Rugby

Re: Rugby

Virginia Campbell — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:57:17 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]

I'll be supporting the ABs as I would rather play the Ozzies in the 3rd/4th match

[/quote]

oooh, forgot about that. Think it will be a better game than France vs whoever

Re: Rugby

Hannah Wynne Richards — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:47:56 GMT

I'll be supporting the ABs as I would rather play the Ozzies in the 3rd/4th match

Wynne

Re: Rugby

Simon Neuhoff — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:37:08 GMT

For the first time ever I will be supporting the All Blacks tomorrow - and for the final -as the only team remaining in the tournament who deserve to be there.

Re: Rugby

Rob Davis — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:31:24 GMT

Well done - just don't go celebrating too much if you're anywhere near Wales....

Re: Rugby

Mark Rowland — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:29:12 GMT

Well the Welsh may be seeing red but I've got a fist full of purple beer tokens;-)

Re: Rugby

jd2008 — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:18:29 GMT

I now have a dilemma. I've always loved the NB's but am now living in Oz with an Aussie husband (not that his opinion counts for anything )

Re: Rugby

Alan Tevendale — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:11:04 GMT

What I want to know now is - did Mark win his bet and is he buying the next round of drinks?

Re: Rugby

Alan Tevendale — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:09:42 GMT

French rugby is really mixed up right now. No cohesion in the squad or management. I would be surprised to see them compete against either NZ or Oz.

Re: Rugby

Simon Neuhoff — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:07:28 GMT

Very very disappointing. Only managed to catch snatches of the game between consults. Suspect the final will be a damp squib now. Really hope the French raise their game and give their opponents a contest.

Re: Rugby

Alan Tevendale — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 12:06:04 GMT

[quote user="Jane Dunnett"]It was stalemate. If the Welsh kicked they risked losing possession. Their forwards were knackered (tragedy to lose Adam Jones so early on) and their midfield had no direction. Their only hope was to try and drive on

[/quote]

I really don't agree there. Tired forwards will never penetrate a fresher pack, even forwards as fit as the Welsh. I think your right about Adam Jones though - would have made a big difference in the set pieces. Ok if they kicked they risked losing possession but doing nothing they risked dropping out of the tournament. Fortune favours the brave.

Re: Rugby

jd2008 — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:55:35 GMT

It was stalemate. If the Welsh kicked they risked losing possession. Their forwards were knackered (tragedy to lose Adam Jones so early on) and their midfield had no direction. Their only hope was to try and drive on

Re: Rugby

Virginia Campbell — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:54:15 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]if we can do this well with 14 men,then the outlook for the 6 nations has to be good,[/quote]

Agreed. Just got to listen to bits on the radio between consults, sounds like they put up a terrific performance with 14. Well done Wales.... the team of the tournament playing some of the best rugby. Looks like we may get spanked again in the 6N. Hope the Kiwis win the RWC now.

Re: Rugby

Alan Tevendale — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:49:18 GMT

I know Steven Jones isn't the greatest kicker in the world but surely they could see that the french were just holding thier line and being careful not to give away penalties. In those cases the only option available is either positional kick for the corner or drop goal.

Definately going to be a tough Welsh side to come up against in the 6 nations.

Re: Rugby

Hannah Wynne Richards — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:37:42 GMT

I missed that because Sat morning is the only open surgery of the week-and 2 ethnically English soccer-loving clients thought it a good time to avoid a queue-1 had 2 dogs, the other 3 , so I missed most of the 2nd half

I complained bitterly about the ref after the SA match-he really needed a white stick-but this decision was harsh but fair-still bitterly disappointing.

Looking on the bright side-if we can do this well with 14 men,then the outlook for the 6 nations has to be good, and this young team should be in their prime for the next World Cup

Wynne

Re: Rugby

jd2008 — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:34:50 GMT

[quote user="Alan Tevendale"]

I really feel for the Welsh after that one - extremely bad ref decision - I'd have given a yellow. Having said that I can't understand why they didn't go for a drop goal towards the end of the match.

[/quote] Because Steven Jones isn't the best drop kicker and would have telegraphed it to the French backs who were in the perfect position to charge it down? Ok, he's a better kicker than Hook but he let the midfield down with his lack of communication - vital at the best of times and even more so with a permanent opposition overlap

Re: Rugby

Alan Tevendale — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:30:16 GMT

I really feel for the Welsh after that one - extremely bad ref decision - I'd have given a yellow. Having said that I can't understand why they didn't go for a drop goal towards the end of the match.

Re: Rugby

jd2008 — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:28:46 GMT

Yep, but the red card was arguably harsh. It wasn't a true spear tackle but neither did he support the tackled player to the ground. Difficult call for the ref. bearing in mind the number of equally dangerous high tackles maybe the sin-bin would have been adequate?

Re: Rugby

Hannah Wynne Richards — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:23:41 GMT

But what a stupid way to lose a match

Wynne

Re: Rugby

jd2008 — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:12:39 GMT

Well, that sucked. Huge commiserations to the Welsh. Completely outplayed the French with 14 men.

Re: Rugby

James Laidlaw — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 10:48:46 GMT

Hopefully the winners!