Rugby World Cup 2011 - Page 16

Osem · 16-10-2011, 10:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

Try telling that to many British supporters of Wales yesterday and even you seem unhappy at the decision looking at your previous post of 214.

I'm unhappy about the rule NOT the decision and sadly there's no perfect solution. As I said during that post, it appears the ref's hands were tied.

The fact that the Wales supporters are clearly aggrieved makes my point that in such situations the ref. can't win because, whatever he decides, one lot won't be happy. The final penalty in the match is more evidence of that. Had it gone over the Welsh would've won due to a bad decision and the French would've rightly been complaining loud and clear as it was such an obvious mistake.

Anyway, over the years, I've heard many a holier than thou 'lecture' aimed at the English for whining about refereeing decisions and blaming them for their failures so it's quite nice to be on the sidelines watching others engaged in the very same thing. Had Hook not been a let down on the day and Wales kicked their points it wouldn't have mattered. C'est la vie as they say in France.....

---------- Post added at 10:32 ---------- Previous post was at 10:21 ----------

Meanwhile back in the other semi-final - the All Blacks have stifled their opponents and, if they'd kicked their points, would've been out of sight a while ago. As it is with less than 10 mins to go 20-6 is a winning margin and the Wallabies are out.

What is it with the kicking this time around? It's been pretty poor/inconsistent for the most part so perhaps what's needed is a standard ball the specification of which doesn't change and which the teams get plenty of chance to get used to before the big event takes place.

denphone · 16-10-2011, 10:52

AUCKLAND, 16 Oct. - New Zealand will meet France in the RWC 2011 final after beating Australia in the second semi-final on Sunday 20-6.

The All Blacks dominated vast tracts of the semi-final and continued to chip away and increase the lead, but only scored the one first half try, and increased the lead by just six points in a second half in which they got a stern test from the Wallabies.

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/ma...+final+victory

denphone · 18-10-2011, 11:01

Wales coach Warren Gatland has admitted he thought about asking one of his forwards to fake an injury during their World Cup semi-final defeat by France.

Quote:

"We discussed it but morally I decided it was not right," said Gatland.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugb...h/15347253.stm

Osem · 18-10-2011, 12:17

We all know cheating goes on at one level or another and I'm sure Gatland isn't the first and won't be the last to have discussed such a thing during a match. Credit to him for not doing it.

Referees are never going to be perfect but if teams and players are going to bend rules and try to deceive the match officials then they it's a bit rich complaining when those same officials get it wrong.

Albeit wrong and potentially dangerous, Warburton's tackle wasn't a malicious attempt to take out a player - it was an error of judgement no doubt brought about by the massive adrenaline rush he'd have been feeling. Worse for the game IMHO are those sneaky, cynical acts which give unfair advantage to the perpetrators (e.g. penalties or quicker ball) or spoil their opponent's ball. By their nature these 'offences' often go unseen and unpunished by the officials but they can/do have a massive effect on match outcomes. All teams are guilty at times - the All Blacks, for example, are adept at pushing the boundaries with offsides, holding on to the ball and not rolling away, thereby gaining quicker ball themselves whilst slowing it down for their opponents. They're so good at it that they frequently get away with it. I'd argue that more often than not it's these frequent and deliberate tactics which more unfairly affect results not acts like Warburton's.

Anyway, until the players agree to be bound by a code of professional ethics on and off the field, we're going to see teams win matches by hook or by crook and that just brings the whole sport into disrepute IMHO.

denphone · 19-10-2011, 06:33

On the day England trumpeted their prized status as hosts of the next World Cup in 2015, the national team were subjected to a mauling from former captain Will Carling over their conduct on and off the field at this tournament.

Quote:

An insult to the shirt: England set-up must change from top to bottom, says Carling at 2015 launch party

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rug...nch-party.html

Osem · 21-10-2011, 10:22

Having gone behind to a Williams try from a forward pass and just wasted a great try scoring chance Australia look to have despatched Wales, leading 21-11 with just a few minutes left. More inexplicably poor and missed kicks from both sides to boot (pardon the pun). Those who believe the commentating is only poor and biased when England are playing ought to listen to the ITV commentator reflecting on the forward pass which led to the Welsh try. 'We'll overlook that for now....' or words to that effect - not sure the rest of the world would agree however. Anyway, a late Welsh try ends the match but doesn't change the result - 21-18 to the Wallabies.

As it happened:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/9620926.stm

Apparently it's the All Blacks' cup to lose now but if the French start well (and they have nothing to lose after all) the jitters might be the true victors on the day. My money's on the Kiwis however.

Russ · 21-10-2011, 10:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osem

Those who believe the commentating is only poor and biased when England are playing ought to listen to the ITV commentator reflecting on the forward pass which led to the Welsh try.

That only happens when supporting England isn't an option. They support us by default.

Either way - our kicking let us down.

Osem · 21-10-2011, 10:45

True rugby fans from all nations detest trite/biased commentary and editorial from wherever it comes and whichever side it's directed towards to.

denphone · 23-10-2011, 10:55

Half time in the Rugby World Cup Final and The All Blacks lead France by 5-0.

---------- Post added at 10:45 ---------- Previous post was at 09:57 ----------

The All Blacks win the World Cup beating France by 8-7 but full praise to France for pushing them all the way.

---------- Post added at 10:55 ---------- Previous post was at 10:45 ----------

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/ma...are+clinch+cup

colin25 · 23-10-2011, 11:30

i think it was more that New Zealand weren't as good as people thought, not that France were great. I thought that Wales could have taken New Zealand

denphone · 23-10-2011, 11:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin25

i think it was more that New Zealand weren't as good as people thought, not that France were great. I thought that Wales could have taken New Zealand

Yes looking back at this world cup my view is it was not a vintage World Cup tournament.

**Hugh** · 23-10-2011, 11:53

At least the Kiwis didn't "bottle it", as has been previously posited by some people....

denphone · 23-10-2011, 12:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

At least the Kiwis didn't "bottle it", as has been previously posited by some people....

And l for one will hold my hand up when l am wrong.

colin25 · 23-10-2011, 12:04

True, and they had my vote from the start, but that wasn't hard to guess

Osem · 23-10-2011, 21:51

Well the All Blacks ground out a win when it mattered most and that's what's often required to win a world cup as England proved in 2003 so well done to them. Even so, the French could've won it late on but I can't believe many people would have considered them worthy winners or true world champions had they done so. All of the top teams can beat more or less any other on their day but for me there's still a significant gap between the southern and northern hemispheres when it comes to consistency over a period of time and in big competitions.

It'll be interesting to see how our home teams compete against the likes of NZ, SA and Australia the next time they play.

Well done NZ and roll on 2016......