The Rugby Thread

[Zapater]

Oh my ****.

[RichC]

Not a chance the final lives up to that

[Irishnev]

I called SA from the start - unbelievable tonight, what a game…… even better than last night

[Buzzo]

That pedigree shines through again.

Not sure we can top that. France were superb, but the desire from South Africa and the defence was just insane.

Wow.

[kingfunk]

Hard to see past SA now, even more gutting for Ireland!

[Irishnev]

Zap said it last night about pedigree, Ireland don’t have it and I’d argue France don’t either but SA and NZ have it in spades. They win the big games and that’s why they have so many WCs between them

[Buzzo]

Zap said it last night about pedigree, Ireland don’t have it and I’d argue France don’t either but SA and NZ have it in spades. They win the big games and that’s why they have so many WCs between them

Yeah it was a good point

That said, there was nothing in either game… which I guess backs up the point.

The difference in the quality of the early and evening games has been like that between club and test rugby four phenomenal teams slugged it out in Paris.

[kingfunk]

Zap said it last night about pedigree, Ireland don’t have it and I’d argue France don’t either but SA and NZ have it in spades. They win the big games and that’s why they have so many WCs between them

Very true, when it’s all on the line they usually find their way.

[danperkins]

That was epic

[Buzzo]

This was a massive moment - the French were flying and this is probably 14-0 without Etzbeth. Massively high risk move.

[ame]https://twitter.com/therugbycritic/status/1713646119530446889[/ame]

[Cormack74]

It’s pointless arguing with me on this.

It’s an accident, there’s no malice or intent but that doesn’t matter anymore in the eyes of rugby. Do I agree with it ? No.

Is it the reality of the modern game? Yes

A top, top referee - I'm thinking of the likes of Nigel Owens here - would call that a 'rugby incident' i.e. no blame attached and wouldn't have felt the need for a card.

Unfortunately rugby referees are becoming increasingly like football referees: too scared to make a decision on their own initiative, even when it might be the right one.

[Buzzo]

A top, top referee - I'm thinking of the likes of Nigel Owens here - would call that a 'rugby incident' i.e. no blame attached and wouldn't have felt the need for a card.

Unfortunately rugby referees are becoming increasingly like football referees: too scared to make a decision on their own initiative, even when it might be the right one.

They called it correctly yesterday in the Wales game - that tackle on Tompkins was a Rugby incident. No yellow. No pen. Massive balls for the ref to call it.

[RichC]

A top, top referee - I'm thinking of the likes of Nigel Owens here - would call that a 'rugby incident' i.e. no blame attached and wouldn't have felt the need for a card.

Unfortunately rugby referees are becoming increasingly like football referees: too scared to make a decision on their own initiative, even when it might be the right one.

I don't disagree, I think World Rugby is ruining the game tbh with some of the stuff they've implemented and mainly to mitigate anymore law suits imo.

As it stands though with the video ref getting involved in pretty much everything and how the game is at the moment that for me was always going to be given as a yellow, no intent, no malice but it's how games are going now, I'm not entirely sure what the players are meant to do sometimes.

Luckily though it didn't ruin the game which was absolute quality all the way through, think the right winners went through and by a point seems about right as well.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Sorry to hear that Jaco - get well, we need you

Nah I reckon Farrell has plenty of choices available to pad out the squad. Not sure a couple of Munster junior cup medals from more than 30 years ago would sway him



Am now firmly on the anyone but South Africa bandwagon for the rest of the WC.

[bacon]

Am now firmly on the anyone but South Africa bandwagon for the rest of the WC.

Agree with that - but - who can stop them ? Only NZ for me …