You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Urgh.
France wanted to play Wales. They know there’s not much between the sides. They’re in the right place mentally and it will take something special by Wales to change the tide. Come on Wales!
French have blown it. What an idiot.
I dunno, its been 13 mins since the card and they haven't scored. On average you get 7 points during a yellow, Wales should be well on their way, this looks a bit shit.
This going to be very close.
North needs to come off.
**** **** ****
Crikey, if Wales keep playing like they're in the last minute and needing a try then they soon will be.
It clearly is not going to happen for Wales. France deserve to win.
Blimey, thought France would just get steamrollered. Wales so poor.
EDIT: gift!
Take a deep breath.
Wales know how to win. Wales AB final I reckon and that would be difficult to call.
Blimey
Wales still have to beat either South Africa or Japan. If they play like they did today, I'd say a NZ - Japan final isn't out of the question.
France really had to work to throw that away.
Mike Philips saying this one of Wales best ever wins.
Was it? They were dead lucky. They should have put France away with 14 men.
Still, they've forgotten how to lose so on they go.
France played the majority of the rugby in that game. A couple of key turn overs and daft sending off gifted it to the welsh.
I've aged 30 years!
(Welsh pundit) "one of the best Welsh victories".
Really? Lucky to get away with that one. France could have dropped a goal 15 mins from the end and that would have been it.
Not an impressive welsh performance.
They do look tired, and I think that contributed to the score line. Next weeks games are going to be tough for England and Wales. Good result though.
Never in doubt.
Erm...
Wales know how to win. Wales AB final I reckon and that would be difficult to call.
France deserved to win. Tough, shouldn’t have been so stupid I guess. Wales will certainly be going under the radar now! Can’t see South Africa or Japan fearing us. Still we’re in the Semi finals, the dream goes on : )
Gareth Davies has been great this tournament, but Tomos Williams has been great also whenever he’s been on. Wainwright continues to impress.
Come on Japan!
Welsh pundit) “one of the best Welsh victories”.
Into world cup semi final, yes it is right up there.
France left a lot of points on the pitch there, unlike the Welsh who put away all but one of their opportunities. That's not a compliment to Wales when they only run by 1 point Vs 14 men
SA and Japan have the weapons to put those points on Wales.
See you in the third place playoff when the kiwis beat us
SA kiwi final
So, a South African TMO and referee clearly fancied playing Wales more than France in the semi and 'couldn't quite see' that the forward pass went forward. Hmmmmmm...............you take your luck where you find it!
Wales vs NZ final. Like any grand tour winner, they are playing their way into the tournament heading into the mountains at the end of week 2.
Wales know how to win. Wales AB final I reckon
Really? If Wales play that way again they'll get hammered by the Boks or the ABs.
France lost that game by their own stupidity rather than Wales doing anything good.
What they meant by 'one of the best Welsh wins' I think was holding on and then coming back from being so outplayed. Red card helped obvs.
As Mike Phillips said Wales haven't played that well this tournament, nor for ages, and yet somehow....
Through by the thickness of a post. Wales can't play any worse than that, so things are looking up for them in the SF.
What they meant by ‘one of the best Welsh wins’ I think was holding on and then coming back from being so outplayed.
I don't think so! The poor pundit was going on about how entertaining it was, so I think it was just relieved babbling.
Coming back from a nine point deficit with an extra man takes some doing, though. 🙂
Really? If Wales play that way again they’ll get hammered by the Boks or the ABs.
I agree, they were poor, but I reckon that could be their crap performance of the competition.
May main concern tbh is that England haven't had a really crap game yet, and they always have at least one...
We were shite. But we won. We haven’t really played other than first half against Aus. We’ve won 4 games not playing well and we’re in the semis. If we actually turn up for 80 mins who knows?
Playing that badly and still we win. Blood pressure slowly coming back to normal...
God the commentary and coverage in general is terrible.
So, a South African TMO and referee clearly fancied playing Wales more than France in the semi and ‘couldn’t quite see’ that the forward pass went forward. Hmmmmmm……………you take your luck where you find it!
You certainly do. But in contrast I thought the ref gave a lot of 50:50 decisions to France, including giving them a scrum for a Welsh knock-on when there wasn’t; not giving a penalty to Wales for holding on in a ruck after clearly signalling it; penalising them for side entry into a ruck when they had momentum in the second half - the only time either side were penalised when both sides did it. He allowed France to gain momentum and buggered Welsh momentum up.
But really, France lost the game by wasting time. If they’d tried to score more points they would have won. Instead, they did everything to slow the game down to an unreasonable amount. And ran the clock down against themselves.
The poor pundit
Cant you recognise anyone who isnt Johnny Wilkinson?
Heading to the bar down the road to watch SA play Japan now . . . .
Wales ate playing at their level as we already know we have far too many poor players in our team Watkin, Parkes, Francis, Ball, Wyn Jones wouldnt get in other teams 30 man squad
Watkin, Parkes, Francis, Ball, Wyn Jones wouldnt get in other teams 30 man squad
Gatland's British lions...
”they only run by 1 point Vs 14 men” - think back 8 yrs to the semis! France playing with 15 men against wales with 14, wales nearly edged it with halfpennys failed long range penalty 9-8 to france if I remember....
This is going to be awesome!
I’m already feeling emotional watching and hearing the drummers. I’d love Japan’s to do this!
I fear a big score by Sithifrica.
Come on Japan!
Japan playing a very risky game already.
Oof.
Should have checked that!
Beast lucky to only see yellow there.
Very lucky
Should have checked that!
Yes, but the TMO should also have intervened, like they have with everything else. It was a red.
Clear red.
Warburton would have seen red!!
Hecwas off his feet, usually rate Barnes but he's made a few errors
SA blowing a bit. If Japan can keep the pace high they could be onto something.
anagallis_arvensis
Member
Warburton would have seen red!!
Stop torturing yourself.
There are a lot of very er, flat, passes from Japan.
Yeah, but this would be an amazing win if they can, I doubt it in the end but hell this is amazing.
Bit of a let off there I don’t think he was held. Balances out the red that wasn’t tho.
Sometimes you just need to kick the ball down the field. Japan can't do this for 80 minutes.
The Boks could've had 2-3 tries. I think their power will tell in the 2nd half - though I hope not.
Bloody hell, what a game. Hoping Japan can keep that pace up to the end.
Bit of a let off there I don’t think he was held.
He wasnt but he was on his knees going forward so the right call I think.
There are a lot of very er, flat, passes from Japan.
And Barnes isn’t that interested in the off-side line for either side.
So now it’s ok to take a player in the air. (As long as you’re Japanese.)
The officials want the Japanese dream to continue as long as possible, I think.
Barnes is handling the game so we have a game. No dicking around going upstairs every two minutes. Making calls, backing himself and getting on with it.
Shame he's quitting after the RWC.
(Mind you, with Ben O'Keefe in the box it's a lottery going to the tmo anyway.)
Barnes is handling the game so we have a game. No dicking around going upstairs every two minutes. Making calls, backing himself and getting on with it.
Yes, I think he’s having a very good game. Lots going on at a fair old pace, I think both sides should be happy with his reffing.
Making calls, backing himself and getting on with it.
That would be fine if he hadn’t made a few really poor calls.
He wasnt but he was on his knees going forward so the right call I think.
Yep, I’d misunderstood what he got pinged for.
Game over now unfortunately. SA have managed things very well in the second half.
Stop it now, Japan don't deserve a humping after their tournament.
Saffers defence is brutal mind.
That would be fine if he hadn’t made a few really poor calls
He's also made a lot of very good calls. People who moan constantly about referees never seem to enjoy whatever sport it is that they're watching.
I've loved the way Japan have played. They can, and should, be very proud of themselves.
🙄 That’s me told off then! 😂
🙄 That’s me told off then! 😂
Hey! Maybe you're the exception that proves the rule?
No offence intended. 👍
None taken. 😁
I’ve loved the way Japan have played. They can, and should, be very proud of themselves.
Yep, really exciting rugby from them.
Phew!
I think World Rugby needs to send the game in the direction taken by NZ and Japan and away from the boshing, attritional way of doing things.
think World Rugby needs to send the game in the direction taken by NZ and Japan and away from the boshing, attritional way of doing things.
I can’t imagine which major nations would possibly object to that! 😂
I dont speak Aussie, but I get the impression he wasnt happy with the first half and wanted to make a few technical changes.
NSFW
Chiekas half time team talk
away from the boshing, attritional way of doing things.
But that's how you manage teams like NZ and Japan. Teams need to be tactically dynamic to manage the style and tactics of their opposition.
I dont speak Aussie,
Genuinely needs subtitles! I only understood one word, which would get me banned.
But that’s how you manage teams like NZ and Japan.
And it’s also what makes rugby interesting. I always love a Super Rugby game between a brutal SA team and a skilful NZ team. And some teams manage to combine the two. Like Wales. 🤣
Chiekas half time team talk
what an inspirational leader...
Chiekas half time team talk
Is that for real? Does something like that ever have the desired effect?
gauss, no. Would you follow that person as a leader? I was spoken about like that on September 27 at work. I’ve been seeing out my year and considering my options ever since.
You earn respect, you can’t command it.
well it did something, as they came back after half time to within a point...
Brakes, likely because the have good players rather than being inspired. Yes a team might need a stern emotional talking to, to get them fired up but they also need practical assistance from what’s being noted from a strategic position in the crowd.