Well, the Wallabies brought out their "secret weapon" : Quade Cooper!
NZ countered with Lienert-Brown... hmm, which had the biggest impact?
You must be welsh given the ability to focus on the 10 when the team is being utterly destroyed up front.
Having that little 10 outside Quade didnt help either. He did manage one brilliant pass to Folau near the end, it was about the only time he got front foot ball with anyone running angles off him. Felt sorry for the guy.
Yeah Cooper is a great player but with the pack going backwards and virtually no ball even Barry John would've looked poor. Their lineout was destroyed for the 2nd week running.
They needed to get Folau into space with ball in hand but didn't manage it until the 78th minute.
Yeah, a_a you're right, but Australia need more dramatic changes- to me, Cooper plays like he's scared.
Cooper is a fantastic rugby player, had he gone with his homeland, he would definitely have got AB caps. If you don't win up front, you don't win.
Big Gav & @DannyCipriani87 share same pitch today. Bristol hasn't seen so many hunks since the @Chippendales came to @FleeceBristol in 1995!
Friendly at Clifton RFC today, whose bridge, prior's to Big Gav's arrival, was the most impressive physical structure in all of Bristol.
I love this twitter account.
Just bought tickets for Eng v Argentina in the Autumn internationals.....upper tier behind the posts! Scale of 1-10, how bad is the view going to be? Will we need sherpas and a climbing guide?
Someone is (or bloody well should be) in a lot of trouble...
Disgusting.
That is absolutely ****ing awful!!!! Had two or three attempts at it, deliberate and for no apparent reason (not that there's even a justification, but seemed to be about as standard a maul as there can be?)
Hopefully as minimum 6 month ban will be on it's way in the post.
My guess though is 10 weeks actually served.
Tom, there are no bad seats in the Stadium (except possibly low down in the corners on a rainy day). Up high and central is pretty good as you can see the game unfold, width on overlaps and the kicks - yeah or nay.
I'm not sure there is as much as we think in that gouge. Its careless and should see 8-10 weeks but the aussie lock doesnt throw his head back like he would if someone was having a proper go at his eyes. I guess a lot will depend on what he says.
Franks did look like he was having a good go at the eyes, but the Aussie didnt react at all and it was right in front of the ref. Needed another angle.
Thought as much Jamba....been in the corner on a dry day before, and behind the posts lower tier a few times too. Never been to an international though let alone England, so me and my old man will have a top day out I'm sure (even if it does mean venturing to the hell whole that is London!)
He had no reason whatsoever to have his hands anywhere near the other players face. Spiteful and intentional IMO.
He had no reason whatsoever to have his hands anywhere near the other players face.
Pulling him out of the way. Its careless and his made contact with the eye area. A ban will rightly follow. I dont think he's tried to gouge him though the locks reaction isnt one of someone being gouged.
Tom Twickenham is the suburbs 😉 Think row upon row of 1930's semis ! Depending on where you are coming from we can make some recommendations for travel and eating / drinking options also dependent upon how far you and your Dad want to walk.
Yeah I know it's not quite London London! ......am I right in thinking some of the surrounding areas are a bit rough? Last time we went we drove down and saw a couple of scrotes breaking into a house in broad daylight!
We'll be getting the train down from Stoke I'd guess. How far away from the ground will we need to get to find somewhere to sit down for food afterwards?
Pulling him out of the way.
You'd think that as a professional, he'd know that he's not allowed to pull anyone out of the way by their face. That's not some little naughty law written somewhere near the end, it's a BIG ASS no-no!
Tom. Never found it rough at all although as I am coming from South/south West we are in that part of Twickenham which is very leafy and solidly middle class.
Train from Stoke. You'll need to get to Waterloo then on a Twickenham special. Stadium is about 15-20 min amble from the station. Plenty of places to eat in the town but you should book something - typical form is to arrive and have lunch then game and a beer after before heading home but you can do match/dinner if that suits. You can have a beer at the stadium and/or in the town. Other STWers may have different advice.
You'd think that as a professional, he'd know that he's not allowed to pull anyone out of the way by their face.
I am sure Coles knew that using a forearm to clear out a maul was illegal too but it happend. He'll get a ban for "making contact with the eye area" I dont think he'll have the book thrown at him for gouging. Mind you he is an All Black so he will most likely get nothing!!
Franks: Very odd. He knows that's not allowed but his hands spend a lot of time around the Ozzies face and all in full view of the Ref. Maybe that will be his savioir, ref saw it and took no action.
You'd think that as a professional, he'd know that he's not allowed to pull anyone out of the way by their face. That's not some little naughty law written somewhere near the end, it's a BIG ASS no-no!
Agreed. No excuses. None.
Dont want to labour the point as we clearly dont agree (again!!!) But have a look at this from 18mins. Look at how close the ref is and he even shouts to Franks, look at how the Aussie lock runs off without even touching his face or looking to lamp someone. The game had plenty of niggle so had this been a gouge I'm pretty sure a scuffle would have broken out...its an odd one.
Argentina beat the Boks
No action against Franks
No action against Franks
New Zealand biscuits must be excellent.
😐
I think the ref saw what was going on and dealt with it at the time. Shame that doesn't happen more often.
That SA no.7 though - how the hell did he make it to the end of the game? Dangerous and dirty bastard.
Argentina well deserving of the win.
Off to find some highlights of Argentina / SA, thanks
This whole thing stinks!!!
Look at this angle;
[img] 
[/img]
This whole thing stinks!!!
Look at this angle;
No. Nothing wrong there. Nothing at all. New Zealand don't do nasty cheap shots, do they? So it can't be. Can it?
1:16 or so.
No. We can't besmirch the all powerful brand, can we?
It annoys the shit out of me. Such a great rugby team, but so often such cheating ****.
You can get you knickers in a twist all you like but the ref was right there looking at it and the Aussie didnt even blink so he may have, you know, not gouged him.
AA, the laws of the game are clear. They outlaw;
"contact with eyes or the eye area of an opponent"
Feel free to keep defending if you like.
Both England and Wales had to accept player bans for less than that one fairly recently, in Ashton and Francis.
Yes, no such thing as gouging in the rules now I don't think. A_a may well be right that there was no gouging or that the contact was very light, but within the rules as set out, and as per punishment received by others for far less he should still face a ban (and a pretty long one at that)
I don't think the AB's cheat any more than any other team (certainly not the boks) but they do seem to get away with some pretty clear cut stuff.
within the rules as set out, and as per punishment received by others for far less, he should still face a ban.
I don't think the AB's cheat any more than any other team (certainly not the boks) but they do seem to get away with some pretty clear cut stuff.
Yep. Agreed in full.
I have said from the start he should have got a ban for making contact with the eye area just dont think it was a bad case as the Aussue didnt react. At the very least he should have been cited and asked to explain himself and the Aussie asked his view. But the citing process is as bent as they come and a complete ****ing farce we all know that. Had that happend in the six nations a ban would have been handed out.
Agreed. Remember what Tom Francis got an 8 week ban for?
I just wish other "accidents" like booting people in the head because its within the same post code as the ball was taken as seriously.
As "seriously" as this has been?
I watched it again after this thread came up, watching the Australian player. He didn't move his head when Franks was "groping" his face, the ref moved round saw Franks and shouted something, which ended whatever was going on. The Ozzie, didn't even check who was behind him as the maul was breaking up, so my theory is it was a gentle loving touch and we can all let it lie.
Anyone got highlights of the SA no.7's high tackle count? 😆
Page 6 and Flash is slating the Kiwis, TJ is back, I have a warm glow that everything is going to be ok 😆
😀
As "seriously" as this has been?
No, as seriously as accidental contact in the air or accidental tip tackles.
Officiating is still all over the place, high tackles are often ignored, and no armed lunges at players legs seemingly OK. Any non-accidental contact at above shoulder height should be punished.
On another note, anyone else seen this;
https://twitter.com/eddiecowan/status/769827592119525377
I shouldn't laugh. I really shouldn't laugh.
@wrecker player safety, just making sure no one fell over it 😀
NZ "don't push the rules anymore than anyone else", not something I would ever say. I think they are by far the best in the world at pushing the rules and getting away with it. IMO they treat the Ref like another opponent to be tested. Now I don't blame them for that, in my sporting "career" I've had a coaching with an International Captain who told us we didn't commit enough fouls generaly (he watched a couple of matches as well as took sessions) and we certainly didn't push the ref to make decisions. Having heard this it certainly put into perective the matches I'd played against him as he was fouling me repeatedly and then going for the retaliation and decision/sympathy from the ref !
Now I am certain the IRB Refs are very well aware of this, but a red card for an AB 6 mins into the first match of the RC is not going to happen. Had Sam Warburton been in a Black shirt he'd never had been sent off - early minutes of a RWC semi, no way never going to happen.
I shouldn't laugh. I really shouldn't laugh.
I'm having trouble stopping. 😀
Cheers Wrecker!
Actually, I think the Hernandez knockout was about the only accidental collision - he missed with the high-swinging arm as Hernandez fell, out cold.
Can we have more of these two commentators please!!!
I imagine Guiness was invoved
English Premiership starts tonight.
Can't see past Saracens, Wasps and Exeter this season however as always I'm insanely hopeful that Leicester will return to old (winning) ways.
Lots of teams look like they want to move the ball about a bit, maybe the better playing surfaces are finally meaning it's possible in the Northern hemisphere as well...?
Anyway, on to the obvious best match of the weekend. Tigers v's Gloucester. Tigers by 5 for no reason whatsoever as I havn't seen anything of either team!
Bristol to win everything with the man god at 10. Or maybe beat one or two teams and stay up at best.
London Welsh face a winding-up order in the courts on Monday.
Sad times for an old club.
Bristol to win everything with the man god at 10.
oh i could kiss you!
Or maybe beat one or two teams and stay up at best.
you can bloody well kiss me 😉
I have just got BT sport for £22 a month with first three free,monthly contract as well so lovely HD prem games for me. Glaws will be my side this year methinks.
I'm a BT customer and I don't get HD!
BT sport is provided through the (BT) internet, and the connection is utter shite, the modem shits itself every single night, usually at a pivotal moment in a game. Can't wait to be rid of it!
I had looked at going with BT,but got dicked about so much before they had even installed it that I got Sky, I am glad you are saying that as I was tempted to try again as it is only £3 a month on top of their broadband.
You made the right decision duckers. BT is very shit. I'll go back to virgin I expect as their broadband is [i]proper[/i] fibre around here. Just waiting to see what happens with the line rentals stuff, it's supposed to be changing soon I think.
Tiggers getting humped, they look fresh out of ideas.
Although they've just scored 17 points....
Agree though. They don't look good!
Exeter Wasps should be superb
Tiggers playing smart now. Keeping it up front, they know the backs aren't up to much, not helped by the shit slow service from the 9. Who the **** is that anyway? Useless.
Goldilocks I believe.
Get Ben youngs on!
Ospreys score 50+ having heard a radio discussion on the state of the Pro 12 I fear for the competition.
I'm a BT customer and I don't get HD!
BT sport is provided through the (BT) internet, and the connection is utter shite, the modem shits itself every single night, usually at a pivotal moment in a game. Can't wait to be rid of it!
My BT "broadband" frequently delivered less than 1mps, the mobile on 3g was faster never mind 4g. Paying for Sport was thus a total waste of time. Cancelled the BT as I was going to be away for most of the summer. Will sort new provider this month and revisit Sport/Rugby
Never in doubt, Sam Harrison played great all the way through 😆
Gloucester utter muppets 🙁 who made the decision to go for the corner?
You've got to be *ing kidding me?!?!
Why oh why did we let Genge go? Holley is a *ing muppet!
No idea on Genge, very happy about it though. He's going to be at the top for a long time.
Can't blame him, Holley never started him, and Cockers saw what most bris fans had already seen. I'm so pleased Holley has gone, he really was a completely shit head coach.
Hopefully Gengey will come home one day, a lot do. It's the cider.
Unreal, a player like that in the championship should have been nailed on! Him and Coley mashed the Gloucester scrum together and he's not bad around the pitch either.
I so hate Holley. Let Luke Eves go too, in favour of Ben ****ing Mosses, Gareth Maule and Jack Tovey! Bellend.
Ospreys score 50+ having heard a radio discussion on the state of the Pro 12 I fear for the competition.
Its shit, welsh pro rugby will be dead in 5 years if it stays the same. Theyvare talking of adding US teams...how the **** will that help?
Just got round to looking at the schedule, Wasps v Exeter on Sunday... 😀 I have to agree with Baconpuss and A-A, Pro 12 is dead, isn't it? Where next though,because there isn't going to be a Welsh/English or British league.
For those with BT Sport internet woes:
You can watch on the Sky platform via satellite. You need an old skybox and a viewing card registered in your name/address.
There's a bit on the BT website where you can put in the viewing card number to pair it up.
You DO NOT need any kind of Sky Subscription - just a box/card/dish. You can get new cards from Sky for £20 IIRC.
Obviously if you have an HD box you can get HD with BT Sport although it's extra. I haggled with BT and got the Sports with HD for £1.80 per month extra.
It's a bit of hassle to set up (if you don't have Sky) but instead of a cruddy internet feed where you're wondering which pixel is Manu Tuilagi - you get beautiful HD on a huge Telly. 😀
You can pick up old sky boxes on eBay or Gumtree cheaply as well. It will work out at a season of rugby for £120ish as I will cancel during the Summer.
London Welsh in high court on Monday facing winding up 🙁
🙁 Similar fate to London Scottish / Richmond
Richmond are back now working their way up from the bottom again.
Never got as far as that for Scottish or Richmond,I was there at the time. The ****er that bought them was doing everything he could to make the club go bust. He then wanted to sell the league place,so didn't want the club still to be hanging about to provide a case against. He put us into administration by quite simply refusing to pay bills. Not just players wages but the girls in the club shop who got £30 for working a Saturday. If the RFU had told him to do one,as they should have,then he would have quietly sold up. By all accounts he treated Richmond even more shamefully as he saw them as an unwanted add on. Scumbag even tried to keep the name. London Irish? I hate them,and hope they do a Portsmouth FC. And....Breathe....
Trying to enjoy the wuss/sarries game on BT but there's an annoying sod Brown nosing sarries over the microphone all the time.. M
At least now that the bt feed from Twickenham has gone tits up I'm spared the sarracens love in...
London Irish? I hate them,and hope they do a Portsmouth FC.
Why is this? What don't I know about?
Why didn't the **** get filled in?
So many questions!
Willison is not proving himself well. We're missing Pennell.
And that wasnt a late tackle to you tit dalaglio
That was absolutely a late tackle.
Wrecker; Scottish were part sold to Bristol who then sold them on to Irish after Turks(sp) touted their place. He was supposed to have dropped out of the club, but still owned them. Richmond iirc were screwed when the English league threatened to use the penalties that administration included to seize their remaining assets. Both were then swallowed by Reading Greens. It was somebody quite famous owned Richmond. Don't get me wrong, Scottish lived beyond their means, but it was him that introduced all that.
