You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
You'd have thought that tactical genius Rassie might have stopped with flashing up kicking when none of the guys on the field could hit a barn door today.
Watching the TV in France and the coverage starts 5 min before kick off. At half time it's 15 min of adverts then 2 min after the final whistle it ends.
There's a review show on now and it had 2 min of Ireland match then Du Pont update for what seems like forever, in fact they are still analysing it as I type!
<p style="text-align: left;">Mack Hansen living up to the sweary Aussie persona 🤣</p>
You’d have thought that tactical genius Rassie might have stopped with flashing up kicking when none of the guys on the field could hit a barn door today.
I actually think the whole light from the coaches thing possibly undermines the players and their confidence in decision making - not just goal kicking but more dynamic decisions during the game
I thoroughly enjoyed that, great result. But can't help feeling if they do happen to meet again, that SA have a bit more to give whereas Ireland played about as well as they can against SA.
I thoroughly enjoyed that, great result. But can’t help feeling if they do happen to meet again, that SA have a bit more to give whereas Ireland played about as well as they can against SA.
Why? Our lineouts and scrums were abysmal - I've seen Ireland play so much better. At no point did I think we were hanging on.
SA looked knackered.
I thought we did ok in the scrums, was worried we would be mashed there and we even got a few penalties. Line out was abysmal at the start but improved when Sheehan and Henderson were on the field.
sure SA can improve goal kicking by playing Pollard but the lose loads in attack as he is pedestrian compared to Libbok. I thought SA through the kitchen sink at us and we were still standing at the end, no injuries and actually should have Jack Conan back for next game and Sheehan with a half under his belt.
Great game - not sure about the emphasis on Lubbock’s poor kicking, as Sexton passed over 6 points early in the game with decisions to kick for the corner. The moment when Lowe had Etzebeth in the air for the maul, with his legs kicking about like a toddler, was immense. You wonder what that game, a couple of weeks after they dismantled NZ, will do in terms of starting to unpick SA confidence just a little.
As a Scot, the game against Samoa today already feels a bit redundant, although I guess we’re now playing for a kinder draw in 4 years time.
Our lineouts and scrums were abysmal – I’ve seen Ireland play so much better.
I didn't say that though, I said 'played about as well as they could against SA'. I'm not sure what it is but there's something about SA that sucks the life out of teams and so many find it hard to play well against them. Against SA you almost expect to struggle in set pieces, it's never going to be easy, so losing a few is par for the course, and to expect to win them all and dominate those areas is unlikely.
At no point did I think we were hanging on.
I'm not anywhere close to Irish and I was behind the sofa towards the end. That last maul went down quite mysteriously, as it was heading goalwards and then the ref whistling when the ball was in the scrum half's hands and was very welcome.
One thing to note. Not a single card. No foul play of any consequence. Hard as anything but fair. No niggle, no fights. Did somebody stop feeding POM red meat?
No niggle, no fights.
There was a fair bit early on (niggle and jumper grabbing) but then I think the pre-match tension wore off.
'No niggles'
Did you see the SA player purposely standing on the Irish guys hand? Full view of the camera.
That was an exhausting game to watch. I thought Ireland were class. Not at their best, but to maintain composure against that onslaught needs some discipline.
No niggle, no fights.
Plenty of niggle but both teams were super restrained and didn't react. Sexton got smacked a few times with not quite late hits. Usually that provokes the Irish very well, but not yesterday. The best moment was when SA got the try the SA full back was hit off the ball, as he went to confront the Irish play one of his forwards, grabbed him and manhandled him back the other way whilst giving him a mouthful 😀😀😀
Very much not looking forward to tonight's cripple fight!!
I thoroughly enjoyed that, great result. But can’t help feeling if they do happen to meet again, that SA have a bit more to give whereas Ireland played about as well as they can against SA.
I was thinking that if RSA had shaded a win, and that was all it ever looked that they could manage, I’d be pretty confident we’d turn them over in a rematch. Ireland were very scrappy in the first quarter or so . Obviously I’m not in any way neutral!!!
I supported Ireland because if my team can't win the world cup, at least my hemisphere might.
I supported Ireland because if my team can’t win the world cup, at least my hemisphere might.
I am supporting Fiji first and then France and/or NZ because Ireland and SA play dull anti rugby. Obviously if Wales were winning ugly and playing at anywhere near at that level I wouldn't care one bit.
The best moment was when SA got the try the SA full back was hit off the ball, as he went to confront the Irish play one of his forwards, grabbed him and manhandled him back the other way whilst giving him a mouthful
Probably because behind that hit off the ball there was blocking on at least 1 Ireland player.
Yup it would have made the tmo look for foul play .
As for supporting non native sides always Fiji for me then Japan they play rugby like a 7s side all day. England are playing like Leicester did years ago dull.
Wales for the win later I hope because Australia are Australia and they cheat at cricket
Probably because behind that hit off the ball there was blocking on at least 1 Ireland player.
That was a different player, was looked at, wasn't blocking.
Wales for the win later I hope because Australia are Australia and they cheat at cricket
Let's not pretend otherwise, that's all the excuse needed and one I can align to completely.
Nah, look mate....
Game over - shame
Eh!?! That was surely a clear cut red.
I wasn't so sure..... the Tongan player had already bent his knees to get lower and the Scottish player was dipping low also.
As always..... crap commentary!
not much attempt at a tuck which removes mitigation
Aye but enough? As i said lucky boy
Will there be English commentary on S4C for the Wales game?
That one its surely red
What music for the Wales game.
Super furry animals for the first half then a singletrack favorite kylie
Because it ain't going to be any mumbled commentary
Weirdly unconvincing, given we put 45 points on the board. Still, 5 points gained and no injuries, so they’re still on track for a showdown with Ireland.
Well done Scotland - still in with a chance of winning the tournament 👍
Genuine red card that.
<p style="text-align: left;">Nice one Scotland - and come on Wales.</p>
Wales games are nothing if not surprising
I've enjoyed some matches but can't help thinking that the distance of quality between some teams is so big that it doesn't seem to benefit either side (England vs Chile comes to mind). I know that there are a limited amount of countries who play rugby and I also understand that the world cup should be open to as many countries as possible but..... Wouldn't it make more of a spectacle if it was just the best teams in the world? Would maybe keep the costs down for hosting the cup too, if there were fewer teams and games played.
Its not as bad for mismatches as it used to be and its good to spread the game. Been an couple of upsets already.
Right, let's just hope this is not a mismatch...shouldn't be both teams are shite!😄😄😄🥴🥴
IRB need to fund "tier 2" teams so they can play each other and take part in autumn internationals. Tonga and Samoa having 1/4 of England's matches and mainly against each other doesn't help them or Portugal or .....
They also need to be able to play as teams and train as such.
ABA
Good start
Great Anscombes 3rd rugby match in about 3 years!
Biggar gone! Massive
Biggar 😭😭😭😭
Needed to take the tackle and recycle there, were always going to be held up.
Yep, seemed silly
Reasonably enjoyable for a neutral (hard to decide if I hate Wales or Australia more really 😜)
Australia look good with ball in hand until they get near the try line. Really don't seem to have any game management at all. Gareth Davies is having a great game imo.
Playing better without biggar or less hand waves at the ref. Wales bossing this
Sweet!!!
Tompkins deserves that 😃
Keep it up lads
Jesus, white flag has come out from Australia after half time. Absolutely awful!
Good stuff from Wales.
Australia looked like they could break through at any moment but they're just a bit crap in many respects.
Bye bye Eddie!
Bloody hell is this clock going backwards!!
That penalty in the first half at 10-6 when Australia kicked for the corner from under the posts was the real turning point for me. Threw the lineout to Wales and have conceded 22 unanswered points since.
Tompkins was gey close to offside.
Australia are absolute dog-shite tonight. They're getting monsters off the pitch by a Wales team that have been fairly awful of recent.
And we were singing hymns and arias...
😃😃🙂
Tompkins was gey close to offside.
I thought that, surprised it wasn't looked at
What the hell has EJ done to Australia? Credit to Wales for a great performance, but I don't think I've seen a worse Aussie performance. They are not competing anywhere.
i thought that, surprised it wasn’t looked at
Same....i even thought i heard the ref asking for confirmation that he was on side
That sums up Australia today.
Not taking anything away from Wales, but Australia have been absolutely awful 😳
Aussie players handing in Eddie's resignation for him tonight I think.
Just about enough time for a couple more wales tries
Too slow. One more please.
Wow! How good were Wales!
😃
Wales were efficient and effective but Australia were just lost - I've rarely seen anything like it from a top tier side
Wales world beaters now!
As a Welshman, I want to say what an awesome performance. But it’s hard to say just how bad Australia were.
But wow I didn’t see that result coming, very happy, actually gutted I didn’t go to the pub to watch it. Also I’m quietly pleased Biggar went off early and we didn’t fall to pieces.
Tompkins absolutely WAS offside. Didn't really change the result though.
The Crims were truly awful (and have been all year).
And a very winnable quarter final at that
And a very winnable quarter final at that
Not if they play England according to Rugby Union Weekly - they reckoned that England would comfortably beat either Wales or Fiji 🤷
I think you're right though. Wales and Fiji have a decent chance of winning their Q- final games. Could easily go either way.
Strewth!
Fair dinkum.