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Official Rugby Thread
- Thread starter KennyD
- Start date
dontcloseyoureyes
BARNES OUT
wtf happened in that second half.
marc71178
Eyes not spreadsheets
NZ definitely got the luck of the calls in their favour. Whether the result would've been different is hard to say because of how they pulled away at the end.
Fuller Pilch
Hall of Fame Member
Shame about the YC, but good signs in the first AB test of the year. Well done to Japan, Australia and South Africa too
Mr Miyagi
Banned
Well it is hard to be too critical when the game was already won, but he did cost a certain try when he went for the try line and was taken into touch instead of passing inside to the open unmarked man.
Rugby needs to change the rules for when sendoffs like that happen, let the TMO just simply overrule it and send him back on the field.
But its not just the fitness, it is the fitness (of those who remain) and the bench quality. NZ's bench quality is just invariably so much better (and they know how to play as bench players as they are familiar with the role of pacing themselves for 25 minutes not 55 minutes).
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marc71178
Eyes not spreadsheets
The French yellow wasn’t the incident I was really talking about.
Dendarii
International Debutant
Agreed. When England scored their third try I thought it was going to be yet another horror show. So to come back from that was a brilliant performance, and one of the best showings by the Boks in recent years.
There was a huge stroke of good fortune there, needing a missed conversion by Spain to be able to win the quarter-final, and of course England knocking Fiji out. But they still had to go on to beat New Zealand and England, and let's not forget that they did it without Afrika, Du Preez, Specman, and Senatla (who picked up an injury in Paris) - the depth and development that's happening in Sevens is really impressive. Now if only that could be translated to the 15-man game...
StephenZA
Hall of Fame Member
We've been the most consistent team throughout the year, even with the all the injuries, which is great. After our poor showing the previous weekend, it was nice to come back and win, this week. Luck involved but they did it in the end.
Without going into a big political nightmare, the success of 7's, I think, is because there was no old guard; it has been built up from scratch the last 10+ years without having to overcome regional/provincial/franchise and direct historical issues; with people trying to maintain power and influence. Just built into this great sport under the radar of most.
Dendarii
International Debutant
I think you're right. It's just so frustrating seeing these phenomenally talented Sevens players emerging, proving that we do have the talent in the country, I do realise that overhauling the system is probably far too difficult a task, but if only there was some way of bringing the Sevens skill levels into the 15 man game - couple that with set pieces, which have generally been a strength of South Africa, and we'd be a consistent force to be reckoned with, rather than the up-and-down fortunes (mostly down of late) that we've seen to date.
Fuller Pilch
Hall of Fame Member
Well done to the Saffa 7s, but I'm sure they would've rather won Commonwealth gold than the World Series this year.
Mr Miyagi
Banned
Results of Saturday's games:
Italy 25 (Tommaso Benvenuti, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Jake Polledri tries; Tommaso Allan 2 conversions, 2 penalties), Japan 22 (Will Tupou, Amanaki Mafi, Kotaro Matsushima tries; Rikiya Matsuda 2 conversions, Yu Tamura penalty). HT: 12-3
Fiji 37 (Henry Seniloli 2, Frank Lomani 2, Jale Vatubua, Semi Radradra tries; Nemani Nadolo 2 conversions, penalty), Georgia 15 (Alexander Rodua, Vito Kolelishvili tries; Soso Matiashvili conversion, penalty). HT: 10-15
Tonga 28 (Viliame Lolohea, Cooper Vuna, Nili Latu tries; Sonatane Takulua 2 conversions, 3 penalties), Samoa 18 (Ed Fidow, Melani Matavao tries; Tusi Pisi conversion, Ah See Tuala 2 penalties). HT: 17-6
New Zealand 26 (Jordie Barrett 2, Joe Moody, Ben Smith tries; Damian McKenzie 3 conversions), France 13 (Cedate Gomes Sa try; Morgan Parra 2 penalties, Jules Plisson conversion). HT: 21-6
Ireland 26 (Andrew Conway, Tadhg Furlong tries; Jonathan ***ton 2 conversions, 4 penalties), Australia 21 (Kurtley Beale, Taniela Tupou tries; penalty try; Bernard Foley 2 conversions). HT: 16-14
Germany 16 (Jarrid Els try; Raynor Parkinson conversion, 3 penalties), Portugal 13 (Sebastiao Villax try; Louis Rodrigues conversion, 2 penalties). HT: 3-6
South Africa 23 (Duane Vermeulen try; penalty try; Handre Pollard conversion, 3 penalties), England 12 (Mike Brown, Jonny May tries; Owen Farrell conversion). HT: 13-12
Wales 30 (Hallam Amos, Josh Adams tries; Rhys Patchell conversion, 6 penalties), Argentina 12 (Bautista Delguy, Julian Montoya tries; Nicolas Sanchez conversion). HT: 19-5
Russia 43 (Anton Rudoi 3, Aleksei Mikhaltsov 2, Nikita Vavilin tries; Iurii Kushnarev 5 conversions, penalty), Canada 20 (Luke Campell, Nick Blevins tries; Brock Staller conversion, 2 penalties, Shane O'Leary conversion). HT: 26-10
Italy 25 (Tommaso Benvenuti, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Jake Polledri tries; Tommaso Allan 2 conversions, 2 penalties), Japan 22 (Will Tupou, Amanaki Mafi, Kotaro Matsushima tries; Rikiya Matsuda 2 conversions, Yu Tamura penalty). HT: 12-3
Fiji 37 (Henry Seniloli 2, Frank Lomani 2, Jale Vatubua, Semi Radradra tries; Nemani Nadolo 2 conversions, penalty), Georgia 15 (Alexander Rodua, Vito Kolelishvili tries; Soso Matiashvili conversion, penalty). HT: 10-15
Tonga 28 (Viliame Lolohea, Cooper Vuna, Nili Latu tries; Sonatane Takulua 2 conversions, 3 penalties), Samoa 18 (Ed Fidow, Melani Matavao tries; Tusi Pisi conversion, Ah See Tuala 2 penalties). HT: 17-6
New Zealand 26 (Jordie Barrett 2, Joe Moody, Ben Smith tries; Damian McKenzie 3 conversions), France 13 (Cedate Gomes Sa try; Morgan Parra 2 penalties, Jules Plisson conversion). HT: 21-6
Ireland 26 (Andrew Conway, Tadhg Furlong tries; Jonathan ***ton 2 conversions, 4 penalties), Australia 21 (Kurtley Beale, Taniela Tupou tries; penalty try; Bernard Foley 2 conversions). HT: 16-14
Germany 16 (Jarrid Els try; Raynor Parkinson conversion, 3 penalties), Portugal 13 (Sebastiao Villax try; Louis Rodrigues conversion, 2 penalties). HT: 3-6
South Africa 23 (Duane Vermeulen try; penalty try; Handre Pollard conversion, 3 penalties), England 12 (Mike Brown, Jonny May tries; Owen Farrell conversion). HT: 13-12
Wales 30 (Hallam Amos, Josh Adams tries; Rhys Patchell conversion, 6 penalties), Argentina 12 (Bautista Delguy, Julian Montoya tries; Nicolas Sanchez conversion). HT: 19-5
Russia 43 (Anton Rudoi 3, Aleksei Mikhaltsov 2, Nikita Vavilin tries; Iurii Kushnarev 5 conversions, penalty), Canada 20 (Luke Campell, Nick Blevins tries; Brock Staller conversion, 2 penalties, Shane O'Leary conversion). HT: 26-10
BoyBrumby
Englishman
Grannygate: The Eurotrash years
I'm a bit late on this, but thought I'd share anyway. Amusing in a "OMG, wot a shyteshow" kinda way. From The Guardian
Union's eligibility laws are famously inclusive, but it turns out not quite flexible for some of the participants in the Rugby Europe Championship (the tier below the 6 Nations) that doubled up as the qualifying tournament for next year's WC in Japan.
Romania initially topped the qualification (results against Georgia, who had already qualified by dint of a third place in their group in 2015, are excluded for qualification purposes) in somewhat dubious circumstances after Belgium surprisingly beat Spain in the final game to deny the Spanish first place in a game refereed by a Romanian official.
So far, so dodgy. Spain failed to take it on the chin, however, and had a whinge to World Rugby, which seems to have opened up a whole can of worms. The game was initially ordered to be replayed, but subsequent events rendered this moot.
Winners Romania had fielded Sione Faka’osilea in 6 qualification matches, despite his have previously played 7s for Tonga and thus being ineligible, so were docked 5 points for each game. Second placed Spain were found to have used two players who'd appeared for the France Under-20 side. In total the two players played eight qualifying matches, meaning Spain were docked 40 points (5 for each offence). Finally fourth placed Belgium were found to have used 5 (!) ineligible players, none of who had so much as a Belgian granny between them.
The upshot is that third placed Russia make the tournament and fifth placed Germany were handed a play off versus Samoa, which they subsequently lost, but still might yet make the tournament via the repechage against Hong Kong, Canada and the second placed African side (Kenya probably).
I'm a bit late on this, but thought I'd share anyway. Amusing in a "OMG, wot a shyteshow" kinda way. From The Guardian
Union's eligibility laws are famously inclusive, but it turns out not quite flexible for some of the participants in the Rugby Europe Championship (the tier below the 6 Nations) that doubled up as the qualifying tournament for next year's WC in Japan.
Romania initially topped the qualification (results against Georgia, who had already qualified by dint of a third place in their group in 2015, are excluded for qualification purposes) in somewhat dubious circumstances after Belgium surprisingly beat Spain in the final game to deny the Spanish first place in a game refereed by a Romanian official.
So far, so dodgy. Spain failed to take it on the chin, however, and had a whinge to World Rugby, which seems to have opened up a whole can of worms. The game was initially ordered to be replayed, but subsequent events rendered this moot.
Winners Romania had fielded Sione Faka’osilea in 6 qualification matches, despite his have previously played 7s for Tonga and thus being ineligible, so were docked 5 points for each game. Second placed Spain were found to have used two players who'd appeared for the France Under-20 side. In total the two players played eight qualifying matches, meaning Spain were docked 40 points (5 for each offence). Finally fourth placed Belgium were found to have used 5 (!) ineligible players, none of who had so much as a Belgian granny between them.
The upshot is that third placed Russia make the tournament and fifth placed Germany were handed a play off versus Samoa, which they subsequently lost, but still might yet make the tournament via the repechage against Hong Kong, Canada and the second placed African side (Kenya probably).