The Rugby Thread

[Cormack74]

The ref isn't helping. Cannot see how he got this gig

He'll be in the mix to ref' the final along with Owens and maybe one of the french fellas assuming their team don't get there.

[Cormack74]

Unbelievable Welsh defence - to make 100 more tackles than your opponents is an incredible stat.

What a shame that Cuthbert's naivety cost them. He's an experienced international and I really think he should have read that situation better.

SA are the most tediously one dimensional team among the top tier nations and I'd be surprised if they don't concede 30 points if / when they come up against one of the Anzac teams.

[Cormack74]

Good news for Buzzo's mob:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34527131

Scotland hooker Ross Ford and lock Jonny Gray are free to play with immediate effect after appeals against three-week suspensions were upheld.

The forwards were given the bans for a joint-tackle during Saturday's 36-33 Pool B victory over Samoa.

Both were left out of the team for Sunday's World Cup quarter-final with Australia but Vern Cotter can alter his side up until an hour before kick-off.

Scottish Rugby chief executive Mark Dodson said "justice has been done".

"Ross and Jonny are now free to re-join the tournament, ahead of the biggest game for Scottish Rugby in recent years," he added.

"We find it hugely disappointing they were put in this position by a judicial process, which is inconsistent and unfair. Justice delayed is justice denied.

"It is regrettable that this has overshadowed a massive week for the sport and our focus continues to be on the match against Australia."

The appeals were formally lodged on Friday and heard on Saturday by a committee chaired by Justice Lex Mpati, from South Africa, sitting with Justice Graeme Mew from Canada and Robbie Deans from New Zealand.

Scottish Rugby challenged the length of ban, not the guilty verdict.

And, a statement on the Rugby World Cup website read: "Having conducted a detailed review of all the evidence, including new submissions from the players and their representatives, along with all available camera angles, the appeal committee dismissed the finding that the players had committed an act of foul play as the player had not been dropped or driven and therefore the tackle was not dangerous.

"The players are therefore free to play again immediately."

Australian citing commissioner Scott Nowland charged Edinburgh's Ford of breaching rules on dangerous tackles.

Glasgow Warriors' Gray, meanwhile, was alleged to have committed an illegal tip tackle during the win that clinched Scotland's place in the last eight.

Both players denied committing an act of foul play.

[Boogs]

Don't matter. Casemore will be along in a minute to ruin any chance any northern hemisphere team has of progressing

[RichC]

[Chris]

Love the haka!

[RichC]

All Blacks look bang up for this

[Chris]

France do love shooting themselves in the foot!

[RedAndWhite]

BIg mistake by France - New Zealand try

[RichC]

Big loss Michalak

[Chris]

Dan Carter is god!

[ChesterDave]

Carter, Savae, Milner-Skudder, Nonu.

Racking up the points today

Fantasy League lead here I come

[Chris]

Dan the man is cracking skulls out there!

[ChesterDave]

Try for France.

[ChesterDave]

WOW.

BRUTAL.

Absolute machine!