A deliberate knock on is foul play,so TMO. For the record,the Scottish team and management have kept quiet about this. The Mee-ja doesn’t seem to want to let it go,the Times has a bit in it’s ongoing reporting stating that Scotland will be unable to sue a la Irish FA. Really?

Actually, I see what you mean. In which case it seems clear that he could have referred the decision for the penalty.

The match officials may suggest that the referee refers the matter to the TMO for review if they observe an act of foul play (prior to the next restart in play) where:

-They may have only partially observed an act or acts of foul play

-They are unsure of the exact circumstances

Seems to me that either one of those would have allowed CJ to check with the TMO for the final penalty.

I give up. Rugby is too complicated for my tiny brain to follow. I’m off to see if there’s any football on.

As I recall,

Japan – Scots interception try
SA – Scots interception try
Samoa – Scots interception try

And even later on in the Australia game – Scots interception try

With that track record and a telegraphed pass, deliberate knock-on for a marginally catchable, potential Scots interception try seems harsh. But ultimately it’s a judgement call and the match officials get to exercise that judgement.

The aussies aren’t happy either…..

This got the scots a penalty…….

Everyone looks to be on their feet (hips level) to me.

Aussie number one has gone down, hence the Scots shoulder against the Aussie hooker’s arm. Even driving in, you can’t do that unless the loose head drops.

Penalty Scotland. Ref is correct on that part anyway. As is Laidlaw who is pointing it out (naughty boy, leave it to the ref) – I doubt he’d be pointing at it if Scotland had infringed.

The flanker is more difficult to explain, but it may just be the result of everyone’s binding starting to slip as the Aussies collapse the scrum. Or maybe he’s just testing the offside law (flankers are meant to test the offside, right?)

No wrecker, the Aussie loose head has dropped, which means the Scots tight head is suddenly held on one shoulder only (his left) and he pivots round it.

Or he’s driving in.

You can’t tell from a still.

Edit : actually on the shorts thing you point out, more shorts showing on the Aussie loose head also suggests that his hips are higher than his shoulders – which tallies with his shoulders dropping, which tallies with the Scots tight head suddenly having no support for his right shoulder because the Aussie loose head has gone to ground.

But you still cannot tell from a single shot from above.

And look at Laidlaw. A scrum half with the ball at his number 8’s feet does not point at a possible reason for the ref to give the opposition a penalty. Good sportsmanship should be applauded but that would be a step too far.

I’ve looked at that site now. Presumably it’s an independent site and not a load of whinging Aussies (whinging even when they win).
Some of the analysis is laughable. Arrows drawn diagonally across people’s backs to show the direction that in an imaginary world they still wouldn’t be able to drive in – but if they did it might put pressure on the Aussie front row.

An Aussie front row that buckled all day because they weren’t very good (relative to the Scots – or SAs 😉 ) at scrummaging.

Once you buckle as often as they did, the ref assumes any marginal calls are you’re fault.

Aussie front rowers – toughen up princesses (and you’re right I wouldn’t say that if they were in the room).

I haven’t heard Cheika complaining about the unfair Scots scrummaging and he’s commented on almost everything else, so I am putting that site down as whingers, wrecker

I may be being unfair. The overall thrust site is actually that Aussie front rowers ain’t smart enough or powerful enough.

But I think their analysis should be more on the not powerful enough side than it actually is.

I think everyone had figured that. 😉

Why would Laidlaw be screaming for a penalty if it was so clearly dodgy?

He’s a scrum half. It’s his job.

Why would Laidlaw be screaming for a penalty if it was so clearly dodgy?

Seriously?

WP Nel is a bit of a keeper isn’t he? Even if he looks like a slightly more exotic Chunky! 5″11″ and just under 19 stone and deadly from a yard out.

Seriously?

What do you think?

My sarcasm alert is obviously not working today. 😆

The mash’s take on Joubert

At times like these it is important to remember that a victory over Australia isn’t always healthy for a Scot so maybe Joubert did them a favour

As an aside. Tickets available for both semis and final. All sold originally but these are from the resale

NZ RSA categories A and B (C, D were available but now sold)
Arg Aus all categories A to D
Final categories A and B

It’s OK @aa the first two 6N after a World Cup don’t mean anything 😉

As shown by Ireland