Rugby 2023-24 World Cup Year!

Remember that Italy game?

And the NZ game a year later after England got so upset about that Italy game they had the rules changed?

Yes, it’s all a conspiracy. And good that you’re over something that happened seven years ago.

Fwiw I think it was a try, but don’t agree that the system failed. The ref called it as he saw it, and there wasn’t sufficient evidence to overrule him.

 The ref called it as he saw it,

Yes, and then after seeing the video he said, ‘I now think that was a try.’

If literally everyone including the ref who originally said, ‘I don’t think it’s a try’ says, ‘I think it’s a try’ and it’s still not awarded as a try then that is a failure of the system.

He said ‘I now think it’s a try but is there any conclusive proof that I was wrong originally?’

Well Scotland,that was a bastard of a way to lose…

If there’s one thing we’re good at, it’s coming up with inventive ways of losing. Agree with everyone else who’s said that we should’ve had it sewn up before then, though.

Can I just be clear that I’m going to be small minded and bitter about that decision, and claim a moral Scots victory.

If it helps, I may well be serious.

Let’s be honest here Scotland almost choked last week and did this week. Very unlucky at the end and all that but they should have put France away but stopped playing again in the second half.

Stop talking sense

Can I just be clear that I’m going to be small minded and bitter about that decision, and claim a moral Scots victory.

You don’t have to be that small minded about it. I went back and forth over the footage and the only way that ball wasn’t grounded is if the ball itself defied physics. After it rolled off the guys foot there was zero chance at least a part of it wasn’t on the ground.

Maybe at that point it wasn’t on the line?

No discussion about the Ford conversion being wrong?

I think the tmo had the dilemma which was while it had no chance of not being grounded, it also wasn’t actually visible it was. If the ref had called try then tmo, he’d not have overturned it, but as it was ref called no try then tmo.

Fords conversion was just a farce. Wales chanced it, the ref should have sent them back to the line. There’s no doubt so it’s not really worth a discussion since ultimately England won.

It showed good quality in Ford and George though that such a ludicrous decision ultimately didn’t cause them to either be in the refs face about it or go off in a sulk. Good stuff.

The rule on the conversion seems simple on the face of it – don’t charge until the kicker starts his run up. However refs interpretation has been very indifferent over the years,

Who is the best ref? Nigel Owen’s. One happened on his watch & he sent the chasers back, but others have done differently. The Kolbe/Ramos one was a little different, because Ramos’ step was part of his approach to the ball.

Did Ford actually start his approach to the ball? No, he took a pace to the side, away from the ball & stood still. Luckily it didn’t decide a close match.

No discussion about the Ford conversion being wrong?

Fords conversion was just a farce. Wales chanced it, the ref should have sent them back to the line.

I am not so sure, Ford was time wasting, stood still for ages and then moved, Wales charged which is fine imo. The ref was forced to make a decision and he made one, had Ford just kicked it rather than trying to run the clock down a decision would not have had to be made. Was it right, was it wrong, not really sure but like I said don’t put the ref in the situation to make a call. Was Ford hoping Wales would be sent back so he could waste more time? Who knows. What I do know is had England lost by a point it would have been really really funny!!

What I do know is had England lost by a point it would have been really really funny!!meant two games where the result was decided by the ref

It might be funny for the anti-fans but nobody really wants that.

The England Vs Wales game was dull as until the end. Important thing is that England won.

Ref was pretty clear in his explanation

? We've seen this before

George Ford's conversion isn't attempted and Wales still lead at Twickenham…

Will that come back to bite the hosts?#GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/uiArJIONgP

— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) February 10, 2024

It might be funny for the anti-fans

No, I think it would have been really funny for the Wales fans and no doubt many other rugby fans.

I am not so sure, Ford was time wasting, stood still for ages and then moved

The law says when he starts his approach. He didn’t. If the ref doesn’t understand that, then he’s in the wrong place.

There is a clock; there’s no point having it if you can’t use every second if you want.

It was so blatantly wrong even Dan Biggar had to agree it was cobblers.

The law says when he starts his approach. He didn’t. If the ref doesn’t understand that, then he’s in the wrong place.

Well the professional ref disagrees. He stood still and then started moving, why if he wasn’t going to kick? Dumb play fromFord regardless of the ref being right or wrong. It’s a matter of opinion and he forced the ref to give his.

It was so blatantly wrong even Dan Biggar had to agree it was cobblers.

That well know agreer with refs 😄😄😄

Yet again all the post game discussion is about refereeing decisions and the TMO.

I don’t hear much talk about any rugby being played.

Anyone else think this a problem?

Anyone else think this a problem?

Yes.   It was said during the WC that the Refs and TMO were getting far too much camera time, and if you were astute this weekend so were the Ref’s sponsored watches.   I think Warburton may have commented about how many minutes were wasted due to Ref time in the England / Wales game and it being far too many.

The Ref’s should be pretty invisible unless needed and then quick to assert themselves and move on.  Owens and later  Barnes were quote good at that.  Remember Steve Walsh – good god he was a camera whore.

We should be talking the Scots outperforming a wary France, Refell, Ford’s kicking, , Steward having his best game for ages, the new more effective English defensive system, and what I believe was a sensible political decision not to put Feyi-Waboso on the pitch – albeit politics and social media outcry should not determine play IMHO.

I don’t hear much talk about any rugby being played.

Because for large parts both games were quite poor?
The conversion charge was one of the more interesting bits of the match.

It showed good quality in Ford and George though that such a ludicrous decision ultimately didn’t cause them to either be in the refs face about it or go off in a sulk. Good stuff.

That’s because, ( in the words of the great Nigel Owens) this is not soccer 😉

I suppose the real problem with Wales trying it on and cheating with the run up, there’s no comeback, so nothing to loose in trying it on, worst case the ref sends you back, best case, the ref doesn’t know the rules and you get away with it 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

Not cheating though. Ford stood still then took steps they charged. Ref decides he’s started his run up.
Now your argument may be that he was wrong but you are absolutely wrong to say wales cheated

I suppose the real problem with Wales trying it on and cheating with the run up, there’s no comeback

Jesus, is it me? You have to be pretty hard of thinking to watch that and think it’s Wales cheating! Did they pay off the ref before?

best case, the ref doesn’t know the rules and you get away with it

Laws my young troll, laws 😄😄

First nil against Italy – pretty happy with that. Crowley is certainly showing there’s life after Sexton.

Imagine what wales could do with a 10 who is international standard.

If we are handing out international players could we have a 3 as well please?

and a big carrying 8

And maybe a 12

And a 13

Also a hooker who can throw AND carry

Also a hooker who can throw AND carry

Don’t be greedy!

So the RFU are having to decide between spending £660 MILLION on doing up the library or buying a half share of Wembley for approx £450 million. I haven’t been in 10 years, but access, bogs and catering were grim. I thought they had done it up?

Calcutta cup news Mitchell out and Darcy out. It’ll be old men and more south Africans.

I see England have raided the retirement home and start Care and Dank Hole. Steward dropped Furbank in.

6:2 bench split for Ireland. Obviously they are worried about Wales forward power!!! 😄

The KING of Scottish Rugby, the breaker of French hearts, the mighty Blairhorn has returned. I hope he regains his amazing form immediately, because Furbank is very very good indeed at the moment. Looks a scary England team that have their best chance in beating us in a few years. Lawrence is great.

Seems weird for Scotland to put Ben Healy on the bench when we have both Finn and Blair starting. I would have saved a space for Kyle Rowe who can play across the backfield.

Ah well game on.

I wonder why Steward is dropped, he’s not even on the bench – saved for Ireland? Furbank is good but didn’t take that to international level at the first attempt, so I can see Russell putting some high ones up for VDM to chase.

Also interesting that England have reversed thier front row start/bench from previous games. If this lot stay healthy I can see Steward and Tuilagi starting V Ireland with Laurence and Furbank on the bench, it’d be a decent team in each half.

I wonder why Steward is dropped

Because he is about as fast as a slug and turns like an oil tanker!

England for the grand slam @Kryton57 ?

Sad to read about Jamie George’s mum passing away.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/feb/22/biggest-rugby-fan-on-earth-jamie-george-vows-to-honour-late-mother-against-scotland

Because he is about as fast as a slug and turns like an oil tanker!

He’s faster than he looks, he just has this weird running style that looks slow.

He’s not got a side step in him though, dancers hips he does not have