England try was a mistake by the referee
Discussed above but I don't think he did. The TV replays are inconclusive, don't show it being definitively grounded but don't show it not being grounded either, it doesn't have a complete set of images either way. Instead you have a referee right on top (look at picture in link) who with his own eyes has seen it down, not just 'I think' but enough to not need to ask for the video ref's help either.
If he's asked for confirmation I still think would have been given because there's nothing that definitively says not down.
If he asked for a reason to give it (ie thought not a try) then it wouldn't have been given.
Even the player was honest enough to say not sure - which I can understand; he could feel downward pressure but has no idea whether that's onto ground or hand. You rely on the ref and accept their decision which I thought was a cornerstone of the respect rugby has for its officials.
So far the list of people who think it was a try is you and Pierre Brousset, with even Freeman embarrassed about it.
“The referee awarded it, therefore I grounded it so…” Freeman said, and by all accounts, the Northampton Saints man went a bright shade of red as a smile grew across his face.
“I think, well, as much as the referee saw at the end of the day. He awarded it so that’s the end of it and I’m not going to say anything different.”
Keep searching and I'm sure you'll find more people to join your club.
So Freeman didn’t really think he’d scored but wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth?
I missed the match sat waiting for folks in arrivals at an airport, but I had the text feed and we lost that in the first half from what could tell. So many opportunities and so few points. We should have buried England by the break and we paid the price.
(and Duhan could have stepped a couple of yards towards the posts to make Mr Russell’s job a little easier 😉)
Not didn't think, didn't know.
Didn't know he hadn't either.
Players play, officials officiate. That's the deal
So far the list of people who think it was a try is you and Pierre Brousset
I think the scoreboard operator and the people who "typeset" the score in the papers are okay with it too.
I'll check for you - yep, it's there in black and white 😉
Wow. It’s just a joy to watch the French when they are in this sort of mood.
Quite a display from France .. Fun to watch.
Some reaction from the French. Poor Italy to be on the receiving end of that.
Re Freemans try I don't believe it matters. England were playing with advantage and may have gone to the corner and Scotland could then have infringed again and had someone binned with a yellow. Ref was actually in a good spot.
But if you want to complain about the referee's performance I watched the aftermatch on ITV having caught the 2nd 1/2 of the French game. Didn't realise that although Duhan could have gone more to the posts the referee actually pulls Fin back out a metre or 2 from where Duhan actually touched it down. That might be the metre he missed by!
Anyone else see itoje complaining to ref to shift russel conversion attempt further towards touch?
Anyone else see itoje complaining to ref to shift russel conversion attempt further towards touch?
Yep, good gamesmanship. The kicker is already under a pretty decent amount of time pressure for conversions. Just wandering up complaining as Itoje was doing can put the preparations off. If you can then convince the ref it's in the wrong place (it wasn't) then that's even better. Make the kick more difficult, cause the kicker to set up again, all the time the clock is ticking down.
Ref should have stopped the clock, checked the positions with the TMO, told Itoje to get back behind the line, and then reset the kick clock and let Russell get on with it.
As it was Russell could have risked complaining about Itoje wandering around complaining but then all that might have done was eaten further into the time (think he had about 20 seconds left when told to move the ball). Probably the best option was just to take the new position and get on with it.
Itoje managed the situation really well. Ref had an absolute shocker by letting him get away with it.
https://twitter.com/jamiehuwroberts/status/1893658251629092962
Feels a bit like Scotland lost that rather than England winning it. Good to see Wales showing progress, I thought they had a pretty good game.
Respect the kicker Ireland respect the kicker!!
Ireland lost that in the first 20 not getting a couple of scores down with all that pressure. If you give France anything they will take you apart.
Wals making Scotland look good again!
Scotland looking good again, hopefully it will last through the second half....
Christ; we are sleeping.
Scotland trying to lose this
Held out.... We need two seconds rows and another tighthead though...
Scotland went to pieces when Russell went off, all they had to do was kick the leather off the ball and watch Wales implode, instead they went all Harlem Globetrotters
All Harlem Globetrotters without the success .......... Disappointing lack of cohesion
Oh no just seen my man crush DuPont limp off.
Not seen any of the games today
Scotland had the opportunity to put on a bit of a show today but they didn't manage to. I felt the middle part of the second half was poor especially after Russell went off. The look on his face when Wales got their last try said it all
Wales were very poor in the first half but they didn't give up . Overall not much for anyone to cheer
Oh no just seen my man crush DuPont limp off.
That was a nasty injury and looked at best careless from Bierne
Does ITV had two sets of commentators talking over each other or is just my tellybox
How that was not a penalty try from the collapsed maul I will never understand. He claimed no maul formed I believe.
That Italian Number 8 is a bit rapid
Great weather for a 6N match in London yesterday. Who knew rugby was a summer sport? England weren't sensational but the score probably flattered Italy who were kept in it by the 8 & 15 alone pretty much.
This forum is in it's death throws
Ouch if you're Welsh🤔
I haven’t enjoyed an England performance this much for ages 🙂
Thought Wales were going to give us a challenge early on in the first half, then it changed… rapidly.
Next up Scotland to win.
Clocks in the red, scrum in the centre, ok lads, one last try eh?
Next up Scotland to win.
Can't see it somehow. It's taken me a while to come round to the conclusion everyone else seems to have come to but I reckon it's time for Townsend to move on.
Hopefully the next 80 minutes will make me eat my words but I really don't see that happening.
Yeah they’re a bit mixed team this year, but they are capable.
I haven’t enjoyed an England performance this much for ages 🙂
I thought the Italy Ireland game was a much better game to watch.
Does ITV had two sets of commentators talking over each other or is just my tellybox
Not sure but its terrible commentary
Scotland holding up well here... Hopefully for 80minutes ...
Someone's going to have to explain the low degree of danger thing to me. Like, he intentionally headbutted him. Not as part of a tackle or a clearout but in retaliation.
If you punch someone but it's a shit punch do the say 'low degree of danger' and make it a yellow?
The French hooker is a lucky boy. Head on head as part of an off the ball scuffle and he made the move that caused it. Ben White deserves sanction too for the footballer antics.
France should win this if they stick to their game. But Scotland are a good watch - players like Russell mean that they can play whatever happens to be on. Van Der Merwe has been quiet so far too. He normally does something very good at some point.
Kinghorn is my Lions 15 - Keenan as backup.
Absolute straight red.
and yellow for football antics too!
Game over now. Scotland need to be careful not to concede 60 now.
Scotland now entering the 'England' phase. One out passes to marked runners through several phases then running out of bodies and getting turned over.
Seems to be a lot of video review in this game
Lot of tired Scots boys tonight, don't have the strength in depth to compete for 80 mins
Yeah they seemed to run out of steam but did try.
The France bench is immense
The France bench is immense
Yeah, I think a lot of people are going to give Scotland more credit than they deserve and say the scoreline doesn't reflect how close the game was. Nope, the scoreline reflects exactly how close the game was.
The game was won between the 44th and the 65th minute and it was won very convincingly. SA and France are now playing a new type of rugby that no one else seems to have caught up with yet.
Well I have now watched all todays games. France were the best team of the day and the tournament. Wales were the worst team of the tournament Scotland were better today than they were last week but overall were disappointing even given the missing Tuipulotu. England have improved , Ireland have a lot of personnel changes coming up , a period of transition looks likely
SA and France are now playing a new type of rugby that no one else seems to have caught up with yet.
Well, England beat them...
And England tonight looked like they believed they could beat anyone